Margate City, New Jersey


Margate City is a city situated on the Jersey Shore on Absecon Island, within Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, on the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 5,317, a decrease of 1,037 from the 2010 census count of 6,354, which in turn had reflected a decline of 1,839 from the 8,193 counted in the 2000 census. Geographically, the city, and all of Atlantic County, is part of the South Jersey region of the state and of the Atlantic City-Hammonton metropolitan statistical area, which in turn is included in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.
The city is located on Absecon Island, which stretches for and is also home of Atlantic City and Ventnor City to the northeast, and Longport on the southwest. The city stretches about eight blocks from the Atlantic Ocean to the bay at most points in town. Margate is a popular Jersey Shore destination, especially during the summer, and is the home of Lucy the Elephant, a -tall wooden and metal-clad elephant recognized as America’s Oldest Surviving Roadside Attraction and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976, and of Marven Gardens, of Monopoly board game fame.

History

Margate City was originally incorporated as the borough of South Atlantic City by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on September 7, 1885, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, based on the results of a referendum held on August 1, 1885. South Atlantic City was reincorporated as a city on April 23, 1897, and then reincorporated with the name Margate City on April 20, 1909. The city was named for Margate in Kent, England.
A boardwalk was constructed in 1906. The boardwalk was built close to the Atlantic Ocean, which left it more vulnerable to storm damage than the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Large chunks of the boardwalk were destroyed in the 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane, with the remaining portions lasting until the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 1.63 square miles, including 1.42 square miles of land and 0.22 square miles of water.
Margate City borders Longport and Ventnor City.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 6,354 people, 3,156 households, and 1,805 families in the city. The population density was. There were 7,114 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 96.36% White, 0.71% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.75% of the population.
Of the 3,156 households, 14.6% had children under the age of 18; 45.8% were married couples living together; 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 42.8% were non-families. Of all households, 38.0% were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.64.
14.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 15.5% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 31.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 88.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $66,667 and the median family income was $90,625. Males had a median income of $81,759 versus $61,179 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $50,328. About 8.4% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 8,193 people, 3,984 households, and 2,302 families residing in the city. The population density was 2, 243.5/km2. There were 7,006 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 95.73% White, 0.87% African American, 0.02% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.71% of the population.
There were 3,984 households, out of which 16.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the city the population was spread out, with 15.4% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 28.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,876, and the median income for a family was $63,917. Males had a median income of $48,152 versus $31,025 for females. The per capita income for the city was $33,566. About 7.0% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

Summer residency

Along with other spots on the Jersey Shore, Margate becomes a popular destination in the summer months. Many houses in Margate are second homes used during the summer, and a considerable number are owned by year-round residents. Unlike in other places, such as Cape May or Ocean City, where many visitors spend a few nights in a hotel, Margate has no hotels, so most of the people who choose this town are regulars. Unlike other area towns such as Ocean City and the municipalities on Long Beach Island, weekly house/condominium rentals are almost non-existent in Margate.

Beaches

Margate's beaches attract surfers, kayaking, and hobie cat sailing.
The Margate beaches are narrower than beaches at many other places at the Jersey Shore. There are few dunes and those that do exist are artificial, having been created to protect beaches from nor'easters and hurricanes. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Margate voters will consider a referendum that would allow the city to participate in a program operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers under which dunes would be constructed on the city's beaches, which would be intended to alleviate beach erosion and provide storm protection to Margate and to adjoining Ventnor City, which has already had a beach protection program in place for the past ten years, under which dunes have already been constructed.
Margate City Beach Patrol operates lifeguard stands and beach patrol operations for the Margate beaches. Lifeguards are on duty during summer months from 10 am to 6 pm, with more limited hours in the late Spring and early Autumn months.
Margate beaches are not free beaches. Beachgoers must purchase a seasonal or weekly tag to enjoy the beach. Seasonal badges can be purchased preseason at a reduced rate. Veterans and active military members are offered free seasonal badges.

Marinas and fishing

Margate is host to many bayside docks providing the casual fisherman hours of enjoyment and relaxation. Local charter boats offer sport and deep sea fishing. Margate's many marinas offer docks for lease, equipment rentals, fuel stations and fishing charters.

