| Wildwood Crest, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Borough — | |
| Wildwood Crest arch | |
| Wildwood Crest Borough highlighted in Cape May County. Inset map: Cape May County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Wildwood Crest, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Cape May |
| Incorporated | April 6, 1910 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Walsh Act (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Carl Groon (term ends 2013)[1] |
| Area[2] | |
| • Total | 1.31 sq mi (3.4 km2) |
| • Land | 1.15 sq mi (3.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.4 km2) 11.45% |
| Elevation[3] | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[4] | |
| • Total | 3,270 |
| • Density | 2,496.2/sq mi (961.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08260[5] |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-81200[6][7] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0881831[8] |
| Website | http://www.wildwoodcrest.org |
Wildwood Crest is a borough in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 3,980.
The area of the borough was first developed by Philip B. Baker in the 1910s as a southern addition to the resort of Wildwood.[9]
Wildwood Crest was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 6, 1910, from portions of Lower Township.[10]
It was ranked the second best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.[11]
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Wildwood Crest is located at (38.972464, -74.838365).[12]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.31 square miles (3.4 km2), of which, 1.15 square miles (3.0 km2) of it is land and 0.15 square miles (0.39 km2) of it (11.45%) is water.[2]
Part of the Lower Township beach has been closed off for many years for the protection of native birds such as the Piping Plover. These small birds have this area all to themselves so that their eggs may be protected from beachgoers.[13] There is a nature trail one may take through the dunes to explore this sheltered area of the beach.
Wildwood Crest borders Diamond Beach in Lower Township, the City of Wildwood, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Wildwood Crest and its neighboring towns of Wildwood, North Wildwood, and West Wildwood make up "The Wildwoods" resort, a popular vacation destination for those living in all parts of New Jersey as well as within the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania metropolitan area. Unlike its sister communities of Wildwood and North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest is generally set apart from the all-hours excitement that the resort area is known for. Many vacationers will find some of the quietest and most undisturbed beach space.
In recent years, condominiums have replaced many of the motels the area was known for, such as The Grand, The Ocean Breeze, El Coronado, and The Arcadia. Some restaurants have been torn down and replaced with condominiums, including The Captain's Table, The Surfside, and Duffenetti's. These changes in housing have significantly changed the demographics of this area, from being a more family oriented one-vacation-per-summer place (for the middle class) to being a weekend retreat for wealthier families.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 103 |
|
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| 1920 | 161 | 56.3% | |
| 1930 | 738 | 358.4% | |
| 1940 | 661 | −10.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,772 | 168.1% | |
| 1960 | 3,011 | 69.9% | |
| 1970 | 3,483 | 15.7% | |
| 1980 | 4,149 | 19.1% | |
| 1990 | 3,631 | −12.5% | |
| 2000 | 3,980 | 9.6% | |
| 2010 | 3,270 | −17.8% | |
| Population sources:1910-1930[14] 1930-1990[15] 2000[16] 2010[17][4][18] |
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The 2010 United States Census reported that there were 3,270 people, 1,532 households and 917 families residing in the borough. The racial makeup of Wildwood Crest was 93.2% (3,047) White, 1.7% (55) African American, 0.2% (5) Native American, 1.0% (33) Asian, 0.0% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.8% (59) from other races, and 2.2% (71) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.6% (184).[17][18]
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 3,980 people, 1,833 households, and 1,114 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,453.9 people per square mile (1,336.2/km2). There were 4,862 housing units at an average density of 4,219.3 per square mile (1,632.4/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.87% White, 1.23% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 2.21% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.22% of the population.[16]
There were 1,833 households out of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.76.[16]
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.2% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 25.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.[16]
The median income for a household in the borough was $36,579, and the median income for a family was $47,462. Males had a median income of $42,727 versus $27,500 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,741. About 4.4% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.[16]
Wildwood Crest has been governed under the Walsh Act, by a three-member commission, since 1937.[19][20]
As of 2011[update], the Board of Commissioners consists of:[21]
Wildwood Crest is in the 2nd Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.[22] The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[4]
New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
1st legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Jeff Van Drew (D, Dennis Township) and in the Assembly by Nelson Albano (D, Vineland) and Matthew W. Milam (D, Vineland).[23] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[24] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[25]
Cape May County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. As of 2011, Cape May County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel (Upper Township, term expires December 31, 2011)[26], Leonard C. Desiderio (Sea Isle City, 2012)[27], Ralph E. Sheets, Jr. (2011)[28], M. Susan Sheppard (Ocean City, 2013)[29] and Gerald M. Thornton (2013).[30][31]
The Wildwood Crest School District serves public school students in PreKindergarten through eighth grade. Crest Memorial School had an enrollment of 298 students in the 2009-10 school year.[32]
For grades 9-12, public school students from Wildwood Crest attend Wildwood High School in Wildwood as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Wildwood Public School District.[33] Students also have the option of attending mainland schools such as Cape May County Technical High School.
Cape Trinity Catholic elementary school and Wildwood Catholic High School operate under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.[34]
Portions of Wildwood Crest are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone in The Wildwoods. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax rate (half the 7% rate charged statewide).[35]
Notable motels in Wildwood Crest include the Caribbean Motel, built in 1957 in the Doo-Wop style and added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 24, 2005.[36][37]
Noted current and former residents of Wildwood Crest include:
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