Dennis Township, New Jersey
| Dennis Township, New Jersey | |
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| — Township — | |
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| Coordinates: 39°12′36″N 74°49′4″W / 39.21°N 74.81778°WCoordinates: 39°12′36″N 74°49′4″W / 39.21°N 74.81778°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Cape May |
| Incorporated | March 1, 1827 |
| Government[1][2] | |
| • Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | John Murphy (term ends 2011)[3] |
| Area[4] | |
| • Total | 64.29 sq mi (166.5 km2) |
| • Land | 61.35 sq mi (158.9 km2) |
| • Water | 2.94 sq mi (7.6 km2) 4.57% |
| Elevation[5] | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[6] | |
| • Total | 6,467 |
| • Density | 100.6/sq mi (38.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08214 - Dennisville |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-17560[7][8] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882046[9] |
| Website | http://www.dennistwp.org |
Dennis Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. The township population was 6,467 as of the United States 2010 Census.[6]
Dennis Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1827, from portions of Upper Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Sea Isle City borough (May 22, 1882) and Woodbine (March 3, 1903).[10]
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Dennis Township as its 20th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[11]
Contents |
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 64.29 square miles (166.5 km2), of which, 61.35 square miles (158.9 km2) of it is land and 2.94 square miles (7.6 km2) of it (4.57%) is water.[4]
Dennisville is the most important unincorporated community in Dennis Township. Ocean View is served as ZIP code 08230.
Dennis Township borders Cumberland County, Upper Township, Woodbine Borough, Sea Isle City, Middle Township, and the Delaware Bay.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,751 |
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| 1920 | 1,639 | −6.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,615 | −1.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,877 | 16.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,981 | 5.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,327 | 17.5% | |
| 1970 | 2,635 | 13.2% | |
| 1980 | 3,989 | 51.4% | |
| 1990 | 5,574 | 39.7% | |
| 2000 | 6,492 | 16.5% | |
| 2010 | 6,467 | −0.4% | |
| Population sources:1910-1930[12] 1930-1990[13] 2000[14] 2010[6] |
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The 2010 United States Census reported that there were 6,467 people, 2,370 households and 1,792 families residing in the township. The racial makeup of Dennis Township was 96.8% (6,257) White, 0.8% (51) African American, 0.2% (12) Native American, 0.6% (36) Asian, 0.0% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.3% (21) from other races, and 1.4% (88) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% (117).[6][15]
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 6,492 people, 2,159 households, and 1,737 families residing in the township. The population density was 105.8 people per square mile (40.9/km²). There were 2,327 housing units at an average density of 37.9 per square mile (14.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.43% White, 0.96% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population.[14]
There were 2,159 households out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.24.[14]
In the township the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.[14]
The median income for a household in the township was $56,595, and the median income for a family was $61,445. Males had a median income of $41,404 versus $31,329 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,455. About 4.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.[14]
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Dennis Township is governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[1] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor. The Committee members serve in a part-time capacity and receive an annual salary.[16]
The governing body originally consisted of three elected officials, one of which would be elected by the membership to serve as the Mayor. In 1989 voters approved a ballot question to increase the membership from three members to five members, and in November 1990 the voters elected two additional Committee members. In January 1991 a full Committee of five members was sworn into office. At that same meeting the governing body established the position of Township Administrator.[16]
As of 2011[update], members of the Dennis Township Committee are Mayor John Murphy (term on council ends December 31, 2013; term as mayor ends 2011), Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Crippen (2011), Al Dicicco (2012), Eugene L. Glembocki (2013) and Brian O'Connor (2011).[2]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Dennis Township is in the 2nd Congressional district and is part of the state's 1st legislative district.[17][18]
New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 1st legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jeff Van Drew (D, Dennis Township) and in the General Assembly by Nelson Albano (D, Vineland) and Matthew W. Milam (D, Vineland).[19] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[20] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[21]
Cape May County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. As of 2012[update], Cape May County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton (Middle Township, term ends December 31, 2013),[22] Freeholder Vice-Director M. Susan Sheppard (Ocean City, 2013),[23] Leonard C. Desiderio (Sea Isle City, 2012),[24] Kristine Gabor (Upper Township, 2014)[25] and Will Morey (Wildwood Crest, 2014).[26][27]
[edit] Education
The Dennis Township Public Schools serve students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2009-10 school year, the district had a combined enrollment of 755 students.[28] Schools in the district are Dennis Township Primary School for grades K-2 (204 students), Dennis Township Elementary School for grades 3-5 and Dennis Township Middle School for grades 6-8 (435 students in grades 3-8).
Students in public school for grades 9-12 attend Middle Township High School in Cape May Court House, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Middle Township Public Schools.[29][30]
Many students also attend the Cape May County Technical High School in Crest Haven as an alternate to MTHS.
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Dennis Township include:
- Jeff Van Drew (born 1953), member of the New Jersey Senate who represents the 1st legislative district.[31]
[edit] References
- ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 8.
- ^ a b 2011 Dennis Township Mayor & Committee Members, Township of Dennis. Accessed December 4, 2011.
- ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed December 4, 2011.
- ^ a b GCT-PH1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2000 for Cape May County, New Jersey -- County Subdivision and Place, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 4, 2011.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Dennis, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed June 13, 2008.
- ^ a b c d DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Stone Harbor borough, Cape May County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 4, 2011.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 114.
- ^ "Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100", New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008.
- ^ "Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I", United States Census Bureau, p. 715. Accessed December 4, 2011.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 2, 2009. Accessed December 4, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Dennis township, Cape May County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 4, 2011.
- ^ Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Dennis township, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 4, 2011.
- ^ a b History and Organization of the Dennis Township Committee, Dennis Township. Accessed March 6, 2007.
- ^ Municipalities Grouped by 2011-2020 Legislative Districts, New Jersey Department of State, p. 1. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ Gerald M. Thornton, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ M. Susan Sheppard, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Leonard C. Desiderio, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Kristine Gabor, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Will Morey, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Freeholders Home Page, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 12, 2012.
- ^ Data for the Dennis Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 4, 2011.
- ^ Middle Township High School 2010 School Report Card, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 4, 2011. "Middle Township High School is a four-year, accredited, comprehensive high school situated in central Cape May County. The school serves the communities of Middle Township, Dennis Township, Avalon, and Stone Harbor."
- ^ Home page, Middle Township Public Schools. Accessed December 4, 2011. "The high school is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades. In addition to students from Middle Township, students from Avalon, Dennis Township and Stone Harbor attend the high school as part of sending/receiving relationships."
- ^ Assembly Member Jeff Van Drew profile, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 8, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Dennis Township website
- Dennis Township Public Schools
- Dennis Township Public Schools's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Dennis Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- The Cape May County Gazette Local community newspaper
- The Beachcomber
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