Harvey Cedars is a coastal borough situated on the Jersey Shore, in southern Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough encompasses a narrow strip of Long Beach Island fronting both the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 391, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 54 (+16.0%) from the 2010 census count of 337, which in turn reflected a decline of 22 (−6.1%) from the 359 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.

Harvey Cedars was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 15, 1894, from portions of Union Township (now Barnegat Township), based on the results of a referendum held on November 20, 1894.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 202. Accessed May 28, 2024. The community's post office was initially known as High Point, the name of a neighborhood in the borough that lies at a higher elevation, before a name change was made in the 1930s at the request of the United States Postal Service to differentiate the post office from the northern New Jersey community of High Point in Sussex County."Harvey Cedars sees 100 seasons", Asbury Park Press, September 23, 1994. Accessed March 21, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The borough's first name was High Point because its northern section is the highest point on the island. At the time, however, the southern section was known as Harvey Cedars. The U.S. Postal Service forced the borough to drop High Point in the 1930s, to avoid confusion with another High Point in New Jersey, which is now a part of Montague Township in Sussex County."

The majority of the housing units in the borough are seasonal houses used primarily in the summer by owners who live elsewhere, bringing the summer population to 12,000.Home Page, Harvey Cedars Police Department. Accessed February 18, 2015. "Harvey Cedars has a winter population of approximately 400 people. In the summer the population grows to approximately 12,000." The borough's quiet character and bay and ocean access make housing very expensive, with many bay or oceanfront houses priced at $2 million or more. Despite the borough's small size, its property was assessed at over $1.28 billion in 2019.2019 Abstract Of Ratables, Ocean County Board of Taxation. Accessed May 30, 2020.

History Before Long Beach Island was developed, its northern area, from the Barnegat Inlet to the Great Swamp (now Surf City), was covered with Atlantic white cedar (chamaecyparis thyoides). Early inhabitants of the area harvested salt hay (spartina patens) and seaweed to make a living.

The earliest reference to the area was a deed from 1751 that called the place "Harvest Quarters".Buchholz, Margaret Thomas. The History of Harvey Cedars, Borough of Harvey Cedars. Accessed August 31, 2015. "But from a 1751 deed we now know that our Harvey is as ephemeral as Harvey the Rabbit. In the deed, the locality was designated as 'a hammock and clump of cedars called Harvest Quarters.' And if you say 'harvest cedars' often and fast enough, harvest will be clipped to harves -- and it's only a brief skip of the mouth to Harvey." The name "Harvey Cedars" may be derived from the "harvest" housing used by these farmers and the "cedars" that grew in the area.Harvey Cedars History , LBI.net. Accessed January 2, 2011.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.19 square miles (3.08 km2), including 0.56 square miles (1.45 km2) of land and 0.63 square miles (1.62 km2) of water (52.61%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include High Point.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The borough borders the Ocean County municipalities of Barnegat Township, Long Beach Township and Stafford Township.Areas touching Harvey Cedars, MapIt. Accessed March 31, 2020.Ocean County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 31, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 337 people, 169 households, and 110 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,214 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 99.11% (334) White, 0.59% (2) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.30% (1) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.00% (0) from other races, and 0.00% (0) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% (3) of the population.

Of the 169 households, 13.6% had children under the age of 18; 59.8% were married couples living together; 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.9% were non-families. Of all households, 32.0% were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.99 and the average family size was 2.47.

11.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 10.1% from 25 to 44, 32.0% from 45 to 64, and 41.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 61.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $106,875 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,693) and the median family income was $112,656 (+/− $8,889). Males had a median income of $85,625 (+/− $32,732) versus $51,875 (+/− $42,840) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $74,525 (+/− $13,683). About 3.0% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Harvey Cedars borough, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 359 people, 167 households, and 112 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,205 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 96.94% White, 0.56% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 1.95% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.62% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Harvey Cedars borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Harvey Cedars borough, Ocean County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2012.

There were 167 households, out of which 16.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.61.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 14.5% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 30.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $61,875, and the median income for a family was $69,722. Males had a median income of $71,042 versus $32,361 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,757. About 2.6% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government The Borough of Harvey Cedars has operated under the Walsh Act form of New Jersey municipal government since 1923."The Commission Form of Municipal Government", p. 53. Accessed June 3, 2015."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 8. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. The borough is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use the commission form of government.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 three-member Board of Commissioners whose members are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis to serve concurrent four-year terms of office in voting held as part of the November general election.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 49. Each commissioner is assigned to oversee and administer a department. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by the Board from among its members. The mayor has no veto power.

, members of the Harvey Cedars Board of Commissioners are Mayor Johnathan M. Imperiale (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety), Joseph F. Gieger (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property) and Paul George Rice (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance), all of whom are serving concurrent four-year terms of office that expire on December 31, 2027.Government, Borough of Harvey Cedars. Accessed July 2, 2024.2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Harvey Cedars. Accessed July 2, 2024.Borough of Harvey Cedars, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed July 2, 2024.2024 Ocean County & Municipal Elected Officials, Ocean County, New Jersey Clerk, updated April 2, 2024. Accessed April 17, 2024.General Election Results November 7, 2023 Official Results, Ocean County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.

Federal, state and county representation Harvey Cedars 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 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.Districts by Number for 2011–2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013. Prior to the 2010 Census, Harvey Cedars had been part of the , a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government , p. 58, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed May 22, 2015.

Politics As of March 2011, there were a total of 375 registered voters in Harvey Cedars, of which 86 (22.9%) were registered as Democrats, 157 (41.9%) were registered as Republicans and 132 (35.2%) 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 December 25, 2012. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 111.3% (vs. 63.2% in Ocean County) were registered to vote, including 125.8% 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 December 25, 2012.