Wildwood, New Jersey

Wildwood, New Jersey
City
City of Wildwood

Sign at the boardwalk

Map of Wildwood in Cape May County. Inset: Location of Cape May County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.

Census Bureau map of Wildwood, New Jersey
Coordinates: 38°59′20″N 74°49′11″W / 38.988914°N 74.819824°W / 38.988914; -74.819824Coordinates: 38°59′20″N 74°49′11″W / 38.988914°N 74.819824°W / 38.988914; -74.819824[1][2]
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Cape May
Incorporated May 1, 1895 (as borough)
January 1, 1912 (as city)
Government[3]
  Type Walsh Act
  Body Board of Commissioners
  Mayor Ernest "Ernie" Troiano (term ends December 31, 2015)[4]
  Clerk Christopher H. Wood[5]
Area[1]
  Total 1.394 sq mi (3.613 km2)
  Land 1.304 sq mi (3.379 km2)
  Water 0.090 sq mi (0.234 km2)  6.49%
Area rank 461st of 566 in state
12th of 16 in county[1]
Elevation[6] 0 ft (0 m)
Population (2010 Census)[7][8][9]
  Total 5,325
  Estimate (2014)[10] 5,185
  Rank 367th of 566 in state
6th of 16 in county[11]
  Density 4,082.0/sq mi (1,576.1/km2)
  Density rank 151st of 566 in state
1st of 16 in county[11]
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4)
ZIP code 08260[12][13]
Area code(s) 609 exchanges: 522, 523, 729, 846[14]
FIPS code 3400981170[1][15][16]
GNIS feature ID 0885444[1][17]
Website www.wildwoodnj.org

Wildwood is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area and is a popular summer resort destination. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's year-round population was 5,325,[7][8][9] reflecting a decline of 111 (-2.0%) from the 5,436 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 952 (+21.2%) from the 4,484 counted in the 1990 Census.[18] With visitors, the population can swell to 250,000 during the summer months.[19]

The Wildwoods is used as a collective term for the four communities that have "Wildwood" as part of the municipality name — the Borough of Wildwood Crest, City of Wildwood, Borough of West Wildwood and the City of North Wildwood — together with Diamond Beach, a portion of Lower Township situated on the island.[20] The city, and the surrounding communities that share the name, derives its name from the wild flowers found in the area.[21]

History

Wildwood was originally incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 1, 1895, from portions of Middle Township, based on the results of a referendum held the previous day. On January 1, 1912, Wildwood was incorporated as a city, replacing both Wildwood borough and Holly Beach City.[22]

The Wildwoods began developing as a resort in the last decade of the 19th century. A building boom began in the 1950s, due partially to the construction and completion of the Garden State Parkway in 1955.[23][24]

"Rock Around the Clock", often credited as the first rock and roll record, was first performed on Memorial Day weekend in 1954 at the HofBrau Hotel in Wildwood by Bill Haley & His Comets. The song's status as one of the first rock and roll hits has given rise to the city's claim as "the birthplace of rock and roll".[25][26]

Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District

Wildwood is home to over 200 motels, built during the Doo-Wop era of the 1950s and 1960s,[27] in an area recognized by the state of New Jersey, known as the Wildwoods Shore Resort Historic District.[28] The term "doo-wop" was coined by Cape May's Mid-Atlantic Center For The Arts in the early 1990s to describe the unique, space-age architectural style, which is also referred to as the Googie or populuxe style.[29]

The motels are unique in appearance, with Vegas-like neon signs and fantastic architecture.[30] New construction in the area has seen the demolition of several motels to make room for larger condominiums. The Wildwood Doo Wop Preservation League has taken action to help save and restore these historic buildings. The Caribbean Motel in Wildwood Crest, and the Chateau Bleu Motel in North Wildwoods are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A 1950s Doo Wop museum includes property from demolished motels such as neon signs and furniture.[31] Neo-Doo Wop buildings in the area feature a neon lit Wawa and a 1950s styled Acme Supermarket.[32]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 1.394 square miles (3.613 km2), including 1.304 square miles (3.379 km2) of land and 0.090 square miles (0.234 km2) of water (6.49%).[1][2]

