Beach Haven West, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Beach Haven West, New Jersey
settlement_type = CDP
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 08050
area_code = 609
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-04120GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0874575GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Beach Haven West is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Stafford Township, in Ocean County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 4,444.

Geography

Beach Haven West is located at coor dms|39|40|0|N|74|13|48|W|city (39.666678, -74.229910)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.6 km² (2.2 mi²). 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (6.91%) is water.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1990=4237
2000=4444
footnote=source: [cite web
url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=16000US3404120&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34029%7C06000US3402970320&_street=&_county=beach+haven&_cityTown=beach+haven&_state=&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=
title=Population Finder: Beach Haven West CDP, New Jersey
publisher=U.S. Census Bureau
accessdate=2007-03-16] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 4,444 people, 2,086 households, and 1,372 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 849.4/km² (2,200.8/mi²). There were 4,514 housing units at an average density of 862.8/km² (2,235.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.73% White, 0.36% African American, 0.02% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.

There were 2,086 households out of which 14.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.59.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 12.6% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 19.7% from 25 to 44, 35.0% from 45 to 64, and 27.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,508, and the median income for a family was $54,132. Males had a median income of $46,500 versus $30,491 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $39,273. About 1.5% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Many of the homes in Beach Haven West are summer residences for those who live in other parts of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida and other states, although year-round residents have become more frequent. The area is served by the Stafford Township School District from grades K-6, and the Southern Regional School District from grades 7-12.

History

The site that Beach Haven West is located on was known as Remson Meadows along the Manahawkin Bayfront. In 1950, the slat marshes were bought by the Shapiro brothers, Herbert and Jerome, who developed vacation homes throughout the Jersey Shore. Using a dredge towed up from North Carolina, construction began on Beach Haven West's 130-plus saltwater lagoons and 5,000 single-family homes.Beach Haven West was built in phases, the first opening in 1957. The first phase contained the lagoons and cul-de-sacs braching between Morris Boulevard and Jennifer Lane. By the early 1960s, the second phase was completed, this one spanning between Jonathan Drive and Walter Boulevard. Afterwords, the third phase was completed, which contained the development along Mill Creek Road between Route 72 and Jonathan Drive, as well as the Charles Boulevard spur. By the 70s, the lagoonfront community was expanded down Mill Creek Road towards East Point.

The Shapiros later sold their remaining properties to Lincoln Properties, LLC, another shore development firm. They completed the Mill Creek Road section along Mill Creek down to Barnegat Bay at East Point, added the southern lagoons along Newell Avenue known as Village Harbour, and developed the Colony Lakes section by 1986.

Through satellite imagery, it is evident that the community was intended to expand below the delta of Mill Creek at the bay. Ghosts of about a dozen partially dredged lagoons in that area, as well as a curious curve in Newell Ave, indicate the planned expansion. However, a lack of permits, increasing pressure from the EPA and the Wetlands Protection Act of 1970 kept the community from expanding further. [Corporte Author: "Stafford Cronicles", pages 190-195. Down The Shore Publishing, 2001]

Community

Homes

The first model home, an expandable Cape, opened on Selma Drive in 1957. Like many Capes, this home had one finished floor with two bedrooms, the attic was capable of expansion with dormers, and there was a convenient outside shower. The style was pure 50's: wide-exposure asbestos siding, aluminum jalousie windows throughout, and dark wood panneling inside. The colors were all pastels, ranging from canary yellow, pistachio green, and bright pink, to name a few. Mass production methods were utilized to erect the homes efficiently.

The lots were all 50 feet wide along the lagoon and 80 feet deep running towards the street. Phase one featured 60 foot wide lots. Double lots and irregular lots were available along the bends and corners of the lagoon. In the 50's, waterfront lots with a house sold for $6,990, and financing of $66 a month was available.

Soon, additional models were added and the two-bedroom cape was dropped. The least expensive was the Sandpiper model, totaling $11,990. which was a 3 bedroom ranch. Keeping the same modern architectural style, the three bedrooms were arranged along the front of the house facing the street. Behind them was a single full bath, a kitchenette, and a living room. All interior spaces featured exposed rafter vaulted ceilings with rigid insulation on the roof. Base models featured a screened porch stretching completely across the back of the house, which was covered by a long, gently sloping roof. A common upgrade was to have the porch enclosed with jalousie windows. The home was completed with an outdoor shower, an option of either a wooden bulkhead "or" a wooden deck along the lagoon, and two young willow trees in the back yard.

The largest model available was the Continental Riviera, which sold for about $23,000 in the 1970s. Homes in East Point and Village Harbour were built in the typical 1980s Post-Modern style. Colony Lakes homes were Colonial representative. All homes built by Lincoln were reversed living homes, where the bedrooms were downstairs and the living spaces on the second floor.

[Corporte Author: "Stafford Cronicles", pages 190-195. Down The Shore Publishing, 2001]

Beach Haven West Civic Association

Originally, the community had a recreation center located at intersection of Jonathan Drive, Morris Boulevard, Jennifer Lane, and Jeffrey Drive. The rec center featured a clubhouse, boat slips, and a swimming pool, which was the center of the Beach Haven West social scene throughout the 50s and 60s. By the 1980s, the pool was infilled and the clubhouse demolished. Modern 1980s-style homes were later built on the site, and are the only homes in the complex which do not have waterfront access.

The Civic Association has been revitalized, and continues to operate at a new location on Mill Creek Road. It serves the community in many capacities, from "Mom and Me" playgroups and other Stafford Recreation-sponsored programs, to other usergroup functions (Stafford Township Regular Republican Club meetings) as well as a voting location on Election Days.

[Corporate Author: "Stafford Cronicles", pages 190-195. Down The Shore Publishing, 2001]

Notes

External links