Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey

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For other places with the same name, see Washington Township, New Jersey (disambiguation).
Township of Washington
—  Township  —

Seal
Nickname(s): Township
Washington Township highlighted in Gloucester County. Inset map: Gloucester County highlighted in the State of New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey
Coordinates: 39°44′24″N 75°04′06″W / 39.74°N 75.06833°W / 39.74; -75.06833Coordinates: 39°44′24″N 75°04′06″W / 39.74°N 75.06833°W / 39.74; -75.06833
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Gloucester
Incorporated February 17, 1836
Government
 • Type Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
 • Mayor Barbara A. Wallace (D)[1]
 • Administrator Mary Breslin[2]
Area
 • Total 21.5 sq mi (55.7 km2)
 • Land 21.4 sq mi (55.3 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation[3] 141 ft (43 m)
Population (2010 Census)[4]
 • Total 48,559
 • Density 2,300/sq mi (870/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes Blackwood - 08012
Glassboro - 08028
Grenloch - 08032
Pitman - 08071
Sicklerville - 08081
Sewell - 08080[5]
Area code(s) 856
FIPS code 34-77180[6][7]
GNIS feature ID 0882140[8]
Website www.twp.washington.nj.us

Washington Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. In the 2010 United States Census, Washington Township's population was 48,559, having grown from 47,114 in the 2000 Census.[4][9]

Washington Township was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 17, 1836, from portions of Deptford Township. The Township officially moved to the newly created Camden County on March 13, 1844. Monroe Township was created on March 3, 1859, from part of the township. Most of Washington Township, along with all of Monroe Township, was moved back into Gloucester County on February 28, 1871, with the remaining portions of Washington Township that were still in Camden County being transferred to Gloucester Township. Additional transfers to Gloucester Township were made in 1926 and 1931.[10]

In 2008, CNN/Money and Money Magazine ranked Washington Township 58th on its list of the 100 Best Cities to Live in the United States.[11]

Turnersville is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Washington Township.

Contents

[edit] History

The oldest community in Washington Township, Grenloch Terrace, was a thriving Lenape Native American village called Tetamekon. Some of the early settlers to the area were the Collins family of Chestnut Ridge Farm, for whom Chestnut Ridge Middle School is named after; the Turner family, for whom Turnersville was named; the Hurff family, for whom the census designation Hurffville and Hurffville Elementary School are named; the Heritage family, whose family began the Heritage's Dairy Farm Stores, and for whom the community Heritage Valley is named; the Morgan family, who were the first residents of the Olde Stone House, a landmark for residents of the Township; and the Bell Family, who arrived in 1899, turning the 139-year-old grist mill into General Mills, and for whom Bells Lake Park and Bells Elementary School are named. The mill, located at Bells Lake Park, was destroyed by fire in 1963. Sewell, New Jersey, is named after General William Joyce Sewell, who was elected to the United States Senate in 1881 and 1895, and served as President of the New Jersey Senate in 1876, 1879 and 1880.[12][13]

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 21.5 square miles (55.7 km²), of which, 21.4 square miles (55.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.56%) is water.

Deptford Twp
Mantua Twp and Pitman Gloucester Twp
   Washington Twp    
Glassboro Monroe Twp

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1930 2,068
—
1940 2,048 −1.0%
1950 2,496 21.9%
1960 4,923 97.2%
1970 15,741 219.7%
1980 27,878 77.1%
1990 41,960 50.5%
2000 47,114 12.3%
2010 48,559 3.1%
Population sources:
1930-1990[14] 2000[9] 2010[4]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 47,114 people, 15,609 households, and 12,658 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,204.6 people per square mile (851.2/km²). There were 16,020 housing units at an average density of 749.6/sq mi (289.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.20% White, 4.85% African American, 0.08% Native American, 3.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.03% of the population.[9]

There were 15,609 households out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.3% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.38.[9]

In the township the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.[9]

The median income for a household in the township was $91,758, and the median income for a family was $95,428.[11] Males had a median income of $51,319 versus $35,018 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,705. About 2.5% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.[9]

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Washington Township is governed by the Mayor-Council system of New Jersey municipal government under the Faulkner Act. The township is governed by a Mayor and a five-member Municipal Council. The Mayor is elected by township voters and is the Chief Executive in charge of the administrative functions of the town. The Township Council is elected at-large by the entire community. All elected officials serve a four-year term of office.[15]

