Somers purchased the land along the northern periphery of the Great Egg Harbor Bay from Thomas Budd in 1693, making it the oldest European settlement in what is now Atlantic County.

Great Egg Harbour Township was designated in 1693 from the eastern portions of Gloucester County, which included Somers Point.

In 1695, John Somers operated the first ferry service across the Great Egg Harbor Bay to Cape May County.

His son Richard built Somers Mansion overlooking the harbor sometime between 1720 and 1726, which remains the county's oldest existing home.

[29][30] By the 1830s, when Somers Point became part of Atlantic County, it was a popular summer resort with several boarding houses.

[31] Somers Point was originally incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 24, 1886, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, based on the results of a referendum held five days earlier.

[27] Somers Point was subsequently reincorporated as a borough on April 2, 1890 based on the previous day's referendum, and was finally incorporated as a city on April 9, 1902, from all of Somers Point borough and additional portions of Egg Harbor Township.

[2][3] Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ocean Heights.

[45][46] The largest employer in Somers Point is Shore Medical Center, with 1,500 employees, 370 physicians, and 296 beds.

[27][48][49] Somers Point is the home to the largest crabbing tournament in the United States, the Assault on Patcong Creek.

Founded in 2010, the tournament takes place annually in June and attracts participants from over a dozen states.

[51] Along the Somers Point bay lays a 6.18 acre park named after 35th United .States President John F. Kennedy.

As the city's Chief Executive Officer, the Mayor puts into effect the municipal laws, known as ordinances.

[54] As of 2024[update], the Mayor of Somers Point is Republican Dennis Tapp, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2027.

[59] In August 2019, the City Council selected Janice Johnston from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the First Ward seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Ron Meischker until he resigned the previous month after announcing that he was moving out of the city.

[62] In September 2017, the City Council selected Ron Meischker from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican Municipal Committee to fill the vacant 1st Ward seat expiring in December 2018 that had been held by Thomas Smith until he resigned from office earlier that month.

[63] In January 2016, the City Council selected James Toto from three names nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the 2nd Ward seat expiring in 2017 that was vacated by Maureen Kern when she took office as a member of the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

[68][69][70] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).

[72] For the 2024-2025 session, the 2nd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Vincent J. Polistina (R, Egg Harbor Township) and in the General Assembly by Don Guardian (R, Atlantic City) and Claire Swift (R, Margate City).

[74][75] As of 2025[update], Atlantic County's Executive is Dennis Levinson (R, Northfield), whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.

[94] Among the city's 2010 Census population, 61.3% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 77.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 22, 1989 for its significance in architecture, entertainment/recreation, and social history.

[138][139] The 1983 movie Eddie and the Cruisers was largely filmed in Somers Point, using the defunct Tony Mart's nightclub as a setting.