West Deptford Township is a Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 19,368.
West Deptford Township was formed as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1871, from portions of Deptford Township. Portions of the township were taken to form National Park (April 15, 1902) and Westville (April 7, 1914).[6]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 17.8 square miles (46.0 km²), of which, 15.9 square miles (41.2 km²) of it is land and 1.9 square miles (4.8 km²) of it (10.47%) is water.
West Deptford Township borders Westville, Deptford Township, Woodbury, Woodbury Heights, Mantua Township, East Greenwich Township, Paulsboro and National Park, as well as Camden County and the Delaware River.
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1930 |
3,956 |
|
—
|
| 1940 |
4,336 |
|
9.6% |
| 1950 |
5,446 |
|
25.6% |
| 1960 |
11,152 |
|
104.8% |
| 1970 |
13,928 |
|
24.9% |
| 1980 |
18,002 |
|
29.3% |
| 1990 |
19,380 |
|
7.7% |
| 2000 |
19,368 |
|
−0.1% |
| Est. 2006 |
21,763 |
[2] |
12.4% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[7] |
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 19,368 people, 7,719 households, and 5,125 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,218.4 people per square mile (470.3/km²). There were 7,999 housing units at an average density of 503.2/sq mi (194.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 92.29% White, 5.08% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.76% of the population.
There were 7,719 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,583, and the median income for a family was $64,477. Males had a median income of $42,711 versus $30,621 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,219. About 3.0% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
West Deptford Township is governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[8] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor. The Township Committee is the legislative branch of the Township government, developing and adopting ordinances that become the laws of the township.
The Mayor of West Deptford Township is Anna Docimo.[9] Other members of the West Deptford Township Committee are Deputy Mayor Len E. Daws (Chairperson, Department of Administration), John J. Cobb (Chairperson, Department of Public Safety), Hugh Garrison (Chairperson, Department of Utilities) and Donna Szymborski (Chairperson, Department of Public Works).[10]
Federal, state and county representation
West Deptford Township is in the First Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District.[11]
New Jersey's First Congressional District, covering portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Rob Andrews (D, Haddon Heights). 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, Woodbury) and in the Assembly by John J. Burzichelli (D, Paulsboro) and Celeste Riley (D, Bridgeton).[12] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[13]
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 2008[update], Gloucester County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Stephen M. Sweeney (D, West Deptford Township, term ends December 31, 2008), 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, 2008) and Dr. Warren S. Wallace (D, Washington Township, 2008).[14]
Education
The West Deptford Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[15]) are three K-4 elementary schools — Green-Fields Elementary School (514 students), Oakview Elementary School, which includes a preschool (347 students) and Red Bank Elementary School (298 students) — West Deptford Middle School for grades 5-8 (1,016 students) and West Deptford High School for grades 9-12 (1,111 students).
Transportation
Major roadways in and around West Deptford Township include Interstate 295, U.S. Route 130, Route 44, Route 45 and County Route 551.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of West Deptford Township include:
References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Township of West Deptford, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for West Deptford Township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 20, 2007.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 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 on 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. 141.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 19.
- ^ Mayor's Office, accessed March 14, 2007
- ^ Township Committee, West Deptford Township. Accessed March 1, 2008.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 66. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved on 6 June 2008.
- ^ Gloucester County Elected Officials, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed March 27, 2008.
- ^ Data for the West Deptford Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 27, 2008.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Frank (January 2, 2007). "Scirrotto makes impact with his massive hit". The Philadelphia Inquirer. http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/16363580.htm. Retrieved on 2007-01-22.
- ^ Freeholder Direcot Stephen M. Sweeney, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed July 2, 2008.
- ^ Finley, Bill. "Vince Who? Reggie Who? Recruits Are on Their Way", The New York Times, February 2, 2006. Accessed June 22, 2008. "Coach Greg Schiano and his staff were able to attract Bayonne wide receiver Kenny Britt, Woodbridge wide receiver Shamar Graves and Kordell Young, a running back from West Deptford, three of the state's top players."
External links
