Long Beach Island
| Long Beach Island | ||
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| Waters | Atlantic Ocean | |
| Geographical location | 39 ° 38 ′ N , 74 ° 11 ′ W | |
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| length | 29 km | |
| width | 800 m | |
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Long Beach Island , also known as LBI by locals , is a barrier island on the coast of the Atlantic and belongs to Ocean County , New Jersey . The island is about 29 kilometers long and 800 meters wide at its widest point. The northern half of the island is poorly developed, while the southern part is more densely populated. The inhabitants of the island live mainly from tourism and fishing . A bridge (Manahawkin Bay Bridge) and three trestle bridges connect the island to the mainland. One of the main attractions is the Barnegat Lighthouse on the northern tip of the island.
The island was already a popular destination for beach vacationers in the 19th century. The Engleside Hotel in Beach Haven offered adequate accommodation to a wealthy population as early as the 1870s. The good connection to New York City and Philadelphia also made it possible for poorer sections of the population to spend a day on the beach here. In July 1916, however, the island was affected by the shark attacks , which then attracted national attention.