The city is located on a barrier island facing the Atlantic Ocean. On the same island are the towns of North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and Diamond Beach, a place in Lower Township. Collectively with the town of West Wildwood (located on a separate, adjacent island), these communities form "The Wildwoods" resort. Wildwood also borders Middle Township.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Five Mile Beach.[33]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900150
1910898498.7%
19202,790210.7%
19305,33091.0%
19405,150−3.4%
19505,4756.3%
19604,690−14.3%
19704,110−12.4%
19804,91319.5%
19904,484−8.7%
20005,43621.2%
20105,325−2.0%
Est. 20145,185[10][34]−2.6%
Population sources:
1900-2000[35] 1900-1920[36]
1900-1910[37] 1910-1930[38]
1930-1990[39] 2000[40][41] 2010[7][8][9]

Census 2010

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,325 people, 2,251 households, and 1,146 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,082.0 per square mile (1,576.1/km2). There were 6,843 housing units at an average density of 5,245.7 per square mile (2,025.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 68.04% (3,623) White, 11.15% (594) Black or African American, 0.73% (39) Native American, 0.79% (42) Asian, 0.13% (7) Pacific Islander, 16.24% (865) from other races, and 2.91% (155) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 31.21% (1,662) of the population.[7]

There were 2,251 households, of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.5% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.1% were non-families. 40.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.03.[7]

In the city, 20.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.0 years. For every 100 females there were 105.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.8 males.[7]

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $32,783 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,471) and the median family income was $45,125 (+/- $24,251). Males had a median income of $24,416 (+/- $1,945) versus $26,043 (+/- $7,007) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,118 (+/- $3,877). About 16.2% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.[42]

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census[15] there were 5,436 people, 2,333 households, and 1,273 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,212.6 people per square mile (1,627.0/km2). There were 6,488 housing units at an average density of 5,027.9 per square mile (1,941.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 70.55% White, 16.65% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 8.85% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.62% of the population.[40][41]

Among Wildwood's Hispanic community in 2000, 69.7% were from Puerto Rico, while an additional 17.0% were from Mexico.[43]

There were 2,333 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.2% were married couples living together, 17.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.4% were non-families. 38.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 3.06.[40][41]

In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.[40][41]

The median income for a household in the city was $23,981, and the median income for a family was $28,288. Males had a median income of $30,787 versus $23,320 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,682. About 20.2% of families and 26.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.7% of those under age 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.[40][41]

Economy

Commerce

An iconic sign lights up a liquor store in Wildwood, which has more than 60 active liquor licenses

Portions of Wildwood are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone in The Wildwoods.[44] 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).[45]

Wildwood has an unusually large number of liquor licenses for its population. State law normally provides for one consumption license (i.e., for a bar, restaurant) for every 3,000 residents, and one distribution license (i.e., for a liquor store) for every 7500 residents.[46] Because of a state law allowing a municipality to grandfather in liquor licenses that existed before 1948,[47] Wildwood has a permanent population of 5,300, but has 61 active liquor licenses.[48]

Tourism

Wildwood beach north of Mariner's Landing amusement pier

Wildwood is a resort city that is very popular with vacationers and tourists mostly from New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and even nearby parts of Canada (particularly Quebec) during the summer months. Its most notable features are its beach and 1.8 miles (2.9 km) boardwalk, home to the Morey's Piers amusement complex and Raging Waters and Ocean Oasis waterparks owned by Morey's Piers. The boardwalk features a trolley called the "Tramcar", which runs from end to end. In June 2006, its Doo-Wop-style motels were placed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual Eleven Most Endangered List,[49] described as "irreplaceable icons of popular culture."[50][51] In June, recently graduated high school seniors come to Wildwood for Senior Week.[52]

Wildwood was ranked the best beach in New Jersey in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.[53] Wildwood is one of five municipalities in the state that offer free public access to oceanfront beaches monitored by lifeguards, joining Atlantic City, North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and Upper Township's Strathmere section.[54][55][56]

Wildwood is home to the New Jersey Firefighter's Convention, held annually every September since the 1970s. Known for its parade featuring fire company apparatus from across the state, it moved from Atlantic City due in part to rising crime and the disallowing of the parade on city streets. Wildwood is also home to an annual co-ed beach Ultimate Frisbee tournament drawing teams from all over the country that attracted 430 teams and over 5,000 players to its 19th annual event in 2011.[57]

The year-round population of Wildwood of over 5,300 grows to as many as 250,000 or more during the peak tourist season during the summer.[58] French Canadian tourists visit Wildwood during the summer.[59]

Boardwalk

The Wildwood Boardwalk features several amusement parks and shops, most notably three piers collectively known as Morey's Piers. Due to the distance of the ocean from the boardwalk, the beach is home to many sporting events, concerts, and monster truck rallies in view of the boardwalk. A stage is set off to the side of the boardwalk near Mariner's Landing Pier where several performances are held throughout the summer.

