Sir Walter Raleigh is acknowledged as the first European “owner” of the lands that contained the state of New Jersey. He was granted a patent stating so by King James back in 1584. However, the first person to own the barrier island known as Seven Mile Island wasn’t noted until the year 1722.

   Seven Mile Island may be seven miles long, but it is only 3 to 4 city blocks wide with the Inland Waterway to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Stone Harbor occupies the southern half of the island, and its more recent history in the 1700’s began when farmers took their livestock to the island for pasturing in the warm months. Prior to this it was a fishing and a summer recreation area for Native Americans.

   However, it was a railroad – the West Jersey railroad – whose owners decided to build a bridge to Seven Mile Beach across Townsend’s Inlet in the north – that made the development of Stone Harbor possible. A man named Joseph Wells formed the Seven Mile Beach Company and began selling building lots.

   It’s said that the secretary of that company thought the perfect name for the development would be Avalon, the mythical city of King Arthur, and so the Avalon Beach Improvement Company was formed in 1888, and a year later the Avalon Beach Hotel Company was born.

   The southern area of the island was undeveloped, and the Avalon Development Company sold 3,674 acres, an area called Stone’s Harbor, to South Jersey Realty Company for $90,000 in 1907. Howard and David Reese then went on to create the Stone Harbor resort community. Streets and sidewalks were constructed, cottages and hotels went up, and Stone Harbor Boulevard was built to connect the island to the mainland.

   While the first building, an inn, was constructed in 1891 near what would become 80th Street, the first “tourist” community of Stone Harbor only had seven cottages in it.  It’s worth noting that today over 3,000 properties worth more than 1 billion dollars make up the town. However, the dunes were not leveled off until 1907 when the salt marshes were filled in. Today, twenty-eight miles of roads in Stone Harbor are lined with shopping areas, private homes and summer rental properties.

   In July of 1911 Governor Woodrow Wilson had the pleasure of dedicating the Stone Harbor Ocean Parkway.

   Only one lifeguard protected the beach at 94^th Street back in 1912. Now, 50 lifeguards at 21 locations along the Stone Harbor beaches watch the swimmers and surfers to keep them safe.

   Today, Stone Harbor “The Seashore at its Best!” is a lovely community of upscale private homes, excellent beaches, lovely shopping areas, great restaurants, a charming small town atmosphere, and first rate recreational facilities and services for fishing, water sports and fun for everyone. The friendly atmosphere of Stone Harbor invites visitors to a fantastic town geared to warm weather activities, fine dining, weekend getaways, super day trips, and weeks filled with nature’s ever-changing beauty on the beaches.

    It’s worth noting that Stone Harbor completed 100 years of happy resort development in 2007 1907-2007), and residents and property owners look forward to a future filled with relaxation and fun along the sand, as well as in the stores and shops that line the “downtown” shopping area. Shopping is another reason Stone Harbor is well known. People who enjoy shopping can spend many an hour in Stone Harbor, and the added bonuses of the beach, the water, and all that recreation are even more appreciated because of what the town offers to vacationers, visitors and local residents.

   So, a once inaccessible seven mile long island that was separated from the mainland by a wide salt marsh and a treacherous channel became Stone Harbor (“The Seashore at its Best!”) and Avalon (“Cooler by a Mile!”) and the rest, as some say, is “History!” The two resort communities offer the finest in family seashore living, fabulous beaches and recreation, charming small town atmospheres, fine dining and shopping, and all that one could want for the prefect getaway and vacation.

   Nature and history have been very kind to the communities of Avalon and Stone Harbor, and you’re invited to visit and enjoy all that Stone Harbor has to offer. Those who come here come back again and again. It simply doesn’t get any better than this.

   Don’t miss the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary at the southern end of Stone Harbor. It’s the only heronry in the U.S. sponsored by a town, and be sure to visit the Wetlands Institute, “The Natural Place to Have Fun!”

   Come to Avalon and Stone Harbor and make a little history of your own.  Nearly every form of recreation you could think of is on the island, or a short drive from it. See you soon!