Ship Bottom is a borough situated on the Jersey Shore, within Ocean County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,098, a decrease of 58 (−5.0%) from the 2010 census count of 1,156, which in turn had reflected a decline of 228 (−16.5%) from the 1,384 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. The borough is located on Long Beach Island and borders the Atlantic Ocean. The summer population can climb as high as 20,000.Facts, Borough of Ship Bottom. Accessed May 25, 2022. "Summer Population: Approximately 20,000"
The borough's name was derived from a March 1817 incident in which a woman was saved from a wrecked ship that had capsized as her rescuers used axes to cut through the bottom of the hull.History of Ship Bottom, Borough of Ship Bottom. Accessed August 31, 2020. "Ship Bottom is one of the oldest place names on Long Beach Island. According to the local historian John Bailey Lloyd, author of Six Miles at Sea, the name dates from an unusual shipwreck that occurred in March, 1817.... With an ax, Willets chopped a hole in the ship's bottom near the keel and, after much struggling, freed the young woman trapped inside.... But the place of the shipwreck and the rescue became known as 'Ship Bottom'."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 3, 2015.
What is now Ship Bottom was originally incorporated as the borough of Ship Bottom-Beach Arlington by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 3, 1925, from portions of Long Beach Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 23, 1925. The borough name was shortened to Ship Bottom in 1947.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 205. Accessed May 30, 2024.
The borough is known as the "Gateway to Long Beach Island", as Route 72 provides the sole road access from Manahawkin in Stafford Township, ending in Ship Bottom as it crosses Manahawkin Bay via the Manahawkin Bay Bridge (formally known as the Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge).
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.99 square miles (2.58 km2), including 0.71 square miles (1.84 km2) of land and 0.28 square miles (0.73 km2) of water (28.48%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Beach Arlington.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The borough borders the Ocean County municipalities of Long Beach Township, Stafford Township, and Surf City.Areas touching Ship Bottom, MapIt. Accessed March 6, 2020.Ocean County Map, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 6, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 1,156 people, 555 households, and 329 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,066 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 92.91% (1,074) White, 1.30% (15) Black or African American, 0.17% (2) Native American, 0.43% (5) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.98% (46) from other races, and 1.21% (14) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.17% (106) of the population.
Of the 555 households, 13.7% had children under the age of 18; 46.8% were married couples living together; 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 40.7% were non-families. Of all households, 32.8% were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.60.
12.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 20.2% from 25 to 44, 32.0% from 45 to 64, and 28.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 104.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.4 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $60,673 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,872) and the median family income was $97,841 (+/− $19,072). Males had a median income of $51,641 (+/− $9,381) versus $33,580 (+/− $4,778) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,184 (+/− $4,936). About 5.4% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Ship Bottom borough, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 1, 2013.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,384 people, 664 households, and 395 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,218 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 96.32% White, 0.29% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 1.08% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.78% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Ship Bottom borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 1, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Ship Bottom borough, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 1, 2013.
There were 664 households, out of which 14.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.65.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 14.8% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 26.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $42,098, and the median income for a family was $60,417. Males had a median income of $36,382 versus $28,958 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,870. About 4.1% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government Ship Bottom is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 49. The borough form of government used by Ship Bottom is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. Each Council member chairs a committee that oversees a department: Revenue and Finance; Public Safety; Water/Sewer; Parks and Recreation; Public Property and Community Affairs; and Public Works.Main page, Borough of Ship Bottom. Accessed July 12, 2006.
, the mayor of Ship Bottom Borough is Republican William Huelsenbeck, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2022. Members of the Ship Bottom Borough Council are Council President Edward English (R, 2023), Robert J. Butkus (R, 2022), David Hartman (R, 2023), Peter J. Rossi Sr. (R, 2024), Tom Tallon (R, 2022) and Joseph Valyo (R, 2024).Mayor and Council, Borough of Ship Bottom. Accessed January 24, 2025.2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Ship Bottom. Accessed May 25, 2022.Borough of Ship Bottom, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed May 25, 2022.2022 Ocean County & Municipal Elected Officials, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated April 1, 2022. Accessed May 1, 2022.2021 General Election Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.2020 General Election November 3, 2020 Official results, Ocean County, New Jersey, updated December 2, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.2019 General Election Official Results November 5, 2019, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.2018 General Election Official Results November 6, 2018, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 19, 2018. Accessed January 1, 2019.
Federal, state and county representation Ship Bottom is located in the 2nd Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed September 1, 2023.
Politics As of March 2011, there were a total of 988 registered voters in Ship Bottom, of which 142 (14.4%) were registered as Democrats, 497 (50.3%) were registered as Republicans and 349 (35.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.Voter Registration Summary - Ocean, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed January 1, 2013. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 85.5% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 97.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 82.6% countywide).GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 1, 2013.