Cape May Point, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Cape May Point is a borough
located at the tip of the Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County
. It is part of the Ocean City
Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the resident population was 291. Cape May Point is home to the Cape May Light, though Lower Township
claims that the lighthouse is located in that municipality.
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.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), of which, 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (6.45%) is water.
Cape May Point borders Lower Township
, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Delaware Bay
.
was 819.4 people per square mile (320.9/km2). There were 501 housing units at an average density of 1,703.4 per square mile (667.0/km2). 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.
, first created to rebuild the city of Galveston, Texas
after the devastating Hurricane of 1900
. Cape May Point is one of more than 30 municipalities statewide to use this form of government. 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.
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 Commissioners of Cape May Point are Mayor Carl Schupp (Commissioner of Public Works
), Deputy Mayor Anita vanHeeswyk (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance
) and John Henderson (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety
).
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
For grades PreK-6, 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. The school had an enrollment of 178 students as of the 2009-10 school year. As of 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 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. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are
Richard M. Teitelman School (grades 7 and 8; 545 students) and
Lower Cape May Regional High School
(9–12; 1,100).
Borough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
located at the tip of the Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County
Cape May County, New Jersey
-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 county a popular place to escape the heat. It is in zone 7a/7b, which is the same as parts of...
. It is part of the Ocean City
Ocean City, New Jersey
Ocean City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is the principal city of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cape May County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 11,701...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the resident population was 291. Cape May Point is home to the Cape May Light, though Lower Township
Lower Township, New Jersey
Lower Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,945....
claims that the lighthouse is located in that municipality.
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
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
on April 19, 1878, from portions of Lower Township
Lower Township, New Jersey
Lower Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,945....
, 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.
Geography
Cape May Point is located at 38.936896°N 74.965264°W (38.936896, −74.965264).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), of which, 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (6.45%) is water.
Cape May Point borders Lower Township
Lower Township, New Jersey
Lower Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,945....
, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 241 people, 133 households, and 77 families residing in the borough. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 819.4 people per square mile (320.9/km2). There were 501 housing units at an average density of 1,703.4 per square mile (667.0/km2). 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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the borough was $52,689. None of the families and 1.7% of the population were living below the poverty line.
Local government
Cape May Point operates under the Walsh Act commission form of governmentCity commission government
City commission government is a form of municipal government which once was common in the United States, but many cities which were formerly governed by commission have since switched to the council-manager form of government...
, first created to rebuild the city of Galveston, Texas
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
after the devastating Hurricane of 1900
Galveston Hurricane of 1900
The Hurricane of 1900 made landfall on the city of Galveston in the U.S. state of Texas, on September 8, 1900.It had estimated winds of at landfall, making it a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale...
. Cape May Point is one of more than 30 municipalities statewide to use this form of government. 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.
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 Commissioners of Cape May Point are Mayor Carl Schupp (Commissioner of Public Works
Commissioner of Public Works
The Commissioner of Public Works heads one of the departments in those local governments in New Jersey that operate under the Walsh Act form of municipal governance. This is a standalone position in Walsh Act municipalities with a five-member commission...
), Deputy Mayor Anita vanHeeswyk (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance
Commissioner of Revenue and Finance
The Commissioner of Revenue and Finance heads one of the departments in those local governments in New Jersey that operate under the Walsh Act form of municipal governance...
) and John Henderson (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety
Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety
The Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety heads one of the departments in those local governments in New Jersey that operate under the Walsh Act form of municipal governance. This is a standalone position in Walsh Act municipalities with a three-member commission...
).
Federal, state and county representation
Cape May Point is in the 2nd Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district. The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment CommissionNew Jersey Apportionment Commission
The New Jersey Apportionment Commission is a constitutionally-created ten-member commission responsible for apportioning the forty districts of the New Jersey Legislature. The commission is convened after each decennial U.S. Census, and the districts are to be in use for the legislative elections...
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
Education
Cape May Point is a non-operating school district, with all students sent to schools outside of the district.For grades PreK-6, public school students attend Cape May City Elementary School in Cape May City
Cape May, New Jersey
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 and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
, as part of a sending/receiving relationship
Sending/receiving relationship
A sending/receiving relationship is one in which a public school district sends some or all of its students to attend the schools of another district. This is often done to achieve costs savings in smaller districts or continues after districts have grown as part of a historical relationship...
with the Cape May City School District. The school had an enrollment of 178 students as of the 2009-10 school year. As of 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
West Cape May Elementary School
West Cape May Elementary School is a community public school district and elementary school located in West Cape May, New Jersey, United States that serves students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade....
.
For grades 7 – 12, public school students attend the schools of the Lower Cape May Regional School District
Lower Cape May Regional School District
The Lower Cape May Regional School District is regional public school district headquartered in Lower Township, New Jersey, United States...
, which serves students from Cape May City
Cape May, New Jersey
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 and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
, Lower Township
Lower Township, New Jersey
Lower Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,945....
and West Cape May
West Cape May, New Jersey
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 United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 1,095....
, along with students from Cape May Point. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are
Richard M. Teitelman School (grades 7 and 8; 545 students) and
Lower Cape May Regional High School
Lower Cape May Regional High School
The Lower Cape May Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Lower Township, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Lower Cape May Regional School District. LCMRHS serves students from four communities in Cape May County as part of the Lower Cape...
(9–12; 1,100).
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Cape May Point include:- Mary O'HaraMary O'Hara (author)Mary O'Hara Alsop was an American author and screenwriter.-Biography:Mary O'Hara Alsop was born July 10, 1885 in Cape May Point, New Jersey, the third child of Reverend Dr. Reese Fell Alsop and Mary Lee Spring. O'Hara, who was named after her maternal grandmother, Mary O'Hara Spring , grew up in...
(1185-1980), author known for her novel My Friend FlickaMy Friend FlickaMy Friend Flicka is a 1941 novel by Mary O'Hara, about Ken McLaughlin, the son of a Wyoming rancher, and his horse Flicka. It was the first in a trilogy, followed by Thunderhead and Green Grass of Wyoming . The popular 1943 film version featured a young Roddy McDowall...
. - Bill PilczukBill PilczukBill Pilczuk is an American swimmer who specialized in the 50 meter freestyle.Pilczuk is a native of Cape May Point, New Jersey....
, swimmer. - John WanamakerJohn WanamakerJohn Wanamaker was a United States merchant, religious leader, civic and political figure, considered by some to be the father of modern advertising and a "pioneer in marketing." Wanamaker was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Biography:He was born on July 11, 1838.He opened his first store in...
(1838–1922), retailer.
External links
- Cape May Point website
- Cape May City Elementary School
- Data for the Cape May City Elementary School, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Lower Cape May Regional School District
- The Cape May Gazette Newspaper