Map of Rio Grande CDP, New Jersey

Rio Grande (/rioʊɡrʌndeɪ/) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Middle Township and Lower Township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States.

Though for the 1990 to 2010 U.S. censuses the CDP was entirely located within Middle Township, a small section at the southern edge of the community, located in Lower Township, is sometimes called Rio Grande. For the 2020 U.S. Census the boundary was redrawn so that portions of Lower Township were included in the Rio Grande CDP.

It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP’s population was 2,670.

Rio Grande CDP overview:
Name:	Rio Grande CDP
LSAD Code:	57
LSAD Description:	CDP (suffix)
State:	New Jersey
County:	Cape May County
Elevation:	20 ft (6 m)
Total Area:	2.73 sq mi (7.08 km²)
Land Area:	2.70 sq mi (6.99 km²)
Water Area:	0.03 sq mi (0.08 km²) 1.26%
Total Population:	3,610
Population Density:	1,337.04/sq mi (516.32/km²)
ZIP code:	08242
Area code:	609
FIPS code:	3463180
GNISfeature ID:	02389752

Online Interactive Map

Rio Grande online map. Source: Basemap layers from Google Map, Open Street Map (OSM), Arcgisonline, Wmflabs. Boundary Data from Database of Global Administrative Areas.

Rio Grande location map. Where is Rio Grande CDP?

Rio Grande location on the U.S. Map. Where is Rio Grande CDP. — Rio Grande location on the U.S. Map.

Rio Grande location on the New Jersey map. Where is Rio Grande CDP. — Location of Rio Grande in New Jersey.

History

According to Jeffrey M. Dorwart, Rio Grande 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.

George F. Boyer and J. Pearson Cunningham 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.”

Rio Grande Road Map

Rio Grande city Satellite Map

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 2.490 square miles (6.450 km), including 2.459 square miles (6.369 km) of land and 0.031 square miles (0.081 km) of water (1.26%).

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, Rio Grande has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated “Cfa” on climate maps.