Bridgeton, New Jersey

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Laurel Street in downtown Bridgeton in 2006

Bridgeton highlighted in Cumberland County. Inset map: Cumberland County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.

The Cohansey River in Bridgeton in 2006

The Cumberland County Courthouse in Bridgeton in 2006

Bridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 22,771. It is the county seat of Cumberland County^GR6. 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.

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. It straddles the tidal Cohansey River and is located near the center of the Delaware Bay lowlands. It has a zoo and numerous large city parks.^{[citation needed]}

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. Several other correctional facilities are located nearby.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Geography

Bridgeton is located at 39°25′46″N, 75°13′50″W (39.429564, -75.230461)^GR1. 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.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 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.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

The City of Bridgeton is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government. Voters elect a Mayor and 5 City Council members. Council members are elected at-large in non-partisan elections and serve 4-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 2/3 of all members, prepares the budget. The Mayor has veto over ordinances subject to override by 2/3 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 2/3 vote of all members and can override the Mayor's veto by 2/3 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.^[4]

On Election Day, May 9, 2006, Jim Begley defeated Michael Pirolli, 1,187 to 887. As determined in the 2006 elections, the new City Council would consist of Albert Kelly, Celeste Riley, Nick Salvatore, Bill Spence and Dennis Thompson. All took office on July 1, 2006.^[5]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Bridgeton is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District.^[6]

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, Vineland). 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). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).

Cumberland County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Cumberland County's Freeholders are: Douglas M. Rainear - Freeholder Director (Term ends December 31, 2007), Bruce T. Peterson - Freeholder Deputy Director (2008), Jane Yetman Christy (2008), Dr. Mary L. Gruccio (2007), Louis N. Magazzu (2006), James Rocco (2006) and Jeffrey M. Trout (2008).

[edit] Education

Bridgeton's public schools are operated by Bridgeton Public Schools. BPS is an Abbott District. Schools in the district are the G.O. Foster Early Childhood Center, six K-8/PreK-8 elementary schools (Buckshutem Road School, Broad Street School, Cherry Street School, Indian Avenue School, Quarter Mile Lane School and West Avenue School) and Bridgeton High School [1] for grades 9-12. Students from Downe Township and some students from Lawrence Township attend the high school as part of sending/receiving relationships.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikisource has an original article from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica about:

Bridgeton

• City of Bridgeton website
• Bridgeton Public Schools
• Bridgeton Public Schools's 2005-06 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• National Center for Education Statistics data for the Bridgeton Public Schools
• Bridgeton Police Department
• Maps and aerial photos Coordinates: 39.429564° -75.230461°
  • Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
  • Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
  • Topographic map from TopoZone
  • Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA

This box: view • talk • edit Municipalities of Cumberland County, New Jersey (County seat: Bridgeton)
Cities	Bridgeton | Millville | Vineland
Townships	Commercial | Deerfield | Downe | Fairfield | Greenwich | Hopewell | Lawrence | Maurice River | Stow Creek | Upper Deerfield
Borough	Shiloh
Communities	Cedarville | Fairton | Fortescue | Laurel Lake | Port Norris | Rosenhayn | Seabrook Farms