South Harrison Township, New Jersey
South Harrison Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 3,162, reflecting an increase of 745 from the 2,417 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 498 from the 1,919 counted in the 1990 Census.
South Harrison was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 2, 1883, from portions of Harrison Township. Elk Township was formed from portions of South Harrison Township on April 17, 1891. It is a dry town, where alcohol cannot be sold, though alcohol is available at the winery in the township.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 15.731 square miles, including 15.677 square miles of land and 0.054 square miles of water.Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Cedar Grove, Harrisonville, Jessups Mills and Lincoln.
The township borders the municipalities of Elk Township, Harrison Township and Woolwich Township in Gloucester County; and Pilesgrove Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township in Salem County.
Demographics
Census 2010
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $106,667 and the median family income was $113,875. Males had a median income of $84,408 versus $55,750 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,515. About 2.0% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,417 people, 800 households, and 663 families residing in the township. The population density was 153.0 people per square mile. There were 829 housing units at an average density of 52.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 93.09% White, 3.76% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.19% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.43% of the population.There were 800 households out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.9% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.1% were non-families. 13.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $68,491, and the median income for a family was $76,390. Males had a median income of $55,313 versus $32,337 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,968. About 4.1% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
South Harrison 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., members of the South Harrison Township Committee are Mayor Joseph Marino, Deputy Mayor Robert Diaz, John Horner, Carmen A. Malignaggi and Robert Schenk.
In 2007, Charles Tyson was elected Mayor, the first African American to hold the post. He was re-elected in 2008. In 2009, however, he declined to seek re-election to a third term, citing the death threats and racist vandalism that had arisen. He had received threatening phone calls and emails, his tires were slashed, and "KKK" was written on a sign on his lawn. A federal indictment has charged a white supremacist from Virginia, Bill White, with "communicating threats in interstate commerce", based on White's emails to Tyson and phone calls to Tyson's wife in 2008. No arrests have been made, however, in connection with the incidents in 2007, even though the town posted a $24,000 reward.
Federal, state and county representation
South Harrison Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 2,146 registered voters in South Harrison, of which 733 were registered as Democrats, 626 were registered as Republicans and 785 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered to other parties.In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 60.9% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.8%, and other candidates with 1.3%, among the 1,666 ballots cast by the township's 2,238 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.4%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 56.2% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.2% and other candidates with 1.9%, among the 1,741 ballots cast by the township's 2,168 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.3%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 60.8% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 38.3% and other candidates with 0.4%, among the 1,429 ballots cast by the township's 1,792 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 79.7.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.6% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.9%, and other candidates with 2.6%, among the 996 ballots cast by the township's 2,218 registered voters, for a turnout of 44.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 58.7% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 31.4%, Independent Chris Daggett with 7.8% and other candidates with 0.8%, among the 1,134 ballots cast by the township's 2,175 registered voters, yielding a 52.1% turnout.
Education
The South Harrison Township School District serves public school students in kindergarten through sixth grade at South Harrison Township Elementary School. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising one school, had an enrollment of 368 students and 30.2 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.2:1.Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades are educated by the Kingsway Regional School District, which also serves students from East Greenwich Township, Swedesboro and Woolwich Township, with the addition of students from Logan Township who attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship in which tuition is paid on a per-pupil basis by the Logan Township School District. South Harrison Township accounts for 13% of district enrollment. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising two schools, had an enrollment of 2,764 students and 185.8 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 14.9:1. The schools in the district are
Kingsway Regional Middle School with 963 students in grades 7-8 and
Kingsway Regional High School with 1,750 students in grades 9-12. Under a 2011 proposal, Kingsway would merge with its constituent member's K-6 districts to become a full K-12 district, with various options for including Logan Township as part of the consolidated district.
Students from across the county are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend the school.
Transportation
, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Gloucester County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.Route 45 traverses the township southwest-to-northeast, from the border with Pilesgrove Township to Harrison Township. County Route 538 crosses along the northern portion of the township from Woolwich Township in the northwest to Elk Township to the southeast. County Route 581 crosses from Upper Pittsgrove Township in the south to Harrison Township in the north.