Cape May County

A Profile of Cape May County New Jersey

Avalon ● Cape May ● Cape May Court House ● Cape May Point ● Dennis Township ● Lower Township ● Middle Township ● North Wildwood ● Ocean City ● Sea Isle City ● Stone Harbor ● Upper Township ● West Cape May ● West Wildwood ● Wildwood ● Wildwood Crest ● Woodbine

Table of Contents Overview and Geographical Background ...... 3 Housing Density...... 4 Transportation ...... 5 Public Transportation ...... 5 County Road Mileage ...... 6 Commute: Travel Time to Work ...... 7 Demographics ...... 8 Population (2010) ...... 8 Race (2010) ...... 9 Population of Municipalities ...... 10 Population Density ...... 11 Population Density under the Age of 18 ...... 12 Political and Government Background ...... 13 Voter Registration ...... 14 Voter Turnout ...... 15 Family Structure...... 16 Education ...... 17 Adults ...... 17 School Districts ...... 17 Youth Education Achievement ...... 18 HSPA Language Arts/Mathematics 2011-2012 ...... 19 Dropout Rates ...... 19 Kids Count ...... 20 Housing and Income ...... 21 Local Economy/ Job Sector ...... 21 Unemployment ...... 21 Main Industries ...... 22 Largest Employers ...... 22 Crime and Substance Abuse ...... 23

Overview and Geographical Background1

Area: 251.43 sq. miles (14th in state) Population: 97,265 (2nd to last in state) Cape May County has 255 square miles of land area and approximately 371 square miles of water. Cape May County is the second least populated of the 21

counties in the State of New Jersey but the fourteenth largest county in square miles. The county mostly lies on a flat and costal peninsula which extends into the Delaware Bay. The lowest point in Cape May County is sea level, whereas the highest point can be found in three separate areas of the Belleplain State Forrest.

1 2010 U.S Census Housing Density2

Housing Density Housing Units Per Place %Change 2000-10 Square Miles (2010)

Cape May County 391 9.6 SJ 7 County Avg.* 329.1 7.8

New Jersey 483.2 7.3 * The South Jersey Region includes Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.

Cape May County has less housing units per square mile than the State of New Jersey, but more than the region’s average. Also, the county’s housing density increased at a higher rate than both the state and the region between 2000 and 2010

Housing Units Per Square Mile

22.2 - 186.7 245.5 - 642.4 1024.0 - 2323.3 2639.7 - 4150.4 4911.6 - 6837.9

2 Ibid Transportation

Public Transportation

The service transportation network available in Cape May County includes fixed route, flexible fixed route and demand responsive services. The network is characterized by one operator, NJ Transit, which provides a limited amount of fixed route or demand responsive services throughout the county. The majority of public transportation services operated in the county is almost solely available to specific demographic or client groups. In addition, most of these services are limited to the daytime hours during weekdays only. However, the flexible fixed route and demand responsive services that are currently operated by the various providers represent a relatively large transportation system. A total demand response service network of 144 vehicles offers approximately 124,000 vehicle hours and provides 240,000 passenger trips annually.3

New Jersey Transit Fixed Route Services4 Route # From To Communities Served

313 Philadelphia Cape May Cape May Court House, N. Wildwood, Wildwood, Lower Township, Cape May 315 Philadelphia Cape May Sea Isle City, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Cape May Court House, N. Wildwood, Wildwood, Lower Township, Cape May 316* Philadelphia Cape May N. Wildwood, Wildwood, Rio Grande, West Cape May, Cape May 319 New York Cape May Sea Isle City, Avalon, Stone Harbor, N. Wildwood, (PABT) ** Wildwood, Cape May 552 Cape May Atlantic Cape May, N. Cape May, Villas, Rio Grande, N. City Wildwood, Wildwood, Middle Township, Cape May Court House

*Seasonal Work, Summer Only

**Route 319 is only extended to Cape May during the summer months, throughout the remainder of the year, the route ends in Wildwood.

