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Cape May Historic District

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62-613: The Cape May Historic District is an area of 380 acres (1.5 km) with over 600 buildings in the resort town of Cape May , Cape May County , New Jersey . The city claims to be America's first seaside resort and has numerous buildings in the Late Victorian style , including the Eclectic, Stick , and Shingle styles , as well as the later Bungalow style, many with gingerbread trim . According to National Park Service architectural historian Carolyn Pitts, "Cape May has one of

124-624: A commission form of city government . Recent efforts to amend the charter have not been successful. The most recent charter change proposal appeared on the ballot in the November 2020 election and was overwhelmingly defeated. Prior attempts have netted mixed results with the closest margin of votes in 2017 where a difference of 10 votes upheld the current system of government. Empire State College and Skidmore College are both located in Saratoga Springs; Verrazzano College (1969–1975)

186-549: A spa , generating the development of several hotels, including the United States Hotel and the Grand Union Hotel . The latter was, in its day, the largest hotel in the world. In 1863, Saratoga Race Course opened, moving to its current location the following year. Horse racing and its associated betting increased tourism at a time when horse racing was a popular national spectator sport. In addition,

248-681: A few miles north of Cape May Point before returning to the Atlantic Ocean. Cornelius Mey explored the area further in 1621 for the Dutch West India Company and by May, 1630 Samuel Godyn and Samuel Blommaert bought land for the Dutch from Native Americans covering the southern four miles of the Cape. In 1632 the Dutch established a fishing and whaling settlement in the area, but by 1638 colonists from New England had moved in. By

310-517: A high school degree, and 30% reported jobs that were related to tourism. The results are as follows: Perceived impact on select economic impact items (Antalya) More recently, resort towns have come under greater scrutiny by local communities. Instances where resort towns are poorly managed have adverse effects on the local economy. One example is the uneven distribution of income and land ownership between local residents and businesses. During tourist season, increased demand for accommodation may raise

372-411: A household was $ 91,392, while the median income for a family was $ 114,560. Males had a median income of $ 61,582 versus $ 47,759 for females. About 3.0% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over. Saratoga Springs regards tourism as an industry during the warmer climate weather which becomes heightened around

434-509: A small amount of local year-round residents. In addition, resort towns are often popular with wealthy retirees and people wishing to purchase vacation homes , which typically drives up property values and the cost of living in the region. Sometimes, resort towns can become boomtowns due to the quick development of retirement and vacation-based residences. However, most of the employment available in resort towns are typically low paying and it can be difficult for workers to afford to live

496-417: A spigot in a rock. The springs are famous for their varied and distinct tastes: some are clear freshwater, others are saltier, and some taste strongly of a certain mineral such as sodium bicarbonate or sodium chloride. There is a sulfurous odor, but mineral analysis of the water consistently shows almost no presence of dissolved sulfur. The sulfur is in the form of the gas hydrogen sulfide , which degasses from

558-587: Is located west of the city in Milton . Amtrak provides daily rail service to Saratoga Springs, operating the Adirondack between Montreal and New York City, and the Ethan Allen Express between Rutland, Vermont , and New York City. Bus service includes Greyhound Bus Lines , Adirondack Trailways , Capital District Transportation Authority , and Megabus . Interstate 87 passes through

620-653: Is perpendicular to the present Saratoga Race Course, which opened the following year, founded by John Hunter and William R. Travers . Saratoga Casino and Raceway , a harness ( Standardbred ) racetrack that includes a hotel, video gaming facility, nightclub, restaurants, racing casino, and a horse betting simulcast room. Saratoga Springs is home to the Saratoga Racers of the American Basketball Association , which play their home games at Saratoga Central Catholic High School . The city

682-483: Is the primary component of the local culture and economy . A typical resort town has one or more actual resorts in the surrounding area. Sometimes the term resort town is used simply for a locale popular among tourists. One task force in British Columbia used the definition of an incorporated or unincorporated contiguous area where the ratio of transient rooms, measured in bed units, is greater than 60% of

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744-719: The Architect of the Capitol , designed an addition to the Columbia Hotel. The Mount Vernon Hotel, which was designed to be the largest hotel in the world burned down in 1856, however, before its completion. Competition from Atlantic City appeared in 1854 with the construction of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad . Cape May was not connected to Philadelphia by rail until the completion of the Cape May & Millville Railroad in

