Cape May County

Identifier
NJS-PLC-00176
Place Type
County or Parish
Description
Cape May is the southernmost county in New Jersey, located principally on the Cape May peninsula surrounded by the Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It was one of the earliest counties formed during the colonial era and its boundaries have remained stable since 1710, except for the area around Dennis township, which was moved from Cumberland County to Cape May in the late 19th century. The unincorporated community of Cape May Court House in Middle Township serves as the county seat.

County demographics from the 1800 U.S. census, when slavery in New Jersey reached its peak:

In 1800, Cape May was by far the least populated county in New Jersey. It had a total population of 3,066, while the bordering Cumberland County, which was the 2nd least populated county in the state, had more than three times as many residents. Being the most sparsely populated county, Cape May also had the smallest Black population, numbering 178 (representing 5.8% of the county's population). Enslaved people outnumbered free Black people in Cape May, with 55.1% of the Black residents living in slavery, while the remaining 44.9% were free. It was the only county in the southern part of the state where the majority of the Black residents were still living in slavery, presenting a contrast with the neighboring counties where the vast majority of Black residents were free by this time. Cape May had 98 enslaved residents (3.2% of the county population) and 80 free Black residents (2.6% of the county population).
County (Modern)
Cape May County
State or Province
New Jersey
Country
United States of America
Latitude
39.083181
Longitude
-74.823293
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_May_County,_New_Jersey
Record Contributor
Jesse Bayker
Linked Places

Places located in Cape May County:
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Note that only persons whose town or village is uncertain will show up on this list for the county. Check the place records for specific communities within the county to find out who lived there.

Persons of African descent linked to Cape May County:

White persons linked to Cape May County:
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Resource class
Location