Cape May, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Cape May is a city
at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County
, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay
meets the Atlantic Ocean
and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City
Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a year-round population of 3,607. In the summer, Cape May's population swells to as many as 40,000 to 50,000 with visitors. The entire city of Cape May is designated the Cape May Historic District
, a National Historic Landmark
due to its concentration of Victorian buildings.
With a rich history, award-winning beaches, designation as a top birdwatching
location, and many Victorian structures, Cape May is a seaside resort drawing visitors from around the world. Cape May was recognized as one of America's top 10 beaches by the Travel Channel
and its beach was ranked fifth in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.
captain named Cornelius Jacobsen Mey
who explored and charted the area between 1611–1614, and established a claim for the province of New Netherland
. It was later settled by New England
ers from the New Haven Colony
.
What is now Cape May was originally formed as the borough
of Cape Island by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
on March 8, 1848, from portions of Lower Township
. It was reincorporated as Cape Island city on March 10, 1851, and finally became Cape May city as of March 9, 1869.
Cape May began hosting vacationers from Philadelphia in the mid 18th century and is recognized by the United States government as the country's oldest seaside resort. It became increasingly popular in the 18th century and was considered one of the finest resorts in America by the 19th century. In 1878 a five-day-long fire destroyed square blocks of the town center and as part of the reconstruction efforts replacement homes were almost uniformly of Victorian style. As a result of this and of more recent preservation efforts, Cape May is noted for its large number of well-maintained Victorian
houses — the second largest collection of such homes in the nation after San Francisco. In 1976, the entire city of Cape May was officially designated a National Historic Landmark
as the Cape May Historic District
, making Cape May the only city in the United States wholly designated as such. That designation is intended to ensure the architectural preservation of these buildings.
, especially off shore Cape May and at the mouth of the Delaware Bay
, numerous United States Navy
facilities were located here in order to protect American coastal shipping. Cape May Naval facilities, listed below, provided significant help in reducing the number of ships and crew members lost at sea.
, the city has a total area of 2.8 mi2, of which 2.48 mi2 is land and 0.32 mi2 of it (11.43%) is water. Cape May is generally low-lying; its highest point, at the intersection of Washington
and Jackson Streets, is a mere 14 feet above sea level.
Cape May borders West Cape May Borough
, Lower Township
, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Delaware Bay
. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry
provides transportation across the Delaware Bay to Lewes, Delaware
.
Cape May Harbor, which borders Lower Township and nearby Wildwood Crest
allows fishing vessels to enter from the Atlantic Ocean, was created as of 1991, after years of dredging completed the harbor which covers 500 acres (202.3 ha). Cape May Harbor Fest celebrates life in and around the harbor, with the 2011 event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the harbor's creation.
Cape May is the southernmost point in New Jersey.
Cape May is located at 38.936814°N 74.911094°W (38.936814, −74.911094).
system, Cape May has a humid subtropical climate
(Cfa) typical of New Jersey with warm summers and cool winters. Precipitation is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. 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. Wine grapes also do particularly well, given the long growing season.
was 1,623.7 people per square mile (628.0/km2). There were 4,064 housing units at an average density of 1,635.7 per square mile (632.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.32% White, 5.26% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.26% from other races
, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.79% of the population.
There were 1,821 households out of which 18.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the city the population was spread out with 16.3% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 28.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,462, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $29,194 versus $25,842 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $29,902. About 7.7% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
form of government under the Faulkner Act
. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising four council members, with all positions elected at large in non-partisan elections. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council is elected to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with three seats coming up for election and then the mayor and the fourth seat two years later. Following the 2004 elections, the first under the new form of government, lots were drawn to determine which of the newly elected members would serve a four-year term, with the other three serving two-year terms. A city manager is responsible for the city's executive functions, managing Cape May's activities and operation.
, the Mayor of Cape May City is Dr. Edward J. Mahaney, Jr. (whose term of office expires June 30, 2012). Members of the Cape May City Council are Deputy Mayor
Jack Wichterman (2014), Deanna Fiocca (2014), William Murray (2014) and Terri Swain (2012).
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
Cape May has become known both for its Victorian
gingerbread homes and its cultural offerings. The town hosts the Cape May Jazz Festival, the Cape May Music Festival and the Cape May, New Jersey Film Festival. Cape May Stage
, an Equity theater founded in 1988, performs at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse on the corner of Bank and Lafayette Streets. East Lynne Theater Company, an Equity professional company specializing in American classics and world premieres, has its mainstage season from June–December and March, with school residencies throughout the year. Cape May is also home for the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, which offers year-round arts classes, African American history tours are transforming the historic Franklin Street School into a Community Cultural Center.
