Woodbine 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 South Jersey region of the state and of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area, which 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 2,128, a decrease of 344 (−13.9%) from the 2010 census count of 2,472, which in turn reflected a decline of 244 (−9.0%) from the 2,716 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.

Woodbine was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 3, 1903, from portions of Dennis 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.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 315. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed November 1, 2015.

History Woodbine was founded in 1891 as a settlement for Eastern European Jews. The Baron DeHirsch Fund, organized by philanthropist Maurice de Hirsch, purchased of land in Dennis Township in Cape May County to start a settlement. Immigrants from Poland and Russia were invited to settle the new community. Within two years, they cleared the forest and built a settlement with thriving farms, with of land set aside as town lots. The residential center of Woodbine still uses the same grid that was originally laid out in 1891. Using modern agricultural practices under the direction of agriculturist and chemist Hirsch Loeb Sabsovich,Sabsovich, Katharine. Adventures in Idealism: A Personal Record of the Life of Professor Sabsovich, Stratford Press, 1922. Accessed August 9, 2016. "In its gratitude, of course, Woodbine unanimously elected Professor Sabsovich its first Mayor, and its Mayor he continued until he was called to New York City to assume the responsibilities of general manager of the Baron de Hirsch Fund." the first colonists (Woodbine was sometimes called the "Jewish Colony" in the early days) turned Woodbine into a model agricultural community. The Woodbine colony and all other South Jersey Jewish farming colonies actively sought out and encouraged non-Jews to settle in the colony as part of their sociological model. The model was described by Rabbi Moshe Davis as "the continuing quest of the Jewish people to find a more perfect union with lands and peoples of expanding freedom."

Woodbine was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 3, 1903, from portions of Dennis Township. Because most of the original settlers were Jewish, Woodbine became known as "the first self-governing Jewish community since the fall of Jerusalem."Shaw, Albert. The American Monthly Review of Reviews, Volume 36, p. 354. Accessed July 30, 2013.

The community started the Baron DeHirsch Agricultural College in 1894. Until it was closed during World War I (1917), the college was a model of progressive education. The college and its graduates won many state, national, and international awards. World War I, however, signaled a change in the community from an agricultural economy to one with a light manufacturing economy. The Baron DeHirsch Agricultural College became what is today the Woodbine Developmental Center, a state-run facility for training the mentally handicapped. The Developmental Center is Cape May County's largest employer.Leach, Ben. "Explosion rocks vacant laundryroom at Woodbine State School, no one injured", The Press of Atlantic City, August 2, 2010. Accessed July 30, 2013. "The Woodbine Developmental Center is a state-run facility for training of the handicapped and is Cape May County's largest employer."

During World War II, the United States Army built an airfield in Woodbine to be used as a training base and as a base for anti-submarine patrols. German U-boats were very active off the East Coast of America, especially off the Jersey coast. Today, Woodbine Municipal Airport is the center of Woodbine's redevelopment efforts.Woodbine Municipal Airport, Borough of Woodbine. Accessed July 30, 2013.

In 1946 and 1947, the airfield was used for secret night flights of arms and munitions to support the creation of a Jewish State, Israel.Mohrbacher, Austin P. "State's Jewish Colonies in Danger,", The New York Times, June 24, 1984. Accessed December 30, 2025.

By the 1980s, several of the colony's original buildings had been demolished, including the synagogue situated on the grounds of Woodbine Hospital. The Woodbine Brotherhood Synagogue had also been firebombed and desecrated.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 8.02 square miles (20.77 km2), all of which was land.

The borough borders Dennis Township and Upper Township.Areas touching Woodbine, 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.

Climate The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Woodbine has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.Climate Summary for Woodbine, New Jersey

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Woodbine had a population of 2,128. The median age was 42.5 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 108.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 114.2 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 727 households in Woodbine, of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.3% were married-couple households, 20.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 35.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 999 housing units, of which 27.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.8%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 1,102 51.8% Black or African American 494 23.2% American Indian and Alaska Native 5 0.2% Asian 12 0.6% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 200 9.4% Two or more races 315 14.8% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 530 24.9%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 2,472 people, 757 households, and 516 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,079 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 58.21% (1,439) White, 24.72% (611) Black or African American, 0.24% (6) Native American, 0.73% (18) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 12.30% (304) from other races, and 3.80% (94) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.22% (574) of the population.

Of the 757 households, 27.7% had children under the age of 18; 38.0% were married couples living together; 23.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.8% were non-families. Of all households, 26.3% were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.13.

20.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 33.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 135.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 143.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $28,125 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,957) and the median family income was $25,254 (+/− $5,816). Males had a median income of $35,500 (+/− $7,453) versus $31,298 (+/− $9,891) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,734 (+/− $2,126). About 33.9% of families and 38.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.8% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Woodbine borough, Cape May County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 18, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,716 people, 773 households, and 558 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,080 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 53.39% White, 32.40% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 11.01% from other races, and 2.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.24% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Woodbine borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 18, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Woodbine borough, Cape May County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 18, 2012.

There were 773 households, out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 27.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 142.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 158.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $30,298, and the median income for a family was $31,786. Males had a median income of $30,139 versus $24,150 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $13,335. About 18.8% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government