| Deptford Township, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Deptford Township highlighted in Gloucester County. Inset map: Gloucester County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Deptford Township, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Gloucester |
| Formed | June 1, 1695 as Bethlehem |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Type | Faulkner Act (Council-Manager) |
| • Mayor | Paul Medany (D) |
| • Manager | Ken Barnshaw[2] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.6 sq mi (45.5 km2) |
| • Land | 17.5 sq mi (45.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[3] | |
| • Total | 30,561 |
| • Density | 1,529.7/sq mi (590.6/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08080, 08090, 08093, 08096 |
| Area code(s) | 856 |
| FIPS code | 34-17710[4][5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882149[6] |
| Website | http://www.deptford-nj.org/ |
Deptford Township (commonly known as Deptford) 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.[3]
Deptford was formed as a township dating back to June 1, 1695, at which time it was known as Bethlehem. It was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Over the centuries, portions of the township were taken to create Washington Township (February 17, 1836), Woodbury Borough (March 27, 1854; now Woodbury City), West Deptford Township (March 1, 1871), Wenonah (March 10, 1883), Westville (April 7, 1914) and Woodbury Heights (April 6, 1915).[7]
Deptford is a suburb of Philadelphia, located on the eastern side of the Walt Whitman Bridge, which joins southern New Jersey with Philadelphia. It is located 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Philadelphia and 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Atlantic City.
Oak Valley is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Deptford Township.
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Deptford was the site of the first hot air balloon landing in North America, gathering that distinction when Jean-Pierre Blanchard completed his flight to Deptford from Philadelphia in 1793. During his flight, Blanchard carried a personal letter from George Washington to be delivered to the owner of whatever property Blanchard happened to land on, making the flight the first delivery of air mail in the United States as well.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 17.6 square miles (46 km2), of which, 17.5 square miles (45 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.46%) is water.
Deptford Township borders Mantua Township, Washington Township, Wenonah, West Deptford Township, Westville, Woodbury and Woodbury Heights. Deptford Township also borders Bellmawr and Runnemede, and Gloucester Township both in Camden County.
Deptford is divided into many sections and neighborhoods, including Almonesson, Jericho, New Sharon, Oak Valley, Westville Grove, Cooper Village, Lake Tract, Blackwood Terrace, and Pine Acres.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 4,507 |
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| 1940 | 4,738 | 5.1% | |
| 1950 | 7,304 | 54.2% | |
| 1960 | 17,878 | 144.8% | |
| 1970 | 24,232 | 35.5% | |
| 1980 | 23,473 | −3.1% | |
| 1990 | 24,137 | 2.8% | |
| 2000 | 26,763 | 10.9% | |
| 2010 | 30,561 | 14.2% | |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[3][8] | |||
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 26,763 people, 10,013 households, and 7,079 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,529.7 people per square mile (590.5/km²). There were 10,647 housing units at an average density of 608.6 per square mile (234.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 83.44% White, 12.38% Black, 0.21% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.86% of the population.
There were 10,013 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,147, and the median income for a family was $56,642. Males had a median income of $40,641 versus $28,986 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,477. 5.9% of the population and 4.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.2% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Deptford Township operates under the Faulkner Act (Council-Manager) form of municipal government and is governed by a seven-member Township Council. Council members are elected on an at-large basis in partisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three or four seats coming up for election every other year.[1] The council then nominates a mayor and a deputy mayor during the reorganization meeting in January to serve two-year terms. The mayor and the deputy mayor can remain in those offices as long as they continue to be nominated by the council every two years and as long as they win their council elections every four years. The council also hires a non-partisan manager to serve as the chief administrative official of the township. The current Township Manager is Ken Barnshaw.
As of 2012[update], the members of the Deptford Township Council are Mayor Paul Medany (D), Deputy Mayor Tom Hufnell (D), Frank DiMarco (D), Phillip Schocklin (D), Joe Scott (D), Wayne Love (D), and Bill Lamb (D).[9]
Deptford Township is in the 1st Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 5th state legislative district.[10] The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[3]
New Jersey's First Congressional District is represented by Rob Andrews (D, Haddon Heights). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
5th district of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Donald Norcross (D, Camden) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Angel Fuentes (D, Camden) and Gilbert "Whip" Wilson (D, Camden).[11] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[12] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[13]
Gloucester County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose seven members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office 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 2011, Gloucester County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger (D, West Deptford Township, 2012), Deputy Freeholder Director Dr. Warren S. Wallace (D, Washington Township, 2011), Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D, Woolwich Township, 2012), Frank J. DiMarco (D, Deptford Township, 2011), Vincent H. Nestore, Jr. (R, Deptford Township, 2013), Heather Simmons (D, Glassboro Borough, 2011), Larry Wallace (R, Woolwich Township, 2013).[14]
The Deptford Township Schools serve students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[15]) are Central Early Childhood Center (591 students; PreK-1), Good Intent School (428; 2-6), Lake Tract School (432; 2-6), Oak Valley School (409; 2-6), Pine Acres Early Childhood Center (228; PreK-1), Shady Lane School (492; PreK-6), Monongahela Middle School for grades 7&8 (662; 7&8), Deptford Township High School for grades 9-12 (1,131; 912) and New Sharon School (20; ungraded) serves students ages 3–21 with developmental or cognitive disabilities.[16]
Gloucester County College is also located in Deptford.
Notable current and former residents of Deptford Township include:
The Deptford Mall is the seventh largest shopping mall in New Jersey and the largest in the South Jersey region of the state, with a Gross leasable area (GLA) of 1,300,000 square feet (120,000 m2).
The Deptford Mall is surrounded by two movie theaters (with a total of fourteen screens between them), twelve strip malls, bars, and numerous restaurants and individual stores. This thriving business district is a major contributor to Deptford having one of the lowest municipal tax rates in Gloucester County.
Deptford Township is crisscrossed by major transportation routes in and near the township, including Interstate 295, Route 41, Route 42, Route 45, Route 47, Route 55, as well as County Route 534, County Route 544, County Route 551 and County Route 553. The New Jersey Turnpike passes through, but the nearest interchange is Exit 3 in neighboring Bellmawr/Runnemede.
Deptford is featured briefly in the film Patti Smith: Dream of Life, a 2008 documentary about rock musician Patti Smith.[23]
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