Cape May is the home of the so-called 'Cape May Diamonds'
. They show up at Sunset Beach and other beaches in the area. These are in fact clear quartz
pebbles that wash down from the Delaware River
. They begin as prismatic quartz (including the color sub-varieties such as 'Smoky Quartz' and 'Amethyst') in the quartz veins alongside the Delaware River that get eroded out of the host rock and wash down 200 miles to the shore. Collecting Cape May diamonds is a popular pastime and many tourist shops sell them polished or even as faceted stones.
The Cape May area is also world-famous for the observation of migrating birds
, especially in the fall. With over 400 bird species having been recorded in this area and hundreds of local birders, Cape May is arguably the top bird-watching area in the entire Northeastern United States. The Cape May Bird Observatory
is based nearby at Cape May Point
.
, a non-operating district, as part of a sending/receiving relationship
. The school had an enrollment of 178 students as of the 2009-10 school year. As of 2010, discussions were under way regarding a possible consolidation of the districts of Cape May City, Cape May Point and the West Cape May School District
.
For grades 7 – 12, public school students attend the schools of the Lower Cape May Regional School District
, which serves students from Cape May City, Cape May Point, Lower Township
and West Cape May
. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are
Richard M. Teitelman School (grades 7 and 8; 545 students) and
Lower Cape May Regional High School
(9–12; 1,100).
The private Catholic schools serving Cape May are Cape Trinity Regional School (PreK – 8) and Wildwood Catholic High School
are located in Wildwood and serve all students from Cape May County under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden
.
The Cape May Branch of the Cape May County Public Library is located in Cape May City.
, a commercial-free jazz and community station, as well as free weekly newspaper Exit Zero and local website Cape May Times
.
The name Exit Zero refers to the town's location at the far southern end of the Garden State Parkway
near the intersection with Route 109. Informally, the entire town is sometimes called Exit Zero.
, New Jersey is the nation's only Coast Guard Recruit Training Center. In 1924, the U.S. Coast Guard occupied the base and established air facilities for planes used in support of United States Customs Service
efforts. During the Prohibition
era, several cutters were assigned to Cape May to foil rumrunners operating off the New Jersey coast. After Prohibition, the Coast Guard all but abandoned Cape May leaving a small air/sea rescue contingent. For a short period of time (1929–1934), part of the base was used as a civilian airport. With the advent of World War II, a larger airstrip was constructed and the United States Navy
returned to train aircraft carrier
pilots. The over the water approach simulated carrier landings at sea. The Coast Guard also increased its Cape May forces for coastal patrol, anti-submarine warfare, air/sea rescue and buoy service. In 1946, the Navy relinquished the base to the Coast Guard.
In 1948, all entry level training on the East Coast was moved to the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Receiving Station in Cape May. The Coast Guard consolidated all recruit training functions in Cape May in 1982. Currently over 350 military and civilian personnel and their dependents are attached to Training Center Cape May.
The statue is of a fisherman's wife and her two children looking out onto the sheltering waters of Cape May harbor. The statue is located inside a giant compass. An inscription on the base of the statue states: "He hushed the storm to a gentle breeze and the billows of the sea were stalled."
The design is the creation, in granite, of Heather Baird, with Jerry Lynch; Gary Sassi, Celestial Memorial Sculpting Studio, Barre, VT led the project sculptors; and, Douglass Monuments, Cape May Courthouse, NJ, coordinated the project. The monument occupies a dedicated site at the juncture of Baltimore and Missouri Avenues at Harbor Cove, Cape May, NJ.38.945°N 74.904°W
City (New Jersey)
A City in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County
Cape May County, New Jersey
-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 county a popular place to escape the heat. It is in zone 7a/7b, which is the same as parts of...
, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
meets the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City
Ocean City, New Jersey
Ocean City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is the principal city of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cape May County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 11,701...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a year-round population of 3,607. In the summer, Cape May's population swells to as many as 40,000 to 50,000 with visitors. The entire city of Cape May is designated the Cape May Historic District
Cape May Historic District
The Cape May Historic District is an area of with over 600 buildings in the resort town of Cape May, New Jersey. The city claims to be America's first seaside resort and has numerous buildings in the Late Victorian style, including the Eclectic, Stick, and Shingle styles, as well as the later...
