Country United States County Cumberland Incorporated February 21, 1798 Area 79.84 km² Population 4,434 (2000) Area code 856 | State New Jersey Formed January 19, 1748 Elevation 22 m Founded 21 February 1798 Local time Tuesday 11:25 AM | |
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Area rank 87th of 566 in state
9th of 14 in county Weather 0°C, Wind N at 43 km/h, 97% Humidity | ||
Hopewell Township is a township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, in the United States. It is part of the Vineland-Millville- Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 4,571, reflecting an increase of 137 (+3.1%) from the 4,434 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 219 (+5.2%) from the 4,215 counted in the 1990 Census.
Contents
- Map of Hopewell NJ 08302 USA
- Geography
- Census 2010
- Census 2000
- Local government
- Federal state and county representation
- Politics
- Education
- Transportation
- Notable people
- References
Map of Hopewell, NJ 08302, USA
Hopewell Township was first formed as a precinct on January 19, 1748, and was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township have been taken to form Columbia Township (March 12, 1844, returned to Hopewell Township on March 11, 1845), Cohansey Township (March 6, 1848) and Shiloh borough (April 9, 1929).
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 30.827 square miles (79.840 km2), including 29.874 square miles (77.372 km2) of land and 0.953 square miles (2.468 km2) of water (3.09%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bowentown, Cohansey, Dutch Neck, Harmony, Irlands Mills and Mary Elmer Lake.
The township borders Upper Deerfield Township, Bridgeton, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Stow Creek Township, Shiloh, and Salem County.
Mary Elmer Lake is a reservoir on the Cohansey River in Hopewell Township and Bridgeton that covers 22.2 acres (9.0 ha) and is used for water-supply and recreation purposes. Sunset Lake is a reservoir in Hopewell Township and Upper Deerfield Township covering 87.0 acres (35.2 ha) that was created by damming a stream that feeds to the area from above Seeley Lake and a stream that feeds into the lake from nearby Mary Elmer Lake.
Census 2010
The 2010 United States Census counted 4,571 people, 1,662 households, and 1,200 families residing in the township. The population density was 153.0 per square mile (59.1/km2). The township contained 1,741 housing units at an average density of 58.3 per square mile (22.5/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 84.38% (3,857) White, 6.58% (301) Black or African American, 2.17% (99) Native American, 0.57% (26) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.24% (148) from other races, and 3.06% (140) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 7.33% (335) of the population.
Out of a total of 1,662 households, 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the township, 20.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.5 years. For every 100 females the census counted 91.9 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 88.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $63,059 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,372) and the median family income was $72,520 (+/- $6,301). Males had a median income of $44,688 (+/- $5,244) versus $46,793 (+/- $8,187) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,355 (+/- $2,361). About 0.9% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 4,434 people, 1,628 households, and 1,206 families residing in the township. The population density was 148.3 people per square mile (57.3/km²). There were 1,683 housing units at an average density of 56.3 per square mile (21.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 87.10% White, 6.90% African American, 2.32% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.44% from other races, and 1.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.59% of the population.
There were 1,628 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $49,767, and the median income for a family was $59,675. Males had a median income of $40,774 versus $30,402 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,783. About 3.8% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Hopewell 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 Hopewell Township Committee are Mayor Bruce R. Hankins (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2017; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy Mayor Paul J. Ritter, III (R, term on committee ends 2017; term as deputy mayor ends 2016), Gregory J. Facemyer (R, 2016), Roberta S. "Robin" Freitag (R, 2018) and Joseph C. Shoemaker Jr. (R, 2018).
Federal, state and county representation
Hopewell Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Hopewell Township had been in the 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 1st Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jeff Van Drew (D, Dennis Township) and in the General Assembly by Bob Andrzejczak (D, Middle Township) and R. Bruce Land (D, Vineland). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).
Cumberland County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at-large in partisan elections to serve staggered three-year terms in office, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the freeholders select one member to serve as Freeholder Director and another as Deputy Director. As of 2014, Cumberland County's Freeholders (with committee liaison assignments, political party, residence and term-end dates listed in parentheses) are Freeholder Director Joseph Derella (Administration / Public Safety; D, Millville, term ends December 31, 2015), Freeholder Deputy Director Douglas M. Long (NA; D, Upper Deerfield Township, 2015), Darlene Barber (Education; D, 2016, Upper Deerfield Township), Carol Musso (Community Services; D, Deerfield Township, 2014), James Sauro (Agriculture; R, Vineland, 2014), Thomas Sheppard (Health; R, Lawrence Township, 2016) and Tony Surace (Public Works; D, Millville, 2014). The county's constitutional officers are County Clerk Gloria Noto (Vineland, 2014), Sheriff Robert A. Austino (Vineland, 2014) and Surrogate Douglas M. Rainear (Bridgeton, 2018).
Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,133 registered voters in Hopewell Township, of which 786 (25.1%) were registered as Democrats, 805 (25.7%) were registered as Republicans and 1,538 (49.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 57.6% of the vote (1,188 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.5% (856 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (18 votes), among the 2,086 ballots cast by the township's 3,193 registered voters (24 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 65.3%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 55.8% of the vote (1,248 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 40.9% (913 votes), with 2,235 ballots cast among the township's 3,125 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.5%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 59.4% of the vote (1,265 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry, who received around 38.9% (828 votes), with 2,130 ballots cast among the township's 2,886 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 73.8.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.4% of the vote (873 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 33.1% (442 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (19 votes), among the 1,350 ballots cast by the township's 3,099 registered voters (16 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 52.9% of the vote (779 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 38.2% (563 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 5.5% (81 votes), with 1,472 ballots cast among the township's 3,095 registered voters, yielding a 47.6% turnout.
Education
The Hopewell Township School District serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Hopewell Crest School. As of the 2012-13 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 516 students and 38.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.51:1. The Shiloh School was closed after the end of the 2006-07 school year, and all students from Shiloh are being sent to the Hopewell Crest School as part of a sending/receiving relationship, accounting for nearly 10% of the Hopewell district's enrollment.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Cumberland Regional High School, which also serves students from Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Shiloh Borough, Stow Creek Township and Upper Deerfield Township. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,354 students and 87.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.4:1.
Transportation
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 82.00 miles (131.97 km) of roadways, of which 27.02 miles (43.48 km) were maintained by the municipality, 52.51 miles (84.51 km) by Cumberland County and 2.47 miles (3.98 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hopewell Township include: