The City of Linwood , New Jersey is a suburban community on Scull Bay in Atlantic County. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 7,172. Linwood lies approximately nine miles to the west of Atlantic City and is bounded by the municipalities of Northfield, Egg Harbor Township and Somers Point, and is well known for its large, expensive homes, particularly in communities such as Fischer Woods, Fischer Greens and The Gold Coast. The city comprises an area of four square miles lying approximately nine miles to the west of Atlantic City and bounded by the municipalities of Northfield, Egg Harbor Township, and Somers Point.
The early Linwood economy revolved around fishing and shipbuilding. 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 incorporated as a city on April 27, 1931, replacing Linwood borough.
Today, this isolated but well-to-do suburban community is accessible by land only via the Garden State Parkway, a major north-south artery which is adjacent to the City and provides access to New York City, and via the Atlantic City Expressway, which is five miles distant and leads directly to Philadelphia. The Parkway going south connects with the Cape May-Lewes ferry service, which provides a convenient, modern method of crossing the Delaware Bay to points south. Atlantic City International Airport (approximately twenty miles distant) provides both commuter and regular air travel to major eastern cities and beyond.
There are only three traffic lights in Linwood, New Jersey: 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. The city is primarily a residential community with a relatively large proportion of its residents employed in professional services or executive positions in the city and its neighboring municipalities. The city is widely known for African violets grown at Fischer Farms and orchids from Brighton Farms. The Linwood Convalescent Center, one of the largest facilities of its type in the state, is another major contributor to the city’s economy.
Linwood has been named a Tree City USA community by The National Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to community forestry. It is the seventh year Linwood has received this national recognition.