| Cape May County, New Jersey | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of New Jersey |
|
 New Jersey's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1685 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Cape May Court House |
| Largest city | Ocean City |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
620 sq mi (1,606 km²) 255 sq mi (660 km²) 365 sq mi (945 km²), 58.86% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
102,326 401/sq mi (155/km²) |
| Website: www.co.cape-may.nj.us | |
Cape May County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 102,326. This county is part of the Delaware Valley area as well as the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its county seat is the Cape May Court House section in Middle Township[1].
Contents |
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 620 square miles (1,607 km²). 255 square miles (661 km²) of it is land and 365 square miles (946 km²) of it (58.86%) is water.
Most of the county is flat and coastal. Sea level is the lowest point; the highest elevation is found at three areas in Belleplain State Forest in the county's northern corner which are approximately 60 feet (18.2 m) above sea level.
Adjacent counties
- Atlantic County, New Jersey - north
- Cumberland County, New Jersey - northwest
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Cumberland County | Atlantic County | |
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| Delaware Bay |  |
Atlantic Ocean | ||
 Cape May County, New Jersey  |
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| Delaware Bay |
National protected area
Climate
Being the southernmost point in New Jersey, Cape May has fairly mild wintertime temperatures. Contrary to that, the summertime has lower temperatures than most places in the state, making the town a popular place to escape the heat. It is in zone 7a/7b which is the same as parts of Coastal Virginia, therefore being Humid/Temperate.It is a perfect location to grow traditional Northeastern Plants including English Yew,Boxwoods,and Sugar Maples. Because of the warmer wintertime temperatures, Hardy Palms including Trachycarpus Fortunei (Chinese Windmill Palm) and Needle Palms would work quite well in the landscape,these plants having survived for many years also in other parts of coastal ,NJ also zones 7a/7b from sandy Hook to Cape May. Wine grapes also do particularly well, given the long growing season. The wine industry is growing - four vineyards and wineries operate in the county now - three more are planted and on the way. Wine grapes are quickly replacing the once vibrant lima bean industry.
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Cape May has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) typical of New Jersey with warm summers and cold winters.
Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 2,571 |
|
|
| 1800 | 3,066 | 19.3% | |
| 1810 | 3,632 | 18.5% | |
| 1820 | 4,265 | 17.4% | |
| 1830 | 4,936 | 15.7% | |
| 1840 | 5,324 | 7.9% | |
| 1850 | 6,433 | 20.8% | |
| 1860 | 7,130 | 10.8% | |
| 1870 | 8,349 | 17.1% | |
| 1880 | 9,765 | 17.0% | |
| 1890 | 11,268 | 15.4% | |
| 1900 | 13,201 | 17.2% | |
| 1910 | 19,745 | 49.6% | |
| 1920 | 19,460 | −1.4% | |
| 1930 | 29,486 | 51.5% | |
| 1940 | 28,919 | −1.9% | |
| 1950 | 37,131 | 28.4% | |
| 1960 | 48,555 | 30.8% | |
| 1970 | 59,554 | 22.7% | |
| 1980 | 82,266 | 38.1% | |
| 1990 | 95,089 | 15.6% | |
| 2000 | 102,326 | 7.6% | |
| Est. 2005 | 99,286 | [4] | −3.0% |
| historical census data source: [5][6] | |||
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 102,326 people, 42,148 households, and 27,354 families residing in the county. The population density was 401 people per square mile (155/km²). There were 91,047 housing units at an average density of 357 per square mile (138/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.57% White, 5.06% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.35% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 3.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 23.0% were of Irish, 16.7% Italian, 15.9% German, 9.4% English and 5.8% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 42,148 households out of which 26.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.50% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 30.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.30% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 20.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,591, and the median income for a family was $51,402. Males had a median income of $39,340 versus $27,621 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,172. About 6.40% of families and 8.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.70% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Cape May County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, all currently Republicans, elected at large in partisan elections to serve staggered three-year terms in office.[8] Cape May County's Freeholders are:[9]