In 2008-09, a section of the boardwalk was rebuilt using ipe tropical hardwood, even though the town had made a commitment to use domestic black locust as a more environmentally friendly option. The black locust wood shipped by the supplier was deemed unacceptable and the commissioners decided to use ipe wood to ensure that the project could be completed in time for the upcoming season.[60]

Boardwalk Chapel is a summertime Christian Gospel outreach on the boardwalk, sandwiched between a pizzeria and a gift shop. Its wide entrance offers thousands of board walkers the opportunity to move freely in and out of any one of its 77 consecutive evening services held during June, July and August.[61]

Local government

Wildwood is governed by a three-member commission under the Walsh Act Commission form of municipal government. All three commissioners are elected at-large on a nonpartisan basis to serve concurrent four-year terms of office, with the vote taking place as part of the November general election. At a reorganization conducted after each election, the commission selects one of its members to serve as mayor and gives each commissioner an assigned department to oversee and operate.[3] As part of the May 2009 election, voters approved a ballot question that shifted elections from May to November. The first election under the new cycle was held in November 2013, with prospective savings of $25,000 each election cited as the primary justification for the change.[62]

As of 2015, members of Wildwood's commission are Mayor Ernie Troiano, Jr. (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property), Pete Byron (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance) and Anthony Leonetti (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety), all serving terms of office ending December 31, 2015.[63][64]

History of recall elections

Since the City of Wildwood has been incorporated on January 1, 1912, there have been three recall elections all of which were successful. The first was in 1938 when the State's first female Mayor Doris W. Bradway and Commissioner Frederick W. Murray were voted out of office.[65] The second successful recall was in December 1984 when Mayor Earl B. Ostrander was recalled.[66] The third successful recall was in December 2009 when Mayor Ernest Troiano, Jr. and Commissioner William N. Davenport were recalled.[67]

Federal, state and county representation

Wildwood City is located in the 2nd Congressional District[68] and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.[8][69][70]

New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City).[71] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021)[72] and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).[73][74]

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).[75] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township).[76] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[77]

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.[78] As of 2015, Cape May County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton (Middle Township, term ends December 31, 2016),[79] Freeholder Vice-Director Leonard C. Desiderio (Sea Isle City, 2015),[80] Kristine Gabor (Upper Township, 2017)[81], E. Marie Hayes (Ocean City, 2016),[82] and Will Morey (Wildwood Crest, 2017).[83] The county's constitutional officers are Sheriff Gary Schafer (Middle Township, 2017),[84] Surrogate M. Susan Sheppard (Ocean City, 2017),[85] and County Clerk Rita Fulginiti (Ocean City, 2015).[86]

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 2,791 registered voters in Wildwood City, of which 611 (21.9%) were registered as Democrats, 732 (26.2%) were registered as Republicans and 1,448 (51.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[87]

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 61.3% of the vote (991 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 38.2% (617 votes), and other candidates with 0.6% (9 votes), among the 1,635 ballots cast by the city's 2,979 registered voters (18 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 54.9%.[88][89] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 54.4% of the vote (964 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received 44.2% (783 votes), with 1,772 ballots cast among the city's 2,583 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.6%.[90] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 52.6% of the vote (949 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 45.8% (825 votes), with 1,803 ballots cast among the city's 3,161 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 57.0.[91]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.1% of the vote (622 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 32.6% (307 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (12 votes), among the 976 ballots cast by the city's 2,828 registered voters (35 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 34.5%.[92][93] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 50.8% of the vote (540 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 41.7% (444 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 4.5% (48 votes), with 1,064 ballots cast among the city's 2,908 registered voters, yielding a 36.6% turnout.[94]

Education

The Wildwood Public School District serves students in pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's three schools had an enrollment of 796 students and 99.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.04:1.[95] Schools in the district (with 2010-11 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[96]) are Glenwood Elementary School[97] (PreK-5; 413 students), Wildwood Middle School[98] (6-8; 115 students) and Wildwood High School[99] (9-12; 268 students).[100]

Public school students from West Wildwood attend the district's schools as part of a sending/receiving relationship for grades K-12. For ninth through twelfth grades, students from North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest attend Wildwood High School as part of sending/receiving relationships.[101]

There are two Catholic schools on the island, Cape Trinity Catholic and Wildwood Catholic High School in North Wildwood, which operate separately but have shared a common building since September 2010.[102] Both schools operate under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.[103]

Transportation

Roads and highways

The city had a total of 32.38 miles (52.11 km) of roadways, of which 29.93 miles (48.17 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.37 miles (3.81 km) by Cape May County and 0.08 miles (0.13 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[104]

Route 47 (Rio Grande Avenue) has its southern terminus in Wildwood and continues into Lower Township via the George Reading Wildwood Bridge, which provides access to the Garden State Parkway.[105] County Route 621 (New Jersey Avenue) runs for 1.3 miles (2.1 km) through the borough, from Wildwood Crest to the south to North Wildwood in the north.[106]

Public transportation

New Jersey Transit provides bus service to Philadelphia on the 313 and 315 routes and to Atlantic City on the 552 route, with seasonal service to Philadelphia on the 316 route and to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 319 route.[107][108]

Other

At Wildwood, there is the Loran Support Unit with a 192 metres tall radio mast, used for experimental transmissions.

Media outlets

Television and radio stations

Newspapers

The City of Wildwood is served by local and distance newspapers with local editions. They are:

In popular culture

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Wildwood include:

References

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  4. 2015 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, as of October 20, 2015. Accessed January 12, 2015. As of date accessed, an incorrect term-end date of May 20, 2019, is shown, which does not reflect the shift of municipal elections from May to November.
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  50. Staff. "Doo Wop sings the blues; They twisted and shouted, and rocked around the clock in the southern tip of New Jersey before they did it anywhere else. And, once the sun slips below the horizon, there's enough neon to set your eyes ablaze if you stare at it too long.", Montreal Gazette, October 21, 2006. Accessed November 11, 2013.
  51. "11 Most Endangered Historic Places: Doo Wop Motels", National Trust for Historic Preservation. Accessed March 14, 2015. "Families have been vacationing at the Jersey Shore for more than a century and the Wildwood Doo Wop motels have been a popular beach destination since their construction from 1956 to 1970."
  52. Via Associated Press. "Wildwood to remain tough on rowdy visitors", Reading Eagle, May 25, 1986. Accessed March 14, 2015.
  53. Urgo, Jacqueline L. "Triumph for South Jersey", The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 23, 2008. Accessed October 29, 2015. "Neighboring Wildwood Crest came in second, followed by Ocean City, North Wildwood, Cape May, Asbury Park in Monmouth County, Avalon, Point Pleasant Beach in northern Ocean County, Beach Haven in southern Ocean County and Stone Harbor."
  54. Spoto, MaryAnn. "Surfers fighting to save dwindling free beaches", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 20, 2015. Accessed October 30, 2015. "New Jersey has five free guarded ocean beaches – Atlantic City, Wildwood, North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and the Strathmere section of Upper Township."
  55. DeCastro, Allie. THE ULTIMATE NEW JERSEY BEACH GUIDE – SUMMER 2015, REMAX NJ. Accessed August 25, 2015.
  56. The Beach, New Jersey Wildwoods. Accessed August 25, 2015. "The Wildwoods' free beaches offer plenty of room for a variety of summertime activities — everything from surfing to boogie-boarding to body surfing to tossing a Frisbee to reading in the shade."
  57. Suit, Lauren. "Wildwood Ultimate returns for 19th beach tournament", Shore News Today, July 28, 2011. Accessed September 4, 2011. "Adlis said they started with 12 teams the first year, last year the count reached 400, this year they expect about 430 teams with approximately 5,000 participants from throughout the country and a few international teams."
  58. "About Wildwood". City of Wildwood. Accessed February 4, 2014. "During the off season Wildwood has a population over 5,400 according to the 2000 census, but the number of people visiting increases that number to approximately 250,000 or more during peak vacation time."
  59. Di Ionni, Mark. "Canadian tourists continue to flock to Wildwoods as vacation destination". The Star-Ledger. August 3, 2010. Accessed August 14, 2013.
  60. Suit, Lauren. "Wildwood Opts for Ipe Wood Over Black Locust in Boardwalk Construction", Cape May County Herald, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 11, 2013. "With a looming Easter weekend in 2009 deadline and a gaping hole in the Wildwood’s famous walk, Mayor Ernie Troiano, Jr. and Commissioner Bill Davenport voted Dec. 17 to use ipe tropical hardwood to replace portions of the city’s aging pine wood boardwalk. Commissioner Gary DeMarzo abstained from voting on the resolution. The decision to switch lumber came after the city was sent 'an absolutely deplorable' shipment of black locust lumber, according to Troiano."
  61. Vandiver, John. "Chapel competes with other lures", Asbury Park Press, July 8, 2006. Accessed September 4, 2011.
  62. Suit, Lauren. "Updated: Wildwood voters pick Troiano, Byron and Leonetti for Commission", Shore News Today, May 10, 2011. Accessed November 11, 2013. "Voters also decided that the municipal election in Wildwood should be moved to the general election day in November 739 to 416.A yes vote supported moving the next municipal election to November 2015."
  63. Office of Mayor and Commissioners. City of Wildwood. Accessed June 20, 2015.
  64. 2015 Municipal Data Sheet. City of Wildwood. Accessed June 20, 2015.
  65. Staff. "WILDWOOD OUSTS ITS WOMAN MAYOR; Mrs. Bradway, First of Sex to Hold Post in Jersey, Loses in Recall Election SHE LAYS MOVE TO HAGUE Although a Republican, She Has Aided Democrats, but Shifted Back Last Fall WILDWOOD OUSTS ITS WOMAN MAYOR Says Hague Dominates Move Indicted After Inquiry New Petition Circulated", The New York Times, February 19, 1938. Accessed May 17, 2011. "Mayor Doris W. Bradway, New Jersey's first woman Mayor, was defeated today in a special recall election in this resort city. Ousted with her was City Commissioner Frederick McMurray, also a Republican."
  66. via Associated Press. "Wildwood Mayor Recalled", The New York Times, December 12, 1984. Accessed May 17, 2011. "Residents of this resort in Cape May County voted tonight to recall Mayor Earl B. Ostrander and replace him with City Council President Victor DiSylvester."
  67. Gilfillian, Trudi. "Wildwood votes out mayor, commissioner in recall election", The Press of Atlantic City, December 9, 2009. Accessed May 17, 2011. "City voters ousted Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. and Commissioner Bill Davenport from City Commission in Tuesday’s tax rate-driven recall election, selecting two newcomers to city government to replace them."
  68. Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed January 6, 2013.
  69. 2015 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 66, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed May 22, 2015.
  70. Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.
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  72. About Cory Booker, United States Senate. Accessed January 26, 2015. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
