Wildwood, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wildwood, New Jersey
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City
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Sunrise in Wildwood in August 2016
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Location of Wildwood 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 Wildwood, New Jersey
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 Wildwood, New Jersey
Location in Cape May County, New Jersey
Wildwood, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Wildwood, 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 | |
| Incorporated | May 1, 1895 (as borough) January 1, 1912 (as city) |
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| Government | ||
| • Type | Walsh Act | |
| • Body | Board of Commissioners | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1.65 sq mi (4.28 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.54 sq mi (3.99 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2) 6.79% | |
| Area rank | 434th of 565 in state 12th of 16 in county |
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| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,157 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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5,123 | |
| • Rank | 373rd of 565 in state 6th of 16 in county |
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| • Density | 3,346.5/sq mi (1,292.1/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 203rd of 565 in state 1st of 16 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08260
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| Area code(s) | 609 exchanges: 522, 523, 729, 846 | |
| FIPS code | 3481170 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885444 | |
Wildwood is a fun city located in Cape May County, New Jersey. It's a very popular place for vacations, especially during the summer. While about 5,157 people live there all year, the population can grow to 250,000 or more when tourists visit!
Wildwood is part of a group of island towns called The Wildwoods. These include North Wildwood, West Wildwood, Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest. The name "Wildwood" comes from the wild flowers that used to grow in the area. Wildwood was also the first city in New Jersey to have a female mayor, Doris W. Bradway.
Contents
- History of Wildwood
- Geography of Wildwood
- Wildwood Population Facts
- Economy and Tourism
- Wildwood Boardwalk Fun
- Sports in Wildwood
- Education in Wildwood
- Transportation in Wildwood
- Media and News
- Wildwood Climate and Weather
- Ecology and Nature
- Religion in Wildwood
- Culture and Recreation
- Notable People from Wildwood
- Images for kids
- See also
History of Wildwood
Wildwood officially became a borough on May 1, 1895. Later, on January 1, 1912, it became a city. This new city included both the old Wildwood borough and another place called Holly Beach City.
Wildwood started becoming a popular resort area in the late 1800s. A big building boom happened in the 1950s. This was partly because the Garden State Parkway highway was finished in 1955, making it easier for people to get there.
Did you know that the famous song "Rock Around the Clock" was first played in Wildwood? Bill Haley & His Comets performed it in 1954 at the HofBrau Hotel. Many people say this song was one of the first rock and roll hits. Because of this, Wildwood is sometimes called "the birthplace of rock and roll"!
Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District
Wildwood is famous for its unique motels. There are over 200 of them! They were built in the 1950s and 1960s. This special style is called "Doo-Wop" architecture. It's also known as "Googie" or "populuxe" style.
These motels look very cool and different. They often have bright neon signs and amazing designs. Some of these older motels have been torn down to build new buildings. But the Wildwood Doo Wop Preservation League is working hard to save and fix up these historic places. Two motels, the Caribbean Motel and the Chateau Bleu Motel, are even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
There's also a 1950s Doo Wop museum. It has items from motels that were torn down, like old neon signs and furniture. Even some newer buildings in the area, like a Wawa store and an Acme Supermarket, are built in a modern Doo-Wop style!
Geography of Wildwood
Wildwood is located on a barrier island. This means it's a long, narrow island that protects the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean. On the same island, you'll find North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and Diamond Beach. The town of West Wildwood is on a nearby island. Together, these towns are known as "The Wildwoods" resort area.
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West Wildwood Middle Township |
North Wildwood | Atlantic Ocean | |
| Lower Township |  |
Atlantic Ocean | ||
 Wildwood  |
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| Lower Township | Wildwood Crest Cape May |
Atlantic Ocean |
Wildwood Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 150 | — | |
| 1910 | 898 | 498.7% | |
| 1920 | 2,790 | 210.7% | |
| 1930 | 5,330 | 91.0% | |
| 1940 | 5,150 | −3.4% | |
| 1950 | 5,475 | 6.3% | |
| 1960 | 4,690 | −14.3% | |
| 1970 | 4,110 | −12.4% | |
| 1980 | 4,913 | 19.5% | |
| 1990 | 4,484 | −8.7% | |
| 2000 | 5,436 | 21.2% | |
| 2010 | 5,325 | −2.0% | |
| 2020 | 5,157 | −3.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 5,123 | −3.8% | |
| Population sources: 1900–2000 1900–1920 1900–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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In 2010, there were 5,325 people living in Wildwood. About 68% of the people were White, and 11% were Black or African American. About 31% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Economy and Tourism
Wildwood is part of a special area called an Urban Enterprise Zone. This zone helps businesses and encourages people to invest in the area. Shoppers can even get a reduced sales tax rate of 3.3125% (which is half the usual state rate) at certain stores.
