Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey
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Hamilton Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 20,499. The Township of Hamilton was incorporated by the New Jersey Legislature on February 5, 1813[1].
At 113 square miles, Hamilton Township is the largest municipality, in area, in the State of New Jersey[1].
Mays Landing (2000 population of 2,321), a census-designated place and unincorporated area, located within Hamilton Township, has been the county seat of Atlantic County since 1837.[1]
Many residents of Hamilton Township consider themselves residents of Mays Landing, even though the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township is only a small fraction of the township's area, and 10% of its population. This phenomenon was also found in the former Dover Township, where most residents claimed to live in Toms River, a CDP that accounted for over 90% of the townships poulation. The improper nomenclature became so prolific that Dover Township residents voted to officially change the name of the township to Toms River in 2006. Hamilton Township currently has no plans to follow suit.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 292.6 km² (113.0 mi²). 288.2 km² (111.3 mi²) of it is land and 4.4 km² (1.7 mi²) of it (1.51%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 20,499 people, 7,148 households, and 5,039 families residing in the township. The population density was 71.1/km² (184.2/mi²). There were 7,567 housing units at an average density of 26.3/km² (68.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 71.45% White, 19.26% African American, 0.29% Native American, 3.29% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.33% from other races, and 2.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.91% of the population.
There were 7,148 households out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,259, and the median income for a family was $54,899. Males had a median income of $37,419 versus $30,089 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,309. About 4.5% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The Township of Hamilton has a Township Committee form of government consisting of five members elected at large and serving three-year staggered terms. At each annual reorganization meeting in January the Members select one member from amongst the Township Committee to serve as Chairman for that year. The Chairman holds the honorary title of Mayor. The Members also select another member to serve as Vice Chairman for that year, who holds the honorary title of Deputy Mayor.
The members of the Hamilton Township Committee are:[2]
- Mayor Thomas Palmentieri
- Deputy Mayor Frank Giordano
- Robert Mattle, Jr.
- Charles Pritchard
- John Sacchinelli
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Hamilton Township is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 2nd Legislative District.[3]
New Jersey's Second Congressional District, covering all of Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County and Salem County and portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Vineland). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Robert Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 2nd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by William Gormley (R) and in the Assembly by Francis J. Blee (R, Absecon) and Jim Whelan (D, Atlantic City). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Atlantic County's County Executive is Dennis Levinson. The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders, administers all county business. Atlantic County's Freeholders are Francis Sutton, James Curcio, Frank Finnerty (Freeholder Vice Chairman), Alisa Cooper, Joe Kelly, Rev. Lawton Nelson, Thomas Russo, Sue Schilling and Joseph F. Silipena (Freeholder Chairman).
[edit] Education
For Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade, students attend the Hamilton Township Schools. Schools in the district (with enrollment data from the NCES as of the 2003-04 school year) are Joseph C. Shaner Memorial School with 613 students in Pre-K to 1st grade, George Hess Educational Complex with 1,578 in grades 2 - 6 and William Davies Middle School with 725 students in grades 7 and 8.
Students in grades 9 - 12 attend Oakcrest High School, located in Hamilton Township, which serves students from Hamilton Township, Mullica Township, the City of Port Republic and Washington Township. 2,108 students attend the school. The High School is part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, a regional high school district serving approximately 3,700 students in the constituent districts of Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township and Mullica Township, together with students from the City of Port Republic and Washington Township (in Burlington County), who attend as part of sending/receiving relationships with their respective school districts.
[edit] Points of interest
- The Hamilton Mall, opened in 1987, is a two-story enclosed mall anchored by Sears, J.C. Penney, and Macy's. The mall is adjacent to the Black Horse Pike (U.S. Route 322) and U.S. Highway 40, and is close to the Atlantic City Expressway and Atlantic City, making it a high tourist destination for vacationers there. The mall has a gross leasable area of 1,028,500 ft².[4]
- Atlantic City Race Course
[edit] References
- ^ a b c A Brief Overview of our Town, accessed October 2, 2006
- ^ Hamilton Township Committee, accessed October 2, 2006
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 58, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ International Council of Shopping Centers: Hamilton Mall, accessed September 21, 2006
[edit] External links
- Township of Hamilton Official Site
- Atlantic County municipal government information for Hamilton Township
- Atlantic City Race Course website
- Hamilton Mall website
- Hamilton Township Municipal Utilities Authority
- Hamilton Township Schools
- Hamilton Township Schools's 2004-2005 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Hamilton Township Schools
- Oakcrest High School website
- Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
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(County Seat: Mays Landing) |
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| Boroughs | Folsom | Longport | Buena |  |
| Cities | Absecon | Atlantic City | Brigantine | Corbin City | Egg Harbor City | Estell Manor | Linwood | Margate City | Northfield | Pleasantville | Port Republic | Somers Point | Ventnor City | |
| Town | Hammonton | |
| Townships | Buena Vista | Egg Harbor | Galloway | Hamilton | Mullica | Weymouth | |
| CDPs and other Communities | Collings Lakes | Elwood-Magnolia | Mays Landing | Pomona | Richland | Smithville | |
