Cape May County is located in the southernmost part of New Jersey, and is bordered by Atlantic, Cumberland, and Gloucester Counties. The county seat is the town of Cape May Court House. It covers an area of 442 square miles and has a population of 90,841 people as of 2019.
The county has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The average temperature in summertime ranges from 73 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit while the average temperature in winter ranges from 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The average annual precipitation is 47 inches while snowfall averages around 19 inches annually.
Cape May County’s landscape is divided into two distinct regions: the Cape May Peninsula and Lower Township which are separated by the Cape May Canal. The peninsula consists primarily of salt marshes, beaches, and sand dunes while Lower Township is comprised mostly of forests and wetlands. The highest point in the county is located on Corson’s Inlet at approximately 63 feet above sea level while its lowest point lies along the Delaware Bay at sea level.
The most notable body of water in Cape May County is Delaware Bay which serves as a natural border between New Jersey and Delaware. Other prominent bodies of water include Great Egg Harbor Bay, Corson’s Inlet, Hereford Inlet, Townsend’s Inlet, Cold Spring Inlet, Lake Nummy, Lake Lily and many other smaller lakes throughout the region.
The county contains numerous parks including Belleplain State Forest where visitors can enjoy camping fishing biking hiking picnicking boating swimming horseback riding hunting wildlife viewing bird watching and much more; Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area which offers plenty of opportunities for bird watching; Parvin State Park where visitors can take advantage of its trails playgrounds picnic areas campgrounds fishing spots swimming areas boat launch sites beach accesses disc golf courses horseshoe pits nature center archery range among other amenities; Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge which offers plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing; Cape May Point State Park which provides access to one mile long stretch along scenic beachfront; or Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol Beach where visitors can relax on its clean white sand beaches or take advantage of many recreational activities such as swimming surfing boating fishing kayaking among others.
Overall, Cape May County is an ideal destination for anyone looking to enjoy outdoor recreational activities such as camping hiking biking fishing hunting boating swimming surfing birding wildlife viewing among others all within close proximity to some beautiful beaches that offer plenty relaxation opportunities throughout the year.
Country seat and other main cities of Cape May County, New Jersey
Cape May County, New Jersey is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of New Jersey and home to a variety of natural attractions and recreational activities. The county seat is the City of Cape May Court House, located in Middle Township, while according to COUNTRYAAH, other main cities include Wildwood, North Wildwood, Sea Isle City, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Ocean City, Lower Township and Middle Township.
The City of Cape May Court House is the administrative center for Cape May County and home to a number of historic sites such as the World War I Monument which commemorates those who served in the war; or the Cold Spring Presbyterian Church which is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and State Register of Historic Places. Other attractions in this city include numerous restaurants offering local seafood specialties; shops selling souvenirs and local crafts; or various parks such as Corson’s Inlet State Park where visitors can enjoy fishing swimming kayaking camping biking hiking birdwatching among other activities.
Wildwood is a popular beach town located on Five Mile Island along with its two neighboring cities Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood. This city is well known for its boardwalk which stretches over two miles along its beaches offering plenty of entertainment options such as amusement rides arcades shops restaurants bars nightclubs among others; or its iconic Doo-Wop style buildings that have been preserved since 1950s. Other attractions in this city include various water parks golf courses fishing piers boat launches among others; or numerous annual events such as Irish Festival American Music Festival Beachstock Music & Arts Festival Boardwalk Classic Car Show among others.
Sea Isle City offers visitors an array of recreational activities from swimming surfing fishing boating kayaking to sailing jet skiing parasailing windsurfing among many others; or various annual events throughout year including Sea Isle’s Celebrate America Irish Weekend Sea Isle St Patrick’s Day Parade Beachstock Music & Arts Festival Fireworks Shows Fourth Of July Parade Italian Festival Oktoberfest The Christmas Parade among many others. This city also features great shopping areas such as La Costa Town Center Promenade at Downbeach which offer variety of stores restaurants cafes among other services for visitors to enjoy throughout their stay here.