806-529: The Pulitzer Prize and one Nobel Prize winner, Saul Bellow . Leonard Bernstein , Truman Capote , Aaron Copland , Sylvia Plath , and David Sedaris have all been artists-in-residence. Over Presidents' Day weekend in February, Saratoga Springs draws more than 5000 attendees for the annual Flurry Festival , which features folk dance and music , including one of the largest contra dances in

868-701: The Saratoga Automobile Museum , the Lincoln Mineral Bathhouse building, Roosevelt Mineral Baths and Spa, and the Gideon Putnam Resort are also located in the park. The Saratoga Skatepark was built in 1989, and is located in the East Side Recreation area. It was New York State's first municipal skatepark . It includes a concrete skateboard "bowl" and cement ramps. In 2010 the city filled

930-523: The census of 2012, there were 26,711 people, 11,312 households, and 5,923 families residing in the city. The population density was 921.1 inhabitants per square mile (355.6/km ). There were 11,584 housing units at an average density of 407.5 per square mile (157.3/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 92.5% White , 1.7% African American , 0.1% Native American , 2.01% Asian , 0.00% Pacific Islander , 0.64% from other races , and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.0% of

992-571: The sea bathing is convenient and excellent, the beach affords pleasant drives and there is excellent fishing in adjacent waters. Early visitors included Henry Clay in 1847, and possibly Abraham Lincoln in 1849. Serving Presidents who visited included Franklin Pierce (1855), James Buchanan (1858), Ulysses Grant (1873), Chester Arthur (1883), and Benjamin Harrison (1889). Harrison made Congress Hall his Summer White House . From

1054-501: The 1660s the English gained control and Daniel Coxe, a London Quaker, organized a government in 1687. Early settlers worked in the lumber, shipbuilding, whaling, fishing and shellfish industries. A road along the coast built in 1796 helped establish the hamlet of Cape May. The early emergence of Cape May as a summer resort was due to easy transport by water from Philadelphia to the Atlantic Ocean. Early Cape May vacationers were carried to

1116-420: The 1850s through the 1880s up to 3,000 visitors arrived each day during the summer season. Newport, Rhode Island , Saratoga Springs, New York and Long Branch, New Jersey were the town's main rivals in the summer resort business, as Cape May's reputation rose and fell with the whims of fashion. During the 1850s summer cottages were first built and the construction of large hotels continued. Thomas U. Walter ,

1178-710: The 2023 APEC Summit in San Francisco. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) is a covered outdoor amphitheater located on the grounds of the Saratoga Spa State Park , with a capacity of 5,000 in reserved seating and 20,000+ on its general admission lawn area. SPAC is the summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York City Ballet , and has hosted a weekend-long jazz festival since 1978. Since 2006,

1240-623: The Atlantic Hotel about this time. The predecessor of the Congress Hall Hotel was opened in 1816 by Thomas Hughes . It took its current name in 1828, when Hughes was elected to Congress. In 1830 a visitor wrote that Cape May Island is a noted and much frequented watering place, the season at which commences about the first of July and continues until the middle of August or the first of September. There are six boarding houses, three of which are very large;

1302-597: The George Allen House are believed to have been taken from a pattern book by Samuel Sloan . Architect Frank Furness is believed to have designed the Emlen Physick Estate , but may have otherwise visited Cape May only as a vacationer. Otherwise most of the buildings were built and designed by local builders in the vernacular style, borrowing from older buildings, pattern books and fashionable architects alike. Several fires destroyed portions of

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1364-475: The Ocean. Cape Island Creek, a tidal "creek" and marsh, originally divided the site of the city from the rest of Cape May, but its southern end has long been covered with landfill. The Cape May Canal , built in 1942, now divides both Cape May City and Cape May Point from the rest of the peninsula. Cape May was first discovered by Europeans by Henry Hudson on August 28, 1609. He landed on the shore of Delaware Bay

1426-842: The Saratoga Native American Festival has been held on SPAC grounds each fall. Museums in the area include the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame , the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame , the Tang Teaching Museum and the Saratoga Automobile Museum . The singer Don McLean was a frequent performer there early in his career. Saratoga Springs is home to Yaddo , a 400-acre (1.62 km ; 0.63 sq mi) artists' community, founded by Wall Street financier Spencer Trask and his wife, author Katrina Trask . Since its inception in 1900, Yaddo has hosted 68 authors who later won

1488-417: The Saratoga Springs area was known for its gambling, which after the first years of the 20th century was illegal, but still widespread. Most gambling facilities were located on Saratoga Lake , on the southeast side of the city. By 1870, it was considered a top upscale resort relying on natural mineral springs, horse racing, gambling, and luxury hotels. World War II imposed travel restrictions which impacted

