Bridgeton, New Jersey

Bridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, within the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the county seat of Cumberland County<ref name=CountyMap>New Jersey County Map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed December 22, 2022.</ref> and is located on the Cohansey River near Delaware Bay in the South Jersey region of the state.

As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 27,263,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 1,914 (+7.6%) from the 25,349 recorded at the 2010 census,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 2,578 (+11.3%) from the 22,771 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>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, 2023.</ref> Bridgeton and Vineland are the two principal cities of the Vineland-Bridgeton metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses those cities and all of Cumberland County for statistical purposes and which constitutes a part of the Delaware Valley (i.e. the Philadelphia metro area).<ref>New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022.</ref>

As of 2020, Bridgeton had the 13th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey with an equalized rate of 4.598% compared to 3.089% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.<ref>"Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 13. Bridgeton Equalized tax rate in Bridgeton, Cumberland County, was 4.598 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Cumberland County: 3.089"</ref>

History

File:Potters Tavern.JPG

Potter's Tavern, built in 1750

Similar to other areas near rivers and the bay, this area was inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous peoples. At the time of European contact, Lenape Native Americans lived in the area. The tribe followed a seasonal pattern of cultivation and hunting and fishing. The state-recognized Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Indians of New Jersey maintain a cultural center here, serving a community of 12,000 in Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.<ref>Marine, Jaime. "Annual Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Pow-Wow coming to Salem County Fairgrounds", Today's Sunbeam, June 9, 2010. Accessed July 9, 2012. "'The main purpose of the Pow-Wow is to educate the American public about the rich history of the Native Americans,' Gail Gould, of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Office in Bridgeton, said Wednesday. 'It is also like a big family reunion for us.' According to Gould, there are more than 12,000 members of the Lenape tribe throughout Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland counties."</ref>

The first recorded European settlement in what is now Bridgeton was made by 1686 when Richard Hancock established a sawmill here.<ref>Historic Bridgeton Walking Tour; New Jersey's Largest Historic District, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed November 8, 2016.</ref> Settlers established a pioneer iron-works in 1814. Bridgeton was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 3, 1845,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> from portions of Deerfield Township. Bridgeton city was incorporated on March 1, 1865, replacing both Bridgeton Township and Cohansey Township.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 119. Accessed July 9, 2012.</ref> The city was named for its location at a bridge on the Cohansey River<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.</ref> and is said to be a corruption of "bridge town".<ref>Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 37. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 27, 2015.</ref>

After the American Civil War, Bridgeton's industrial base and commercial centrality in this area of high agricultural production, along with its high profile as an educational center (it was home to the South Jersey Institute, the West Jersey Academy, and two notable academies for women), made it the most prosperous town in the state. Bridgeton was home to glass factories, sewing factories, metal and machine works and other manufacturers, most notably, the Ferracute Machine Works, which was founded and operated by Oberlin Smith, an inventor and philanthropist credited with inventing the first device for magnetic recording, and now in the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame.<ref name=NYTSmith>Staff. "Rites for Oberlin Smith Held.", The New York Times, July 22, 1926. Accessed July 8, 2012. "The funeral of Oberlin Smith, Bridgeton's most distinguished citizen and inventor of international note, took place this afternoon from Lockwold, his late residence on the shore of East Lake."</ref>

Bridgeton Historic District covers a quarter of the city and includes more than 2,000 properties. These range from the early Federal architecture to the 1920s, including many structures eligible for individual listing and some documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) during the 1930s. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and is the largest such district of any municipality in New Jersey.<ref>Staff. "Bridgeton Historic District / Managing the past", The Press of Atlantic City, November 6, 2007. Accessed July 8, 2012. "Funkhouser's story mirrors the problems facing the entire historic district in Bridgeton. Drawn up in 1982, the district covers almost a quarter of the city and is the largest contiguous historic district in the state."</ref>

Although it is visually dominated by large Victorian homes and a downtown area constructed from the 1880s to the 1920s, the district, besides many neighborhoods of gingerbreaded "doubles" that were essentially working-class housing, includes several notable structures dating from the 18th century and early Federal period. One of these is Potter's Tavern, said to have been built in the 1750s, but restored to its appearance in 1776 when it was home to The Plain Dealer, considered New Jersey's first newspaper.<ref>Arney, Pat. "Preserving Bridgeton's History / Historical Society Says Potter's Tavern Needs A Lot Of Work", The Press of Atlantic City, August 26, 1993. Accessed July 9, 2012. "It was New Jersey's first newspaper. Called the "Plain Dealer," the hand-written paper came out weekly between Dec. 25, 1775, and Feb. 12, 1776, at Potter's Tavern, a gathering spot for the local firebrands that still stands today, across from the Cumberland County Courthouse on West Broad Street."</ref>

A second is Brearley (Masonic) Lodge, founded by General James Giles in 1795, and still active. A third is the so-called "Nail House" (Template:Circa; second build Template:Circa), administrative home of the Cumberland Nail & Iron Works that established Bridgeton's industrial prowess in the early nineteenth century. The first Cumberland National Bank building (1816), which was only the second bank chartered in New Jersey, is now part of the Bridgeton Library.<ref>Cumberland Bank Building, New Jersey Historic Trust. Accessed July 9, 2012.</ref> There is also the David Sheppard House (1791), recently restored with assistance from the Garden State Historic Trust and home to the Cousteau Coastal Center of Rutgers University since 2008.<ref name=CousteauCenter>Cousteau Center at Bridgeton Template:Webarchive, Rutgers University Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences. Accessed July 9, 2012.</ref>

Bridgeton straddles the tidal Cohansey River and is located near the center of the Delaware Bay lowlands. It derives its name from the original movable bridge that offered the option of regular overland travel on the "King's Highway" across the Cohansey watershed region for the first time in 1716. The name is believed to have been changed from Bridge-towne to Bridgeton in 1816–1817 due to a printing error on documents published by the Cumberland Bank.<ref>Our History, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>

Bridgeton is home to numerous large municipal parks. The largest of these, consisting of pinelands, wetlands and lakes, as well as the original raceway system that provided waterpower to the mills, was formed out of the property owned and managed by the Cumberland Nail & Iron Works until 1899. Long considered a recreational area for the region even under ownership by the Iron Works, the property was finally purchased in 1902–1903 by the city and preserved in perpetuity as the Bridgeton City Park. It includes three major lakes: Mary Elmer Lake, Sunset Lake, and East Lake.<ref>Parks and Recreation, City of Bridgeton. Accessed November 8, 2016.</ref> Bridgeton Park encompasses about Template:Convert. It now includes the Cohanzick Zoo, New Jersey's oldest zoo, which is free to the public.<ref>Cohanzick Zoo... "New Jersey's First Zoo" , City of Bridgeton. Accessed November 8, 2016.</ref>

The city suffered an economic downturn in the 1980s with the loss of its remaining manufacturing sector jobs in glass and textiles. Agricultural employment, however, has continued to attract immigrant workers largely from Mexico but also Guatemala, creating new challenges and opportunities for revitalization. A significant minority of Bridgeton residents and their children speak Zapoteco, either as their only language or alongside Spanish.<ref>New Jersey School Performance Reports for the Bridgeton School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 31, 2015.</ref>

Downtown Bridgeton includes an art gallery, second hand stores, a makerspace, and the headquarters of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation.<ref>Zotigh, Dennis. "Meet Native America: Mark Gould, Chief of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation" Template:Webarchive, National Museum of the American Indian, September 6, 2016. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref> The makerspace, called STEAMWorks, was opened as a collaborative project between the city and the local Cumberland County College, run by the college the space offers specialized equipment and software to the public at a membership based pricing system, as well as workshops and a limited set of certification courses, no involvement with the college is required.<ref>STEAMWorks, City of Bridgeton. Accessed June 9, 2017.</ref>

Bridgeton Main Street declared its downtown a Culinary Arts district and is highlighting downtown activity through the food and cooking-related retail sector. Bridgeton Main Street Association is the oldest Main Street Association in the state, founded in 1990.<ref>Adomaitis, Greg. "Bridgeton Main Street president receives inaugural award", South Jersey Times, February 2, 2012. Accessed May 31, 2015. "Fellow BMSA members and co-workers turned their attention to their president and member of five years, who leads the oldest Main Street association in the state.... The Main Street effort was instituted nationally around the late-1970s and was officially incorporated here in 1990."</ref>

In 2008, Rutgers opened the Cousteau Coastal Center of its Institute of Marine & Coastal Sciences in the former David Sheppard House, a base from which it coordinates cutting-edge ecological research and develops modules for environmental learning at all educational levels from elementary school upward.<ref>Template:Usurped, Cousteau Center at Bridgeton. Accessed October 7, 2013.</ref>

South Woods State Prison, which opened near Bridgeton in 1997, is the largest state prison in New Jersey and provides a range of employment.<ref>Barlas, Thomas. "Cumberland County banking on prisons for economic stability", The Press of Atlantic City, July 3, 2013. Accessed October 7, 2013. "Those prisoners - the county will accept between 100 and 350, depending on space - will join thousands of inmates lodged in three state prisons located in Cumberland County. Bayside State Prison and Southern State Correctional Facility in Maurice River Township and South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton house about a third of the more than 23,100 inmates in all of the state's prisons."</ref>

Bridgeton is home to the Rutgers Food Innovation Center, an entry point for startup food manufacturers that allows a new company or entrepreneur to work with a specialized team from Rutgers University to develop, test, brand, and package their product.<ref>Driving Directions, Rutgers Food Innovation Center. Accessed June 9, 2017.</ref>

Geography

File:Cohansey River.jpg

The Cohansey River in Bridgeton in 2006

Bridgeton is located about one hour away from Philadelphia, and 50 minutes away from Wilmington, Delaware. It is also about one hour away from Atlantic City and Cape May. Bridgeton is divided into three sections, Northside, Southside and Hillside.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 6.49 square miles (16.82 km²), including 6.23 square miles (16.13 km²) of land and 0.27 square miles (0.69 km²) of water (4.10%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 /> Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include East Lake.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

Bridgeton borders the Cumberland County municipalities of Fairfield Township, Hopewell Township and Upper Deerfield Township.<ref>Areas touching Bridgeton, MapIt. Accessed March 21, 2020.</ref><ref>Map of Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bridgeton has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>Climate Summary for Bridgeton, New Jersey</ref>

Demographics

Template:US Census population As of 2015, 32.0% of residents were living in poverty. The poverty rate was 13.3% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 35.6% for Black residents, 33.7% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 66.3% for American Indian residents, 32.9% for other race residents and 29.9% for two or more races residents.

Residents in the town include numerous immigrants from the south of Mexico, whose Amerindian languages include Zapotec, Nahuatl, and Mixtec.Template:Citation needed

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 25,349 people, 6,265 households, and 4,304 families in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,782 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 32.64% (8,274) White, 35.49% (8,996) Black or African American, 1.38% (350) Native American, 0.60% (153) Asian, 0.05% (12) Pacific Islander, 25.71% (6,518) from other races, and 4.13% (1,046) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43.58% (11,046) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 6,265 households, 40.4% had children under the age of 18; 32.7% were married couples living together; 27.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.3% were non-families. Of all households, 25.8% were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.36 and the average family size was 3.85.<ref name=Census2010/>

27.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 135.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 151.6 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $31,044 (with a margin of error of +/− $2,412) and the median family income was $38,750 (+/− $2,233). Males had a median income of $31,202 (+/− $3,369) versus $31,031 (+/− $2,158) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $12,418 (+/− $1,023). About 26.3% of families and 27.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.4% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref>Template:Usurped, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 9, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2020 U.S. census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 22,771 people, 6,182 households, and 4,179 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,795 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Bridgeton city Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 9, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>Template:Usurped, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 9, 2012.</ref>

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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

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.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Economy

Portions of Bridgeton are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone. The city was selected in 1983 as one of the initial group of 10 municipalities chosen to participate in the program.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Questions and Answers, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, May 2009. Accessed October 28, 2019. "The Urban Enterprise Zone Program (UEZ) was enacted in 1983. It authorized the designation of ten zones by the New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone Authority: Camden, Newark, Bridgeton, Trenton, Plainfield, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Kearny, Orange and Millville/Vineland (joint zone)."</ref> In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the 6.625% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zone Program, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Businesses participating in the UEZ Program can charge half the standard sales tax rate on certain purchases, currently 3.3125% effective 1/1/2018"</ref> Established in January 1986, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in December 2023.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zone Effective and Expiration Dates, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed January 8, 2018.</ref>

The UEZ program in Bridgeton and four other original UEZ cities had been allowed to lapse as of January 1, 2017, after Governor Chris Christie, who called the program an "abject failure", vetoed a compromise bill that would have extended the status for two years.<ref>Racioppi, Dustin. "Christie vetoes urban enterprise zone extension", The Record, February 10, 2017. Accessed November 19, 2019. "Gov. Chris Christie on Friday conditionally vetoed the Legislature's attempt to extend the Urban Enterprise Zone status for its five charter communities, calling the economic revitalization program an 'abject failure' with a 'devastating impact' on state revenue.... The Legislature returned with what it called a compromise bill, A-4189, to extend the designation for two years instead of 10 for the first five UEZs -- Bridgeton, Camden, Newark, Plainfield and Trenton -- which expired on Jan. 1."</ref> In May 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed a law that reinstated the program in these five cities and extended the expiration date in other zones.<ref>"Notice: Law Reinstates Five Urban Enterprise Zones And Also Extends The Expiration Date Of 12 Other UEZs", New Jersey Department of the Treasury Division of Taxation, May 30, 2018. Accessed November 19, 2019. "On May 30, 2018, Governor Murphy signed Senate Bill 846 (A3549). The law reinstated five expired Urban Enterprise Zones (UEZs). If your business is located in one of these zones, you may file an application to establish qualified business status. (Past certifications are no longer valid in these five zones). The five UEZs are in: *Bridgeton *Camden *Newark *Plainfield *Trenton. The UEZs in the five locations listed above expire on December 31, 2023."</ref>

Bridgeton is home to Ardagh Group, one of the largest glass production facilities in the state.<ref>Our Locations, Ardagh Group. Accessed January 8, 2021.</ref> In 2016, Ardagh Group, Glass – North America became ISO 14001 certified, which recognizes efforts to minimize their impact on the environment, comply with applicable laws and regulations, and work toward continuous environmental improvement.<ref>"Ardagh Group Manufacturing Facility Achieves ISO 14001:2004 Certification" Ardagh Group, Glass – North America, a division of Ardagh Group and a leading producer of glass containers for the food and beverage industries in the United States, announced that its Bridgeton, NJ., facility achieved ISO 14001:2004 certification."</ref>

Government

Crime

File:Cumberland County Courthouse NJ.jpg

The Cumberland County Courthouse in Bridgeton in 2006

Bridgeton has consistently had violent crime rates above the national average. It is among the highest in the state, along with Camden, Atlantic City, Newark, and Trenton. In 2015, NeighborhoodScout, a real estate analytics firm, ranked it as the 25th most dangerous city in America. A 2019 report in the Asbury Park Press listed Bridgeton at fifth on its list of the state's ten most dangerous cities.<ref>"NJ's 10 most dangerous cities listed in new ranking. Here's who made the list.", Asbury Park Press, October 25, 2019. Accessed January 19, 2023. "No. 5: Bridgeton In fifth-ranked Bridgeton, violent and property crime rates have both increased approximately 11% between 2015-17, according to the report."</ref> In 2022, based on data from FBI Uniform Crime Reports, Bridgeton had 203 violent crimes, ranked ninth highest among all municipalities in the state.<ref>"The Most Dangerous Places To Be In New Jersey", WJLK, October 24, 2022. Accessed January 19, 2023.</ref>

Local government

The City of Bridgeton is governed within the Faulkner Act system of municipal government, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under Mayor-Council plan A, as implemented on July 1, 1970, based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission.<ref>"The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed October 7, 2013.</ref> The city is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a five-member City Council. Council members are elected at-large in non-partisan elections and serve concurrent four-year terms of office in balloting held as part of the November general election.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 19.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> Based on the results of an ordinance passed in June 2011, Bridgeton's non-partisan elections were shifted from May to November, which took effect with the November 2014 general election.<ref>City Code Chapter 19: Elections, City of Bridgeton. Accessed March 18, 2018. "In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:45-5 et seq., the 'Uniform Nonpartisan Election Law,' after January 1, 2011, election of municipal officers will be held at regular general elections to be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November."</ref>

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 Template:Frac of all members, prepares the budget. The mayor has veto over ordinances, subject to override by Template:Frac of all members of the council. The mayor exercises executive power of the municipality. Up to ten 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 City Council exercises legislative power of municipality and approves appointment of department heads. The council may disapprove removal of department heads by Template:Frac vote of all members and can override the mayor's veto by Template:Frac of all members. The council selects one of its own members to serve as its president.<ref name=MayorCouncil/>

Template:As of, the Mayor is Albert B. Kelly, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2026. Members of the City Council are Council President Edward Bethea, Rosemary DeQuinzio, James Curtis Edwards, David Gonzalez and Marian King, all of whom are serving concurrent terms of office that end December 31, 2025.<ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor and City Council, Bridgeton, New Jersey. Accessed August 27, 2023. "The City of Bridgeton is governed by the Faulkner Act system of municipal government under 'Mayor-Council plan A', as implemented on July 1, 1970, based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission. Under this structure, voters elect a Mayor and five City Council members. In Bridgeton, Council members are elected 'at-large' in non-partisan elections and serve four-year concurrent terms. The Council elects one of its own members to serve as Council President".</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Bridgeton, New Jersey. Accessed August 27, 2023.</ref><ref name=CumberlandDirectory>2023 Directory of Cumberland County, New Jersey, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Cumberland2022>Election Summary Report General Election Cumberland County November 8, 2022, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>

Marian King was appointed to fill the seat that had been held by Samuel W. Feinstein.<ref>Marian King, City of Bridgeton. Accessed April 21, 2022. "Councilwoman Marian King is a lifelong resident of the Bridgeton community. A strong proponent for quality education in Bridgeton, Councilwoman King served on the Bridgeton School Board prior to being selected to replace former Councilman Sam Feinstein."</ref> King served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Cumberland2021>Election Summary Report General Election Cumberland County November 2, 2021, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Bridgeton is located in the 2nd Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.<ref>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

The New Jersey Department of Corrections South Woods State Prison is located in Bridgeton. City officials opposed a plan announced in 2007 that would move over 1,000 prisoners from Riverfront State Prison in Camden to South Woods.<ref name="Martins">Martins, John. "Bridgeton doesn't want Camden's state inmates." The Press of Atlantic City. May 23, 2007. Accessed September 27, 2011. "City officials on Tuesday night condemned what they say is a state plan to relocate more than 1,000 inmates from Camden's Riverfront State Prison to one of the county's three state prisons."</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 8,699 registered voters in Bridgeton, of which 2,816 (32.4%) were registered as Democrats, 772 (8.9%) were registered as Republicans and 5,104 (58.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 7 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Cumberland, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 22, 2012.</ref>

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In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 81.6% of the vote (4,125 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 17.6% (891 votes), and other candidates with 0.7% (37 votes), among the 5,088 ballots cast by the city's 9,034 registered voters (35 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 56.3%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 77.9% of the vote here (4,238 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received 20.4% (1,111 votes), with 5,440 ballots cast among the city's 8,986 registered voters, for a turnout of 60.5%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed October 22, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 66.0% of the vote here (3,044 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received 33.6% (1,552 votes), with 4,615 ballots cast among the city's 7,978 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 57.8.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 22, 2012.</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 62.7% of the vote (1,513 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 35.9% (867 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (33 votes), among the 2,499 ballots cast by the city's 8,320 registered voters (86 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 30.0%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 67.2% of the vote here (1,806 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 24.1% (647 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 4.4% (118 votes), with 2,687 ballots cast among the city's 8,524 registered voters, yielding a 31.5% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Cumberland County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed October 22, 2012.</ref>

Education

Bridgeton's public schools are operated by Bridgeton Public Schools, which serve students in preschool through twelfth grade. The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide that were established pursuant to the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court in Abbott v. Burke<ref>What We Do: History, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022. "In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in the Abbott v. Burke case that the State must provide 100 percent funding for all school renovation and construction projects in special-needs school districts. According to the Court, aging, unsafe and overcrowded buildings prevented children from receiving the "thorough and efficient" education required under the New Jersey Constitution.... Full funding for approved projects was authorized for the 31 special-needs districts, known as 'Abbott Districts'."</ref> which are now referred to as "SDA Districts" based on the requirement for the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.<ref>What We Do, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref><ref>SDA Districts, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of eight schools, had an enrollment of 6,313 students and 511.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.4:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Bridgeton City School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Bridgeton Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 25, 2022.</ref>) are Geraldine O. Foster Early Childhood Center<ref>Geraldine O. Foster Early Childhood Center, Bridgeton Public Schools. Accessed September 1, 2022.</ref> (308 students in PreK), Broad Street School<ref>Broad Street School, Bridgeton Public Schools. Accessed September 1, 2022.</ref> (936; K-8), Buckshutem Road School<ref>Buckshutem Road School, Bridgeton Public Schools. Accessed September 1, 2022.</ref> (686; K-8), Cherry Street School<ref>Cherry Street School, Bridgeton Public Schools. Accessed September 1, 2022.</ref> (558; K-8), ExCEL School<ref>ExCEL School, Bridgeton Public Schools. Accessed September 1, 2022.</ref> (enrollment not listed; K-8), Indian Avenue School<ref>Indian Avenue School, Bridgeton Public Schools. Accessed September 1, 2022.</ref> (668; K-8), Quarter Mile Lane School<ref>Quarter Mile Lane School, Bridgeton Public Schools. Accessed September 1, 2022.</ref> (744; PreK-8), West Avenue School,<ref>West Avenue School, Bridgeton Public Schools. Accessed September 1, 2022.</ref> (552; K-8) and Bridgeton High School<ref>Bridgeton High School, Bridgeton Public Schools. Accessed September 1, 2022.</ref> (1,560; 9-12).<ref>School Performance Reports for the Bridgeton City School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 11, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Bridgeton Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Students from Downe Township and some students from Lawrence Township attend the district's high school for ninth through twelfth grades as part of sending/receiving relationships; Other students from Lawrence Township are sent to Millville Senior High School.<ref>Region Profile - Western/Southern Cumberland Region Strategic Plan Template:Webarchive, Cumberland Development Corporation, January 2003. Accessed December 21, 2014. "Students in grades 9-12 residing in Commercial, Maurice River and a portion of Lawrence Townships attend Millville High School. Students in Bridgeton, Downe and a portion of Lawrence Township attend Bridgeton High School."</ref><ref>Staff. "Bridgeton High School", South Jersey magazine. Accessed December 21, 2014. "Bridgeton High School provides opportunities for students from Bridgeton, Lawrence Township and Downe Township in Cumberland County to become members of society who are thoughtful, informed, involved and committed to life-long learning."</ref>

Students are also eligible to attend Cumberland County Technical Education Center in Millville, serving students from the entire county in its full-time technical training programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.<ref>Admissions Booklet, Cumberland County Technical Education Center. Accessed December 20, 2022. "Who Can Apply? Applicants must be enrolled in 8th grade and live in Cumberland County."</ref> Previously the school (formerly Cumberland County Technical Education Center) was a part-time school in Deerfield Township,<ref name=WoodsDonTour>Woods, Don E. "Tour Cumberland County tech school's new $70M campus", NJ.com, August 16, 2016. Accessed October 15, 2017. "The former CCTEC building is located in Deerfield Township [...]"</ref> and it had a Bridgeton postal address.<ref>Template:Cite web - Note that despite the "Bridgeton, NJ" address the college was not in the Bridgeton limits.
Compare to: Template:Cite web</ref> It moved to its current location and became full time in 2016.<ref name=WoodsDonTour/>

Transportation

File:2021-08-31 09 29 58 View south along New Jersey State Route 77 (Pearl Street) from the overpass for the rail line just south of Bertini Drive in Bridgeton, Cumberland County, New Jersey.jpg

Route 77 southbound in Bridgeton

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the city had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Cumberland County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Cumberland County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

Route 49 and Route 77 are the main highways serving Bridgeton. County Route 552 also traverses the city.

Public transportation

NJ Transit offers service on the 410 route between Bridgeton and Philadelphia, and the 553 route between Upper Deerfield Township and Atlantic City.<ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed December 15, 2014.</ref><ref>Transportation Plan Cumberland County, NJ, Cumberland County Planning Board, March 2013. Accessed October 31, 2019.</ref>

There is also a shuttle along Landis Avenue to Vineland and a local shuttle that circulates between Bridgeton and Upper Deerfield Township.<ref>Transit, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2021.</ref>

Airports

Bucks Airport is located Template:Convert northeast of the central business district of Bridgeton.<ref>Bucks Airport, AirNav.com. Accessed August 8, 2019.</ref> Li Calzi Airport, which was located Template:Convert south of the central business district of Bridgeton, closed in 2008.Template:Citation needed

Places of interest

File:Old Broad St Presby Bridgeton.JPG

Old Broad Street Presbyterian

• Old Broad Street Presbyterian Church and Cemetery, the church was completed in 1795; the cemetery is the burial site of six U.S. Congressman, and a Governor of New Jersey<ref>Old Broad Street Church Template:Webarchive, First Presbyterian Church of Bridgeton, NJ. Accessed November 8, 2016. "This was the first church erected in Bridge Town; the cornerstone was laid in 1792. It was finished and first used for worship in 1795, but not before funds were raised by a state-wide lottery to complete the building. "</ref>
• Potter's Tavern – Revolutionary War-era tavern where local patriots met and The Plain Dealer newspaper was published<ref>Potter's Tavern, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed November 8, 2016.</ref><ref>The Plain Dealer, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed November 8, 2016.</ref>
• "7 Sisters" – oldest row of commercial buildings in Bridgeton<ref>Chestnut, Bill. Bridgeton: In and Around the Old County Town, p. 34. Arcadia Publishing, 1996. Template:ISBN. Accessed October 7, 2013.</ref>
• New Sweden Farmstead Museum, open-air museum in City Park<ref>New Sweden Farmstead Museum Template:Webarchive, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed October 7, 2013.</ref>
• Old Brearly Lodge F&AM No.2-Oldest functioning Masonic lodge in New JerseyTemplate:Citation needed

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Bridgeton include: Template:Div col

• Jonathan Adler (born 1966), designer<ref>Colman, David. "His Guiding Light? Mom, of Course", The New York Times, December 7, 2012. Accessed December 9, 2012. "One might guess that Mr. Adler, 46, who studied semiotics at Brown University and ceramics at the Rhode Island School of Design, had developed his careful balancing act of cynicism and sincerity — cynicerity, for short — as an adult. But, it turns out, he had a lucky star guiding him right from the day he was born. A wholly artificial star, of course: the chandelier that hung above his family's dining table in their house in Bridgeton, N.J."</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Jonathan Adler, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Ryquell Armstead (born 1996), football running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL<ref>Ryquell Armstead, Temple Owls football. Accessed August 8, 2019. "Born Ryquell Keeman Armstead (pronounced: ra-KWELL) in Bridgeton, N.J."</ref>
• Radcliffe Bailey (born 1968), contemporary artist noted for mixed-media, paint, and sculpture works that explore African-American history<ref>Radcliffe Bailey: Memory As Medicine, High Museum of Art. Accessed February 13, 2020. "Born in 1968 in Bridgeton, New Jersey, Radcliffe Bailey moved to Atlanta when he was four years old."</ref>
• Newton Bateman (1822–1897), academic, educational administrator, and editor<ref>Freeman, Joseph H. Twenty-Second Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Illinois; July 1, 1896 - June 30, 1898, p. 69. The Superintendent, 1898. Accessed December 21, 2014. "Newton Bateman, of English ancestry, was born in Bridgeton, county seat of a southern county of New Jersey, July 27, 1822, and was a little over seventy-five years old at his death October 21, 1897."</ref>
• Markquese Bell (born 1999), American football safety for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.<ref>Markquese Bell, NFL.com. Accessed September 1, 2022. "Hometown: Bridgeton, NJ"</ref>
• Robin Bernstein (born 1953), Florida businesswoman who has been confirmed as United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic<ref>"U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic: Who Is Robin Bernstein?", AllGov.com, November 13, 2017. Accessed August 10, 2018. "Born in 1953, Robin Stein Bernstein is from Bridgeton, New Jersey, and graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1972 after spending her junior year as an exchange student in Paris."</ref>
• Ella Reeve Bloor (1862–1951), radical labor organizer<ref>Ella Reeve Bloor, Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed September 24, 2007.</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Ella Reeve Bloor, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Frank L. Bodine (1874–Template:Circa), architect who practiced in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and in Orlando, Florida, in the first four decades of the twentieth century<ref>Template:Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. "Frank L. Bodine was born in Bridgeton, NJ, the son of J. Nixon and Annie Alexander Millikan Bodine."</ref>
• Charles Brown (1797–1883), member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania<ref>Brown, Charles, (1797 - 1883), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed December 21, 2014. "born in Philadelphia, Pa., September 23, 1797; attended the public schools; in early boyhood moved with his father to Cumberland County, N.J., and resided near Bridgeton"</ref>
• Lester R. Brown (born 1934), environmentalist, founder and president of the Earth Policy Institute<ref>"Breaking new ground with environmental pioneer, Lester R. Brown", WHYY-FM, December 12, 2013. Accessed December 21, 2014.</ref>
• Benjamin Champneys (1800–1871), Pennsylvania State Representative, Pennsylvania State Senator and Pennsylvania Attorney General from 1846 to 1848<ref>Benjamin Champneys, Pennsylvania State Senate. Accessed August 8, 2019. "Born in Bridgeton, New Jersey January 1800"</ref>
• Nadia Davy (born 1980), track and field athlete, competing internationally for Jamaica, who was a bronze medalist in the 4 × 400 m relay at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens<ref>Brown, Scott. Template:Usurped, The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 1, 1998. Accessed December 21, 2014. "That's because Bridgeton's Nadia Davy eclipsed their times in the 200 and 400 to set both records."</ref>
• Braheme Days Jr. (born 1995), shot putter who won a bronze medal at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics<ref>McGarry, Michael. "Bridgeton's Braheme Days Jr. third in shot put at World Junior Track and Field Championships", The Press of Atlantic City, July 24, 2014. Accessed December 21, 2014. "Bridgeton's Braheme Days Jr. finished third Thursday night in the shot put at the IAAF World Junior Track and Championships in Eugene, Ore.... Days Jr., a 2013 Bridgeton High School graduate, put himself in position to win the world title by finishing first in his heat and second overall with a throw of 64 feet, 4 inches in the preliminaries."</ref>
• Lucius Elmer (1793–1883), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district from 1843 to 1845<ref>Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 20, 2007.</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Lucius Elmer, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Charles Ewing (1780–1832), politician who served as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court<ref>Cyclopedia of New Jersey Biography, Memorial and Biographical, Volume 1, p. 126. American Historical Society, Incorporated, 1921. Accessed August 8, 2019. "Charles Ewing, LL.D., was born in 1780, in Bridgeton, Cumberland county, New Jersey, the only son of James and Martha (Boyd) Ewing."</ref>
• Douglas H. Fisher (born Template:Circa), New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture, member of the New Jersey General Assembly who represented the 3rd Legislative District and served on the Bridgeton City Council from 1990 to 1992<ref>Assembly Member Douglas H. Fisher, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 8, 2007.</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Douglas H. Fisher, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• James Galanos (1924–2016), fashion designer<ref>Hummel, Jack. "The Story of Bridgeton: Joan Dare Ballinger's Bridgeton", South Jersey Times, December 12, 2011. Accessed December 21, 2014. "James Galanos, the known clothes designer, had a restaurant downtown and we'd always have lunch before we went back to work with the money."</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: James Galanos, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Goose Goslin (1900–1971), Baseball Hall of Fame left fielder who played for the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers, in a career that ran from 1921 to 1938<ref>News Journal of Mansfield, Ohio, January 29, 1968.</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Goose Goslin, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Edward Everett Grosscup (1860–1933), chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee from 1911 to 1919 and Treasurer of the State of New Jersey from 1913 to 1915<ref>Scannell, John James. Scannell's New Jersey's First Citizens and State Guide: Biographies of the Notable Living Men and Women of New Jersey with informing glimpses into the State's History, Affairs, Officialism and Institutions 1919-1920 (Volume II), p. 198. J. J. Scannell, 1919. Accessed November 30, 2013. "Edward E Grosscup - Wenonah - Real Estate. Born in Bridgeton, August 2, 1860; son of Charles C. and Anna D. Grosscup."</ref>
• James G. Hampton (1814–1861), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1845 to 1849<ref>James Giles Hampton, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 25, 2007</ref>
• Charles L. Harris (1834–1910), Union Army Brigadier General<ref>Colonel Charles L. Harris, 11th Wisconsin Civil War Regiment, July 9, 2007. Accessed October 22, 2012. "Charles L. Harris, born August 24, 1834 in Bridgeton, New Jersey, was a prominent Madison resident when the war broke out."</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Charles L. Harris, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Charles Hill (1936–2021), diplomat and academic<ref>Smith, Harrison. "Charles Hill, diplomat, Yale professor and top adviser to George Shultz, dies at 84", The Washington Post, March 30, 2021. Accessed April 5, 2021. "Morton Charles Hill was born in Bridgeton, N.J., on April 28, 1936. His father was a dentist, his mother a homemaker."</ref>
• Alfred Ellet Hitchner (1882–1959), college football pioneer who was head coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team in 1904<ref>Class of 1904 - Rutgers College - History to 1907, p. 12. Accessed December 21, 2014. "Alfred Ellet Hitchner. ... Before entering college lived at Clayton, N. J., and Bridgeton, N. J. Prepared at Bridgeton High School and West Jersey Academy."</ref>
• George Jamison (born 1962), NFL linebacker who played for the Detroit Lions<ref>Weinberg, David. "Pro Football / Surprise! Bridgeton Celebrates George Jamison's Long NFL Career", The Press of Atlantic City, August 22, 2000. Accessed October 22, 2012. "One of the reasons George Jamison was able to play in the NFL for 13 seasons was that he was seldom surprised. As an outside linebacker for the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs, the Bridgeton native was rarely caught out of position, even when faced with the most creative trick plays."</ref><ref>Template:Usurped, database Football. Accessed July 29, 2007.</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: George Jamison, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Harvey Johnson (1919–1983), served as head coach for the National Football League's Buffalo Bills<ref>via Associated Press. "Yanks Swamp 'Hawks, 31-0", St. Petersburg Times, December 10, 1946. Accessed June 7, 2011. "The Yanks opened the scoring midway in the first quarter when Harvey Johnson, of Bridgeton, N. J., booted a field goal between the uprights from the Miami 45 yard line."</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Harvey Johnson, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Benjamin F. Lee (1841–1926), religious leader and educator, who was the president of Wilberforce University from 1876 to 1884<ref>Adams, Stephen J. The Patriot Poets: American Odes, Progress Poems, and the State of the Union, p. 392. McGill–Queen's University Press, 2018. Template:ISBN. Accessed August 8, 2019. "Benjamin F. Lee was born 18 September 1841 in Bridgeton, New Jersey."</ref>
• Carwood Lipton (1920–2001), commissioned officer with the 101st Airborne Division during World War II, who was portrayed by Donnie Wahlberg in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers<ref>Biography, C. Carwood Lipton. Accessed November 25, 2017. "In 1966, he moved to Bridgeton, New Jersey where he became an Administrative Manager, and in 1971, he and his wife moved to London where he was the Director of Manufacturing for eight different glass companies in England and Scotland for several years."</ref>
• Frank LoBiondo (born 1946), Congressman who represents New Jersey's 2nd congressional district<ref>Frank A. Lobiondo, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 8, 2007.</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Frank LoBiondo, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Brison Manor (1952-2023), defensive lineman who played eight seasons in the National Football League for the Denver Broncos, from 1977 to 1984<ref>Koffman, Jack. "Newest Rider here air express - Vrison Manor to face Esimos", Ottawa Citizen, September 17, 1975. Accessed October 22, 2012. "GM Frank Clair spoke to Manor, a graduate of University of Arkansas, yesterday morning at his home in Bridgeton, New Jersey, and arranged to have him fly here immediately."</ref><ref>Template:Usurped, database Football. Accessed October 24, 2007.</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Brison Manor, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Bloomfield H. Minch (1864–1929), President of the New Jersey Senate<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref>
• Rube Oldring (1884–1961), professional baseball player who played outfield in the MLB from 1905 to 1918 for the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Yankees<ref>Bishop, Bill. Rube Oldring, Society for American Baseball Research. Accessed November 25, 2017. "Rube suffered a heart attack in 1960, and died at age 77 on September 9, 1961 at his home in Bridgeton, New Jersey from acute blockage of the arteries."</ref>
• Harold E. Pierce (1922–2006), dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon<ref>Sims, Gayle Ronan. Template:Usurped, The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 4, 2006. Accessed December 21, 2014. "He was born in the Art Museum area, and his mother died when he was 7. His father decided the best situation for his son was to be raised by his paternal grandparents in Bridgeton, N.J. He graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1939 and earned a bachelor's degree in science in 1943 from Lincoln University and a medical degree in 1946 from Howard University."</ref>
• Steve Rammel (born 1968), retired U.S. soccer forward who played two seasons in Major League Soccer<ref>"Colorado Rapids Deal Steve Rammel To Metrostars For 1999 First-Round Supplemental Draft Choice" Template:Webarchive, SoccerNews Online, March 5, 1998. Accessed May 23, 2008.</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Steve Rammel, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Floyd Reid (1927–1994), running back who played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers from 1950 to 1956<ref>Floyd Reid, The Pro Football Archives. Accessed December 21, 2014.</ref>
• Jerame Reid (1978–2014), killed by Bridgeton police officers
• Celeste Riley (born 1960), Clerk of Cumberland County, who was the first woman to represent the 3rd Legislative District<ref>County Clerk: Celeste M. Riley, Cumberland County Clerk's Office. Accessed October 28, 2019. "Prior to joining the NJ Assembly, Celeste Riley served as a member of Bridgeton City Council and rose to become the Council President. One of her most notable accomplishments was establishing 'Building a Better Bridgeton', which was a beautification project for the aging industrial foundations of Bridgeton."</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Celester Riley, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Charles C. Seabrook (1909-2003), executive who was an earlier pioneer in frozen food.<ref name=Encyclopedia>Seabrook, Charles Courtney, Encyclopedia.com. Accessed December 21, 2023. "(b. 15 January 1909 in Bridgeton, New Jersey; d. 4 October 2003 in Woodstown, New Jersey), frozen food packager who was instrumental in building the frozen food industry in the twentieth century."</ref>
• Elias P. Seeley (1791–1846), 11th Governor of New Jersey in 1833<ref>New Jersey Governor Elias Pettit Seeley, National Governors Association. Accessed November 25, 2017. "Elias P. Seeley, the fourteenth governor of New Jersey, was born in Bridgeton, New Jersey on November 10, 1791."</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Elias P. Seeley, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• Oberlin Smith (1840–1926), engineer and inventor<ref name=NYTSmith/><ref>Oberlin Smith: Biography, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Global History Network. Accessed November 2, 2010.</ref><ref>Bridegton's Notable People: Oberlin Smith, City of Bridgeton. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref>
• John J. Spoltore (1921–1973), Republican Party politician who served as Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee in 1973 after having served four years as Mayor of Bridgeton in the mid-1950s<ref>Staff. "John Spoltore Dies at 52; G.O.P. Chairman of Jersey", The New York Times, December 12, 1973. Accessed December 21, 2014. "John Spoltore, Republican state chairman, died early today of a heart attack at St. Francis Hospital. He was 52 years old and lived in Bridgeton, where he served as Mayor from 1953 to 1957."</ref>
• Thomas Whitaker Trenchard (1863–1942), lawyer and a Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court between 1906 and 1941, who was presiding judge in the Lindbergh kidnapping trial of Richard Hauptmann<ref>Lundy, F. L., et al. Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual, State of New Jersey, Volume 134, p. 375. Accessed August 8, 2019. "Thomas Whitaker Trenchard, Bridgeton. Justice Trenchard was born in Centreton, Salem county, N. J., December 13, 1863."</ref>
• Aharon Wasserman (born 1986), entrepreneur and software designer<ref>Taniguchi, lauren T. "Forbes 30 Under 30 list features technology leader Aharon Wasserman of Bridgeton", South Jersey Times, December 20, 2011. Accessed December 21, 2014. "Alongside young virtuosos like Lady Gaga, LeBron James and the Olsen twins, Bridgeton's own Aharon Wasserman is featured as one to watch."</ref>
• Melinda Watts (born 1978), urban contemporary gospel artist and musician<ref>Van Embden, Edward. "Bridgeton woman combines teaching, gospel to help girls pursue dreams", The Press of Atlantic City, August 19, 2010. Accessed August 8, 2019. "Melinda Watts left Bridgeton to pursue her dream, and now she's returning to share it."</ref>
• Dominique Williams (born 1990), running back for the Calgary Stampeders<ref>Graves-El, Ahmad. "Bridgeton Native, Dominique Williams, Returns with Life Lessons for the Next Generation", SNJ Today, July 9, 2019. Accessed August 8, 2019. "Bridgeton has been the home of many outstanding and upstanding citizens throughout its history.... Dominique Williams is another elite athlete who hails from the historic town."</ref>
• Shana Williams (born 1972), former track and field athlete who competed in the long jump<ref>Hadden, Doug. Template:Usurped, The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 8, 1988. Accessed December 21, 2014. "Bridgeton High's Shana Williams won three events, and Kingsway was an easy winner in the team competition, highlighting yesterday's 16th annual Pennsauken-South Jersey Open track meet for girls."</ref>
• Jason Winrow (1971–2012), offensive guard who played for the New York Giants<ref>Woods, Don E. "Jason Winrow - Cumberland Regional alum, Ohio State Buckeye and New York Giant - passes away at 41", NJ.com, September 24, 2012. Accessed October 2, 2017. "Winrow was a born in Bridgeton and made a name for himself on the football field. Winrow was the second student in Cumberland Regional High School's history to attend a Division I university on a full football scholarship when he went to Ohio State University from 1989-1993."</ref>
• H. Boyd Woodruff (1917–2017), soil microbiologist who discovered actinomycin and developed industrial production by fermentation of many natural products, including cyanocobalamin (a synthetic form of Vitamin B12), the avermectins and other important antibiotics<ref>Roberts, Sam. "H. Boyd Woodruff, Microbiologist Who Paved Way for Antibiotics, Dies at 99", The New York Times, February 3, 2017. Accessed February 4, 2017. "Harold Boyd Woodruff, known as Boyd, was born on July 22, 1917, in Bridgeton, N.J."</ref>

See also

• Bridgeton, New Jersey Flood of 1934
• Columbia Township, New Jersey

Further reading

• Template:Cite web

External links

• Template:Cite NSRW