Tabernacle Township, New Jersey
| Tabernacle Township, New Jersey | |
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| — Township — | |
| Motto: Gateway to the Pines | |
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| Coordinates: 39°49′06″N 74°39′05″W / 39.818276°N 74.651454°WCoordinates: 39°49′06″N 74°39′05″W / 39.818276°N 74.651454°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Burlington |
| Incorporated | March 22, 1901 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Richard Franzen |
| • Administrator | Douglas A. Cramer[2] |
| Area[3] | |
| • Total | 49.614 sq mi (128.501 km2) |
| • Land | 49.120 sq mi (127.221 km2) |
| • Water | 0.494 sq mi (1.280 km2) 1.00% |
| Elevation[4] | 89 ft (27 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[5] | |
| • Total | 6,949 |
| • Density | 140/sq mi (54/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08088 |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-72060[6][7] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882081[8] |
| Website | http://www.townshipoftabernacle-nj.gov |
Tabernacle Township is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 6,949.[5]
Tabernacle was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1901, from portions of Shamong Township, Southampton Township and Woodland Township.[9]
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Tabernacle Township as its 23rd best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[10] New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Tabernacle Township as its 6th best place to live in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[11]
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Before 1900
The area that is now Tabernacle was inhabited by Lenni Lenape Native Americans. In 1778, John and David Brainerd came to the area and erected a church to convert the local Native Americans to Christianity. The church was called Tabernacle In The Wilderness. In 1803, William Wilkins acquired land from Hosea Moore to build Tabernacle Cemetery, next to the church.[12]
The church was originally used as a schoolhouse but in 1856, the one-room Union School was built on the future site of Tabernacle Town Hall to serve the children of the community. As the community grew, a second schoolhouse was built in the vicinity of the other school. In 1860, Gilbert Knight built the Pepper-Knight House next to the Union Schoolhouse. It was later sold to the Pepper family. (When Clara Pepper died in 1987, it was turned over to the Tabernacle Historic District). In the 1880s there were problems at the Tabernacle, so a new church was built on the spot. It was called the Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal Church, which still stands today.[13]
[edit] Turn of the twentieth century
On March 22, 1901 Tabernacle was incorporated as a township by an act of New Jersey State Legislature. It was taken from portions of Shamong Township, New Jersey, Southampton and Chatsworth. In 1910,the Union Schoolhouse was demolished and Tabernacle Town Hall was erected on the site. For the Frienship Schoolhouse, 1917 was the last school year because the enrollment and dwindled to four pupils as more began attending the Sequoia school, further south on Carranza Road. In 1936 it was moved down the road next to the Sequoia School. In the 1950s, Tabernacle Elementary School was built on New Road and Olson Middle School (formerly Tabernacle Middle School) was built across the road in 1968. Kenneth R. Olson dedicated his career to assisting the Tabernacle School District. He died in 1990 and the school was dedicated to him. In 2003, Seneca High School was built to serve high school students from Tabernacle, Shamong, Woodland, and Southampton. On July 13, 1928, Emilio Carranza (known as the Lindbergh of Mexico) was flying his plane from New York City to Mexico when he crashed in the middle of a storm over Tabernacle. The Carranza Monument was built with funds from Mexican schoolchildren, Hampton Gates Road was renamed Carranza Road for the pilot.[12]
[edit] Suburbanization
In 1970, Tabernacle's population was 2,103 but in 1980, it exploded to 6,236, reflecting rapid suburbanization of Philadelphia in South Jersey. Around the same time, the population of many other nearby towns boomed. Tabernacle's population reached a high in 1990 at 7,362 inhabitants and has continued to drop gradually. In 2000 there were 7,170 residents in the township and the population dropped to 6,949 in the 2010 Census.
In 2008, Tabernacle was rated the 23rd best place to live in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly. In 2010, it was rated the 6th best place to live.[14]
[edit] Geography
Tabernacle Township is located at 39°49′06″N 74°39′05″W / 39.818276°N 74.651454°W (39.818276,-74.651454). According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 49.614 square miles (128.501 km2), of which, 49.120 square miles (127.221 km2) of it is land and 0.494 square miles (1.280 km2) of it (1.00%) is water.[15][3]
Tabernacle Township borders Washington Township, Woodland Township, Southampton Township, Medford Township, and Shamong Township.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 487 |
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| 1920 | 431 | −11.5% | |
| 1930 | 460 | 6.7% | |
| 1940 | 490 | 6.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,034 | 111.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,621 | 56.8% | |
| 1970 | 2,103 | 29.7% | |
| 1980 | 6,236 | 196.5% | |
| 1990 | 7,360 | 18.0% | |
| 2000 | 7,170 | −2.6% | |
| 2010 | 6,949 | −3.1% | |
| Population sources:1910-1930[16] 1930-1990[17] 2000[18] 2010[5] |
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As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 7,170 people, 2,346 households, and 2,010 families residing in the township. The population density was 145.0 people per square mile (56.0/km²). There were 2,385 housing units at an average density of 48.2 per square mile (18.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.29% White, 2.09% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.[18]
There were 2,346 households out of which 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.6% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.3% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.28.[18]
In the township the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.[18]
The median income for a household in the township was $76,432, and the median income for a family was $86,729. Males had a median income of $58,148 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,874. About 1.1% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.[18]
[edit] Transportation
The only two major roads that pass through are CR 532 thru the central part and U.S. Route 206 in the west.
The Atlantic City Expressway, Garden State Parkway, I-295 and New Jersey Turnpike are all two towns away.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Tabernacle 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.
