Mays Landing, New Jersey

Weymouth Furnace/Forge

The Weymouth Forge and Furnace, located along Route 559 just north of the Black Horse Pike (Route 322) 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.^[18]

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.^[18]

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]

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Mays Landing had a population of 5,603.^[38] The median age was 46.4 years. 16.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.7 males.^[39]

94.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 6.0% lived in rural areas.^[40]

There were 2,211 households, of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 44.5% were married-couple households, 16.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[39]

There were 2,332 housing units, of which 5.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.3%.^[39]

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 2,135 people, 859 households, and 572 families in the CDP. The population density was 1,286.2 people per square mile (496.6 people/km²). There were 949 housing units at an average density of 571.7 units per square mile (220.7 units/km²). The racial makeup was 88.99% (1,900) White, 5.48% (117) Black or African American, 0.47% (10) Native American, 0.98% (21) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.92% (41) from other races, and 2.15% (46) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.26% (155) of the population.^[41]

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.^[41]

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.^[41]

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 people/km² (1,365 people/mi²). There were 952 housing units at an average density of 216.2 units/km² (560 units/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 people of any race were 3.96% of the population.^[42]

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.^[42]

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.^[42]

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.^[42] The Atlantic County Special Services School is a public school which services students with disabilities from the ages of 3 1/2 to 21.