Swedesboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,055.
Swedesboro was formed as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1902, from portions of Woolwich Township.[7]
History and landmarks
Swedesboro, along with Bridgeport, was one of only two settlements established in New Jersey as a part of the New Sweden colony. The oldest extant log cabin in the United States, the Nothnagle Log Cabin was built by Antti Niilonpoika (Anthony Neilson/Nelson) in Swedesboro. It is a registered National historic site, as is Trinity Episcopal "Old Swedes" Church. Trinity was established as a Swedish Lutheran Church in 1703; the present building dates to 1784. Trinity Church Cemetery is the burial place of Governor of New Jersey Charles C. Stratton and Congressman Benjamin Franklin Howey, among other notable interees.[8]
Geography
Swedesboro is located at 39°44'53" North, 75°18'41" West (39.748125, -75.311411).[9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.0 km2), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.9 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) of it (3.95%) is water.
Swedesboro is an independent municipality surrounded on all sides by Woolwich Township.
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1910 |
1,477 |
|
—
|
| 1920 |
1,838 |
|
24.4% |
| 1930 |
2,123 |
|
15.5% |
| 1940 |
2,268 |
|
6.8% |
| 1950 |
2,459 |
|
8.4% |
| 1960 |
2,449 |
|
−0.4% |
| 1970 |
2,287 |
|
−6.6% |
| 1980 |
2,031 |
|
−11.2% |
| 1990 |
2,024 |
|
−0.3% |
| 2000 |
2,055 |
|
1.5% |
| Est. 2006 |
2,043 |
[3] |
−0.6% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[10][11] |
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 2,055 people, 771 households, and 528 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,830.8 people per square mile (1,086.9/km2). There were 860 housing units at an average density of 1,184.7/sq mi (454.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 76.93% White, 16.50% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 3.36% from other races, and 2.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.52% of the population.
There were 771 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the borough the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $49,286, and the median income for a family was $58,721. Males had a median income of $41,346 versus $33,125 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,857. About 7.8% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Swedesboro is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[1]
The Mayor of Swedesboro, who presides over the Council is Thomas W. Fromm (D, term ends December 31, 2011. The Swedesboro Council consists of Council President David Flaherty (D, 2009), Diane Hale (D, 2010), Salvatore "Sam" Casella (R, 2009), Donald Dryden (R, 2008), Darlene Gage (R, 2008) and George Weeks (D, 2010).[12][13]
Federal, state and county representation
Swedesboro is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District.[14]
New Jersey's Second Congressional District, covering all of Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County and Salem County and portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 3rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Stephen M. Sweeney (D, West Deptford Township) and in the Assembly by John J. Burzichelli (D, Paulsboro) and Celeste Riley (D, Bridgeton).[15] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[16]
Gloucester County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. Each year, the Board selects a Freeholder Director and Deputy Director from among its members. As of 2009[update], Gloucester County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Stephen M. Sweeney (D, West Deptford Township, term ends December 31, 2011), Deputy Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger (D, West Deptford Township, 2009), Joseph A. Brigandi, Jr., (D, Glassboro, 2010), Jean DuBois (D, Mantua Township, 2010), Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D, Woolwich Township, 2009), Frank J. DiMarco (D, Deptford Township, 2011) and Dr. Warren S. Wallace (D, Washington Township, 2011).[17]
Education
Public school students in grades K-6 attend the Swedesboro-Woolwich School District, a consolidated school district that serves students from both Swedesboro and Woolwich Township. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[18]) are Margaret C. Clifford School (Grades PreK and K, 246 students) in Swedesboro, Charles C. Stratton School (Grades 1 - 4, 708 students) in Woolwich Township and Walter H. Hill School (Grades 5 and 6, 286 students).
For grades 7-12, public school students are educated by the Kingsway Regional School District. The district serves students from East Greenwich Township, Logan Township, South Harrison Township, Swedesboro and Woolwich Township.[19] Schools in the district are Kingsway Regional Middle School and Kingsway Regional High School.
Notable residents
References
- ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 19.
- ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of Swedesboro, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed June 13, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Swedesboro borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 20, 2007.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 140.
- ^ “The Swedes and Finns in New Jersey” (Federal Writers' Project of WPA. Bayonne, New Jersey: Jersey Printing Company, Inc. 1938)
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ "U.S. Census Historical Data 1790-2000". http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
- ^ Swedesboro Council, Borough of Swedesboro. Accessed July 15, 2008.
- ^ Swedesboro: Party Lines Hold Strong In Boro Council Voting New Town Press, February 7, 2007. Accessed February 15, 2007.
- ^ 2008 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 64. Accessed September 30, 2009.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
- ^ Gloucester County Elected Officials, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed October 1, 2009.
- ^ Data for the Swedesboro-Woolwich School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 11, 2008.
- ^ Kingsway Regional School District, Logan Township School District. Accessed March 11, 2008. "Logan Township high school students (grades 9-12) are educated at the Kingsway Regional High School located on Kings Highway in Woolwich Township. The regional district also provides services to students in Swedesboro and Woolwich, East Greenwich, and South Harrison Townships."
- ^ Dorien Bryant, CSTV. Accessed January 6, 2008.
- ^ Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography
- ^ Answers.com - William Nicholson Jeffers. Accessed July 15, 2008.
External links