As of 2012[update], members of the Tabernacle Township Committee are Mayor Richard Franzen, Deputy Mayor Kim Brown, Joseph Barton, Stephen Lee, IV and Joseph Yates, IV.[19]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Tabernacle Township is in the 3rd Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district.[5][20]
New Jersey's Third Congressional District is represented by Jon Runyan (R, Mount Laurel Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 9th district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Christopher J. Connors (R, Lacey Township) and in the General Assembly by DiAnne Gove (R, Long Beach Township) and Brian E. Rumpf (R, Little Egg Harbor Township).[21] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[22] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[23]
Burlington County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose five members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. As of 2011, Burlington County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Bruce D. Garganio (Florence Township, 2012), Deputy Director Christopher J. Brown (Evesham Township, 2011), Joseph B. Donnelly (Cinnaminson Township, 2013), Mary Ann O'Brien (Medford Township, 2012) and Mary Anne Reinhart (Shamong Township, 2011).[24][25]
[edit] Education
The Tabernacle School District serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[26]) are Tabernacle Elementary School for grades PreK-4 (434 students) and Kenneth R. Olson Middle School for grades 5-8 (428 students).
Public school students from Tabernacle Township in grades 9-12 attend Seneca High School located in Tabernacle Township, which is part of the Lenape Regional High School District. The district serves students from Evesham Township, Medford Lakes, Medford Township, Mount Laurel Township, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle Township and Woodland Township.[27]
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Tabernacle Township include:
- Howard P. Boyd (born 1914), scientist who has specialized in the study of the Pine Barrens.[28]
- Sean Doolittle (born 1986), baseball standout at the University of Virginia and 1st round draft choice and current minor league first baseman in the Oakland Athletics system.[29]
- Shana Hiatt (born 1975), model and host of Poker After Dark.[30]
[edit] Points of interest
- The Carranza Monument - A 12 ft (3.6 m) monument in the Wharton State Forest that marks the site of the July 13, 1928, crash of Emilio Carranza, known as "The Lindbergh of Mexico". The monument, installed with funds donated by Mexican schoolchildren, depicts a falling eagle of Aztec design. Every July on the Saturday nearest the anniversary of his crash (second Saturday in July) at 1:00 p.m. he is honored at the monument site by local residents and representatives from the Mexican consulates in New York City and Philadelphia.[31]
- Delanco Camp - An inter-denominational Christian Camp Meeting and Summer Camp along Lake Agape. The camp has been in Tabernacle, NJ for 46 years and has been preaching under the Wesleyan doctrin
[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. 103.
- ^ Township Administrator, Tabernacle Township. Accessed January 22, 2012.
- ^ a b Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2012.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Tabernacle, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Municipalities Grouped by 2011-2020 Legislative Districts, New Jersey Department of State, p. 6. Accessed January 22, 2012.
- ^ 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. 99.
- ^ "Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100", New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008.
- ^ "Best Places To Live 2010", New Jersey Monthly, June 22, 2010. Accessed June 22, 2010.
- ^ a b Home page, Tabernacle Township. Accessed January 22, 2012.
- ^ Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal Church, The New Jersey Churchscape. Accessed January 22, 2012.
- ^ Top Towns 2010, New Jersey Monthly. Accessed January 22, 2012.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I", United States Census Bureau, p. 715. Accessed January 22, 2012.
- ^ 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 January 22, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Tabernacle Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 22, 2012.
- ^ 2012 Township Committee, Tabernacle Township. Accessed January 22, 2012.
- ^ Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 22, 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.
- ^ Meet the Freeholders, Burlington County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders. Accessed January 3, 2011.
- ^ Staff. BRUCE GARGANIO CHOSEN FREEHOLDER DIRECTOR FOR SECOND YEAR; CHRIS BROWN OF EVESHAM CHOSEN DEPUTY DIRECTOR, Burlington County, New Jersey press release dated January 1, 2011. Accessed January 3, 2011.
- ^ Data for the Tabernacle School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed January 22, 2012.
- ^ Attendance Areas, Lenape Regional High School District. Accessed January 22, 2012. "Students residing in Southampton, Woodland, Shamong and Tabernacle Townships shall attend Seneca High School."
- ^ Staff. "Pinelands water unusual", Courier Post, September 10, 2004. Accessed February 10, 2011. "Howard P. Boyd, who has written three books about the Pinelands, is struck by the clarity of cedar water when viewed in small quantities... Now a resident of Tabernacle he likes everything about the unique region."
- ^ Staff. "Doolittle Selected 41st Overall in MLB Draft, Guyer Picked in Fifth Round: Doolittle goes to Oakland Athletics, Guyer selected by Chicago Cubs", CBS Sports, June 7, 2007. Accessed February 11, 2011. "Virginia first baseman/pitcher Sean Doolittle (Tabernacle, N.J.) was selected in the supplemental first round (41st overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Thursday by the Oakland Athletics, while outfielder Brandon Guyer was a fifth round pick (157th overall) by the Chicago Cubs."
- ^ Bodnar, Jason. "Shawnee grad bets on childhood dream through poker series", Burlington County Times, November 18, 2004. "Two decades after she was filming "Shana's Variety Hour" in the basement of her Tabernacle home..."
- ^ Emilio Carranza Crash Monument, RoadsideAmerica.com, undated. Accessed July 24, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Tabernacle Township website
- Tabernacle School District
- Tabernacle School District's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Tabernacle School District, National Center for Education Statistics
- Seneca High School
- Lenape Regional High School District
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