Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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.
Turnersville
is a census-designated place
and unincorporated area located within Washington Township.
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.
, 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.
Washington Township borders Deptford Township
, Mantua Township
, Pitman
, Glassboro
, Monroe Township
, Williamstown
and Camden County
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.
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.
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.
The median income for a household in the township was $91,758, and the median income for a family was $95,428. 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.
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.
, 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
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
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
) 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.
, 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. It is also known simply as "Township".
, Route 42 and Route 168 pass through the township, as do County Route 534
and County Route 555
.
New Jersey Transit
's Atlantic City
commuter rail line and PATCO Speedline rapid transit
are accessible at the Lindenwold (NJT station)
, located 10 miles northeast of the township.
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. In the 2010 United States Census, Washington Township's population was 48,559, having grown from 47,114 in the 2000 Census.
Washington Township was incorporated 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 17, 1836, from portions of Deptford Township
Deptford Township, New Jersey
Deptford Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 30,561....
. The Township officially moved to the newly created Camden County
Camden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
on March 13, 1844. Monroe Township
Monroe Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey
Monroe Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 28,967....
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
Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Gloucester Township is a Township in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 64,634...
. Additional transfers to Gloucester Township were made in 1926 and 1931.
In 2008, CNN/Money and Money Magazine
Money Magazine
Money Magazine is a business news and financial programme that is broadcast on Sundays at 7:00pm in Hong Kong by television channel TVB Pearl.-Producers and reporters:...
ranked Washington Township 58th on its list of the 100 Best Cities to Live in the United States.
Turnersville
Turnersville, New Jersey
Turnersville is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Washington Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 3,867. It is named after the Turner family, one of the original families of Washington Township...
is a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
and unincorporated area located within Washington Township.
History
The oldest community in Washington Township, Grenloch Terrace, was a thriving LenapeLenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
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
Turnersville, New Jersey
Turnersville is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Washington Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 3,867. It is named after the Turner family, one of the original families of Washington Township...
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
General Mills
General Mills, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation, primarily concerned with food products, which is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury, Green...
, 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
William Joyce Sewell
William Joyce Sewell was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland immigrating to the United States in 1851 where he worked in the merchant industry in Chicago, Illinois before moving to Camden, New Jersey in 1860...
, who was elected to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1881 and 1895, and served as President of the New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
in 1876, 1879 and 1880.
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 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.
Washington Township borders Deptford Township
Deptford Township, New Jersey
Deptford Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 30,561....
, 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....
, Pitman
Pitman, New Jersey
Pitman is a Borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 9,331.-Geography:Pitman is located at ....
, 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....
, Monroe Township
Monroe Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey
Monroe Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 28,967....
, Williamstown
Williamstown, New Jersey
Williamstown, home of brandon ciarlante, is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Monroe Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey...
and Camden County
Camden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
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 47,114 people, 15,609 households, and 12,658 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 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
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 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.03% of the population.
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
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, 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.
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.
The median income for a household in the township was $91,758, and the median income for a family was $95,428. Males had a median income of $51,319 versus $35,018 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 $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.
Local government
Washington Township is governed by the Mayor-CouncilFaulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
The Faulkner Act, or Optional Municipal Charter Law, provides for New Jersey municipalities to adopt a Mayor-Council government.This form of government provides for election of a mayor and five, seven, or nine council members...
system of New Jersey municipal government under the Faulkner Act
Faulkner Act (New Jersey)
The Optional Municipal Charter Law or Faulkner Act provides New Jersey municipalities with a variety of models of local government. This legislation is called the Faulkner Act in honor of the late Bayard H...
. 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.
, the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
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
Federal, state and county representation
Washington Township is in the First Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 4th state legislative district. The legislative district was kept unchanged 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.
Education
The Washington Township Public School DistrictWashington Township Public School District
The Washington Township Public School District is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from Washington Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States....
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
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
Grenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center (566 students) for Kindergarten;
Bells Elementary School (567),
Birches Elementary School (528),
Hurffville Elementary School
Hurffville School
Hurffville Elementary School is one of the oldest schools in the Washington Township Public School District in Washington Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey. Built in 1957, Hurffville was designed as an open-air environment school, meaning all of the classrooms are connected by sidewalks...
(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.
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 PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to the Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
.
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
South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
region over the past several decades. It is also known simply as "Township".
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.Transportation
The Atlantic City ExpresswayAtlantic City Expressway
The Atlantic City Expressway is a , controlled-access toll road in New Jersey, managed and operated by the South Jersey Transportation Authority...
, Route 42 and Route 168 pass through the township, as do County Route 534
County Route 534 (New Jersey)
County Route 534, abbreviated CR 534, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Route 47 in Deptford Township to Medford-Indian Mills Road in Shamong Township.-Gloucester County:...
and County Route 555
County Route 555 (New Jersey)
County Route 555, abbreviated CR 555, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Port Norris Road in Downe Township to Black Horse Pike in Washington Township ....
.
New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
's Atlantic City
Atlantic City Line
The Atlantic City Line is a rail line operated by New Jersey Transit between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Atlantic City, New Jersey, operating along the corridor of the White Horse Pike. It runs over trackage that was controlled by both the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Pennsylvania-Reading...
commuter rail line and PATCO Speedline rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
are accessible at the Lindenwold (NJT station)
Lindenwold (NJT station)
Lindenwold Station is a New Jersey Transit train station in Lindenwold, New Jersey, United States on the Atlantic City Line. Eastbound service is offered to Atlantic City and Westbound service is offered to Philadelphia. The station is also the first station of the PATCO Speedline which also offers...
, located 10 miles northeast of the township.
Notable residents
- Linda FiorentinoLinda FiorentinoLinda Fiorentino is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in the films Dogma, Vision Quest, Men in Black, After Hours and The Last Seduction.-Personal life:...
(born 1958), actress. - Tara LipinskiTara LipinskiTara Kristen Lipinski is an American figure skater. At the age of 15, she won the Ladies' Singles Olympic gold medal in figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Lipinski remains the youngest individual gold medalist in the history of the Olympic Winter Games. She is also the 1997 World...
(born 1982), 1998 Olympic Gold Medalist figure skater. - Gerald LuongoGerald LuongoGerald J. Luongo is an American Republican Party politician, who served one term in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1998 to 2000, where he represented the 4th Legislative District.-Biography:...
(born 1938), former mayor and one-term member of the New Jersey General AssemblyNew Jersey General AssemblyThe New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
. - John Stevens (born 1966), former defenseman who has coached in the NHL at various levels.
External links
- Washington Township website
- Washington Township Public Schools
- Data for the Washington Township Public Schools, 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...