Type of Community in Absecon - Essay Example

Type of community

ABSECON, NEW JERSEY

Introduction:

Absecon is a city in Atlantic County, in the Atlantic City metro area. The community name derives from an Indian term variously translated as little stream" or "plenty (or place) of swans" The latitude of Absecon is 39.428N. The longitude is -74.496W. It is in the Eastern Standard Time zone. The elevation is 23 feet. The estimated population, in 2003, was 7,835.

Median resident age: 40.3 years
Median household income: $55,745 (the year 2000)
Median house value: $123,000 (the year 2000)

Crime

The number of violent crimes recorded by the FBI in 2003 was 25. The number of murders and homicides was 0. The violent crime rate was 3.2 per 1,000 people.

Races in Absecon:

• White Non-Hispanic (81.8%)
• Black (6.0%)
• Hispanic (3.8%)
• Asian Indian (3.6%)
• Two or more races (1.5%)
• Other races (1.5%)
• Filipino (1.2%)
• Chinese (1.2%)
• Other Asians (0.7%)

Ancestries: Irish (28.2%), Italian (21.6%), German (16.8%), English (12.9%), United States (4.0%), Polish (3.0%).

Elevation: 25 feet

Land area: 5.7 square miles

For the population 25 years and over in Absecon

• High school or higher: 86.0%
• Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.4%
• Graduate or professional degree: 7.3%
• Unemployed: 6.5%
• Mean travel time to work: 22.5 minutes

For the population 15 years and over in Absecon city

• Never married: 25.2%
• Now married: 54.1%
• Separated: 1.8%
• Widowed: 6.8%
• Divorced: 12.1%

10.5% foreign born (6.6% Asia, 2.2% Europe, 1.6% Latin America).

Population changes in the 1990s: +386 (+5.3%).

Nearest city with a population. 50,000+: Vineland, NJ (35.2 miles, pop. 56,271).

Nearest city with a population. 200,000+: Philadelphia, PA (59.0 miles, pop. 1,517,550).

Single-family new house construction building permits:

• 1996: 59 buildings, average cost: $55,500
• 1997: 7 buildings, average cost: $62,900
• 1998: 13 buildings, average cost: $89,200
• 1999: 19 buildings, average cost: $61,300
• 2000: 11 buildings, average cost: $122,800
• 2001: 23 buildings, average cost: $98,700
• 2002: 59 buildings, average cost: $73,400
• 2003: 29 buildings, average cost: $107,600
• 2004: 38 buildings, average cost: $119,400
• 2005: 79 buildings, average cost: $126,200

Industries providing employment: Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services (29.7%), Educational, health, and social services (19.0%), and Retail trade (12.9%).

Absecon-area historical tornado activity is below the New Jersey state average. It is 50% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 7/21/1983, a category 3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 22.6 miles away from the Absecon city center caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

On 11/4/1970, a category 2 (max. wind speeds 113-157 mph) tornado 5.6 miles away from the city center caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.

Hospitals/medical centers near Absecon:

• BETTY BACHARACH REHAB CENTER (about 6 miles; POMONA, NJ)
• ATLANTIC CITY MEDICAL CTR (about 7 miles; ATLANTIC CITY, NJ)
• SHORE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 11 miles; SOMERS POINT, NJ)

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Absecon:

• ATLANTIC CITY INTERNATIONAL (about 5 miles; ATLANTIC CITY, NJ; ID: ACY)
• MC GUIRE AFB (about 40 miles; WRIGHTSTOWN, NJ; ID: WRI)
• LAKEHURST NAES /MAXFIELD FIELD (about 43 miles; LAKEHURST, NJ; ID: NEL)

Other public-use airports nearest to Absecon:

• ATLANTIC CITY MUNI/BADER FIELD (about 7 miles; ATLANTIC CITY, NJ; ID: AIY)
• STEEL PIER TAJ MAHAL (about 9 miles; ATLANTIC CITY, NJ; ID: 92N)
• OCEAN CITY MUNI (about 15 miles; OCEAN CITY, NJ; ID: 26N)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Absecon:

• THE RICHARD STOCKTON COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY (about 6 miles; POMONA, NJ; Full-time enrollment: 5,526)
• ATLANTIC CAPE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 18 miles; MAYS LANDING, NJ; FT enrollment: 3,086)
• BURLINGTON COUNTY COLLEGE (about 39 miles; PEMBERTON, NJ; FT enrollment: 3,751)
• OCEAN COUNTY COLLEGE (about 43 miles; TOMS RIVER, NJ; FT enrollment: 4,651)
• CAMDEN COUNTY COLLEGE (about 46 miles; BLACKWOOD, NJ; FT enrollment: 7,662)
• ROWAN UNIVERSITY (about 47 miles; GLASSBORO, NJ; FT enrollment: 7,587)
• GLOUCESTER COUNTY COLLEGE (about 48 miles; SEWELL, NJ; FT enrollment: 3,135)

Public high school in Absecon:

• ABSEGAMI H S (Students: 2,144; Location: 201 S WRANGLEBORO RD; Grades: 09 - 12)

Private high school in Absecon:

• HOLY SPIRIT HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 875; Location: 500 S NEW RD; Grades: 9 - 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Absecon:

• H ASHTON MARSH (Students: 527; Location: 800 IRELAN AVE.; Grades: KG - 04)
• EMMA C ATTALES (Students: 415; Location: IRELAN AVE. & WEBB ROAD; Grades: 05 - 08)

Private primary/middle schools in Absecon:

• JARRETT RUN ACADEMY (Students: 63; Location: 70 MILL ROAD; Grades: KG - 8)
• JERSEY SHORE BAPTIST ACADEMY (Students: 3; Location: 2165 WRANGLEBORO ROAD; Grades: 2 - 8)

Library in Absecon:

• ABSECON PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $147,074; Location: 305 NEW JERSEY AVENUE; 17,410 books; 859 audio materials; 481 video materials; 80 serial subscriptions)

Absecon compared to New Jersey state average:

• Median household income above the state average.
• Median house value above the state average.
• The black race population percentage is significantly above the state average.
• Hispanic race population percentage is above the state average.
• Median age above the state average.
• The foreign-born population percentage is significantly above the state average.
• Renting percentage is significantly below the state average.
• A number of rooms per house above the state average.