West Cape May, New Jersey
| West Cape May, New Jersey | |
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| — Borough — | |
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| Coordinates: 38°56′29″N 74°56′15″W / 38.94139°N 74.9375°WCoordinates: 38°56′29″N 74°56′15″W / 38.94139°N 74.9375°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Cape May |
| Incorporated | April 17, 1884 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Walsh Act (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Pamela Kaithern (term ends 2013)[1] |
| Area[2] | |
| • Total | 1.19 sq mi (3.1 km2) |
| • Land | 1.19 sq mi (3.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation[3] | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[4] | |
| • Total | 1,024 |
| • Density | 860.5/sq mi (330.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08204[5] |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-78530[6][7] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885435[8] |
| Website | http://www.westcapemay.us/ |
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 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,024.[4]
West Cape May was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 17, 1884, from portions of Lower Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier. The borough was reincorporated on April 11, 1900, and again on May 4, 1897.[9]
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[edit] Geography
West Cape May is located at 38°56′19″N 74°55′58″W / 38.938621°N 74.932708°W (38.938621, -74.932708).[10]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.19 square miles (3.1 km2), all of it land.[2]
West Cape May borders Lower Township and Cape May City
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 844 |
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| 1920 | 967 | 14.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,048 | 8.4% | |
| 1940 | 934 | −10.9% | |
| 1950 | 897 | −4.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,030 | 14.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,005 | −2.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,091 | 8.6% | |
| 1990 | 1,026 | −6.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,095 | 6.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,024 | −6.5% | |
| Population sources:1910-1930[11] 1930-1990[12] 2000[13] 2010[4][14] |
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The 2010 United States Census reported that there were 1,024 people, 493 households and 294 families residing in the borough. The racial makeup of West Cape May was 85.8% (879) White, 8.7% (89) African American, 0.8% (8) Native American, 0.2% (2) Asian, 0.01% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.1% (32) from other races, and 1.4% (14) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.0% (51).[4][14]
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,095 people, 507 households, and 302 families residing in the borough. The population density was 923.5 people per square mile (355.3/km2). There were 1,004 housing units at an average density of 846.8 per square mile (325.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 84.11% White, 14.52% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.55% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.83% of the population.[13]
There were 507 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.80.[15] The Board of Commissioners consists of three members, who are elected at-large in non-partisan elections and serve four-year, concurrent terms.[16]
Once the Commissioners take office, they divide up responsibility for the municipal departments. Each Commissioner becomes a Department Director and holds all the executive, administrative, judicial and legislative powers. There is no single chief executive.
As of 2011[update], the Departments are distributed as follows:[17][18]
- Pamela Kaithern - Mayor and Commissioner of Revenue and Finance
- Peter C. Burke - Deputy Mayor and Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property
- Ramsey Geyer - Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
West Cape May is in the 2nd Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.[19][20]
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).
The 1st legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jeff Van Drew (D, Dennis Township) and in the General Assembly by Nelson Albano (D, Vineland) and Matthew W. Milam (D, Vineland).[21] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[22] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[23]
Cape May County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. As of 2012[update], Cape May County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton (Middle Township, term ends December 31, 2013),[24] Freeholder Vice-Director M. Susan Sheppard (Ocean City, 2013),[25] Leonard C. Desiderio (Sea Isle City, 2012),[26] Kristine Gabor (Upper Township, 2014)[27] and Will Morey (Wildwood Crest, 2014).[28][29]
[edit] Education
The West Cape May Elementary School serves students in Prekindergarten through sixth grade. The school had an enrollment of 41 students in the 2009-10 school year,[30] making it one of the schools with the smallest enrollment in the state.[31]
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, Lower Township and West Cape May, along with students from Cape May Point who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[32] Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[33]) are Richard M. Teitelman School (grades 7 and 8; 545 students) and Lower Cape May Regional High School (grades 9-12; 1,100).
[edit] History
The Borough's history goes back to the time of the Lenape Native Americans and several buildings date to the Colonial period. The area has a rich agricultural history which continues to be celebrated each year with a summer farmers' market, and strawberry, tomato and lima bean festivals. It has been known as the "Lima Bean Capital of the World." The Lima Bean Festival is an annual event held in West Cape May, New Jersey, the "Lima Bean Capital of the World", and is the world's only such celebration. It is held annually on the Saturday of Columbus Day weekend in Wilbraham Park.[34]
West Cape May, formerly known as Eldredge, is one of the four jurisdictions that comprise Cape Island in Cape May County. West Cape May was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 17, 1884, from portions of Lower Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier. The borough was reincorporated on April 11, 1890, and again on May 4, 1897.[9]
The Borough has reported ties to the Underground Railroad.
From 1881 to 1931, the Hastings Goldbeating Company was located in the Borough employing women to pound one-inch strips of gold into gossamer-thin sheets used for decorative arts. Women still did the "booking" of gold leaf sheets until 1961. A plaque indicating the location of the factory can be found on Goldbeaten Alley. It was this business, along with real estate speculation and subdivision of the land, that led to the Borough's incorporation in 1884.
The historic core of the Borough was placed on the National Register of Historic Places along with sections of the City of Cape May in 1976.
[edit] References
- ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed December 7, 2011.
- ^ a b GCT-PH1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2000 for Cape May County, New Jersey -- County Subdivision and Place, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 7, 2011.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Borough of West Cape May, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b c d DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for West Cape May borough, Cape May County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 7, 2011.
- ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for West Cape May, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed December 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 116.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I", United States Census Bureau, p. 715. Accessed December 5, 2011.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 2, 2009. Accessed December 7, 2011.
- ^ a b Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: West Cape May borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 7, 2011.
- ^ a b Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for West Cape May borough, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 7, 2011.
- ^ The Commission Form of Municipal Government, p. 53. Accessed August 11, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 8.
- ^ West Cape May Form of Government, Borough of West Cape May. Accessed December 7, 2011.
- ^ Directory of Offices and Hours, Borough of West Cape May. Accessed December 7, 2011.
- ^ Municipalities Grouped by 2011-2020 Legislative Districts, New Jersey Department of State, p. 1. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ Gerald M. Thornton, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ M. Susan Sheppard, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Leonard C. Desiderio, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Kristine Gabor, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Will Morey, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Freeholders Home Page, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Data for West Cape May Elementary School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 7, 2011.
- ^ Procida, Lee. "Sea Isle, Long Beach Island are examples of how closing small, high-cost schools can be difficult, unpopular", The Press of Atlantic City, September 20, 2011. Accessed December 7, 2011. "The 10 smallest school districts in the state each have fewer than 100 students. Seven of them, all in South Jersey, are grappling with shrinking enrollment, aging buildings and rising property taxes.... West Cape May disregarded a recommendation to send students to Cape May, and instead started welcoming students from outside its borders through the state Public School Choice program. The first 16 choice students increased the prekindergarten-through-sixth-grade school’s enrollment to 58 students this year."
- ^ High School, Lower Cape May Regional School District. Accessed December 7, 2011. "Lower Cape May Regional High School is a four year public school that serves students from four communities including Cape May, Lower Township, West Cape May and Cape May Point."
- ^ Data for the Lower Cape May Regional High School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 7, 2011.
- ^ America's Best (and only) Lima Bean Festival, accessed March 7, 2007
[edit] External links
- West Cape May NJ website
- West Cape May Elementary School
- West Cape May Elementary School's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for West Cape May Elementary School, National Center for Education Statistics
- Lower Cape May Regional School District
- The Cape May Gazette - Weekly newspaper covering West Cape May
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