Location of Middle Township in Cape May County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Cape May County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Middle Township was formed as a precinct on April 2, 1723, and was incorporated by Township Act of 1798 of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798 as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township have been taken to form Anglesea Borough (on June 13, 1885; now North Wildwood), Avalon (April 18, 1892), Wildwood (May 1, 1895), Stone Harbor (April 3, 1914) and West Wildwood (April 21, 1920).[24] The township's name came from its location when Cape May was split into three townships in 1723 at the same time that Lower Township and Upper Township were created.[25]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 82.92 square miles (214.77 km2), including 70.24 square miles (181.92 km2) of land and 12.69 square miles (32.86 km2) of water (15.30%).[1][2]
Burleigh (with a 2010 Census population of 725[26]), Cape May Court House (5,338[27]), Rio Grande (2,670[28]) and Whitesboro (2,205[29]) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Middle Township; Whitesboro and Burleigh had previously been combined for statistical purposes by the Census Bureau as Whitesboro-Burleigh through the 2000 Census.[30] Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Del Haven, Dias Creek, Goshen, Goshen Landing, Green Creek, Holly Beach, Mayville, Norburys Landing, Nummytown, Pierces, Pierces Point, Reeds Beach, Shellbed Landing, Swain Point, Swainton, Wildwood Gardens and Wildwood Junction.[31]
Ike's Point is a small, swampy point that protrudes into the western side of Jenkins Sound.[35] Ike's Point is one of five federally-recognized place names in the United States with a possessive apostrophe. When the name was made official in 1944, the United States Board on Geographic Names allowed the apostrophe as the name "would be unrecognizable otherwise".[36]
Of the 7,256 households, 24.7% had children under the age of 18; 50.4% were married couples living together; 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.0% were non-families. Of all households, 26.2% were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.00.[20]
20.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.7 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $57,244 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,225) and the median family income was $66,451 (+/− $6,897). Males had a median income of $49,645 (+/− $5,272) versus $48,029 (+/− $5,201) for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,087 (+/− $1,866). About 4.4% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.[49]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census,[16] there were 16,405 people, 6,009 households, and 4,218 families residing in the township. The population density was 230.2 inhabitants per square mile (88.9/km2). There were 7,510 housing units at an average density of 105.4 per square mile (40.7/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 85.21% White, 10.86% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.44% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.12% of the population.[47][48]
There were 6,009 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.[47][48]
In the township, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.[47][48]
The median income for a household in the township was $41,533, and the median income for a family was $49,030. Males had a median income of $37,531 versus $27,166 for females. The per capita income for the township was $19,805. About 8.6% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.[47][48]
Government
Local government
Middle Township is governed under the Township form of government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.[50] The governing body is comprised of a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.[7][51] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2023[update], the Township Committee consists of Mayor Timothy C. Donohue (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2023), Deputy Mayor Theron "Ike" Gandy (R, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2023) and James Norris (R, 2025).[3][52][53][54][55][56]
Federal, state, and county representation
Middle Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District[57] and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.[58][59][60]
Cape May County is governed by a five-person Board of County Commissioners whose members are elected at-large on a partisan basis to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year; At an annual reorganization held each January, the commissioners select one member to serve as director and another to serve as vice-director.[66] As of 2024[update], Cape May County's Commissioners are
Director Leonard C. Desiderio (R, Sea Isle City, 2024),[67]
Robert Barr (R, Ocean City; 2025),[68]
Will Morey (R, Wildwood Crest; 2026),[69]
Melanie Collette (R. Middle Township; 2026),[70] and
Vice-Director Andrew Bulakowski (R, Lower Township; 2025).[71][66][72]
The county's constitutional officers are Clerk Rita Marie Rothberg (R, 2025, Ocean City),[73][74]
Sheriff Robert Nolan (R, 2026, Lower Township)[75][76] and
Surrogate E. Marie Hayes (R, 2028, Ocean City).[77][78][79][72]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 12,114 registered voters in Middle Township, of which 3,041 (25.1%) were registered as Democrats, 3,823 (31.6%) were registered as Republicans and 5,244 (43.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 6 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[80]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 49.6% of the vote (4,328 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 49.3% (4,299 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (93 votes), among the 8,796 ballots cast by the township's 12,717 registered voters (76 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.2%.[81][82] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 49.5% of the vote (4,483 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 48.4% (4,389 votes), with 9,059 ballots cast among the township's 11,493 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.8%.[83] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 54.0% of the vote (4,391 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry, who received around 44.1% (3,586 votes), with 8,133 ballots cast among the township's 10,977 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.1.[84]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.5% of the vote (3,856 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 30.8% (1,757 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (98 votes), among the 5,911 ballots cast by the township's 12,651 registered voters (200 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.7%.[85][86] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 48.4% of the vote (3,024 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 41.5% (2,593 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 6.1% (381 votes), with 6,244 ballots cast among the township's 12,320 registered voters, yielding a 50.7% turnout.[87]
Students are also eligible to attend Cape May County Technical High School in Cape May Court House, which serves students from the entire county in its comprehensive and vocational programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.[97][98] Special needs students may be referred to Cape May County Special Services School District in Cape May Court House.
