Lower Township is located at the southern tip of New Jersey and has the largest year round population in Cape May County; it is home to roughly 23,000 residents. The 32 square mile Township is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay and has the best sunsets in the state along the Delaware Bay.
Lower Township community was incorporated in 1798 consists of historic towns including Cold Spring, Erma, Fishing Creek, Villas, Schellenger's Landing, North Cape May and Townbank.
The township is home to the Cape May County Airport and the Cape May - Lewes Ferry. It's rich with historic sites, including The Fishing Creek School, Naval Air Station Wildwood, Historic Cold Spring Village and the Cape May Lighthouse. Another great attraction would be The Atlantus, a concrete ship from World War I which has been a beautiful landmark at Sunset Beach.
Another site that provides over 300 years of Cape May County history would be the Cold Spring Presbyterian Church. The church was built in 1823 but the congregation dates all the way back to 1718.
Lower Township is the site of two historic African American cemeteries. Union Bethel Civil War Veterans Cemetery contains the graves of black men and women who served in the Civil War. Mount Zion Cemetery is said to have graves of people involved in the Underground Railroad, which has been linked to this area because Harriet Tubman worked for a time at a Cape Island hotel.
Several nature trails lead visitors to various pond, coastal dune, marsh and forest habitats where wildlife can be observed in Cape May Point State Park. The park's constantly changing atmosphere is a great destination to observe the fall bird migration. Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area is another great location for bird watching. The 1035 acre area offers a unique blend of several different habitats, including dune, forest and scrub-shrub.
This is only some of the history that Lower Township has to offer. The best way to experience all of the great things in Lower Township, is to visit the area and see it for yourself!
Special Thanks to the Lower Township Chamber of Commerce and the Cape May County Department of Tourism for providing the historical information.
