Brigantine, New Jersey
Brigantine (or simply The Island) is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 9,450, 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. 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. Geography. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 10.86 square miles (28.14 km), including 6.52 square miles (16.89 km) of land and 4.34 square miles (11.25 km) 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 1,959.0 people per square mile (756.2/km). There were 9,304 housing units at an average density of 1,447.2 per square mile (558.7/km). 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. 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 565) 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 . , the Mayor of Brigantine is Republican Andy Simpson, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022. Members of the City Council are Karen Bew (R, 2020; Ward 1), Rick DeLucry (D, 2020; Ward 4), Dennis Haney (R, 2020; Ward 3), Paul Lettieri (R, 2020 - elected to serve an unexpired term; Ward 2), Michael Riordan (R, 2022; At-Large) and Vincent Sera (R, 2022; At-Large). In January 2019, the city council selected Paul Lettieri to fill the Ward 2 seat that had been held by Michael Riordan unil he vacated it to take the at-large seat he won in  the November 2018 general election; Lettieri served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office. In December 2015, John Withers IV was selected from three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the Ward 3 seat expiring in December 2016 that had been vacated following the resignation of Joseph M. Picardi earlier that month. Karen Bew was selected in January 2015 from among three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the Ward 1 seat that was vacated by Andrew Simpson  when he took office in an at-large seat. In November 2015, she was elected to serve the balance of the term. Federal, state and county representation. Brigantine is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 2nd state legislative district. Politics. As of March 23, 2011, there was a total of 6,430 registered voters in Brigantine City, of whom 1,219 (19.0% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,679 (41.7% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans, and 2,524 (39.3% vs. 44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 8 voters registered to other parties. Among  the city's 2010 Census population, 68.0% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 81.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide). In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 2,462 votes (53.5% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,068 votes (44.9% vs. 57.9%) and other candidates with 49 votes (1.1% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,605 ballots cast by the city's 6,944 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.3% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,652 votes (53.2% vs. 41.6% countywide), ahead  of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,218 votes (44.5% vs. 56.5%) and other candidates with 67 votes (1.3% vs. 1.1%), among the 4,984 ballots cast by the city's 7,214 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.1% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,627 votes (53.7% vs. 46.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,181 votes (44.6% vs. 52.0%) and other candidates with 36 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,888 ballots cast by the city's 6,847 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.4% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county ). In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,270 votes (73.2% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 715 votes (23.1% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with 35 votes (1.1% vs. 1.3%), among the 3,099 ballots cast by the city's 6,977 registered voters, yielding a 44.4% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,877 votes (57.7% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,147 votes (35.2% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 173 votes (5.3% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 26 votes (0.8% vs. 1.2 %), among the 3,255 ballots cast by the city's 6,632 registered voters, yielding a 49.1% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county). Education. The Brigantine Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 563 students and 68.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.3:1. The district's board of education has seven members who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type I school district, the board 's trustees are appointed by the Mayor to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three members up for reappointment each year. Of the more than 600 school districts statewide, Brigantine is one of 15 districts with appointed school districts. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Brigantine Elementary School with 329 students in grades PreK-4 and Brigantine North Middle School with 254 students in grades 5–8. Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades, along with those from Longport, Margate City and  Ventnor City, attend Atlantic City High School in neighboring Atlantic City, as part of sending/receiving relationships with the Atlantic City School District. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,796 students and 153.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.7:1. City public school students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point. Transportation. Roads and highways. , the city had a total of  of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Atlantic County, by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the South Jersey Transportation Authority. Constructed in 1972, the Brigantine Bridge is a vehicular bridge over Absecon Inlet, providing the only road access to Brigantine Island; formally known as the Justice Vincent S. Haneman Memorial Bridge, it carries New Jersey Route 87. Public transportation. NJ Transit provides bus service to and from Atlantic City on the 501 route. Climate. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Brigantine, New Jersey has a humid subtropical climate ("Cfa") with hot, moderately humid  summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation. Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0 °F (> 0.0 °C), at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F (≥ 10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F (≥ 22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Brigantine, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values ≥ 95 ° F (≥ 35 °C). During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < 0 °F (< -18 °C). The plant hardiness zone at Brigantine Beach is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 7.3 °F (-13.7 °C). The average seasonal (Nov-Apr) snowfall total is between 12 and 18 inches (31 and 46 cm), and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity. Ecology. According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Brigantine, New  Jersey would have a dominant vegetation type of Northern Cordgrass ("73") with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie ("20"). Notable people. People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Brigantine include: