Cape May County, New Jersey
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| Cape May County, New Jersey | |
| Image:Cape May County Seal.gif | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of New Jersey |
|
 New Jersey's location in the U.S. |
|
| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1685 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Cape May Court House |
| 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 is 102,326. It is included in the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its county seat is the Cape May Court House section of Middle Township[1].
This county is part of the Delaware Valley area.
Contents |
[edit] 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.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Atlantic County, New Jersey - north
- Cumberland County, New Jersey - northwest
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] 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.
| 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 | [3] | -3.0% |
| historical census data source: [4][5] | |||
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.
[edit] Government
Cape May County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at large in partisan elections to serve staggered three-year terms in office.[6] Cape May County's Freeholders are:[7]
- 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)
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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)
- Cape May County Offices :: Contact Information
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] References
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ QuickFacts: Cape May County, New Jersey. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-03-01.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by County: 1880 - 1930.
- ^ Geostat Center: Historical Census Browser. University of Virginia Library. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
- ^ Freeholders Home Page, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2008.
- ^ Freeholders Home Page, Cape May County. Accessed June 11, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Official county website
- The Cape May County Gazette Newspaper
- The Beachcomber
- Cape May County Herald Newspaper
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