Harrison Township, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Harrison Township is a township
in Gloucester County
, New Jersey
, United States
. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 8,788.
Harrison Township was originally formed as Spicer Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
on March 13, 1844, from portions of Greenwich Township
and Woolwich Township
. That name lasted for less than a year, with Harrison Township adopted as of April 1, 1845.
, the township has a total area of 19.2 square miles (49.7 km²), of which, 19.1 square miles (49.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.26%) is water.
Harrison Township borders Woolwich Township
, East Greenwich Township
, Mantua Township
, Glassboro
, Elk Township
, and South Harrison Township
.
There are four unincorporated communities within Harrison Township. They are Ewan, Jefferson, Mullica Hill
and Richwood
.
of 2000, there were 8,788 people, 2,848 households, and 2,323 families residing in the township. The population density
was 459.3 people per square mile (177.4/km²). There were 2,939 housing units at an average density of 153.6 per square mile (59.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.16% White, 2.96% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.41% from other races
, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.78% of the population.
There were 2,848 households out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.8% were married couples
living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.44.
In the township the population was spread out with 33.2% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $77,143, and the median income for a family was $84,379. Males had a median income of $61,770 versus $39,583 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $28,645. About 2.1% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
The members of the Harrison Township Committee are Mayor
Lou Manzo, Deputy Mayor
Dennis Clowney, Don Heim, Robert Shearer and Matt Diggons.
Harrison Township is in the
The major county road that goes through is CR 581
.
State routes include Route 45, Route 55, and Route 77.
U.S. Route 322
passes through the center of town.
The New Jersey Turnpike
runs through for a fifth of a mile, but the nearest interchange is just over the line in neighboring Woolwich Township.
, which serves a total of 1,410 students. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are
Harrison Township School (799 students) for grades K-3 and
Pleasant Valley School (666 students) for grades 4-6.
Public school students in grades 7 and 8 attend Clearview Regional Middle School and those in grades 9 through 12 attend the Clearview Regional High School
, both located in Mullica Hill. The schools are part of the Clearview Regional High School District
, which serves students from Harrison Township (1,022 students) and Mantua Township
(1,147 students).
Friends School Mullica Hill
is a private, nonsectarian
, coeducation
al day school
located in the Mullica Hill
section of Harrison Township, serving 273 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
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 Gloucester County
Gloucester County, New Jersey
Gloucester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 288,288. Its county seat is Woodbury....
, 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 8,788.
Harrison Township was originally formed as Spicer Township 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 March 13, 1844, from portions of Greenwich Township
Greenwich Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey
Greenwich Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 4,879....
and Woolwich Township
Woolwich Township, New Jersey
Woolwich Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,032....
. That name lasted for less than a year, with Harrison Township adopted as of April 1, 1845.
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 19.2 square miles (49.7 km²), of which, 19.1 square miles (49.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.26%) is water.
Harrison Township borders Woolwich Township
Woolwich Township, New Jersey
Woolwich Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,032....
, East Greenwich Township
East Greenwich Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,430 people, 1,901 households, and 1,515 families residing in the township. The population density was 368.1 people per square mile . There were 1,971 housing units at an average density of 133.6 per square mile...
, Mantua Township
Mantua Township, New Jersey
Mantua Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 14,217....
, Glassboro
Glassboro, New Jersey
Glassboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 19,068....
, Elk Township
Elk Township, New Jersey
Elk Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,514....
, and South Harrison Township
South Harrison Township, New Jersey
South Harrison Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 2,417....
.
There are four unincorporated communities within Harrison Township. They are Ewan, Jefferson, Mullica Hill
Mullica Hill, New Jersey
Mullica Hill is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Harrison Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, Mullica Hill population was 1,658.-History:...
and Richwood
Richwood, New Jersey
Richwood is an unincorporated community within Harrison Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Exit 50B on Route 55 is about a half mile from the center of Richwood. The exit provides access to Richwood, via U.S. Route 322. Rowan University in nearby Glassboro is about 1¼ miles from Richwood....
.
