Location of Mays Landing in Atlantic County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Atlantic County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
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.[16] The location was suitable for building ships using local timber and iron from Weymouth foundries.[17] 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.[18]
The Mays Landing Historic District is a 147-acre (59 ha) 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.[21]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Mays Landing had a total area of 1.885 square miles (4.881 km2), including 1.660 square miles (4.299 km2) of land and 0.225 square miles (0.581 km2) of water (11.91%).[5][22]
The community is located 20 miles (32 km) west of Atlantic City.[23] The community known as Mizpah is located 5 miles (8 km) 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 4 miles (6 km) 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.[24]
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.[13]
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.[13]
2000 census
At the 2000 census,[6] there were 2,321 people, 892 households and 599 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 527.1/km2 (1,362.8/mi2). There were 952 housing units at an average density of 216.2/km2 (559.0/mi2). 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.[28]
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.[28]
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.[28]
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.[28] The Atlantic County Special Services School is a public school which services students with disabilities from the ages of 3 1/2 to 21.
^Mays Landing History. Accessed August 10, 2007. "1740 – Captain George May, an agent for the London Company, sailed up the Great Egg Harbor River and found an area rich in oak and pine which was perfect for shipbuilding. 1756 – Captain May bought land near Babcock Creek and later established a trading post and shipyard."
^About Us, St. Vincent de Paul Regional School. Accessed February 19, 2023. "In 1961, St. Vincent de Paul Regional School opened its doors, under the direction of Monsignor Charles Beausang and the Sisters of St. Joseph's Chestnut Hill."
^Schools, South Jersey Catholic Schools. Accessed February 19, 2023.
^History, Atlantic Cape Community College. Accessed February 22, 2023. "The site for the college was selected on November 19, 1964, and official ground breaking ceremonies for its nine-building complex in Mays Landing were held in November 1966. Atlantic Cape opened its doors to students in September 1966, using facilities rented from Atlantic City High School. In February 1968 the college moved to its present campus at 5100 Black Horse Pike (U.S. Route 322) in Mays Landing."
^"Sarah Joanna Dennis Balliett (Mrs. L. Dow)". Scannell's New Jersey's First Citizens and State Guide. Vol. 1. 1917. pp. 33–34. Retrieved September 5, 2023. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^James, Michael. "Oakcrest graduate Brandon Bell named captain at Penn State", The Press of Atlantic City, August 24, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2016. "Oakcrest High School graduate and Penn State University linebacker Brandon Bell was named defensive captain Tuesday for the Nittany Lions' upcoming season. Bell is a senior from Mays Landing who graduated from Oakcrest in 2013 and was a Press first-team All-Star."
^Fertsch, Cindy. "Local actor makes it on Netflix", Shore Local News, February 2, 2023. Accessed March 6, 2024. "That young man featured in the new Netflix family film, Dog Gone, is played by Mays Landing’s own Johnny Berchtold."
^Jackson, Vincent. "Former Mays Landing resident earned first Grammy Award statue in February", The Press of Atlantic City, March 3, 2019. Accessed July 22, 2020. "Darhyl 'DJ' Camper Jr., who has had multiple Grammy nominations over the years, has met many starry-eyed teenagers who want to have a career as a recording artist.... Camper, a former Mays Landing resident, decided to work with H.E.R. six years ago."
^"Wrestler 'The Droz' hurt in match", Associated Press Archive, October 6, 1999. Accessed June 22, 2007. "Professional wrestler Darren Drozdov was undergoing surgery today, after fracturing his neck during a match at Nassau Coliseum. Drozdov, aka 'The Droz,' was wrestling D'Lo Brown Tuesday night when the accident occurred. Drozdov, 30, of Mays Landing, N.J., was taken by ambulance to the Nassau County Medical Center in serious condition."
^Gill, Mike. "Former Cedar Creek Football Star Bo Melton Shines at NFL Combine", WENJ, March 3, 2022. Accessed April 9, 2022. "Former Cedar Creek star Bo Melton made a name for himself on Thursday at the NFL Combine, running a 4.34 time in the 40-yard dash.... The Mays Landing resident finished with 51 receptions for 766 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior at Cedar Creek, and also added 451 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground."
^Anastasia, Phil. "Cedar Creek football star Malachi Melton commits to Purdue", The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 17, 2019. Accessed May 9, 2023. "The third brother, Malachi 'Max' Melton, a senior at Cedar Creek High School, announced Tuesday that he will follow his own path, committing to head west to attend Purdue on a football scholarship.... 'Where I’m from, Mays Landing, New Jersey, everybody is chasing the same thing,' Melton said."
^Obituary. "Graciela Rivera Zumchak", The Press of Atlantic City, July 20, 2011. Accessed September 19, 2012. "Zumchak, Graciela Rivera 90 – of Mays Landing went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, July 17, 2011."
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