, a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
due to its concentration of Victorian buildings.
With a rich history, award-winning beaches, designation as a top birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
location, and many Victorian structures, Cape May is a seaside resort drawing visitors from around the world. Cape May was recognized as one of America's top 10 beaches by the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
and its beach was ranked fifth in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.
History
The town is named for 1620 DutchNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
captain named Cornelius Jacobsen Mey
Cornelius Jacobsen Mey
Cornelis Jacobszoon May , was a Dutch explorer, captain and fur trader, and namesake of Cape May, Cape May County, and the city of Cape May, New Jersey, so named first in 1620.-Family:...
who explored and charted the area between 1611–1614, and established a claim for the province of New Netherland
New Netherland
New Netherland, or Nieuw-Nederland in Dutch, was the 17th-century colonial province of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands on the East Coast of North America. The claimed territories were the lands from the Delmarva Peninsula to extreme southwestern Cape Cod...
. It was later settled by New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
ers from the New Haven Colony
New Haven Colony
The New Haven Colony was an English colonial venture in present-day Connecticut in North America from 1637 to 1662.- Quinnipiac Colony :A Puritan minister named John Davenport led his flock from exile in the Netherlands back to England and finally to America in the spring of 1637...
.
What is now Cape May was originally formed as the borough
Borough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
of Cape Island by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
on March 8, 1848, from portions of Lower Township
Lower Township, New Jersey
Lower Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,945....
. It was reincorporated as Cape Island city on March 10, 1851, and finally became Cape May city as of March 9, 1869.
Cape May began hosting vacationers from Philadelphia in the mid 18th century and is recognized by the United States government as the country's oldest seaside resort. It became increasingly popular in the 18th century and was considered one of the finest resorts in America by the 19th century. In 1878 a five-day-long fire destroyed square blocks of the town center and as part of the reconstruction efforts replacement homes were almost uniformly of Victorian style. As a result of this and of more recent preservation efforts, Cape May is noted for its large number of well-maintained Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
houses — the second largest collection of such homes in the nation after San Francisco. In 1976, the entire city of Cape May was officially designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
as the Cape May Historic District
Cape May Historic District
The Cape May Historic District is an area of with over 600 buildings in the resort town of Cape May, New Jersey. The city claims to be America's first seaside resort and has numerous buildings in the Late Victorian style, including the Eclectic, Stick, and Shingle styles, as well as the later...
, making Cape May the only city in the United States wholly designated as such. That designation is intended to ensure the architectural preservation of these buildings.
U.S. Navy support during World War II
Because of the World War II submarine threat off the East Coast of the United StatesEast Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
, especially off shore Cape May and at the mouth of the Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
, numerous United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
facilities were located here in order to protect American coastal shipping. Cape May Naval facilities, listed below, provided significant help in reducing the number of ships and crew members lost at sea.
- Naval Air Station, Cape May
- Naval Base, Cape May
- Inshore Patrol, Cape May
- Naval Annex, Inshore Patrol, Cape May
- Joint Operations Office, Naval Base, Cape May
- Welfare and Recreation Office, Cape May
- Dispensary, Naval Air Station, Cape May
- Naval Frontier Base, Cape May
- Degaussing Range (Cold Spring Inlet), Naval Base, Cape May
- Joint Operations Office, Commander Delaware Group, ESF, Cape May
- Anti-Submarine Attack Teacher Training Unit, U.S. Naval Base, Cape May
- Naval Annex, Admiral Hotel, Cape May
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.8 mi2, of which 2.48 mi2 is land and 0.32 mi2 of it (11.43%) is water. Cape May is generally low-lying; its highest point, at the intersection of Washington
Washington Street (Cape May)
Washington Street is the name of a major east-west street in downtown Cape May, New Jersey. It begins at Lafayette Street and ends at Ocean Street. Unofficially, there is a famous walkway, named the Washington Street Mall, between Ocean Street and Perry Street...
and Jackson Streets, is a mere 14 feet above sea level.
Cape May borders West Cape May Borough
West Cape May, New Jersey
West Cape May is a Walsh Act borough in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 1,095....
, Lower Township
Lower Township, New Jersey
Lower Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,945....
, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry
Cape May-Lewes Ferry
The Cape May – Lewes Ferry is a ferry system that traverses a 17-mile crossing of the Delaware Bay to connect Cape May, New Jersey with Lewes, Delaware. The ferry doubles as a section of U.S. Route 9.-The system:...
provides transportation across the Delaware Bay to Lewes, Delaware
Lewes, Delaware
Lewes is an incorporated city in Sussex County, Delaware, USA, on the Delmarva Peninsula. According to the 2010 census, the population is 2,747, a decrease of 6.3% from 2000....
.
Cape May Harbor, which borders Lower Township and nearby Wildwood Crest
Wildwood Crest, New Jersey
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....
allows fishing vessels to enter from the Atlantic Ocean, was created as of 1991, after years of dredging completed the harbor which covers 500 acres (202.3 ha). Cape May Harbor Fest celebrates life in and around the harbor, with the 2011 event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the harbor's creation.
Cape May is the southernmost point in New Jersey.
Cape May is located at 38.936814°N 74.911094°W (38.936814, −74.911094).
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
system, Cape May has a humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(Cfa) typical of New Jersey with warm summers and cool winters. Precipitation is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. 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. Wine grapes also do particularly well, given the long growing season.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,034 people, 1,821 households, and 1,034 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,623.7 people per square mile (628.0/km2). There were 4,064 housing units at an average density of 1,635.7 per square mile (632.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.32% White, 5.26% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.26% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.79% of the population.
There were 1,821 households out of which 18.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.69.
In the city the population was spread out with 16.3% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 28.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,462, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $29,194 versus $25,842 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $29,902. About 7.7% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Effective July 1, 2004, the City of Cape May switched to a Council-ManagerFaulkner Act (Council-Manager)
The Faulkner Act, or Optional Municipal Charter Law, provides for New Jersey municipalities to adopt a Council-Manager government.The council consists of 5, 7, or 9 members elected by the public...
form of government under the Faulkner Act
Faulkner Act (New Jersey)
The Optional Municipal Charter Law or Faulkner Act provides New Jersey municipalities with a variety of models of local government. This legislation is called the Faulkner Act in honor of the late Bayard H...
. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising four council members, with all positions elected at large in non-partisan elections. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council is elected to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with three seats coming up for election and then the mayor and the fourth seat two years later. Following the 2004 elections, the first under the new form of government, lots were drawn to determine which of the newly elected members would serve a four-year term, with the other three serving two-year terms. A city manager is responsible for the city's executive functions, managing Cape May's activities and operation.
, the Mayor of Cape May City is Dr. Edward J. Mahaney, Jr. (whose term of office expires June 30, 2012). Members of the Cape May City Council are Deputy Mayor
Deputy Mayor
Deputy mayor is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official in many local governments. Many elected deputy mayors are members of the city council who are given the title and serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence...
Jack Wichterman (2014), Deanna Fiocca (2014), William Murray (2014) and Terri Swain (2012).
Federal, state and county representation
Cape May is in the 2nd Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 2nd state legislative district. The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment CommissionNew Jersey Apportionment Commission
The New Jersey Apportionment Commission is a constitutionally-created ten-member commission responsible for apportioning the forty districts of the New Jersey Legislature. The commission is convened after each decennial U.S. Census, and the districts are to be in use for the legislative elections...
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
Economy
Tourism is the dominant industry. Cape May's economy runs on shops, restaurants, lodgings and tourist attractions on Washington Street Mall, along the boardwalk and elsewhere throughout town. Commercial and sport fishing are also important to Cape May's economy. Marine mammal watching, bird watching, and other forms of eco-tourism have become equally important in Cape May. A small wine growing area is adjacent to Cape May, and tourists to Cape May visit the four local wineries: Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery, Turdo Vineyards, Natali Vineyards and Cape May Winery.Arts and culture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
gingerbread homes and its cultural offerings. The town hosts the Cape May Jazz Festival, the Cape May Music Festival and the Cape May, New Jersey Film Festival. Cape May Stage
Cape May stage
The Cape May Stage is a theatre company that performs in the Robert Shackleton Playhouse located at the corner of Bank and Lafayette Streets in downtown Cape May, New Jersey.-Mission:...
, an Equity theater founded in 1988, performs at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse on the corner of Bank and Lafayette Streets. East Lynne Theater Company, an Equity professional company specializing in American classics and world premieres, has its mainstage season from June–December and March, with school residencies throughout the year. Cape May is also home for the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, which offers year-round arts classes, African American history tours are transforming the historic Franklin Street School into a Community Cultural Center.
