Cape May Inlet facts for kids

Cape May Inlet is a waterway located in southeastern Cape May County, New Jersey. It connects Cape May Harbor with the Atlantic Ocean. This important inlet was once known as Cold Spring Inlet.

Where is Cape May Inlet?

Cape May Inlet is about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) long. It acts as a natural connection between Cape May Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. The inlet also separates two beaches: Two Mile Beach to the northeast and Poverty Beach to the southwest.

This waterway is located about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) northeast of the City of Cape May. An important place, the United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, is found on the southwest side of Cape May Inlet.

How Did Cape May Inlet Get Its Name?

The inlet has appeared on maps for a very long time, even as early as 1700. In 1749, a map by Lewis Evans showed it as "Cold Spring."

The inlet was originally named after a nearby community called Cold Spring. This community had a spring that gave the inlet its name. Over time, the area around the City of Cape May grew a lot. The inlet became closely linked with the city.

People in the area started calling it "Cape May Inlet." To make the name official, the United States Board on Geographic Names approved "Cape May Inlet" on April 9, 1987.