- Daniel Beyel (Freeholder Director, term expires December 31, 2008),
- Ralph E. Sheets, Jr. (Freeholder Vice-Director, 2008)
- Ralph E. Bakley, Sr. (2010)
- Leonard C. Desiderio (2009)
- Gerald M. Thornton (2010)
Politics
Though New Jersey is generally a blue state, Cape May County is a red county. In the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, John McCain carried the county by an 8.6% margin over Barack Obama, with Obama winning statewide by 15.5% over McCain.[10]
Industry
The majority of Cape May County's industry is tourism, due to its beaches and location between the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. During the summer season (which traditionally ranges from Memorial Day to Labor Day), tourists often outnumber "locals" 9 to 1. The commercial fishing industry is also important in Cape May County. In 2005 Cape May County ranked 5th nationally in commercial fishing landings and generated $68.1 million. Cape May County ranked 13th in the nation in pounds of fish landed with 97.5 million pounds. [2]
Municipalities
The following municipalities are located in Cape May County. The municipality type is listed in parentheses after the name, except where the type is included as part of the name. Census-designated places and other unincorporated communities are listed under their municipalities.
- Avalon (borough)
- Cape May Point (borough)
- Cape May (city)
- Dennis Township
- Lower Township
- Middle Township
- North Wildwood (city)
- Ocean City
- Sea Isle City
- Stone Harbor (borough)
- Upper Township
- West Cape May (borough)
- West Wildwood (borough)
- Wildwood Crest (borough)
- Wildwood (city)
- Woodbine (borough)
Education
Atlantic Cape Community College, founded in 1964 with campuses in Mays Landing and Cape May Court House, serves students from both Atlantic County and Cape May County.
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey has a partnership with Atlantic Cape Community College which offers Bachelor degree completion programs at Atlantic Cape's Mays Landing campus. For more information on this program please visit http://www.rutgersataccc.org.
Notable residents
- Marla Adams, soap opera actress
- Mary O'Hara Alsop, Author, accomplished pianist and composer.
- Kevin Bramble, disabled ski racer, freeskier, and monoski designer and builder.
- Chris Ford, an American basketball player and coach.
- Greg Fulginiti, an American recording and mastering engineer.
- Joy Bright Hancock, one of the first women officers in the United States Navy.
- Thomas Millet Hand, an American Republican Party politician who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1945-57.
- Thomas "Tommy" Lee, thoroughbred horse jockey.
- Gregory Goodwin Pincus, American biologist and researcher, was co-inventor of the combined oral contraceptive pill.
- Charles W. Sandman, Jr., an American politician who represented Cape May in the New Jersey State Senate from 1956-66; the 2nd district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1967-75; candidate for Governor of New Jersey, 1973.
- Andrew J. Tomlin, American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient and County Sheriff from Goshen, Cape May County, New Jersey buried in Goshen Methodist cemetery.
- Harriet Tubman, a leading African American abolitionist who helped liberate scores of slaves through the Underground Railroad.
References
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=Search&_county=Cape+May+County&_cityTown=Cape+May+County&_state=05000US34009
- ^ http://www.mapzones.org/Cape_May_County_New_Jersey.html
- ^ "QuickFacts: Cape May County, New Jersey". U.S. Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34/34009.html. Retrieved 2007-03-01.
- ^ "New Jersey Resident Population by County: 1880 - 1930". http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd5.htm.
- ^ "Geostat Center: Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/. Retrieved 2007-03-02.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Freeholders Home Page, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2008.
- ^ Freeholders Home Page, Cape May County. Accessed June 11, 2007.
- ^ [1]
External links
- Official county website
- The Cape May County Gazette Newspaper
- The Beachcomber
- Cape May County Herald Newspaper
- Rutgers at Atlantic Cape Community College
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