Linwood was originally incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1889, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. Linwood was reincorporated as a city on April 27, 1931.[22] The area had been called Leedsville until 1880, when a post office was being established. The United States Postal Service insisted that the name had to be changed as it conflicted with an existing post office elsewhere in the state. Among the names proposed and considered by local residents were "Brinola", "Geneva", "Pearville" and "Viola", with "Linwood" ultimately chosen.[23]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 4.21 square miles (10.91 km2), including 3.81 square miles (9.87 km2) of land and 0.40 square miles (1.04 km2) of water (9.55%).[1][2]
Of the 2,653 households, 33.7% had children under the age of 18; 60.2% were married couples living together; 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.2% were non-families. Of all households, 23.0% were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.10.[19]
24.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 18.0% from 25 to 44, 33.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 85.1 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $80,518 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,965) and the median family income was $103,529 (+/− $11,162). Males had a median income of $90,125 (+/− $16,766) versus $50,125 (+/− $5,378) for females. The per capita income for the city was $47,501 (+/− $5,093). About 2.1% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.[38]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 7,172 people, 2,647 households, and 1,966 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,873.5 inhabitants per square mile (723.4/km2). There were 2,751 housing units at an average density of 718.6 per square mile (277.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.20% White, 1.06% African American, 0.11% Native American, 2.41% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.81% of the population.[35][36]
There were 2,647 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.13.[35][36]
In the city the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.[35][36]
The median income for a household in the city was $60,000, and the median income for a family was $71,415. Males had a median income of $51,614 versus $31,627 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,159. About 3.8% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.[35][36]
Government
Local government
Linwood operates under the City form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 15 (of the 564) municipalities statewide that use this form.[39] The governing body is comprised of a Mayor and a seven-member City Council who are chosen in partisan balloting held as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected at-large for a four-year term of office. On the city council, six council members are elected from the city's two wards for three-year terms on a staggered basis with two ward seats coming up for election each year, and one at-large council member is elected for a three-year term.[6][40] The council exercises the legislative power of the city by adopting ordinances and resolutions. In addition, the council is responsible for the approval of the city budget, the establishment of financial controls and setting of all salaries of elected and appointed officers and employees. An administrator is charged with directing the day-to-day activities of city government.[41]
As of 2023[update], the Mayor of the City of Linwood is Republican Darren H. Matik, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.[3] The City Council is comprised of Blair Albright (R, 2024, Ward 2), June Byrnes (R, 2024; Ward 1), Stacy DeDomenicis (R, 2025; Ward 1), Eric Ford (R, 2023; Ward 1), Matthew B. Levinson (R, 2024, At Large), Todd Michael (R, 2025, Ward 2) and Adam M. Walcoff (R, 2023; Ward 2 - appointed to fill an unexpired term).[42][43][44][45][46][47][48]
In December 2022, the city council appointed Adam M. Walcoff To fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Ralph A. Paolone until he resigned from office.[49]
Todd Michael was appointed in June 2021 to fill the Ward 2 seat expiring in December 2022 that had been hele by Brian Heun until he resigned from office the previous March.[50] Michael served on an interim basis until he won election for the balance of the term of office in November 2021.[46]
In January 2020, Matthew B. Levinson was appointed to fill the at-large city council seat expiring in December 2020 that was vacated by Darren H. Matik when he took office as mayor.[51]
In May 2016, Eric Ford was selected from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the Ward 1 seat expiring in December 2017 that became vacant following the resignation of Timothy Tighe.[52]
Darren Matik was named in August 2012 to fill the vacant at-large seat that had been held by Matthew Levinson, who resigned the previous month.[53] Todd Gordon was appointed in January 2013 to fill the seat of Alex Marino, who had resigned following his taking office on the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders.[54] Brian Heun was appointed in February 2014 to fill the unexpired term of Donna Taylor.[55]
Federal, state and county representation
Linwood is located in the 2nd Congressional District[56] and is part of New Jersey's 2nd state legislative district.[57][58][59]
Atlantic County is governed by a directly elected county executive and a nine-member Board of County Commissioners, responsible for legislation. The executive serves a four-year term and the commissioners are elected to staggered three-year terms, of which four are elected from the county on an at-large basis and five of the commissioners represent equally populated districts.[65][66] As of 2024[update], Atlantic County's Executive is Dennis Levinson (R, Northfield), whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.[67] Members of the Board of County Commissioners are:
Atlantic County's constitutional officers are:
Clerk Joesph J. Giralo (R, 2026, Hammonton),[78][79]
Sheriff Joe O'Donoghue (R, 2026, Egg Harbor Township)[80][81] and
Surrogate James Curcio (R, 2025, Hammonton).[82][83][84]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,197 registered voters in Linwood City, of which 1,120 (21.6% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,894 (36.4% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans and 2,181 (42.0% vs. 44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens.[85] Among the city's 2010 Census population, 73.3% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 97.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).[85][86]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 2,190 votes (57.0% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,592 votes (41.4% vs. 57.9%) and other candidates with 39 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,842 ballots cast by the city's 5,408 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.0% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County).[87][88] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,190 votes (53.0% vs. 41.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,851 votes (44.8% vs. 56.5%) and other candidates with 51 votes (1.2% vs. 1.1%), among the 4,131 ballots cast by the city's 5,476 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.4% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County).[89] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,254 votes (56.3% vs. 46.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,674 votes (41.8% vs. 52.0%) and other candidates with 40 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,004 ballots cast by the city's 5,011 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.9% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county).[90]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,800 votes (69.9% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 679 votes (26.4% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with 27 votes (1.0% vs. 1.3%), among the 2,576 ballots cast by the city's 5,541 registered voters, yielding a 46.5% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county).[91][92] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,536 votes (55.4% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,017 votes (36.7% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 174 votes (6.3% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 30 votes (1.1% vs. 1.2%), among the 2,774 ballots cast by the city's 5,260 registered voters, yielding a 52.7% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).[93]
The Linwood Historic District is a 111-acre (45 ha) historic district within the city along Maple and Poplar avenues, and Shore Road. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 13, 1989 for its significance in architecture and social history. The district includes 129 contributing buildings and three contributing sites.[96]
As of May 2010[update], the city had a total of 42.57 miles (68.51 km) of roadways, of which 36.93 miles (59.43 km) were maintained by the municipality, 3.15 miles (5.07 km) by Atlantic County and 2.49 miles (4.01 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[112]
Atlantic City International Airport, approximately 20 miles (32 km) away, provides both commuter and regular air travel to major eastern cities and beyond.
Community services
There are only three traffic lights in the city: Central and Oak, Central and New Road, and Poplar and New Road. An additional traffic light lies on the border with Somers Point, at Ocean Heights and New Road.
There are at least three points of access to the waters surrounding Linwood. The west end of Hamilton Avenue abuts Patcong Creek, allowing the launching of canoes or kayaks (and possibly trailered boats). An unnamed dirt road (Poplar Docks) just to the east of the Linwood Country Club ends several hundred yards into the marshes, and it may allow launching of trailered boats at low tide (the end of the road tends to submerge at high tide). The eastern end of Seaview Avenue is a better-constructed dirt road that ends at a dock (known as "Seaview Docks" to locals) on Sod Thorofare, and is suitable for trailered boats. A parking permit is required at the Hamilton Avenue and Seaview Avenue sites. Permits are valid for the entire calendar year, though their purchase price varies with time of acquisition:
January 1 through March 31: $20 per permit, except for senior citizens 65 years or older, where the fee will be $5 per permit.
Permits purchased subsequent to March 31 and prior to Labor Day will be available at a cost of $50 per permit.
Permits purchased from Labor Day through December 31 will be available at a cost of $20 per permit.
Up to 450 permits per year are issued, and they can be purchased at the office of the City Clerk.[116]
On May 14, 2003, the City Council approved the auction of up to two licenses, citywide, for restaurant service of alcoholic beverages. Package-good sales are not permitted anywhere in the city. This was the first revision to the alcohol-sales-related section of the city code since 1969; it is unclear if sales were permitted prior to that year.[117]
Rachel Alana Handler (born 1998), actress, singer and motivational speaker who is best known for playing Chunks in the 2016 horror movie Smothered[127]
Sonia Manzano (born 1950), actress, screenwriter and author, best known for playing the character Maria Rodriguez on the PBS television show Sesame Street between 1971 and 2015[131]
^Willis, Lavinia Thomas Willis, Ed. Early History of Atlantic County, New Jersey: Record of the First Year's Work of Atlantic County's Historical Society, pp. 95-96. Kutztown Publishing Company, 1915. Accessed September 3, 2015. "There being a post office by the same name in the northern part of the state, the Federal authorities required Leedsville (Linwood) to change its name.... But yet another name must be chosen from the similarity of the abbreviations N. Y. and N. J., the officials at Washington called for another name. Linwood was the name chosen."
^Government, City of Linwood. Accessed September 25, 2019. "The city is governed by a mayor-council form of government. The mayor is elected for a four-year term, six ward council members are elected for three-year terms on a staggered basis, and one at-large council member is elected for a four-year term."
^Common Council Meeting Minutes for December 14, 2022, City of Linwood. Accessed June 6, 2023. "A Resolution Appointing Adam M. Walcoff To Fill The Vacancy On Linwood City Council Created By The Resignation Of Ralph A. Paolone. WHEREAS, there exists a vacancy in the position of Ward 2 Council Member in the City of Linwood as a result of the resignation of Councilman Ralph A. Paolone... NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Common Council of the City of Linwood, that Adam M. Walcoff be and is hereby appointed to fill the vacancy for Council Member Ward 2 on the Linwood City Council; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this appointment shall be effective immediately and shall run for the full unexpired term of Ralph A. Paolone through December 31, 2023."
^Schenck, Craig D. "‘Small-town’ guy now serving on Linwood council; Todd Michael said the city has been near and dear to him since childhood", Ocean City Sentinel, June 9, 2021. Accessed July 19, 2022. "'Linwood is a wonderful community and I look forward to raising my children here and them having similar experiences that I had,” new City Councilman Todd Michael told The Sentinel.... Michael, who was appointed March 19 to replace Brian Heun, oversees public safety. His term expires Nov. 2 unless re-elected."
^"Albright joins Linwood council", Ocean City Sentinel, January 19, 2022. Accessed August 3, 2022."Councilman Matthew Levinson took his seat for his first full term in the at-large position. He was appointed to City Council in 2019 to fill the unexpired term of Darren Matik, who was elected mayor without opposition. In 2020, he ran unopposed for the final year of that term."
^Marino, Suzanne. "Eric Ford is the newest member of Linwood City Council", The Current of Linwood, Northfield & Somers Point, June 1, 2016. Accessed June 14, 2016. "As is required by statute the council chose from three names to fill the vacancy left by former Councilman Tim Tighe's resignation. Interviewed by the Linwood Republican Club were Ford, Harrison Furman and Dan Miller. City Council then voted unanimously to approve Ford to fill the vacancy."
^Spahr, Rob. "Newest Linwood councilman takes oath", The Press of Atlantic City, August 8, 2012. Accessed November 18, 2013. "The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to appoint Darren Matik to the council seat vacated last month by former Councilman Matthew Levinson."
^Marino, Suzanne. "Brian Heun's installment brings Linwood City Council back to full strength", The Current, February 20, 2014. Accessed July 28, 2014. "City Council is back to full strength now that a replacement has been found for Donna Taylor, who stepped down from her council seat when she was sworn in as a judge. Brian Heun, 43, a resident of Linwood for more than 36 years was sworn in by Freeholder Alex Marino at the Feb. 12 council meeting.... The seven-member city council is all Republican."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the Linwood Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2018. Accessed February 2, 2020. "The City of Linwood School District is a Type II district effective November 9, 2016 located in the County of Atlantic, State of New Jersey. As a Type II district, the Board of Education members are elected. The Board is comprised of nine members appointed or elected to three-year terms. The purpose of the district is to educate students in grades PreK-8."
^Mainland Regional High School 2016 School Report Card, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 17, 2017. "Mainland is a comprehensive, four-year public high school with an enrollment of approximately 1,351 students serving the communities of Somers Point, Northfield and Linwood. Mainland is recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the United States Department of Education."
^Frequently Asked Questions, Atlantic County Institute of Technology. Accessed July 1, 2022. "What does it cost to attend ACIT? As a public school, there is no cost to Atlantic County residents of high school age. New Jersey Title 18A:54-20.1 entitles students the right to choose ACIT for their high school education."
^Chapter 83, Alcoholic BeveragesArchived 2016-01-12 at the Wayback Machine, Linwood Municipal Code. Accessed November 29, 2014. "History: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Linwood 5-14-2003 by Ord. No. 13-2003. Editor's Note: This chapter superseded former Ch. 83, Alcoholic Beverages, adopted 10-8-1969. Amendments noted where applicable."
