Bridgeton, New Jersey
|
|
Map_of_Cumberland_County_highlighting_Bridgeton.png
Bridgeton is a city located in Cumberland County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 22,771. It is the county seat of Cumberland CountyTemplate:GR. The City of Bridgeton is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.
South Woods State Prison, the largest state prison in New Jersey, is located in Bridgeton. Several other correctional facilities are located nearby. But Bridgeton is more than just a town of jails. Located along the Cohansey River, which is a tidal water, Bridgeton is part of the Delaware Bay area of southern New Jersey.
Bridgeton has its own zoo and a large recreational park that offers opportunities for jogging, walks, and playing basketball. Bridgeton has a proud tradition of several sports, including baseball. Many Bridgeton houses are historic and built in the Victorian style, with lovely features. In fact, Bridgeton has the largest historic district of any New Jersey town. Things are not all rosy, though. Since the mid 1980s, Bridgeton has suffered an economic downturn.
Beginning in the mid 1990s, immigration from southern Mexico has led to a revitalization of the downtown, though. New businesses have sprung up, and Spanish is now spoken in the streets and stores of this town. Many immigrants work at greenhouses and nurseries, as well as in other agricultural occupations. The main languages spoken in Bridgeton are American English and Mexican Spanish. There is also a significant minority in Bridgeton whose native language is Zapoteco. Zapoteco is an indigenous language from the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Some Zapoteco speakers did not learn how to speak Spanish in their native Mexico, and are now learning both Spanish and English at the same time. As a place of great diversity, Bridgeton has a fairly large African-American and also a considerable Puerto Rican population. Local Government, however, does not yet reflect this diversity.
Geography
Bridgeton is located at 39°25'46" North, 75°13'50" West (39.429564, -75.230461)Template:GR. Bridgeton is located about one hour away from Philadelphia, and 50 minutes away from Wilmington, Delaware. It is about 1 hour, 20 minutes away from Atlantic City. Scenic Cape May can be reached in less than one hour.
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 is water. The total area is 3.57% water.
Bridgeton borders Upper Deerfield Township, Hopewell Township, and Fairfield Township.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 22,771 people, 6,182 households, and 4,179 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,413.5/km² (3,659.8/mi²). There are 6,795 housing units at an average density of 421.8/km² (1,092.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 24.49% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 6,182 households out of which 36.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% are married couples living together, 26.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% are non-families. 27.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.96 and the average family size is 3.49.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 130.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 139.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $26,923, and the median income for a family is $30,502. Males have a median income of $28,858 versus $22,722 for females. The per capita income for the city is $10,917. 26.6% of the population and 22.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 33.3% of those under the age of 18 and 17.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.