3 SJTPO Human Service Transportation Plan, Final Report Cape May County 2007 4 Ibid County Road Mileage5

Municipality Miles of Roads County Municipal Total Mileage Avalon Boro 5.42 36.18 44.60 Cape May Point Boro 1.87 5.52 7.39 Cape May City 6.64 24.99 31.63 Dennis Township 32.80 58.02 90.82 Lower Township 33.83 131.88 165.71 Middle Township 42.23 94.99 137.22 North Wildwood City 1.42 33.63 35.05 Ocean City 9.31 114.85 124.16 Sea Isle City 5.53 27.53 33.06 Stone Harbor Boro 2.73 20.72 23.45 Upper Township 36.95 74.84 111.79 West Cape May Boro 3.04 8.82 11.86 West Wildwood Boro 0.80 4.79 5.53 Wildwood Crest Boro 2.05 28.82 30.89 Wildwood City 2.37 29.92 32.29 Woodbine Boro 12.84 19.61 32.45 County Sub-Total 199.83 713.13 912.96

5 New Jersey Department of Transportation Commute: Travel Time to Work6

2012 Mean Travel Time Place %Change 2000-12 (Minutes) Cape May County 22.2 -4.3 SJ 7 County Avg. 25.4 1.6 New Jersey 30.7 .3

Cape May County commuters average commute time to work is shorter than New Jersey commuters and the region’s average. Also, commuters in Cape May travel time to work decrease by 4.3% from 2000 to 2012.

Mean Travel Time to Work (Minutes)

13.6 - 15.5 17.9 - 21.6 22.4 - 24.7 25.3 - 28.4 30.7 - 36.5

6 U.S Census American Community Survey 2012 and 2000 Census Demographics

Population (2010) 7 Place 2010 Population % change 2000-10 Cape May County 97,265 -4.9 SJ Region 1,845474 5.1 New Jersey 8,791,894 4.5

2010 Cape May County Population

Cape May County Rest of SJ

5%

95%

% Persons under % Persons 65 years Place % Females the age of 18 and older Cape May County 18.9 21.6 51.4 SJ Region 23.6 13.7 51.1 New Jersey 23.5 13.5 51.3

7 2010 U.S Census Race 8(2010)

Percentage of Population by Race Hispanic or Latino Place White Black Asian Origin Cape May County 89.8% 4.7% 6.2% .9% SJ Region 71.8% 15.7% 11.7% 4.1% New Jersey 68.6% 13.7% 17.7% 8.3%

Percentage of Population By Race

90.0%

80.0%

70.0%

60.0%

50.0% Cape May County

40.0% SJ Region

30.0% New Jersey

20.0%

10.0%

0.0% White Black Hispanic or Asian Latino Origin

8 U.S. Census 2010 Population of Municipalities 9

Municipality Population Municipality Population Avalon Boro 1,334 Sea Isle City 2,114 Cape May Point Boro 291 Stone Harbor Boro 866 Cape May City 3,607 Upper Township 12,373 Dennis Township 6,457 West Cape May Boro 1,024 Lower Township 22,866 West Wildwood Boro 603 Middle Township 18,911 Wildwood Crest Boro 3,270 North Wildwood City 4,041 Wildwood City 5,325 Ocean City 11,701 Woodbine Boro 2,472

9 Ibid Population Density 10

Population Density Persons Per Square Place %Change 2000-10 Miles (2010) Cape May County 386.9 -3.5 SJ 7 County Avg. 740.5 4.9

New Jersey 1195.5 5.4

Cape May County is the 6th least dense county in the state and saw its population density decrease by 3.5% between 2000 and 2010.

Persons Per Square Mile

55.6 - 391.7 466.7 - 974.5 1130.5 - 1780.6 1998.4 - 2884.0 3375.5 - 5154.8

10 Ibid Population Density under the Age of 18 11

Persons Per Square Mile under the age of 18

0 - 227 247 - 410 444 - 543 697 - 971 1060 - 1365

11 U.S Census 2010 Political and Government Background

County Seat: Cape May Court House, NJ Board of Chosen Freeholders Chairman Gerald M. Thornton Vice Chairman Leonard C. Desiderio Freeholder Kristine Gabor Freeholder Will Morey Freeholder E. Marie Hayes

Cape May County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders. The freeholders are elected in partisan elections and serve staggered three-year terms. Although New Jersey is considered a blue state, Cape May County is a red county and tends to vote Republican in state and national elections. At the federal level, Cape May County falls in the 2nd Congressional District, and is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R). At the state level, Cape May lies in the 1st Legislative District, which is currently represented by Assemblymen Bob Adrzejczak (D), Samuel L. Fiocchi (R) and Democratic State Senator Jeff Van Drew.

In the 2009 New Jersey gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie earned 54% of the vote within the county, about 16 percentage points more than Democrat John Corzine, and in the 2013 election Governor Christie outpaced State Senator Barbara Buono by roughly 50 percentage points. In the 2012 Presidential Election, Mitt Romney (R), earned about 54% of the vote within the county, as opposed to the 45% attributed to Barack Obama (D). The largest share of registered voters in Cape May County are Republican, followed very closely by Un-affiliated voters.