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 8,788 people, 2,848 households, and 2,323 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 459.3 people per square mile (177.4/km²). There were 2,939 housing units at an average density of 153.6 per square mile (59.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.16% White, 2.96% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.41% 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 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.78% of the population.
There were 2,848 households out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.8% 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, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.44.
In the township the population was spread out with 33.2% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $77,143, and the median income for a family was $84,379. Males had a median income of $61,770 versus $39,583 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 $28,645. About 2.1% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Harrison 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 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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
The members of the Harrison 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....
Lou Manzo, Deputy Mayor
Deputy Mayor
Deputy mayor is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official in many local governments. Many elected deputy mayors are members of the city council who are given the title and serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence...
Dennis Clowney, Don Heim, Robert Shearer and Matt Diggons.
Federal, state and county representation
Harrison Township is in the 2nd Congressional district.Harrison Township is in the
Transportation
A couple of county, state and U.S. highways pass through the township.The major county road that goes through is CR 581
County Route 581 (New Jersey)
County Route 581, abbreviated CR 581, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Main Street in Quinton Township to Bridgeton Pike in Harrison Township.-Route description:...
.
State routes include Route 45, Route 55, and Route 77.
U.S. Route 322
U.S. Route 322 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 322 is a U.S. highway running from Cleveland, Ohio east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. The easternmost segment of the route in New Jersey runs from the Commodore Barry Bridge over the Delaware River in Logan Township, Glocuester County, where it continues into Chester, Pennsylvania,...
passes through the center of town.
The New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
runs through for a fifth of a mile, but the nearest interchange is just over the line in neighboring Woolwich Township.
Education
Students in public school for grades K through 6 attend the Harrison Township School DistrictHarrison Township School District
The Harrison Township School District is a comprehensive community public school district serving Students in kindergarten through sixth grade from Harrison Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States...
, which serves a total of 1,410 students. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The 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...
) are
Harrison Township School (799 students) for grades K-3 and
Pleasant Valley School (666 students) for grades 4-6.
Public school students in grades 7 and 8 attend Clearview Regional Middle School and those in grades 9 through 12 attend the Clearview Regional High School
Clearview Regional High School
Clearview Regional High School is a regional public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from two communities in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Clearview Regional High School District...
, both located in Mullica Hill. The schools are part of the Clearview Regional High School District
Clearview Regional High School District
The Clearview Regional High School District is a regional school district serving students in grades 7 through 12 from two communities in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States...
, which serves students from Harrison Township (1,022 students) and Mantua Township
Mantua Township, New Jersey
Mantua Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 14,217....
(1,147 students).
Friends School Mullica Hill
Friends School Mullica Hill
Friends School Mullica Hill is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational day school located in the Mullica Hill section of Harrison Township, New Jersey, United States, serving 273 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade....
is a private, nonsectarian
Nonsectarian
Nonsectarian, in its most literal sense, refers to a lack of sectarianism. The term is also more narrowly used to describe secular private educational institutions or other organizations either not affiliated with or not restricted to a particular religious denomination though the organization...
, coeducation
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
al day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
located in the Mullica Hill
Mullica Hill, New Jersey
Mullica Hill is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Harrison Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, Mullica Hill population was 1,658.-History:...
section of Harrison Township, serving 273 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
Notable residents
- John W. HazeltonJohn W. HazeltonJohn Wright Hazelton , was an American Republican Party politician, who served in the United States House of Representatives, where he represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district from 1871–1875.Hazelton was born in Mullica Hill, New Jersey on December 10, 1814...
(1814–1878), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional districtNew Jersey's 1st congressional districtNew Jersey's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of New Jersey.The current U.S. Representative from the 1st district is Democrat Rob Andrews...
from 1871-1875. - Nathan T. StrattonNathan T. StrattonNathan Taylor Stratton was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1851 to 1855....
(1813–1887), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional districtNew Jersey's 1st congressional districtNew Jersey's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of New Jersey.The current U.S. Representative from the 1st district is Democrat Rob Andrews...
in the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1851 to 1855.
External links
- Harrison Township web site
- Harrison Township School District
- Data for the Harrison 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...
- Clearview Regional High School District
- Harrison forum