Sea Isle City, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sea Isle City, New Jersey
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City
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Fish Alley and Fire Department
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Location of Sea Isle City in Cape May County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Cape May County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
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Census Bureau map of Sea Isle City, New Jersey
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 Sea Isle City, New Jersey
Location in Cape May County, New Jersey
Sea Isle City, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Sea Isle City, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County |  Cape May |
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| Incorporated | May 22, 1882 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (mayor–council) | |
| • Body | City Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.75 sq mi (7.13 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.20 sq mi (5.71 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.55 sq mi (1.42 km2) 19.93% | |
| Area rank | 361st of 565 in state 9th of 16 in county |
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| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,104 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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2,122 | |
| • Rank | 483rd of 565 in state 11th of 16 in county |
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| • Density | 954.5/sq mi (368.5/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 390th of 565 in state 8th of 16 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08243
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| Area code(s) | 609 exchanges: 263, 427, 861 | |
| FIPS code | 3400966390 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885389 | |
Sea Isle City is a fun city located in Cape May County, in the state of New Jersey. It's part of the South Jersey region. The city is also near the Philadelphia area, which is a big group of cities and towns.
In 2020, about 2,104 people lived in Sea Isle City all year round. But during the summer, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the population can grow to as many as 40,000 visitors! Sea Isle City is on Ludlam Island, which also includes the town of Strathmere.
Sea Isle City officially became a borough on May 22, 1882. Later, on April 30, 1907, it was reincorporated as the City of Sea Isle City. Its name comes from its beautiful location right on the Atlantic Ocean.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Sea Isle City's History
Sea Isle City was started in 1882 by a person named Charles K. Landis. He also founded another New Jersey town called Vineland, New Jersey. The main street in Sea Isle City, Landis Avenue, is named after him.
The oldest building in Sea Isle City is The Colonnade Inn. It's a Victorian style building from the 1800s.
From 1885 to 1924, Sea Isle City had a lighthouse called Ludlam's Beach Lighthouse. It was later moved and became a private home. Sadly, it was taken down in 2010 to make room for new houses.
Did you know a ship was named after this city? The oil tanker MV Sea Isle City was renamed in 1987. It was hit by a missile in 1987, which damaged the ship and injured some crew members.
Coastal Storms and Their Impact
Sea Isle City has faced many strong storms and hurricanes. Some of the biggest natural disasters happened in the 1890s, 1920s, and the 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane.
The Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962 was one of the worst. It was a major Nor'easter that brought three days of non-stop rain in March 1962. Many people had to leave their homes to stay safe. When they came back, their homes were damaged or destroyed. Helicopters were even used to rescue people when the main road out of town flooded. This storm was so big it was called a "100-year storm."
After the storm, people worked hard to rebuild. A good thing that came from the storm was the creation of a "dune line." This natural barrier caused beachfront buildings to move back from the ocean, helping to protect them.
Fun Times and Tourism in Sea Isle City
Sea Isle City has always been a popular spot for summer visitors. In 2002, the town's water tower changed its message to "Smile! You're in Sea Isle City."
One of the city's yearly events is the "Sara the Turtle Festival." It celebrates a made-up turtle named Sara. This festival is great for families with young kids. It has live animal shows and face painting to teach children about the local environment.
Every February, the city hosts a Polar bear plunge. Many people dress up in costumes and jump into the cold ocean!
In the past, Sea Isle City had an amusement park called Fun City, which closed in 1999. Later, a new park called Gillian's Funland opened in 2009. However, it closed permanently after the 2013 summer season, partly due to damage from Hurricane Sandy.
In 2011, Sea Isle City started a big project to improve the area from the bay to the ocean. This included building a new boathouse, a playground, basketball courts, and a pavilion at Excursion Park. Sea Isle City also became one of the first towns in New Jersey to use LED streetlights powered by wind and solar energy.
Exploring Sea Isle City's Geography
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Sea Isle City covers about 2.75 square miles (7.13 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 0.55 square miles (1.42 square kilometers) is water.
It's a beach town where many homes are used for vacations. It has a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) long beachfront promenade, which is a walkway along the beach. This promenade starts at 29th Street and goes to 57th Street. In the center of town, you'll find arcades, shops, restaurants, and bars. The main area of the town is around John F. Kennedy Boulevard (41st Street).
