Lake Como is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 1,759, reflecting a decline of 47 (-2.6%) from the 1,806 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 324 (+21.9%) from the 1,482 counted in the 1990 Census. It is the tenth-smallest municipality in land area in New Jersey.
Lake Como was originally formed as the borough of South Belmar by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1924, from portions of Wall Township, subject to the results of a referendum held on May 6, 1924. On November 2, 2004, voters in the borough approved changing the locality's name to Lake Como, which became effective as of January 4, 2005.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.265 square miles (0.688Â km2), including 0.253 square miles (0.656Â km2) of land and 0.012 square miles (0.032Â km2) of water (4.61%).
The borough borders the Monmouth County communities of Belmar, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Wall Township.
Demographics
Census 2010
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,759 people, 785 households, and 398.8 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,943.6 per square mile (2,680.9/km2). There were 1,115 housing units at an average density of 4,401.4 per square mile (1,699.4/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 82.89% (1,458) White, 6.14% (108) Black or African American, 0.85% (15) Native American, 1.19% (21) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 6.82% (120) from other races, and 2.10% (37) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.31% (322) of the population.
There were 785 households out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.9% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.2% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the borough, the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.4 years. For every 100 females there were 105.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 102.7 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $76,576 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,374) and the median family income was $84,821 (+/- $15,308). Males had a median income of $58,173 (+/- $11,703) versus $49,444 (+/- $25,611) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,729 (+/- $5,783). About 10.8% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 1,806 people, 824 households, and 391 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,322.9 people per square mile (2,789.2/km2). There were 1,107 housing units at an average density of 4,488.6 per square mile (1,709.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 82.17% White, 7.75% African American, 0.44% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 5.87% from other races, and 2.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.13% of the population.
There were 824 households out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.5% were non-families. 41.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the borough the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $47,566, and the median income for a family was $56,538. Males had a median income of $41,550 versus $27,708 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,111. About 4.3% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Lake Como is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of 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. The Borough form of government used by Lake Como, the most common system used in the state, 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.
As of 2017, the Mayor of Lake Como is Democrat Brian Wilton, whose term of office ends December 31, 2018. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Douglas E. Witte (D, 2019), John J. Carvelli, II (D, 2017), Chris D'Antuono (D, 2018; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Kevin Higgins (D, 2017), Virginia F. Kropac (D, 2018) and Hawley G. Scull (D, 2019).
In January 2017, Christopher D'Antuono was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that was vacated by Michael Noonan; D'Antono will serve on an interim basis until the November 2017 general election, when voters will select a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.
In January 2015, the Borough Council selected Hawley Scull from three names nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Patricia A. Tzibrouk expiring in December 2016. In the November 2015 general election, Scull was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
Later in January 2015, the Borough Council chose Michael Noonan to fill the council seat expiring December 2015 that was vacated when Brian Wilton took office as mayor.
Federal, state and county representation
Lake Como is located in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 30th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Lake Como had been in the 11th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Lake Como had been part of the 6th Congressional District, 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.
New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District is represented by Christopher Smith (R). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (Paramus, 2019).
For the 2016â€"2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 30th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Robert Singer (R, Lakewood Township) and in the General Assembly by Sean T. Kean (R, Wall Township) and Ned Thomson (R, Wall Township). Thomson was sworn into office on August 24, 2017 to fill the seat of Dave Rible, who had resigned from office on July 17, 2017 to become Director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).
Monmouth County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members who are elected at-large to serve three year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director. As of 2014, Monmouth County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry (R, Colts Neck Township; term ends December 31, 2014), Freeholder Deputy Director Gary J. Rich, Sr. (R, Spring Lake; 2014), Thomas A. Arnone (R, Neptune City; 2016), John P. Curley (R, Middletown Township; 2015) and Serena DiMaso (R, Holmdel Township; 2016). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk M. Claire French (Wall Township), Sheriff Shaun Golden (Farmingdale) and Surrogate Rosemarie D. Peters (Middletown Township).
Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 992 registered voters in Lake Como, of which 301 (30.3%) were registered as Democrats, 151 (15.2%) were registered as Republicans and 539 (54.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 55.8% of the vote (390 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 42.2% (295 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (14 votes), among the 706 ballots cast by the borough's 1,057 registered voters (7 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.8%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.1% of the vote (459 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 39.1% (314 votes) and other candidates with 2.1% (17 votes), among the 804 ballots cast by the borough's 1,123 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.6%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 52.5% of the vote (428 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 45.8% (374 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (12 votes), among the 816 ballots cast by the borough's 1,156 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 70.6.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.2% of the vote (298 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 32.3% (150 votes), and other candidates with 3.4% (16 votes), among the 470 ballots cast by the borough's 1,047 registered voters (6 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 49.1% of the vote (262 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 40.3% (215 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.8% (47 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (4 votes), among the 534 ballots cast by the borough's 1,048 registered voters, yielding a 51.0% turnout.
Education
The Belmar School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Belmar Elementary School from both Belmar and Lake Como, a non-operating district. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 597 students and 52.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 11.3:1. Students from Lake Como attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship. The single school is two schools in one, a primary school for grades preschool through fifth and a middle school organization plan for grades six through eight.
Students attending public high school are assigned based on sending/receiving relationships to either Manasquan High School in Manasquan or Asbury Park High School in Asbury Park, as part of a plan in which 56% of students re assigned to attend high school in Mansquan and 44% are sent to Asbury Park. Manasquan High School also serves students from Avon-by-the-Sea, Brielle, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights who attend Manasquan High School as part of sending/receiving relationships with their respective districts. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,012 students and 67.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 14.9:1.
Public school students may also attend Red Bank Regional High School, Marine Academy of Science and Technology, Academy of Allied Health & Science, Academy Charter School, High Technology High School, Communications High School or Biotechnology High School. They also have the option to attend Academy Charter High School in Lake Como, which accepts students on a lottery basis from the communities of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Deal, Interlaken and Lake Como.
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 5.47 miles (8.80Â km) of roadways, of which 5.03 miles (8.10Â km) were maintained by the municipality and 0.44 miles (0.71Â km) by Monmouth County.
All major roads are accessible in its neighboring communities, such as Route 35 in both Belmar and Wall, as well as Route 18, Route 34, Route 138, the Garden State Parkway and I-195 all in Wall Township.
Public transportation
NJ Transit offers service to and from Philadelphia on the 317 route and local bus service on the 830 route.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Lake Como include:
- Walter McAfee (1914-1995), African-American scientist and astronomer, who participated in the world's first lunar radar echo experiments as part of Project Diana.
References
External links
- Borough of Lake Como official website
- Belmar Elementary School
- Belmar Elementary School's 2015â€"16 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- School Data for the Belmar Elementary School, National Center for Education Statistics
