Riverside Township, New Jersey


Riverside Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 8,079, reflecting an increase of 168 from the 7,911 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 63 from the 7,974 counted in the 1990 Census.
Riverside was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1895, from portions of Delran Township. A portion of the township was annexed by Delran in 1901. The township was named for its location on the Delaware River.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 1.614 square miles, including 1.489 square miles of land and 0.125 square miles of water.
The township borders the Burlington County municipalities of Delanco Township and Delran Township.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $56,377 and the median family income was $65,825. Males had a median income of $46,962 versus $32,413 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,243. About 3.9% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 7,911 people, 2,978 households, and 1,992 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,197.2 people per square mile. There were 3,118 housing units at an average density of 2,048.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 90.22% White, 4.44% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.28% from other races, and 2.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.11% of the population.
There were 2,978 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $43,358, and the median income for a family was $52,479. Males had a median income of $36,556 versus $25,510 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,758. About 6.7% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Riverside 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 Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats 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 as Deputy Mayor, each for a term of one year.
, members of the Riverside Township Committee are Mayor Jason M. Frey, Deputy Mayor Corey S. Kimble, Lorraine M. Hatcher, Matthew Kirk and Michelle M. Weaver.
In March 2019, the Township Committee chose Michael Higgins from a list of three potential candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that became vacant when Michael D. Miller submitted his resignation. In the November 2019 general election, Republican Matthew Kirk defeated Higgins by a single vote and was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
In January 2018, Republican F. Michael Hart was selected by the Township Committee from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that was vacated by Robert R. Prisco after he resigned to accept a Judicial appointment to a New Jersey Workers' Compensation Judgeship; Hart served on an interim basis until the November 2018 general election, when voters elected Democrat Michelle Weaver to serve the balance of the term of office.
In July 2016, Jason Frey was selected by the Township Committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that was vacated by Timothy LeConey when he announced that he was resigning and moving out of the township. Frey served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Mayor Chuck Hilton and fellow Republican incumbent James Ott were defeated by their Democratic opponents, newcomers Lorraine Hatcher and Thomas Polino. An anti-immigration ordinance passed by the Township Committee that imposed fines on any business that hires or any landlord who rents to an illegal immigrant was a major issue in the campaign.

Federal, state and county representation

Riverside is located in the 3rd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 7th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 4,189 registered voters in Riverside Township, of which 1,527 were registered as Democrats, 685 were registered as Republicans and 1,974 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 51.9% were registered to vote, including 67.4% of those ages 18 and over.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,816 votes here, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,073 votes and other candidates with 31 votes, among the 2,941 ballots cast by the township's 4,329 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,881 votes here, ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,233 votes and other candidates with 42 votes, among the 3,191 ballots cast by the township's 4,278 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.6%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,726 votes here, ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,278 votes and other candidates with 24 votes, among the 3,044 ballots cast by the township's 4,197 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.5%.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,018 votes here, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 634 votes and other candidates with 18 votes, among the 1,714 ballots cast by the township's 4,254 registered voters, yielding a 40.3% turnout. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 854 ballots cast, ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 821 votes, Independent Chris Daggett with 104 votes and other candidates with 28 votes, among the 1,840 ballots cast by the township's 4,324 registered voters, yielding a 42.6% turnout.

Education

The Riverside School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,404 students and 114.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.3:1. Schools in the district are
Riverside Township Elementary School with 690 students in grades PreK-5,
Riverside Township Middle School with 290 students in grades 6-8 and
Riverside Township High School with 391 students in grades 9-12.
Students from Delanco Township attend Riverside High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Delanco Township School District.
Students from Riverside Township, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton Township.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by Burlington County.
No Interstate, U.S. or state highways directly serve Riverside Township. The most significant road passing through the township is County Route 543.

Public transportation

The Riverside station, located on Zubrugg Way, provides service on the River Line light rail system, offering southbound service to Camden and the Walter Rand Transportation Center with connections to PATCO Speedline trains to Philadelphia and the Camden County suburbs and northbound service to the Trenton Rail Station with connections to NJ Transit trains to New York City, SEPTA trains to Philadelphia and Amtrak trains.
NJ Transit provides bus service in the borough on the 419 route that runs between Camden and Burlington.

In film

Riverside was used for the filming of the film Jesus' Son and was the site of picketing by nuns who objected to the implication from the film's title that Jesus fathered a child.

Immigration debate

In July 2006, a controversial ordinance was passed by the township committee trying to handle the large amount of unauthorized immigrants, primarily from Brazil, that had moved into the township. The ordinance stated that employers who hired an illegal immigrant and landlords who rented to them would be fined $1,000 - $2,000 per incident and could possibly lose their business license. In response to the ordinance, several civil groups including the ACLU and People for the American Way took or contemplated legal actions against the ordinance.
In August 2007, the ordinance was repealed, and some have speculated that the exodus of over 1,000 immigrants from Riverside to other New Jersey townships was a major factor. The ordinance repealing the law cited the high cost of defending it against further legal challenges.

Notable people

Many people born in Riverside Township were born at Zurbrugg Hospital during a period of about 75 years beginning in 1915. People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Riverside Township include: