West Wildwood, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.346 square miles (0.894 km²), including 0.276 square miles (0.714 km²) of land and 0.070 square miles (0.181 km²) of water (20.21%).

The borough borders North Wildwood City, Wildwood City, and Middle Township.

Located on a small island connected to Wildwood by a two-lane bridge, the borough is mostly vacation and year-round homes with a single night club, a miniature golf course and several marinas.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 603 people, 276 households, and 160.1 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,188.4 per square mile (844.9/km²). The borough contained 893 housing units at an average density of 3,240.9 per square mile (1,251.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.36% (575) White, 1.49% (9) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.00% (0) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.66% (4) from other races, and 2.49% (15) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.65% (16) of the population.

Out of a total of 276 households, 14.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.0% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the borough, 17.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 16.3% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 27.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52.8 years. For every 100 females the census counted 97.1 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 99.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $38,750 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,914) and the median family income was $57,981 (+/- $16,263). Males had a median income of $36,607 (+/- $10,003) versus $36,364 (+/- $10,046) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,606 (+/- $4,119). 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 (665.3/km²). There were 775 housing units at an average density of 1, 150.9/km² (2,937.4/sq mi). 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 West Wildwood are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone in The Wildwoods that was established by legislation in 2002 and operates as a joint zone with North Wildwood, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest. In addition to other benefits to encourage employment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3½% sales tax rate at eligible merchants (versus the 7% rate charged statewide).

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 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 and operate.

As of 2016, members of the West Wildwood Borough Board of Commissioners are Mayor Chrisopher J. Fox (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety), Scott W. Golden (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property) and Cornelius J. Maxwell (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance), all serving terms of office ending in November 2016.

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.

New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 1st Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jeff Van Drew (D, Dennis Township) and in the General Assembly by Bob Andrzejczak (D, Middle Township) and R. Bruce Land (D, Vineland). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Cape May County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year; At an annual reorganization held each January, the freeholders select one member to serve as Director and another to serve as Vice-Director. As of 2015, Cape May County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton (Middle Township, term ends December 31, 2016), Freeholder Vice-Director Leonard C. Desiderio (Sea Isle City, 2015), Kristine Gabor (Upper Township, 2017), E. Marie Hayes (Ocean City, 2016), and Will Morey (Wildwood Crest, 2017). The county's constitutional officers are Sheriff Gary Schafer (Middle Township, 2017), Surrogate M. Susan Sheppard (Ocean City, 2017), and County Clerk Rita Fulginiti (Ocean City, 2015).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 463 registered voters in West Wildwood Boro, of which 124 (26.8%) were registered as Democrats, 184 (39.7%) were registered as Republicans and 154 (33.3%) 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 (165 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 48.1% (154 votes), and other candidates with 0.3% (1 vote), among the 323 ballots cast by the borough's 459 registered voters (3 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 70.4%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 52.4% of the vote (177 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 45.0% (152 votes), 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 (171 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received 47.1% (157 votes), 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 (175 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.3% (54 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (3 votes), among the 236 ballots cast by the borough's 435 registered voters (4 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 54.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 48.2% of the vote (148 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 41.7% (128 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 4.9% (15 votes), with 307 ballots cast among the borough's 493 registered voters, yielding a 62.3% turnout.

Education

West Wildwood is a non-operating school district. Public school students in West Wildwood attend school in Wildwood as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Wildwood Public School District, which serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Glenwood Elementary School (PreK-5; 413 students), Wildwood Middle School (6-8; 115 students) and Wildwood High School (9-12; 268 students).

Transportation

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 5.59 miles (9.00 km) of roadways, of which 4.79 miles (7.71 km) were maintained by the municipality and 0.80 miles (1.29 km) by Cape May County.

County Route 614 (Glenwood Avenue) runs through the borough to its northern tip.