Cape May is the home of the so-called 'Cape May Diamonds'
Cape May diamonds
Cape May diamonds are quartz pebbles found on the beaches of Cape May Point, New Jersey. The pebbles are sometimes collected, cut and polished to resemble diamonds, then sold locally as souvenirs. Cape May diamonds are usually collected by beach combing and are most abundant at Higbee and Sunset...
. They show up at Sunset Beach and other beaches in the area. These are in fact clear quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
pebbles that wash down from the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
. They begin as prismatic quartz (including the color sub-varieties such as 'Smoky Quartz' and 'Amethyst') in the quartz veins alongside the Delaware River that get eroded out of the host rock and wash down 200 miles to the shore. Collecting Cape May diamonds is a popular pastime and many tourist shops sell them polished or even as faceted stones.
The Cape May area is also world-famous for the observation of migrating birds
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
, especially in the fall. With over 400 bird species having been recorded in this area and hundreds of local birders, Cape May is arguably the top bird-watching area in the entire Northeastern United States. The Cape May Bird Observatory
Cape May Bird Observatory
The Cape May Bird Observatory was founded in 1975 in Cape May, New Jersey, United States. The purpose of the Cape May Bird Observatory is to conduct research, encourage conservation, and organize educational and recreational birding activities...
is based nearby at Cape May Point
Cape May Point, New Jersey
Cape May Point is a borough located at the tip of the Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the resident population was 291...
.
Education
For grades PreK-6, public school students attend Cape May City Elementary School as part of the Cape May City School District, along with those from Cape May PointCape May Point, New Jersey
Cape May Point is a borough located at the tip of the Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the resident population was 291...
, a non-operating district, as part of a sending/receiving relationship
Sending/receiving relationship
A sending/receiving relationship is one in which a public school district sends some or all of its students to attend the schools of another district. This is often done to achieve costs savings in smaller districts or continues after districts have grown as part of a historical relationship...
. The school had an enrollment of 178 students as of the 2009-10 school year. As of 2010, discussions were under way regarding a possible consolidation of the districts of Cape May City, Cape May Point and the West Cape May School District
West Cape May Elementary School
West Cape May Elementary School is a community public school district and elementary school located in West Cape May, New Jersey, United States that serves students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade....
.
For grades 7 – 12, public school students attend the schools of the Lower Cape May Regional School District
Lower Cape May Regional School District
The Lower Cape May Regional School District is regional public school district headquartered in Lower Township, New Jersey, United States...
, which serves students from Cape May City, Cape May Point, Lower Township
Lower Township, New Jersey
Lower Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,945....
and West Cape May
West Cape May, New Jersey
West Cape May is a Walsh Act borough in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 1,095....
. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are
Richard M. Teitelman School (grades 7 and 8; 545 students) and
Lower Cape May Regional High School
Lower Cape May Regional High School
The Lower Cape May Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Lower Township, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Lower Cape May Regional School District. LCMRHS serves students from four communities in Cape May County as part of the Lower Cape...
(9–12; 1,100).
The private Catholic schools serving Cape May are Cape Trinity Regional School (PreK – 8) and Wildwood Catholic High School
Wildwood Catholic High School
Wildwood Catholic High School is a co-educational four-year Catholic high school in North Wildwood, New Jersey, United States. The school operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. The school opened in September 1948 with an initial enrollment of 80 students...
are located in Wildwood and serve all students from Cape May County under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden
Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden is a particular church or diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, located in New Jersey, United States, and presides over Roman Catholic parishes and schools in the six southern New Jersey counties of Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland,...
.
The Cape May Branch of the Cape May County Public Library is located in Cape May City.
Media
Cape May is served by several media outlets including WCFA-LP 101.5 FMWCFA-LP
WCFA-LP is a low-power FM radio station licensed to Cape May, New Jersey. It is owned by the Center for Community Arts, Inc. and is run by volunteers. It airs a Jazz format....
, a commercial-free jazz and community station, as well as free weekly newspaper Exit Zero and local website Cape May Times
Cape May Times
The Cape May Times was created in 2001 by Jane Kashlak, a former WNBC investigative producer and five-time New York Emmy Award winner.The online publication originated as a guide to local events and movie times. Since then it has grown to include information about many aspects of life in Cape May,...
