New Jersey

Cape May

95,263
2020 population
1790
first census record
24
census records

About Cape May

Cape May, New Jersey, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 2,571. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 95,263.

Its recorded population peaked at 102,326 in 2000, and has since declined by roughly 7 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them USS Delaware Captures La Croyable, USS Delaware captures French privateer Croyable, and 55 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202095,263
201097,265
2000102,326
199095,089
198082,266
197059,554
196048,555
195037,131
194028,919
193029,486
192019,460
191019,745
190013,201
189011,268
18809,765
18708,349
18607,130
18506,433
18405,324
18304,936
18204,265
18103,632
18003,066
17902,571
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Cape May

Military engagements that took place in Cape May, New Jersey.

USS Delaware Captures La Croyable
1798
USS Delaware captures French privateer Croyable
1798

Historic places in Cape May

National Register of Historic Places listings in Cape May, New Jersey.

Cape May Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Cape May
Old Cape May County Courthouse Building
Cape May
TBM-3E "Avenger" Torpedo Bomber Warplane
Lower Township
Corson, John, Jr., House Site
Upper Township
Foster, Judge Nathaniel, House
Lower Township
Ocean City 34th Street Station
Ocean City
Octagonal Poultry House
Cold Spring
Rufwud Cottage
Stone Harbor Borough
Townsend, William S., House
Dennisville
Hildreth, George, House
Lower Township
U.S. Life-Saving Station No. 35
Stone Harbor Borough
Cape May Lighthouse
Cape May
Ocean City City Hall
Ocean City
Calvary Baptist Church
Ocean View
Battery 223
Lower Township
Cold Spring Presbyterian Church
Lower Township
Fire Control Tower No. 23
Lower Township
Brandywine Shoal Light Station
Cape May Point
Baker, J. Thompson, House
Wildwood City
Tuckahoe Station
Tuckahoe
Leaming, Thomas, House
Middle Township
Cold Spring Grange Hall
Lower Township
Chateau Bleu Motel
City of North Wildwood
Avalon Life Saving Station
Avalon
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Other counties in New Jersey

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Everything a full report reveals about Cape May County, New Jersey

This page charts the census history of Cape May County, New Jersey. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Cape May

When does Cape May first appear in the US census?
Cape May, New Jersey first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 2,571.
What is the population of Cape May?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Cape May had a recorded population of 95,263.
When did Cape May's population peak?
Cape May's recorded population peaked at 102,326 in 2000.
Were any battles fought in Cape May?
2 documented military engagements took place in Cape May, including USS Delaware Captures La Croyable, USS Delaware captures French privateer Croyable.
How many historic places are in Cape May?
55 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Cape May, New Jersey.
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