Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to West Wildwood

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
–Not graded
History · West Wildwood

West Wildwood dates to 1920

Most of West Wildwood was built recently: 9% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1964. Below: maps from 1944 on and the census since 1930.

1920founded
0on the National Register
9%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How West Wildwood began

When was West Wildwood founded?

1920

West Wildwood dates its founding to 1920 (Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history agree). The census first counted it in 1930.

First census: 178 in 19302020 census: 540106 years
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year.

What stands out about West Wildwood’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 Wildwood are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of West Wildwood’s homes were built before 1964.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start West Wildwood’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how West Wildwood’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story so far

West Wildwood, in brief

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

West Wildwood is a borough in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough, and all of Cape May County, is part of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area, and is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 540, a decrease of 63 (−10.4%) from the 2010 census count of 603, which in turn reflected an increase of 155 (+34.6%) from the 448 counted in the 2000 census. The summer population grows to as much as 5,000. West Wildwood was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 21, 1920, from portions of Middle Township.

West Wildwood was established in 1920. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population fell from 603 to 540 (-10%).

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

By decade

West Wildwood, decade by decade

Today6 recent
West Wildwood sign2024West Wildwood signWest Wildwood bulletin board2024West Wildwood bulletin boardWest Wildwood Borough Hall2024West Wildwood Borough HallWest Wildwood Borough Hall 22024West Wildwood Borough Hall 2West Wildwood NJ boat2015West Wildwood NJ boatWest Wildwood NJ Bible Church2015West Wildwood NJ Bible Church
On the map

West Wildwood on the map, 1944 to 1972

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

West Wildwood on the 1944 USGS mapWest Wildwood on the 1955 USGS mapWest Wildwood on the 1972 USGS map1944Stone Harbor sheet · 1:24,000

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

People over time

West Wildwood, census by census

010020030040050060019401960198020002020Peak: 603

Between 146 and 603 people in every census since 1930.

10 censuses, 1930–2020.

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

Famous people

Famous people close to West Wildwood

Nobody well known was born in West Wildwood itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Paul VolckerAmerican economist · b. 1927
Gregory Goodwin PincusAmerican biochemist · b. 1903
Keith AndesAmerican actor · b. 1920
Peter ErskineAmerican musician · b. 1954
Gay TaleseAmerican writer · b. 1932
Frank VogelAmerican basketball coach · b. 1973
Stories next door

History across the town line

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

North Wildwood2 historic placesB−Middle Township7 historic placesB+Wildwood4 historic placesA

Questions about West Wildwood’s history

What year was West Wildwood founded?

In 1920, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1930 counted 178 people here.

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 (6), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) 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.