Atlantic County, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
National protected areas
- Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife RefugeEdwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife RefugeThe Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located in southern New Jersey along the Atlantic coast north of Atlantic City, in Atlantic and Ocean counties. The refuge was created in 1984 out of two existing refuge parcels created to protect tidal...
(part) - Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River (part)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 252,552 people, 95,024 households, and 63,190 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 450 people per square mile (174/km²). There were 114,090 housing units at an average density of 203 per square mile (79/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.36% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 17.63% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.26% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.06% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 6.06% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.58% from two or more races. 12.17% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 18.6% were of Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
, 13.0% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 9.5% German and 5.2% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 95,024 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.50% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $43,933, and the median income for a family was $51,710. Males had a median income of $36,397 versus $28,059 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $21,034. About 7.60% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2010 the racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 58.59% Non-Hispanic whites, 14.89% Non-Hispanic blacks, 1.19% Hispanic blacks, 0.18% Non-Hispanic Native Americans, 0.21% Hispanic Native Americans, 7.50% Asians, 0.03% Pacific Islanders, 0.17% Non-Hispanics of some other race, 1.87% non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and a total of 16.84% Hispanics or Latinos.
Government and politics
In 1974, Atlantic County voters changed the county governmental form under the Optional County Charter Law to the County executiveCounty executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
form. The charter provides for a popularly-elected executive and for a nine-member Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
, responsible for legislation. The freeholders are elected to staggered three-year terms in partisan elections. Five of the freeholders represent equally-populated districts; four are elected from the county on an at-large basis. Republicans contol six of the nine seats.
Dennis Levinson
Dennis Levinson
Dennis Levinson is the County Executive of Atlantic County, New Jersey. Levinson is currently serving his third term as County Executive, the highest elected office in Atlantic County. He took office in January 2000.-Biography:...
(R) is Atlantic County's Executive. The Current Board of Chosen Freeholders Members are:
- Alisa CooperAlisa CooperAlisa Cooper is an American Democratic Party politician. She lives in Linwood, New Jersey. She is the Freeholder At Large for Atlantic County, New Jersey. She is also President of Alisa Cooper Orchestras and she teaches in the Egg Harbor Township School District. She is also the daughter of the...
, Freeholder At-Large (2011) - Chairman James Curcio, Freeholder District 5, including Buena Borough, Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hamilton Township (part), Hammonton, Mullica Township and Weymouth. (2012)
- Richard Dase, Freeholder District 4, including Absecon, Brigantine, Galloway Township and Port Republic. (2010)
- Frank Giordano, Freeholder At-Large (2012)
- Charles Garrett, Freeholder District 1, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part) and Pleasantville. (2010)
- Joseph McDevitt, Freeholder At-Large (2010)
- Frank Formica, Freeholder District 2, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part), Longport, Margate, Somers Point and Ventnor. (2012)
- Jim Schroeder, Freeholder At-Large (2011)
- Frank Sutton, Freeholder District 3, including Egg Harbor Township (part), Hamilton Township (part), Linwood and Northfield. (2011)
The head of the Atlantic County Sheriff's Office
Atlantic County Sheriff's Office
The Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office is a law enforcement agency located in Atlantic County, New Jersey, with countywide jurisdiction as mandated by the State Constitution of New Jersey. The Sheriff is responsible for providing a variety of functions associated with the judicial process and...
is elected to serve a three year term. There currently are no term limits in place. The current Sheriff, Frank X. Balles (R), took office on January 1, 2009.
In state and national elections, Atlantic County is a reliably Democratic county, in contrast to the other three counties on the Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
, Monmouth
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
, Ocean
Ocean County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 510,916 people, 200,402 households, and 137,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 803 people per square mile . There were 248,711 housing units at an average density of 151/km²...
, and Cape May
Cape May County, New Jersey
-Climate:Being the southernmost point in New Jersey, Cape May has fairly mild wintertime temperatures. Contrary to that, the summertime has lower temperatures than most places in the state, making the county a popular place to escape the heat. It is in zone 7a/7b, which is the same as parts of...
Counties, which tend to lean heavily Republican. In the 2004 U.S. Presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
, John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
carried Atlantic by a 5.9% margin over incumbent George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, with Kerry winning by 6.7% statewide over Bush. In 2008
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, the county voted for Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
by a 15% margin over John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
, with Obama winning New Jersey by 15.5% over McCain. Atlantic County has backed the Democratic nominee in every Presidential election since 1992
United States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....
. However, in the 2009 Gubernatorial Election
New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009
The New Jersey gubernatorial election of 2009 took place on November 3, 2009. Democratic Governor Jon Corzine was running for a second term and was being challenged by Republican Chris Christie, Independent Christopher Daggett and nine others, in addition to several write-in candidates...
, Republican Chris Christie received 48% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
, who received around 45%.
Municipalities
- AbseconAbsecon, New JerseyAbsecon is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 8,411.What is now the City of Absecon was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 29, 1872, from portions of Egg Harbor...
(city) - Atlantic CityAtlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
(city) - BrigantineBrigantine, New JerseyBrigantine is an island city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,450....