Voter Registration 12 2013 General Election Voter Registration (as of 10/28/13) Cape May County New Jersey Party Number of Voters Percentage Number of Voters Percentage Un-affiliated 27,144 39.99% 2,588,104 46.96% Democratic 13,738 20.24% 1,825,594 33.13% Republican 26,935 39.68% 1,092,888 19.83% Green 15 0.02% 1,269 0.02% Libertarian 32 0.05% 2,300 0.04% Reform 1 0.00% 69 0.00% U.S. Constitution 1 0.00% 167 0.00% Natural Law 0 0.00% 37 0.00% Conservative 11 0.02% 620 0.01% Total 67,877 100.00% 5,511,048 100.00%

While across the state, Un-affiliated voters outpace registered Democrats and Republicans, in Cape May County the difference between voters registered as Un- affiliated and Republicans is less than one percent.

Cape May County Voter Registration

UNA Democrat Republican

Republican UNA 40.0% 39.8%

Democrat 20.2%

12 New Jersey Division of Elections Voter Turnout 13 General Election Voter Turnout (as of 11/6/12) County County Ballots Cape May Election Year Registered New Jersey Cast County Voters 2008 65,070 51,282 79% 73% 2010 69,354 30,431 44% 42% 2012 69,041 48,390 70% 67%

The significant drop in voter turnout from 2008 to 2010 is not unanticipated as 2008 was a presidential election year and generally turnout across the country is higher in presidential election years. Nevertheless, over the last three elections voter turnout in Cape May County is higher than the State of New Jersey’s.

2008,2010, and 2012 Voter Turnout

Cape May County New Jersey

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0% 2008 2010 2012

13 Ibid Family Structure14

Households Total Household %Family % Nonfamily Average Place Units Households Households Household Size Cape May County 40,812 63.6 36.4 2.32 SJ 7 County Avg. 97,493 68.8 31.2 2.61 New Jersey 3,214,360 69.3 30.7 2.68

Families %Husband— %Female Householder Avg. Family Place Families wife Families No Husband Size Cape May County 25,947 76 17.1 2.89 SJ 7 County Avg. 67,413 71.7 20.8 3.13 New Jersey 2,226,606 73.8 19.3 3.22

Family Households with related Children under the Age of 18 %Husband—Wife %Female Householder No Place Households Husband Cape May County 32.7 57.8 SJ 7 County Avg. 43.2 62.2 New Jersey 47.9 59.1

14 2010 U.S Census Education

Adults15 Education Attainment: Population 25 years of age and older % High School (or % Bachelor Degree % of Population 25 Place Equivalent) or higher or higher years of age and older Cape May County 88.9 30.7 74 SJ 7 Counties Avg. 86.1 26 68.5 New Jersey 88.3 36.2 68.2

School Districts16 School District # of schools High Schools Avalon School District 1 0 Cape May City School District 1 0 Cape May County Special Services District 3 1* Cape May County Technical School District 1 1 Dennis Township Public Schools 2 0 Lower Cape May Regional School District 2 1 Lower Township School District 4 0 Middle Township Public Schools 4 1 North Wildwood School District 1 0 Ocean City School District 3 1 Sea Isle City School District 1 0 Stone Harbor School District 1 0 Upper Township School District 3 0 West Cape May School District 1 0 Wildwood School District 3 1 Wildwood Crest School District 1 0 Woodbine School District 1 0 Considering the population sizes of the municipalities in Cape May County it is no surprise that 11 of the 17 school districts do not have a high school.

15 U.S Census 2010 16 Cape May County Superintendent of Schools School District Links Youth Education Achievement17 Percentage of Students Scoring Proficient or Higher on NJASK18 2011-2012 Cape May County Grade Lang Math 3rd 66% 77% 4th 55% 79% 5th 65% 83% 6th 63% 83% 7th 63% 67% 8th 87% 78% South Jersey Average Grade Lang Math 3rd 63% 76% 4th 52% 74% 5th 58% 80% 6th 59% 75% 7th 78% 59% 8th 83% 68% New Jersey Average Grade Lang Math 3rd 68% 79% 4th 60% 77% 5th 63% 83% 6th 63% 78% 7th 59% 62% 8th 81% 70%

17 New Jersey Department of Education, NJ School Report Card 18 Average across Burlington County Schools HSPA Language Arts/Mathematics 2011-201219

Proficient or Higher State Proficient or State High School Name in Language Arts Rank Higher in Math Rank Cape May County Tech 100.0% 100.0% 95.5% 86.0% Lower Cape May Regional 89.3% 23.0% 78.9% 28.0% Middle Township 87.4% 17.0% 82.2% 34.0% Ocean City High 94.9% 45.0% 88.1% 53.0% Wildwood High 71.7% 6.0% 62.7% 14.0%

The statewide percentile rank indicates how the school’s proficiency compares with other schools across the state. For example, in Language Arts, Cape May County Tech has a proficiency rate higher than 100% of all schools across the state.

Dropout Rates

2012-2013

High School %

Lower Cape May Regional 2.3

Middle Township .3

Ocean City .3 Wildwood 4.2 State Target 2

19 New Jersey Department of Education Kids Count20

Cape May County Kids Count Data 2013 County Rank: 18 2012 2013 Variable Year County NJ Rank Rank Child Population 2011 17,855 2,042,810 20 20 Percent of Children in Poverty 2011 20% 15% 14 14 Median Income of Families with 2011 $72,986 $81,983 12 14 Children Percent of Eligible Children 2011-12 49% 31 2 3 Receiving Free /Reduced Lunch Percent of Women Receiving Early 2009 81% 77 8 10 Prenatal Care Percent of Births to Girls 10-19 2009 9% 6 19 18 Infant Mortality (rate per 1,000 2009 7 5 16 15 under 18) Abuse/Neglect Investigations (rate 2011 89 45 19 19 per 1,000 under 18) Children in Out-of-Home Placement 2011 8 3 21 21 (rate per 1,000) Juvenile Arrest (rate per 1,000 2011 40 17 20 21 under 18) Licensed Center-Based Child Care 2012 301 650 21 20 Supply (slots per 1,000 age 0-4)

20 The Annie E. Casey Foundation Housing and Income21 People Cape May County New Jersey Owner-occupied Housing 73.4% 65.1% Renter-occupied Housing 26.6% 34.9% Median Value of Owner-Occupied Housing Units $305,900 $311,600 Per Capita Income in Past 12 Months (2012 dollars) $31,313 $34,885 Median Household Income $57,001 $69,677 Persons Below Poverty 8.9% 10.8%

Local Economy/ Job Sector22

Unemployment Cape May County 2013 Unemployment Estimates Preliminary Rate December 2013: 13 (1st Highest in State) Cape May County, NJ JUN 13 JUL 13 AUG 13 SEP 13 OCT 13 Labor Force 64,300 68,700 67,000 59,200 54,400 Employment 57,900 62,900 61,600 53,700 48,400 Unemployment 6,400 5,800 5,400 5,500 5,900 Unemployment Rate (%) 10.0 8.4 8.1 9.3 10.9 New Jersey JUN 13 JUL 13 AUG 13 SEP 13 OCT 13 Labor Force 4,682,600 4,661,500 4,617,200 4,551,500 4,531,600 Employment 4,260,300 4,261,900 4,235,300 4,177,400 4,166,500 Unemployment 422,300 399,600 381,900 374,100 365,100 Unemployment Rate (%) 9.0 8.6 8.3 8.2 8.1

21 American Community Survey 2012 22 New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Main Industries 23 Industry Estimate % Civilian employed population 16 years and over 43,170 43,170 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 346 0.8% Construction 3,314 7.7% Manufacturing 1,489 3.4% Wholesale trade 490 1.1% Retail trade 5,756 13.3% Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 1,218 2.8% Information 1,006 2.3% Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 3,776 8.7% Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and 3,174 7.4% waste management services Educational services, and health care and social assistance 10,029 23.2% Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food 7,562 17.5% services Other services, except public administration 1,494 3.5% Public administration 3,516 8.1%

Largest Employers 24 # of Major Employers Employees 1 Woodbine Developmental Center 1,400 2 County of Cape May 1,186 3 Cape May Regional Medical Center 1,114 4 Acme Markets (multiple locations) 860 5 WAWA (multiple locations) 620 6 City of Ocean City 604 7 Middle Township Board of Education 542 8 Lower Township Board of Education 429 9 Lower Cape May Regional School District 360 10 Morey’s Pier 345

23 U.S. Census 2012 24 NJ Department of Labor Crime and Substance Abuse

Crime I25 Number of Crime rate per Violent Crime Nonviolent Crime Year Offenses 1000 rate per 1000 rate per 1000 2010 4,809 49.4 2.5 46.9 2011 4,856 50 3.2 46.8

Crime II (Number of Offenses)26 Aggravated Larceny- Year Murder Rape Robbery Burglary Assault Theft 2010 2 17 61 166 1,103 3,383 2011 1 13 84 211 1,075 3,407

Substance Abuse Admissions27 Heroin & Alcohol Cocaine Marijuana Other TOTAL Opiates N % N % N % N % N % N % 673 3 116 2.3 445 1.7 231 2.1 95 3.7 1560 2.3

25 Uniform Crime Report 2010, State of New Jersey 26 Ibid 27 New Jersey Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse Overview 2010