Brigantine, NJ

Brigantine (or simply The Island) is a city in Atlantic County, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the city's population was 9,450,DP-1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 - 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Brigantine city, Atlantic County, New Jersey
United States Census Bureau. Accessed April 18, 2012.Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Brigantine city
, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed April 18, 2012. reflecting a decline of 3,144 (−25.0%) from the 12,594 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,240 (+10.9%) from the 11,354 counted in the 1990 Census.

What is now the City of Brigantine has passed through a series of names and re-incorporations since it was first created. The area was originally incorporated as Brigantine Beach Borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 14, 1890, from portions of Galloway Township, based on the results of a referendum held on June 3, 1890. On April 23, 1897, the area was reincorporated as the City of Brigantine City. This name lasted until April 9, 1914, when it was renamed the City of East Atlantic City. On March 16, 1924, Brigantine was incorporated as a city, replacing East Atlantic City and incorporating further portions of Galloway Township.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 67. Accessed April 18, 2012. The borough was named for the many shipwrecks in the area, including those of brigantines.

''New Jersey Monthly'' magazine ranked Brigantine as its 36th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey. NJ.com designated Brigantine fourth in its rankings of "The 25 best Jersey Shore towns, ranked" in 2021.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 10.86 square miles (28.14 km²), including 6.52 square miles (16.89 km²) of land and 4.34 square miles (11.25 km²) of water (39.98%). Brigantine is located on Brigantine Island.

The only road to and from Brigantine is New Jersey Route 87, locally known as Brigantine Boulevard. The Justice Vincent S. Haneman Memorial Bridge is the only way on and off the island. The original bridge to the island that was constructed in 1924 was destroyed in the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944. The current bridge was constructed in 1972.

The city borders the Atlantic County municipalities of Atlantic City and Galloway Township.

Demographics

2010 Census

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,212 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,472) and the median family income was $79,318 (+/− $7,962). Males had a median income of $55,595 (+/− $5,655) versus $42,622 (+/− $5,179) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,571 (+/− $3,305). About 5.9% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 12,594 people, 5,473 households, and 3,338 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 9,304 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 83.15% White, 3.94% African American, 0.18% Native American, 5.72% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.67% from other races, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.41% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Brigantine city, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 21, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Brigantine city, Atlantic County, New Jersey
United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 21, 2013.

There were 5,473 households, out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,639, and the median income for a family was $51,679. Males had a median income of $40,523 versus $29,779 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,950. About 7.6% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Points of interest

* Brigantine Lighthouse – Constructed by the Island Development Real Estate Company in 1926 as part of an effort to attract residents to the island, the structure was too far from shore and too low to be used as a functioning lighthouse and has been used over the years as headquarters for the Brigantine Police Department, as a museum and as a gift shop, in addition to be a central identifying symbol of the city.
* Marine Mammal Stranding Center – Established in 1978 as the state's only marine stranding center, the center rehabilitates and releases stranded marine mammals and sea turtles, rescuing more than 3,900 whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles since it was formed.
* Part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is located on the northern end of Brigantine Island. The Refuge provides crucial habitat for many different types of endangered or threatened birds, including the American bald eagle, peregrine falcon, American black duck, and the piping plover.
* The Brigantine Hotel, still standing on the Atlantic coast side of the island, was an early integrated hotel starting in the 1940s, and was owned for a period by Father Divine's International Peace Mission movement. African American entrepreneur Sarah Spencer Washington acquired the hotel in the 1940s from Father Divine and created the area's first integrated beach area. The facility is now known as Legacy Vacation Resorts Brigantine Beach.

Government

Local government

Since 1989, the City of Brigantine has been governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Council-Manager form (Plan 5), implemented by direct petition effective as of January 1, 1991. The city is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor (elected at large), two at-large council members and four ward council members, all of whom serve terms of office of four years. The mayor and the two at-large council seats come up for vote as part of the November general election in leap years, with the four ward seats up for vote simultaneously two years later. The Mayor presides over the meetings of the City Council. The Council adopts the municipal budget and enacts ordinances to promote and ensure the security, health, government and protection of the City and its residents.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2006, p. 13.

, the Mayor of Brigantine is Republican Vince Sera, who was elected to serve the balance of the term of office ending December 31, 2022, that had been held by Andy Simpson until his death. Members of the City Council are Karen Bew (R, 2024; Ward 1), Rick DeLucry ( D, 2024; Ward 4), Dennis Haney (R, 2024; Ward 3), Neal Kane (R, 2022; At-Large - elected to serve an unexpired term), Paul Lettieri (R, 2024; Ward 2) and Michael Riordan (R, 2022; At-Large).City Council
City of Brigantine Beach. Accessed May 14, 2022.Municipal Government
Atlantic County, New Jersey