Margate City

Margate City, New Jersey
—  City (New Jersey)  —
Atlantic Ocean shoreline
Map of Margate City in Atlantic County. Inset: Location of Atlantic County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Margate City, New Jersey
Coordinates: 39°19′51″N 74°30′26″W / 39.33083°N 74.50722°W / 39.33083; -74.50722Coordinates: 39°19′51″N 74°30′26″W / 39.33083°N 74.50722°W / 39.33083; -74.50722
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Atlantic
Incorporated	September 7, 1885
Government
- Type	Walsh Act (New Jersey)
- Mayor	Michael Becker
Area
- Total	1.6 sq mi (4.1 km2)
- Land	1.4 sq mi (3.6 km2)
- Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)
Elevation [1]	7 ft (2 m)
Population (2007)[2]
- Total	8,537
- Density	5,825.4/sq mi (2,249.2/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	08402
Area code(s)	609
FIPS code	34-43890[3][4]
GNIS feature ID	0885292[5]
Website	http://www.margate-nj.com

See also: other Margates

Margate City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 8,193.

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 April 20, 1909.^[6]

Margate City is located on 8.1-mile long Absecon Island, along with Atlantic City and Ventnor City to the northeast, and Longport on the southwest.^[7] The city stretches approximately 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. Margate City is the home of Lucy the Elephant, a large wooden elephant 65 ft (19.7 m) tall. Marven Gardens, of Monopoly board game fame, is also located there.

Geography

Margate City is located at 39°19′46″N 74°30′24″W / 39.32944°N 74.50667°W / 39.32944; -74.50667 (39.329416 , -74.506613).^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (11.39%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 8,193 people, 3,984 households, and 2,302 families residing in the city. The population density was 2, 243.5/km² (5,825.4/sq mi). There were 7,006 housing units at an average density of 4,981.4/sq mi (1,918.5/km²). 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.

Government

Local government

Margate City has operated under the Walsh Act commission form of municipal government since 1911.^[10][11] There are three commission seats, which are elected during a non-partisan at-large election. Each commission seat is for a four-year concurrent term. The Mayor is then selected from among the three elected Commissioners by a vote between them and assigned to the office by resolution.^[12]

Members of the Margate City Commission are:^[12][13]

• Michael Becker - Mayor and Commissioner of Revenue and Finance
• Maurice "Maury" Blumberg - Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety
• Daniel Campbell - Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property

Federal, state and county representation

Margate City is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 2nd Legislative District.^[14]

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, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 2nd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jim Whelan (D, Atlantic City), and in the Assembly by John F. Amodeo (R, Margate) and Vincent J. Polistina (R, Egg Harbor Township).^[15] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).^[16]

Atlantic County's County Executive is Dennis Levinson (Linwood).^[17] The Board of Chosen Freeholders, the county's legislature, consists of nine members elected to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with three seats coming up for election each year. As of 2009^[update], Atlantic County's Freeholders are four at-large members Alisa Cooper (Linwood, term expires December 31, 2011), Frank V. Giordano (Hamilton Township, 2009), Joseph C. McDevitt (Ventnor City, 2010) and Jim Schroder (Northfield, 2011); and five members elected from districts District 1 (Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part) and Pleasantville) Charles T. Garrett (Atlantic City, 2010), District 2 - (Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part), Longport, Margate, Somers Point and Ventnor) Vice Chairman Thomas Russo (Atlantic City, 2009), District 3 (Egg Harbor Township (part), Hamilton Township (part), Linwood and Northfield) - Frank Sutton (Egg Harbor Township, 2011), District 4 (Absecon, Brigantine, Galloway Township and Port Republic - Richard Dase (Galloway Township, 2010) and District 5 (Buena Borough Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hamilton Township (part), Hammonton, Mullica Township and Weymouth) - Freeholder Chairman James Curcio (Hammonton, 2009).^[18]

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.^[19] Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics^[20]) are Union Avenue Elementary School with 224 students in grades K - 2, William H. Ross III Intermediate with 164 students in grades 3 - 5 and Eugene A. Tighe Middle School with 195 students in grades 6 - 8. Eugene A. Tighe Middle School provides many programs including Project Challenge for advanced students and Special Services for disabled kids.

