Bridgeton (New Jersey)

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 CountyVorlage:GR. 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 toward the close of the 18th century. 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.^[1]

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.^[2]

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.Vorlage:Fact

South Woods State Prison, the largest state prison in New Jersey, is located in Bridgeton.

Geography

Bridgeton is located at Vorlage:Coor dms (39.429564, -75.230461)Vorlage:GR. 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 16.7 km² (6.4 mi²). 16.1 km² (6.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (3.57%) is water.

Bridgeton borders Upper Deerfield Township, Hopewell Township, and Fairfield Township.

Demographics

Vorlage:USCensusPop As of the census Vorlage:GR of 2000, there were 22,771 people, 6,182 households, and 4,179 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,413.5/km² (3,659.8/mi²). There were 6,795 housing units at an average density of 421.8/km² (1,092.1/mi²). 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.

Government

Local government

The City of Bridgeton is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government. 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.^[3]

On Election Day, May 9, 2006, Jim Begley defeated Michael Pirolli, 1,187 to 887.^[4]