Barnegat Light is located at the northern end of Long Beach Island.
This quaint little borough of less than one square mile has a winter population of a little more than 700 and hasn't changed much over the last century.
Fishing is still "big business," just as it was when the English Crown first deeded the area in 1692. Barnegat Light is the homeport to many members of the East Coast's Longline Fleet.
These fishermen set their sights on larger fish such as tuna and swordfish and regularly fish in high seas several hundred miles offshore.
Barnegat Light's most famous inhabitant is "Old Barney," the red and white-banded Barnegat Lighthouse situated at the northern tip of Long Beach Island.
This 172-foot-tall structure, designed by Gen. George Meade and commissioned January 1, 1859, is the second tallest lighthouse in the United States.
Although the tower's light was "snuffed out" in 1944, "Old Barney" still attracts thousands of visitors every summer to
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.
Besides being home to Barnegat Lighthouse, one of the last remaining tracts of maritime forest on Long Beach Island is also located in the park.
Birdwatchers can view some diverse species of our "feathered friends," as the park is a key resting and feeding ground for birds migrating to and from their breeding areas.
Barnegat Light is a small, quiet borough of about 1,100 residences, inhabited by retirees and former "Long Beach Islanders," who now maintain summer homes there.
