Galloway Township, New Jersey
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| Galloway, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Atlantic |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Faulkner Act (Council-Manager) |
| - Mayor | Thomas Bassford (R, 2009) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 114.8 sq mi (297.3 km²) |
| - Land | 90.5 sq mi (234.4 km²) |
| - Water | 24.3 sq mi (63.0 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 36,205 |
| - Density | 344.9/sq mi (133.2/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 08201, 08205 |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-25560[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882052[4] |
| Website: http://www.gallowaytwp-nj.gov | |
Galloway Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 31,209. At 114.8 squares miles of total area Galloway Township is the largest municipality in New Jersey.
Galloway Township was incorporated by Royal Charter on April 4, 1774, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, when it was still part of Gloucester County. Galloway was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. After becoming part of the newly-formed Atlantic County in 1837, portions of the township were taken to create Mullica Township (March 13, 1838), Egg Harbor City (June 14, 1858), Absecon town (February 29, 1872), Brigantine Beach borough (now Brigantine city; June 14, 1890) and Port Republic (March 1, 1905).[5]
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 114.8 square miles (297.3 km²), of which, 90.5 square miles (234.4 km²) of it is land and 24.3 square miles (63.0 km²) of it (21.18%) is water.
Pomona (2000 Census population of 4,019) is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Galloway Township. Other unincorporated areas within Galloway Township include Absecon Highlands, Cologne, Conovertown, Germania, Higbeetown, Leeds Point, Oceanville, Pinehurst, Pomona, Smithville and South Egg Harbor, and the "Township Center".
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 3,416 |
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| 1940 | 3,457 | 1.2% | |
| 1950 | 4,140 | 19.8% | |
| 1960 | 5,634 | 36.1% | |
| 1970 | 8,276 | 46.9% | |
| 1980 | 12,176 | 47.1% | |
| 1990 | 23,330 | 91.6% | |
| 2000 | 31,209 | 33.8% | |
| Est. 2006 | 36,205 | [2] | 16% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[6] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 31,209 people, 10,772 households, and 7,680 families residing in the township. The population density was 344.9 people per square mile (133.2/km²). There were 11,406 housing units at an average density of 126.1/sq mi (48.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 77.16% White, 9.80% African American, 0.24% Native American, 8.00% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.59% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.16% of the population.
There were 10,772 households out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% 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 3.18.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 13.6% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $51,592, and the median income for a family was $57,156. Males had a median income of $38,048 versus $31,167 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,048. About 4.4% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Galloway Township has adopted the Council-Manager form of New Jersey municipal government under the Faulkner Act. The Township Council consists of seven members who are elected at-large in partisan elections to four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year in the four-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting after each election, members of Council select one of their members to take the office of Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.[7] The Mayor does not have any more powers than any other member of the Council. Although the Council is the governing body of the township, the day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the Township Manager.
Council members are elected to serve four-year terms of office. Seats come up for election every two years, with either four or three seats expiring in each election on a staggered basis.
Members of the Galloway Township Council are Mayor Thomas Bassford (R, term ends December 31, 2009), Deputy Mayor William Ackerman (R, 2011), Jim Cox (R, 2008), Alan DeSimone (R, 2009), Jim Gorman (D, 2011), Keith Hartman (R, 2011), and Meg Worthington (D, 2009).[8]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Galloway Township is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 2nd Legislative District.[9]
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, Ventnor). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 2nd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jim Whelan (D, Atlantic City), and in the Assembly by John F. Amodeo (R, Margate) and Vincent J. Polistina (R, Egg Harbor Township).[10] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[11]
Atlantic County's County Executive is Dennis Levinson (Linwood).[12] The Board of Chosen Freeholders, the county's legislature, consists of nine members elected to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with three seats coming up for election each year. As of 2008, Atlantic County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chairman Joseph F. Silipena, (Egg Harbor City, term expires December 31, 2008), Freeholder Vice Chairman Frank Sutton (Egg Harbor Township, 2008), Alisa Cooper (Linwood, 2008), James Curcio (Hammonton, 2009), Richard Dase (Galloway Township, 2010), Charles Garrett (Atlantic City, 2010), Frank V. Giordano (Hamilton Township, 2009), Joseph McDevitt (Ventnor City, 2010) and Thomas Russo (Atlantic City, 2009).[13]
[edit] Education
For pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade, students attend the Galloway Township Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[14]) are Oceanville Kindergarten Learning Center (148 students) and Pomona Kindergarten Learning Center (200) for Kindergarten, four elementary schools for grades 1-6 (except as noted) — Arthur Rann Elementary School (655), Reeds Road Elementary School (639), Roland Rogers Elementary School (610), Smithville Elementary School (655, includes preschool) — and Galloway Township Middle School with 989 students in grades 7-8. For parents who want their students to attend a private or catholic school there is Assumption Regional Catholic School. The school is for grades Pre-K through 8. It is a very modern catholic school with a specialy designed Middle School system. The private school is located in the downtown area of Galloway.