1550-600: The United States. Saratoga's New Year's celebration First Night Saratoga is the largest New Year's Eve event in New York outside of New York City. Saratoga Springs has sixteen places listed in the National Register of Historic Places: Horses Saratoga Style were two public art events held in 2002 and 2007 where local artists decorated fiberglass horse sculptures that were displayed throughout

1612-408: The area in which they are employed. Many resort towns have spawned nearby bedroom communities where the majority of the resort workforce lives. Resorts towns sometimes struggle with problems regarding sustainable growth , due to the seasonal nature of the economy, the dependence on a single industry, and the difficulties in retaining a stable workforce. Local residents are generally receptive of

1674-480: The area, which has made Saratoga a popular resort destination for over 200 years. It is home to the Saratoga Race Course , a thoroughbred horse racing track, and Saratoga Performing Arts Center , a music and dance venue. The city's official slogan is "Health, History, and Horses". The Mohawk Indigenous people used the area that is now Saratoga Springs as prime hunting ground, and some thought of

1736-400: The average family size was 2.88. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 19.4% under the age of 18, 15.5% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males. In 2012, the median income for

1798-583: The battlefield is 15 miles (24 km) to the southeast, in the Town of Stillwater . A museum dedicated to the two battles sits on the former battlefields. The British encampment before the surrender at Saratoga took place 10 miles (16 km) east of the city, in Schuylerville , where several historical markers delineate points of interest. The surrender of the sword of battle took place where Fort Saratoga had been, south of Schuylerville. Saratoga Springs

1860-533: The city from June through October of the respective years the event was held; some remain on display in front of the businesses that sponsored them. Horses Saratoga Style was organized by the Saratoga County Arts Council and the YMCA of Saratoga. Saratoga Race Course opened on August 3, 1863. The first track was located on East Avenue (at the present Oklahoma Training Track location) which

1922-409: The city, respectively. New York State Route 29 , New York State Route 50 , New York State Route 9N , and New York State Route 9P lead into Saratoga Springs. NY 9N has its southern terminus and NY 9P has its northern terminus in the city. US 9 and NY 50 overlap in the city, joined briefly by NY 29. Saratoga Lake is slightly south of the city. According to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau: As of

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1984-400: The development of early town-making. Many resort towns feature ambitious architecture, romanticizing their location, and dependence on cheap labor. If the resorts or tourist attractions are seasonal in nature (such as a ski resort ), resort towns typically experience an on-season where the town is bustling with tourists and workers, and an off-season where the town is populated only by

2046-509: The district. Architectural historians George E. Thomas and Carl Doebley list 100 significant buildings in their 1976 book Cape May, Queen of the Seaside Resorts: Its History and Architecture . Contributing properties in the district include the following. Construction dates may be approximate. T&D reference gives the reference number from George E. Thomas and Carl Doebley's book with Roman numerals indicating

2108-534: The east side of the Saratoga Fault which allows water trapped in subsurface shale layers to reach the surface. The fault displacement can be seen on the east side of Broadway with the best view of the fault at the High Rock Park cliff. The Mohawk Indigenous peoples who inhabited this area used the springs for several hundred years before the arrival of European settlers. Later drilling technology

2170-411: The eastern end of town. Having lost its transportation advantage with the coming of the railroad and the automobile, Cape May fell out of fashion as a popular resort. Atlantic City became the popular New Jersey beach resort in the 1920s and in the 1950s and 1960s the automobile-oriented Wildwoods , just north of Cape May, became a strong competitor, with its own distinctive architecture . The district

2232-491: The economic impacts of tourism. Resort towns tend to enjoy lower unemployment rates, improved infrastructure, more advanced telecommunication and transportation capabilities, and higher standards of living and greater income in relation to those who live outside this area. Increased economic activity in resort towns can also have positive effects on the country's overall economic growth and development. In addition, business generated by resort towns have been credited with supporting

2294-866: The expenditures accrued after taxes, profits, and wages are paid out; however, around 80% of traveler's expenditures go to airlines, hotels, and international companies, not to local businesses. These funds are referred to as leakages . Tourism has also been blamed for other negative economic impacts to local communities. Although resort towns usually boast more improved infrastructure than surrounding areas, these developments usually present high costs to local governments and tax payers. Reallocating government funds to subsidize infrastructure and tax breaks to firms shift available funding to local education and health services. In addition, resort towns typically do not have dynamic economies, resulting in an over dependence on one industry. Economic dependence on tourism poses particular challenges to resort towns and its local residents given

