Woodbine was founded in 1891 as a settlement for Eastern European Jews. The Baron DeHirsch Fund, organized by philanthropist
Maurice de Hirsch, purchased 5,300 acres (21 km2) 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 800 acres (3.2 km2) 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,[24][25] the first colonists (Woodbine was sometimes called the "Jewish Colony" in the early days) turned Woodbine into a model agricultural community.
Woodbine was incorporated as a borough by an act of the
New Jersey Legislature on March 3, 1903, from portions of Dennis Township.[22] Because most of the original settlers were Jewish, Woodbine became known as "the first self-governing Jewish community since the fall of Jerusalem."[26]
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.[27]
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.[28]
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.[1][2]
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.[32]
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.[19]
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.[19]
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.[40]
2000 census
As of the
2000 United States census[15] there were 2,716 people, 773 households, and 558 families residing in the borough. The population density was 339.6 inhabitants per square mile (131.1/km2). There were 1,080 housing units at an average density of 135.1 per square mile (52.2/km2). 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.[38][39]
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.[38][39]
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.[38][39]
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.[38][39]
Government
A political meeting in Woodbine
c. 1890s
Local government
Woodbine is governed under the
borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[41] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected
at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[6] The borough form of government used by Woodbine is a "
weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can
veto ordinances subject to an
override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[42][43]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of Woodbine is
Republican William Pikolycky, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2026. The members of the Woodbine Borough Council are Council President Eduardo Ortiz (R, 2025), David Bennet (R, 2023), Michael E. Benson (R, 2024), Hector L. Cruz (R, 2023), Joseph E. Johnson III (R, 2024) and Mary Helen Perez (R, 2025).[3][44][45][46][47][48]
In 2018, the borough had an average property tax bill of $1,947, the lowest in the county, compared to an average bill of $4,301 in Cumberland County and $8,767 statewide.[49][50]
Federal, state and county representation
Woodbine is located in the 2nd Congressional District[51] and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.[52][53][54]
Cape May County is governed by a five-person
Board of County Commissioners whose members are elected
at-large on a partisan basis to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year; At an annual reorganization held each January, the commissioners select one member to serve as director and another to serve as vice-director.[60] As of 2024[update], Cape May County's Commissioners are:
The county's constitutional officers are:
Clerk Rita Marie Rothberg (R, 2025, Ocean City),[67][68]
Sheriff Robert Nolan (R, 2026, Lower Township)[69][70] and
Surrogate E. Marie Hayes (R, 2028, Ocean City).[71][72][73][66]
Watertower
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,470 registered voters in Woodbine, of which 286 (19.5%) were registered as
Democrats, 537 (36.5%) were registered as
Republicans and 647 (44.0%) were registered as
Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[74]
In the
2012 presidential election, Democrat
Barack Obama received 71.6% of the vote (641 cast), ahead of Republican
Mitt Romney with 27.4% (245 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (9 votes), among the 917 ballots cast by the borough's 1,410 registered voters (22 ballots were
spoiled), for a turnout of 65.0%.[75][76] In the
2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 66.4% of the vote (708 cast), ahead of Republican
John McCain, who received 29.8% (318 votes), with 1,066 ballots cast among the borough's 1,386 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.9%.[77] In the
2004 presidential election, Democrat
John Kerry received 59.0% of the vote (526 ballots cast), outpolling Republican
George W. Bush, who received around 38.6% (344 votes), with 891 ballots cast among the borough's 1,344 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 66.3.[78]
In the
2013 gubernatorial election, Republican
Chris Christie received 49.3% of the vote (302 cast), ahead of Democrat
Barbara Buono with 46.3% (284 votes), and other candidates with 4.4% (27 votes), among the 793 ballots cast by the borough's 1,387 registered voters (180 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 57.2%.[79][80] In the
2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat
Jon Corzine received 56.5% of the vote (476 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican
Chris Christie with 29.2% (246 votes) and Independent
Chris Daggett with 3.3% (28 votes), with 842 ballots cast among the borough's 1,540 registered voters, yielding a 54.7% turnout.[81]
Students are also eligible to attend
Cape May County Technical High School in Cape May Court House, which serves students from the entire county in its comprehensive and vocational programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.[91][92] Special needs students may be referred to
Cape May County Special Services School District in the Cape May Court House area.
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 32.45 miles (52.22 km) of roadways, of which 19.61 miles (31.56 km) were maintained by the municipality and 12.84 miles (20.66 km) by Cape May County.[98]
No Interstate, U.S. or state highways traverse Woodbine. The most significant roads serving the borough are
County Route 550 and
County Route 557.
^
abBorough Council Members, Borough of Woodbine, updated August 25, 2022. Accessed August 27, 2023. Note that as of date accessed Benson and Johnson have incorrect term-end dates.
^
abSabsovich, 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."
^Marcus, Samantha.
"These are the towns with the lowest property taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties", NJ Advance Media for
NJ.com, April 30, 2019. Accessed November 7, 2019. "New Jersey’s average property tax bill may have hit $8,767 last year — a new record — but taxpayers in some parts of the state pay just a fraction of that.... The average property tax bill in Woodbine Borough was $1,947 in 2018 the lowest in Cape May County."
^Biography of Bob Menendez,
United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^
abBoard of County Commissioners, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed April 28, 2022. "Cape May County Government is governed by a Board of County Commissioners. These individuals are elected at large by the citizens of Cape May County and hold spaced 3-year terms." Note that as of date accessed, Desiderio is listed with an incorrect term-end year of 2020.
^Woodbine School District 2016 Report Card Narrative,
New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed August 9, 2017. "The Woodbine Elementary School is a single building rural school that houses students in preschool through eighth grade. Currently, the school has an enrollment of 220 students. Following graduation from eighth grade, the students attend Middle Township High School, the Cape May County Technical High School, as well as other private schools for their secondary education."
^Middle Township High School 2015 School Report Card,
New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 30, 2016. "Middle Township High School is a four-year, accredited, comprehensive high school situated in central Cape May County. The school serves the communities of Middle Township, Dennis Township, Avalon, Stone Harbor, and Woodbine Borough."
^About Us, Woodbine School District. Accessed March 10, 2024. "The Woodbine School District is a single building rural school district that houses students in preschool through eighth grade. Currently, the school has an enrollment of 250 students. The students from Woodbine Elementary School attend Middle Township High School, Cape May County Vocational School, as well as other private and charter schools for their secondary education."
^Home page, Middle Township Public Schools. Accessed March 10, 2024. "The high school is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in
ninth through
twelfth grades. In addition to students from Middle Township, students from Avalon, Dennis Township, Stone Harbor and Woodbine attend the high school as part of sending/receiving relationships."
^Frequently Asked Questions,
Cape May County Technical High School. Accessed October 27, 2019. "All residents of Cape May County are eligible to attend Cape May County Technical High School.... The Cape May County Technical High School is a public school so there is no cost to residents of Cape May County."
^Associated Press.
"Samuel Gallu, 73, Playwright, Tv Producer", The Morning Call, March 30, 1991. Accessed June 13, 2020. "Samuel G. Gallu Jr., a television producer who also wrote the play Give 'Em Hell, Harry, about Harry S. Truman died of cancer Wednesday in Doylestown Hospital.... Born in Woodbine, N.J., Gallu sang opera in the 1940s with the Metropolitan Opera Workshop."
^Staff.
"Woodbine's history recalled", Courier-Post, April 16, 2001. Accessed August 22, 2011. "'It was like a large extended family here', said Julie Meranze-Levitt, whose grandfather Joseph Rabinowitz was the borough's third mayor".