Wildwood Crest, New Jersey
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| Wildwood Crest, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Cape May |
| Incorporated | April 6, 1910 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Walsh Act (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | Carl Groon |
| Area | |
| - Total | 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km²) |
| - Land | 1.2 sq mi (3.0 km²) |
| - Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 3,979 |
| - Density | 3,453.9/sq mi (1,333.6/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08260 |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-81200[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0881831[4] |
| Website: http://www.wildwoodcrest.org | |
Wildwood Crest is a 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 3,980.
The area of the borough was first developed by Philip B. Baker in the 1900s as a southern addition to the resort of Wildwood, with the first houses going up in 1906.
Wildwood Crest was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 6, 1910, from portions of Lower Township.[5]
It was ranked the second best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.[6]
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Wildwood Crest is located at (38.972464, -74.838365)[7].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (3.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (11.45%) is water.
Wildwood Crest borders Diamond Beach in Lower Township, Wildwood City, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Wildwood Crest and its neighboring towns of West Wildwood, North Wildwood, and Wildwood make up "The Wildwoods" resort, a popular vacation destination for those living in all parts of New Jersey as well as within the New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania metropolitan areas. Unlike its sister communities of Wildwood and North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest is generally set apart from the all-hours excitement that the resort area is known for. Many vacationers will find some of the quietest and most undisturbed beach space.
A place once filled with motels of every color imaginable, Wildwood Crest and the surrounding areas have recently undergone some changes in housing. More condominiums have replaced the motels, such as The Grand, The Ocean Breeze, El Coronodo, and The Arcadia. Even some restaurants have been torn down and replaced with condominiums, including The Captain's Table and Duffenetti's. These changes in housing have significantly changed the demographics of this area, from being a more family oriented one-vacation-per-summer place to being a weekend retreat for wealthier families.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 738 |
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| 1940 | 661 | -10.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,772 | 168.1% | |
| 1960 | 3,011 | 69.9% | |
| 1970 | 3,483 | 15.7% | |
| 1980 | 4,149 | 19.1% | |
| 1990 | 3,631 | -12.5% | |
| 2000 | 3,980 | 9.6% | |
| Est. 2006 | 3,979 | [2] | -0.0% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[8] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 3,980 people, 1,833 households, and 1,114 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,453.9 people per square mile (1,336.2/km²). There were 4,862 housing units at an average density of 4,219.3/sq mi (1,632.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.87% White, 1.23% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 2.21% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.22% of the population.
There were 1,833 households out of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the borough the population was spread out with 18.2% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 25.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $36,579, and the median income for a family was $47,462. Males had a median income of $42,727 versus $27,500 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,741. About 4.4% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Wildwood Crest has been governed under the Walsh Act, by a three-member commission, since 1937.[9][10] The current Board of Commissioners consists of:[11]
- Mayor Carl Groon - Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety
- Don Cabrera - Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property
- Joyce Gould - Commissioner of Revenue and Finance
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Wildwood Crest is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District.[12]
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). 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 Nicholas Asselta (R) and in the Assembly by Nelson Albano (D, Vineland) and Jeff Van Drew (D, Dennis Township).[13] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[14]
Cape May County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at large in partisan elections to serve staggered three-year terms in office. Cape May County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel (Upper Township, term expires December 31, 2008), Freeholder Vice-Director Ralph E. Sheets, Jr. (2008), Ralph E. Bakley, Sr. (2010), Leonard C. Desiderio (Sea Isle City, 2009) and Gerald M. Thornton (2010).[15]
[edit] Education
The Wildwood Crest School District serves public school students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Crest Memorial School had an enrollment of 291 students in the 2005-06 school year.[16]
For grades 9-12, public school students from Wildwood Crest attend Wildwood High School in Wildwood as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Wildwood Public School District.[17]
The area also has one private school, Wildwood Catholic High School.
[edit] Noted residents
Noted current and former residents of Wildwood Crest include:
- Aliki Brandenberg (1929-), children's literature author, was born in Wildwood Crest.[18]
- Hampton Mears, scout for the Los Angeles Lakers.[19]
[edit] Some Local History
Part of the Lower Township beach has been closed off for many years for the protection of many different native birds. These birds include the Piping Plover and the Sandierlings. These small birds have this area all to themselves so that their eggs may be protected from beach-goers. There is a nature trail one may take through the dunes to explore this sheltered area of the beach.
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of Wildwood Crest, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Wildwood Crest borough, United States Census Bureau, accessed August 5, 2007.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 116.
- ^ Urgo, Jacqueline L.. "Triumph for South Jersey", The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 23, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ The Commission Form of Municipal Government, p. 53. Accessed August 11, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 8.
- ^ Wildwood Crest Borough Commissioners, Borough of Wildwood Crest. Accessed May 1, 2008.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 66. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ Freeholders Home Page, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2008.
- ^ Data for the Crest Memorial School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 1, 2008.
- ^ Wildwood City School District 2007 Report card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 30, 2008. "Students from North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest join students from Wildwood and West Wildwood at Wildwood High School."
- ^ Picture Books Author of the Month: Aliki, Greenville Public Library. Accessed May 1, 2008.
- ^ Hilt, Ed. "NBA COVERS TOURNEY", The Press of Atlantic City, December 18, 1993. Accessed August 5, 2007. "Said Lakers scout Hampton Mears, who lives in Wildwood Crest and covers part of the East Coast..."
[edit] External links
- Wildwood Crest homepage
- Crest Memorial School
- Crest Memorial School's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Crest Memorial School, National Center for Education Statistics
- Wildwood Crest history
- The Wildwood Leader
- Wildwood Crest, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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