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Goshen, New Jersey
Sign stating the community's name
Sign stating the community's name
Goshen, New Jersey is located in Cape May County, New Jersey
Goshen, New Jersey
Goshen, New Jersey
Location in Cape May County, New Jersey
Goshen, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
Goshen, New Jersey
Goshen, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Goshen, New Jersey is located in the United States
Goshen, New Jersey
Goshen, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Cape May
Township Middle
Area
 • Total 1.75 sq mi (4.53 km2)
 • Land 1.75 sq mi (4.52 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 400
 • Density 229.10/sq mi (88.47/km2)
ZIP Code
08210
FIPS code 34-27030
GNIS feature ID 0876685

Goshen is a small community in Middle Township. It is located in Cape May County, in the state of New Jersey. It is also known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's an area defined by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistics.

Route 47, also called Delsea Drive, goes right through the middle of Goshen.

History of Goshen

Goshen School, Cape May Co NJ from NW
The historic Goshen School building.
GOshenFireSTation0
The Goshen Fire Station.

Goshen was first settled by Aaron Leaming in 1693. He started raising cattle here. By 1710, a small community had formed.

The first businesses in Goshen included a king crab mill and a factory that canned food. Shipbuilding and cutting down trees for lumber were also important industries. A post office opened in 1818, with Richard Thompson Jr. as the first postmaster.

Shipbuilding in Goshen

The Garrison shipyard on Goshen Creek was a busy place. It could build two ships at the same time. These ships were launched sideways into the water. From 1859 to 1898, twenty-five large ships were built here, along with many smaller boats.

Around 1900, the shipbuilding industry in Cape May County stopped. The last ship built in Goshen was named the Diamond in 1898. Even today, you can still see the old dock remains at the end of Goshen Landing Road when the tide is low. This is because the salty water helped preserve them.

The Historic Tavern House

The Tavern House, built around 1725, is one of the oldest homes in Cape May County. It stands at the corner of Route 47 and Goshen Landing Road. Over the years, this building has been many things. It was a tavern, a hotel, a dentist's office, and a home.

Even though it has changed a lot, you can still see parts of the original building. Strong wooden logs still support the house. Wooden pegs hold the roof beams together.

Population and Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census in 2020, Goshen had a population of 400 people.

Historical population
Census Pop.
2020 400
U.S. Decennial Census
2020

Education for Students

Students living in Goshen attend schools run by the Middle Township Public Schools district. This district includes Middle Township High School.

There are also county-wide schools available. These include Cape May County Technical High School and the Cape May County Special Services School District.

Notable People from Goshen

See also (related category): People from Middle Township, New Jersey

Here is a person who was born in or closely connected to Goshen:

  • Andrew J. Tomlin (1845-1906): He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his brave actions during the Civil War.

Local Wineries

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