Eastampton Township, New Jersey

History

Eastampton Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 11, 1880, from portions of Westampton Township. Portions of both Lumberton Township and Southampton Township were annexed in 1882.

Eastampton is the location of Smithville, an industrial community created by Hezekiah Bradley Smith for his machine company, which produced the American Star Bicycle. It is now a county park.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 5.834 square miles (15.111 km²), including 5.749 square miles (14.891 km²) of land and 0.085 square miles (0.220 km²) of water (1.46%).

The township borders Mount Holly Township, Westampton Township, Springfield Township, Pemberton Township, Southampton Township, and Lumberton Township.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Smithville and Turpentine.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 6,069 people, 2,281 households, and 1,640 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,055.6 per square mile (407.6/km²). The township contained 2,380 housing units at an average density of 414.0 per square mile (159.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 73.11% (4,437) White, 16.97% (1,030) Black or African American, 0.35% (21) Native American, 4.48% (272) Asian, 0.07% (4) Pacific Islander, 1.65% (100) from other races, and 3.38% (205) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.29% (503) of the population.

Out of a total of 2,281 households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% 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 3.15.

In the township, 24.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.0 years. For every 100 females the census counted 93.1 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 91.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $73,393 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,010) and the median family income was $91,375 (+/- $8,669). Males had a median income of $60,405 (+/- $4,400) versus $44,028 (+/- $8,940) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,065 (+/- $2,298). About 3.0% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 6,202 people, 2,226 households, and 1,638 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,077.9 people per square mile (416.5/km²). There were 2,312 housing units at an average density of 401.8 per square mile (155.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 78.25% White, 11.77% African American, 0.23% Native American, 5.42% Asian, 1.44% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.72% of the population.

There were 2,226 households out of which 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the township the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 35.3% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $66,406, and the median income for a family was $71,765. Males had a median income of $46,486 versus $31,208 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,534. About 2.0% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Eastampton Township is governed the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Council-Manager system of municipal government (Plan E), implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1983. The residents of Eastampton adopted the Council-Manager form of New Jersey municipal government based on a referendum passed in 1982. The Eastampton Township Council consists of five members elected at-large in partisan elections to staggered four-year terms of office, with either two or three seats coming up for election on a staggered basis in even years as part of the November general election. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are selected by the Council from among its members at a reorganization meeting held each year during the first week of January. The Mayor coordinates the work of the Council, chairs Council meetings and is the township's public representative. The Mayor also signs all contracts and obligations of the Township and is empowered to perform marriages.

As of 2016, members of the Eastampton Township Council are Mayor Anthony Zeno (D, term on council ends December 31, 2016; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy Robert Apgar (D, term on council ends 2016; term as deputy mayor ends 2016), John Adams (R, 2018), Matthew Edson (R, 2018) and Jay Springer (D, 2016).

Federal, state and county representation

Eastampton Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 8th 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 8th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Dawn Marie Addiego (R, Evesham Township) and in the General Assembly by Maria Rodriguez-Gregg (R, Evesham Township) and Joe Howarth (R, Evesham Township). 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 3,610 registered voters in Eastampton Township, of which 1,160 (32.1% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 772 (21.4% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 1,678 (46.5% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 59.5% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 78.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).

n the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,651 votes (59.7% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,069 votes (38.6% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 29 votes (1.0% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,766 ballots cast by the township's 3,802 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.8% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,754 votes (58.8% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,172 votes (39.3% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 36 votes (1.2% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,981 ballots cast by the township's 3,786 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.7% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,442 votes (52.6% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,269 votes (46.3% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 15 votes (0.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,741 ballots cast by the township's 3,458 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.3% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 945 votes (58.4% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 637 votes (39.4% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 16 votes (1.0% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,617 ballots cast by the township's 3,796 registered voters, yielding a 42.6% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 886 votes (48.2% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 818 votes (44.5% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 99 votes (5.4% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 29 votes (1.6% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,840 ballots cast by the township's 3,760 registered voters, yielding a 48.9% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Education

For kindergarten through eighth grade, public school students are served by the Eastampton Township School District at Eastampton Community School. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 911 students and 50.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 18.2:1.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Rancocas Valley Regional High School, a regional public high school serving students from five communities encompassing approximately 40 square miles (100 km²) and composed of the communities of Eastampton Township, Hainesport Township, Lumberton Township, Mount Holly Township and Westampton Township. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 2,077 students and 110.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 18.9:1. The school is located in Mount Holly Township and is part of the Rancocas Valley Regional High School District.

Students from Eastampton 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.

Transportation

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 30.46 miles (49.02 km) of roadways, of which 19.95 miles (32.11 km) were maintained by the municipality, 9.43 miles (15.18 km) by Burlington County and 1.08 miles (1.74 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Notable people

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