Rio Grande, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Rio Grande, New Jersey
settlement_type = CDP
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Rio Grande CDP in Cape May County


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Cape May
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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established_date =

area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 6.2
area_land_km2 = 6.1
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 2.4
area_land_sq_mi = 2.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2444
population_density_km2 = 400.3
population_density_sq_mi = 1036.8

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 6
elevation_ft = 20
latd = 39 |latm = 0 |lats = 57 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 52 |longs = 41 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 08242
area_code = 609
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-63180GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0879703GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Rio Grande is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Middle Township, in Cape May County, New Jersey. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 2,444.

Geography

Rio Grande is located at coor dms|39|0|57|N|74|52|41|W|city (39.015781, -74.878119)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.2 km² (2.4 mi²). 6.1 km² (2.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.84%) is water.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1990=2505
2000=2444
footnote=source: [cite web
url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US3461650&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3461650&_street=&_county=Rio+Grande&_cityTown=Rio+Grande&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=
title=Population Finder: Rio Grande CDP, New Jersey
publisher=U.S. Census Bureau
accessdate=2007-03-19] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,444 people, 1,029 households, and 658 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 399.8/km² (1,036.8/mi²). There were 1,294 housing units at an average density of 211.7/km² (548.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.79% White, 4.50% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 1.10% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.03% of the population.

There are 1,029 households, out of which 25.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them; 46.6% are married couples living together; 13.6% have 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.

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.

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. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,792. About 20.9% of families and 21.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.5% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.

How Rio Grande got its name

According to Jeffrey M. Dorwart's book, "Cape May County, New Jersey" (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1992) Rio Grande is a community which 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. (p. 102) George F. Boyer and J Pearson Cunningham, in their book "Cape May County Story" (Egg Harbor City, NJ: The Laureate Press, 1975), 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."

References

External links

* [http://www.middletownshipgazette.com The Cape May County Gazette] Local community newspaper
* [http://www.middletownshipgazette.com/bc The Beachcomber]