Strathmere, New Jersey
Strathmere is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP)[8] located within Upper Township in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[9][10] As of the 2020 United States census, the CDP's population was 137,[3] a decrease of 21 (−13.3%) from the 158 counted at the 2010 U.S. census,[11] which reflected a decrease of 17 (−9.7%) from the 175 enumerated at the 2000 census.[12]
Strathmere, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
 Map of Strathmere highlighted within Cape May County. Right: Location of Cape May County in New Jersey. | |
  Strathmere Location in Cape May County  Strathmere Location in New Jersey  Strathmere Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 39.19614°N 74.659412°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Cape May |
| Township | Upper |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.76 sq mi (1.96 km2) |
| • Land | 0.53 sq mi (1.36 km2) |
| • Water | 0.23 sq mi (0.60 km2) 21.29% |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 137 |
| • Density | 258.5/sq mi (99.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code | 08248[4] |
| Area code | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-71250[5][6] |
| GNIS feature ID | 02390365[7] |
With its beaches in the Strathmere section, Upper Township is one of five municipalities in the state that offer free public access to oceanfront beaches monitored by lifeguards, joining Atlantic City, North Wildwood, Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest.[13]
History
The earliest known people on Ludlam Island (where Strathmere is located) were the Lenape Native Americans, who came to the island in the summertime to hunt fish and crustaceans. Along the northern 1.5 mi (2.4 km) portion of the island was a community named Corson's Inlet, after the waterway separating the island and Ocean City to the north.[14] A part of Upper Township and Dennis Township became a part of neighboring Sea Isle City in 1905, also on Ludlam Island.[15] That same year, Sea Isle City sold Corson's Inlet to Upper Township for $31,500 (equivalent to $1,030,000 in 2022) to pay off municipal debt. In 1912, the community of Corson's Inlet was renamed Strathmere.[14]
The Whale Beach section of Strathmere got its name from the whales that would periodically beach themselves there.
In 2007, Citizens for Strathmere and Whale Beach petitioned to leave Upper Township and join neighboring Sea Isle City, citing an unfair tax burden, inadequate municipal services, and a lengthy wait time for the police. The local planning board held 18 meetings over the next two years, and the township recommended against de-annexation in 2009, noting that taxes would increase school taxes by 20% for the remainder of Upper Township. The group in favor of de-annexation filed a suit with the New Jersey Superior Court, which ruled against the petition in 2010. An appeal to the New Jersey Supreme Court was denied in January 2013.[16]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 0.760 square miles (1.968 km2), including 0.598 square miles (1.549 km2) of land and 0.162 square miles (0.419 km2) of water (21.29%).[17][18]
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 175 | — | |
| 2010 | 158 | −9.7% | |
| 2020 | 137 | −13.3% | |
| Population sources: 2000[12] 2010[11] 2020[3] | |||
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 158 people, 82 households, and 49 families in the CDP. The population density was 264.2 per square mile (102.0/km2). There were 447 housing units at an average density of 747.5 per square mile (288.6/km2). The racial makeup was 98.73% (156) White, 0.00% (0) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.00% (0) Asian, 0.63% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.00% (0) from other races, and 0.63% (1) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% (1) of the population.[11]
Of the 82 households, 9.8% had children under the age of 18; 52.4% were married couples living together; 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 40.2% were non-families. Of all households, 36.6% were made up of individuals and 20.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.93 and the average family size was 2.49.[11]
8.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 10.1% from 25 to 44, 42.4% from 45 to 64, and 34.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 57.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 102.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 108.7 males.[11]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[5] there were 175 people, 93 households, and 54 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 104.0/km2 (269.6/mi2). There were 464 housing units at an average density of 275.6/km2 (714.7/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.71% White, 1.14% Asian, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population.[12]
Of the 93 households; 7.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 38.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.88 and the average family size was 2.44.[12]
In the CDP the population was spread out, with 8.0% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 17.1% from 25 to 44, 36.6% from 45 to 64, and 34.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.[12]
The median income for a household in the CDP was $78,709, and the median income for a family was $77,783. Males had a median income of $40,972 versus $43,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $52,045. None of the population or families were below the poverty line.[12]
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Strathmere has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) with hot, moderately humid summers, cool winters and year-around precipitation. Cfa climates are characterized by all months having an average mean temperature above 32.0 °F (0.0 °C), at least four months with an average mean temperature at or above 50.0 °F (10.0 °C), at least one month with an average mean temperature at or above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months in Strathmere, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days, but episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values at or above 95.0 °F (35.0 °C). During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below 0.0 °F (−17.8 °C). The plant hardiness zone at Strathmere Beach is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 5.0 °F (−15.0 °C).[19] The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total is between 12 and 18 inches (30 and 46 cm) and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.
