About Long Beach Island “LBI”, New Jersey

Long Beach Island (LBI) is a barrier island and summer vacation destination located on the coast of Ocean County, sitting between Atlantic City to the south and Island Beach State Park to the north. The island is approximately 18 miles in length, one-and-a-half miles out to sea, and includes three miles of marsh protected as part of Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge located on the southern tip. The island is home to about 10,000 people on a year-round basis, but the population swells significantly during the summer months and reaches about 100,000-200,000 people, including part-time residents and tourists. The primary industries of the island include tourism, fishing, and real estate.

Long Beach Island has been continuously settled since 1690, initially being a destination for hunters and first recorded by Henry Hudson on his passing. Barnegat Inlet, to the north of the island, was an important path for freight shipments and whaling from the 17th century through the 20th century. In 1899, Long Beach Township was formed as a way to organize the small towns of the island. Today, Long Beach Township incorporates 19 of the current 24 towns. Surf City, Harvey Cedars, and Beach Haven were already incorporated in 1899 when Long Beach Township was formed. Barnegat Light and Ship Bottom would follow later forming what the island is today; a beach-goers haven with some of the best real estate on the Eastern Seaboard!