Greenwich Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey


Greenwich Township is the westernmost township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 804, reflecting a decline of 43 from the 847 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 64 from the 911 counted in the 1990 Census. It is part of the Vineland-Millville- Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes.

History

Greenwich Township was first formed as a precinct on January 19, 1748, and was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of Hopewell Township and Stow Creek Township were annexed in 1845. The township was named for Greenwich, England.
In 1774, during the run-up to the American Revolutionary War, the small community on the Cohansey River was the site of the Greenwich Tea Party, in which a load of tea meant to be sent overland into Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was torched in the night. After the Revolutionary War, the pronunciation of the town was changed to Green-witch to differentiate itself from its English namesake.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 18.834 square miles, including 17.839 square miles of land and 0.995 square miles of water.
The township borders the municipalities of Fairfield Township, Hopewell Township and Stow Creek Township in Cumberland County; and Lower Alloways Creek Township in Salem County and the Delaware Bay.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bacons Neck, Bayside, Caviar, Davis Mills, Othello, Sheppards Mill, Springtown and Stathams Neck.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $55,833 and the median family income was $80,000. Males had a median income of $55,938 versus $55,833 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,044. About 5.3% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 847 people, 326 households, and 245 families residing in the township. The population density was 46.6 people per square mile. There were 361 housing units at an average density of 19.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 89.96% White, 5.08% African American, 2.60% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.
There were 326 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $52,188, and the median income for a family was $56,111. Males had a median income of $43,214 versus $30,208 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,233. About 6.1% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 17.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Greenwich Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 of 565 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The governing body is a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Greenwich Township Committee are Mayor William C. "Bill" Reinhart, Deputy Mayor Daniel J. Orr and Mark Werley.
In January 2013, Dan Orr was selected by the Township Council from among three candidates offered by the Democratic municipal committee to serve the unexpired term of Bill Kiefer, who resigned from office earlier that month.
In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $6,372, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.

Federal, state and county representation

Greenwich Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Greenwich Township had been in the 3rd state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 590 registered voters in Greenwich Township, of which 172 were registered as Democrats, 176 were registered as Republicans and 242 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.5% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 45.6%, and other candidates with 2.9%, among the 449 ballots cast by the township's 620 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.4%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 50.4% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain, who received 48.0%, with 450 ballots cast among the township's 605 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.3% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry, who received around 48.4%, with 463 ballots cast among the township's 600 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 77.2.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.9% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 34.0%, and other candidates with 1.1%, among the 372 ballots cast by the township's 589 registered voters, for a turnout of 63.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 44.7% of the vote, ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 43.6% and Independent Chris Daggett with 7.0%, with 342 ballots cast among the township's 583 registered voters, yielding a 58.7% turnout.

Education

The Greenwich Township School District serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Morris Goodwin School. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 64 students and 14.8 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 4.3:1. The district has been ranked as one of the smallest in the state. Under the terms of the Greenwich - Stow Creek Partnership established in 2009 with the Stow Creek School District in Stow Creek Township, New Jersey, students from both townships attend Morris Goodwin School for grades K-4 and Stow Creek School for grades 5–8.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Cumberland Regional High School, which also serves students from Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough, Stow Creek Township and Upper Deerfield Township. As of the 2017–18 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,127 students and 78.5 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 14.4:1. The high school district has a nine-member board of education, with board seats allocated to the constituent municipalities based on population, with each municipality assigned a minimum of one seat; Greenwich Township has one seat on the board.
Students are also eligible to attend Cumberland County Technology Education Center in Vineland, serving students from the entire county in its full-time technical training programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.

Transportation

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by Cumberland County.
No Interstate, U.S., state or significant county highways serve Greenwich Township. The only numbered routes are minor county roads such as County Route 620.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Greenwich Township include: