Atlantic County, New Jersey

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Atlantic County, New Jersey
Seal of Atlantic County, New Jersey
Map
Map of New Jersey highlighting Atlantic County
Location in the state of New Jersey
Map of the USA highlighting New Jersey
New Jersey's location in the USA
Statistics
Founded 1837
Seat Mays Landing
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
1,739 km² (671 mi²)
1,453 km² (561 mi²)
286 km² (110 mi²), 16.44%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density
252,552
174/km² 
Website: www.aclink.org

Atlantic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population is 252,552. Its county seat is Mays Landing6.

This county is part of the Delaware Valley area.

Contents

[edit] History

All of what is known today as Atlantic County was once called Egg Harbor Township, the eastern half of the original County of Gloucester. Named as an official district as early as 1693, when the area was known as the province of West Jersey, it was bounded on the north by the Little Egg Harbor River (now known as the Mullica River), and on the south by the Great Egg Harbor River and its southern branch the Tuckahoe River. Its eastern boundary was the Atlantic Ocean, but the western boundary in the South Jersey interior was not fixed until 1761.

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,739 km² (671 mi²). 1,453 km² (561 mi²) of it is land and 286 km² (110 mi²) of it (16.44%) is water.

Topographically, much of Atlantic County is low-lying and flat. The highest elevation, approximately 150 feet (50 m) above sea level, is found at two areas next to the NJ Transit passenger rail line just east of Hammonton. Sea level is the lowest point.

[edit] Adjacent Counties

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1840 8,726
–
1850 8,961 2.7%
1860 11,786 31.5%
1870 14,093 19.6%
1880 18,704 32.7%
1890 28,836 54.2%
1900 46,402 60.9%
1910 71,894 54.9%
1920 83,914 16.7%
1930 124,823 48.8%
1940 124,066 -0.6%
1950 132,399 6.7%
1960 160,880 21.5%
1970 175,043 8.8%
1980 194,119 10.9%
1990 224,327 15.6%
2000 252,552 12.6%
Est. 2005 271,015 [1] 7.3%
historical census data source: [2][3]

As of the census² of 2000, there were 252,552 people, 95,024 households, and 63,190 families residing in the county. The population density was 174/km² (450/mi²). There were 114,090 housing units at an average density of 79/km² (203/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.36% White, 17.63% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 5.06% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.06% from other races, and 2.58% from two or more races. 12.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 95,024 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.50% were married couples living together, 14.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.50% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.30% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,933, and the median income for a family was $51,710. Males had a median income of $36,397 versus $28,059 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,034. About 7.60% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.80% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

The Atlantic County Courthouse in Mays Landing in 2006
The Atlantic County Courthouse in Mays Landing in 2006

In 1974, Atlantic County voters changed the county governmental form under the Optional County Charter Law to the County executive form. The charter provides for a popularly-elected executive and for a nine-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, responsible for legislation. The freeholders are elected to staggered three-year terms in partisan elections. Five of the freeholders represent equally-populated districts[4]; four are elected from the county on an at-large basis.

Dennis Levinson is Atlantic County's Executive. The Current Board of Chosen Freeholders Members are:[5]

  • Alisa Cooper, Freeholder At-Large (2008)
  • Frank Giordano, Freeholder At-Large (2009)
  • Joe Kelly, Freeholder At-Large (2007)
  • Chairman Joseph F. Silipena, Freeholder At-Large (2008)
  • Rev. Lawton Nelson, Freeholder District 1, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part) and Pleasantville. (2007)
  • Vice Chairman Thomas Russo, Freeholder District 2, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part), Longport, Margate, Somers Point and Ventnor. (2009)
  • Frank Sutton, Freeholder District 3, including Egg Harbor Township (part), Hamilton Township (part), Linwood and Northfield. (2008)
  • Sue Schilling, Freeholder District 4, including Absecon, Brigantine, Galloway Township and Port Republic. (2007)
  • James Curcio, 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. (2009)

[edit] Municipalities

Index map of Atlantic County (click to see index key)
Index map of Atlantic County (click to see index key)

[edit] Education

Institutions of higher education in Atlantic County include:

[edit] References

  1. ^ QuickFacts: Atlantic County, New Jersey. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on March 1, 2007.
  2. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by County: 1880 - 1930.
  3. ^ Geostat Center: Historical Census Browser. University of Virginia Library. Retrieved on March 2, 2007.
  4. ^ Atlantic County Freeholder District Map, accessed May 25, 2006
  5. ^ Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, accessed March 1, 2007

[edit] External links

This box: view • talk • edit
Municipalities of Atlantic County, New Jersey
(County seat: Mays Landing)
Boroughs Buena | Folsom | Longport |
Cities Absecon | Atlantic City | Brigantine | Corbin City | Egg Harbor City | Estell Manor | Linwood | Margate City | Northfield | Pleasantville | Port Republic | Somers Point | Ventnor City
Town Hammonton
Townships Buena Vista | Egg Harbor | Galloway | Hamilton | Mullica | Weymouth
CDPs and other communities Collings Lakes | Elwood-Magnolia | Mays Landing | Pomona | Richland | Smithville


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