A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Cape May County | |
|---|---|
 Sunset on Sunset Beach in Lower Township in May 2009 | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey | |
 New Jersey's location within the U.S. | |
| Coordinates: 39°05′N 74°52′W / 39.08°N 74.86°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| Founded | 1685 |
| Named for | Cornelius Jacobsen Mey |
| Seat | Cape May Court House |
| Largest municipality | Lower Township (population) Middle Township (area) |
| Government | |
| • Commission Director | Leonard C. Desiderio (R, term ends December 31, 2024) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 620.31 sq mi (1,606.6 km2) |
| • Land | 251.52 sq mi (651.4 km2) |
| • Water | 368.79 sq mi (955.2 km2) 59.5% |
| Population | |
| • Total | 95,263 |
| • Estimate | 94,610 |
| • Density | 378.9/sq mi (146.3/km2) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | capemaycountynj |
Cape May County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Much of the county is located on the Cape May peninsula, bound by the Delaware Bay to its west and the Atlantic Ocean to its south and east. Adjacent to the Atlantic coastline are five barrier islands that have been built up as seaside resorts. A consistently popular summer destination with 30 miles (48 km) of beaches, Cape May County attracts vacationers from New Jersey and surrounding states, with the summer population exceeding 750,000. Tourism generates annual revenues of about $6.6 billion as of 2018, making it the county's single largest industry. The associated leisure and hospitality industries are Cape May's largest employers. Its county seat is the Cape May Court House section of Middle Township.[5] The county is part of both the Jersey Shore[6] and South Jersey regions of the state.[7]
As of the 2020 census, the county was the state's second-least populous county,[8][9] with a population of 95,263,[2][3] a decrease of 2,002 (−2.1%) from the 2010 census count of 97,265,[10] which in turn reflected a decline of 5,061 (-4.9%) from the 102,326 counted in the 2000 census.[11] The county is part of the Ocean City, NJ metropolitan statistical area and the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD combined statistical area, also known as the Delaware Valley.[12]
Before Cape May County was settled by Europeans, the Kechemeche tribe of the Lenape Native Americans inhabited South Jersey. Beginning in 1609, European explorers purchased land from, and contributed to the decline of, the indigenous people. The county was named for Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, a Dutch captain who explored and charted the area from 1620 to 1621, and established a claim for the province of New Netherland. In 1685, the court of Cape May County was split from neighboring Burlington County, although the boundaries were not set until seven years later. In 1690, Cape May (originally known as Cape Island) was founded, becoming America's oldest seaside resort.
The county was subdivided into three townships in 1798: Lower, Middle, and Upper. The other 16 municipalities in the county, including two no longer in existence, were established between 1827 and 1928. In 1863, the first railroad in the county opened, which carried crops from the dominant farming industry. Railroads later led to the popularity of the county's coastal resorts. The need for improved automotive access to the county led to the development of the Garden State Parkway, which opened in 1956.
The most populous place was Lower Township with 22,057 residents in the 2020 census,[3] and its geographically largest municipality is Middle Township, which covers 82.96 square miles (214.9 km2).[13]
History
Etymology
Before Cape May County was settled by Europeans, the indigenous Kechemeche tribe of the Lenape people inhabited South Jersey, and traveled to the barrier islands during the summer to hunt and fish.[14][15][16] During the 17th century, the area that is now Cape May County was claimed as part of New Netherlands, New Sweden, the Province of New Jersey under the British crown, and later West Jersey.[14] On August 28, 1609, English explorer Henry Hudson entered the Delaware Bay and stayed one day on land, north of what is now Cape May Point.[17] As early as 1666, the southern tip of New Jersey was known as Cape Maey, named after Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen May, who sailed the coastline of New Jersey from 1620 to 1621.[18] In 1630, representatives of the Dutch West India Company purchased a 16 sq mi (41 km2) tract of land along the Delaware from indigenous people, and bought additional land 11 years later.[17] Due to the large number of whales in the region of Cape May, Dutch explorers founded Town Bank around 1640 along the Delaware Bay as a whaling village. It was the first European settlement in what is now Cape May County, and was populated by descendants of Plymouth County.[17][19]
