Egg Harbor City, New Jersey

History

Egg Harbor City was founded in 1854 by German Americans from Philadelphia as a refuge for those being persecuted in the anti-immigrant violence known as the Know-Nothing movement. It remained an island of German language and culture in South Jersey for more than 50 years.

Egg Harbor City was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 14, 1858, from portions of Galloway Township and Mullica Township. The city was reincorporated on February 13, 1868. The city's named comes from the gull eggs found in the area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 11.438 square miles (29.625 km²), including 10.932 square miles (28.314 km²) of land and 0.506 square miles (1.311 km²) of water (4.42%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Clarks Landing, Gloucester Furnace and Gloucester Lake.

The city borders Mullica Township and Galloway Township in Atlantic County, and Washington Township in Burlington County.

The city is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering 1,100,000 acres (450,000 ha), that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve. All of the city is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Atlantic County, along with areas in Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 4,243 people, 1,593 households, and 1,075 families residing in the city. The population density was 388.1 per square mile (149.8/km²). The city contained 1,736 housing units at an average density of 158.8 per square mile (61.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.95% (2,671) White, 17.94% (761) Black or African American, 0.38% (16) Native American, 2.22% (94) Asian, 0.09% (4) Pacific Islander, 12.28% (521) from other races, and 4.15% (176) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 26.28% (1,115) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,593 households, 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, 24.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.4 years. For every 100 females the census counted 96.9 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 93.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $52,893 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,582) and the median family income was $67,654 (+/- $6,555). Males had a median income of $35,182 (+/- $7,553) versus $33,994 (+/- $2,214) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,294 (+/- $3,702). About 11.3% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.2% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 4,545 people, 1,658 households, and 1,150 families residing in the city. The population density was 409.2 people per square mile (158.0/km²). There were 1,770 housing units at an average density of 159.4/sq mi (61.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.80% White, 14.19% African American, 0.37% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 13.49% from other races, and 3.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.55% of the population.

There were 1,658 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,956, and the median income for a family was $40,040. Males had a median income of $27,978 versus $23,560 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,151. About 11.7% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

The City of Egg Harbor City is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Small Municipality Plan, which is available to communities with fewer than 12,000 residents. The elected officials that head the government are a mayor and nine council members all elected at-large in partisan elections. The mayor is elected to a four-year term of office. City Council members are elected to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election.

The mayor is the statutory head of the Police department and the Chief Executive Officer of the City. The City Council makes local laws, sets an agenda pertaining to the direction that the governments programs and approves budgets for various programs. The City Administrator takes the elected officials programs and sets policy and procedures in order to carry out the day-to-day operations of the municipality. The City Administrator also deals with Federal, State, County and neighbor Municipal officials to implement the community's needs.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Egg Harbor City is Democrat Lisa Jiampetti, whose four-year term of office ends on December 31, 2016. Members of the City Council are Council President Edward D. Dennis (D, 2018), President Pro Tempore Hazel A. Mueller (D, 2017), Robert Guerrieri (R, 2016), Stefania Kuehner (D, 2016), Angelo Lello (R, 2018), Clifford Mays Jr. (R, 2017), Albert "Pat" Moran (D, 2016), Robert Ross (R, 2017) and Mason Wright Jr. (D, 2018).

Federal, state and county representation

Egg Harbor City is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 2nd state legislative district.

