Mays Landing, New Jersey


Mays Landing is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in and the county seat of Atlantic County, New Jersey, located within Hamilton Township. As of the 2010 U.S. census, Mays Landing's population was 2,135.

History

The community was named for Captain George May, who sailed the Great Egg Harbor River in 1740, and purchased land in the area in 1756. The location was suitable for building ships using local timber and iron from Weymouth foundries. In February 1837, Atlantic County was created and Mays Landing was established as the county seat. The Atlantic County Courthouse was built here in 1838.

Weymouth Furnace/Forge

The Weymouth Forge and Furnace, located along Route 559 just north of the Black Horse Pike in Atlantic County, New Jersey, is now part of the Atlantic County Park System. The site was established in the early 1800s after George Ashbridge and Charles Shoemaker purchased the land in 1800. Iron production began in 1802, using local bog iron and charcoal as fuel. By the 1850s, it had grown into a bustling industrial community with a furnace, forge, gristmill, sawmill, church, store, worker housing, and other facilities. The forge primarily produced cast iron water pipes and also supplied shot and bombs to the U.S. government during the War of 1812. However, by 1862, competition from Pennsylvania’s coal-powered forges made it unprofitable, and the facility was destroyed by fire that same year.
In the decades that followed, the property hosted two paper mills—the Atlantic Paper Mills and Weymouth Paper Mills—which operated from the 1860s to 1897. After their closure, the area fell into decline: the dam broke in 1916, the mill pond drained, and the remaining buildings were scavenged for materials. In 1966, Atlantic County began acquiring portions of the original 85,973-acre tract to preserve its history. Today, the Weymouth Furnace site near Mays Landing remains a popular destination for visitors, offering views of the surviving ruins and access to canoeing on the Great Egg Harbor River.

Historic district

The Mays Landing Historic District is a historic district encompassing East and West Main streets and intersecting streets in the community. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 23, 1990, for its significance in architecture, community planning, industry, and politics. The district has 259 contributing buildings, four contributing sites, three contributing structures, and three contributing objects. Contributing buildings include the Mays Landing Presbyterian Church and the Samuel Richards Hotel, which were previously listed individually on the NRHP. The Abbott House features Second Empire architecture. The Champion House has Italianate architecture and Doric columns. The owner, John E. Champion, was once the owner of the Samuel Richards Hotel, then known as the American Hotel.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Mays Landing has a total area of, including of land and of water.
The community is located west of Atlantic City. The community known as Mizpah is located west of Mays Landing on U.S. Route 40 but is sometimes considered part of it, with ZIP codes of 08330 and 08342. McKee City is an unincorporated area east of Mays Landing on US 40.

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, Mays Landing has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

Mays Landing first appeared as an unincorporated community in the 1950 U.S. census; and then as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. census.

2020 census

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 2,135 people, 859 households, and 572 families in the CDP. The population density was. There were 949 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 88.99% White, 5.48% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.92% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.26% of the population.
Of the 859 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18; 46.9% were married couples living together; 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.4% were non-families. Of all households, 25.3% were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.93.
20.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.4 males.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 2,321 people, 892 households and 599 families residing in the CDP. The population density was. There were 952 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.25% White, 5.00% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.96% of the population.
There were 892 households, of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.12.
25.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median household income was $52,628 and the median family income was $60,000. Males had a median income of $41,432 compared with $30,154 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $23,477. About 4.9% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over. The Atlantic County Special Services School is a public school which services students with disabilities from the ages of 3 1/2 to 21.

Education

Mays Landing is within two school districts: Hamilton Township Schools and Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District. Mays Landing is served by Oakcrest High School, part of the Greater Egg Harbor district. Schools operated by the Hamilton Township School District are William Davies Middle School, the George L. Hess Educational complex and the Shaner School.
The Atlantic County Institute of Technology, established in 1974 and located on a campus covering, provides vocational instruction to high school students and adults from across Atlantic County, and was one of eight schools in the state recognized in 2008 as a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education.
Saint Vincent de Paul Regional School is a Catholic elementary school in Mays Landing, serving students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade since 1961 and operated under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Camden.
Atlantic Cape Community College was the second community college to be established in New Jersey, and moved to its campus in Mays Landing in February 1968 where it now serves students from both Atlantic County and Cape May County.

Transportation

provides bus service to Philadelphia on the 315 route and to Atlantic City on the 553 route.

Winery

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Mays Landing include: