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History · North Cape May

Half of North Cape May’s homes were built after 1967

Most of North Cape May was built recently: 0.8% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1967. Below: maps from 1888 on and the census since 1970.

0on the National Register
0.8%homes built before 1940
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Photo: Captadam at English Wikipedia · CC BY 2.5

What stands out about North Cape May’s past

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

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of North Cape May are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18887 editions of the USGS map, 1888 to 1995. Watch North Cape May change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start North Cape May’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how North Cape May’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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On the map

North Cape May on the map, 1888 to 1995

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

North Cape May on the 1888 USGS mapNorth Cape May on the 1893 USGS mapNorth Cape May on the 1925 USGS mapNorth Cape May on the 1944 USGS mapNorth Cape May on the 1954 USGS mapNorth Cape May on the 1972 USGS mapNorth Cape 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 North Cape May.

The story so far

North Cape May, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of North Cape May yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

North Cape May is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Lower Township in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, North Cape May had a population of 4,007. The Cape May–Lewes Ferry departs from the area. North Cape May is mostly a residential community, with no hotels but many vacation homes. Many people retire to the community. North Cape May had existed as an independent borough, formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 19, 1928, from portions of Lower Township. The borough remained independent until April 30, 1945, when it was returned to Lowe…

Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 3,226 to 4,007 (+24%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

North Cape May, decade by decade

Today6 recent
ACME Markets North Cape May NJ A2021ACME Markets North Cape May NJ ANorthCapeMayACMEinterior02018NorthCapeMayACMEinterior0NCapeMayACMEinterior2018NCapeMayACMEinteriorNorth Cape May NJ DBay beach near Browning2016North Cape May NJ DBay beach near BrowningNorth Cape May Deleware Bay Beach2014North Cape May Deleware Bay BeachNorth Cape May shoreline2009North Cape May shoreline
People over time

North Cape May, census by census

05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,500198020002020Peak: 4,029

Between 3,226 and 4,029 people in every census since 1970.

6 censuses, 1970–2020.

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

Famous people

Famous people close to North Cape May

Nobody well known was born in North Cape May itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Paul VolckerAmerican economist · b. 1927
Gregory Goodwin PincusAmerican biochemist · b. 1903
Frank VogelAmerican basketball coach · b. 1973
Stedman GrahamAmerican educator and businessman · b. 1951
Frederick B. DentAmerican politician · b. 1922
Daniel RodneyAmerican politician · b. 1764
Stories next door

History across the town line

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

Lower Township14 historic placesA−Villas2 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about North Cape May’s history

Memory lane

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

Town Square →
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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). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (6), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps and U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.