North Wildwood is a city located on the Jersey Shore in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The city and all of Cape May County are part of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area, which in turn is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 3,621, a decrease of 420 (−10.4%) from the 2010 census count of 4,041, which in turn had reflected a decline of 894 (−18.1%) from the 4,935 counted at the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. North Wildwood is home to the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse.History, Hereford Inlet Lighthouse. Accessed December 5, 2011.

The city's beaches were ranked the fourth-best in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.Urgo, Jacqueline L. "Sandy laurels for South JerseySeven of the Top 10 N.J. beaches are in Cape May County", The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 23, 2008. Accessed September 11, 2015. "Neighboring Wildwood Crest came in second, followed by Ocean City, North Wildwood, Cape May, Asbury Park in Monmouth County, Avalon, Point Pleasant Beach in northern Ocean County, Beach Haven in southern Ocean County and Stone Harbor." North Wildwood is one of five municipalities in the state that offer free public access to oceanfront beaches monitored by lifeguards, joining Atlantic City, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and Upper Township's Strathmere section.Spoto, MaryAnn. "Surfers fighting to save dwindling free beaches", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 20, 2015. Accessed October 30, 2015. "New Jersey has five free guarded ocean beaches – Atlantic City, Wildwood, North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and the Strathmere section of Upper Township."

History 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 11 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.

Legislation passed in April 1908 established a potential consolidation of North Wildwood and Holly Beach City into Wildwood, subject to approval of referendums in each of the three municipalities, though this merger never took effect.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 208. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 11, 2015.

On April 30, 1917, the area was reincorporated as the City of North Wildwood, in turn replacing North Wildwood borough.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 115. Accessed May 30, 2024. The city's name comes from Wildwood, which in turn was named for the area's wild flowers.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 11, 2015.

In November 2016, more than 60% of voters rejected a non-binding referendum that would ask to change the name of the city from North Wildwood to its historic name of Anglesea. Opponents cited the confusion that would be created and the impact on commerce.Tomczuk, Jack. "Voters reject Anglesea referendum, favor keeping North Wildwood name", The Press of Atlantic City, November 8, 2016. Accessed May 12, 2020. "North Wildwood — About 60 percent of voters Tuesday turned down a proposal to change the city’s name to Anglesea.... The island is currently comprised of four municipalities — Wildwood, North Wildwood, West Wildwood and Wildwood Crest — and Diamond Beach, a section of Lower Township.... Proponents of the name change said they wanted to honor the city’s history — it was called the borough of Anglesea from 1885 until 1906. Opponents said the name change would harm businesses."

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 2.50 square miles (6.46 km2), including 1.73 square miles (4.47 km2) of land and 0.77 square miles (2.00 km2) of water (30.80%).

The borough borders the Cape May County municipalities of Middle Township, Stone Harbor Borough and Wildwood City, as well as the Atlantic Ocean.Areas touching North Wildwood, MapIt. Accessed March 1, 2020.Cape May County , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 1, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, North Wildwood had a population of 3,621. The median age was 60.5 years. 9.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 39.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.1 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,922 households in North Wildwood, of which 10.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.7% were married-couple households, 22.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 8,984 housing units, of which 78.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 30.7%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 3,400 93.9% Black or African American 37 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native 1 0.0% Asian 7 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2 0.1% Some other race 42 1.2% Two or more races 132 3.6% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 129 3.6%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 4,041 people, 2,047 households, and 1,085 families in the city. The population density was . There were 8,840 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 94.98% (3,838) White, 1.14% (46) Black or African American, 0.32% (13) Native American, 0.35% (14) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.26% (51) from other races, and 1.95% (79) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.03% (163) of the population.

Of the 2,047 households, 12.0% had children under the age of 18; 41.1% were married couples living together; 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 47.0% were non-families. Of all households, 41.3% were made up of individuals and 21.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.64.

13.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 17.4% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 30.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $45,041 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,807) and the median family income was $56,116 (+/− $10,273). Males had a median income of $60,068 (+/− $9,524) versus $35,879 (+/− $5,208) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,748 (+/− $5,814). About 10.6% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 4,935 people, 2,309 households, and 1,394 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 7,411 housing units at an average density of . 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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for North Wildwood city, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 17, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for North Wildwood city, Cape May County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 17, 2012.

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 aged 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.

Economy

Portions of the city—together with areas in West 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.Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Questions and Answers, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, May 2009. Accessed October 28, 2019. "The legislation was amended again in 2002 to include 3 more zones. They include Bayonne City, Roselle Borough, and a joint zone consisting of North Wildwood City, Wildwood City, Wildwood Crest Borough, and West Wildwood Borough." 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 % rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.Urban Enterprise Zone Program, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Businesses participating in the UEZ Program can charge half the standard sales tax rate on certain purchases, currently 3.3125% effective 1/1/2018" Established in November 2002, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in December 2023.Urban Enterprise Zone Effective and Expiration Dates, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed January 8, 2018. The joint UEZ is overseen by the Enterprise Zone Development Corporation of the Wildwoods Board, which includes representatives from all four municipalities.Urban Enterprise Zone Program, City of Wildwood. Accessed November 19, 2019. "The Enterprise Zone Development Corporation of the Wildwoods Board is comprised of business owners, elected officials and employees representing the City of Wildwood, City of North Wildwood, the Borough of West Wildwood, and the Borough of Wildwood Crest."

Government Local government