Corbin 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 471, a decrease of 21 (−4.3%) from the 2010 census count of 492, which in turn reflected an increase of 24 (+5.1%) from the 468 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.
Corbin City was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 11, 1922, from portions of Weymouth Township.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.Staff. Acts of the One Hundred and Forty-Sixth Legislature of the State of New Jersey, pp. 106-107. New Jersey Secretary of State, 1922. Accessed October 17, 2015. "Chapter 56 - An Act to incorporate corbin City and fix the boundaries thereof" The borough was named for 19th-century banking and railroad entrepreneur Austin Corbin.Rogers, Judy; and Houdart, Mike of the Historical Preservation Society of Upper Township. "Corbin City's namesake was an infamous robber baron, called 'part hog, part shark'" , Upper Township Gazette, July 3, 2015. Accessed August 29, 2015. "In 1922, the town known as North Tuckahoe was incorporated as Corbin City after Austin Corbin. Many people today do not know how or why the name was chosen, or the notorious background of the city's namesake."
History The city has been one of several New Jersey municipalities that have considered consolidation. In 2008, Corbin City announced that it was investigating a prospective merger with neighboring Upper Township, across the county line in Cape May County, citing proximity and that Corbin City's children already attend Upper Township schools.Little choice for small New Jersey towns but to merge. PhillyBurbs.com. Accessed May 26, 2008. There are no municipalities within New Jersey that have incorporated lands within multiple counties, and by 2010 Cape May County's Board of Chosen Freeholders objected to the plan, citing an analysis that the added costs of serving Corbin City would exceed revenues.Staff. "Corbin City, smallest N.J. town, tries to keep its way of life", The Star-Ledger, June 10, 2010. Accessed January 23, 2015. "However, the plan's main recommendation, merging with Upper Township, was opposed by Cape May County freeholders, since providing services to Corbin City costs more than its tax base."
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 8.97 square miles (23.24 km2), including 7.70 square miles (19.94 km2) of land and 1.28 square miles (3.3 km2) of water (14.23%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Buck Hill and Rock Point.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The city borders the municipalities of Egg Harbor Township and Estell Manor in Atlantic County; and Upper Township in Cape May County.Areas touching Corbin City, MapIt. Accessed March 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.
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 either 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) or in the Pinelands National Reserve.Pinelands Municipalities, New Jersey Pinelands Commission, April 2003. Accessed November 18, 2013.
Demographics
Corbin City is the least-populous municipality with the city type of government in New Jersey. While there are municipalities with smaller populations, they are either boroughs, towns, townships or villages."The Press Answer Guy", The Press of Atlantic City, February 20, 2005. Accessed August 10, 2007. "Another town, Corbin City, is the smallest city. In 2000's census, only 468 people lived there."Procida, Lee. "Corbin City, the smallest town in New Jersey, fights to preserve 'paradise'", The Press of Atlantic City, June 10, 2020. Accessed March 26, 2020. "Corbin City — Just before Route 50 weaves its way south into Cape May County, it bisects the state’s smallest city, a hamlet on the Tuckahoe River that has changed little in its nearly 90-year history — and whose people hope it never will.... There have been growing worries in recent years that it will be forced to change, though, because keeping the tiny government functioning has required putting a significant tax burden on homeowners in a town with a population of 520."
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 492 people, 185 households, and 130 families in the city. The population density was . There were 212 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 97.56% (480) White, 0.41% (2) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 1.22% (6) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.61% (3) from other races, and 0.20% (1) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.46% (17) of the population.
Of the 185 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18; 53.0% were married couples living together; 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.7% were non-families. Of all households, 24.9% were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.18.
23.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.9 males.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 468 people, 172 households, and 120 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 204 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.02% White, 2.78% African American, 0.85% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.99% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Corbin City city, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 9, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Corbin City city, Atlantic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 9, 2013.
There were 172 households, out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city the population was spread out, with 29.9% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,083, and the median income for a family was $56,000. Males had a median income of $35,938 versus $27,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,321. None of the families and 4.9% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 17.0% of those over 64.
Government
Local government Corbin City operates within the City form of New Jersey municipal government.Forms of Municipal Government in Atlantic County, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed November 17, 2013. The city is one of 15 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this traditional form of government.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The city's governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the three-member City Council. The Mayor is elected at-large to a two-year term of office and the City Council has three members elected at-large to three-year terms in office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 13."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 4. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.Staff. "Corbin City Profile", The Press of Atlantic City, November 12, 1993. Accessed May 15, 2012. "Government Form: Mayor/Council"Form of Government, City of Corbin City. Accessed June 5, 2023. "Corbin City follows the Traditional City form of Government"
, the Mayor of Corbin City is Republican Robert J. Schulte, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the City Council are Council President LaVerne Kirn (R, 2027), Daniel Patterson (R, 2028), and Kelly Yeats (R, 2026).Government, City of Corbin City. Accessed June 22, 2026.Municipal Governments, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 22, 2026.2025 General Election November 4, 2025 Official Results, Atlantic County, New Jersey, updated February 5, 2026. Accessed June 22, 2026.2024 General Election November 5, 2024 Official Results, Atlantic County, New Jersey, updated December 2, 2024. Accessed June 22, 2026.2023 General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results, Atlantic County, New Jersey, updated November 27, 2023. Accessed June 22, 2026.
In January 2022, the City Council selected former councilmember Thomas Bennis from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat vacated by Kristofer Surran, who resigned the previous month amid his accusations that his council colleagues had been violating the state's Open Public Meetings Act by addressing official city business outside of public meetings.Barlow, Bill. "Big changes in Atlantic County's smallest municipality", The Press of Atlantic City, January 13, 2022. Accessed April 19, 2022. "Former Council member Kristofer Surran resigned late last year, effective Dec. 31. Contacted Tuesday, Surran accused the other members of the governing body of discussing matters outside of regular meetings, alleging violations of the Open Public Meetings Act.... Surran’s resignation left one seat to fill until the next election. Of three potential candidates, the council members chose Thomas Bennis, a former council member who had lost a previous reelection bid."