Egg Harbor City is a city in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. 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. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 4,396,Egg Harbor City city, New Jersey Census Data, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 1, 2022. an increase of 153 (+3.6%) from the 2010 census count of 4,243, which in turn reflected a decline of 302 (−6.6%) from the 4,545 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, 2023.

The city had the seventh-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 5.044% in 2020, compared to 2.560% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%."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.... 7. Egg Harbor City Equalized tax rate in Egg Harbor City, Atlantic County, was 5.044 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Atlantic County: 2.560"

History The area home to Egg Harbor City was settled by Europeans in 1614, when the Dutch vessel Fortuyn landed at the Mullica River. The first settlers named the area "Eyren Haven" after the large number of gull eggs in the area.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed Accessed May 1, 2026.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 115. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 30, 2015.

In 1854, the Camden and Atlantic Railroad opened. On December 14, 1854, a group of prominent German Americans from Philadelphia, including William and Henry Schmoele and Philip Mathias Wolsieffer, incorporated the "Gloucester Farm and Town Association", which purchased approximately 38,000 acres of woodland north of the railroad to serve as a refuge for those being persecuted in the anti-immigrant violence known as the Know-Nothing movement. The corporation planned two cities: a four-square-mile city called "Pomona" closest to the railroad, and another city called "Gloucester" to the north. However, the twin city scheme was dropped in favor of one seven-mile-long metropolis called "Egg Harbor City". The development's layout contained an urban "city core" containing 100x150-foot lots bounded by New York Avenue to the west and Baltimore Avenue to the east, while the remainder of the land was divided into separate 20-acre farm parcels. The corporation issued stocks at $300 per share; with each share, stockholders would acquire one residential building lot and one farm parcel. The city was marketed heavily in cities containing large German American populations, including Baltimore, Buffalo, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and St. Louis.

The land was divided and plotted from the railroad north to the Mullica River, west ending at Hanover Avenue, and the easternmost land being the home of the present-day Stockton University. The north–south streets were avenues named for cities with large German populations, while the east–west streets were named for notable Germans, starting with Agassiz Street (current-day White Horse Pike) to the south, and ending with Zschokke Street (unbuilt) to the north. The city was planned to include ample public green space; both New York Avenue and Baltimore Avenue were platted with wide medians to accommodate garden plats, Landing Creek would have been dammed to create an artificial lake called "Gloucester Lake", and Egg Harbor City Lake would have been made into a reservoir at the center of a large urban park containing landscaped gardens, an arboretum, and a model farm. The Mullica River was proposed to be made navigable for commercial vessels, and the northern edge of the street grid along the river was to contain canals and wharfs for ships to dock.

Egg Harbor City was officially incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on June 14, 1858, from portions of Galloway Township and Mullica Township. The city was reincorporated on February 13, 1868.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 city's growth was slowed due to th Panic of 1857, and then further during the Civil War. Though the city did not grow to the size as originally proposed, it grew in population steadily in the 1870s, and remained a virtual island of German language and culture in South Jersey for more than 50 years.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 11.42 square miles (29.58 km2), including 10.85 square miles (28.10 km2) of land and 0.57 square miles (1.48 km2) of water (4.99%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Clarks Landing, Gloucester Furnace and Gloucester Lake.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The city borders the municipalities of Galloway Township and Mullica Township in Atlantic County; and Washington Township in Burlington County.Areas touching Egg Harbor City, MapIt. Accessed March 30, 2020.Atlantic County District Map, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed July 9, 2024.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

The city is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering , that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.The Pinelands National Reserve, New Jersey Pinelands Commission. Accessed November 18, 2013. All of the city is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Atlantic County, along with areas in Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.Pinelands Municipalities, New Jersey Pinelands Commission, April 2003. Accessed November 18, 2013.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Egg Harbor City had a population of 4,396. The median age was 38.7 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and older there were 91.5 males age 18 and older.

89.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 11.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,712 households in Egg Harbor City, of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 33.6% were married-couple households, 20.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 36.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,896 housing units, of which 9.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.7%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,172 49.4% Black or African American 974 22.2% American Indian and Alaska Native 23 0.5% Asian 117 2.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1 0.0% Some other race 606 13.8% Two or more races 503 11.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,223 27.8%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 4,243 people, 1,593 households, and 1,075 families in the city. The population density was . There were 1,736 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 62.95% (2,671) White, 17.94% (761) Black or African American, 0.38% (16) Native American, 2.22% (94) Asian, 0.09% (4) Pacific Islander, 12.28% (521) from other races, and 4.15% (176) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.28% (1,115) of the population.

Of the 1,593 households, 30.2% had children under the age of 18; 39.0% were married couples living together; 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.5% were non-families. Of all households, 25.3% were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.13.

24.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $52,893 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,582) and the median family income was $67,654 (+/− $6,555). Males had a median income of $35,182 (+/− $7,553) versus $33,994 (+/− $2,214) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,294 (+/− $3,702). About 11.3% of families and 20.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.2% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Egg Harbor City city, Atlantic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 10, 2013.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 4,545 people, 1,658 households, and 1,150 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 1,770 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 66.80% White, 14.19% African American, 0.37% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 13.49% from other races, and 3.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 24.55% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Egg Harbor City city, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 10, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Egg Harbor City city, Atlantic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 10, 2013.

There were 1,658 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the city the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,956, and the median income for a family was $40,040. Males had a median income of $27,978 versus $23,560 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,151. About 11.7% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government