Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey


Washington Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. In the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 48,559, reflecting an increase of 1,445 from the 47,114 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 5,154 from the 41,960 counted in the 1990 Census.
Washington Township was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 17, 1836, from portions of Deptford Township. The township officially moved to the newly created Camden County on March 13, 1844. Monroe Township was created on March 3, 1859, from part of the township. Most of Washington Township, along with all of Monroe Township, was moved back into Gloucester County on February 28, 1871, with the remaining portions of Washington Township that were still in Camden County being transferred to Gloucester Township. Additional transfers to Gloucester Township were made in 1926 and 1931. The township was named for George Washington, one of more than ten communities statewide named for the first president. It is one of five municipalities in the state of New Jersey with the name "Washington Township". Another municipality, Washington Borough, is completely surrounded by Washington Township, Warren County.
In 2008, CNN/Money and Money Magazine ranked Washington Township 58th on its list of the 100 Best Cities to Live in the United States.

History

The oldest community in Washington Township, Grenloch Terrace, was a thriving Lenape Native American settlement called Tetamekon. Some of the early settlers to the area were the Collins family of Chestnut Ridge Farm, for whom Chestnut Ridge Middle School is named; the Turner family, for whom Turnersville was named; the Hurff family, for whom Hurffville and Hurffville Elementary School are named; the Heritage family, whose family began the Heritage's Dairy Farm Stores, and for whom the community Heritage Valley is named; the Morgan family, who were the first residents of the Olde Stone House, a landmark for residents of the township; and the Bell Family, who arrived in 1899 and for whom Bells Lake Park and Bells Elementary School are named. Sewell is named after General William Joyce Sewell, who was elected to the United States Senate in 1881 and 1895, and served as president of the New Jersey Senate in 1876, 1879 and 1880.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 21.600 square miles, including 21.382 square miles of land and 0.218 square miles of water.
Turnersville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within Washington Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bells Lake, Cressville, Dilkesboro, Fairview, Green Tree, Grenloch Terrace, Hurffville, Mount Pleasant and Prossers Mill.
The township borders the municipalities of Deptford Township, Glassboro, Mantua Township, Monroe Township, Pitman in Gloucester County; and Gloucester Township in Camden County.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $79,017 and the median family income was $94,585. Males had a median income of $62,702 versus $46,628 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,038. About 2.6% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 47,114 people, 15,609 households, and 12,658 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,204.6 people per square mile. There were 16,020 housing units at an average density of 749.6/sq mi. The racial makeup of the township was 90.20% White, 4.85% African American, 0.08% Native American, 3.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.03% of the population.
There were 15,609 households out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.3% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $66,546, and the median income for a family was $74,661. Males had a median income of $51,319 versus $35,018 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,705. About 2.5% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Washington Township is governed under the Faulkner Act by the Mayor-Council system of New Jersey municipal government, implemented based on direct petition as of January 1, 1985. The township's governing body is comprised of a mayor and a five-member township council. The mayor is elected by township voters and is the chief executive in charge of the administrative functions of the town. Members of the township council are elected on an at-large basis in partisan elections held as part of the November general election. All elected officials serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with the mayor and two council seats up for election in even-numbered years years and the other three council seats up for vote two years later.
, the mayor of Washington Township is Democrat Joann Gattinelli, whose term of office ends December 31, 2020. Members of the township council are Council President Joseph Perry, Council Vice-President Sean Longfellow, Andrea Dougherty, Dana Pasqualone and Andra Williams.

Federal, state and county representation

Washington Township is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 4th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 33,934 registered voters in Washington, of which 11,872 were registered as Democrats, 7,763 were registered as Republicans and 14,279 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 20 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 49.7% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 49.2%, and other candidates with 1.1%, among the 24,648 ballots cast by the township's 35,305 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.8%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 49.6% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain with 48.6% and other candidates with 1.0%, among the 25,859 ballots cast by the township's 35,224 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.9% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 48.0% and other candidates with 0.5%, among the 25,149 ballots cast by the township's 33,043 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.1.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.1% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 31.6%, and other candidates with 1.3%, among the 13,803 ballots cast by the township's 34,580 registered voters, for a turnout of 39.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 52.6% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 38.8%, Independent Chris Daggett with 7.0% and other candidates with 0.5%, among the 14,820 ballots cast by the township's 34,338 registered voters, yielding a 43.2% turnout.

Education

The Washington Township Public School District serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising 11 schools, had an enrollment of 7,341 students and 658.8 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1. Schools in the district are
Grenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center ;
Bells Elementary School,
Birches Elementary School,
Hurffville Elementary School,
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School,
Wedgewood Elementary School,
Whitman Elementary School,
Bunker Hill Middle School,
Chestnut Ridge Middle School,
Orchard Valley Middle School and
Washington Township High School with 2,237 students in grades 9 - 12.
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.

Local dynamics

Washington Township has two major economic centers. The "town center" is focused around the square formed by Greentree Road, Egg Harbor Road, Ganttown Road, and Hurffville-Crosskeys Road. Washington Township High School, the TD Bank Arts Centre, Washington Lake Park, and the township municipal building are located around this general vicinity. The other major center is located around Route 42, which connects Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the Jersey Shore.
Washington Township is sometimes referred to as "South Jersey's Premier Community", "South Philly South", or "Little South Philly" as a large percentage of its citizens moved to the town from the Italian South Philadelphia region over the past several decades. It is also known simply as "Township".

Recent expansion

Washington Township could be viewed as the frontline between open space and home developers. A township that was once composed of several isolated housing areas gravitating around the Wedgwood, Whitman Square, Birches, Birches West, and Hurffville neighborhoods has expanded outwards.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Gloucester County, by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
Route 42 heads along the east side of the township, entering in the south from Monroe Township and continuing north for towards Gloucester Township in Camden County, where the road is known as the North-South Freeway. Route 168 has its southern terminus at Route 42 in Washington Township and heads north along the township border towards Gloucester Township. Route 47 runs along the western quarter of the township, entering in the south from Glassboro and proceeding north for towards Deptford Township. Route 55 clips the eastern tip of Gloucester Township, extending for from Mantua Township in the south to Deptford Township in the north. The Atlantic City Expressway enters from Gloucester Township, and zig-zags through both until its western terminus in Washington Township at Route 42.
County Route 534 enters from Deptford Township on the east and heads into Gloucester Township. County Route 555 enters from Monroe Township on the west and continues for to its terminus at Route 42.

Public transportation

's Atlantic City commuter rail line and PATCO Speedline rapid transit are accessible at the Lindenwold station, located northeast of the township.
NJ Transit bus service is available to Philadelphia on the 315, 400, 403, 408 and 412 routes, with local service on the 463 route.

Notable people

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