.
The name Exit Zero refers to the town's location at the far southern end of the Garden State Parkway
Garden State Parkway
The Garden State Parkway is a 172.4-mile limited-access toll parkway that stretches the length of New Jersey from the New York line at Montvale, New Jersey, to Cape May at New Jersey's southernmost tip. Its name refers to New Jersey's nickname, the "Garden State." Most New Jersey residents refer...
near the intersection with Route 109. Informally, the entire town is sometimes called Exit Zero.
Coast Guard Training Center Cape May
The United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape MayUnited States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May
United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May is the home of the Coast Guard enlisted corps and is the Coast Guard's only enlisted accession point and recruit training center. It is located on 1 Munro Avenue, Cape May, New Jersey....
, New Jersey is the nation's only Coast Guard Recruit Training Center. In 1924, the U.S. Coast Guard occupied the base and established air facilities for planes used in support of United States Customs Service
United States Customs Service
Until March 2003, the United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties.Before it was rolled into form part of the U.S...
efforts. During the Prohibition
Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Eighteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution established Prohibition in the United States. The separate Volstead Act set down methods of enforcing the Eighteenth Amendment, and defined which "intoxicating liquors" were prohibited, and which were excluded from prohibition...
era, several cutters were assigned to Cape May to foil rumrunners operating off the New Jersey coast. After Prohibition, the Coast Guard all but abandoned Cape May leaving a small air/sea rescue contingent. For a short period of time (1929–1934), part of the base was used as a civilian airport. With the advent of World War II, a larger airstrip was constructed and the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
returned to train aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
pilots. The over the water approach simulated carrier landings at sea. The Coast Guard also increased its Cape May forces for coastal patrol, anti-submarine warfare, air/sea rescue and buoy service. In 1946, the Navy relinquished the base to the Coast Guard.
In 1948, all entry level training on the East Coast was moved to the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Receiving Station in Cape May. The Coast Guard consolidated all recruit training functions in Cape May in 1982. Currently over 350 military and civilian personnel and their dependents are attached to Training Center Cape May.
Memorial
Cape May is home to a memorial to fishermen who died at sea. Known as the Cape May Fisherman's Memorial, it was erected over the harbor in 1988 and dedicated to fishermen lost at sea. It is maintained by the City of Cape May but administered by the Friends of the Cape May Fisherman’s Memorial. There is a statue and memorial stones holding the names of local fishermen who died at sea. The memorial has 75 names, starting with Andrew Jeffers, who died in 1893, and includes the six people who died in March 2009 with the sinking of the scalloping boat, the Lady Mary.The statue is of a fisherman's wife and her two children looking out onto the sheltering waters of Cape May harbor. The statue is located inside a giant compass. An inscription on the base of the statue states: "He hushed the storm to a gentle breeze and the billows of the sea were stalled."
The design is the creation, in granite, of Heather Baird, with Jerry Lynch; Gary Sassi, Celestial Memorial Sculpting Studio, Barre, VT led the project sculptors; and, Douglass Monuments, Cape May Courthouse, NJ, coordinated the project. The monument occupies a dedicated site at the juncture of Baltimore and Missouri Avenues at Harbor Cove, Cape May, NJ.38.945°N 74.904°W
Cultural references
- Cape May is the subject of the song On the Way to Cape MayOn The Way To Cape May"On The Way To Cape May" is a song that has become a Jersey Shore sound summertime anthem for the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley and South Jersey Shore area. It was written by Maurice "Buddy" Nugent according to BMI and the The Philadelphia Inquirer...
, originally sung by Cozy Morley. - In the AMC (TV network)AMC (TV network)AMC is a cable television specialty channel that primarily airs movies, along with a limited amount of original programming. The letters originally stood for American Movie Classics; however since 2002, the full name has been deemphasized as a result of a major shift in programming...
series Mad MenMad MenMad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
, Betty DraperBetty DraperElizabeth "Betty" Francis is a fictional character on AMC's television series Mad Men, portrayed by January Jones...
's parents have a summer house on Cape May. - Cape May is a filming location for Out of Season (1998) (see Imdb.com)
- The 1980s horror film The ProwlerThe Prowler (1981 film)The Prowler is an American slasher movie released in 1981, directed by Joseph Zito. The film has been praised by gore fans for its brutal and realistic murder scenes...
was filmed entirely on location in Cape May.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Cape May include:- Maurice CatarcioMaurice CatarcioMaurice A. Catarcio spent his early life in New Jersey, before entering the U.S. Navy. He later worked as a professional wrestler competing in the then World Wide Wrestling Federation from 1957 to 1960, under the ring-name The Matador. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1991, he became...