| Climate data for Strathmere Beach, NJ (1981–2010 Averages) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 41.7 (5.4) |
43.9 (6.6) |
51.0 (10.6) |
60.6 (15.9) |
69.9 (21.1) |
78.7 (25.9) |
83.5 (28.6) |
82.3 (27.9) |
76.6 (24.8) |
65.9 (18.8) |
56.5 (13.6) |
46.5 (8.1) |
63.2 (17.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.8 (1.0) |
35.9 (2.2) |
42.4 (5.8) |
51.9 (11.1) |
61.1 (16.2) |
70.3 (21.3) |
75.5 (24.2) |
74.4 (23.6) |
68.1 (20.1) |
57.2 (14.0) |
48.0 (8.9) |
38.5 (3.6) |
54.8 (12.7) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 26.0 (−3.3) |
27.9 (−2.3) |
33.9 (1.1) |
43.1 (6.2) |
52.3 (11.3) |
61.9 (16.6) |
67.5 (19.7) |
66.5 (19.2) |
59.7 (15.4) |
48.5 (9.2) |
39.4 (4.1) |
30.5 (−0.8) |
46.5 (8.1) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.33 (85) |
2.89 (73) |
4.26 (108) |
3.70 (94) |
3.46 (88) |
3.17 (81) |
3.74 (95) |
4.27 (108) |
3.40 (86) |
3.65 (93) |
3.36 (85) |
3.75 (95) |
42.98 (1,092) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 67.3 | 65.6 | 62.8 | 62.5 | 67.1 | 71.1 | 71.1 | 73.6 | 72.2 | 71.0 | 68.7 | 68.1 | 68.4 |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 24.1 (−4.4) |
25.5 (−3.6) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
39.5 (4.2) |
50.1 (10.1) |
60.5 (15.8) |
65.5 (18.6) |
65.4 (18.6) |
58.8 (14.9) |
47.9 (8.8) |
38.2 (3.4) |
28.9 (−1.7) |
44.7 (7.1) |
| Source: PRISM[20] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Atlantic City, NJ Ocean Water Temperature (17 NE Strathmere) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 37 (3) |
35 (2) |
42 (6) |
48 (9) |
56 (13) |
63 (17) |
70 (21) |
73 (23) |
70 (21) |
61 (16) |
53 (12) |
44 (7) |
54 (12) |
| Source: NOAA[21] | |||||||||||||
Ecology
According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Strathmere would have a dominant vegetation type of Northern Cordgrass (73) with a dominant vegetation form of Coastal Prairie (20).[22]
Education
As with other parts of Upper Township, the area is zoned to Upper Township School District (for grades K-8) and Ocean City School District (for high school). The latter operates Ocean City High School.
Countywide schools include Cape May County Technical High School and Cape May County Special Services School District.
References
- "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Strathmere Census Designated Place, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed October 19, 2012.
- "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- Look Up a ZIP Code for Strathmere, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed October 19, 2012.
- U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
- Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed June 9, 2023.
- US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
- State of New Jersey Census Designated Places – BVP20 – Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.
- New Jersey: 2010 – Population and Housing Unit Counts – 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed October 19, 2012.
- Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 19, 2015.
- DP-1 – Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Strathmere CDP, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 19, 2012.
- DP-1 – Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Strathmere CDP, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 19, 2012.
- Spoto, MaryAnn. "Surfers fighting to save dwindling free beaches", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 20, 2015. Accessed October 30, 2015. "New Jersey has five free guarded ocean beaches – Atlantic City, Wildwood, North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and the Strathmere section of Upper Township."
- Robert F. Holden (August 9, 2017). "History of the Ten Villages of Upper Township: The Island Village of Strathmere, Part 1". The Gazette of Upper Township. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
- John P. Snyder (1969). The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968 (PDF). Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey. pp. 114, 116. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
- "After seven years, Strathmere de-annexation fight is over". The Gazette of Upper Township. January 29, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
- Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 21, 2016.
- US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
- "USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
- "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". Retrieved August 5, 2019.
- "Water Temperature Table of All Coastal Regions". Retrieved August 5, 2019.
- "U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)". Retrieved August 5, 2019.
External links
- Strathmere web site
- The Upper Township Gazette serving Strathmere Local community newspaper
Municipalities and communities of Cape May County, New Jersey, United States | ||
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| Cities |  Map of New Jersey highlighting Cape May County | |
| Boroughs | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||