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Wildwood, NJ


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Wildwood, New Jersey

Introduction to Wildwood, New Jersey

Wildwood, New Jersey, in Cape May county, is 36 miles S of Vineland, New Jersey (center to center) and 69 miles S of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wildwood is situated on the southern shore of New Jersey and is a popular tourist resort during the summer months. It's located on a barrier island. The city is well known for its large free beach area, boardwalk and doo-wop style hotels and motels. The population swells during the summer.

It was ranked number one by New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium in the "2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest" for New Jersey. The beaches have been mentioned in the Travel Channel's "America's Best Beaches." The well known song "Rock Around the Clock" regarded as one of of the first Rock and Roll songs was first performed at the HofBrau Hotel in Wildwood by Bill Haley & His Comets. The city is known as the "Doo-wop Capital."

Wildwood History

The Lenni Lenapes Indians made trails and utilized the area. After the Indians left the region the land was used to graze horses and cattle. The animals were transported to the island by boats. In 1870 fisherman constructed shacks on the island and are regarded as the initial non-native settlers. Modern Wildwood began in 1885 when the Holly Beach Borough was incorporated.

Wildwood was incorporated in 1912. The city is known for its large number of doo-wop motels which were constructed in the 1950's and 1960's. The motels are distinctive with their neon signs and unusual architecture. However, many of the motels have been torn down and replaced with condominiums.

Wildwood Attractions

  • Ultimate Frisbee tournament
  • Boardwalk Chapel
  • Wildwood International Kite Festival
  • Wildwood Crest Memorial Museum
  • George F. Boyer Historical Museum
  • Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
  • Scoop Taylor Park
  • National Marbles Hall of Fame
  • Sunset Lake and Turtle Gut Park and Memorial
  • Wildwood Boat Show and Fishing Expo
  • Historic Town Hall
  • Convention Center
  • Cape May Zoo

Wildwood Activities

Wildwood features a wide variety of entertainment. At night the Irish pubs, saloons, sports bars, nightclubs and dance clubs are filled with people. The popular Wildwood Boardwalk includes four amusement piers and features numerous rides and attractions, including the Morey's Piers amusement complex and Raging Waters. The popular boardwalk offers a trolley for transportation. Splash Zone Water Park provides a good time for residents and visitors. Wildwood features one of the oldest wood roller coasters in the nation.

Wildwood is known for its white-sand beaches. The Inlet, located at the entrance to North Wildwood and Diamond Beach are two of the popular beaches. The town features a variety of festivals and special events that families enjoy including food festivals, craft events, doo-wop festivals, a variety of concerts, sporting events and parades. The "Fabulous 50's Weekend" attracts a large crowd. Movie nights on the beach, Irish Weekend and the Firefighters parade are popular events.

The area is well known for fishing and water sports. The western side of the island includes a large number of boat ramps located at the end of streets. Visitors enjoy taking sightseeing boat cruises. Golf enthusiasts have opportunities to play at the numerous quality courses. The doo-wop trolly tour is enjoyed by tourists. The city is home to numerous cheerleading, wrestling, gymnastics, dance and basketball tournaments.

Wildwood Transportation

The city is served by the nearby Atlantic City International Airport.

High Points

Wildwood strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in New Jersey):

CategoryTrophy
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. Peers)
Top 1%trophyWildwood Walking and Biking to Work
Affordability of Rents
(vs. State)
Top 2%trophyWildwood Affordability of Rents
Short Commute Times
(vs. State)
Top 3%trophyWildwood Short Commute Times
Racial Diversity
(vs. Peers)
Top 4%trophyWildwood Racial Diversity
Public Transportation Use
(vs. Peers)
Top 8%Wildwood Public Transportation Use
Affordability of Property Taxes
(vs. State)
Top 10%Wildwood Affordability of Property Taxes

Comparative Profile of Wildwood, NJ

Comparing Wildwood to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in New Jersey (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Racial Diversity1010
Children Under 5 Years Old89
Male Share of the Population77
Senior Citizens56
Age of the Population42
Female Share of the Population44
Well-Paid Single Men31

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Average Household Size32
Portion of People Married11

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
People Above Poverty11
People in Middle Class or Better11
College Educated Adults11
Median Family Income11

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Walking and Biking to Work1010
Public Transportation Use108
Short Commute Times610
Working at Home44

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Seasonal and Vacation Housing1010
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals109
People Living Alone1010
Affordability of Rents610
Affordability of Property Taxes310
Housing Recently Built23

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime11
Low Property Crime11

Detailed pages on related topics: Wildwood travel.

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Additional Details

Wildwood Hotels & TravelWildwood Hotels & Travel
Wildwood hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.

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Historic Wildwood

photo

Wildwood (Hotel Seaside) between 1900 and 1910

Select a photo to view (Source):

Wildwood (Hotel Seaside) between 1900 and 1910

Sheldon Hotel between 1900 and 1915

Edgeton Inn between 1900 and 1915

Additional Resources


Large City Map

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