Franklin Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 56.466 square miles (146.246 km²), including 55.907 square miles (144.799 km²) of land and 0.559 square miles (1.447 km²) of water (0.99%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Blue Bell, Downstown, Forest Grove. Franklinville, Fries Mills, Iona, Janvier, Lake, Malaga, Marsh Lake, Piney Hollow, Plainville and Porchtown.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 16,820 people, 5,849 households, and 4,562 families residing in the township. The population density was 300.9 per square mile (116.2/km²). The township contained 6,104 housing units at an average density of 109.2 per square mile (42.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.44% (14,876) White, 7.18% (1,208) Black or African American, 0.20% (34) Native American, 1.27% (213) Asian, 0.03% (5) Pacific Islander, 1.03% (174) from other races, and 1.84% (310) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.49% (755) of the population.

Out of a total of 5,849 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the township, 24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.0 years. For every 100 females the census counted 100.5 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 97.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $74,327 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,247) and the median family income was $80,667 (+/- $7,344). Males had a median income of $51,425 (+/- $3,105) versus $42,297 (+/- $2,605) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,141 (+/- $3,019). About 4.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 15,466 people, 5,225 households, and 4,190 families residing in the township. The population density was 276.1 people per square mile (106.6/km²). There were 5,461 housing units at an average density of 97.5 per square mile (37.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.22% White, 6.66% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.51% of the population.

There were 5,225 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 15.9% 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 2.94 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the township the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $55,169, and the median income for a family was $60,518. Males had a median income of $41,159 versus $27,538 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,277. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Franklin 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, members of the Franklin Township Committee are Mayor Sheryl Neely (D, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2016), Deputy Mayor Don Krevetski (D, term on committee ends 2017; term as deputy mayor ends 2016), Lou Gonzalez (D, 2016), Edward Leopardi (D, 2018) and Leah Vassallo (D, 2017).

Federal, state and county representation

Franklin Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Franklin Township had been in the 4th 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 10,760 registered voters in Franklin, of which 2,885 (26.8%) were registered as Democrats, 2,422 (22.5%) were registered as Republicans and 5,444 (50.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 9 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 50.9% of the vote (3,782 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 47.8% (3,553 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (101 votes), among the 7,492 ballots cast by the township's 11,180 registered voters (56 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 67.0%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.3% of the vote (4,065 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 46.0% (3,646 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (131 votes), among the 7,923 ballots cast by the township's 11,085 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.5%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 49.5% of the vote (3,503 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 48.7% (3,443 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (92 votes), among the 7,073 ballots cast by the township's 9,870 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 71.7.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.2% of the vote (1,138 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 37.0% (677 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (14 votes), among the 1,915 ballots cast by the township's 3,654 registered voters (86 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 52.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 49.2% of the vote (2,445 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 40.2% (1,998 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.4% (417 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (35 votes), among the 4,969 ballots cast by the township's 11,042 registered voters, yielding a 45.0% turnout.

Public safety

Franklin Township is served by the Franklin Township Police Department, along with five volunteer fire companies and one ambulance squad. Serving are Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Company, Franklinville Volunteer Fire Company, Janvier Volunteer Fire Company, Malaga Volunteer Fire Company, Star Cross Volunteer Fire Company. Franklin Township Ambulance Corps provide emergency medical services for the whole township.

Education

The Franklin Township Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through sixth grade. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its three schools had an enrollment of 2,632 students and 109.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 23.9:1. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Mary F. Janvier Elementary School (596 students in grades K-2), Main Road School (429; 3-4) and Caroline L. Reutter School (364; 5-6). Students in public school for kindergarten through sixth grade from Newfield attend the Franklin Township district's schools as part of a sending/receiving relationship in which Newfield accounts for about 100 of the nearly 1,400 students in the district.

For seventh through twelfth grades, 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 Franklin Township Board of Education 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.

Our Lady of Mercy Academy is a college preparatory, all-girls Catholic high school founded in 1962 by the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy and operated under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 177.39 miles (285.48 km) of roadways, of which 118.84 miles (191.25 km) were maintained by the municipality, 39.04 miles (62.83 km) by Gloucester County and 19.51 miles (31.40 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

US 40 passes through the southern area while both Route 47 and the Route 55 freeway both pass through the eastern area.

The county roads that pass through include CR 538, CR 555 and CR 557.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service in the township on service between Cape May and Philadelphia on the 313 and between Millville and Philadelphia on the 408 routes.

Notable people

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

Wineries