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A−History
History · Cape May

Cape May’s historic district, a National Historic Landmark, takes in 600 buildings

More historic than 84% of U.S. towns · #90 of 468 in New Jersey. What drives it

1 place in town is on the National Register, among them the Cape May Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, and a historic district with 600 buildings. Below: 10 old photos and papers, maps from 1888 on, and the census since 1870.

1869first post office
1on the National Register
27%homes built before 1940
10old photos & papers
14famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Cape May’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Cape May began

When was Cape May founded?

1869

The Cape May post office opened in 1869, the earliest record of the town by name. Wikidata gives 1611, the date of an exploration of the area, not of the town. Another post office, Cape Island (1804), opened inside today’s city and later closed.

First census: 1,248 in 18702020 census: 2,768157 years

How historic is Cape May?

A−

More historic than 84% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: the first Cape May post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Wikidata: 1611.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Cape May’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Cape May is more historic than 84% of U.S. towns, #90 of 468 in New Jersey. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.

A−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Cape May’s overall grade.
Founding era1869, from the first post office: founded 1850–1899, an older era than 37% of U.S. townsC+Homes built before 194026.8% of homes (±6.3) · typical NJ town 14.7% · U.S. 8.4%A−National Register1 listing, 600 historic buildings, 2,168 per 10,000 residents · typical NJ town 3.7 · U.S. 2.4A+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 84%
NewerOlder
New Jersey towns of 2,500+ (468)Ahead of 81%

New Jersey towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical New Jersey town has 3.7 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Cape May’s 2,168 sits above most of its state (99% of New Jersey towns have fewer) while its 600 historic buildings outnumber those of 98% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±6.3 points). The founding year is the first post office, not a stated founding date; Wikidata gives 1611.

Founding year: the first post office (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Cape May’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A historic districtThe Cape May Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, takes in 600 historic buildings.On the map since 18887 editions of the USGS map, 1888 to 1995. Watch Cape May change.Boom and bustPeaked at 4,853 in 1980; 2,768 people lived here in 2020.A National Historic Landmark1 place on the National Register, including Cape May Historic District, a National Historic Landmark.
★ What stands out · On the National Register

1 listing protects 600 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. One is a National Historic Landmark, the highest tier. Boundary changes and added documentation are counted with their listing.

place listed
1
National Historic Landmark
1
Cape May Historic District
historic buildings protected
600
each building in a district counts
first listed
1970
Cape May Historic District
Cape May Historic District★
Districts★ landmark
★ Landmark
Cape May Historic DistrictDistrict

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

On the map

Cape May on the map, 1888 to 1995

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Cape May. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Cape May on the 1888 USGS mapCape May on the 1893 USGS mapCape May on the 1925 USGS mapCape May on the 1944 USGS mapCape May on the 1954 USGS mapCape May on the 1972 USGS mapCape May on the 1995 USGS map1888Cape May sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Cape May.

People over time

Cape May, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5005,00018801900192019401960198020002020Peak: 4,853

Peaked at 4,853 in 1980; 2,768 people lived here in 2020.

16 censuses, 1870–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Cape May’s Wikipedia page.

The story

How Cape May came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Cape May.

Read it all →

The area that is now Cape May was originally inhabited by the Kechemeche Native American tribe, a subgroup of the Lenape people. The Kechemeche first encountered Europeans around 1600. The city is named after the Dutch captain Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, who charted the coast between 1611 and 1614 and claimed it for the province of New Netherland. It was later settled by colonists from the New Haven Colony in New England.

By the mid-18th century, Cape May had become a popular vacation destination for visitors from Philadelphia and is recognized as the country's oldest seaside resort.

Chapters17th and 18th centuries19th century20th century

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Cape May, 1897–1921

Passages that mention Cape May, cut from the printed page as they were published.

(1) ROBERT EDMUNDS HUGHES, born at Cape May, 24 June, 1846, married Harriet Sehellenger, born at Cape May 30 March, 1853, and had :— MILLICENT SCHELLENGER HUGHES, born at Cape May, 25 January, 1876, married at Cape May, 18 April, 1900, Frank Bacon Mecray, born at Cape May, 23 April, 1877, and had, …
Mayflower Pilgrim descendants in Cape May County, New Jersey1921 · page 329Read the page →
Read the text

(1) ROBERT EDMUNDS HUGHES, born at Cape May, 24 June, 1846, married Harriet Sehellenger, born at Cape May 30 March, 1853, and had :— MILLICENT SCHELLENGER HUGHES, born at Cape May, 25 January, 1876, married at Cape May, 18 April, 1900, Frank Bacon Mecray, born at Cape May, 23 April, 1877, and had, HARRIET HUGHES MECRAY bom at Cape May, 4 January, 1905 ; CHARLOTTE BRIDEN- THAL HUGHES, born at Cape May, 2 January, 1878, married

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
B. Dungan, who was president of the company which -finally built the road and who was the contractor also, deserve, with others, a large share of gratitude from the present residents of Cape May county for their untiring efforts in •getting the road here. On May 13, 1863, the Board of Freeholders p…
The history of Cape May County, New Jersey1897 · page 299Read the page →
Read the text

B. Dungan, who was president of the company which -finally built the road and who was the contractor also, deserve, with others, a large share of gratitude from the present residents of Cape May county for their untiring efforts in •getting the road here. On May 13, 1863, the Board of Freeholders passed a resolution allowing the Cape May and Millville Railroad the right to lay rails over Cape Island bridge, and within a few days thereafter the railroad

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
(5) RICHARD HAND, born at Cape May, 9 February, 1866, married at Cape May, Lillian Robinson, and had: RICHARD HAND, born at Cape May, 13 February, 1890, who married at Cape May, Miranda Stillwell, and had, REBECCA DOAK HAND, born at Cape May, 1 September, 1910 ; HARRY HAND, bom at Cape May, 13 Octo…
Mayflower Pilgrim descendants in Cape May County, New Jersey1921 · page 275Read the page →
Read the text

(5) RICHARD HAND, born at Cape May, 9 February, 1866, married at Cape May, Lillian Robinson, and had: RICHARD HAND, born at Cape May, 13 February, 1890, who married at Cape May, Miranda Stillwell, and had, REBECCA DOAK HAND, born at Cape May, 1 September, 1910 ; HARRY HAND, bom at Cape May, 13 October, 1894, married at Cape May, 23 December, 1917, Jennie Sutton, and had, LIDA DOAK HAND, born at Cape May, 12 December, 1918.

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
All that portion of Cape May county, beginning at a point in the Atlantic Ocean opposite the mouth of Cold Spring Inlet, as far southerly as the jurisdiction of the State extends, and running a westerly course until opposite an inlet (now filled up) between Cape Island and the lighthouse; thence fo…
The history of Cape May County, New Jersey1897 · page 405Read the page →
Read the text

All that portion of Cape May county, beginning at a point in the Atlantic Ocean opposite the mouth of Cold Spring Inlet, as far southerly as the jurisdiction of the State extends, and running a westerly course until opposite an inlet (now filled up) between Cape Island and the lighthouse; thence following the several courses of the inlet, or creek, to Mount Vernon Bridge, and Broadway; thence along the northwest side of Broadway to the north side of

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.

Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

Timeline

Cape May, 1783 to 1980

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 18th century
  2. 1783Born hereJarena Lee is born here
  3. 19th century
  4. 1804Post officeThe Cape Island post office opens
  5. 1840In the archiveBeach at
  6. 1869Post officeThe Cape Island post office closes
  7. 1869Post officeThe Cape May post office opens
  8. 1880In the archiveWelcome the dude - Chester & Handy, photographers, S.W. Cor. Stockton Hotel Bath Houses, …
  9. 1888On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  10. 20th century
  11. 1909In the archivePiazza, Hotel Cape May
  12. 1910In the archiveThe Wreck of the Atlantus
  13. 1922Born hereFrederick B. Dent is born here
  14. 1927Born herePaul Volcker is born here
  15. 1976LandmarkCape May Historic District named a National Historic Landmark
  16. 1979Born hereAnthony Maher is born here
  17. 1980CensusPopulation peaks at 4,853
By decade

Cape May, decade by decade

4 decades in the archive, from the 1840s to the 1910s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1840s1 item
Beach atc. 1840Beach at
1880s–1910s9 items
Welcome the dude - Chester & Handy, photographers, S.W. Cor. Stockton Hotel Bath Houses, Beach Ave. & Ocean St., Cape M…1880Welcome the dude - Chester & Handy, photographers, S.…Piazza, Hotel Cape May1909Piazza, Hotel Cape MayThe Wreck of the Atlantus1910The Wreck of the AtlantusNavy - Accidents - Airplane wreck near Cape May, N.J1917Navy - Accidents - Airplane wreck near Cape May, N.JNavy - Drills - Infantry Maneuvers - Wissahickon Barracks, Cape May, N.J. Skirmish line drill1917Navy - Drills - Infantry Maneuvers - Wissahickon Barr…Navy - Drills - Life Boats - Land drill teaches Reserves to man boats. These naval reserves are engaged in boat drill a…1917Navy - Drills - Life Boats - Land drill teaches Reser…Navy - Training Stations - Caldwell, New Jersey [165-WW-340A-24]1917Navy - Training Stations - Caldwell, New Jersey [165-…Navy - Training Stations - Cape May, New Jersey [165-WW-340B-25]1917Navy - Training Stations - Cape May, New Jersey [165-…Navy - Training Stations - Cape May, New Jersey [165-WW-340B-32]1917Navy - Training Stations - Cape May, New Jersey [165-…
1920s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Beach at
Retake this viewBeach at, c. 1840

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Cape May’s page.

Retake this view · +15
Famous people

14 famous people were born in Cape May

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Paul VolckerAmerican economist · b. 1927
Frederick B. DentAmerican politician · b. 1922
Jarena LeeAmerican preacher · b. 1783
A
Anthony MaherAmerican soccer player · b. 1979
B
Bubba GreenAmerican football player · b. 1957
M
Matthew MaherAmerican soccer player · b. 1984
Places that used to be

Lost post offices and places now gone

Cape May’s post office has been open since 1869. Another post office, Cape Island, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Cape Island
1804–1869
Cape May
1869–today
18001910today
Gone or out of use
Naval Air Station Cape Maymilitary

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Finish Cape May’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
2 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewBeach at: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Lower Township14 historic placesA−West Cape May1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Cape May’s history

What year was Cape May founded?

The Cape May post office opened in 1869, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records). Wikidata gives 1611.

How does Cape May rank for history?

Cape May is more historic than 84% of U.S. towns, #90 of 468 in New Jersey. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Cape May?

One place: the Cape May Historic District (listed 1970).

How old are the homes in Cape May?

27% of Cape May’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.3 points), against a typical 15% for a New Jersey town; the median home was built in 1973.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (8), the Library of Congress (2), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.