(1929-2005), professional wrestler for the World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
and record holder in The Guinness Book of World Records. - Eugene Gifford GraceEugene GraceEugene Gifford Grace was the president of Bethlehem Steel Corporation from 1916 to 1945, and chairman of the board from 1945 until his retirement in 1957...
(1876–1960), president of Bethlehem SteelBethlehem SteelThe Bethlehem Steel Corporation , based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was once the second-largest steel producer in the United States, after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based U.S. Steel. After a decline in the U.S...
Corporation from 1916 to 1945. - T. Millet HandT. Millet HandThomas Millet Hand was an American Republican Party politician who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1945-1957.-Biography:Hand was born in Cape May, New Jersey on July 7, 1902, and attended the local public schools...
(1902–56), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional districtNew Jersey's 2nd congressional districtNew Jersey's Second Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Frank LoBiondo.-Counties and municipalities in the district:...
in the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Republican from 1945–1957. Hand was the mayor of Cape May from 1937–1944, and was the publisher of the Cape May Star and Wave from 1940 until his death. - Thomas H. HughesThomas H. HughesThomas Hurst Hughes was a Representative from New Jersey; born in Cold Spring, Cape May County, New Jersey, January 10, 1769; attended the public schools; moved to Cape May City in 1800 and engaged in the mercantile business; in 1816 he built Congress Hall, a hotel which he conducted for many...
(1769-1839), the founder and owner of the Congress Hall HotelCongress Hall (Cape May hotel)Congress Hall is a historic hotel in Cape May, New Jersey occupying a city block bordered on the south by Beach Avenue and on the east by Washington Street Mall....
, and a Democratic-Republican member of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States Congressional Delegations from New JerseyThese are tables of congressional delegations from New Jersey to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. -United States Senate:-United States House of Representatives:-Sources:* *...
from New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. - Bill PilczukBill PilczukBill Pilczuk is an American swimmer who specialized in the 50 meter freestyle.Pilczuk is a native of Cape May Point, New Jersey....
, American swimmer. - Witmer StoneWitmer StoneWitmer Stone was an American ornithologist, botanist, and mammalogist, and was considered one of the last of the “great naturalists.” Stone is remembered principally as an ornithologist. He was president of the American Ornithologists’ Union 1920–23, and was editor of the AOU’s periodical The...
(1866–1939), ornithologistOrnithologyOrnithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
who did much of his research here. - Paul VolckerPaul VolckerPaul Adolph Volcker, Jr. is an American economist. He was the Chairman of the Federal Reserve under United States Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan from August 1979 to August 1987. He is widely credited with ending the high levels of inflation seen in the United States in the 1970s and...
(born 1927), former chairman of the United States Federal Reserve, was born in Cape May, where his father was the City Manager.
See also
- Cape May Seashore LinesCape May Seashore LinesCape May Seashore Lines is a short line railroad in southern New Jersey. It offers two excursion services; a 30-mile round trip between Richland and Tuckahoe, and a 14-mile round trip between Rio Grande, Cold Spring Village, and Cape May City. The track is owned by New Jersey Transit and leased to...
- Cape May-Lewes FerryCape May-Lewes FerryThe Cape May – Lewes Ferry is a ferry system that traverses a 17-mile crossing of the Delaware Bay to connect Cape May, New Jersey with Lewes, Delaware. The ferry doubles as a section of U.S. Route 9.-The system:...
- Cape May Light
External links
- Cape May City official website
- Cape May City Elementary School
- Data for the Cape May City Elementary School, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Lower Cape May Regional School District
- Cape May New Jersey Information, Directions and History
- CapeMay.com – Online magazine & guide to Cape May
- Cape May Star and Wave Newspaper – Serving as Cape May's paper of record since 1854
- Cape May Magazine – Lifestyle magazine focused on America's oldest seaside resort
- WCFA-LP 101.5 and Center for Community Arts
- Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts
- The Cape May Gazette – Weekly newspaper covering Cape May
- Exit Zero Magazine – Weekly publication in Cape May with the latest news, pictures from around the island, history and feature articles
- Cape May NJ news and events – Cape May events online.