Ask ten people where they live in Egg Harbor Township and you might get ten different answers. Bargaintown. Scullville. English Creek. West Atlantic City. Cardiff. They all share one town hall, but they feel very different on the ground. If you are shopping for a home in EHT, understanding that map is the first step. Let's get into it.
A Big Township Made of Small Places
Egg Harbor Township is large. It covers about 75 square miles, which makes it one of the biggest municipalities in Atlantic County by area. The 2020 Census counted 47,842 residents, the highest in the township's history.
The township was first mentioned in 1693 and incorporated in 1798. Over the centuries, ten other municipalities were carved out of its original territory. What remains is a patchwork of villages, each with its own name, history, and feel. None of them are separate towns. They are unincorporated communities, all governed by Egg Harbor Township.
That is why you will see addresses that say Egg Harbor Township, and others that use a village name. Same township, same services, same school district.
Bargaintown: The Center of Town
Bargaintown is home to the township's municipal building, which makes it the closest thing EHT has to a downtown. It sits just east of the Garden State Parkway.
The name has a fun backstory. When development here stalled long ago, a property developer sold lots at reduced prices, hoping values would climb. The bargains stuck, and so did the name.
Today Bargaintown is a mix of established neighborhoods and newer homes, with quick access to the Parkway and the Somers Point and Ocean City side of the county.
Scullville and Steelmanville: Room to Breathe
On the southern side of the township, Scullville (once known as Jeffers) and Steelmanville have a more spread out, rural character. Think larger lots, wooded settings, and quieter roads.
For buyers who want space, a big yard, or room for a workshop or a boat in the driveway, this part of EHT is worth a long look. You are still a short drive from Somers Point, Linwood, and the causeways to the islands.
English Creek: Trails Out the Back Door
English Creek takes its name from a nearby stream. It is primarily residential, with neighborhoods tucked between the Parkway and the township's central corridors.
One big perk here is the Atlantic County Bikeway, a 7.56 mile path for bikes and walkers. It runs from Harbor Square in EHT to the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in Hamilton Township, with a trailhead at English Creek Avenue. Interpretive signs along the way cover Pinelands ecology and the old rail line the path follows.
Cardiff, McKee City, and Farmington: Close to Everything
The northern and central parts of the township sit along the township's main commercial roads, including U.S. Routes 40 and 322 (the Black Horse Pike). This is where you will find shopping, dining, and services, including Harbor Square, the regional center that opened as the Shore Mall in 1968.
Homes here put you close to the Atlantic City Expressway and Atlantic City International Airport, most of which sits in the northern part of the township. That makes this side of EHT practical for anyone who travels often or commutes toward Philadelphia.
It is also home to Storybook Land, the 20 acre family amusement park on the Black Horse Pike that has been a South Jersey tradition since 1955.
West Atlantic City: Near the Bay
West Atlantic City sits on the eastern edge of the township, toward the bays and marshes that separate the mainland from Atlantic City. It is one of the quickest mainland jumps to the island, and the surrounding wetlands give it a coastal feel without being on a barrier island.
Seaview Harbor: EHT's Waterfront Surprise
Here is one that surprises a lot of buyers. Seaview Harbor is part of Egg Harbor Township, but it sits along Route 152 on Great Egg Harbor Bay, separated from Longport only by the Beach Thorofare. It is roughly 10 miles from the rest of the township.
It was first envisioned in 1957 as a planned community for boating families. Today it has 92 single family homes and a marina with about 300 slips. If you love the water and want a bayfront setting next door to Longport, it belongs on your list. Just know that taxes, services, and schools follow Egg Harbor Township, not Longport.
Open Space Across the Township
For a fast-growing township, EHT has a surprising amount of protected land:
- Egg Harbor Township Nature Reserve, a 220 acre former gravel pit turned park in 2013, with an arboretum, about 6 miles of trails, and a lake for fishing and kayaking.
- Three wildlife management areas: Malibu Beach, Pork Island, and Lester G. MacNamara.
- The Great Egg Harbor River and Patcong Creek, which help define the township's edges.
The township is also part of the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, so pockets of pine forest are never far away.
Tips for Buyers in Egg Harbor Township
- Pick the village, then the house. Lot sizes, road traffic, and drive times to the beach vary a lot from one section to the next. Spend a Saturday driving each area.
- Map your commute. The Parkway, the Expressway, and the Black Horse Pike all run through EHT. Which one you live closest to will shape your daily routine.
- Check flood zones address by address. Homes near the bays, creeks, and marshes can sit in mapped flood zones. Request an elevation certificate before you make an offer.
- Ask about new construction. EHT is a designated Pinelands Regional Growth Area, and new neighborhoods have been built here over the years. Compare new builds with resales on price, lot size, and HOA rules.
If You Are Selling in Egg Harbor Township
Name your village. Buyers coming from North Jersey or the Philadelphia Main Line often see "Egg Harbor Township" and picture one place. Tell them what makes your corner special, whether that is a wooded lot in Scullville, a walk to the bikeway in English Creek, or a boat slip in Seaview Harbor. Specific beats generic every time.
The Bottom Line
Egg Harbor Township is not one neighborhood. It is a collection of them, with everything from rural lots to bayfront homes, all within easy reach of the shore towns and Atlantic City. The right fit depends on how you want to live, and the right guide makes finding it a lot easier.
Daniel Rallo works with buyers and sellers across Egg Harbor Township, Somers Point, Linwood, Northfield, Ocean City, and the rest of the South Jersey Shore, and can help you find the section of EHT that fits the way you want to live. Reach him at 609.338.7364 or [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Egg Harbor Township?
Egg Harbor Township covers about 75 square miles in Atlantic County. The 2020 Census counted 47,842 residents.
Are Bargaintown, Scullville, and English Creek separate towns?
No. They are unincorporated communities within Egg Harbor Township. They share the same municipal government and school district.
Is Seaview Harbor part of Longport?
No. Seaview Harbor sits next to Longport but is part of Egg Harbor Township.
Where is the Egg Harbor Township municipal building?
The municipal building is in Bargaintown, just east of the Garden State Parkway.
Are there trails in Egg Harbor Township?
Yes. The Egg Harbor Township Nature Reserve has about 6 miles of trails, and the 7.56 mile Atlantic County Bikeway starts at Harbor Square.
Is Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township?
Most of the airport is located in the northern part of the township.
