Rio Grande, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rio Grande, New Jersey
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Post office
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Map of Rio Grande highlighted within Cape May County. Right: Location of Cape May County in New Jersey.
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 Rio Grande, New Jersey
Location in Cape May County, New Jersey
Rio Grande, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Rio Grande, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Cape May |
| Township | Middle (most), Lower (some) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.73 sq mi (7.08 km2) |
| • Land | 2.70 sq mi (6.99 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2) 1.26% |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,610 |
| • Density | 1,337.04/sq mi (516.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code |
08242
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| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-63180 |
| GNIS feature ID | 02389752 |
Rio Grande (/rioʊɡrʌndeɪ/) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Middle Township and Lower Township in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
Though for the 1990 to 2010 U.S. censuses the CDP was entirely located within Middle Township, a small section at the southern edge of the community, located in Lower Township, is sometimes called Rio Grande. For the 2020 U.S. Census the boundary was redrawn so that portions of Lower Township were included in the Rio Grande CDP.
It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 2,670.
Contents
History
According to Jeffrey M. Dorwart, Rio Grande was founded in the mid-nineteenth century around a country store owned by the Hildreth family. The community was originally called Hildreth for that reason.
George F. Boyer and J. Pearson Cunningham explain that, during the colonial period, Aaron Leaming, the Hildreths and the Cresses had plantations in that area. Where the King's Highway crossed the road coming from Dennisville and Goshen a stage coach terminal was set up, and the spot became the center for trade for the local farming families. Boyer and Cunningham say that the area was known as "Leamings," for the prominent landholders, or as "Hildreth," the family who ran the local store. (p. 121-122) They continue, "The name, Rio Grande, was suggested by the seventh Aaron Leaming who thought this southern United States river had an attractive sound."
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 2.490 square miles (6.45 km2), including 2.459 square miles (6.37 km2) of land and 0.031 square miles (0.080 km2) of water (1.26%).
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Rio Grande has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 2,505 | — | |
| 2000 | 2,444 | −2.4% | |
| 2010 | 2,670 | 9.2% | |
| 2020 | 3,610 | 35.2% | |
| Population sources: 2000 2010 | |||
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 2,670 people, 1,115 households, and 730 families in the CDP. The population density was 1,085.8 people per square mile (419.2 people/km2). There were 1,489 housing units at an average density of 605.5 units per square mile (233.8 units/km2). The racial makeup was 86.44% (2,308) White, 5.54% (148) Black or African American, 0.26% (7) Native American, 2.51% (67) Asian, 0.04% (1) Pacific Islander, 3.22% (86) from other races, and 1.99% (53) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.68% (205) of the population.
Of the 1,115 households, 20.8% had children under the age of 18; 45.4% were married couples living together; 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.5% were non-families. Of all households, 29.1% were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85.
18.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.4 males.
Education
The areas within Middle Township, including almost all of Rio Grande CDP, are in the Middle Township Public Schools; it operates its campuses in Cape May Court House, including Middle Township High School.
The areas within Lower Township, including a sliver of the CDP, are in the Lower Township School District for elementary grades and the Lower Cape May Regional School District for secondary grades. The elementary school district operates Douglass School (PreK and Kindergarten) in Villas CDP and three schools in Cold Spring: Mitnick School (1–2), Abrams School (3–4), and Sandman School (5–6). The secondary school district Teitelman Middle School and Lower Cape May Regional High School in the Erma area.
Countywide schools include Cape May Technical High School (for technical school students) and Cape May County Special Services School District (for special needs students) in the Cape May Court House area.
In the era of de jure educational segregation in the United States, a school for white children in grades 1-6 was maintained in Rio Grande and a school for black children was maintained in Whitesboro in grades 1–8. White children in Rio Grande were sent to West Cape May School District for grades 7–12.
Transportation
Rio Grande is situated at the junction of U.S. Route 9 and Route 47. U.S. Route 9 runs south to Cape May and north toward the Atlantic City area while Route 47 runs southeast to Wildwood and north to Millville and the Camden area. Rio Grande is accessible from the Garden State Parkway at exit 4 northbound and exit 4B southbound.
NJ Transit offers bus service from Rio Grande to Cape May and Philadelphia on the 313, 315 and 316 (seasonal only) routes, to Cape May and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 319 route, to Wildwood on the 510 route, and to Cape May and Atlantic City on the 552 route.
The Great American Trolley Company operates trolley service from North Wildwood and Wildwood to shopping centers in Rio Grande on Mondays through Fridays in the summer months.
Cape May Airport, established in 1941 as NAS Rio Grande, is located in the area, in adjacent Lower Township.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Rio Grande include:
- Jane Moffet (1930–2018), utility player who played for four seasons in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Gallery
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Rio Grande Fire Station
See also
In Spanish: Río Grande (Nueva Jersey) para niños
