Delanco Township, New Jersey

History

What is now Delanco Township was originally incorporated as Beverly Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1859, within Willingboro Township. Delanco was a geographical place name by 1868, and probably earlier. At its creation, Beverly Township included Beverly city, which separated as an independent municipality c. 1877. Portions of the township were taken to create Edgewater Park on February 26, 1924. The township's name was changed to Delanco Township as of December 20, 1926, based on the results of a referendum held on November 2, 1926.

In April 1861, the Sixth Massachusetts Militia passed through Delanco, on their way to Washington to defend the federal capitol. According to the report of Colonel Edward F. Jones during their travel, James Brady was "taken insane" and left in Delanco Township, with J. C. Buck. When the regiment arrived in Baltimore, Maryland, it was attacked during the Baltimore riot of 1861.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 3.350 square miles (8.677 km²), including 2.356 square miles (6.102 km²) of land and 0.994 square miles (2.575 km²) of water (29.67%).

The township borders Beverly, Edgewater Park Township, Willingboro Township, Delran Township, and Riverside Township in Burlington County and also borders the Delaware River, and across it, Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 4,283 people, 1,755 households, and 1,241 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,817.9 per square mile (701.9/km²). The township contained 1,853 housing units at an average density of 786.5 per square mile (303.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 82.79% (3,546) White, 10.97% (470) Black or African American, 0.47% (20) Native American, 1.87% (80) Asian, 0.12% (5) Pacific Islander, 0.93% (40) from other races, and 2.85% (122) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.55% (152) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,755 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the township, 19.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.4 years. For every 100 females the census counted 94.8 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 91.3 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $77,357 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,985) and the median family income was $82,368 (+/- $9,070). Males had a median income of $56,333 (+/- $12,752) versus $46,625 (+/- $9,993) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,943 (+/- $4,082). About 1.5% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 3,237 people, 1,227 households, and 892 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,301.1 people per square mile (501.9/km²). There were 1,285 housing units at an average density of 516.5 per square mile (199.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.89% White, 1.92% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.40% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.95% of the population.

There were 1,227 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the township the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $50,106, and the median income for a family was $56,985. Males had a median income of $40,727 versus $28,144 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,096. About 6.8% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Delanco Township is governed under the Township form of government. The Township Committee is the township's governing body and is responsible for formulating policies, approving the annual budget and enacting ordinances and resolutions to provide a legislative framework. Voters approved a measure in 2000 that expanded the Township Committee from three to five members starting in 2002. The five-member Township Committee is 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. The Township Committee was expanded from three to five members as of the 2002 election based on the results of a referendum passed in 2000.

As of 2016, members of the Delanco Township Committee are Mayor Kate Fitzpatrick (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2016), Deputy Mayor Bill Dillenbeck (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2016), John Browne (R, 2018), Marlene Jass (R, 2017) and Mike Templeton (D, 2018).

William Dillenbeck was appointed in April 2012 to fill the vacant seat of fellow Republican Joan Hinkle, who had cited health issues in resigning from a term of office that would have run until December 2013.

The Chief of Police for Delanco is Jesse DeSanto. Delanco Township's Administrator is Richard Schwab. The Township Clerk and Assistant Administrator is Janice Lohr.

Federal, state and county representation

Delanco Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 7th state legislative district.

New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District is represented by Tom MacArthur (R, Toms River). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 7th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Diane Allen (R, Edgewater Park Township) and in the General Assembly by Herb Conaway (D, Moorestown) and Troy Singleton (D, Palmyra). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Burlington County is governed by a Board of chosen freeholders, whose five members are elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year. The board chooses a director and deputy director from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting held in January. As of 2015, Burlington County's Freeholders are Director Mary Ann O'Brien (R, Medford Township, 2017; Director of Administration and Human Services), Deputy Director Bruce Garganio (R, Florence Township, 2017; Director of Public Works and Health), Aimee Belgard (D, Edgewater Park Township, 2015; Director of Hospital, Medical Services and Education) Joseph Donnelly (R, Cinnaminson Township, 2016; Director of Public Safety, Natural Resources, and Education) and Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2015; Director of Health and Corrections). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Tim Tyler, Sheriff Jean E. Stanfield and Surrogate George T. Kotch.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 2,927 registered voters in Delanco Township, of which 1,001 (34.2% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 703 (24.0% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 1,220 (41.7% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 68.3% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 85.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,406 votes here (59.2% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 933 votes (39.3% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 23 votes (1.0% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,375 ballots cast by the township's 3,153 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.3% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,374 votes here (57.7% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 967 votes (40.6% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 18 votes (0.8% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,382 ballots cast by the township's 2,894 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.3% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,097 votes here (54.7% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 881 votes (43.9% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 21 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,007 ballots cast by the township's 2,509 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.0% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 982 votes here (60.6% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 574 votes (35.4% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 24 votes (1.5% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,620 ballots cast by the township's 3,174 registered voters, yielding a 51.0% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 756 ballots cast (49.2% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 666 votes (43.3% vs. 47.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 78 votes (5.1% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 25 votes (1.6% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,537 ballots cast by the township's 2,973 registered voters, yielding a 51.7% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Education

The Delanco Township School District serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its two schools had an enrollment of 538 students and 30.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 17.6:1. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the New Jersey Department of Education) are Joan Pearson Elementary School for grades K-5 (268 students) and Walnut Street Middle School for grades 6-8 (119 students).

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Riverside High School in Riverside Township as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Riverside School District. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 436 students and 37.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.5:1.

Students from Delanco Township, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton Township.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 18.88 miles (30.38 km) of roadways, of which 14.01 miles (22.55 km) were maintained by the municipality, 4.61 miles (7.42 km) by Burlington County and 0.26 miles (0.42 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Public transportation

The Delanco station is located on Rhawn Avenue providing access to the River Line light rail system, offering southbound service to Camden's Walter Rand Transportation Center (with transfers available to the PATCO Speedline to Philadelphia) and the Pennsauken Transit Center (with transfers available to NJ Transit trains to Philadelphia and Atlantic City) and northbound service to the Trenton Rail Station with connections to NJ Transit trains to New York City, SEPTA trains to Philadelphia, and Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor.

NJ Transit provides bus service in Delanco Township on the 419 route that runs between Camden and Burlington.

Notable people

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