Tourism in Wildwood
Wildwood is a very popular place for vacations. Many tourists come from nearby states like New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. Even visitors from Canada, especially Quebec, love to visit!
The city's year-round population of around 5,300 people can jump to 250,000 or more during the summer. Wildwood is famous for its wide beach and its 1.8-mile (2.9 km) boardwalk. The boardwalk is home to Morey's Piers amusement parks and two waterparks, Raging Waters and Ocean Oasis. You can even ride a trolley called the "Tramcar" along the boardwalk!
In 2006, Wildwood's unique Doo-Wop motels were listed as "Eleven Most Endangered" historic places. This shows how special they are. Every June, thousands of high school graduates come to Wildwood for "Senior Week" to celebrate.
Wildwood was named the best beach in New Jersey in 2008. It's one of the few towns in New Jersey that offers free public access to its ocean beaches, which are watched by lifeguards.
Wildwood also hosts the New Jersey Firefighter's Convention every September. It's known for a big parade with fire trucks from all over the state. The city also hosts an annual beach Ultimate Frisbee tournament, which brings in hundreds of teams and thousands of players.
Many French Canadian tourists from Quebec visit Wildwood in the summer. Some motels even have names like Chateau Bleu and Royal Canadian to welcome them. Many hotels in Wildwood have signs in both English and French. These tourists often visit in July during Canada's two-week construction holiday.
Wildwood Boardwalk Fun
The Wildwood Boardwalk is a lively place! It has several amusement parks, water parks, an aquarium, and many shops. The most famous part is Morey's Piers, which has three different piers.
Because the ocean is quite far from the boardwalk, the beach is huge! It's used for many sporting events, concerts, and even monster truck rallies. You can watch these events from the boardwalk. Wildwood's boardwalk is ranked as one of the top ten most popular boardwalks in the United States. There's also a stage on the boardwalk where many shows are held during the summer.
The Boardwalk Chapel is a Christian outreach group that holds evening services on the boardwalk during June, July, and August.
Sports in Wildwood
Wildwood hosts exciting Beach racing events every year, featuring motorcycles and hot rods.
Each June, the city is home to the National Marbles Tournament. This event has been happening since 1922 and takes place at Ringer Stadium.
The Wildwood Aces were a professional basketball team that played in Wildwood in 1985 and 1986. Their games were held at the Wildwood Convention Hall.
The Wildwood Convention Hall also hosts big high school wrestling tournaments. One is called the "ACWA War at the Shore" in April. Another is the "ACWA National Duals" for younger kids (grades K-6) in January or February.
Education in Wildwood
The Wildwood Public School District serves students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. The district has three schools:
- Glenwood Elementary School (Pre-K to 5th grade)
- Wildwood Middle School (6th to 8th grade)
- Wildwood High School (9th to 12th grade)
Students from North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest also attend Wildwood High School. Students from West Wildwood attend Wildwood schools for grades 9-12.
Students can also choose to go to Cape May County Technical High School. This school offers both regular and job-training programs for students from all over the county. For students with special needs, there's the Cape May County Special Services School District.
There is one Catholic school on the island, Wildwood Catholic Academy (PreK–12), located in North Wildwood. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.
Transportation in Wildwood
_between_Park_Boulevard_and_Hudson_Avenue_in_Wildwood,_Cape_May_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Wildwood has many roads for getting around. Route 47 (Rio Grande Avenue) starts in Wildwood and connects to the Garden State Parkway highway. County Route 621 (New Jersey Avenue) runs through the city and is part of Ocean Drive.
Parking in Wildwood's beach and downtown areas uses parking meters and paid parking lots. Meters are active from May 15 to October 31. There are also many private parking lots near the beach. You can even park on the beach itself with a four-wheel drive vehicle at Baker Avenue!
Public Transportation Options
NJ Transit offers bus services from Wildwood to big cities like Philadelphia and Atlantic City. There are also seasonal buses to Midtown Manhattan in New York City.
The Great American Trolley Company runs trolley services in Wildwood during the summer. These trolleys can take you to the boardwalk and other areas. There's even a trolley that goes to shopping centers in Rio Grande.
The Tramcar is a special train-like vehicle that runs along the entire Wildwoods boardwalk during the summer. It's a fun way to see the sights!
Media and News
Television and Radio
- WMGM-TV (channel 40) is a TV station licensed to Wildwood.
- WCMC (AM) (1230 AM) is a radio station in Wildwood that plays oldies music.
- WZXL (100.7 FM) is another radio station in Wildwood that plays classic rock music.
- Residents get cable TV and internet service from Comcast Cable's Xfinity.
Newspapers
You can read about Wildwood in several newspapers:
- The Press of Atlantic City has a special section for Cape May County.
- Cape May County Herald is a weekly newspaper with local news.
- The Star-Ledger and The Philadelphia Inquirer are larger newspapers that also have local sections for Cape May County.
Wildwood Climate and Weather
Wildwood has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has 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. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, with storms most likely between August and October. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy damaged parts of the Wildwood Boardwalk, but it has since been rebuilt.
In winter, it can get very cold and windy. The area usually gets about 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm) of snow each winter, with February often being the snowiest month.
| Climate data for Wildwood Beach, NJ (1981–2010 Averages) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 42.0 (5.6) |
43.7 (6.5) |
50.4 (10.2) |
59.6 (15.3) |
68.8 (20.4) |
78.0 (25.6) |
83.0 (28.3) |
81.7 (27.6) |
76.3 (24.6) |
66.2 (19.0) |
56.4 (13.6) |
46.8 (8.2) |
62.8 (17.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 34.9 (1.6) |
36.6 (2.6) |
43.0 (6.1) |
52.2 (11.2) |
61.3 (16.3) |
70.8 (21.6) |
76.0 (24.4) |
74.8 (23.8) |
68.8 (20.4) |
58.2 (14.6) |
48.7 (9.3) |
39.6 (4.2) |
55.5 (13.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 27.7 (−2.4) |
29.5 (−1.4) |
35.6 (2.0) |
44.7 (7.1) |
53.9 (12.2) |
63.7 (17.6) |
69.0 (20.6) |
67.9 (19.9) |
61.3 (16.3) |
50.2 (10.1) |
41.1 (5.1) |
32.3 (0.2) |
48.2 (9.0) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.36 (85) |
2.83 (72) |
4.17 (106) |
3.63 (92) |
3.59 (91) |
3.20 (81) |
3.80 (97) |
4.13 (105) |
3.32 (84) |
3.60 (91) |
3.26 (83) |
3.63 (92) |
42.52 (1,080) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 66.3 | 65.7 | 64.1 | 62.3 | 66.9 | 71.2 | 70.5 | 73.1 | 69.7 | 68.8 | 67.7 | 66.9 | 67.8 |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 24.8 (−4.0) |
26.2 (−3.2) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
39.7 (4.3) |
50.2 (10.1) |
61.0 (16.1) |
65.7 (18.7) |
65.6 (18.7) |
58.5 (14.7) |
48.0 (8.9) |
38.5 (3.6) |
29.5 (−1.4) |
45.0 (7.2) |
| Source: PRISM | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for North Cape May, NJ Ocean Water Temperature (8 W Wildwood) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 37 (3) |
37 (3) |
42 (6) |
50 (10) |
59 (15) |
68 (20) |
76 (24) |
77 (25) |
73 (23) |
72 (22) |
52 (11) |
42 (6) |
56 (13) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Ecology and Nature
Wildwood's natural plant life would mostly be Cordgrass and Coastal Prairie.
Religion in Wildwood
Notre Dame de la Mer Catholic Parish has its main church in Wildwood. It used to be called St. Ann's Church.
Culture and Recreation
Every June, the Barefoot Country Music Festival takes place on Wildwood Beach. Many famous country music stars like Blake Shelton and Eric Church have performed there.
Notable People from Wildwood
Many interesting people have connections to Wildwood:
- Joseph R. Applegate (1925–2003) was a language expert and the first Black faculty member at MIT.
- J. Thompson Baker (1847–1919) was the first mayor of the city of Wildwood.
- Randy Beverly (born 1944) played professional football for the New York Jets.
- Edwin Corle (1906–1956) was a well-known author.
- Ace Darling (born 1975) was a professional wrestler.
- Remy Hamilton (born 1974) played in the Arena Football League.
- Joy Bright Hancock (1898–1986) was one of the first female U.S. Navy officers.
- Wes Hills (born 1995) is an American football running back who played in the NFL.
- Betty Jackson King (1928–1994) was a talented pianist, singer, and composer.
- Sue Lowden (born 1952) was a state senator and was crowned Miss New Jersey in 1973.
- Joey Maggs (1969–2006) was a professional wrestler.
- Guy F. Muziani (1925–1988) was a politician and served as mayor of Wildwood for 11 years.
- Bernie Parent (born 1945) was a famous goalie for the Philadelphia Flyers, winning two Stanley Cups.
- Mickey Shaughnessy (1920–1985) was an actor.
- George Sheldon (1947–2018) was a politician who served in the Florida House of Representatives.
Images for kids
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Sunrise in Wildwood in August 2016
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Wildwood Logo
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Location of Wildwood 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 Wildwood, New Jersey
See also
In Spanish: Wildwood (Nueva Jersey) para niños
