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.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022. 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.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. 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.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 116. Accessed May 30, 2024.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.36 square miles (0.94 km2), including 0.29 square miles (0.74 km2) of land and 0.08 square miles (0.20 km2) of water (21.67%).

The borough borders the Cape May County municipalities of Middle Township, North Wildwood and Wildwood.Areas touching West Wildwood, MapIt. Accessed March 13, 2020.Cape May County , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 13, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Located on a small island connected to Wildwood by a two-lane bridge, the borough consists primarily vacation and year-round homes with a single night club, a miniature golf course and several marinas. Created using landfill to cover existing marshes in the 1920s, the borough is surrounded by bulkheads to protect it from flooding, though heavy winds and high tides can overtop the flood protection mechanisms.Miller, Jen A. "Great Homes & Destinations | Havens | West Wildwood, N.J.; A 'Gated' Community Surrounded by Water", The New York Times, August 28, 2008. Accessed October 28, 2019. "To get onto the island of West Wildwood, N.J., you have two options: the two-lane Glenwood Avenue Bridge or a boat. The tiny island has no schools, but there’s one bar, one liquor store, one mini-golf course, one church and lots of marinas.... The town has about 700 year-round residents, a number that swells to 5,000 on summer weekends, according to the police department."

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 603 people, 276 households, and 160 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 893 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 95.36% (575) White, 1.49% (9) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.00% (0) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.66% (4) from other races, and 2.49% (15) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.65% (16) of the population.

Of the 276 households, 14.5% had children under the age of 18; 42.8% were married couples living together; 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 42.0% were non-families. Of all households, 35.9% were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.78.

17.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 16.3% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 27.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $38,750 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,914) and the median family income was $57,981 (+/− $16,263). Males had a median income of $36,607 (+/− $10,003) versus $36,364 (+/− $10,046) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,606 (+/− $4,119). About 6.7% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for West Wildwood borough, Cape May County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 17, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 448 people, 202 households, and 117 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 775 housing units at an average density of 1, 150.9/km2 (2,937.4/sq mi). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.76% White, 0.22% Asian, 2.23% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.79% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for West Wildwood borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 17, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for West Wildwood borough, Cape May County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 17, 2012.

There were 202 households, out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 18.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 32.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $33,393, and the median income for a family was $50,625. Males had a median income of $38,281 versus $21,190 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $17,839. About 3.2% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy Portions of the borough—together with areas in North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest—are part of a joint Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. The four municipalities in The Wildwoods were selected in 2002 as one of a group of three zones added to participate in the program.Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Questions and Answers, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, May 2009. Accessed October 28, 2019. "The legislation was amended again in 2002 to include 3 more zones. They include Bayonne City, Roselle Borough, and a joint zone consisting of North Wildwood City, Wildwood City, Wildwood Crest Borough, and West Wildwood Borough." In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the % rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.Urban Enterprise Zone Program, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Businesses participating in the UEZ Program can charge half the standard sales tax rate on certain purchases, currently 3.3125% effective 1/1/2018" Established in November 2002, the borough's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in December 2023.Urban Enterprise Zone Effective and Expiration Dates, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed January 8, 2018. The joint UEZ is overseen by the Enterprise Zone Development Corporation of the Wildwoods Board, which includes representatives from all four municipalities.Urban Enterprise Zone Program, City of Wildwood. Accessed March 13, 2020. "The Enterprise Zone Development Corporation of the Wildwoods Board is comprised of business owners, elected officials and employees representing the City of Wildwood, City of North Wildwood, the Borough of West Wildwood, and the Borough of Wildwood Crest."

Government

Local government West Wildwood has been governed under the Walsh Act form of New Jersey municipal government since 1964. The borough is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use the commission form of government.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of three commissioners, who are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis to serve concurrent four-year terms of office as part of the November general election. At a reorganization meeting conducted after each election, the commission selects one of its members to serve as mayor and designates for each commissioner an assigned department to oversee.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 8."The Commission Form of Municipal Government" , p. 53. Accessed June 3, 2015."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 8. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.2017 Annual Audit, Borough of West Cape May. Accessed March 13, 2020. "The Borough is governed by an elected, three member commission form of government, with the Mayor appointed annually by the commission members. The commission consists of three individuals serving concurrent four year terms."

, members of the West Wildwood Borough Board of Commissioners are Mayor Matthew J. Ksiazek (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property), John J. Banning (Commissioner of Public Safety and Public Affairs), Joseph D. Segrest (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance), all serving concurrent terms of office ending December 31, 2024.Officials, Borough of West Wildwood. Accessed August 24, 2023.2023 2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of West Wildwood. Accessed August 24, 2023.2023 County & Municipal Elected Officials Cape May County, NJ -- July 2023, Cape May County, New Jersey, August 3, 2023. Accessed August 23, 2023.2020 General Election Successful Candidates, Cape May County, New Jersey, updated December 4, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.

In June 2019, Cornelius J. Maxwell (who had been serving as Commissioner of Revenue and Finance) resigned from office, citing personal reasons. The meeting where Maxwell resigned was the first following the disclosure of ethics fines of nearly $25,000—the largest in state history by the board—that had been assessed by the Local Finance Board against Mayor Fox relating to his actions on behalf of Police Chief Jacqueline Ferentz.Brunetti, Michelle. "West Wildwood commissioner resigns in wake of mayor's ethics troubles", The Press of Atlantic City, June 6, 2019. Accessed October 28, 2019. "At the first Borough Commission meeting since Mayor Chris Fox’s $24,900 in state ethics fines became public and he lost his job as administrator in a nearby town, borough officials announced Commissioner Cornelius Maxwell had resigned." In November 2019, Amy Korbellis was elected to fill the vacant seat.Cape May County 2019 General Election Successful Candidates, Cape May County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2016. Accessed January 1, 2020."West Wildwood Adds Korobellis To Commission", WCZT, November 14, 2019. Accessed March 13, 2020. "West Wildwood has a new member on its Borough Commission. Amy Korobellis was sworn in to office during a ceremony on Thursday. Korobellis was the top vote getter in this month’s election to fill the unexpired term of Cornelius Maxwell, who quit in June."