Public school students in grades 9-12, along with those from Brigantine, Longport and Ventnor City, attend Atlantic City High School in neighboring Atlantic City, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Atlantic City School District.^[21]

Blessed Sacrament Regional School was a Catholic school serving students in grades pre-k through 8, located on Jerome Avenue, in connection with the Blessed Sacrament Church, but was merged with St. James of Ventnor to form Holy Family in 2007. Those who wish to attend private, Catholic high school choose Holy Spirit High School, located in Absecon, or St. Augustine Prep in Richland.

Summers

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 hotel, so most of the people who choose this town are regulars. Also 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. However, perhaps due to the recent rise in gas prices and the slow pace of the real estate market, weekly rentals have increased over the past several years. More home and condo owners are happy to rent their property for a week or two. Most real estate offices in town can assist vacationers going 'down the shore' in finding a weekly, monthly or summer rental. Winter rentals are also available.

Recreation

Beaches

Margate beaches attract surfers, kayaking and hobie cat sailing. Some beaches provide rest rooms for beachgoers. The Margate beaches are narrower than beaches at many other places at the Jersey Shore. There are a few dunes and those that do exist are artificial. They were created to protect beaches from nor'easters and hurricanes.

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.

Marinas/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 Margate Elephant,the “largest elephant in the world” and is also the oldest remaining example of zoomorphic architecture left in the United States. Over 124 years old, she has been painstakingly restored and is toured by thousands of fans 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.

Retail

There are two small commercial/business districts in Margate. One located at the north end of town, and the other located further to the south. Local business's include Casel's supermarket, Aversa's Bakery Marielena, Knit Wit, and Janeen clothing stores, Margate AAA Bike bicycle rental, Two Cents Plain and Margate Dairy Bar ice cream parlors, Rita's Water Ice, Wawa, Sunny Sunoco and Taylor's Citgo gas stations, Shear Sensations and other nail & beauty salons, Body Elements gym & fitness, South End and other pizza parlors, Dino's Subs, Maynard's Cafe breakfast diners, and Tomatoes and Steve and Cookie's and other fine dining establishments.

Popular culture

Margate is referenced as the hometown of the male lead character in the 2009 film (500) Days of Summer.^[22] Scott Neustadter, one of the two co-writers of its screenplay, was born and raised in Margate.^[22] Character Tom Hansen, played by actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is declared as the native New Jerseyan from Margate toward the beginning of the film.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Margate City include;

• Tim Cavanaugh (born 1967), a Los Angeles Times editor, is a Margate native and was an MCBP lifeguard.^{[citation needed]}
• Steven C. Flanagan, a criminal defense attorney living in Los Angeles, California, who defended in a major criminal case recently depicted in Michael Connley's bestseller, Crime Beat: A Decade of Covering Cops and Killers.^{[citation needed]} and "Stolen for Profit" Zebra publications, April 1, 1995, by author Judith Reitman, the story of the first prosecution in the United States involving the theft of animals for medical research.
• Vincent Fumo, Pennsylvania politician
• Walter S. Jeffries (1893-1954), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district from 1939-1941, and was mayor of Margate City from 1931-1935.^[23]
• Thomas C. McGrath, Jr. (1927-1994), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1965-1967.^[24]
• Scott Neustadter, Hollywood screenwriter who co-wrote (500) Days of Summer^[22]

References

External links

• Margate City official website
• Official site for Lucy the Elephant
• Marvelous Margate
• Margate City Schools
• Margate City Schools's 2007–08 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Data for the Margate City Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• Atlantic City High School
• Margate City Public Library
• The Current of Longport, Margate, Ventnor (Downbeach)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Atlantic County, New Jersey County seat: Mays Landing Cities Absecon | Atlantic City | Brigantine | Corbin City | Egg Harbor City | Estell Manor | Linwood | Margate City | Northfield | Pleasantville | Port Republic | Somers Point | Ventnor City Boroughs Buena | Folsom | Longport Town Hammonton Townships Buena Vista | Egg Harbor | Galloway | Hamilton | Mullica | Weymouth CDPs Collings Lakes | Elwood-Magnolia | Mays Landing | Pomona Communities Dorothy | Elwood | Landisville | Richland | Smithville | Sweetwater