Brigantine, New Jersey
Encyclopedia : B : BR : BRI : Brigantine, New Jersey
Brigantine is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 12,594.
Geography
Brigantine is located at (39.402150, -74.379074)[Geographic references#1GR1].According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 25.4 km² (9.8 mi²). 16.7 km² (6.4 mi²) of it is land and 8.7 km² (3.4 mi²) of it (34.32%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 12,594 people, 5,473 households, and 3,338 families residing in the city. The population density was 756.2/km² (1,959.0/mi²). There were 9,304 housing units at an average density of 558.7/km² (1,447.2/mi²). 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.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.
History
Early HistoryThe rich heritage of Brigantine Beach began in the 1500s when the Lenni Lenape Native Americans called the island their "summer playground" or "Watamoonica."
The Dutch were the first Europeans to explore the Jersey coastline searching for a waterway through the New World to the Orient. The log book of Henry Hudson's ship "Half Moon" recalls the first observation of Brigantine Beach on September 2, 1608: "This is a very good land to fall in with, and a pleasant land to see..." The legendary pirate, Captain William Kidd is said to have buried treasure under Brigantine Beach sand.
The name "Brigantine" came from a type of 1600s ship; perhaps one of the first of over three hundred vessels wrecked on the notorious offshore shoals - during a two hundred year period.
In the 1700s several families, whose large landholdings were known as "plantations," owned the island. During the American Revolution, American privateers (patriot - pirates) hid in the north and south inlets and would suddenly streak to attack unwary or disabled British ships. Shipbuilding and salt manufacturing (from sea water) became important industries during the war.
Whalers used Brigantine Beach to launch attacks on migrating whales from New England. (Today the Marine Mammal Stranding Center assists sick and injured whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles. The Brigantine Wildlife Refuge on the north end is a state protected haven for birds, rabbits, and foxes.)
Turn of the 19th Century
Several attempts were made during the late 1800s to develop Brigantine on a significant scale. In connection with one of these attempts, made by the Brigantine Improvement Company, the island's name was briefly changed to "North Atlantic City."
During this period, a railroad was built to connect Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Brigantine; 16 trolleys ran the length of the island; and steamboats carried people to and from Atlantic City during the "Gay Nineties." Hotels sprang up and some served as getaways for important people including U.S. President Grover Cleveland. Hard times and harsh storms ended this boom in the early 1900s. In 1917 the City had only 54 full-time residents and an operating budget of $5,400.
The City also undertook a variety of infrastructure improvements, such as streets and sewage and water facilities, for which it issued bonds. With the Stock market crash of 1929 and the onset of the Great Depression, the island experienced a cessation of demand for homes and the Island Development Company ceased operating, deeding its remaining properties to the City.
World War II to Present
Brigantine Beach bounced back again and again, and survived major storms in 1944 and 1962. The Brigantine Inn was the site of the Coastal Warning Service of the United States Army during World War II when local citizens made extraordinary sacrifices.
After the war the island grew steadily, building up to the present day year-round population of 12,600. The maintenance of controlled, primarily residential, development of the City is mandated by the City's 1992 Master Plan and by state control of types of development in barrier islands such as Brigantine. The advent of legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City in 1978 has caused an increase in certain of these trends, but in the experience of City officials, the basic pattern of orderly growth has continued.
From mid-1976 to 1987, an amusement park on a fishing pier remained famous for its "haunted house" known as "Brigantine Castle". Brigantine Castle burnt down due to arson in 1987.
Government
Local government
Pursuant to the vote of the electorate in 1989, the form of government in the City of Brigantine has been established as the Council-Manager plan under the Faulkner Act. The City of Brigantine is governed by a City Council consisting of a Mayor (elected at large), two at-large Council members and four ward Council members – each serving four-year terms. The Mayor presides over the meetings of City Council. The functions of the Council are, among others, to adopt the municipal budget and to enact ordinances to promote and ensure the security, health, government and protection of the City and its residents.The Mayor of Briganine City is Philip J. Guenther. Members of the City Council are:
- Councilwoman-at-Large - Sue Schilling
- Councilman-at-Large - John Murray
- Councilman Ward 1 - Robert Solari
- Councilman Ward 2 - Rich Casamento, Deputy Mayor
- Councilman Ward 3 - Sam Storino
- Councilman Ward 4 - Jim Frugoli
Federal, state and county representation
Brigantine is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 2nd Legislative District.New Jersey's Second Congressional District, covering all of Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County and Salem County and portions of Burlington County and Gloucester County, is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Vineland). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Robert Menendez (D, Union City).
The 2nd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by William Gormley (R) and in the Assembly by Francis J. Blee (R, Absecon) and Jim Whelan (D, Atlantic City). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Atlantic County's County Executive is Dennis Levinson. The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders, administers all county business. Atlantic County's Freeholders are Francis Sutton, James Curcio, Frank Finnerty (Freeholder Vice Chairman), Alisa Cooper, Joe Kelly, Rev. Lawton Nelson, Thomas Russo, Sue Schilling and Joseph F. Silipena (Freeholder Chairman).
External links
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