North Wildwood, New Jersey

What is now North Wildwood City was originally incorporated as the borough of Anglesea on June 13, 1885, from portions of Middle Township, based on the results of a referendum held eleven days earlier. The borough was reincorporated on March 6, 1896, and again on May 4, 1897. On May 16, 1906, the Borough of North Wildwood was incorporated, replacing Anglesea Borough. On April 30, 1917, the area was reincorporated as the City of North Wildwood, in turn replacing North Wildwood borough.⁷

It was ranked the fourth best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.⁸

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²), of which, 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (16.98%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census⁴ of 2000, there were 4,935 people, 2,309 households, and 1,394 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,794.6 people per square mile (1,076.5/km²). There were 7,411 housing units at an average density of 4,196.7/sq mi (1,616.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.62% White, 0.81% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.95% of the population.

There were 2,309 households out of which 18.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% 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 2.73.

In the city the population was spread out with 17.2% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,582, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $32,986 versus $22,064 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,656. About 9.9% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

North Wildwood has a Mayor-Council form of government under the Faulkner Act. The Mayor serves a four-year term of office while six councilmembers are elected from wards for three-year terms on a staggered basis and one at large councilmember is elected for a two-year term. Under this form of government, the council functions as a legislative body: it must pass ordinances and approve the appointments of the Mayor. The mayor, as executive, is responsible for administrative functions and appointment of all officials.¹¹¹

Federal, state and county representation

North Wildwood is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District.¹³

Education

The North Wildwood School District serves students in public school for kindergarten through eighth grade at Margaret Mace School. The school had an enrollment of 296 students in the 2005-06 school year.¹⁷

Commerce

Portions of North Wildwood are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax rate (versus the 7% rate charged statewide).¹⁹

Notable residents

References

^ ^a ^b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 8. The 2005 Data Book shows that North Wildwood uses the City (New Jersey) form of government.
^ USGS GNIS: City of North Wildwood, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed June 13, 2008.
^ ^a ^b Census data for North Wildwood city, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 9, 2007.
^ ^a ^b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
^ "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. 115.
^ Urgo, Jacqueline L. (May 23, 2008). "Triumph for South Jersey", The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved on 30 May 2008.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
^ Home Page, City of North Wildwood. Accessed July 11, 2008. The City's website refers to a "Mayor-council form of government", but does not explicitly mention the Faulkner Act or Optional Municipal Charter Law.
^ North Wildwood Mayor and Council, Borough of North Wildwood. Accessed March 7, 2007.
^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 61. 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 North Wildwood School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 30, 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."
^ Geographic & Urban Redevelopment Tax Credit Programs: Urban Enterprise Zone Employee Tax Credit, State of New Jersey. Accessed July 28, 2008.
^ McAleer, Pete. "SEN. CAFIERO TO CAST FINAL CAREER VOTE", The Press of Atlantic City, January 11, 2004. Accessed August 9, 2007. "On Monday, the rapid-talking, fast-walking, fence-climbing gentleman from North Wildwood closes the book on a 27-year career in the state Legislature."
^ Vanore, Jim. "Unanswered prayers, unanswered questions won’t stop this journey", Cape May County Herald, May 19, 2008. Accessed May 27, 2008. "“Working in the family business as a kid, I knew I didn’t want to do that for a living,” said Justin, a North Wildwood native, who was raised in a traditional Catholic family, and graduated from Wildwood Catholic High School."
^ "A Deal with the Devil", New York Post, July 18, 2008

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