Middle Township is a township in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township, 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 township's population was 20,380, its highest decennial census count ever and an increase of 1,469 (+7.8%) from the 2010 census count of 18,911, which in turn had reflected an increase of 2,506 (+15.3%) from the 16,405 counted at 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 township's Cape May Court House section is the county seat of Cape May County.New Jersey County Map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed July 10, 2017.
History 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).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 114. Accessed May 30, 2024. 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.Stevens, Lewis Townsend. The History of Cape May County, New Jersey: From the Aboriginal Times to the Present Day, p. 92. L.T. Stevens, 1897. Accessed September 3, 2015. "The county of Cape May was divided into three townships, Upper, Middle and Lower, April 2, 1723, of which the official record says:"
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%).
Burleigh (with a 2020 Census population of 766), Cape May Court House (5,573), Rio Grande (3,610), Goshen (400), and Whitesboro (2,300) 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.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 17, 2012. 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.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed December 18, 2014.
The township borders the Cape May County municipalities of Avalon Borough, Dennis Township, Lower Township, North Wildwood City, Sea Isle City, Stone Harbor Borough, Wildwood City and West Wildwood Borough, along with the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay.Areas touching Middle Township, MapIt. Accessed February 27, 2020.Cape May County, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed February 27, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Ike's Point is a small, swampy point that protrudes into the western side of Jenkins Sound.Summary Report: Ike's Point, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed August 27, 2024. 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".Brean, Henry. "Obscure federal rule erased apostrophes from place names", Las Vegas Review-Journal, February 5, 2018. Accessed August 27, 2024. "Since 1890, only five exceptions have been granted to the no-apostrophe rule:... Ike’s Point in New Jersey in 1944 because the name 'would be unrecognizable otherwise'"
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 18,911 people, 7,256 households, and 4,934 families in the township. The population density was . There were 9,296 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 83.11% (15,716) White, 10.41% (1,969) Black or African American, 0.18% (34) Native American, 1.79% (339) Asian, 0.05% (9) Pacific Islander, 1.97% (373) from other races, and 2.49% (471) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.09% (962) of the population.
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.
20.9% 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.
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.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Middle Township, Cape May County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 17, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 16,405 people, 6,009 households, and 4,218 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 7,510 housing units at an average density of . 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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Middle township, Cape May County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 1, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Middle township, Cape May County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 17, 2012.
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.
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.
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.
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.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 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 9."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, 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).Administration, Middle Township. Accessed August 23, 2023.2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Middle Township. Accessed August 23, 2023.2023 County & Municipal Elected Officials Cape May County, NJ -- July 2023, Cape May County, New Jersey, August 3, 2023. Accessed August 23, 2023.Summary Results Report 2022 November Cape May General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results, Cape May County, New Jersey, updated November 17, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.2021 General Election Successful Candidates, Cape May County, New Jersey, updated November 16, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.2020 General Election Successful Candidates, Cape May County, New Jersey, updated December 4, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
Federal, state, and county representation Middle Township is located in the 2nd Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.
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.Voter Registration Summary - Cape May, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 17, 2012.