History
In 1685, the court of Cape May was split from Burlington County, which at that time encompassed all or nearly all of South Jersey.[14] In 1690, a settlement began at Cape Island (now Cape May). As whaling declined due to overpopulation, Town Bank diminished in importance in favor of Cape May, and was largely washed away by 1750.[19][20][21] In 1692, Cape May County was designated as one of the original four counties of West Jersey, defined as the land from the most northerly portion of Great Egg Harbor Bay to a point 20 mi (32 km) east of the mouth of the Maurice River (called West Creek), south to the tip of Cape May. The limits of the county were adjusted over the next two centuries, mostly the portion near Maurice River Township.[14] The first water mill in the county was constructed in 1699 in Cold Spring. Nearby, the First Baptist Church was built in 1712, and the first Cold Spring Presbyterian Church was built in 1718. Both churches, as well as nearby private homes, functioned as the center of early county government.[17]
In 1744, the county chose Romney Marsh – later Cape May Court House – near the county's center to become the county seat. The first jail and courthouse were built in 1764.[22][17] The county's population was around 1,000 in 1750, isolated from the rest of New Jersey by forests.[22] Cape May grew independently as America's oldest bathing resort by 1765, leading to the city's current motto "The Nation's Oldest Seashore Resort".[17][23] Amid the British blockade of the Delaware Bay in the American Revolutionary War, two British ships pursued and attacked the American brig Nancy, which fled to the coast at Turtle Gut Inlet (located in Wildwood Crest today). The Nancy was abandoned and sabotaged, killing at least 30 British sailors when the brig exploded after they boarded.[24] The Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet on June 29, 1776, was the only Revolutionary War battle fought in the county.[25]
Cape May County was split into three townships on February 21, 1798 – Lower, Middle, and Upper. The three townships were previously established as precincts on April 2, 1723.[14][19] During the War of 1812, British forces raided farms in the county for food and fresh water. In retaliation, residents dug canals to the ocean, making the water no longer drinkable.[25] In 1827, Dennis Township was created from portions of Upper Township,[14] 101 years after its namesake Dennisville was founded in 1726.[17] The oldest independent borough in the county was Cape Island Borough in 1848, which became the city of Cape May in 1869.[14] Over the next 60 years as transport to the region improved, most of the current municipalities in the county were created.[14] Sea Grove, later renamed Cape May Point, was founded in 1875. In 1879, Ocean City was founded as a religious retreat.[19] Sea Isle City was founded in 1882, followed by West Cape May in 1884. In 1885, Anglesea (renamed North Wildwood in 1906) and Holly Beach (later a part of Wildwood) were founded.[14] A land development company established Avalon in 1887. In 1891, Woodbine was founded on the mainland as an agriculture settlement for Russian Jews who fled religious persecution.[19] From 1894 until 1945, South Cape May existed as an independent borough until it was largely destroyed by the 1944 Great Atlantic hurricane.[14][26] In 1906, the eastern coastal boundary of Cape May County was established at a point 3 nautical miles (3.5 mi; 5.6 km) east of the coast.[14] The last municipalities to be established were Wildwood Crest (in 1910), Stone Harbor (in 1914), and West Wildwood (in 1920).[14] In 1928, North Cape May was founded, but was dissolved in 1945 after it failed to attract development following the Great Depression.[14][27]
During World War II, Cape May Canal was built to connect the Delaware Bay and Cape May Harbor, completed in March 1943.[28] The completion of the Garden State Parkway in 1955 brought hundreds of thousands of tourists, as well as a larger year-round population.[27] Since the 1970s, the mainland has become more developed, due to the high cost of building on the barrier islands. Commercial development concentrated along U.S. Route 9 in Rio Grande, Cape May Court House, and Marmora.[23] Concurrent with the 1980 Presidential election, Cape May County residents voted in favor to create a new state of South Jersey along with five other counties in a nonbinding referendum.[29]
Geography and climate