2356-658: The largest collections of late 19th century frame buildings left in the United States... that give it a homogeneous architectural character, a kind of textbook of vernacular American building." The City of Cape May sits at the south end of Cape May Peninsula which divides the Atlantic Ocean from the Delaware Bay . Cape May Point , about two miles west of the City of Cape May, borders the Bay, while Cape May City borders

2418-517: The local economy through times of national market failure and depression. In a study conducted by the Urban and Regional Planning Department of Istanbul Technical University , 401 local residents in the resort community of Antalya were interviewed and asked to give their opinion on the economic impacts of tourism. Among the participants, 67% had lived in Antalya for over ten years, 66% had at least

2480-767: The mid-1860s. Architect Stephen Decatur Button began designing buildings in Cape May in 1863 when he remodeled and expanded the Columbia Hotel. During the next thirty years he designed over forty buildings in the town. His best known buildings there include the John McCreary House (1869–70), Jackson's Clubhouse (1872), the Stockton Cottages (1872), the Windsor Hotel (1879) and the Atlantic Terrace Houses (1891–92). Plans for

2542-487: The mineral springs as a gift from Manitou . The British built Fort Saratoga in 1691 on the west bank of the Hudson River. During the early part of the 1700s, settlers from Europe began to develop the area. Shortly thereafter, British colonists settled the current village of Schuylerville approximately one mile south; it was known as Saratoga until 1831. In 1767, William Johnson , a colonial British officer who

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2604-564: The more significant buildings, and Arabic numerals the less significant buildings. Both lists are ordered by approximate date of construction. HABS reference links to the building's page in the Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress. Download coordinates as: Resort town A resort town , resort city or resort destination is an urban area where tourism or vacationing

2666-429: The permanent population. Generally, tourism is the main export in a resort town economy, with most residents of the area working in the tourism or resort industry. Shops and luxury boutiques selling locally themed souvenirs , motels , and unique restaurants often proliferate the downtown areas of a resort town. In the case of the United States, resort towns were created around the late 1800s and early 1900s with

2728-410: The pool with dirt, citing problems with graffiti, vandalism and "structural gaps" affecting the skating surface. In addition, the city said that it lacked funds to staff guards at the park and claimed it had spent nearly $ 200,000 on the park since it opened in 1989. A group of skateboarders lobbied for the park, and as of 2023, the redesigned skate park was open. The Saratoga Springs charter specifies

2790-409: The population. There were 11,312 households, out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.5% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and

2852-427: The price of land, causing a simultaneous increase in rent for local residents whose income in invariably lower than foreign residents. This results in a preponderance of foreigners in the land market and an erosion of economic opportunities for local residents. The revenues amassed from tourism typically do not benefit the host country or the local communities. Income to local communities generated by tourism are all of

2914-525: The railroad increased after the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company assumed control in 1870 and began running the Empire State Express directly between New York City and the resort. In the 19th century, doctor Simon Baruch encouraged the development of European-style spas in the United States as centers for health. Due to the presence of mineral waters Saratoga Springs was developed as

2976-463: The season that the Saratoga Race Course becomes open to the general population. The Saratoga Spring Water Co. (a division of Anheuser-Busch ) is located on Geyser Road. Operating since 1872, this sparkling water has also been served at multiple presidential inaugurations in Washington, D.C., most recently for Barack Obama's second inauguration in 2013. It was also served to participants at

3038-464: The seasonal nature of the job market in some areas. Local residents of resort towns face job insecurity, difficulties in obtaining training, medical-benefits, and housing. Saratoga Springs, New York Saratoga Springs is a city in Saratoga County, New York , United States. The population was 28,491 at the 2020 census . The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in

3100-421: The springs reporting radium content. Believed by generations to have healing powers, springs can be found in multiple places around the town. However, scientists, dispute any medicinal properties from consuming the water due to the high levels of sodium and radium in some of the spring sources. Most of the springs are covered by small pavilions and marked by plaques. Others are less conspicuous, sometimes just

3162-663: The tourist industry. During the 1950s, the state and city closed the gambling houses in a crackdown on illegal gambling. The closing and demolition in the 1950s of some hotels, including the Grand Union and the United States hurt tourism. The city became more accessible with the completion of the Adirondack Northway (Interstate 87), which allowed visitors easier access from the north and south. In addition, cultural resources such as classical and popular music and dance, flourished. The mineral springs occur along

