North Wildwood is a city located on the Jersey Shore 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 city's population was 4,041, reflecting a decline of 894 (-18.1%) from the 4,935 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 82 (-1.6%) from the 5,017 counted in the 1990 Census. North Wildwood is home to the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse.
It was ranked the fourth-best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium. North Wildwood is one of five municipalities in the state that offer free public access to oceanfront beaches monitored by lifeguards, joining Atlantic City, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and Upper Township's Strathmere section.
History
What is now North Wildwood City was originally incorporated as the borough of Anglesea on June 13, 1885, from portions of Middle Township, based on the results of a referendum held 11 days earlier. The borough was reincorporated on March 6, 1896, and again on May 4, 1897. On May 16, 1906, the Borough of North Wildwood was incorporated, replacing Anglesea Borough.
Legislation passed in April 1908 established a potential consolidation of North Wildwood and Holly Beach City into Wildwood, subject to approval of referendums in each of the three municipalities.
On April 30, 1917, the area was reincorporated as the City of North Wildwood, in turn replacing North Wildwood borough. The city's name comes from Wildwood, which in turn was named for the area's wild flowers.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 2.135 square miles (5.528Â km2), including 1.753 square miles (4.539Â km2) of land and 0.382 square miles (0.988Â km2) of water (17.88%).
The borough borders the Cape May County municipalities of Stone Harbor Borough, Wildwood City, West Wildwood Borough, Middle Township, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Demographics
Census 2010
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,041 people, 2,047 households, and 1,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,305.8 per square mile (890.3/km2). There were 8,840 housing units at an average density of 5,044.1 per square mile (1,947.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.98% (3,838) White, 1.14% (46) Black or African American, 0.32% (13) Native American, 0.35% (14) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.26% (51) from other races, and 1.95% (79) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.03% (163) of the population.
There were 2,047 households out of which 12.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.0% were non-families. 41.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.64.
In the city, the population was spread out with 13.2% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 17.4% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 30.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54.9 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 92.5 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $45,041 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,807) and the median family income was $56,116 (+/- $10,273). Males had a median income of $60,068 (+/- $9,524) versus $35,879 (+/- $5,208) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,748 (+/- $5,814). About 10.6% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 4,935 people, 2,309 households, and 1,394 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,794.6 people per square mile (1,076.5/km2). There were 7,411 housing units at an average density of 4,196.7 per square mile (1,616.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.62% White, 0.81% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.95% of the population.
There were 2,309 households out of which 18.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.2% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,582, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $32,986 versus $22,064 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,656. About 9.9% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
Climate
During the summer months, frequent episodes of high humidity occur. Occasionally, heat index values exceed 95 °F (35 °C). During most summer afternoons, a sea breeze dominates the coastline keeping high temperatures several degrees cooler compared to areas farther inland. During most nights, relatively mild ocean waters keep the coastline several degrees warmer than areas farther inland. On average, July is the annual peak for thunderstorm activity. During the winter months, wind chill values occasionally fall below 0 °F (-18 °C). On average, the snowiest month of the year is February which corresponds with the annual peak for nor'easter activity.
Government
Local government
North Wildwood has a City form of government. The mayor serves a four-year term of office while six councilmembers are elected from wards for three-year terms on a staggered basis and one at-large councilmember is elected for a two-year term. Members of the governing body are selected in partisan voting as part of the November general election. Under this form of government, the council functions as a legislative body: it must pass ordinances and approve the appointments of the mayor. The mayor, as executive, is responsible for administrative functions and appointment of all officials.
As of 2016, the mayor is Republican Patrick T. Rosenello, whose term of office ends December 31, 2017. Members of the City Council are Council President Salvatore T. Zampirri Sr. (R, 2016, 2nd Ward), Margaret "Peggy" A. Bishop (R, 2016, 1st Ward), David J. Del Conte (R, 2017, 1st Ward), James F. Kane (R, 2018, 1st Ward), Edwin W. Koehler (R, 2018, at-large), Joseph V. Rullo (R, 2018, 2nd Ward; serving an unexpired term) and Kellyann Tolomeo (R, 2017, 2nd Ward).
In January 2014, the city council chose Joseph Rullo from among three names nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant second ward seat of Patrick Rosenello, who vacated the seat earlier that month when he took office as mayor.
The city has its own police department.
Federal, state and county representation
North Wildwood is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District.
