Bridgeton, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bridgeton, New Jersey | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Cumberland |
| Incorporated | March 1, 1865 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) |
| - Mayor | James Begley |
| - Administrator | Arch Liston[1] |
| Area | |
| - Total | 6.4 sq mi (16.7 km²) |
| - Land | 6.2 sq mi (16.1 km²) |
| - Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²) |
| Elevation [2] | 30 ft (9 m) |
| Population (2006)[3] | |
| - Total | 24,389 |
| - Density | 3,659.8/sq mi (1,413.1/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08302 |
| Area code(s) | 856 |
| FIPS code | 34-07600[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885169[5] |
| Website: http://www.cityofbridgeton.com | |
Bridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States, in the south part of the state, on Cohansey creek, near Delaware Bay. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 22,771. It is the county seat of Cumberland County[6]. Bridgeton, Millville and Vineland are the three principal New Jersey cities of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses those cities and all of Cumberland County for statistical purposes.
The first settlement in what is now Bridgeton was made by 1686 when Richard Hancock established a sawmill here.[7] A pioneer iron-works was established here in 1814. Bridgeton was originally incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1865, from portions of Deerfield Township. Bridgeton city was incorporated on March 1, 1865, replacing both Bridgeton Township and Cohansey Township.[8]
Bridgeton has the largest historic district of any incorporated town in New Jersey; it is dominated by large victorian houses and a downtown area constructed in the 1920s. Bridgeton straddles the tidal Cohansey River and is located near the center of the Delaware Bay lowlands. It is home to the Cohanzick Zoo and numerous large municipal parks.[9]
Although it suffered an economic downturn in the 1980s, immigration from southern Mexico has recently led to a revitalization. Immigrants work primarily in the agricultural regions around the city, which are among the most productive in the New Jersey. A significant minority of Bridgeton residents speak Zapotec.[citation needed]
South Woods State Prison, the largest state prison in New Jersey, is located in Bridgeton.
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[edit] Geography
Bridgeton is located at (39.429564, -75.230461)[10]. Bridgeton is located about one hour away from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 50 minutes away from Wilmington, Delaware. It is also about 1 hour away from Atlantic City and Cape May.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.4 square miles (16.7 km²), of which, 6.2 square miles (16.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (3.57%) is water.
Bridgeton borders Upper Deerfield Township, Hopewell Township, and Fairfield Township.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 15,699 |
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| 1940 | 15,992 | 1.9% | |
| 1950 | 18,378 | 14.9% | |
| 1960 | 20,966 | 14.1% | |
| 1970 | 20,435 | -2.5% | |
| 1980 | 18,795 | -8.0% | |
| 1990 | 18,942 | 0.8% | |
| 2000 | 22,771 | 20.2% | |
| Est. 2006 | 24,389 | [3] | 7.1% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[11] | |||
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 22,771 people, 6,182 households, and 4,179 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,659.8 people per square mile (1,413.5/km²). There were 6,795 housing units at an average density of 1,092.1/sq mi (421.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 38.88% White, 41.84% African American, 1.19% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 13.67% from other races, and 3.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 24.49% of the population.
There were 6,182 households out of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples living together, 26.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.49.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 130.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 139.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,923, and the median income for a family was $30,502. Males had a median income of $28,858 versus $22,722 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,917. About 22.7% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.
The town is highly populated by migrants coming from Mexico whose languages include Zapotec, Nahuatl, and Mixtec.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The City of Bridgeton is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.[12] Voters elect a Mayor and five City Council members. Council members are elected at-large in non-partisan elections and serve four-year concurrent terms.
The Mayor exercises executive power of the municipality and appoints department heads with Council approval. The Mayor may remove department heads subject to Council disapproval by ⅔ of all members, prepares the budget. The Mayor has veto over ordinances subject to override by ⅔ of all members of Council.
The City Council exercises legislative power of municipality and approves appointment of department heads. The Council may disapprove removal of department heads by ⅔ vote of all members and can override the Mayor's veto by ⅔ of all members. The Council elects one of its own members to serve as Council President
The Mayor exercises executive power of the municipality. Up to 10 departments may be created under the Mayor's direction. A Business Administrator assists the Mayor in budget preparation and administers purchasing and personnel systems. By ordinance, the Business Administrator may supervise administration of departments, subject to Mayor's direction.
The Mayor of Bridgeton is James Begley. Members of the City Council are Albert Kelly, Celeste Riley, Nicholas Salvatore, William Spence and Dennis Thompson.[1]
On Election Day, May 9, 2006, Jim Begley defeated Michael Pirolli, 1,187 to 887.[13]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Bridgeton is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District.[14]
New Jersey's Second Congressional District, covering all of Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County and Salem County and portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 3rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Stephen M. Sweeney (D, Thorofare) and in the Assembly by John J. Burzichelli (D, Thorofare) and Douglas H. Fisher (D, Thorofare).[15] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[16]
Cumberland County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at large in partisan elections to serve staggered three-year terms in office, with two or three seats coming up for election each year.[17] As of 2008, Cumberland County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Louis N. Magazzu (term ends December 31, 2009), Deputy Director Bruce T. Peterson (2008), Jane Yetman Christy (2008), Joseph Pepitone (2010), Douglas M. Rainear (2010), Joseph P. Riley (2009) and Jeffrey M. Trout (2008).[18]
[edit] Education
Bridgeton's public schools are operated by Bridgeton Public Schools. The district is one of 31 Abbott Districts statewide.[19] Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[20]) are the G.O. Foster Early Childhood Center (394 students), six K-8/PreK-8 elementary schools — Broad Street School (874), Buckshutem Road School (304), Cherry Street School (438), Indian Avenue School (594), Quarter Mile Lane School (378) and West Avenue School (475) — and Bridgeton High School for grades 9-12 (1,082). Students from Downe Township and some students from Lawrence Township attend the high school as part of sending/receiving relationships.[21]
[edit] Places of interest
- Old Broad Street Presbyterian Church Cemetery, burial site of six U.S. Congressman, and a Governor of New Jersey
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Bridgeton include:
- Ella Reeve Bloor (1862-1951), radical labor organizer.[22]
- Lucius Elmer (1793-1883), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district from 1843-1845.[23]
- Douglas H. Fisher, member of the New Jersey General Assembly who represents the 3rd legislative district and served on the Bridgeton City Council from 1990-1992.[24]
- Goose Goslin (1900-1971), Baseball Hall of Fame left fielder who played for the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers, in a career that ran from 1921 until 1938.[25]
- James G. Hampton (1814-1861) represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1845 to 1849.[26]
- George Jamison (1962-), NFL linebacker who played for the Detroit Lions.[27]
- Frank LoBiondo (1946-), Congressman who represents New Jersey's 2nd congressional district.[28]
- Brison Manor (1952-), defensive lineman who played eight seasons in the National Football League for the Denver Broncos, from 1977-1984.[29]
- Steve Rammel (1968-), retired U.S. soccer forward who played two seasons in Major League Soccer.[30]
- Elias P. Seeley (1791-1846), 11th Governor of New Jersey in 1833.[31]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Bridgeton Municipal Government, City of Bridgeton. Accessed May 22, 2008.
- ^ USGS GNIS: City of Bridgeton, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Bridgeton city, United States Census Bureau, accessed July 29, 2007.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Historic Bridgeton Walking Tour, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed October 26, 2007.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 119.
- ^ Public Works - Parks Division, City of Bridgeton. Accessed July 29, 2007.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 19.
- ^ Begley mayor in Bridgeton, Bridgeton News, May 10, 2006.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About Cumberland County Government, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed May 22, 2008.
- ^ County Freeholders, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed May 23, 2008.
- ^ Abbott Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2008.
- ^ Data for the Bridgeton Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 23, 2008.
- ^ Report Card Narrative for Bridgeton High School, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 8, 2007.
- ^ Ella Reeve Bloor, Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed September 24, 2007. "Ella Reeve grew up in Bridgeton, New Jersey."
- ^ Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer], Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 20, 2007.
- ^ Assembly Member Douglas H. Fisher, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 8, 2007.
- ^ News Journal of Mansfield, Ohio, January 29, 1968. "Reached at his home in Bridgeton, NJ, Goslin said He was overwhelmed at the news of his selection."
- ^ James Giles Hampton, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 25, 2007.
- ^ George Jamison player profile, database Football. Accessed July 29, 2007.
- ^ Frank A. Lobiondo biography, United States Congress. Accessed August 8, 2007.
- ^ Brison Manor, database Football. Accessed October 24, 2007.
- ^ "COLORADO RAPIDS DEAL STEVE RAMMEL TO METROSTARS FOR 1999 FIRST-ROUND SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT CHOICE", SoccerNews Online, March 5, 1998. Accessed May 23, 2008.
- ^ New Jersey Governor Elias Pettit Seeley, National Governors Association. Accessed July 29, 2007.
[edit] External links
- City of Bridgeton website
- Bridgeton Public Schools
- Bridgeton Public Schools's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Bridgeton Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- Bridgeton Police Department
- Bridgeton, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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