| Maurice River Township, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Maurice River Township highlighted in Cumberland County. Inset map: Cumberland County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Maurice River Township, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Cumberland |
| Formed | January 19, 1748 |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Andrew Sarclette (2011) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 95.7 sq mi (247.9 km2) |
| • Land | 93.4 sq mi (241.9 km2) |
| • Water | 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) |
| Elevation[1] | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| • Total | 8,083 |
| • Density | 74.2/sq mi (28.6/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08327 - Leesburg |
| Area code(s) | 856 |
| FIPS code | 34-44580[3][4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882063[5] |
| Website | http://www.mauricerivertwp.org |
Maurice River 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 2000 Census, the township population was 6,928.
Maurice River Township was first formed as a precinct on January 19, 1748, 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 Millville on March 1, 1866.[6]
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 95.7 square miles (247.9 km²), of which, 93.4 square miles (241.9 km²) of it is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²) of it (2.41%) is water.
Maurice River Township borders Commercial Township, Millville, and Vineland. Maurice River Township also borders Cape May County, Atlantic County, and the Delaware Bay. The Maurice River forms the western boundary between Maurice River Township and Commercial Township.
Maurice River Township is one hour from both Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Atlantic City, situated just off of Route 47, Route 49 and Route 55. Route 347 and County Routes 548, 550 and 552 all pass through the Township.
The township consists of several communities, including Bricksboro, the Cumberland, Delmont, Dorchester, Heislerville, Leesburg, Port Elizabeth and some portions of Belleplain and Milmay.[7] The township government is based in the community of Leesburg in the municipal complex. Maurice River Township is mostly rural in character and some of the land is covered by extensive forests of the Pine Barrens.
Originally called Wahatquenak by the local Lenni Lenape Native Americans, the Maurice River is said to be named for a local legend, in which a Dutch ship on the river, the Prince Maurice, was sunk by the local Native Americans in 1657. The land was surveyed by John Worledge and Thomas Budd, and the village of Dorchester was laid out. However, it was not until 1798 on that the township itself was established.
Port Elizabeth was established as a port of delivery by an Act of Congress in 1789, and trade was done directly with the West Indies for several years, until the 1830s, when trading was done more with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City. Dorchester and Leesburg were known for shipbuilding industry, and the A.J. Meerwald (the State Ship of New Jersey) was built in the shipyards of Dorchester. The village of Heislerville and its surroundings were known for their oystering industry until around 1957, when a parasitic disease called MSX crippled the oyster population of the river. The oystering industry has not recovered since.[8]
In 1993, the Maurice River and its tributaries were designated as the Maurice National Scenic and Recreational River by the Congress.[9]
The pace of life in Maurice River Township is slow, and residents enjoy outdoors activities all year long afforded by the acres of unspoiled forest and waterways. With an abundance of forests and marshlands, numerous state wildlife refuges in the area are frequented by locals for hunting, fishing, bird-watching, hiking and boating. As a result, the preservation of the unique ecosystem of the Maurice River watershed has become an important issue for some residents. One group, Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, Inc. formed to provide education and organize preservation efforts.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 2,319 |
|
|
| 1940 | 2,261 | −2.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,834 | 25.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,105 | 9.6% | |
| 1970 | 3,743 | 20.5% | |
| 1980 | 4,577 | 22.3% | |
| 1990 | 6,648 | 45.2% | |
| 2000 | 6,928 | 4.2% | |
| Est. 2006 | 8,083 | [2] | 16.7% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[10] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 6,928 people, 1,332 households, and 1,012 families residing in the township. The population density was 74.2 people per square mile (28.6/km²). There were 1,461 housing units at an average density of 15.6 per square mile (6.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.63% White, 3.98% African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 11.1% Pacific Islander, 9.43% from other races, and 2.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.15% of the population.
There were 1,332 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the township the population was spread out with 12.9% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 55.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 277.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 343.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $43,182, and the median income for a family was $46,987. Males had a median income of $37,901 versus $27,928 for females. The per capita income for the township was $17,141. About 6.4% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
Maurice River Township is governed under the Township form of government with a three-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year.[11] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.
Members of the Maurice River Township Committee are Mayor Andrew Sarclette (Term expires December 31, 2010), Deputy Mayor Kathy Ireland (Term Expires 2011) and Committeeman Kevin Langley (Term Expires 2012).[12]
Two New Jersey Department of Corrections prisons, the Bayside State Prison and the Southern State Correctional Facility,[13][14] are in the township.[15]
Maurice River 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).
Maurice River 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).[16]
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.[17] As of 2011, Cumberland County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director William Whelan (Bridgeton, term ends December 31, 2011)[18], Deputy Director James A. Dunkins, (Millville, 2011)[19], Samuel L. Fiocchi, Sr. (Vineland, 2013)[20] Jane Jannarone (Vineland, 2011)[21], Carl W. Kirstein (Bridgeton, 2013)[22], Louis N. Magazzu (Bridgeton, 2012)[23] and Thomas Sheppard (Cedarville, 2012)[24][25]
The Maurice River Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2005-06 school year Maurice River Township Elementary School had an enrollment of 406 students.[26] In the 2007-2008 school year, Maurice River Township Elementary School was one of only three schools in the state of New Jersey to receive the honor of being designated a School to Watch. Despite this honor, it is one of several schools targeted for closure as a result of Governor Jon Corzine's efforts to balance the state budget. Under Corzine's plan, the NJ Department of education hopes to close small schools within the next three years. Students at Maurice River Township Elementary School will be bused to a larger regional school within Cumberland County. There is currently a heated debate within the community about the future of the school. MRTE School principal John Saporito has been a vocal opponent of the plan and actively seeking alternatives to keep the school open. Meetings of concerned parents with the Board of Education and Mr. Saporito have prompted many ideas and debate. This included the suggestion Maurice River Township build a high school. However the New Jersey Department of Education indicated MRT's population does not meet the criteria to house a high school. Public school students in grades 9-12 are currently bused to the high school in Millville, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Millville Public Schools. Students in grade 9 and half of those in grade 10 attend Memorial High School, while the other half in grade 10 and the entirety of grades 11 and 12 attend Millville Senior High School.[27]
Notable current and former residents of Maurice River Township include:
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