West Deptford Township, New Jersey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

West Deptford, New Jersey
West Deptford Township highlighted in Gloucester County. Inset map: Gloucester County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
West Deptford Township highlighted in Gloucester County. Inset map: Gloucester County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Coordinates: 39°50′33″N 75°10′26″W / 39.8425, -75.17389
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Gloucester
Incorporated March 1, 1871
Government
 - Type Township (New Jersey)
 - Mayor Anna Docimo
Area
 - Total 17.8 sq mi (46.0 km²)
 - Land 15.9 sq mi (41.2 km²)
 - Water 1.9 sq mi (4.8 km²)
Elevation [1] 26 ft (8 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 21,763
 - Density 1,218.4/sq mi (470.4/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 08066
Area code(s) 856
FIPS code 34-78800[3]
GNIS feature ID 0882148[4]
Website: http://www.westdeptford.com

West Deptford Township is a Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 19,368.

West Deptford Township was formed as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1871, from portions of Deptford Township. Portions of the township were taken to form National Park (April 15, 1902) and Westville (April 7, 1914).[5]

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 17.8 square miles (46.0 km²), of which, 15.9 square miles (41.2 km²) of it is land and 1.9 square miles (4.8 km²) of it (10.47%) is water.

West Deptford Township borders Westville, Deptford Township, Woodbury, Woodbury Heights, Mantua Township, East Greenwich Township, Paulsboro and National Park, as well as Camden County and the Delaware River.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1930 3,956
1940 4,336 9.6%
1950 5,446 25.6%
1960 11,152 104.8%
1970 13,928 24.9%
1980 18,002 29.3%
1990 19,380 7.7%
2000 19,368 -0.1%
Est. 2006 21,763 [2] 12.4%
Population 1930 - 1990.[6]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 19,368 people, 7,719 households, and 5,125 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,218.4 people per square mile (470.3/km²). There were 7,999 housing units at an average density of 503.2/sq mi (194.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.29% White, 5.08% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.76% of the population.

There were 7,719 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the township the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $50,583, and the median income for a family was $64,477. Males had a median income of $42,711 versus $30,621 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,219. About 3.0% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

The Township Committee has five members, the Mayor and four committee persons, each of whom serves a term of three years. At the reorganization meeting in January, the Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy mayor. The Township Committee forms the legislative branch of the Township government, developing and adopting ordinances that become the laws of the township.

The Mayor of West Deptford Township is Anna Docimo.[7] Other members of the West Deptford Township Committee are Deputy Mayor Len E. Daws (Chairperson, Department of Administration), John J. Cobb (Chairperson, Department of Public Safety), Hugh Garrison (Chairperson, Department of Utilities) and Donna Szymborski (Chairperson, Department of Public Works).[8]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

West Deptford Township is in the First Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District.[9]

New Jersey's First Congressional District, covering portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Rob Andrews (D, Haddon Heights). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 3rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Stephen M. Sweeney (D, Thorofare) and in the Assembly by John J. Burzichelli (D, Thorofare) and Douglas H. Fisher (D, Thorofare).[10] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[11]

Gloucester County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. Each year, the Board selects a Freeholder Director and Deputy Director from among its members. As of 2008, Gloucester County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Stephen M. Sweeney (D, West Deptford Township, term ends December 31, 2008), Deputy Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger (D, West Deptford Township, 2009), Joseph A. Brigandi, Jr., (D, Glassboro, 2010), Jean DuBois (D, Mantua Township, 2010), Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D, Woolwich Township, 2009), Frank J. DiMarco (D, Deptford Township, 2008) and Dr. Warren S. Wallace (D, Washington Township, 2008).[12]

[edit] Education

The West Deptford Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[13]) are three K-4 elementary schools — Green-Fields Elementary School (514 students), Oakview Elementary School (347 students) and Red Bank Elementary School (298 students) — West Deptford Middle School for grades 5-8 (1,016 students) and West Deptford High School for grades 9-12 (1,111 students).

[edit] Transportation

Major roadways in and around West Deptford Township include Interstate 295, U.S. Route 130, Route 44, Route 45 and County Route 551.

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of West Deptford Township include:

[edit] References

[edit] External links