Downe Township, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Downe Township is a township
in Cumberland County
, New Jersey
, United States. It is part of the Vineland
-Millville
-Bridgeton
Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 1,585.
What is now Downe Township was formed by Royal Charter
on January 19, 1748, as Downes Township, from portions of Fairfield Township
. Downe Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Commercial Township
(February 27, 1874).
, the township has a total area of 54.23 square miles (140.5 km²), of which, 50.76 square miles (131.5 km²) of it is land and 3.47 square miles (9 km²) of it (6.40%) is water.
Fortescue
is an unincorporated area located within Downe Township, and is known as the "weakfish capital of the world".
Downe Township borders Lawrence Township
, Millville
, Commercial Township
, and the Delaware Bay
.
of 2000, there were 1,631 people, 658 households, and 438 families residing in the township. The population density
was 32.1 people per square mile (12.4/km²). There were 1,134 housing units at an average density of 22.3 per square mile (8.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 91.05% White, 4.84% African American, 1.47% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.98% from other races
, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.37% of the population.
There were 658 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 107.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $34,667, and the median income for a family was $39,375. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $26,397 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $17,366. About 11.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.
form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Downe Township Committee are Mayor
Dennis Cook (D), Deputy Mayor Steve Simmerman (D), Robert Campbell (R), Lisa Garrison (R) and Tammi Reynolds (R).
based on the results of the 2010 Census. The new district is in effect for the June 2011 primary and the November 2011 general election, with the state senator and assembly members elected taking office in the new district as of January 2012.
serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Downe Township School had an enrollment of 172 students in the 2009-10 school year.
Public school students in grades 9-12 attend Bridgeton High School
in Bridgeton
, as part of a sending/receiving relationship
with the Bridgeton Public Schools
.
Township (New Jersey)
A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village, collecting property taxes and providing...
in Cumberland County
Cumberland County, New Jersey
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population is 156,898. Its county seat is Bridgeton. Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States. It is part of the Vineland
Vineland, New Jersey
Vineland is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 60,724...
-Millville
Millville, New Jersey
Millville is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 26,847. Millville, Bridgeton and Vineland are the three principal New Jersey cities of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
-Bridgeton
Bridgeton, New Jersey
Bridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States, in the south part of the state, on the Cohansey River, near Delaware Bay. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 25,349. It is the county seat of Cumberland County...
Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 1,585.
What is now Downe Township was formed by Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
on January 19, 1748, as Downes Township, from portions of Fairfield Township
Fairfield Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey
Fairfield Township is a township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Vineland-Millville- Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes...
. Downe Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Commercial Township
Commercial Township, New Jersey
Commercial Township is a township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Vineland-Millville- Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes...
(February 27, 1874).
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 54.23 square miles (140.5 km²), of which, 50.76 square miles (131.5 km²) of it is land and 3.47 square miles (9 km²) of it (6.40%) is water.
Fortescue
Fortescue, New Jersey
Fortescue is an unincorporated area on the southern coast of New Jersey, in Delaware Bay. It has a population of about 400.During the late 1970s and mid 1980s, Fortescue experienced the best fishing it had ever seen. Anglers were catching massive amounts of weakfish every summer...
is an unincorporated area located within Downe Township, and is known as the "weakfish capital of the world".
Downe Township borders Lawrence Township
Lawrence Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey
Lawrence Township is a township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes...
, Millville
Millville, New Jersey
Millville is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 26,847. Millville, Bridgeton and Vineland are the three principal New Jersey cities of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
, Commercial Township
Commercial Township, New Jersey
Commercial Township is a township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Vineland-Millville- Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes...
, and the Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,631 people, 658 households, and 438 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 32.1 people per square mile (12.4/km²). There were 1,134 housing units at an average density of 22.3 per square mile (8.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 91.05% White, 4.84% African American, 1.47% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.98% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.37% of the population.
There were 658 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 107.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $34,667, and the median income for a family was $39,375. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $26,397 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the township was $17,366. About 11.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Downe Township is governed under the TownshipTownship (New Jersey)
A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village, collecting property taxes and providing...
form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Downe Township Committee are Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Dennis Cook (D), Deputy Mayor Steve Simmerman (D), Robert Campbell (R), Lisa Garrison (R) and Tammi Reynolds (R).
Federal, state and county representation
Downe Township is in the 2nd Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district. The city was relocated to the 1st state legislative district by the New Jersey Apportionment CommissionNew Jersey Apportionment Commission
The New Jersey Apportionment Commission is a constitutionally-created ten-member commission responsible for apportioning the forty districts of the New Jersey Legislature. The commission is convened after each decennial U.S. Census, and the districts are to be in use for the legislative elections...
based on the results of the 2010 Census. The new district is in effect for the June 2011 primary and the November 2011 general election, with the state senator and assembly members elected taking office in the new district as of January 2012.
Education
The Downe Township School DistrictDowne Township School District
The Downe Township School District is a community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade from Downe Township, in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States....
serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Downe Township School had an enrollment of 172 students in the 2009-10 school year.
Public school students in grades 9-12 attend Bridgeton High School
Bridgeton High School
Bridgeton High School is a comprehensive community public high school that serves students in grades 9-12 from the city of Bridgeton, in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Bridgeton Public Schools, an Abbott District...
in Bridgeton
Bridgeton, New Jersey
Bridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States, in the south part of the state, on the Cohansey River, near Delaware Bay. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 25,349. It is the county seat of Cumberland County...
, as part of a sending/receiving relationship
Sending/receiving relationship
A sending/receiving relationship is one in which a public school district sends some or all of its students to attend the schools of another district. This is often done to achieve costs savings in smaller districts or continues after districts have grown as part of a historical relationship...
with the Bridgeton Public Schools
Bridgeton Public Schools
Bridgeton Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district that serves the city of Bridgeton, in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States...
.
External links
- Downe Township web site
- Downe Township School District
- Data for the Downe Township School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...