Elk Township, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 19.688 square miles (50.992 km²), including 19.494 square miles (50.490 km²) of land and 0.194 square miles (0.502 km²) of water (0.98%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Aura, Ferrell, Harding, Hardingville and Monroeville.

The township borders South Harrison Township, Harrison Township, Glassboro, Clayton, and Franklin Township. Elk Township also borders Salem County.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 4,216 people, 1,474 households, and 1,117 families residing in the township. The population density was 216.3 per square mile (83.5/km²). The township contained 1,576 housing units at an average density of 80.8 per square mile (31.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 79.74% (3,362) White, 14.78% (623) Black or African American, 0.52% (22) Native American, 0.64% (27) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.71% (72) from other races, and 2.61% (110) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.10% (215) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,474 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the township, 23.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females the census counted 95.9 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 96.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $63,194 (with a margin of error of +/- $18,724) and the median family income was $74,412 (+/- $15,399). Males had a median income of $56,786 (+/- $16,223) versus $39,900 (+/- $15,570) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,707 (+/- $3,616). About 9.3% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 3,514 people, 1,263 households, and 958 families residing in the township. The population density was 179.0 people per square mile (69.1/km²). There were 1,347 housing units at an average density of 68.6 per square mile (26.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 82.07% White, 14.26% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 1.37% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.93% of the population.

There were 1,263 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the township the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $51,047, and the median income for a family was $55,472. Males had a median income of $41,604 versus $27,407 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,621. About 8.3% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Elk Township is governed under the Township form of government. 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.

As of 2016, the members of the Elk Township Committee are Mayor Edward Poisker (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2018; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy Mayor Carolyn King-Sammons (R, term on committee ends 2017 and as deputy mayor ends 2016), Donna Nicholson (R, 2018), James Rambo (D, 2017) and Christine Yenner (D, 2016).

After the November 2014 general election, Elk Township Republicans declined to file for a recount with John J. Norris coming in third place (with 672 votes), six votes behind Republican Carolyn D. King-Sammons (678) and Democrat James Rambo (685).

Federal, state and county representation

Elk Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.

New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). 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 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 General Assembly by John J. Burzichelli (D, Paulsboro) and Adam Taliaferro (D, Woolwich Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Gloucester County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose seven members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis in partisan elections, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. At a reorganization meeting held each January, the Board selects a Freeholder Director and a Deputy Freeholder Director from among its members. As of 2016, Gloucester County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger (D, West Deptford Township; term ends December 31, 2018), Deputy Freeholder Director Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D, Woolwich Township; 2018), Lyman J. Barnes (D, Logan Township; 2017), Daniel Christy (D, Washington Township; 2016), Frank J. DiMarco (D, Deptford Township; 2016), Heather Simmons (D, Glassboro; 2017) and Jim Jefferson (D, Woodbury; 2017). Constitutional officers elected countywide are County Clerk James N. Hogan, Surrogate Helene M. Reed (Monroe Township) and Sheriff Carmel Morina (Greenwich Township).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,005 registered voters in Elk, of which 1,031 (34.3%) were registered as Democrats, 604 (20.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,369 (45.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.2% of the vote (1,116 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 47.6% (1,039 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (26 votes), among the 2,201 ballots cast by the township's 3,208 registered voters (20 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 68.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.3% of the vote (1,187 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 46.7% (1,080 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (25 votes), among the 2,312 ballots cast by the township's 3,204 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.9% of the vote (1,016 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 47.8% (955 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (14 votes), among the 1,997 ballots cast by the township's 2,727 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 73.2.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.7% of the vote (962 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 33.1% (484 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (18 votes), among the 1,503 ballots cast by the township's 3,083 registered voters (39 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 50.7% of the vote (784 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 39.2% (607 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.2% (112 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (12 votes), among the 1,547 ballots cast by the township's 3,105 registered voters, yielding a 49.8% turnout.

Education

The Elk Township School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at Aura School, which was built in 1927, with the newest addition built in 2002. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 619 students and 35.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 17.6:1.

For seventh through twelfth grades, public school students attend the Delsea Regional School District, which serves students from both Elk Township and Franklin Township. Students from Newfield attend the district as part of a sending/receiving relationship begun in September 2010 after Newfield ended its prior relationship with the Buena Regional School District. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Delsea Regional Middle School with 537 students in grades 7 and 8, and Delsea Regional High School with 1,164 students in grades 9 - 12.

The New Jersey Department of Education has considered a vote by the Board of Education of the Franklin Township Public Schools in June 2010 requesting that the district withdraw from the Delsea Regional School District, which would require that the Delsea region be dissolved as about 80% of the regional district's students come from Franklin. With the withdrawal of Franklin Township, two options being considered were to either have Franklin and Elk Townships create a new regional district with Newfield students attending on a send-receive basis, or having Franklin Township establish its own PreK-12 district which would receive students from both Elk Township and Newfield.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 66.75 miles (107.42 km) of roadways, of which 26.51 miles (42.66 km) were maintained by the municipality, 32.61 miles (52.48 km) by Gloucester County and 7.63 miles (12.28 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Major state routes that pass through include Route 77 and the limited access Route 55. The two main county routes that are accessible include Route 538 and Route 553. The New Jersey Turnpike passes through in neighboring Harrison, but the closest exit is two towns away.

Public transportation

NJ Transit offers bus service on the 410 route between Bridgeton and Philadelphia.

Notable people

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