| Woolwich Township, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Woolwich Township highlighted in Gloucester County. Inset map: Gloucester County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Woolwich Township, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Gloucester |
| Royal Charter | March 7, 1767 |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Samuel Maccarone |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.2 sq mi (54.9 km2) |
| • Land | 20.9 sq mi (54.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2) |
| Elevation[2] | 89 ft (27 m) |
| Population (2006)[3] | |
| • Total | 8,612 |
| • Density | 144.8/sq mi (55.9/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08085 |
| Area code(s) | 856 |
| FIPS code | 34-82840[4][5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882144[6] |
| Website | http://www.woolwichtwp.org |
Woolwich Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,032.
Woolwich was formed by Royal Charter on March 7, 1767, from portions of Greenwich Township, 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 Franklin Township (January 27, 1820), Spicer Township (March 13, 1844, now known as Harrison Township) West Woolwich Township (March 7, 1877, now known as Logan Township) and Swedesboro (April 9, 1902).[7]
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 21.2 square miles (55 km2), of which, 20.9 square miles (54 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (1.13%) is water.
| Logan Twp | Greenwich Twp | East Greenwich Twp | ||
| Oldmans Twp | Harrison Twp | |||
| Woolwich Township | ||||
| Pilesgrove Twp | South Harrison Twp |
Also, Swedesboro is an independent municipality located entirely within the township.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 3,265 |
|
|
| 1860 | 3,478 | 6.5% | |
| 1870 | 3,760 | 8.1% | |
| 1880 | 1,974 | −47.5% | |
| 1890 | 2,035 | 3.1% | |
| 1900 | 2,291 | 12.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,136 | −50.4% | |
| 1920 | 973 | −14.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,196 | 22.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,193 | −0.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,343 | 12.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,235 | −8.0% | |
| 1970 | 1,147 | −7.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,129 | −1.6% | |
| 1990 | 1,459 | 29.2% | |
| 2000 | 3,032 | 107.8% | |
| Est. 2006 | 8,612 | [3] | 184.0% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[8][9][10] | |||
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 3,032 people, 959 households, and 838 families residing in the township. The population density was 144.8 people per square mile (55.9/km2). There were 1,026 housing units at an average density of 49.0 per square mile (18.9/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 91.13% White, 4.55% African American, 1.12% Asian, 1.95% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.89% of the population.
There were 959 households out of which 49.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.4% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.6% were non-families. 8.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.13 and the average family size was 3.35.
In the township the population was spread out with 31.4% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 38.0% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $83,790, and the median income for a family was $87,111. Males had a median income of $54,200 versus $38,571 for females. The per capita income for the township was $29,503. About 1.9% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 19.6% of those age 65 or over.
Woolwich Township is governed under the Township form of government with a five-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 or two seats coming up for election each year.[1] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
Members of the Woolwich Township Committee are Mayor Sam Maccarone (term ends December 31, 2012), Deputy Mayor Jonathan Fein (2012), Joe Chila (2011), Ted Otten (2011) and John Descano (2013).[11][12]
Woolwich 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).
Woolwich Township is in the 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).[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]
U.S. Route 322 passes through the center of the municipality while the New Jersey Turnpike passes through the southeastern part of the township (for almost 5¾ miles) and connects Route 322 at Interchange #2.
Major county roads that pass through include CR 538 and CR 551.
Interstate 295 is accessible outside the municipality in neighboring Logan, Oldmans and Greenwich.
Students in public school for grades K-6 attend the Swedesboro-Woolwich School District, a consolidated school district that serves students from both Swedesboro and Woolwich Township. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[15]) are Margaret C. Clifford School (Grades PreK and K, 246 students) in Swedesboro, Charles C. Stratton School (Grades 1 - 4, 708 students) in Woolwich Township and Walter H. Hill School (Grades 5 and 6, 286 students).
Public school students in grades 7-12 are educated by the Kingsway Regional School District. The district serves students from East Greenwich Township, Logan Township, South Harrison Township, Swedesboro and Woolwich Township.[16] Schools in the district are Kingsway Regional Middle School and Kingsway Regional High School.
In its April 2006 issue listing the Top Places to Live in New Jersey, New Jersey Monthly magazine rated Woolwich as the worst place to live in all of New Jersey, placing 566th out of 566 municipalities.[17] As of February 2008, the municipality is ranked as 547 out of 566 municipalities. Meanwhile, its population has grown a staggering 185% from 2000-2006.[18]
The community was labeled the "Number 1 Area Boomtown" in 2005.[19]
Notable current and former residents of Woolwich Township include:
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