Cape May County is 29 mi (47 km) long and 15 mi (24 km) at its widest.[19] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of 620.31 square miles (1,606.6 km2), of which 251.52 square miles (651.4 km2) was land (40.5%) and 368.79 square miles (955.2 km2) was water (59.5%).[1] The county is located about 150 mi (240 km) south of New York City, 80 mi (130 km) southeast of Philadelphia, and 150 mi (240 km) east of Washington, D.C.[19] To the south and east of the county is the Atlantic Ocean.[30] The location near water provides milder temperatures than surrounding areas, as well as a continuous breeze, which contribute to the area's tourism-driven economy.[19] Sea level along the coast 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 ft (18 m) above sea level.[31]
Overall, the county is flat and coastal. Much of Cape May County lies on the Cape May Peninsula, which is part of the Atlantic coastal plain. The peninsula is bounded to the west by the Delaware Bay, and to the east is 1.5 to 3 mi (2.4 to 4.8 km) of marshes and water channels making up the Intracoastal Waterway.[19] There are over 1,574 mi (2,533 km) of streams and rivers in the county, with the Great Egg Harbor River and its tributaries covering the northern portion of the county. There are also 24,150 acres (9,770 ha) of ponds, lakes, bays, and reservoirs.[23] There are five barrier islands, measuring 32 mi (51 km) in total, that are adjacent to the mainland. The islands have gently-sloped beaches and are largely built up.[19] There were only four barrier islands from 1922, when Turtle Gut Inlet was filled in to create Wildwood Crest, until 1945, when Cape May Canal was constructed through the southern portion of the county.[19][32][28]
Climate
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Given its maritime influence and southernmost location within New Jersey, Cape May County has a more moderate climate than surrounding areas. During the summer, the county is often 3–5 degrees cooler, and 5–10 degrees warmer in the winter.[34] Much of the county is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7a/7b, with a small portion in the county's southeastern extreme in zone 8a. This equates to an average annual minimum temperature of 0 to 10 °F (−18 to −12 °C).[35] The average temperatures in the county seat of Cape May Court House range from a low of 22 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −22 °F (−30 °C) was recorded in January 1942 and a record high of 103 °F (39 °C) was recorded in July 1993. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.91 inches (74 mm) in June to 4.68 inches (119 mm) in August,[33] and annual precipitation is around 40 in (1,000 mm). The region typically gets 10 to 15 in (250 to 380 mm) of snowfall each year, much less than the mountains of New Jersey.[36] According to the Köppen climate classification system, Cape May County has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa).[37] According to the Trewartha climate classification this climate is Do (oceanic.) The county has windy conditions throughout the year.[38]
Owing to its location along the coast, Cape May County has experienced the effects of tropical cyclones for centuries. In Whale Beach on Ludlam Island, core samples suggested the passage of an intense hurricane sometime between 1278 and 1438.[39] The next significant hurricane in the area was September 3, 1821. Around 1800 UTC (2:00 pm local time), the eye of the hurricane crossed over Cape May, estimated as a Category 4 on the Saffir–Simpson scale. It is estimated that an identical hurricane to the 1821 storm in the 21st century would cause over $1 billion in damage in Cape May County, and $107 billion in damage nationwide.[40] The Gale of 1878 flooded Cape May County and produced 84 mph (135 km/h) winds.[41] During the passage of Hurricane Gloria in 1985, Ocean City recorded a wind gust of 101 mph (163 km/h).[42] Hurricane Sandy struck the state on October 31, causing at least $150 million in damage in the county from its high winds and high tides. At the terminal for the Cape May–Lewes Ferry in North Cape May, Sandy produced the highest tide on record at 8.9 ft (2.7 m), surpassing the previous record of 8.8 ft (2.7 m) set by Hurricane Gloria.[43][44]
Cape May County has experienced a variety of other weather effects. In March 1962, a stalled coastal storm produced several days of extremely high tides along the barrier islands, which damaged the boardwalks of Cape May, Avalon, and Sea Isle City.[45][46] The 1991 Perfect Storm produced high tides and beach erosion.[47] In January 2016, a blizzard nicknamed "Winter Storm Jonas" produced record high tides in the county, reaching 9.0 ft (2.7 m) at the terminal for Cape May–Lewes Ferry, surpassing that of Hurricane Sandy. Nearly every municipality in the county reported damage, and in coastal towns, the beaches were severely eroded.[44][48] Since 1950, ten tornadoes have touched down in the county.[49]
Flora and fauna
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The uplands, wetlands, and open waters of the county support one of the largest concentration of migratory birds in North America. Nearly 900,000 migratory birds were observed in 1995 in Avalon. Along the Delaware Bay, 800,000 to 1.5 million birds pass through the area each spring.[30] In 1947, the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary was established, which was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1965.[50] In addition to the 151 species of birds that frequent the county, there are two species of whales, the loggerhead sea turtle, the northern pine snake, two species of treefrog, and the tiger salamander that inhabit the waters of Cape May County. Eight species of fish and four species of shellfish populate the coastal waters.[30]
About 30% of the county is covered by forests that runs the length of the Cape May peninsula and connects with the Pinelands.[19][30] The largely unfragmented forest provides breeding grounds for the barred owl, red-shouldered hawk, and wood thrush, and also provides habitat for insects and migratory birds. In the county's swampy interior, there are over 20 species of trees and 40 species of shrubs. About 42% of the county consists of wetlands. The marshes between the mainland and the barrier island are dominated by the common reed, narrow-leaved cattail, bulrushes, and smooth cordgrass. Along the beach, the American beachgrass predominantly make up dune systems, along with other plant species.[30]
The county utilizes five underground aquifers, including two that derive from the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer. Severe storms resulted in saltwater intrusion of the county's freshwater supply.[51] The suitable growing conditions led to West Cape May considering itself the "lima bean capital of the world", until Guatemala surpassed it in the 1990s. The city still hosts an annual lima bean festival.[52]
Geology
The oldest rocks in the county are at a depth of 5,000 ft (1,500 m), formed during the Precambrian era. These metamorphic rocks include gneiss, quartzite, and schist. During the Paleozoic era, the region was part of a mountainous landmass that extended from the Arctic to Mexico. Erosion during the Triassic and Jurassic periods formed valleys that gathered sediment, which deposited and layered as the coastline receded and rose. In the Paleocene and Eocene epochs, as well as the later Miocene epoch, the area that is now Cape May County was under water. The coastline receded again during the Quaternary period.[53]
During the Sangamonian interglacial period, melting glaciers formed rivers that carried sediment to the coast. The Bridgeton Formation deposited silt and clay through a fluvial process, while the later Cape May Formation deposited sand, silt, clay, and gravel. The Great Egg Harbor River in its formative stage produced a delta that covered much of what is now Cape May County with sediment. During the most recent ice age (Wisconsin glaciation), the sea level dropped to 430 ft (130 m) below its current depth. Around 14,000 years ago, glaciers began melting, and the barrier islands of Cape May County formed, likely from spits and lines of dunes.[53]
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | |
| 2010 | 97,265 | −4.9% | |
| 2020 | 95,263 | −2.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 94,610 | [2][4] | −0.7% |
| Historical sources: 1790-1990[54] 1970-2010[13] 2000[11] 2010[10] 2020[2][3][55] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county had 95,263 people, 40,939 households, and 26,792 families. The population density was 378.9 inhabitants per square mile (146.3/km2). There were 99,606 housing units at an average density of 396.2 per square mile (153.0/km2). The county's racial makeup was 85.6% White, 3.74% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.95% Asian, and 5.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.83% of the population.
There were 40,939 households, of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 26.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 15.5% had a male householder with no wife present and 34.5% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.70.
About 17.6% of the county's population was under age 18, 6.7% was from age 18 to 24, 29.2% was from age 15 to 44, and 27.0% was age 65 or older. The median age was 50.5 years. The gender makeup of the county was 48.4% male and 51.5% female. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males.