(city) - Buena Vista TownshipBuena Vista Township, New JerseyBuena Vista Township is a township located in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 7,570....
(township)- Collings LakesCollings Lakes, New JerseyCollings Lakes is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within parts of Buena Vista Township and Folsom Borough in Atlantic County, and Monroe Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States...
- RichlandRichland, New JerseyRichland is an unincorporated area within Buena Vista Township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08350....
- Collings Lakes
- BuenaBuena, New JerseyBuena is a borough in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 4,603.Landisville and Minotola are unincorporated areas located within Buena Borough, both of which had postal facilities established with those names in 1871 and 1897,...
(borough) - Corbin CityCorbin City, New JerseyCorbin City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 492.Corbin City was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 11, 1922, from portions of Weymouth Township....
(city) - Egg Harbor CityEgg Harbor City, New JerseyEgg Harbor City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 4,243....
(city) - Egg Harbor TownshipEgg Harbor Township, New JerseyEgg Harbor Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 43,323, a growth of more than 40% since the previous enumeration....
(township) - Estell ManorEstell Manor, New JerseyEstell Manor is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 1,735.Estell Manor was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 14, 1925, from portions of Weymouth Township.-Geography:Estell Manor is...
(city) - FolsomFolsom, New JerseyFolsom is a borough in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,885.Folsom was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 23, 1906, from portions of Buena Vista Township.New Jersey Monthly magazine...
(borough) - Galloway TownshipGalloway Township, New JerseyGalloway Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 37,349...
(township)- PomonaPomona, New JerseyPomona is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Galloway Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey. At the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 4,019...
- Pomona
- Hamilton TownshipHamilton Township, Atlantic County, New JerseyHamilton Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 26,503...
(township)- Mays LandingMays Landing, New JerseyMays Landing is a census-designated place located within Hamilton Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 2,321. It is the county seat of Atlantic County...
- Mays Landing
- HammontonHammonton, New JerseyHammonton is a town in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 14,791. It is located directly between Philadelphia and the resort town of Atlantic City, along a former route of the Pennsylvania Railroad currently used by New Jersey...
(town) - LinwoodLinwood, New JerseyLinwood is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 7,092.Linwood was originally incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1889, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, based on the...
(city) - LongportLongport, New JerseyLongport is a borough in Atlantic County, New Jersey on the Atlantic Ocean shore of Absecon Island. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 895....
(borough) - Margate CityMargate City, New JerseyMargate City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 6,354.Margate City was originally incorporated as the borough of South Atlantic City by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on September 7, 1885, from portions of Egg Harbor...
(city) - Mullica TownshipMullica Township, New JerseyMullica Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 6,147....
(township)- Elwood-MagnoliaElwood-Magnolia, New JerseyElwood-Magnolia is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Mullica Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 1,392.-Geography:...
- Elwood-Magnolia
- NorthfieldNorthfield, New JerseyNorthfield is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 8,624.Northfield was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 21, 1905, from portions of Egg Harbor Township...
(city) - PleasantvillePleasantville, New Jersey-Local government:Pleasantville operates under the City form of New Jersey municipal government, led by a Mayor and a seven-member City Council. The City Council consists of two members elected from wards to three-year terms, and five members elected at-large to four-year terms in office, all of...
(city) - Port RepublicPort Republic, New JerseyPort Republic is a city located in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 1,115....
(city) - Somers PointSomers Point, New JerseySomers Point is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. At the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 10,795.The City of Somers Point is in the eastern part of Atlantic County, southwest of Atlantic City.-History:...
(city) - Ventnor CityVentnor City, New JerseyVentnor City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 10,650....
(city) - Weymouth TownshipWeymouth Township, New JerseyWeymouth Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 2,715....
(township)
Education
Institutions of higher education in Atlantic County include:- Atlantic Cape Community CollegeAtlantic Cape Community CollegeAtlantic Cape Community College is an accredited, co-educational, two-year, public, community college located in both Atlantic County and Cape May County in New Jersey. ACCC enrolls more than 6,000 students...
in Mays LandingMays Landing, New JerseyMays Landing is a census-designated place located within Hamilton Township, in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 2,321. It is the county seat of Atlantic County...
serves students from both Atlantic County and Cape May CountyCape May County, New Jersey-Climate:Being the southernmost point in New Jersey, Cape May has fairly mild wintertime temperatures. Contrary to that, the summertime has lower temperatures than most places in the state, making the county a popular place to escape the heat. It is in zone 7a/7b, which is the same as parts of...
. - Richard Stockton College of New JerseyRichard Stockton College of New JerseyThe Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, located in Galloway Township, New Jersey, an hour from Philadelphia and 20 minutes from Atlantic City, is an undergraduate and graduate college of the arts, sciences and professional studies of the New Jersey system of higher education. The College was...
, in Pomona - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey at Atlantic Cape Community CollegeAtlantic Cape Community CollegeAtlantic Cape Community College is an accredited, co-educational, two-year, public, community college located in both Atlantic County and Cape May County in New Jersey. ACCC enrolls more than 6,000 students...
, in Mays Landing – For more information on this program please visit http://www.rutgersataccc.org.