New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (Paramus, 2019).
For the 2016â€"2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), 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 Bob Andrzejczak (D, Middle Township) and R. Bruce Land (D, Vineland). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).
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; At an annual reorganization held each January, the freeholders select one member to serve as Director and another to serve as Vice-Director. As of 2017, Cape May County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton (Middle Township, term ends December 31, 2019), Freeholder Vice-Director Leonard C. Desiderio (Sea Isle City, 2018), Jeffrey L. Pierson (Upper Township, 2017), E. Marie Hayes (Ocean City, 2019), and Will Morey (Wildwood Crest, 2017). The county's constitutional officers are Sheriff Gary Schafer (Middle Township, 2017), Surrogate M. Susan Sheppard (Ocean City, 2017), and County Clerk Rita Fulginiti (Ocean City, 2015).
Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,279 registered voters in North Wildwood, of which 528 (16.1%) were registered as Democrats, 1,640 (50.0%) were registered as Republicans and 1,111 (33.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 57.2% of the vote (1,209 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.1% (889 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (16 votes), among the 2,146 ballots cast by the city's 3,282 registered voters (32 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 65.4%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 58.0% of the vote (1,415 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 39.6% (967 votes), with 2,441 ballots cast among the city's 3,263 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.8%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 56.4% of the vote (1,556 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry, who received around 42.0% (1,158 votes), with 2,760 ballots cast among the city's 4,001 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 69.0.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 82.7% of the vote (1,268 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 16.2% (248 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (17 votes), among the 1,596 ballots cast by the city's 3,173 registered voters (63 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 50.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 57.7% of the vote (987 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 32.9% (563 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 5.7% (98 votes), with 1,711 ballots cast among the city's 3,336 registered voters, yielding a 51.3% turnout.
Education
The North Wildwood School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Margaret Mace School. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 350 students and 39.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 9.0:1.
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students from North Wildwood attend Wildwood High School in Wildwood as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Wildwood Public School District, together with students from West Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 252 students and 38.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 6.5:1.
Public school students may also attend Cape May County Technical High School in Cape May Court House, a public technical school that works on an application/acceptance program.
Private schools include Cape Trinity Catholic Elementary School and Wildwood Catholic High School, private Catholic schools that operate under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010, the city had a total of 35.57 miles (57.24Â km) of roadways, of which 33.19 miles (53.41Â km) were maintained by the municipality, 1.42 miles (2.29Â km) by Cape May County and 0.96 miles (1.54Â km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Route 147 has its eastern terminus in North Wildwood and heads west to provide access to the Garden State Parkway northbound. County Route 621 (New Jersey Avenue) begins at the eastern terminus of Route 147 and heads southwest through the city toward Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, serving as part of Ocean Drive.
Public transportation
NJ Transit provides bus service in the borough on the 313/315 routes between Cape May and Philadelphia (with seasonal service on the 316 route), on the 319 route to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and on the 552 route between Cape May and Atlantic City.
The Great American Trolley Company operates trolley service in North Wildwood during the summer months. The company runs a trolley route that provids service from North Wildwood to the boardwalk at Schellenger Avenue in Wildwood on Friday and Saturday evenings. Another trolley route runs from North Wildwood to shopping centers in Rio Grande, operating Mondays through Fridays. The Great American Trolley Company also runs two trolley routes to the Irish Fall Festival in North Wildwood during the weekend of the festival, with one route connecting Wildwood Crest and Wildwood to the festival site and the other route connecting points in North Wildwood to the festival site.
Commerce
Portions of North Wildwood are part of a Joint Wildwoods Urban Enterprise Zone. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax rate (versus the 7% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with North Wildwood include:
- Patricia Blair (1933-2013), television and film actress.
- James Cafiero (born 1928), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1968 to 1972 and in the State Senate from 1972 to 1982 and again from 1990 to 2004.
- Justin Catanoso (born 1959), journalist and author of My Cousin The Saint, A Search for Faith, Family, and Miracles.
- Greg Fulginiti (born 1951), recording and mastering engineer.
- Joseph Anthony Galante (born 1938), former bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.
See also
- North Wildwood Beach Patrol
References
External links
- City of North Wildwood
- North Wildwood School District
- North Wildwood School District's 2015â€"16 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- School Data for the North Wildwood School District, National Center for Education Statistics
- The Wildwood Leader