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History · West Cape May

West Cape May dates to 1884, and 21% of its homes were built before 1940

Its Register listing is the Whilldin-Miller House. Below: maps from 1888 on and the census since 1890.

1884founded
1on the National Register
21%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How West Cape May began

When was West Cape May founded?

1884

West Cape May dates its founding to 1884 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1890.

First census: 757 in 18902020 census: 1,010142 years
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1909.The full story ↓

What stands out about West 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 West 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 West Cape May change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start West Cape May’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how West 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

West Cape May on the map, 1888 to 1995

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

West Cape May on the 1888 USGS mapWest Cape May on the 1893 USGS mapWest Cape May on the 1925 USGS mapWest Cape May on the 1944 USGS mapWest Cape May on the 1954 USGS mapWest Cape May on the 1972 USGS mapWest 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 West Cape May.

The story

How West Cape May came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of West Cape May.

Read it all →

The borough's history goes back to the time of the Lenape Native Americans. Several buildings in the borough date to the Colonial period. The area has a rich agricultural history which continues to be celebrated each year with a summer farmers' market, and strawberry, tomato and lima bean festivals. It has been known as the "Lima Bean Capital of the World." The Lima Bean Festival is an annual event held in West Cape May, New Jersey, the "Lima Bean Capital of the World", and is the world's only such celebration. It is held annually on the Saturday of Columbus Day weekend in Wilbraham Park.

ChaptersHistoric sites

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

West Cape May, 1884 to 1920

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

  1. 19th century
  2. 1884
    FoundingWest Cape May is established
  3. 1888On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  4. 20th century
  5. 1909Post officeThe West Cape May post office opens
  6. 1920Post officeThe West Cape May post office closes
By decade

West Cape May, decade by decade

Today18 recent
West End Cafe WCM2021West End Cafe WCMWest Cape May water and sewer trailer2021West Cape May water and sewer trailerUncle Bill's Pancake House2021Uncle Bill's Pancake HouseDoc Mike's Pancake House WCM2021Doc Mike's Pancake House WCMButtonwood Manor, WCM2021Buttonwood Manor, WCMButtonwood Manor, WCM A2021Buttonwood Manor, WCM AAlbert Stevens Inn2021Albert Stevens InnAlbert Stevens Inn West Cape May A2021Albert Stevens Inn West Cape May AExitzerorestaurantNJ2020ExitzerorestaurantNJExitZeroRestaurantWCapeMay2020ExitZeroRestaurantWCapeMayExit Zero WCM2020Exit Zero WCMExit Zero Restaurant W Cape May2020Exit Zero Restaurant W Cape MayWestCapeMayFIreStation2018WestCapeMayFIreStationWestCapeMayFIreDeptPlaque2018WestCapeMayFIreDeptPlaqueWestCapeMayCItyHallFire2018WestCapeMayCItyHallFireWCapeMayFIrestation2018WCapeMayFIrestationCopper Fish W Cape May NJ2011Copper Fish W Cape May NJ416 Broadway2010416 Broadway
On the National Register

1 historic place in West Cape May

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.

place listed
1
National Historic Landmarks
0
none yet
historic buildings protected
1
each building in a district counts
first listed
2003
Whilldin-Miller House
Whilldin-Miller House
Buildings
Whilldin-Miller HouseBuilding

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

People over time

West Cape May, census by census

02004006008001,0001,2001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 1,095

Between 696 and 1,095 people in every census since 1890.

14 censuses, 1890–2020.

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

Famous people

Famous people close to West Cape May

Nobody well known was born in West 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
Bryan StevensonAmerican lawyer, social reformer and academic · b. 1959
Ruth Ann MinnerAmerican politician and businesswoman · b. 1935
Frank VogelAmerican basketball coach · b. 1973
Joseph M. CareyAmerican politician · b. 1845
Places that used to be

Lost post offices

West Cape May had its own post office from 1909 to 1920.

West Cape May
1909–1920
19001960today

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

Stories next door

History across the town line

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

Cape May1 historic placeA−Lower Township14 historic placesA−

Questions about West Cape May’s history

What year was West Cape May founded?

In 1884, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. West Cape May’s post office opened in 1909, and the census of 1890 counted 757 people here.

What is on the National Register in West Cape May?

One place: the Whilldin-Miller House (listed 2003).

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). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (18), the National Register of Historic Places (1), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.