Sea Isle City shares Ludlam Island with Strathmere, which is part of Upper Township. So, it's not a completely separate island.
Some smaller areas within Sea Isle City include Ludlam Beach and Townsends Inlet.
Sea Isle City is next to Avalon Borough, Dennis Township, Middle Township, and Upper Township. It also borders the Atlantic Ocean.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 776 | — | |
| 1900 | 340 | −56.2% | |
| 1910 | 551 | 62.1% | |
| 1920 | 564 | 2.4% | |
| 1930 | 850 | 50.7% | |
| 1940 | 773 | −9.1% | |
| 1950 | 993 | 28.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,393 | 40.3% | |
| 1970 | 1,712 | 22.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,644 | 54.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,692 | 1.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,835 | 5.3% | |
| 2010 | 2,114 | −25.4% | |
| 2020 | 2,104 | −0.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 2,122 | 0.4% | |
| Population sources: 1890–2000 1890–1920 1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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In 2010, there were 2,114 people living in Sea Isle City. The population has changed over the years, with more people visiting in the summer than living there year-round.
Learning in Sea Isle City: Education
For many years, Sea Isle City had its own school. However, because fewer students were attending and for budget reasons, the Sea Isle City School District stopped running its own schools in 2012.
Now, all public school students from Sea Isle City, from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade, attend schools in the Ocean City School District. This district has three schools:
- Ocean City Primary School (PreK-3)
- Ocean City Intermediate School (grades 4-8)
- Ocean City High School (grades 9-12)
Students can also choose to go to Cape May County Technical High School. This school offers both regular and special job-training programs for students from all over the county.
There is also a Catholic school called Bishop McHugh Regional School, which serves students from kindergarten to 8th grade. It's located nearby in Dennis Township.
The Cape May County Library has a branch right in Sea Isle City, which is a great place to find books and learn!
Getting Around: Transportation in Sea Isle City
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Sea Isle City has about 33 miles (53 kilometers) of roads. Most of these are maintained by the city itself.
You can get to Sea Isle City from Exit 17 on the southbound Garden State Parkway. This exit leads to Sea Isle Boulevard, which becomes JFK Boulevard. Landis Boulevard is another important road that runs along the ocean. It's part of Ocean Drive and goes through the city for about 5 miles (8 km).
Turtle Safety on the Roads
Sea Isle City cares a lot about turtles! There are many signs reminding drivers to watch out for turtles crossing the roads. This helps protect species like the diamondback terrapin. Because of building near the coast, turtles sometimes nest on road edges, which puts them at risk from cars.
Public Transport Options
NJ Transit offers bus routes that connect Sea Isle City to other places. The 315 bus goes to Philadelphia, and the 319 bus goes to Midtown Manhattan in New York City.
Sea Isle City also used to have a special trolley service along Landis Avenue. Since 2013, Atlantic City Jitney buses have provided service along Landis Avenue during the summer months.
In the past, trains also served the island. There were two different train lines that brought people to Sea Isle City from the early 1900s until the mid-1930s. The train tracks were removed and replaced with paved streets as more people started using cars.
Weather and Environment in Sea Isle City
Sea Isle City has a climate with hot, somewhat humid summers and cool winters. It rains throughout the year. In summer, a cool ocean breeze often blows, but sometimes it can get very hot and humid. In winter, it can get very cold and windy.
The average snowfall from November to April is about 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm). February is usually the snowiest month.
Local Wildlife and Nature
The natural plant life in Sea Isle City would mostly be Northern Cordgrass and Coastal Prairie. This means you'd find many types of grasses and plants that grow well near the ocean.
Famous Faces from Sea Isle City
Many interesting people have connections to Sea Isle City, including:
- Angelo Cataldi (born 1951), a sports radio host from Philadelphia.
- Jeff Carter (born 1985), a professional hockey player.
- Steve Corino (born 1973), a professional wrestler.
- Alexis Dziena (born 1984), an actress.
- Joe Flacco (born 1985), a quarterback in American football.
- Jason Kelce, a Super Bowl champion football player for the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Charles K. Landis (1833–1900), the person who founded Sea Isle City.
- Josh Mathews (born 1980), a sports commentator.
- John Stevens (born 1966), a former hockey player and coach.
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See also
In Spanish: Sea Isle City (Nueva Jersey) para niños
