| Lower Township, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Lower Township, New Jersey sign | |
| Lower Township highlighted in Cape May County. Inset map: Cape May County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Lower Township, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Cape May |
| Established | April 2, 1723 as Precinct |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Type | Faulkner Act (Council-Manager) |
| • Mayor | Michael E. Beck (term ends 2012)[2] |
| • Manager | Michael J. Voll[3] |
| Area[4] | |
| • Total | 31.07 sq mi (80.5 km2) |
| • Land | 28.22 sq mi (73.1 km2) |
| • Water | 2.85 sq mi (7.4 km2) 9.17% |
| Elevation[5] | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[6] | |
| • Total | 22,866 |
| • Density | 736/sq mi (284/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08251 - Villas |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-41640[7][8] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882044[9] |
| Website | http://www.townshipoflower.org/ |
Lower Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,866.[6]
Lower Township was formed as a precinct on April 2, 1723, and 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 Cape Island Borough (March 8, 1848, now known as Cape May city), Cape May Point borough (created April 19, 1878, restored to Lower Township on April 8, 1896, recreated April 6, 1908), Holly Beach (April 14, 1885, now part of Wildwood city), South Cape May (August 27, 1894, restored to Lower Township on April 30, 1945), Wildwood Crest (April 6, 1910) and North Cape May (March 19, 1928, restored to Lower Township on April 30, 1945).[10]
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Lower Township as its 34th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[11]
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.07 square miles (80.5 km2), of which, 28.22 square miles (73.1 km2) of it is land and 2.85 square miles (7.4 km2) of it (9.17%) is water.[4]
Diamond Beach, Erma, North Cape May and Villas are census-designated places and unincorporated areas located within Lower Township.[4] Other communities in Lower Township include Cold Spring, Fishing Creek, Schellenger's Landing and Townbank.[12]
Lower Township borders Middle Township, Wildwood City, Wildwood Crest Borough, Cape May City, West Cape May Borough, Cape May Point Borough, the Delaware Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,188 |
|
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| 1920 | 1,096 | −7.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,444 | 31.8% | |
| 1940 | 1,693 | 17.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,737 | 61.7% | |
| 1960 | 6,332 | 131.3% | |
| 1970 | 10,154 | 60.4% | |
| 1980 | 17,105 | 68.5% | |
| 1990 | 20,820 | 21.7% | |
| 2000 | 22,945 | 10.2% | |
| 2010 | 22,866 | −0.3% | |
| Population sources:1910-1930[13] 1930-1990[14] 2000[15] 2010[6] |
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The 2010 United States Census reported that there were 22,866 people, 9,579 households and 6,354 families residing in the township. The racial makeup of Lower Township was 92.2% (21,549) White, 2.0% (456) African American, 0.2% (37) Native American, 0.6% (142) Asian, 0.0% (10) Pacific Islander, 1.2% (275) from other races, and 1.7% (397) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.2% (969).[6][16]
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 22,945 people, 9,328 households, and 6,380 families residing in the township. The population density was 813.0 people per square mile (313.9/km²). There were 13,924 housing units at an average density of 493.4 per square mile (190.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.26% White, 1.39% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.88% of the population.[15]
There were 9,328 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.95.[15]
In the township the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.[15]
The median income for a household in the township was $38,977, and the median income for a family was $45,058. Males had a median income of $35,201 versus $24,715 for females. The per capita income for the township was $19,786. About 5.3% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.[15]
Lower Township adopted the Council-Manager form of government under the Faulkner Act in 1984. The council is composed of five council members (Mayor, Council Member-at-Large, and three Wards), each elected on a partisan basis to four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for election every other year on an alternating basis.[17][1]
The Mayor presides at all Council meetings and has a voice and vote in the proceedings. Powers are limited to those expressly conferred by the Charter. The Manager serves the Council for an indefinite term of office and may be removed by a majority vote of the Council. The Manager is the chief executive and administrator of the Township.
As of 2011[update], members of the Lower Township Council are Mayor Michael E. Beck, Deputy Mayor Kevin Lare, 1st Ward Council Member Thomas Conrad, 2nd Ward Council Member Erik Simonsen and 3rd Ward Council Member Glenn Douglass.[17]
Lower Township is in the 2nd Congressional district. 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).
Lower Township is in the 1st legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Jeff Van Drew (D, Dennis Township) and in the Assembly by Nelson Albano (D, Vineland) and Matthew W. Milam (D, Vineland).[18][19]
Cape May County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. As of 2011, Cape May County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel (Upper Township, term expires December 31, 2011)[20], Leonard C. Desiderio (Sea Isle City, 2012)[21], Ralph E. Sheets, Jr. (2011)[22], M. Susan Sheppard (Ocean City, 2013)[23] and Gerald M. Thornton (2013).[24][25]
The Lower Township School District serves public school students in prekindergarten through sixth grade. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[26]) are Memorial School (PreK and K; 449 students), Carl T. Mitnick School (1 and 2; 465), Maud T. Abrams School (3 and 4; 464) and Charles W. Sandman Consolidated School (5 and 6; 5519).
The Lower Township School District participates in the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, which allows non-resident students to attend the district's schools without cost to their parents, with tuition paid by the state. Available lots are announced annually by grade.[27]
For grades 7 - 12, public school students attend the schools of the Lower Cape May Regional School District, which serves students from Cape May City, Lower Township and West Cape May, along with students from Cape May Point.[28] Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[29]) are Richard M. Teitelman School (grades 7 and 8; 545 students) and Lower Cape May Regional High School (grades 9-12; 1,100).
There are also two private Catholic schools in close proximity to Lower Township, Cape Trinity Catholic (pre-K to 8) in Wildwood, New Jersey and Wildwood Catholic High School (9-12) in North Wildwood, both of which operate under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.[30]
Mile marker 0 of the Garden State Parkway is in Lower Township, at the intersection with New JerseyRoute 109.[31] U.S. Route 9 passes through the township, as do Route 109, Route 162 and Ocean Drive. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry also docks here.
Notable current and former residents of Lower township include:
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