New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 2nd Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jim Whelan (D, Atlantic City) and in the General Assembly by Chris A. Brown (R, Ventnor City) and Vince Mazzeo (D, Northfield). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Atlantic County is governed by a directly elected executive and a nine-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, responsible for legislation. The executive serves a four-year term and the freeholders are elected to staggered three-year terms, of which four are elected from the county on an at-large basis and five of the freeholders represent equally populated districts. As of 2015, Atlantic County's Executive is Republican Dennis Levinson, whose term of office ends December 31, 2015. Members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders are Chairman Frank D. Formica, Freeholder District 2, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part), Linwood, Longport, Margate, Northfield, Somers Point and Ventnor (R, 2015), Vice Chairman James A. Bertino, 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 (R, 2015), Colin G. Bell, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2015), John Carman, Freeholder District 3, including Egg Harbor Township (part) and Hamilton Township (part) (R, 2017), Ernest D. Coursey, Freeholder District 1, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part) and Pleasantville (R, 2016), Richard Dase, Freeholder District 4, including Absecon, Brigantine, Galloway Township and Port Republic (D, 2016), Alexander C. Marino, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2017), Will Pauls, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2016) and John W. Risley, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2017). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Edward P. McGettigan (2016), Sheriff Frank X. Balles (R, 2017) and Surrogate James Curcio (2015).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 2,562 registered voters in Egg Harbor City, of which 851 (33.2% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 617 (24.1% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans and 1,093 (42.7% vs. 44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the city's 2010 Census population, 60.4% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 80.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,121 votes here (61.0% vs. 57.9% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 674 votes (36.7% vs. 41.1%) and other candidates with 27 votes (1.5% vs. 0.9%), among the 1,838 ballots cast by the city's 2,724 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.5% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,166 votes here (60.0% vs. 56.5% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 737 votes (38.0% vs. 41.6%) and other candidates with 21 votes (1.1% vs. 1.1%), among the 1,942 ballots cast by the city's 2,969 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.4% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 975 votes here (54.0% vs. 52.0% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 779 votes (43.1% vs. 46.2%) and other candidates with 21 votes (1.2% vs. 0.8%), among the 1,806 ballots cast by the city's 2,626 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.8% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 659 votes here (59.3% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 385 votes (34.7% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with 16 votes (1.4% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,111 ballots cast by the city's 2,700 registered voters, yielding a 41.1% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 576 ballots cast (46.4% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 520 votes (41.9% vs. 47.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 58 votes (4.7% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 27 votes (2.2% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,242 ballots cast by the city's 2,677 registered voters, yielding a 46.4% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Education

The Egg Harbor City School District is responsible for education of public school children in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its two schools had an enrollment of 739 students and 47.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.7:1. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Charles L. Spragg School with 270 students in pre-K to Grade 3 and Egg Harbor City Community School with 232 students in grades 4 to 8.

Students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Cedar Creek High School, which is located in the northern section of Egg Harbor City and opened to students in September 2010. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 910 students and 66.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.7:1. The school is one of three high schools operated as part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, which also includes the constituent municipalities of Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township and Mullica Township, and participates in sending/receiving relationships with Port Republic and Washington Township (Burlington County). Cedar Creek High School is zoned to serve students from Egg Harbor City, Mullica Township, Port Republic and Washington Township, while students in portions of Galloway and Hamilton townships have the opportunity to attend Cedar Creek through the school of choice program or through attendance in magnet programs offered at Cedar Creek.

Township public school students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point.

The Pilgrim Academy is a private Christian school. Founded by Dr. Warren Allem in 1971, the school teaches children from Kindergarten through 12th Grade. The name is taken from John Bunyan's allegorical novel The Pilgrim's Progress.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the city had a total of 50.09 miles (80.61 km) of roadways, of which 34.05 miles (54.80 km) were maintained by the municipality, 14.46 miles (23.27 km) by Atlantic County and 1.58 miles (2.54 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

The White Horse Pike passes through Egg Harbor City, which intersects with the northern terminus of New Jersey Route 50. Also passing through are County Route 561 and County Route 563.

The closest limited access road is the Atlantic City Expressway which is two towns away in Hamilton Township while the Garden State Parkway is accessible in neighboring Galloway Township.

Public transportation

The Egg Harbor City station provides NJ Transit service on the Atlantic City Line, connecting 30th Street Station in Philadelphia and the Atlantic City Rail Terminal in Atlantic City.

NJ Transit provides bus service to and from Atlantic City on the 554 route.

The South Jersey Transportation Authority provides shuttle bus service connecting the Egg Harbor City train station with Atlantic City International Airport and Stockton University, as well as other area locations.

Wineries

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Egg Harbor City include: