Weymouth Township, New Jersey


Weymouth Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 2,715, reflecting an increase of 458 from the 2,257 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 300 from the 1,957 counted in the 1990 Census.
Named for Weymouth, Dorset, the township was created as a constablewick in 1694 and was known in its early days as "New Waymouth Township". Weymouth Township was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 12, 1798, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, while the area was still part of Gloucester County, and was incorporated nine days later. Portions of the township were taken on February 5, 1813, to create Hamilton Township. Weymouth Township became part of the newly created Atlantic County on February 7, 1837. Portions of the township were taken on March 11, 1922, to form Corbin City, and on March 14, 1925, to form Estell Manor.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 12.450 square miles, including 12.089 square miles of land and 0.361 square miles of water.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Belcoville, Dorothy, Grassy Pond and High Bank Landing.
The township borders the municipalities of Buena Vista Township, Egg Harbor Township, Estell Manor and Hamilton Township in Atlantic County; and Maurice River Township in Cumberland County.
The township is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering, that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve. Part of the township is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Atlantic County, along with areas in Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $51,574 and the median family income was $67,857. Males had a median income of $59,688 versus $38,438 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,857. About 5.7% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,257 people, 851 households, and 623 families residing in the township. The population density was 185.0 people per square mile. There were 909 housing units at an average density of 74.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 91.98% White, 4.79% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 1.02% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.81% of the population.
There were 851 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the township the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $45,882, and the median income for a family was $49,800. Males had a median income of $41,842 versus $29,464 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,987. About 4.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Weymouth Township operates 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.
, members of the Weymouth Township Committee are Mayor Kenneth R. Haeser, Carl "Peter" Keiffenheim and Edward Norton.
Republican Sean O'Brikis resigned from the Township Committee in October 2010 and then had to resign again after winning re-election unopposed in the November election. The committee selected Kenneth Haeser to fill the vacant seat, though Haeser lost to Democrat Dennis Doyle in the November 2011 general election to fill the balance of the term vacated by O'Brikis.

Federal, state and county representation

Weymouth 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, Weymouth had been in the 2nd state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 1,785 registered voters in Weymouth Township, of which 456 were registered as Democrats, 610 were registered as Republicans and 719 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 65.7% were registered to vote, including 79.4% of those ages 18 and over.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 701 votes, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 650 votes and other candidates with 9 votes, among the 1,371 ballots cast by the township's 1,856 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 777 votes, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 645 votes and other candidates with 31 votes, among the 1,474 ballots cast by the township's 1,896 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.7%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 636 votes, ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 588 votes and other candidates with 11 votes, among the 1,246 ballots cast by the township's 1,623 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.8%.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 695 votes, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 258 votes and other candidates with 16 votes, among the 993 ballots cast by the township's 1,890 registered voters, yielding a 52.5% turnout. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 571 votes, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 387 votes, Independent Chris Daggett with 66 votes and other candidates with 22 votes, among the 1,071 ballots cast by the township's 1,835 registered voters, yielding a 58.4% turnout.

Education

The Weymouth Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Weymouth Township School. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 167 students and 15.1 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1. In the 2016–17 school year, Weymouth was tied with the 30th smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 155 students.
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Buena Regional High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Buena Regional School District. Students attend the high school from Buena and Buena Vista Township, along with students from Estell Manor, who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 565 students and 52.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1.
Township public school students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Atlantic County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
New Jersey Route 50 is the main highway serving Weymouth Township.

Public transportation

provides bus service in the township on the 315 route that runs between Cape May and Philadelphia.

Notable people

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