Cape May, New Jersey is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. Cape May has a population of 4,034 year-round residents (as of the 2000 United States Census). Cape May is also home to approximately 100,000 seasonal residents.

The town's history dates back to its founding in 1620 by a Dutch captain named Cornelius Jacobsen Mey. Once a whaling port. the notorious pirate, Captain William Kidd is said to have filled his water casks here; as did British warships during the War of 1812. Following that war, Cape May began to flourish as a seashore resort for the wealthy and influential elite and was soon considered the nation’s summer capital. Regular visitors included Henry Clay and Presidents Lincoln, Grant, Pierce, Buchanan and Harrison.

Cape May, New Jersey is noted for its large number of well-maintained Victorian houses, known fancifully as "painted ladies." In fact, the second largest collection of Victorian-era homes in the nation after San Francisco. In 1976, it was officially designated a National Historic Landmark city. That designation is intended to ensure the architectural preservation of these buildings. Virtually every street in the center of town is lined with ornate Victorian homes and quaint bed and breakfast inns, and hotels, which are often open to the public for tea and tours.

What is now Cape May was originally formed as the borough of Cape Island by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 8, 1848, from portions of Lower Township. It was reincorporated as Cape Island city on March 10, 1851, and finally became Cape May city as of March 9, 1869.

In summer, partly due to its beaches and partly due to its historic buildings, Cape May remains a popular seaside resort that draws visitors from Philadelphia, New York City and other surrounding areas. Cape May's official motto claims the city to be the oldest seaside resort in the United States. Tourism is the dominant industry, while commercial and sport fishing are also important to Cape May's economy. Marine mammal watching, bird watching, and other forms of Eco-tourism have become equally important in Cape May. With over 400 bird species having been recorded in this area and hundreds of local birders, Cape May is arguably the top bird-watching area in the entire Northeastern United States. The Cape May Bird Observatory is based nearby at Cape May Point.

A small wine growing area is adjacent to Cape May, and tourists to Cape May visit local wineries. Cape May's various confectioners' shops draw many Germans and Russians as well as other Eastern Europeans during the summer to seek work for the season. And with it's many Victorian homes, Cape May has become known both for its Victorian gingerbread homes and its cultural offerings. The town hosts the Cape May Jazz Festival, the Cape May Music Festival and the Cape May, New Jersey Film Festival.

Cape May is known traditionally as the home of the so-called 'Cape May Diamonds'. They show up at Sunset Beach and other beaches in the area. These are in fact clear quartz pebbles that wash down from the Delaware River. They begin as prismatic quartz (including the colour sub-varieties such as 'Smoky Quartz' and 'Amethyst') in the quartz veins alongside the Delaware River that get eroded out of the host rock and wash down 200 miles to the shore. Collecting Cape May diamonds is a popular pastime and many tourist shops sell them polished or even as faceted stones.

The United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, New Jersey is the Nation's only Coast Guard Recruit Training Center. In 1924, the U.S. Coast Guard occupied the base and established air facilities for planes used in support of United States Customs Service efforts. During World War II, a larger airstrip was constructed and the United States Navy operated the base to train aircraft carrier pilots. The over-the-water approach simulated carrier landings at sea. The Coast Guard also increased its Cape May forces for coastal patrol, anti-submarine warfare, air/sea rescue and buoy service. In 1946, the Navy relinquished the base to the Coast Guard. In 1948, all entry level training on the east coast was moved to the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Receiving Station in Cape May. The Coast Guard consolidated all recruit training functions in Cape May in 1982. Currently over 350 military and civilian personnel and their dependents are attached to Training Center Cape May.

Discover a place where hospitality and charm are always in style. Yesterday meets today along the historic streets of Cape May, the oldest and most beloved seashore town on the East Coast. Also commonly referred to as the “Restaurant Capital of New Jersey” for its diverse fine dining experiences, Cape May seafood is a popular menu favorite - since Cape May ranks first on the East Coast in commercial seafood landings.

For more information on activities in and around Cape May, New Jersey, visit:

• Cape May.com
• Cape May Beaches
• Cape May Magazine
• Township of Cape May, NJ
• Cape May County, NJ
• Greater Cape Map Chamber of Commerce
• Cape May, NJ Real Estate Summary on IDCide
• Cape May, NJ on CityTownInfo.com
• Cape May, NJ Google Earth Map
• View Cape May, NJ Area Jobs on Career Builder
• View Cape May, NJ Area Jobs on Yahoo HotJobs
• Cape May, New Jersey on Wikipedia.com
• Cape May, New Jersey on epodunk

For more information on activities in and around South Jersey, including Cape May County, New Jersey, visit:

• Atlantic City Tourism
• Southern Shore Region Tourism
• New Jersey Tourism: Jersey Shore
• New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route
• The State of New Jersey

Cape May Homes, Properties and Special Feature Real Estate

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