Avalon is another popular beach town located on Seven Mile Island that features some great beaches such as 30th Street Beach where visitors can enjoy swimming surfing kayaking paddleboarding bodyboarding sailing jet skiing parasailing windsurfing kiteboarding stand-up paddle boarding beach volleyball frisbee golfing fishing boat launching birdwatching walking biking jogging rollerblading skateboarding among many other activities throughout year; or some great shopping areas where visitors can find souvenirs crafts jewelry clothing accessories among other items from local vendors here.
History of Cape May County, New Jersey
Cape May County, New Jersey is a coastal county located in the southernmost part of the state. It is bordered by Atlantic Ocean to the east and Delaware Bay to the west. The county has a rich history dating back to 1620 when Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen Mey made his first voyage to what is now Cape May County. In 1664, the English took control of the region and named it after Sir George Carteret’s wife Lady Elizabeth Carteret. The earliest settlers of Cape May County were Dutch, Swedish and English colonists who found abundant resources in fishing, hunting and farming.
By 1702, Cape May County was established as one of New Jersey’s original four counties. Over time, it developed into a hub for commercial fishing and maritime trade due to its strategic location at the mouth of Delaware Bay. In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, British troops occupied Cape May and used it as their base of operations for their attack on Philadelphia.
In 1846, Cape May County became an official resort destination when Dr Jonathan Pitney built a hotel on Congress Hall grounds in Cape May City. This sparked a wave of tourism that attracted visitors from all over the country seeking relief from city life and looking for restorative health benefits from sea air. During this period several grand Victorian hotels were built along its beaches making it one of America’s first seaside resorts towns.
The 20th century saw further growth with increased development along its shoreline particularly in Avalon Sea Isle City Wildwood Stone Harbor North Wildwood Wildwood Crest among others; as well as an increase in tourism with more people visiting each year for summer vacations family reunions beach parties among others events throughout year; or numerous annual festivals such as Irish Festival Beachstock Music & Arts Festival Boardwalk Classic Car Show among many others that attract thousands of visitors each year; or various recreational activities available here such as swimming surfing boating kayaking sailing jet skiing parasailing windsurfing kiteboarding stand-up paddle boarding beach volleyball frisbee golfing fishing boat launching birdwatching walking biking jogging rollerblading skateboarding among many other activities throughout year; or some great shopping areas where visitors can find souvenirs crafts jewelry clothing accessories among other items from local vendors here making Cape May County one of best places to visit for both locals and tourists alike.
Economy of Cape May County, New Jersey
Cape May County, New Jersey is an economic powerhouse in the region. It is home to a bustling tourism industry as well as a thriving commercial fishing and maritime trade sector. The county’s strategic location at the mouth of Delaware Bay has been instrumental in its success, providing access to a vast array of resources and markets.
Tourism is the main driver of the local economy, with visitors from all over the country coming to experience its world-renowned beaches and vibrant boardwalk culture. The county boasts numerous grand Victorian hotels along its shoreline, as well as a variety of recreational activities such as swimming, surfing, boating, kayaking, sailing, jet skiing and parasailing. There are also numerous annual festivals such as Irish Festival Beachstock Music & Arts Festival Boardwalk Classic Car Show which attract thousands of visitors each year. Shopping areas are also popular with visitors who come to find souvenirs crafts jewelry clothing accessories among other items from local vendors here making Cape May County one of best places to visit for both locals and tourists alike.
The commercial fishing industry is another major economic contributor for Cape May County. It has long been an important source of income for local fishermen who have been able to capitalize on its rich marine resources. The region is home to shrimp boats that fish in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast while hundreds more vessels ply the waters of Delaware Bay seeking out crabs oysters clams scallops mussels among other types seafood here; all adding significantly to total annual seafood catch here making it one most profitable industries in area.
The maritime trade sector has also experienced significant growth in recent years thanks largely due its proximity highly trafficked shipping lanes between Philadelphia New York City Baltimore Washington DC among other major cities located nearby here; allowing goods services move quickly efficiently between these locations without having go through congested land routes like they would elsewhere thus making Cape May County an important hub regional commerce overall here; providing numerous job opportunities those who live work here helping keep unemployment rate low stable throughout year too.