County located at the southern tip of
New Jersey, bordered by
Delaware Bay on the west and the
Atlantic Ocean on the east. Originally known as
Cape Island, Cape May's current name comes from Dutch explorer
Cornelius Jacobsen Mey, who explored the area in
1623.
The county contains numerous resort cities frequented by Philadelphia area residents, most notably Ocean City, where I always seem to end up for a few days each summer, one way or another. Richer folks go to Avalon and Stone Harbor. Away from the ocean, pine and oak forests dominate the county. The area has been inhabitied by Europeans since the 17th century (earlier it was Delaware Indian territory). Before it became a resort spot, whaling was the dominant industry. The county seat is Cape May Court House.