Wildwood is a city 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 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 year-round population was 5,157, a decrease of 168 (−3.2%) from the 2010 census count of 5,325, which in turn reflected a decline of 111 (−2.0%) from the 5,436 counted in 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. A popular Jersey Shore resort destination, the population can swell to 250,000 during the summer.Kocieniewski, David. "And the Sand Won't Burn Your Feet", The New York Times, April 22, 2007. Accessed September 4, 2011. "About 20 miles north in Wildwood, where the streets on a March weekend were so deserted that the traffic lights were operating in blink mode, the seasonal desolation is a kind of spectacle unto itself. While the town often swells to 250,000 people on summer weekends, in springtime it offers a case study in depopulation for photographers, painters and travelers who crave solitude." Wildwood was the first city in New Jersey to have a female mayor, Doris W. Bradway, who was ousted in a 1938 recall election.

The city of Wildwood proper constitutes the center of the island communities collectively known as The Wildwoods, which is used as a collective term to describe four communities on the island with the name Wildwood attached to them: North Wildwood, West Wildwood, Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest. Also part of The Wildwoods are Diamond Beach and a portion of Lower Township on the island.Ogden, Karen; and Bubser, Diana. "The Jersey Shore", Courier-Post, June 15, 2010. Accessed July 2, 2012. "The Wildwoods consists of North Wildwood, Wildwood City, West Wildwood and Wildwood Crest and the area is known for its 2 1/2-mile-long boardwalk." The city, and the surrounding communities that share the name, derives its name from the wild flowers found in the area.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 25, 2015. Wildwood is part of the South Jersey region of the state.

History Wildwood was originally incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 1, 1895, from portions of Middle Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. On January 1, 1912, Wildwood was incorporated as a city, replacing both Wildwood borough and Holly Beach City.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 68. Accessed May 30, 2024.

The Wildwoods began developing as a resort in the last decade of the 19th century. A building boom began in the 1950s, due partially to the construction and completion of the Garden State Parkway in 1955.Lange, Linda via Scripps Howard News Service. "Wildwoods preserve family fun of the 1950s", Reading Eagle, October 5, 2008. Accessed July 2, 2012. "This barrier beach south of Atlantic City was once an enclave for wealthy Victorian holiday-makers who stayed in traditional hotels. It evolved into a haven for everyone in the postwar years, particularly after the southern portion of the Garden State Parkway opened in 1955.""Neon and Angles: Motels of the Wildwoods", Historic Preservation Bulletin, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Historic Preservation Office, Summer 2006. Accessed July 2, 2012.

"Rock Around the Clock", often credited as the first rock and roll record, was first performed on Memorial Day weekend in 1954 at the HofBrau Hotel in Wildwood by Bill Haley & His Comets. The song's status as one of the first rock and roll hits has given rise to the city's claim as "the birthplace of rock and roll".The Birthplace of Rock and Roll: Wildwood, New Jersey, Stakes Its Claim, accessed November 16, 2006. Strauss, Robert. "Cradle of Rock? Two Towns Stake Their Claims", The New York Times, July 10, 2007. Accessed July 10, 2007. "It was Saturday night during Memorial Day weekend in 1954, and more than 500 people were jammed into the HofBrau Hotel here to hear his band, the Comets, kick off the summer. 'We had just recorded this song in April,' he said, 'and that night we introduced it to the crowd. I guess that was the first real night of rock 'n' roll.' The song was 'Rock Around the Clock,' by Bill Haley and His Comets, considered by many to be the first rock-'n'-roll hit, and the first song with the word 'rock' in the title to hit the top of the Billboard charts." Chubby Checker introduced his version of "The Twist" at the Rainbow Club in Wildwood."Jersey Shore Town Where 'The Twist' Began Dedicates Mural to Chubby Checker", WCAU, September 8, 2015. Accessed May 14, 2022. "Music legend Chubby Checker was on hand for the unveiling of a 12-by-40-foot mural in Wildwood paying homage to "The Twist" singer, who first performed his iconic dance at a local club." On occasion, American Bandstand broadcast from the Wildwood's Starlight Ballroom. Murals in the community honor Checker, Bill Haley; and Bobby Rydell. Rydell's major hit, "Wildwood Days" in 1963, is about Wildwood.Wildwood: The Birthplace of Rock 'n Roll?, Visit New Jersey. Accessed May 14, 2022. ""

Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District

Wildwood is home to over 200 motels, built during the Doo-Wop era of the 1950s and 1960s,Staff. "The '50s and '60s Thrive In Retro Doo-Wop Motels", The Washington Post, June 24, 2007. Accessed June 27, 2017. in an area recognized by the state of New Jersey, known as the Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District. The term "doo-wop" was coined by Cape May's Mid-Atlantic Center For The Arts in the early 1990s to describe the unique, space-age architectural style, which is also referred to as the Googie or populuxe style.

The motels are unique in appearance, with Vegas-like neon signs and fantastic architecture.Fancher, Emily. "Doo Wop" architecture lures tourists back to seaside town , Columbia News Service, June 10, 2002. Accessed June 17, 2007. "Just about everything in Wildwood, N.J. has been touched by 'Doo Wop'. The term describes the distinctively kitschy flair of the town's 200 motels, which were built in the 1950s and '60s. Reflecting the popular cultural themes of the era, the motels have Hawaiian and Polynesian designs, Space Age accents or rock 'n' roll details." New construction in the area has seen the demolition of several motels to make room for larger condominiums. The Wildwood Doo Wop Preservation League has taken action to help save and restore these historic buildings. The Caribbean Motel in Wildwood Crest, and the Chateau Bleu Motel in North Wildwood are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Cape May, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Historic Preservation Office, updated September 18, 2019. Accessed October 28, 2019.

A 1950s Doo Wop museum includes property from demolished motels such as neon signs and furniture.Nitkin, Karen. "Wild at heart in The Wildwoods: Music lovers and thrill seekers will feel right at home in The Wildwoods of New Jersey", The Baltimore Sun, May 12, 2011. Accessed September 4, 2011. "Visit the Doo-Wop Experience Museum Opened in 2007, the museum has a bandshell for outdoor concerts and houses a collection of doo-wop era signs and memorabilia. There's no admission fee." Neo-Doo Wop buildings in the area feature a neon lit Wawa and a 1950s styled Acme Supermarket.Gilfillian, Trudi. " Doo-wop comes back to the Wildwoods; Annual celebration of the decade begins today", The Press of Atlantic City, October 17, 2013. Accessed February 25, 2014. "Businesses like Wawa and Acme have built stores locally using the doo-wop style, but she pointed to the hundreds of condominiums built in the 2000s that have little to do with the island's history."

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 1.65 square miles (4.28 km2), including 1.54 square miles (3.99 km2) of land and 0.11 square miles (0.29 km2) of water (6.79%).

The city is located on a barrier island facing the Atlantic Ocean. On the same island is the city of North Wildwood, borough of Wildwood Crest, and the unincorporated community of Diamond Beach, a place in Lower Township. Collectively with the town of West Wildwood (located on a separate, adjacent island), these communities form "The Wildwoods" resort. Wildwood also borders Middle Township.Areas touching Wildwood, MapIt. Accessed March 13, 2020.Cape May County , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 13, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Five Mile Beach.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Wildwood had a population of 5,157. The median age was 42.2 years. 21.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and older there were 98.9 males.

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

There were 2,285 households in Wildwood, of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 30.1% were married-couple households, 27.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 6,780 housing units, of which 66.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 15.0%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 3,165 61.4% Black or African American 393 7.6% American Indian and Alaska Native 29 0.6% Asian 52 1.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 922 17.9% Two or more races 596 11.6% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,628 31.6%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 5,325 people, 2,251 households, and 1,146 families in the city. The population density was . There were 6,843 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 68.04% (3,623) White, 11.15% (594) Black or African American, 0.73% (39) Native American, 0.79% (42) Asian, 0.13% (7) Pacific Islander, 16.24% (865) from other races, and 2.91% (155) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.21% (1,662) of the population.

Of the 2,251 households, 22.5% had children under the age of 18; 29.5% were married couples living together; 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 49.1% were non-families. Of all households, 40.7% were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.03.

20.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 105.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 104.8 males.