Greenwich Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 12.032 square miles (31.164 km²), including 8.969 square miles (23.231 km²) of land and 3.063 square miles (7.934 km²) of water (25.46%).

Gibbstown (with a 2010 Census population of 3,739) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Greenwich Township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Clements, Green, Monds Island and Thompsons Point.

The township borders Paulsboro, East Greenwich Township, and Logan Township. Greenwich Township also borders the Delaware River.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 4,899 people, 1,946 households, and 1,352 families residing in the township. The population density was 546.2 per square mile (210.9/km²). The township contained 2,048 housing units at an average density of 228.3 per square mile (88.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.22% (4,567) White, 4.00% (196) Black or African American, 0.06% (3) Native American, 0.76% (37) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.41% (20) from other races, and 1.55% (76) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.35% (115) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,946 households, 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the township, 20.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females the census counted 95.7 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 92.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $63,817 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,652) and the median family income was $81,250 (+/- $14,406). Males had a median income of $47,927 (+/- $6,567) versus $41,750 (+/- $4,066) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,685 (+/- $3,226). About 8.1% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 4,879 people, 1,866 households, and 1,393 families residing in the township. The population density was 523.7 people per square mile (202.1/km²). There were 1,944 housing units at an average density of 208.7 per square mile (80.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.55% White, 3.32% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.

There were 1,866 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the township the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $53,651, and the median income for a family was $60,565. Males had a median income of $41,875 versus $31,627 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,791. About 1.3% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Greenwich Township is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council Plan A form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of five members elected at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two council seats up for election in each of the first two years and the mayoral seat up for vote in the third year of a three-year cycle.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Greenwich Township is Republican George W. Shivery Jr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2018. Members of the Greenwich Township Council are Council President Joseph L. DiMenna (D, 2015), William "Billy" Franklin (D, 2018), Vincent Giovannitti (D, 2016) and Raymond A. Williams Jr. (R, 2016).

Federal, state and county representation

Greenwich Township is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.

New Jersey's First Congressional District is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden). 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 3,690 registered voters in Greenwich Township, of which 2,246 (60.9%) were registered as Democrats, 444 (12.0%) were registered as Republicans and 1,000 (27.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.5% of the vote (1,435 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 45.0% (1,206 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (39 votes), among the 2,712 ballots cast by the township's 3,711 registered voters (32 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.8% of the vote (1,564 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.8% (1,353 votes) and other candidates with 1.6% (47 votes), among the 3,022 ballots cast by the township's 3,863 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 53.9% of the vote (1,602 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 44.0% (1,308 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (34 votes), among the 2,972 ballots cast by the township's 3,853 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 77.1.

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, Democrat Jon Corzine received 49.6% of the vote (1,103 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 36.8% (817 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.4% (187 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (20 votes), among the 2,222 ballots cast by the township's 3,169 registered voters, yielding a 70.1% turnout.

Education

The Greenwich 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 658 students and 49.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.4:1. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Greenwich Township Elementary School with 253 students in grades K-4 and Nehaunsey Middle School with 213 students in grades 5-8.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Paulsboro High School in Paulsboro as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Paulsboro Public Schools. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 374 students and 36.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.3:1.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 38.06 miles (61.25 km) of roadways, of which 23.72 miles (38.17 km) were maintained by the municipality, 8.96 miles (14.42 km) by Gloucester County and 5.38 miles (8.66 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Only one major county, state, U.S. and interstate passes through the township. The major county road is Route 551 Spur. State Route 44 passes through the center of the township while U.S. Route 130 and Interstate 295 (multiplexed together) pass near the southern center of town, with at least two interchanges: Exits 15 and 16, and 17 (on the border with neighboring East Greenwich Township).

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service is available between the township and Philadelphia on the 402 route.

The Port of Paulsboro includes marine transfer operations at PBF Energy's Paulsboro Refinery in Gibbstown and at Thompson Point, and is served by SMS Rail Lines for the rail spur to the refinery and the freight rail Penns Grove Secondary.

Points of interest

Nothnagle Log House is believed to be one of the oldest standing wooden structures built by European settlers in the Eastern United States. It is believed that it was built by early Finnish-Swedish settlers at some time after 1638 and before 1700, but its precise age has not been determined with scientific methods. A plaque at the house indicates that the structure was built between 1638–1643, while the National Register of Historic Places web site states: "Period of Significance: 1650-1699".

The one-room cabin is constructed of square-hewn logs with a low-beamed ceiling with a large corner fireplace in a rear corner.

Notable people

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