The county's median household income was $69,980, and the median family income was $83,695. About 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.[56]
Cape May County is part of the Ocean City, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area, as well as the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area.[57]
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 97,265 people, 40,812 households, and 25,956 families in the county. The population density was 386.9 inhabitants per square mile (149.4/km2). There were 98,309 housing units at an average density of 391 per square mile (151/km2). The racial makeup was 89.83% (87,369) White, 4.69% (4,565) Black or African American, 0.21% (205) Native American, 0.86% (834) Asian, 0.04% (36) Pacific Islander, 2.47% (2,399) from other races, and 1.91% (1,857) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.22% (6,054) of the population.[10]
Of the 40,812 households, 21.6% had children under the age of 18; 48.3% were married couples living together; 11% had a female householder with no husband present and 36.4% were non-families. Of all households, 31.2% were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.89.[10]
18.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 8% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.4 males.[10]
As of the 2010 census, there were 98,365 houses in the county, of which only 42% were occupied year round. There are 47 campgrounds with 17,999 campsites, greater than the number of campsites in all other counties in the state combined. There are also 18,700 hotel rooms in the county.[23] The median household income of the county was $57,168 as of 2013, the fourth-lowest of New Jersey's 21 counties. About 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. The county ranked last in the state in terms of residents with Assets Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed (ALICE), representing nearly one-third of the county's residents.[58]
Government
County government
Cape May County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners consisting of five members elected at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for vote as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects a director and deputy director from among its members.[59] In 2016, commissioners were paid $17,973 and the director was paid an annual salary of $18,973.[60] No Democrat has won countywide office since Jeff Van Drew did so in 2000. As of 2024[update], Cape May County's commissioners are (with terms for director and vice director ending every December 31):[61]
| Commissioner | Party, Residence, Term |
|---|---|
| Director Leonard C. Desiderio | R, Sea Isle City, 2024[62] |
| Vice Director Andrew Bulakowski | R, Lower Township, 2025[63] |
| Robert Barr | R. Ocean City, 2025[64] |
| Will Morey | R, Wildwood Crest, 2026[65] |
| Melanie Collette | R. Middle Township, 2026[66] |
Each county in New Jersey is required by the New Jersey State Constitution to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).[67] Cape May County's Constitutional Officers are:[68][61]
| Title | Representative |
|---|---|
| County Clerk | Rita Marie Rothberg (R, 2025, Ocean City)[69][70][71] |
| Sheriff | Robert Nolan (R, 2026, Lower Township)[72][70][73] |
| Surrogate | E Marie Hayes (R, 2028, Ocean City)[74][75] |
The Cape May County Prosecutor is Jeffrey H. Sutherland, who was appointed to the position by Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie and sworn into office on December 21, 2017.[76] Cape May County, along with Atlantic County, is part of Vicinage 1 of New Jersey Superior Court. Atlantic County has a civil courthouse in Atlantic City, while criminal cases are heard in Mays Landing; the Assignment Judge for Vicinage 1 is Julio L. Mendez.[77]
Law Enforcement
The current county sheriff is Bob Nolan, elected in 2017 after working in the sheriff's office for 30 years, most recently as undersheriff.[78] The first county sheriff was Benjamin Godfrey in 1692. Aside from maintaining law and order, the sheriff's responsibilities include the sale of property, overseeing the corrections facility, transporting of jurors, and collecting court-ordered judgments. The first county jail was built in 1705 in Middle Township, and the current jail was built in 1977.[79] A new facility is scheduled to be completed in August 2018, at the cost of $37 million.[80][81][82] In 2015, Cape May County had 3,332 criminal offenses, the fifth fewest of any county in New Jersey. This represented a crime rate of 35.1 offenses per 1,000 people, and a violent crime rate of 4.7 offenses per 1,000 people.[83]
Federal representatives
The 2nd Congressional District covers all of Cape May County.[84][85] For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).[86]
State representatives
The county lies entirely within the 1st Legislative District.[87]
| District | Senate[88] | Assembly[88] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Mike Testa (R) | Antwan McClellan (R)
Erik K. Simonsen (R) |
The remainder of this district covers portions of Atlantic County and Cumberland County. |
Politics
Though New Jersey is generally Democratic in recent state-wide elections, Cape May County is a mostly Republican county, with the highest percentage of voters registered as Republicans of any county in the state. As of October 1, 2021, there were a total of 74,585 registered voters in Cape May County, of whom 31,859 (42.7%) were registered as Republicans, 18,498 (24.8%) were registered as Democrats and 23,325 (31.3%) were registered as unaffiliated. There were 903 voters (1.2%) registered to other parties.[89] Among the county's 2010 Census population, 69.9% were registered to vote, including 81.1% of those ages 18 and over.[90][91]
In the 2008 and 2012 United States presidential elections, Republicans carried the county by an 8.6% margin over Barack Obama.[92] However, in 2016 and 2020, Republican Donald Trump won the county by more than 15 points. Despite the county's strong Republican lean, at least one Democrat has won the county in recent years. In 2018, Democrat Jeff Van Drew outpolled Republican Seth Grossman in the county by a margin of 21,595 (52.6%) to 19,003 (46.3%) in that year's congressional election. Although, Van Drew changed his partisan affiliation in 2019 and won the county as a Republican over Democratic challenger Amy Kennedy by a margin of 34,627 (60.7%) to 21,899 (38.4%).