Cape May Point, New Jersey


Cape May Point is a borough located at the tip of the Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey. It is the southernmost point in New Jersey, further south than parts of Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and even Kentucky. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the resident population was 291, reflecting an increase of 50 from the 241 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 7 from the 248 counted in the 1990 Census. The summer population can reach 4,500.
Cape May Point is home to the Cape May Light, though Lower Township claims that this lighthouse is located in that municipality.
Cape May Point is a dry town, one of three municipalities in Cape May County where alcohol cannot be sold. Cape May Point, Ocean City and Wildwood Crest are Cape May County's only remaining dry municipalities.

History

Cape May Point was called Stites Beach until 1876 when the name was changed to Seagrove. It was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 19, 1878, from portions of Lower Township, based on the results of a referendum held three days earlier. It was reincorporated on August 19, 1891 and returned to Lower Township on April 8, 1896. Cape May Point re-emerged as an independent municipality on April 6, 1908, based on the results of a referendum held on April 21, 1908. The borough's name derives from Cape May, which was named for 1620 Dutch captain named Cornelius Jacobsen May who explored and charted the area between 1611–1614, and established a claim for the province of New Netherland.
The remains of SS Atlantus World War I-era concrete ship are located of the coast of Cape May Point, next to Sunset Beach.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Cape May Point borough had a total area of 0.315 square miles, including 0.296 square miles of land and 0.019 square miles of water.
Cape May Point borders Lower Township, the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $51,250 and the median family income was $71,875. Males had a median income of $108,125 versus $ for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,269. About 8.7% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 241 people, 133 households, and 77 families residing in the borough. The population density was 819.4 people per square mile. There were 501 housing units at an average density of 1,703.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.02% White, 2.07% African American, 0.41% Asian, and 2.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.
There were 133 households, out of which 6.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.81 and the average family size was 2.27.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 6.6% under the age of 18, 0.8% from 18 to 24, 10.4% from 25 to 44, 34.4% from 45 to 64, and 47.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 64 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $55,313, and the median income for a family was $69,750. Males had a median income of $63,250 versus $30,833 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $52,689. None of the families and 1.7% of the population were living below the poverty line.

Government

Local government

Cape May Point operates under the Walsh Act commission form of government, first created to rebuild the city of Galveston, Texas after the devastating Hurricane of 1900. Cape May Point is one of 30 municipalities statewide to use this form of government, most in shore communities, down from a peak of 60 early in the 20th century. In three-member Commissions, as in Cape May Point, the Departments of Public Affairs and Public Safety are combined, as are the Departments of Public Works and Parks and Public Property. Revenue and Finance is the third portfolio. The borough adopted this form of government in 1916. Commissioners are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis in the November general election to serve concurrent four-year terms of office. Cape May Point shifted its municipal elections from May to November, extending the term-end dates from June 30 to December 31 for the commissioners elected in 2012.
The Commissioners exercise complete control of the operation of the borough, with each Commissioner having all aspects of Administrative, Executive, Judicial, and Legislative powers over their department. The three Commissioners choose a mayor from among themselves at a reorganization meeting following each election, with the mayor responsible for leading municipal meetings and general oversight of community affairs.
, the members of the Board of Commissioners of Cape May Point are
Mayor Robert J. Moffatt
Deputy Mayor Anita vanHeeswyk and
Robert Mullock, all serving concurrent terms of office ending December 31, 2020.
In October 2013, Robert Mullock was appointed to fill the vacant seat of George "Skip" Stanger, who had resigned citing health reasons. In the November 2014 general election, Mullock was elected to serve the balance of the unexpired term.

Federal, state and county representation

Cape May Point is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 212 registered voters in Cape May Point, of which 99 were registered as Republicans, 63 were registered as Democrats, and 50 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 52.0% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 47.4%, and other candidates with 0.6%, among the 176 ballots cast by the borough's 225 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.9% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain, who received 44.5%, with 191 ballots cast among the borough's 203 registered voters, for a turnout of 94.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 53.3% of the vote, outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 45.8%, with 214 ballots cast among the borough's 237 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 90.3.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.9% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 30.7%, and other candidates with 2.4%, among the 129 ballots cast by the borough's 209 registered voters, for a turnout of 61.7%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 47.0% of the vote, ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 43.5% and Independent Chris Daggett with 9.5%, with 168 ballots cast among the borough's 220 registered voters, yielding a 76.4% turnout.

Education

Cape May Point is a non-operating school district, with all students sent to schools outside of the district. For pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, public school students attend Cape May City Elementary School in Cape May City, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Cape May City School District. who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship, with most students in the district coming from the United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 176 students and 21.2 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 8.3:1. Starting in 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 seventh through twelfth grades, 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 are
Richard M. Teitelman Middle School and
Lower Cape May Regional High School.
Students are also eligible to attend Cape May County Technical High School in Cape May Court House, which serves students from the entire county in its comprehensive and vocational programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.

Transportation

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by Cape May County.
No Interstate, U.S., state or major county highways serve Cape May Point. The most significant roads in the borough are minor county routes, such as County Route 629.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Cape May Point, New Jersey has a humid subtropical climate with hot, moderately humid summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation. Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature > 32.0 °F, at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Cape May Point, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values ≥ 95 °F. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < 0 °F. The plant hardiness zone at Cape May Point Beach is 7b/8a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 8.1 °F. The average seasonal snowfall total is around 12, and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Cape May Point would have a dominant vegetation type of Northern Cordgrass with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Cape May Point include: