Location
Long Beach Island is an 18-mile long barrier island off the New Jersey coast and roughly 65 miles south of Manhattan.
History
Settlement of Long Beach Island dates from 1690. In the 1800s, proximity to the growing metropolitan areas of the northeastern U.S. led to the island's emergence as a summer resort.
Climate
Long Beach has hot, humid summers. It is notable for its relatively mild winters. Severe winter storms can create problems and nearly destroyed the tourism industry in 1923.
Community
The permanent population of about 8,000 (U.S. Census 2000) resides in several small villages. Summer visitors can bring the island population to a peak of 140,000.
Nature Preserve
At the southern end of Long Beach Island is an area that is part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. This area is popular with hikers and cyclists.
Barnegat LIghthouse State Park
For history buffs, Barnegat Lighthouse is the star attraction. Built in 1835, it was rebuilt in 1859 after storms destroyed the original structure.
