| Downe Township, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Downe Township highlighted in Cumberland County. Inset map: Cumberland County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Downe Township, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Cumberland |
| Royal Charter | January 19, 1748 |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Dennis Cook (2011)[1] |
| • Clerk / CFO | Richard DeVillasanta[2] |
| Area[3] | |
| • Total | 54.23 sq mi (140.5 km2) |
| • Land | 50.76 sq mi (131.5 km2) |
| • Water | 3.47 sq mi (9.0 km2) |
| Elevation[4] | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[5] | |
| • Total | 1,585 |
| • Density | 29.2/sq mi (11.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08345 - Newport 08321 - Fortescue 08349 - Dividing Creek - 08315[6] |
| Area code(s) | 856 |
| FIPS code | 34-18220[7][8] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882061[9] |
| Website | http://www.downetwpnj.org |
Downe Township is a township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 1,585.[5]
What is now Downe Township was formed by Royal Charter on January 19, 1748, as Downes Township, from portions of Fairfield Township. Downe Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Commercial Township (February 27, 1874).[10]
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 54.23 square miles (140.5 km2), of which, 50.76 square miles (131.5 km2) of it is land and 3.47 square miles (9.0 km2) of it (6.40%) is water.[3]
Fortescue is an unincorporated area located within Downe Township, and is known as the "weakfish capital of the world".[11]
Downe Township borders Lawrence Township, Millville, Commercial Township, and the Delaware Bay.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,574 |
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| 1940 | 1,546 | −1.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,786 | 15.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,870 | 4.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,777 | −5.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,803 | 1.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,702 | −5.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,631 | −4.2% | |
| 2010 | 1,585 | −2.8% | |
| Population sources: 1930-1990[12] 2000[13] 2010[5] |
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As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 1,631 people, 658 households, and 438 families residing in the township. The population density was 32.1 people per square mile (12.4/km²). There were 1,134 housing units at an average density of 22.3 per square mile (8.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 91.05% White, 4.84% African American, 1.47% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.98% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.37% of the population.[13]
There were 658 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.[13]
In the township the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 107.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.[13]
The median income for a household in the township was $34,667, and the median income for a family was $39,375. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $26,397 for females. The per capita income for the township was $17,366. About 11.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.[13]
Downe Township is governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year.[14] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2011[update], members of the Downe Township Committee are Mayor Dennis Cook (D), Deputy Mayor Steve Simmerman (D), Robert Campbell (R), Lisa Garrison (R) and Tammi Reynolds (R).[15][16]
Downe Township is in the 2nd Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.[17] The city was relocated to the 1st state legislative district by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[5] The new district is in effect for the June 2011 primary and the November 2011 general election, with the state senator and assembly members elected taking office in the new district as of January 2012.[17]
New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
3rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Stephen M. Sweeney (D, West Deptford Township) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by John J. Burzichelli (D, Paulsboro) and Celeste Riley (D, Bridgeton).[18] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[19] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[20]
Cumberland County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at-large in partisan elections to serve staggered three-year terms in office, with two or three seats coming up for election each year.[21] As of 2011, Cumberland County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director William Whelan (Bridgeton, term ends December 31, 2011)[22], Deputy Director James A. Dunkins, (Millville, 2011)[23], Samuel L. Fiocchi, Sr. (Vineland, 2013)[24] Jane Jannarone (Vineland, 2011)[25], Carl W. Kirstein (Bridgeton, 2013)[26], Louis N. Magazzu (Bridgeton, 2012)[27] and Thomas Sheppard (Cedarville, 2012)[28][29]
The Downe Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Downe Township School had an enrollment of 172 students in the 2009-10 school year.[30]
Public school students in grades 9-12 attend Bridgeton High School in Bridgeton, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Bridgeton Public Schools.[31]
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