^DeAngelis, Martin. "Egg Harbor Township Submarine Veterans prepare to unveil memorial, years in making", The Press of Atlantic City, March 29, 2015. Accessed September 12, 2018. "Rear Admirial Mark H. Buzby is retired now, but he’s a Linwood native who will be a featured speaker at the April 11 dedication of the memorial, and he was instrumental in helping the Egg Harbor Base deal with the Navy to track down a rare torpedo, the local vets say."
^DeAngelis, Martin. "Former Cape May resident receives glowing reviews for 800+ page book, Witz", The Press of Atlantic City, July 30, 2010. Accessed January 23, 2018. "Joshua Cohen sits in front of his house in Cape May. Cohen, who grew up in Linwood and spent lots of summers in Cape May, has written a new novel, Witz.... Not bad bookish company for a kid who grew up in Linwood and Cape May, went to the old Trocki Hebrew Academy in Margate and then to Mainland Regional High School, and who worked some summers at his uncle's docks across the bay from Cape May - when he wasn't being a slot cashier at a few Atlantic City casinos or a semi-professional guitar player at gigs around Ocean City, Ventnor and more local spots."
^Pizarro, Max. "Daggett to start walking the beaches on Memorial Day weekend", PolitickerNJ, May 19, 2009. Accessed November 18, 2013. "Independent gubernatorial candidate Chris Daggett intends to launch a beach-walking campaign tour in Cape May this coming Saturday. 'I grew up in Linwood, and I've been on the Ocean City beaches every summer of my life,' said the former regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)."
^Leonard, Nicole. "Mainland grad likely to become new New Jersey health commissioner", The Press of Atlantic City, March 12, 2018. Accessed May 21, 2019. "Before Elnahal became a state-appointed physician under Murphy and a federal one under President Barack Obama in 2015, he and his siblings grew up in Galloway Township and Linwood, where his parents settled after emigrating from Egypt."
^Staff. "John F. Gaffney, 61, A Legislator, Is Dead", The New York Times, August 29, 1995. Accessed September 6, 2016. "Assemblyman John F. Gaffney, who sponsored legislation to finance construction of the Atlantic City Convention Center and to streamline casino regulations, died on Sunday at his home in Egg Harbor Township.... He was a councilman in Linwood from 1974 to 1976, and Mayor of the city from 1976 to 1980."
^Brunetti Post, Michelle. "Acting dream untouched by amputation", The Press of Atlantic City, September 15, 2012. Accessed April 4, 2016. "Rachel Handler, of Linwood, is so determined to be an actress, she is back to performing just months after her left leg was amputated below the knee in an accident on the New Jersey Turnpike. The 24-year-old Mainland Regional High School graduate, a lifelong dancer, was living in Queens and had just finished playing Snow White in a production at Nicu's Spoon Theater in midtown Manhattan."
^Stephenson, Colin. "Nets' Dennis Horner, a Linwood native, gets some time to impress", The Star-Ledger, December 17, 2011. Accessed December 27, 2011. "Linwood native Dennis Horner didn't expect to play as much as he did, but with Shelden Williams and Johan Petro in early foul trouble, Nets coach Avery Johnson was forced to turn to him for some minutes late in the first quarter."
^"Montvale Church Ordains Priest", The Record, August 9, 1965. Accessed December 1, 2020. "The Rev. David B. Joslin was ordained to the priesthood of the Episcopal Church in services yesterday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.... Born in Collingswood, he lived most of his youth in Linwood, a suburb of Atlantic City, and now resides with his wife and son at 11 Marion Road."
^Avril, Tom. "Paleontologist gets equal pleasure explaining his work", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 7, 2014. Accessed September 22, 2022. "The carpenter's son grew up in Linwood, Atlantic County, where the coastal terrain is largely sand and mud. Then one day at a Cub Scouts meeting, when Lacovara was in second grade, an amateur geologist brought in a box of geodes and minerals."
^Kuperinsky, Amy. "Sonia Manzano, Maria on Sesame Street, retiring after 44 years", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 2, 2015, updated January 17, 2019. Accessed December 1, 2020. "Manzano, born in Linwood, grew up in the South Bronx and joined Sesame Street in 1971, soon after the show debuted in 1969."
^Sam Ojserkis, United States Olympic Committee. Accessed August 11, 2016. "Birthplace: Pomona, N.J.; Hometown: Linwood, N.J.; High School: Mainland Regional High School (Linwood, N.J.) '08"
United States
New Jersey
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