Rio Grande, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
 Post office | |
 Map of Rio Grande highlighted within Cape May County. Right: Location of Cape May County in New Jersey. | |
  Rio Grande Location in the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:39°01′09″N74°52′40″W / 39.019051°N 74.87787°W /39.019051; -74.87787 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Cape May |
| Township | Middle (most),Lower (some) |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.73 sq mi (7.08 km2) |
| • Land | 2.70 sq mi (6.99 km2) |
| • Water | 0.031 sq mi (0.08 km2) 1.26% |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,610 |
| • Density | 1,337.3/sq mi (516.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code | 08242[4] |
| Area code | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-63180[5][6] |
| GNIS feature ID | 02389752[7] |
Rio Grande (/rioʊɡrʌndeɪ/) is anunincorporated community andcensus-designated place (CDP) located withinMiddle Township andLower Township inCape May County, in theU.S. state ofNew Jersey.[8]
Though for the 1990 to 2010 U.S. censuses the CDP was entirely located within Middle Township,[9][10] a small section at the southern edge of the community, located inLower Township, is sometimes called Rio Grande.[11][12] For the2020 U.S. census, the boundary was redrawn so that portions of Lower Township were included in the Rio Grande CDP.[13]
It is part of theOcean CityMetropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the CDP's population was 3,610,[3] its highest decennial census count ever and an increase of 940 (+35.2%) from the 2,679 counted at the2020 census,[14] which in turn had reflected an increase of 226 (+9.2%) from the2000 census of 2,444.[15]
According to Jeffrey M. Dorwart, Rio Grande was founded in the mid-nineteenth century around a country store owned by the Hildreth family. The community was originally called Hildreth for that reason.[16]
George F. Boyer and J. Pearson Cunningham explain that, during the colonial period, Aaron Leaming, the Hildreths and the Cresses had plantations in that area. Where the King's Highway crossed the road coming from Dennisville and Goshen a stage coach terminal was set up, and the spot became the center for trade for the local farming families. Boyer and Cunningham say that the area was known as "Leamings," for the prominent landholders, or as "Hildreth," the family who ran the local store. (p. 121-122) They continue, "The name, Rio Grande, was suggested by the seventh Aaron Leaming who thought this southern United States river had an attractive sound."[17]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 2.490 square miles (6.45 km2), including 2.459 square miles (6.37 km2) of land and 0.031 square miles (0.080 km2) of water (1.26%).[18][19]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Rio Grande has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[20]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2,505 | — | |
| 2000 | 2,444 | −2.4% | |
| 2010 | 2,670 | 9.2% | |
| 2020 | 3,610 | 35.2% | |
| Population sources: 2000[15] 2010[14][3] | |||
The2010 United States census counted 2,670 people, 1,115 households, and 730 families in the CDP. Thepopulation density was 1,085.8 people per square mile (419.2 people/km2). There were 1,489 housing units at an average density of 605.5 units per square mile (233.8 units/km2). The racial makeup was 86.44% (2,308)White, 5.54% (148)Black or African American, 0.26% (7)Native American, 2.51% (67)Asian, 0.04% (1)Pacific Islander, 3.22% (86) fromother races, and 1.99% (53) from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.68% (205) of the population.[14]
Of the 1,115 households, 20.8% had children under the age of 18; 45.4% were married couples living together; 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.5% were non-families. Of all households, 29.1% were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85.[14]
18.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.4 males.[14]
As of the2000 United States census[5] there were 2,444 people, 1,029 households, and 658 families living in the CDP. Thepopulation density was 399.8 people/km2 (1,035 people/sq mi). There were 1,294 housing units at an average density of 211.7 units/km2 (548 units/sq mi). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.79%White, 4.50%African American, 0.29%Native American, 0.94%Asian, 1.10% fromother races, and 2.37% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.03% of the population.[15]
There were 1,029 households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 46.6% weremarried couples living together; 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present; and 36.0% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93.[15]
In the CDP the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.[15]
The median income for a household in the CDP was $28,424, and the median income for a family was $38,007. Males had a median income of $32,935 versus $19,643 for females. Theper capita income for the CDP was $18,792. About 20.9% of families and 21.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 32.5% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.[15]
The areas within Middle Township, including almost all of Rio Grande CDP, are in theMiddle Township Public Schools;[21] it operates its campuses inCape May Court House, includingMiddle Township High School.
The areas within Lower Township, including a sliver of the CDP, are in theLower Township School District for elementary grades and theLower Cape May Regional School District for secondary grades.[21] The elementary school district operates Douglass School (PreK and Kindergarten) inVillas CDP and three schools inCold Spring: Mitnick School (1–2), Abrams School (3–4), and Sandman School (5–6). The secondary school district Teitelman Middle School andLower Cape May Regional High School in theErma area.
Countywide schools includeCape May Technical High School[22][23] (for technical school students) andCape May County Special Services School District (for special needs students) in the Cape May Court House area.
In the era ofde jureeducational segregation in the United States, a school for white children in grades 1-6 was maintained in Rio Grande and a school for black children was maintained inWhitesboro in grades 1–8. White children in Rio Grande were sent toWest Cape May School District for grades 7–12.[24]
Rio Grande is situated at the junction ofU.S. Route 9 andRoute 47. U.S. Route 9 runs south toCape May and north toward theAtlantic City area while Route 47 runs southeast toWildwood and north toMillville and theCamden area. Rio Grande is accessible from theGarden State Parkway at exit 4 northbound and exit 4B southbound.[25]
NJ Transit offers bus service from Rio Grande to Cape May andPhiladelphia on the313,315 and316 (seasonal only) routes, to Cape May and thePort Authority Bus Terminal inMidtown Manhattan on the319 route, to Wildwood on the510 route, and to Cape May andAtlantic City on the552 route.[26][27]
The Great American Trolley Company operates trolley service fromNorth Wildwood and Wildwood to shopping centers in Rio Grande on Mondays through Fridays in the summer months.[28]
Cape May Airport, established in 1941 as NAS Rio Grande, is located in the area,[10] in adjacentLower Township.[29][30]
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Rio Grande include:
Municipalities and communities ofCape May County, New Jersey,United States | ||
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