Brigantine (or simply The Island) is a city in Atlantic County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 7,716, a decrease of 1,734 (−18.3%) from the 2010 census count of 9,450, which in turn reflected a decline of 3,144 (−25.0%) from the 12,594 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010 , New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2022. The city, and all of Atlantic County, is part of the Atlantic City-Hammonton metropolitan statistical area, which in turn is included in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties , United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.
What is now the City of Brigantine has passed through a series of names and re-incorporations since it was first created. The area was originally incorporated as Brigantine Beach Borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 14, 1890, from portions of Galloway Township, based on the results of a referendum held on June 3, 1890. On April 23, 1897, the area was reincorporated as the City of Brigantine City. This name lasted until April 9, 1914, when it was renamed the City of East Atlantic City. On March 16, 1924, Brigantine was incorporated as a city, replacing East Atlantic City and incorporating further portions of Galloway Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026. The borough was named for the many shipwrecks in the area, including those of brigantines.History , Brigantine Beach. Accessed August 27, 2015. "The name 'Brigantine' came from a type of 1600s ship; perhaps one of the first of over three hundred vessels wrecked on the notorious offshore shoals – during a two hundred year period."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names , New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015."The History of Brigantine Beach" , South Jersey Magazine. Accessed August 27, 2015. "Many ships wrecked off the shoals of this island, probably some of them of the 'brigantine' type.... The name 'Brigantine,' then, probably came from this maritime term."
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Brigantine as its 36th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey."Best Places To Live – The Complete Top Towns List 1-100" , New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008. NJ.com designated Brigantine fourth in its rankings of "The 25 best Jersey Shore towns, ranked" in 2021.Genovese, Peter. "The 25 best Jersey Shore towns, ranked" , NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 1, 2021. Accessed July 10, 2022. "4. Brigantine: Brigantine may always be Atlantic City's little brother, but the former wouldn't have it any other way."
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 10.86 square miles (28.14 km2), including 6.52 square miles (16.89 km2) of land and 4.34 square miles (11.25 km2) of water (39.98%). Brigantine is located on Brigantine Island.
The only road to and from Brigantine is Route 87, locally known as Brigantine Boulevard. The Justice Vincent S. Haneman Memorial Bridge is the only way on and off the island. The original bridge to the island that was constructed in 1924 was destroyed in the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944. The current bridge was constructed in 1972.Zatzariny Jr., Tim. "Development thrusts change upon once-sleepy Brigantine" , Courier-Post, July 22, 2001. Accessed September 1, 2013. "In 1924, a bridge linking Brigantine and Atlantic City opened, creating a land boom.... In 1944, a hurricane damaged the Brigantine Bridge, the island's only access to the mainland. For 21 months, residents had to be ferried on and off the island during repairs. A new bridge replaced the original in 1972."
The city borders the Atlantic County municipalities of Atlantic City and Galloway Township.Areas touching Brigantine , MapIt. Accessed March 22, 2020.Atlantic County District Map, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed May 23, 2024.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries , New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Brigantine had a population of 7,716. The median age was 56.8 years. 11.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 31.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.8 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 3,798 households in Brigantine, of which 14.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.5% were married-couple households, 20.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 9,294 housing units, of which 59.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 14.2%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 6,537 84.7% Black or African American 181 2.3% American Indian and Alaska Native 20 0.3% Asian 386 5.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 4 0.1% Some other race 191 2.5% Two or more races 397 5.1% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 488 6.3%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 9,450 people, 4,294 households, and 2,521 families in the city. The population density was . There were 9,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 87.33% (8,253) White, 2.91% (275) Black or African American, 0.17% (16) Native American, 4.72% (446) Asian, 0.03% (3) Pacific Islander, 2.51% (237) from other races, and 2.33% (220) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.88% (650) of the population.
Of the 4,294 households, 18.5% had children under the age of 18; 43.3% were married couples living together; 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 41.3% were non-families. Of all households, 33.0% were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.79.
16.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,212 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,472) and the median family income was $79,318 (+/− $7,962). Males had a median income of $55,595 (+/− $5,655) versus $42,622 (+/− $5,179) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,571 (+/− $3,305). About 5.9% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed April 18, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 12,594 people, 5,473 households, and 3,338 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 9,304 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 83.15% White, 3.94% African American, 0.18% Native American, 5.72% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.67% from other races, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.41% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Brigantine city, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 21, 2013., United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 21, 2013.
There were 5,473 households, out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,639, and the median income for a family was $51,679. Males had a median income of $40,523 versus $29,779 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,950. About 7.6% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Points of interest
Brigantine Lighthouse – Constructed by the Island Development Real Estate Company in 1926 as part of an effort to attract residents to the island, the structure was too far from shore and too low to be used as a functioning lighthouse and has been used over the years as headquarters for the Brigantine Police Department, as a museum and as a gift shop, in addition to being a central identifying symbol of the city.McKelvey, Wallace. "Construction companies volunteer to restore Brigantine lighthouse after Sandy" , The Press of Atlantic City, August 29, 2013. Accessed September 15, 2013. "The lighthouse served many purposes over the last century. In addition to its role as the centerpiece of a real estate development, it became a police station in the 1930s, when the municipality had only a few officers..... Later, in the 1970s, the structure housed the city's original museum, Kramer said.... Despite its lamp, Kramer said, the lighthouse was too low and too far from the beach to ever serve as a navigational aid." Marine Mammal Stranding Center – Established in 1978 as the state's only marine stranding center, the center rehabilitates and releases stranded marine mammals and sea turtles, rescuing more than 3,900 whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles since it was formed.About Us , Marine Mammal Stranding Center. Accessed September 11, 2019. Part of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is located on the northern end of Brigantine Island. The Refuge provides crucial habitat for many different types of endangered or threatened birds, including the American bald eagle, peregrine falcon, American black duck, and the piping plover.Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, GORP. Accessed June 2, 2009. "Forsythe Refuge's Brigantine and Barnegat Divisions were ... established in 1939 and 1967 respectively, to perpetuate the use of tidal wetland and shallow bay habitat by migratory water birds."