The city of Barnegat, in Barnegat Township, on the western shore of Barnegat Bay, across from
Barnegat Lighthouse, adjoining
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, are all related, in addition to their geographical propinquity, to their common name, Barnegat, derived from Dutch, for "area where surf breaks" or "breakwaters" or "breakers". Barnegat is located in southern
Ocean County, in the
Shore Region between
Manahawkin and
Waretown.
This was a shipbuilding center during the American Revolutionary period and it gained notoriety as a pirates' hideaway prior to that.
Some of this history has been maintained by the Barnegat Historic District, a popular visitors site in the city, with parks, antique stores, gift shops & boutiques, ice cream parlors, restaurants, and museums.
