Wenonah, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Wenonah is a Borough
in Gloucester County
, New Jersey
, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 2,317. It is located approximately 10 miles south of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
Wenonah was established as a Borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature
on March 10, 1883, from portions of Deptford Township
, based on the results of a referendum that was held two days earlier.
, Wenonah Military Academy, a private military school, trained cadets there.
Throughout its history, Wenonah has been almost exclusively a residential area. Over 22% of the borough's area is conservation land, which is protected by ordinance from development. Over six miles of hiking trails are threaded around lakes and alongside waterways in these conserved areas.
Wenonah is a close-knit community with holiday events every season. Halloween brings the Wenonah Police Station to set up their "Halloween in the Park" - a display of blow-up Halloween themed lit decorations. Christmas means the Tree Lighting celebration in the park in the center of town. The grade school children sing, there are cookies and hot chocolate, and live music is played until a countdown to the official lighting of the town's tree for the season. Fourth of July means a multitude of activities from a parade to fire truck rides to boat races. The Wenonah parade is famous around the area and has been declared by travel magazines as one of the top ten small town Fourth of July parades.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
Wenonah borders Deptford Township
and Mantua Township
.
of 2000, there were 2,317 people, 844 households, and 652 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 2,380.3 people per square mile (922.3/km2). There were 860 housing units at an average density of 883.5 per square mile (342.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.546% White, 1.084% African American, 0.093% Native American, 0.65% Asian, and 0.652% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.731% of the population.
There were 844 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $71,625, and the median income for a family was $82,505. Males had a median income of $57,381 versus $37,500 for females. The per capita income
for the borough was $34,116. About 2.0% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
, the Mayor of the Borough of Wenonah is Thomas Lombardo. Members of the Wenonah Borough Council are John Dominy, Ron Farina, John Howard, Philipp Kaeferle, William Norris, and Gerald Sinclair.
serves public school students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Wenonah Elementary School had an enrollment of 244 students as of the 2005-06 school year.
For seventh through twelfth grade, public school students attend Gateway Regional High School, a regional public high school serving students from the boroughs of National Park
, Wenonah, Westville
and Woodbury Heights
, as part of the Gateway Regional High School District.
Borough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
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. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 2,317. It is located approximately 10 miles south of Philadelphia, 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...
.
Wenonah was established as a Borough 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 10, 1883, 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....
, based on the results of a referendum that was held two days earlier.
History
Wenonah was founded in 1871 by Philadelphia businessmen as a country resort. Its location along the Mantua Creek and on the West Jersey Railroad made it a convenient get-away. Over the next 40 years, numerous dams were installed to create recreational lakes. From 1902 until the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Wenonah Military Academy, a private military school, trained cadets there.
Throughout its history, Wenonah has been almost exclusively a residential area. Over 22% of the borough's area is conservation land, which is protected by ordinance from development. Over six miles of hiking trails are threaded around lakes and alongside waterways in these conserved areas.
Wenonah is a close-knit community with holiday events every season. Halloween brings the Wenonah Police Station to set up their "Halloween in the Park" - a display of blow-up Halloween themed lit decorations. Christmas means the Tree Lighting celebration in the park in the center of town. The grade school children sing, there are cookies and hot chocolate, and live music is played until a countdown to the official lighting of the town's tree for the season. Fourth of July means a multitude of activities from a parade to fire truck rides to boat races. The Wenonah parade is famous around the area and has been declared by travel magazines as one of the top ten small town Fourth of July parades.
Geography
Wenonah is located at 39.791813°N 75.149495°W (39.791813, -75.149495).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 borough has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
Wenonah 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....
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....
.
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 2,317 people, 844 households, and 652 families residing in the borough. 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 2,380.3 people per square mile (922.3/km2). There were 860 housing units at an average density of 883.5 per square mile (342.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.546% White, 1.084% African American, 0.093% Native American, 0.65% Asian, and 0.652% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.731% of the population.
There were 844 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $71,625, and the median income for a family was $82,505. Males had a median income of $57,381 versus $37,500 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 borough was $34,116. About 2.0% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Wenonah is governed under the BoroughBorough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
, the Mayor of the Borough of Wenonah is Thomas Lombardo. Members of the Wenonah Borough Council are John Dominy, Ron Farina, John Howard, Philipp Kaeferle, William Norris, and Gerald Sinclair.