As of 2011, the Mayor of Washington Township is Matthew Lyons. Members of the Township Council are Council President Chris Del Borrello, Council Vice-President Daniel Morley, Ray MacDowell, Scott Newman and Giancarlo D'Orazio[16]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Washington Township is in the First Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 4th state legislative district.[17] The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[4]

New Jersey's First Congressional District is represented by Rob Andrews (D, Haddon Heights). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 4th district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Fred H. Madden (D, Washington Township, Gloucester County) and in the General Assembly by Paul Moriarty (D, Washington Township, Gloucester County).[18] Gabriela Mosquera (D, Gloucester Township) appeared to have won election to the district's second Assembly seat, but as of January 2012 a ruling by the New Jersey Supreme Court prevented her from taking the oath of office pending resolution of claims that she did not meet the state's residency requirement.[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]

Gloucester County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose seven members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis in partisan elections, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. At a reorganization meeting held each January, the Board selects a Freeholder Director and a Deputy Freeholder Director from among its members. As of 2012, Gloucester County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger (D, West Deptford Township; term ends 2012)[22], Deputy Freeholder Director Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D, Woolwich Township; 2012)[23], Lyman J. Barnes (D, Logan Township; 2014)[24], Vincent H. Nestore, Jr. (R, Deptford Township; 2013))[25], Heather Simmons (D, Glassboro; 2014)[26], Adam Taliaferro (D, Woolwich Township; 2014)[24] and Larry Wallace (R, Woolwich Township; 2013)[27][28][29][24] The Gloucester County Clerk is James N. Hogan, the County Surrogate is Helene M. Reed and the County Sheriff is Carmel Molina.[30]

[edit] Education

The Washington Township Public School District serves students in grades K - 12 in Washington Township. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[31]) are Grenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center (566 students) for Kindergarten; Bells Elementary School (567), Birches Elementary School (528), Hurffville Elementary School (533), Thomas Jefferson Elementary School (459), Wedgewood Elementary School (509) and Whitman Elementary School (576) for grades 1-5; Bunker Hill Middle School (775), Chestnut Ridge Middle School (660) and Orchard Valley Middle School (671) for grades 6-8; and Washington Township High School, with 2,775 students in grades 9 - 12.

[edit] Local dynamics

Washington Township has two major economic centers. The "town center" is focused around the square formed by Greentree Road, Egg Harbor Road, Ganttown Road, and Hurffville-Crosskeys Road. Washington Township High School, the TD Bank Arts Centre, Washington Lake Park, and the township municipal building are located around this general vicinity. The other major center is located around Route 42, which connects Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the Jersey Shore.

Washington Township is sometimes referred to as "South Philly South" or "Little South Philly" as a large percentage of its citizens moved to the town from the Italian South Philadelphia region over the past several decades.[32] It is also known simply as "Township".[33]

[edit] Recent expansion

Washington Township could be viewed as the frontline between open space and home developers. A township that was once composed of several housing projects gravitating around the Wedgwood, Whitman Square, Birches, Birches West, and Hurffville neighborhoods has expanded outwards.

[edit] Transportation

The Atlantic City Expressway, Route 42 and Route 168 pass through the township, as do County Route 534 and County Route 555.[5]

New Jersey Transit's Atlantic City commuter rail line and PATCO Speedline rapid transit are accessible at the Lindenwold (NJT station), located 10 miles (16 km) northeast of the township.[5]