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3224-453: The town and the mostly wooden, frame-built houses. The fire of 1878 destroyed about half the town, but many buildings were quickly rebuilt. This fire gave a particular boost to Button's career, and many of the local builders appear to have copied Button's style at this time. These newer buildings were built with gingerbread trim , gables and turrets . From about 1900-1920 larger bungalows and mansions were built, especially on Beach Avenue on

3286-566: The town on sloops from Philadelphia, and water transport was also easy from New York, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and points south. Southerners later became a large proportion of summer vacationers. The resort business in Cape May began to thrive when regular steamboat traffic on the Delaware River began after the War of 1812 , carrying passengers from Philadelphia and New Castle, Delaware . Commodore Stephen Decatur made his summer home at

3348-493: The water very quickly. Visitors are welcome to bottle the spring water for personal consumption. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 29.1 square miles (75 km ), of which 28.4 square miles (74 km ) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km ) (2.17%) is water. The Adirondack Northway of New York ( Interstate 87 ) and US Route 9 pass alongside and through

3410-600: Was a hero of the French and Indian War , was brought by Native American friends to the spring to treat his war wounds. (In 1756, Johnson had been appointed British Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Northeast region due to his success in building alliances with the Mohawk and other Iroquois nations. He had learned the language and created many trading relationships. He achieved great wealth from trading and landholdings, and

3472-557: Was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, and then listed as a National Historic Landmark District in 1976. The NRHP nomination form does not include an inventory of the buildings in the district, but rather refers to about 20 buildings that were documented by drawings or photographs by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS). HABS now lists about 70 buildings in

3534-1021: Was also located there. During the summer, Skidmore is one of several hosts for the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth . Eastern Nazarene College , located in Quincy, Massachusetts , was founded in Saratoga Springs as the Pentecostal Collegiate Institute and Biblical Seminary at the turn of the 20th century. The Saratoga Springs City School District is made up of: Private schools in Saratoga Springs include Saratoga Central Catholic High School , St. Clement's Regional Catholic School, The Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs, and Saratoga Independent School. Alternatively, some local children commute to Albany area schools such as The Emma Willard School , The Albany Academies , Doane Stuart School and La Salle Institute . A general aviation facility, Saratoga County Airport ,

3596-432: Was employed by settlers to tap into the spring sources, and by 1900, 203 springs were flowing, some of which were tapped for carbon dioxide extraction, as well as mineral water. This proved to be unsustainable, and by 1908, New York State passed restrictions on use to allow the aquifer to recharge. As of 2019, there are only 17 productive springs. Toward the end of the 19th century, excessive pumping for commercial bottling

3658-518: Was established as a settlement in 1819 from a western portion of the Town of Saratoga . Its principal community was incorporated as a village in 1826, and the entire region became a city in 1915. Tourism was greatly aided by the 1832 arrival of the Saratoga and Schenectady Railroad , which brought thousands of travelers to the famous mineral springs. Resort hotels developed to accommodate them. Patronage of

3720-616: Was knighted for his service to the Crown with the Iroquois.) The first permanent European-American settler built a dwelling in the area circa 1776. The springs attracted tourists, and Gideon Putnam built the first hotel for travelers. Putnam also laid out the roads and donated land for use as public spaces. The Battles of Saratoga , the turning point of the Revolutionary War , did not take place in Saratoga Springs. Rather,

3782-864: Was previously home to the Saratoga Harlem Yankees and Spa City Gamblers. There are three public golf courses in Saratoga Springs: Saratoga National Golf, Saratoga Spa Golf -Located in Saratoga Spa State Park , and Airway Meadows Golf Club, and one private golf course, the Saratoga Golf and Polo Club. The Saratoga Spa State Park features the culture and mineral springs of Saratoga Springs. The park and includes hiking trails, picnic areas, pools, former and current historic bathhouses and mineral springs. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Hall of Springs, National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame ,

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3844-678: Was threatening to deplete the springs. In 1911, the New York State Reservation, now the Spa State Park, was created to protect the springs, and the Lincoln and Roosevelt bath houses were built. Currently, visitors can soak in the mineral waters at the historic Roosevelt Bath house, which also provides spa treatments. The water from the springs is high in mineral contents, inclucing iron, magnesium, calcium, lithium, iodine, chromium, sodium, zinc, barium, and with 9 of

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