West Wildwood, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Wildwood, New Jersey
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Borough
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Entrance sign
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| Motto(s):
Small Town Charm on the Back Bay
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Location of West Wildwood in Cape May County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Cape May County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
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Census Bureau map of West Wildwood, New Jersey
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 West Wildwood, New Jersey
Location in Cape May County, New Jersey
West Wildwood, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
West Wildwood, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County |  Cape May |
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| Incorporated | April 21, 1920 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Walsh Act | |
| • Body | Board of Commissioners | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 0.36 sq mi (0.94 km2) | |
| • Land | 0.29 sq mi (0.74 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) 21.67% | |
| Area rank | 551st of 565 in state 15th of 16 in county |
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| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 540 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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542 | |
| • Rank | 550th of 565 in state 15th of 16 in county |
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| • Density | 1,887.7/sq mi (728.8/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 301st of 565 in state 4th of 16 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08260
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| Area code(s) | 609 | |
| FIPS code | 3400980210 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885441 | |
West Wildwood is a borough in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The city, and all of Cape May County, is part of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area, and is part of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD combined statistical area, also known as the Delaware Valley or Philadelphia metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 540, a decrease of 63 (−10.4%) from the 2010 census count of 603, which in turn reflected an increase of 155 (+34.6%) from the 448 counted in the 2000 census. The summer population grows to as much as 5,000.
West Wildwood was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 21, 1920, from portions of Middle Township.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.36 square miles (0.94 km2), including 0.29 square miles (0.74 km2) of land and 0.08 square miles (0.20 km2) of water (21.67%).
The borough borders the Cape May County municipalities of Middle Township, North Wildwood City and Wildwood City.
Located on a small island connected to Wildwood by a two-lane bridge, the borough consists primarily vacation and year-round homes with a single night club, a miniature golf course and several marinas. Created using landfill to cover existing marshes in the 1920s, the borough is surrounding by bulkheads to protect it from flooding, though heavy winds and high tides can overtop the flood protection mechanisms.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 178 | — | |
| 1940 | 146 | −18.0% | |
| 1950 | 237 | 62.3% | |
| 1960 | 207 | −12.7% | |
| 1970 | 235 | 13.5% | |
| 1980 | 360 | 53.2% | |
| 1990 | 453 | 25.8% | |
| 2000 | 448 | −1.1% | |
| 2010 | 603 | 34.6% | |
| 2020 | 540 | −10.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 542 | −10.1% | |
| Population sources: 1930–2000 1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 603 people, 276 households, and 160 families in the borough. The population density was 2,188.4 per square mile (844.9/km2). There were 893 housing units at an average density of 3,240.9 per square mile (1,251.3/km2). The racial makeup was 95.36% (575) White, 1.49% (9) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.00% (0) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.66% (4) from other races, and 2.49% (15) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.65% (16) of the population.
Of the 276 households, 14.5% had children under the age of 18; 42.8% were married couples living together; 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 42.0% were non-families. Of all households, 35.9% were made up of individuals and 17.4% 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 2.78.
17.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 16.3% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 27.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.2 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $38,750 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,914) and the median family income was $57,981 (+/− $16,263). Males had a median income of $36,607 (+/− $10,003) versus $36,364 (+/− $10,046) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,606 (+/− $4,119). About 6.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Portions of the borough—together with areas in North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest—are part of a joint Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. The four municipalities in The Wildwoods were selected in 2002 as one of a group of three zones added to participate in the program as part of a joint zone with. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the 6+5⁄8% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants. Established in November 2002, the borough's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in December 2023. The joint UEZ is overseen by the Enterprise Zone Development Corporation of the Wildwoods Board, which includes representatives from all four municipalities.
Education
Public school students from West Wildwood, a non-operating school district, attend Margaret Mace School in North Wildwood, of the North Wildwood School District, for grades PreK–8 and Wildwood High School of Wildwood City School District for ninth grade through twelfth grade as part of a sending/receiving relationship. In 2019, North Wildwood district received 20 students from West Wildwood, making up 11% of the North Wildwood district enrollment.
As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 207 students and 33.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 6.3:1. As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 263 students and 31.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.5:1.
Students are also eligible to attend Cape May County Technical High School in the Cape May Court House area, which serves students from the entire county in its comprehensive and vocational programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents. Special needs students may be referred to Cape May County Special Services School District in the Cape May Court House area.
In 2020, the West Wildwood School Board commissioned a study from Stockton University exploring whether switching K–8 education to the Wildwood School District would have effects, causing a negative reaction from multiple parents who preferred that their children attend Mace School. The study stated that West Wildwood would save more than $175,000 per year if it used Wildwood City district for K–8.
Transportation
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As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 5.59 miles (9.00 km) of roadways, of which 4.79 miles (7.71 km) were maintained by the municipality and 0.80 miles (1.29 km) by Cape May County.
County Route 614 (Glenwood Avenue) runs through the borough to its northern tip.
See also
In Spanish: West Wildwood para niños