Cape May County Library has its Cape May Court House branch.[105]
Infrastructure
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 178.86 miles (287.85 km) of roadways, of which 96.20 miles (154.82 km) were maintained by the municipality, 42.23 miles (67.96 km) by Cape May County, 29.06 miles (46.77 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 11.37 miles (18.30 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[106]
The Great American Trolley Company operates trolley service from North Wildwood and Wildwood to shopping centers in Rio Grande on Mondays through Fridays in the summer months.[114]
Health care
Cape Regional Medical Center, located in Cape May Court House, is the only hospital in Cape May County. It was known as Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital until April 2007.[115] In May 2021, The Claire C. Brodesser Surgery Center opened to patients needing ambulatory surgery and endoscopy services.[116]
Matthew Maher (born 1984), retired soccer defender, who was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for first degree aggravated manslaughter and drunken driving[125]
^Raum, John O. The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 261, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed July 9, 2013. "Middle township was incorporated in 1798 and contained in 1850, 1,884 inhabitants; in 1860, 2,155; and in 1870, 3,443. About one half of this township is salt marsh or sea beach. It extends across the township from the Atlantic ocean to Delaware bay. Goshen is a post village about five miles northwest of the court house and contains about twenty five dwellings. The post village of Cape May Court House is in the central part of the county between Great Sound and Jenkins Sound and about eighty miles from Trenton in a straight line. It contained in 1870 1,348 inhabitants."
^ abBoard of County Commissioners, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed April 28, 2022. "Cape May County Government is governed by a Board of County Commissioners. These individuals are elected at large by the citizens of Cape May County and hold spaced 3-year terms." Note that as of date accessed, Desiderio is listed with an incorrect term-end year of 2020.
^Middle Township High School 2015 School Report Card, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 30, 2016. "Middle Township High School is a four-year, accredited, comprehensive high school situated in central Cape May County. The school serves the communities of Middle Township, Dennis Township, Avalon, Stone Harbor, and Woodbine Borough."
^Home page, Middle Township Public Schools. Accessed May 10, 2020. "Middle Township Public School is a K-12 public school district located in Cape May County, New Jersey. Four schools comprise the district. Elementary # 1 serves students form Pre K to grade 2 and Elementary #2 serves students from grades 3 to 5. Our middle school houses students from grades 6 to grade 8. The high school is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades. In addition to students from Middle Township, students from Avalon, Dennis Township, Stone Harbor and Woodbine attend the high school as part of sending/receiving relationships."
^Frequently Asked Questions, Cape May County Technical High School. Accessed October 27, 2019. "All residents of Cape May County are eligible to attend Cape May County Technical High School.... The Cape May County Technical High School is a public school so there is no cost to residents of Cape May County."
^Welcome, Bishop McHugh Regional Catholic School. Accessed February 22, 2023. "The school is part of the Diocese of Camden, and is supported by the four regional parishes of Avalon/Stone Harbor, Cape May Court House, Marmora/Woodbine and Sea Isle City."
^Schools, South Jersey Catholic Schools. Accessed February 21, 2023.
^Cape May Court House, Cape May County Library. Accessed February 22, 2023. "30 Mechanic Street, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210"
^Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak – 1st DistrictArchived 2014-12-19 at the Wayback Machine, Atlantic County Democrats. Accessed December 18, 2014. "Democrat Robert 'Bob' Andrzejczak, of Middle Township, was first sworn into the New website andrzejczakJersey General Assembly on March 21, 2013, filling the unexpired term of Matthew W. Milam."
^Berg, Aimee. "Disabled Skier Designs His Way to Be a Daredevil", The New York Times, December 13, 2006. Accessed September 24, 2013. "These days, Bramble builds the 32-pound aluminum and steel contraptions in a converted woodshop behind the two-story home that he built for his parents in Cape May Court House, N.J., before the accident. He and his fiancée, Leslie, live in an apartment above the shop, which he reaches via an open-air elevator that he also engineered."
^"Anthony J. Cafiero Dies at 82; Judge and Legislator in Jersey", The New York Times, October 2, 1982. Accessed February 18, 2021. "Anthony J. Cafiero, a former New Jersey Superior Court judge and State Senator, died Tuesday at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital in Middle Township, N.J. He was 82 years old, and lived in Middle Township."
^via Associated Press. "Maurice Catarcio; ex-pro wrestler did strength feats", The Boston Globe, May 16, 2005. Accessed November 22, 2016. "Middle Township, N.J. -- Maurice Catarcio, a former professional wrestler and weightlifter who gained national fame after he was diagnosed with cancer in his later years, has died. He was 76. Mr. Catarcio died of cancer at his home in Del Haven on Thursday."
^Spencer, Zac. "Former Middle soccer standout Joe Fala on Red Bulls 2 preseason roster", The Press of Atlantic City, February 20, 2020. Accessed March 8, 2020. "When Joe Fala went into college, he was a three-sport athlete at Middle Township High School.... The 22-year-old Cape May Court House resident has spent the past four years making a name for himself at NCAA Division III Ramapo College in Mahwah, Bergen County, where he’s now a senior."
^Staff. "Maher Gets Over Five Years for Drunk Driving Death", Cape May County Herald, January 7, 2010. Accessed October 3, 2017. "A former Middle Township High School and Philadelphia Kixx soccer star was sentenced to 5 ½ years in state prison today (Thursday, Jan. 7) for a drunk driving crash that killed a Philadelphia man on March 7. Before being eligible for parole, Matthew Maher, 25, of Court House, must serve 85 percent of the sentence for aggravated manslaughter handed down by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Michael A. Donio."
^"Middle Township H. S. Graduates 33 Thursday", Courier-Post, June 7, 1932. Accessed August 23, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The other graduates are: Cape May Court House - Nancy Costande, John F. Foster. Virginia Louise lverson, James Arthur Roorbach, Lillian Irene Saul, Helen Anna Stites, Julius Henry Taylor, George Carl Thompson and Mary Alice Wright."