Federal, state and county representation
Wenonah is in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.Education
The Wenonah School DistrictWenonah School District
The Wenonah School District is a community public school district that serves students in preschool through sixth grade from Wenonah, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States....
serves public school students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Wenonah Elementary School had an enrollment of 244 students as of the 2005-06 school year.
For seventh through twelfth grade, public school students attend Gateway Regional High School, a regional public high school serving students from the boroughs of National Park
National Park, New Jersey
National Park is a Borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, there were 3,205 residents. Despite its name, National Park is neither a national park nor associated with one.-History:...
, Wenonah, Westville
Westville, New Jersey
Westville is a Borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 4,501. The Borough of Westville is known as "The Gateway to South Jersey."...
and Woodbury Heights
Woodbury Heights, New Jersey
Woodbury Heights is a Borough located in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 census, the borough had a total population of 2,988....
, as part of the Gateway Regional High School District.
Notable residents
- Michael CapuzzoMichael CapuzzoMichael Capuzzo is an American journalist and author best-known for his nonfiction book Close to Shore , a historical thriller about the first shark attacks in American history, in Edwardian-era New Jersey, that were an inspiration for the book and movie Jaws...
(born 1957), author of Close to Shore: A True Story of Terror in an Age of InnocenceClose to ShoreClose to Shore: A True Story of Terror in an Age of Innocence is a non-fiction book by journalist Michael Capuzzo about the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916. The book was published in 2001 by Broadway Books...
and four-time Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
nominee. - Lauren Ward Larsen, author of ZuZu's Petals, about her life-changing experiences following a critical illness.
- Steve SquyresSteve SquyresSteven W. Squyres is the Goldwin Smith Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. His research area is in planetary sciences, with a focus on large solid bodies in the solar system such as the terrestrial planets and the moons of the Jovian planets. Squyres is principal...
(born 1957), astronomer and principal investigatorPrincipal investigatorA principal investigator is the lead scientist or engineer for a particular well-defined science project, such as a laboratory study or clinical trial....
of the Mars Exploration Rover Mission. - Tim SquyresTim SquyresTim Squyres is an American film editor with about 30 film credits. Squyres has had an extended collaboration with the Taiwanese director Ang Lee, having edited all but one of Lee's feature films....
(born 1959), film editor of Crouching Tiger, Hidden DragonCrouching Tiger, Hidden DragonCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia film. An American-Chinese-Hong Kong-Taiwanese co-production, the film was directed by Ang Lee and featured an international cast of ethnic Chinese actors, including Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen...
, HulkHulk (film)Hulk is a 2003 American superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character of the same name. Ang Lee directed the film, which stars Eric Bana as Dr. Bruce Banner, as well as Jennifer Connelly, Sam Elliott, Josh Lucas, and Nick Nolte...
, and SyrianaSyrianaSyriana is a 2005 geopolitical thriller film written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, and executive produced by George Clooney, who also stars in the film with an ensemble cast. Gaghan's screenplay is loosely adapted from Robert Baer's memoir See No Evil...
, among others. - Bob SteuberBob SteuberRobert James "Bob" Steuber was an American football halfback in the National Football League and the All-America Football Conference. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971.-External links:**...
(born 1921), elected to the College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in 1971. - Joseph C. SalemaJoseph C. SalemaJoseph C. Salema is the former Chief of Staff to New Jersey Governor James Florio, a position he held from 1990 to 1993. Salema resigned in the Spring of 1993 amid intensifying media scrutiny during an investigation of illegal misconduct while serving the State of New Jersey.He currently lives in...
, New Jersey Governor James FlorioJames FlorioJames Joseph "Jim" Florio is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position...
's former Chief of Staff that resigned in the Spring of 1993 amid accusations of accepting payments in a pay to playPay to PlayPay to play, sometimes pay for play, is a phrase used for a variety of situations in which money is exchanged for services or the privilege to engage in certain activities...
scandal.
External links
- Borough of Wenonah Official Website
- Wenonah Elementary School
- Data for the Wenonah Elementary School, 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...
- Wenonah Environmental Commission