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.
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.
It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. It has a population of 4,034 year-round residents (as of the United States 2000 Census). Cape May is also home to approximately 100,000 seasonal residents. The town is named for 1620 Dutch 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 Englanders from the New Haven Colony.
Due in part to its award-winning beaches (Cape May was recognized as one of America's top 10 beaches by the Travel Channel), designation as the top birding location on the East Coast, Cape May's many Victorian structures and the island's rich history, Cape May is a seaside resort that draws visitors from all over the world. It was ranked the fifth best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.
Cape May began hosting vacationers from Philadelphia in the mid 1700s and is recognized by the United States government as the country's oldest seaside resort. Cape May became increasingly popular in the 18th century and was considered one of the finest resorts in America by the 19th century. It is noted for its large number of well-maintained Victorian houses — the second largest collection of Victorian-era homes in the nation after San Francisco. In 1976, the entire city of Cape May was officially designated a National Historic Landmark. It is the only city in the United States wholly designated as such. That designation is intended to ensure the architectural preservation of these buildings.
The Cape May area is also a world-famous location for the observation of migrating birds, especially in 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.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km 2 ), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.4 km 2 ) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km 2 ) of it (11.43%) is water. Cape May is generally low-lying and its highest point is at 14 feet above sea level, at Washington and Jackson Streets.
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.
Cape May is the southernmost point in New Jersey.
Cape May is located at 38°56′13″N 74°54′40″W / 38.936814°N 74.911094°W / 38.936814; -74.911094 (38.936814, -74.911094).
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 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,these plants having survived for many years also in other parts of coastal ,NJ also zones 7a/7b from sandy Hook to Cape May. Wine grapes also do particularly well, given the long growing season.
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Cape May has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) typical of New Jersey with warm summers and cold winters.
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 density was 1,623.7 people per square mile (628.0/km 2 ). There were 4,064 housing units at an average density of 1,635.7/sq mi (632.7/km 2 ). 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.
Government
Local government
Effective July 1, 2004, the City of Cape May switched to a Council-Manager 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 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 fours seat two years later.
Under the council-manager plan, Cape May is governed by a municipal council which is elected at large and chaired by the mayor, with the Council performing the city's legislative functions. The mayor is a member of the council , presides over the council and has a vote, but no administrative authority. After the 2004 elections, the members of the initial council drew lots to determine who would serve a four year term, with the other three serving two-year terms. Subsequently, all councilmen elected serve for four years.
The city manager exercises all the executive power of the municipality. It is the duty of the manager to see that all laws and ordinances, in effect in the municipality, are observed. The council appoints the municipal clerk, the municipal attorney, the tax assessor, the tax collector, the treasurer, and such other boards and commissions as may be provided by the administrative code. The manager appoints all other officers and employees of the municipality, and all other employees if no other method of appointment is provided in the code, or by general law.
Members of the Cape May City Council are Mayor Edward J. Mahaney (term expires June 30, 2012), Deputy Mayor Linda Steenrod (2010), Terri Swain (2012), David C. Kurkowski (2010), Neils Favre (2010).
Federal, state and county representation
Cape May is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District.
New Jersey's Second Congressional District, covering all of Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County and Salem County and portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the 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) and in the Assembly by Nelson Albano (D, Vineland) and Matthew W. Milam (D, Dennis Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon
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