West Wildwood, New Jersey
West Wildwood is a borough in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 603, reflecting an increase of 155 from the 448 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 5 from the 453 counted in the 1990 Census. The summer population grows to as much as 5,000.
West Wildwood was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 21, 1920, from portions of Middle Township.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.346 square miles, including 0.276 square miles of land and 0.070 square miles of water.The borough borders the Cape May County municipalities of Middle Township, North Wildwood City and Wildwood City.
Located on a small island connected to Wildwood by a two-lane bridge, the borough consists primarily vacation and year-round homes with a single night club, a miniature golf course and several marinas. Created using landfill to cover existing marshes in the 1920s, the borough is surrounding by bulkheads to protect it from flooding, though heavy winds and high tides can overtop the flood protection mechanisms.
Demographics
Census 2010
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $38,750 and the median family income was $57,981. Males had a median income of $36,607 versus $36,364 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,606. About 6.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 448 people, 202 households, and 117 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,698.0 people per square mile. There were 775 housing units at an average density of 1, 150.9/km2. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.76% White, 0.22% Asian, 2.23% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.79% of the population.There were 202 households, out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 18.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 32.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $33,393, and the median income for a family was $50,625. Males had a median income of $38,281 versus $21,190 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,839. About 3.2% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Portions of the borough—together with areas in North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest—are part of a joint Urban Enterprise Zone, one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. The four municipalities in The Wildwoods were selected in 2002 as one of a group of three zones added to participate in the program as part of a joint zone with. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate at eligible merchants. Established in November 2002, the borough's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in December 2023. The joint UEZ is overseen by the Enterprise Zone Development Corporation of the Wildwoods Board, which includes representatives from all four municipalities.Government
Local government
West Wildwood has been governed by a three-member commission under the Walsh Act form of New Jersey municipal government since 1964. The borough is one of 71 of 565 municipalities statewide that use this form of government. The commission is elected at-large in non-partisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis. At a reorganization meeting conducted after each election, the commission selects one of its members to serve as mayor and designates for each commissioner an assigned department to oversee., members of the West Wildwood Borough Board of Commissioners are
Mayor Christopher J. Fox,
Scott W. Golden,
Amy Korobellis, all serving terms of office ending December 31, 2020.
In June 2019, Cornelius J. Maxwell resigned from office, citing personal reasons. The meeting where Maxwell resigned was the first following the disclosure of ethics fines of nearly $25,000—the largest in state history by the board—that had been assessed by the Local Finance Board against Mayor Fox relating to his actions on behalf of Police Chief Jacqueline Ferentz. In November 2019, Amy Korbellis was elected to fill the vacant seat.
In the same May 2012 election in which the three incumbent commissioners were elected, the voters approved a ballot question shifting elections from May to November, extending the terms of the three elected commissioners by an additional six months, with the next municipal election taking place in November 2016.
Federal, state and county representation
West Wildwood is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 463 registered voters in West Wildwood Boro, of which 124 were registered as Democrats, 184 were registered as Republicans and 154 were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.6% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 48.1%, and other candidates with 0.3%, among the 323 ballots cast by the borough's 459 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.4%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 52.4% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 45.0%, with 338 ballots cast among the borough's 462 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 51.4% of the vote, outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received 47.1%, with 333 ballots cast among the borough's 422 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 78.9.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.4% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.3%, and other candidates with 1.3%, among the 236 ballots cast by the borough's 435 registered voters, for a turnout of 54.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 48.2% of the vote, ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 41.7% and Independent Chris Daggett with 4.9%, with 307 ballots cast among the borough's 493 registered voters, yielding a 62.3% turnout.
Education
Public school students from West Wildwood, a non-operating school district, attend the schools of the Wildwood Public School District for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade as part of a sending/receiving relationship. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising three schools, had a total enrollment of 909 students and 96.4 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 9.4:1. Schools in the district areGlenwood Elementary School,
Wildwood Middle School and
Wildwood High School. For ninth through twelfth grades, students from North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest attend Wildwood High School as part of sending/receiving relationships.
Students are also eligible to attend Cape May County Technical High School in Cape May Court House, which serves students from the entire county in its comprehensive and vocational programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.
Transportation
, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by Cape May County.County Route 614 runs through the borough to its northern tip.