Public school students in grades 9 - 12 attend Absegami High School, located in Galloway Township, which serves students from both Galloway Township and Egg Harbor City.[15] About 2,300 students attend the school. The High School is part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, a regional public high school district serving about 3,700 in the constituent districts of Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township and Mullica Township. In addition, students from the districts of the City of Port Republic and Washington Township (in Burlington County) attend as part of sending/receiving relationships.[16]
The Galloway Community Charter School is a public school that serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school operates independently of the Galloway Township Public Schools under a charter issued by the New Jersey Department of Education. There is no tuition charged; costs are paid on a per-student basis by each of the sending districts, with additional funding provided by the State of New Jersey. The school draws its students from throughout Atlantic County.[17]
The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is a four-year Liberal arts college located in the Pomona section of Galloway Township.
[edit] History
The Township of Galloway was created by Royal Patent of King George III of England on April 4, 1774. At that time it was part of Old Gloucester County, and comprised what is now Hammonton, Mullica Township, Egg Harbor City, Port Republic, Brigantine, Atlantic City, and the northern portion of Absecon. Galloway Township was incorporated by the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798.[5]
Historians are uncertain of the source of Galloway Township's name. One theory is that is was named after an area known as Mull of Galloway in the region of Dumfries and Galloway in southern Scotland. An alternative derivation is that the Township was named for Joseph Galloway, a Loyalist delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1774, who was opposed to independence of the Thirteen colonies.
Galloway Township's first inhabitants were Lenni-Lenape Native Americans, who were followed by European settlers. During the American Revolutionary War, Galloway was the site of the Battle of Chestnut Neck (in what is now a part of Port Republic).
The webcomic Uncertainty Principle, written by Scott McAllister and drawn by Darrell M. Stark (a Galloway Township resident and Absegami High School graduate) takes place in Galloway Township during the year 2550.
Patricia Nickles was the first female Mayor of Galloway Township.
[edit] Transportation
The Garden State Parkway passes through the township. It was on this stretch of the Parkway that Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine was involved in a serious accident on April 12, 2007.[18] Also passing through the township are Route 50 and U.S. Route 30, along with CR 561, CR 561 Alternate, CR 563 and CR 575.
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Galloway Township include:
- Elias Higbee (1795-1843) was an associate of Joseph Smith, Jr., and an official historian and recorder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
- Myron Rolle (1986-), safety for the Florida State Seminoles.[19]
- [[Fred Jerkins III], music producer who works with his brother Rodney
- Rodney Jerkins (1977-), music producer and owner of Darkchild
[edit] Points of interest
- Galloway National Golf Club was designed by Tom Fazio.
[edit] Pests
A large swath of oak and other hardwood trees were defoliated in the spring of 2007 by the Gypsy moth caterpillar. The township did not apply for spraying through the State of New Jersey due to budget constraints, and without spraying the gypsy moths flourished.[20]
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Galloway, Geographic Names Information System, accessed December 22, 2007.
- ^ a b Census data for Galloway, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 69.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 13.
- ^ Galloway Township Council, Galloway Township. Accessed May 5, 2008.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 57. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ County Executive Dennis Levinson, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed March 31, 2008.
- ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed March 31, 2008.
- ^ Data for the Galloway Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 6, 2008.
- ^ Absegami High School 2007 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 2, 2008. "Absegami High School opened in 1982 and is located in Galloway Township as part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District. Sending districts to Absegami include students coming from Galloway Township and Egg Harbor City."
- ^ Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District 2007 Report card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 2, 2008. "The Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District serves the communities of Galloway Township, Hamilton Township, Egg Harbor City, Mullica Township and participates in receiving relationships with Port Republic and Washington Township."
- ^ About GCCS, Galloway Community Charter School. Accessed May 5, 2008.
- ^ " Corzine Is Critically Injured in Car Crash on Parkway", The New York Times, April 13, 2007, accessed April 7, 2008. "The accident occurred at Mile Marker 44.5 in Galloway Township on the parkway's northbound lanes, about five miles north of the Atlantic City Expressway."
- ^ McGarry, Michael. "Dennis Township teen emerges as standout lacrosse player at New Jersey prep school", Press of Atlantic City, April 11, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2008. "Myron Rolle of Galloway Township graduated from The Hun School in Princeton in 2005 and now starts at defensive back for the Florida State football team."
- ^ Prisament, Steve. "State approach on gypsy moth spraying really bugs council", Current of Galloway, June 13, 2007. Accessed June 29, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Township Government website
- Galloway Township Public Schools
- Galloway Township Public Schools's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Assumption Regional Catholic School website
- Data for the Galloway Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District
- Absegami High School website
- Police Department website
- Ambulance Squad website
- Fire Department website
- The Current of Galloway Township Local community newspaper
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