[23] Geographically, the city, and all of Atlantic County, is part of the South Jersey region of the state and of the Atlantic City-Hammonton metropolitan statistical area, which in turn is included in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.

[24] Margate City was originally incorporated as the borough of South Atlantic City by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on September 7, 1885, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, based on the results of a referendum held on August 1, 1885.

Margate is a popular Jersey Shore destination, especially during the summer, and is the home of Lucy the Elephant, a 65-foot (20 m)-tall wooden and metal-clad elephant recognized as America’s Oldest Surviving Roadside Attraction and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976,[29] and of Marven Gardens, of Monopoly board game fame.

Many houses in Margate are second homes used during the summer, and a considerable number are owned by year-round residents.

Unlike other area towns such as Ocean City and the municipalities on Long Beach Island, weekly house/condominium rentals are almost non-existent in Margate.

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Margate voters will consider a referendum that would allow the city to participate in a program operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers under which dunes would be constructed on the city's beaches, which would be intended to alleviate beach erosion and provide storm protection to Margate and to adjoining Ventnor City, which has already had a beach protection program in place for the past ten years, under which dunes have already been constructed.

[45] Margate is host to many bayside docks providing the casual fisherman hours of enjoyment and relaxation.

Margate's many marinas offer docks for lease, equipment rentals, fuel stations and fishing charters.

[47] Over 140 years old, a restoration of Lucy's exterior surface was completed in December 2022 at a cost of about $2.4 million using government funds and donor contributions.

[49] Margate City has operated under the Walsh Act commission form of municipal government since 1911.

[57][58][59] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).

[61] For the 2024-2025 session, the 2nd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Vincent J. Polistina (R, Egg Harbor Township) and in the General Assembly by Don Guardian (R, Atlantic City) and Claire Swift (R, Margate City).

[63][64] As of 2025[update], Atlantic County's Executive is Dennis Levinson (R, Northfield), whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.

[83] Among the city's 2010 Census population, 78.4% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 91.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).

[112]\ City public school students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township[113] or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point.

[114] Blessed Sacrament Regional School was a Catholic school serving students in grades pre-kindergarten through eighth grade that had been operated in connection with the Blessed Sacrament Church, but was closed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden in June 2008 and merged with St. James of Ventnor to form Holy Family Regional School.

NJ Transit provides bus service on the 505 route between Longport and Atlantic City.

[120][121] Beginning April 1, 2023, bus service on the 504 route between Atlantic City and Ventnor Plaza was extended to Margate.

The plant hardiness zone at Margate City Beach is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 7.0 °F (−13.9 °C).

[126] In the 2009 film (500) Days of Summer, Margate is the hometown of the male lead character, Tom Hansen, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

[127] In the 1998 Nicolas Cage mystery/thriller film Snake Eyes, Margate is the main character's place of residence, alluded to as a pleasant suburban town, in contrast to the grittier Atlantic City, which forms the backdrop of the story.

[citation needed] In the third-season finale of Boardwalk Empire, "Margate Sands", the city is referenced as a site of gang violence between the forces of fictionalized Nucky Thompson and his rivals.

[128] The movie Duane Hopwood was filmed at Eugene A. Tighe Middle School and at Maynards Cafe in 2004.