Cape May, New Jersey

This article is about the city of Cape May. For other uses, see Cape May (disambiguation).

Cape May, New Jersey
City
Beach Avenue in Cape May seen from the sea
Beach Avenue in Cape May seen from the sea
Flag of Cape May, New Jersey
Flag
Official seal of Cape May, New Jersey
Seal
Motto: 
The Nation's Oldest Seashore Resort
Location of Cape May in Cape May County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Cape May County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Location of Cape May in Cape May County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Cape May County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Census Bureau map of Cape May, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May City is located in Cape May County, New Jersey
Cape May City
Cape May City
Location in Cape May County
Cape May City is located in New Jersey
Cape May City
Cape May City
Location in New Jersey
Cape May City is located in the United States
Cape May City
Cape May City
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 38°56′00″N 74°55′17″W / 38.93333°N 74.92139°W / 38.93333; -74.92139[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountyCape May
IncorporatedMarch 8, 1848, as Cape Island Borough
ReincorporatedMarch 10, 1851, as Cape Island City
ReincorporatedMarch 9, 1869, as Cape May City
Named forCornelius Jacobsen Mey
Government
[7]
 • TypeFaulkner Act (council–manager)
 • BodyCity Council
 • MayorZachary Mullock (term ends December 31, 2024)[3][4]
 • City managerPaul E. Dietrich Sr.[5]
 • Municipal clerkErin C. Burke[6]
Area
[8]
 • Total2.90 sq mi (7.50 km2)
 • Land2.47 sq mi (6.41 km2)
 • Water0.42 sq mi (1.10 km2)  14.59%
 • Rank341st of 565 in state
8th of 16 in county[1]
Elevation
[9]
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2020)[10]
 • Total2,768
 • Estimate 
(2023)[11]
2,757
 • Rank457th of 565 in state
9th of 16 in county[12]
 • Density1,119.2/sq mi (432.1/km2)
  • Rank370th of 565 in state
6th of 16 in county[12]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08204[13][14]
Area code609[15]
FIPS code3400910270[1][16][17]
GNIS feature ID0885178[1][18]
Websitewww.capemaycity.com

Cape May (sometimes Cape May City) is a city and seaside resort located at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Located on the Atlantic Ocean near the mouth of the Delaware Bay, it is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations.[19] The city, and all of Cape May County, is part of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area, and is part of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD combined statistical area, also known as the Delaware Valley or Philadelphia metropolitan area.[20] It is the southernmost municipality in New Jersey.

As of the 2020 United States census, the city's resident population was 2,768,[21][10] a decrease of 839 (−23.3%) from the 2010 census count of 3,607,[22][23] which in turn reflected a decline of 427 (−10.6%) from the 4,034 counted in the 2000 census.[24] In the summer, Cape May's population is expanded by as many as 40,000 to 50,000 visitors.[25][26] The entire city of Cape May is designated the Cape May Historic District, a National Historic Landmark due to its concentration of Victorian architecture.

In 2008, Cape May was recognized as one of the top 10 beaches in the United States by the Travel Channel.[27] It is part of the South Jersey region of the state.

  1. ^ a b c d 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places Archived March 21, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.
  2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990 Archived August 24, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Council was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ 2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023.
  5. ^ City Manager, City of Cape May. Accessed March 19, 2024.
  6. ^ City Clerk, City of Cape May. Accessed March 19, 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference DataBook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  9. ^ "City of Cape May". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved March 5, 2013.
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference LWD2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference PopEst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed March 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Cape May, NJ Archived May 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, United States Postal Service. Accessed November 6, 2011.
  14. ^ ZIP Codes Archived October 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, State of New Jersey. Accessed October 8, 2013.
  15. ^ Area Code Lookup – NPA NXX for Cape May, NJ Archived May 2, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Area-Codes.com. Accessed October 8, 2013.
  16. ^ U.S. Census website Archived December 27, 1996, at the Wayback Machine, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  17. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  18. ^ US Board on Geographic Names Archived February 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  19. ^ Johnson, Charles P. "Many Drive To Resorts On Atlantic: Coast Places Draw Drivers From Pittsburgh District" Archived November 19, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, The Pittsburgh Press, June 22, 1930, p. 3 of the Automobile section. Accessed July 4, 2011. "The southern part of New Jersey largely in Cape May County contains other popular resorts. Cape May City, the southernmost part of New Jersey, is said to be the oldest vacation resort in the United States."
  20. ^ New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022.
  21. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  22. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  23. ^ Cite error: The named reference LWD2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  24. ^ Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  25. ^ Mulvihill, Geoff via Associated Press. "Dangerous fishing, quaint B&B's share N.J. resort" Archived October 27, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, Delaware County Daily Times, March 30, 2009. Accessed October 27, 2019. "'I don't really think much about the fishing business,' said Jimmy Iapallucci, a cook at Uncle Bill's Pancake House near the beach. He suspects the tourists who swell the community's population from 4,000 to 40,000 each summer don't either."
  26. ^ Cite error: The named reference NYT1989 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  27. ^ Urgo, Jacqueline L. "Triumph for South Jersey" Archived April 2, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 23, 2008. Accessed October 29, 2015. "Neighboring Wildwood Crest came in second, followed by Ocean City, North Wildwood, Cape May, Asbury Park in Monmouth County, Avalon, Point Pleasant Beach in northern Ocean County, Beach Haven in southern Ocean County and Stone Harbor."