  73. Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "He currently lives in Paramus and has two children, Alicia and Robert."
  74. Senators of the 114th Congress from New Jersey. United States Senate. Accessed January 26, 2015. "Booker, Cory A. - (D - NJ) Class II; Menendez, Robert - (D - NJ) Class I"
  75. Legislative Roster 2016-2017 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 17, 2016.
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  77. "About the Lieutenant Governor". State of New Jersey. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
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  83. Will Morey, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed May 11, 2015.
  84. Home Page, Cape May County Sheriff. Accessed May 11, 2015.
  85. Surrogate, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed May 11, 2015.
  86. Clerk's Office, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed May 11, 2015.
  87. Voter Registration Summary - Cape May, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 18, 2012.
  88. "Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Cape May County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. March 15, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
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  91. 2004 Presidential Election: Cape May County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 18, 2012.
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  94. 2009 Governor: Cape May County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed October 18, 2012.
  95. District information for Wildwood School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed October 13, 2014.
  96. School Data for the Wildwood Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed October 18, 2012.
  97. Glenwood Elementary School, Wildwood School District. Accessed July 23, 2013.
  98. Wildwood Middle School, Wildwood School District. Accessed July 23, 2013.
  99. Wildwood High School, Wildwood School District. Accessed July 23, 2013.
  100. New Jersey School Directory for the Wildwood Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 23, 2013.
  101. Wildwood City School District 2013 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed August 25, 2015. "Wildwood High School services all of the districts on the island (Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, North Wildwood and West Wildwood.)"
  102. Gilfillian, Trudi. "Cape Trinity Catholic School opens in Wildwood Catholic building", The Press of Atlantic City, September 8, 2010. Accessed May 18, 2011. "Wildwood Catholic High School, which once occupied the entire building, will make use of parts of the second and all of the third floor, while Cape Trinity students will use the first and parts of the second floor. Both schools will share a first-floor cafeteria, but not at the same time.... The school hosts students who previously attended St. Ann’s in Wildwood and Star of the Sea in Cape May, which includes students who once attended St. Raymond’s in Lower Township."
  103. Cape May County School Directory, Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Accessed September 4, 2011.
  104. Cape May County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed November 11, 2013.
  105. Route 47 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, March 2008. Accessed November 11, 2013.
  106. Cape May County Route 621 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, August 1999. Accessed November 11, 2013.
  107. Cape May County Bus / Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed November 11, 2013.
  108. South Jersey Transit Guide, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed November 11, 2013.
  109. A Statement Regarding The Future of WMGM-TV, Accessed from NBC40.net website.
  110. Schaad, Jacob, Jr. "In another time: Three actors, three different takes on Wildwood life", Shore News Today, January 4, 2011. Accessed November 11, 2013. " According to his biography, Willis first worked at a clothing store at the corner of Pacific and Garfield Avenues in Wildwood during the summer and then as a bartender one night a week at the popular Red Garter nightclub in North Wildwood. After a few weeks he headed for New York City where, so the story goes, he was spotted by a movie person and signed to a contract."
  111. Staff. "'On the way to Cape May' composer, Cozy Morley, 87, dies; Comic legend was dubbed 'Bob Hope of the Jersey Shore'", Courier-Post, August 26, 2013. Accessed November 11, 2013.
  112. Staff. "Cocktails and Drinking Games for Smartphones and Mobile Devices", p. 149. MobileReference, 2007. ISBN 9781605011042. "The Lime Rickey is also known as a Gin Rickey. Rumored to be named for Colonel Rickey, an English officer once based in Washington, D.C., it is more popularly cited as originally being from the seaside resort community of Wildwood, New Jersey."
  113. 1 2 Strauss, Robert. "The Heart of Rock 'n' Roll Is in Wildwood", The New York Times, September 4, 2005. Accessed July 23, 2013. "The Treniers even recorded a song called Everything's Wild in Wildwood."
  114. Sullivan, Dan. "2 COMBOS BLASTING IN CITY'S ROCK PILE; Candymen and The Nazz Do Their High-Decibel Thing", The New York Times, September 29, 1967. Accessed November 11, 2013. "The group does have some interesting rhythmic notions, notably a stop-the-beat effect gin the orgiastic climax of 'Wildwood Blues,' and, whether by accident or design, they sometimes fall into a kind of atonality that has a certain punch."
  115. Horning, Rob. Kiss: Alive!, PopMatters, April 27, 2004. Accessed November 11, 2013.
  116. "Wall Street (1987) screenplay, sfy.ru. Accessed August 18, 2008.
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  118. Harris, Chris. "CKY Almost Done With LP But Not Ready To Discuss Dead Body Yet ...; Drummer Jess Margera also reveals new side project with members of Clutch, Fireball Ministry, Moistboyz."", MTV.com, March 9, 2007. Accessed November 11, 2013. "Without giving too much of the macabre story away, drummer Jess Margera revealed that the track is about a childhood trip Miller took with his family to Wildwood, New Jersey, where he 'full-on found some dead body under the boardwalk.'"
  119. Callahan, Michael. "Pulse: 60-Second Critic: Music Video: Jason Aldean, 'Laughed Until We Cried'", Philadelphia (magazine), December 2007. Accessed July 23, 2013. "Aldean, the latest crooner trying to claim the mantle of Kenny Chesney Lite, strolls the Cape May beach and Wildwood Boardwalk with suitable pathos in this video, as he warbles your boilerplate 'Weren’t things great back when' country tune from his latest CD, Relentless."
  120. Suit, Lauren . "Senna sees 'Randyland' the shot in the arm that Pacific Avenue needs", Shore News Today. August 3, 2011. Accessed October 18, 2012. "Senna wrote two autobiographies and is nearing completion on a documentary film about himself has also enjoyed his 30 minutes of fame when word of his collection drew producers from the A&E hit reality show Hoarders."
  121. DeLuca, Dan; and Urgo, Jacqueline L. "Kenny Chesney hits the Wildwood beach for free concert", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 20, 2012. Accessed October 18, 2012. "With a Ferris wheel to his right and a roller coaster to his left, country-pop star Kenny Chesney took the stage Wednesday for a free concert before a crowd of 20,000 on the Wildwood beach as the sun was setting on the first night of summer."
  122. Argos, Greg. "Wildwood Acts As Home To New Major Motion Picture". KYW-TV, April 13, 2016. Accessed May 3, 2016. "The movie, called Wetlands, will star Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Heather Graham and Christopher McDonald. Location manager Alex Starke says Wildwood is not just the perfect place for filming."
  123. Joseph R. Applegate, Blacks at MIT History Project. Accessed February 8, 2016. "Born in 1925, Professor Applegate grew up in Wildwood, NJ, where his parents ran a small boarding house frequented by black entertainers such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong."
  124. Jacob Thompson Baker, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 4, 2007.
  125. Narducci, Marc. "SOUTH JERSEY FOOTBALL STANDOUTS SCORE IN THE NFL THIS YEAR, NINE FORMER HIGH SCHOOL STARS ARE SUITED UP IN THE PROS, AMONG THEM IRVING FRYAR AND RON DAYNE.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 13, 2000. Accessed June 14, 2007. "Wildwood's Randy Beverly had two interceptions for the New York Jets in Super Bowl III."
  126. Finding Aid for the Edwin Corle Papers, 1930-1956, Online Archive of California. Accessed November 11, 2013. "Edwin Corle (1906-1956) was born in Wildwood, New Jersey. He wrote several books and contributed articles and stories to the Atlantic Monthly, Harpers, New Yorker, Scribner's, and others."
  127. Ace Darling, Cagematch: The Internet Wrestling Database. Accessed November 11, 2013.
  128. Avery, Ron. "Wrestling Failed To Hold Him", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 8, 1988. Accessed November 11, 2013. "But once in a while a patient takes a long, searching look at Dr. William Darnell and asks the 62-year-old chiropractor, 'Hey, aren't you Billy Darnell?'... 'I was working as a lifeguard in Wildwood. I was 16. A promoter there knew I worked out with the wrestlers in Camden and asked me to go on.'"
  129. Remy Hamilton profile, Arena Football League. Accessed June 14, 2007.
  130. Saxon, Wolfgang. "JOY HANCOCK DIES; LAST WAVES CHIEF", The New York Times, August 25, 1986. Accessed June 5, 2007. "Born in Wildwood, N.J., Miss Bright briefly belonged to the Naval Reserve in New Jersey and then stayed on as a civilian employee at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station."
  131. Schaad, Jacob, Jr. "In Another Time: A story of terror and murder started with a Wildwood birth", Shore News Today, November 9, 2013. Accessed November 11, 2013. "Ernest Ingenito was born in Wildwood on May 27, 1924.... His parents frequently traveled between Wildwood and Philadelphia and by the time he was 13 they had separated.... Subsequent crimes sent him to reformatories until he was paroled and sent back to his mother in Wildwood."
  132. Edge, Wally. "Former Miss New Jersey now leads Harry Reid by 13 points in Nevada Senate race", Politicker NJ, March 5, 2010. Accessed November 11, 2013. "Miss New Jersey 1974, Suzanne Plummer Lowden, leads U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid by 13 points, 51%-38%, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll released today. Lowden grew up in Wildwood, was Miss Cape May County, and was the second runner up for Miss America."
  133. Pena, Daniel. "Former WCW Wrestler Joey Maggs Passes Away", ProWrestling.com, October 16, 2006. Accessed February 1, 2011. "Maggs made his wrestling debut in 1987 at the age of 18. He was from Wildwood, New Jersey."
  134. via United Press International. "Lifetime pay for Parent?", Ellensburg Daily Record, April 22, 1975. Accessed February 1, 2011.
  135. Kaplan, Peter W. "Mickey Shaughnessy Dead; Comedian and Movie Actor", The New York Times, January 26, 1985. Accessed December 15, 2012. "Mickey Shaughnessy, a barrel-chested, pug-faced comedian who appeared in 41 movies, including From Here to Eternity, died of heart failure Tuesday in Cape May Courthouse, N.J. He was 64 years old and lived in Wildwood, N.J."
  136. George Sheldon, Acting Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families. Accessed November 11, 2013. "Born in Wildwood, New Jersey, George received both his B.A. and J.D. from Florida State University."

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wildwood, New Jersey.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Wildwood (New Jersey).


Preceded by
North Wildwood
Beaches of New Jersey Succeeded by
Wildwood Crest
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