Attractions

Margate is the home of Lucy the Elephant, the "largest elephant in the world" and is the oldest remaining example of zoomorphic architecture left in the United States. Over 140 years old, a restoration of Lucy's exterior surface was completed in December 2022 at a cost of about $2.4 million using government funds and donor contributions. The National Historic Landmark is visited by 130,000 people each year.
The Margate farmers' market is held every Thursday during summer months. Shoppers can purchase local produce and a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Government

Local government

Margate City has operated under the Walsh Act commission form of municipal government since 1911. The city is one of 30 municipalities statewide that use commission form of government. The governing body is comprised of three commissioners, who are elected at-large to four-year terms of office on a non-partisan basis as part of the May municipal election. Each commissioner is assigned a department to oversee and administer. The Mayor is then selected from among the three elected Commissioners by a vote between them and assigned to the office by resolution.
, members of the Margate City Commission are
Mayor Michael Collins,
Maurice "Maury" Blumberg and
Catherine Horn, all of whom are serving concurrent terms of office that end May 16, 2027.

Federal, state and county representation

Margate City is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 2nd state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,984 registered voters in Margate City, of which 1,164 were registered as Democrats, 2,019 were registered as Republicans and 1,798 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the city's 2010 Census population, 78.4% were registered to vote, including 91.2% of those ages 18 and over.

Education

For kindergarten through eighth grade, public school students attend the Margate City Schools, together with students from Longport Borough, who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship. As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 317 students and 48.6 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 6.5:1. Schools in the district are
William H. Ross III Elementary School 184 students in grades K–4 and
Eugene A. Tighe Middle School with 133 students in grades 5–8. In 2017, Eugene A. Tighe Middle School was one of nine public schools recognized in 2017 as Blue Ribbon Schools Program|Blue Ribbon Schools] by the United States Department of Education.
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students from Margate attend Atlantic City High School in Atlantic City, which also serves students from Brigantine and Ventnor City who attend the school as part of sending/receiving relationships. As of the 2023–24 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,699 students and 144.8 classroom teachers, 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.
Blessed Sacrament Regional School was a Catholic school serving students in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade that had been operated in connection with the Blessed Sacrament Church, but was closed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden in June 2008 and merged with St. James of Ventnor to form Holy Family Regional School. Those who wish to attend a Catholic high school choose from Holy Spirit High School, located in Absecon, St. Augustine College Preparatory School located in Richland or Our Lady of Mercy Academy located in Newfield.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the city had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by Atlantic County.
No Interstate, U.S. or state highways directly serve Margate City. The most significant roadways are county roads. County Route 563 begins in Margate City and follows Jerome Avenue over the Downbeach Express, a privately owned and operated toll-bridge which connects Margate to the mainland, towards Egg Harbor Township and Northfield. County Route 629 follows Ventnor Avenue northeast toward Ventnor and Atlantic City, and southwest towards Longport and Somers Point.

Public transportation

provides bus service on the 505 route between Longport and Atlantic City. Beginning April 1, 2023, bus service on the 504 route between Atlantic City and Ventnor Plaza was extended to Margate.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Margate City has a humid subtropical climate with hot, moderately humid summers, cool winters and uniform, year-round precipitation. Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature above, at least four months with an average mean temperature at or above, at least one month with an average mean temperature at or above and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Margate City, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur, with heat index values at or above. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur, with wind chill values below. The plant hardiness zone at Margate City Beach is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of. The average seasonal snowfall total is, 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, Margate City would have a dominant vegetation type of Northern Cordgrass with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie.

Popular culture

In the 2009 film Days of Summer, Margate is the hometown of the male lead character, Tom Hansen, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. One of the screenplay's co-writers, Scott Neustadter, grew up in Margate.
In the 1998 Nicolas Cage mystery/thriller film Snake Eyes, Margate is the main character's place of residence, alluded to as a pleasant suburban town, in contrast to the grittier Atlantic City, which forms the backdrop of the story.
In the third-season finale of Boardwalk Empire, "Margate Sands", the city is referenced as a site of gang violence between the forces of fictionalized Nucky Thompson and his rivals.
The movie Duane Hopwood was filmed at Eugene A. Tighe Middle School and at Maynards Cafe in 2004.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Margate City include: