Margate City is a city situated on the Jersey Shore on Absecon Island, within Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, on the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 5,317, a decrease of 1,037 (−16.3%) from the 2010 census count of 6,354, which in turn had reflected a decline of 1,839 (−22.4%) from the 8,193 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. Geographically, the city, and all of Atlantic County, is part of the South Jersey region of the state and 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.

The city is located on Absecon Island, which stretches for and is also home of Atlantic City and Ventnor City to the northeast, and Longport on the southwest.Absecon Island Shore Protection Project , United States Army Corps of Engineers. Accessed May 1, 2008. "Construct an approximate $63 million beach and dune system along the 8.1 mile oceanfront of Absecon Island that includes, the cities of Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate and Longport." The city stretches about 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, and is the home of Lucy the Elephant, a -tall wooden and metal-clad elephant recognized as America’s Oldest Surviving Roadside Attraction and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976,Sokolic, William H. "Margate's Lucy celebrates 125th birthday", Courier-Post, July 20, 2006. Accessed June 22, 2012. and of Marven Gardens, of Monopoly board game fame.Pritchard, Michael. "Margate Says It Will Try Again To Put The 'Garden' Back In Marven", The Press of Atlantic City, April 8, 1996. Accessed June 22, 2012. "For the last three years the city has tried to relandscape the public areas of Marven Gardens, designated as historic and made famous by its inclusion on the Monopoly board."

History 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 on April 20, 1909.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 70. Accessed May 30, 2024.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 262. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed October 6, 2015. The city was named for Margate in Kent, England.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 4, 2015.

A boardwalk was constructed in 1906. The boardwalk was built close to the Atlantic Ocean, which left it more vulnerable to storm damage than the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Large chunks of the boardwalk were destroyed in the 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane, with the remaining portions lasting until the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962.Klauber, Bruce. "When Margate had a boardwalk", Shore Local News, November 7, 2024. Accessed November 24, 2025. "The Margate Boardwalk was built in 1906 and stood closer to the ocean than Atlantic City’s modern-day counterpart, making it more susceptible to wind and water damage. It lasted for 38 years until September of 1944 when the Great Atlantic Hurricane destroyed a good portion of it, as well as significant portions of the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Remnants remained until 1962, when a nor’easter wiped out the remainder."

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 1.63 square miles (4.22 km2), including 1.42 square miles (3.67 km2) of land and 0.22 square miles (0.56 km2) of water (13.19%).

Margate City borders Longport and Ventnor City.Areas touching Margate City, MapIt. Accessed February 26, 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.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Margate City had a population of 5,317. The median age was 58.7 years. 11.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 37.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.8 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,651 households in Margate City, of which 13.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.9% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 7,124 housing units, of which 62.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.3%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 4,978 93.6% Black or African American 13 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native 7 0.1% Asian 57 1.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2 0.0% Some other race 61 1.1% Two or more races 199 3.7% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 183 3.4%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 6,354 people, 3,156 households, and 1,805 families in the city. The population density was . There were 7,114 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 96.36% (6,123) White, 0.71% (45) Black or African American, 0.09% (6) Native American, 0.98% (62) Asian, 0.02% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.72% (46) from other races, and 1.12% (71) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.75% (175) of the population.

Of the 3,156 households, 14.6% had children under the age of 18; 45.8% were married couples living together; 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 42.8% were non-families. Of all households, 38.0% were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.64.

14.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 15.5% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 31.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 88.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,667 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,735) and the median family income was $90,625 (+/− $6,808). Males had a median income of $81,759 (+/− $13,790) versus $61,179 (+/− $11,593) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $50,328 (+/− $7,450). About 8.4% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Margate City city, Atlantic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 15, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census 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 . 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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Margate City city, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 3, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Margate City city, Atlantic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 3, 2012.

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.

Parks and recreation

Summer 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 hotels, so most of the people who choose this town are regulars. 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.

Beaches Margate's beaches attract surfers,The Best of the Jersey Shore: Surfing, The Boardwalk Catalog. Accessed October 21, 2013. kayaking, and hobie cat sailing.Beach Info , Margate City. Accessed October 21, 2013.