[edit] Notable residents

See also: Category: People from Gloucester County, New Jersey

[edit] References

  1. ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  2. ^ Department of Administration and Finance, Washington Township, Gloucester County. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Washington, Geographic Names Information System, accessed June 22, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d 2011 Apportionment Redistricting: Municipalities sorted alphabetically, New Jersey Department of State, p. 11. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Community Information, Washington Township, Gloucester County. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  7. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  8. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  9. ^ a b c d e f Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Washington township, Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  10. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 140.
  11. ^ a b Staff. "Best Places to Live 2008: #58. Washington, NJ", CNNMoney.com. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  12. ^ History of Washington Township, Washington Township. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  13. ^ William Joyce Sewell, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  14. ^ 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 August 15, 2011.
  15. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 24.
  16. ^ Meet Your Township Council, Washington Township, Gloucester County. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  17. ^ 2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 66. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  18. ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
  19. ^ Walsh, Jim. "Mosquera barred from taking oath", Courier-Post, January 10, 2012. Accessed January 11, 2012. "In a last-minute decision, the state Supreme Court barred Gabriela Mosquera from starting an Assembly term Tuesday due to a dispute over her election eligibility.... Mosquera appeared to easily defeat her Republican rivals at the polls on Nov. 8, but GOP candidate Shelley Lovett filed a suit asserting the Democrat had not met a residency requirement."
  20. ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  21. ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  22. ^ Robert M. Damminger, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed January 8, 2012.
  23. ^ Giuseppe (Joe) Chila, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed January 8, 2012.
  24. ^ a b c Romalino, Carly Q. "Democrats win Gloucester County freeholder seats", Gloucester County Times, November 8, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2012. "Democrats Adam Taliaferro, Lyman Barnes and Heather Simmons defeated Republican challengers for three open seats on the Gloucester County freeholder board, keeping the Democrats as the majority party on the board. Taliaferro, of Woolwich Township, garnered the most votes Tuesday, despite being a newcomer to both the county and its political scene. Of more than 54,500 voters who turned out to polls on Election Day, Taliaferro nabbed 31,956 votes. Simmons, an incumbent freeholder and Glassboro resident, trailed close behind with 31,116, and Logan Township’s Lyman Barnes received 29,601 votes."
  25. ^ Vincent H. Nestore, Jr., Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed January 8, 2012.
  26. ^ Heather Simmons, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed January 8, 2012.
  27. ^ Larry Wallace, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed January 8, 2012.
  28. ^ Gloucester County Elected Officials, accessed June 20, 2007.
  29. ^ Staff. "Cutting Spending, Smaller Government & More Shared Services on Agenda for 2012", Gloucester County, New Jersey, January 6, 2012. Accessed January 8, 2012. "The Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholder held its 326th Annual Reorganization meeting tonight where new Freeholders Adam Taliaferro and Lyman Barnes were sworn in and Freeholder Heather Simmons was returned to the Board to serve a full term. Freeholder Robert M. Damminger was chosen by his colleagues to serve as Director of the Board for the second consecutive year and Freeholder Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Chila as Deputy Director."
  30. ^ Row Officers, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed January 8, 2012.
  31. ^ Data for the Washington Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed August 15, 2011.
  32. ^ Fifield, Adam. "Rival Washington Township, Pa., Cannoli Makers Square Off.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 5, 2003. Accessed October 21, 2007. "WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Is there room in this town for more than one cannoli?... And in a Gloucester County community nicknamed "South Philly South" for its large population of Italian American city transplants, it has earned a loyalty thicker than ricotta."
  33. ^ Fifield, Adam. "Where passion, pride connect", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 16, 2004. Accessed October 21, 2007. "Washington Township may not rank as a big draw for Sunday drivers. If you're passing through, spinning along the strip malls and housing developments and fast-food chains, you may feel compelled to keep your foot on the gas until more appealing scenery rolls by. But this is a town where much of the allure runs more than soil- or asphalt-deep. Gloucester County's largest community, known to some as South Philly South and to many simply as Township, often shortened by residents to "Twp"..."
  34. ^ Donahue, Deirdre. "Leggy Linda Fiorentino says Gotcha! to some of the silver screen's cutest virgin hunks.", People (magazine), May 27, 1985. "Growing up in South Philly and later Turnersville, N.J. gave Linda a street-kid sensibility."
  35. ^ via Associated Press. "GOLDEN GIRL CHEERS FROM HER N.J. HOME TOWN CHEERING TARA \ HER N.J. HOME TOWN SALUTES CHAMP", Philadelphia Daily News, February 21, 1998. Accessed August 12, 2008.
  36. ^ Assemblyman Gerald J. Luongo, New Jersey Legislature, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 25, 1998. Accessed June 10, 2010.
  37. ^ Servalli, Frank. "Kings' Stevens enjoys reunion", The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 31, 2010. Accessed October 23, 2011. "Sometime after watching the team he coached earlier in the year lose in the Stanley Cup finals last June, John Stevens was relaxing at his shore house in Sea Isle City when he received a call.... From a father's perspective, Los Angeles is 2,873 miles from his home base in Washington Township, N.J. For a tight-knit family man like Stevens, 44, who would be forced to leave his wife Stacy and hockey-loving sons John and Nolan behind, the decision wasn't an easy one."

[edit] External links

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