Country United States County Cumberland Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) Area 99.28 km² Local time Monday 6:37 PM | State New Jersey Incorporated February 17, 1885 Elevation 3.96 m Population 2,721 (2000) Named for James Lawrence | |
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Area rank 60th of 566 in state
6th of 14 in county Weather 1°C, Wind SE at 16 km/h, 44% Humidity | ||
Lawrence Township is a township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, 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 3,290, reflecting an increase of 569 (+20.9%) from the 2,721 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 288 (+11.8%) from the 2,433 counted in the 1990 Census.
Contents
- Map of Lawrence Township NJ USA
- Geography
- Census 2010
- Census 2000
- Local government
- Federal state and county representation
- Politics
- Education
- Transportation
- Notable people
- References
Map of Lawrence Township, NJ, USA
Lawrence Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 17, 1885, from portions of Fairfield Township. The township was namedin honor of Captain James Lawrence — commander of the frigate USS Chesapeake and one of the naval heroes of the War of 1812 — best known for his dying command of "Don't Give up the Ship".
Lawrence Township is a dry township where alcohol cannot be sold.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 38.332 square miles (99.279 km2), including 36.917 square miles (95.614 km2) as land and 1.415 square miles (3.665 km2) of water (3.69%).
Cedarville (2010 population of 776) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Lawrence Township.
The township borders Fairfield Township, Millville, Downe Township, and the Delaware Bay.
Census 2010
The 2010 United States Census counted 3,290 people, 1,102 households, and 849.6 families residing in the township. The population density was 89.1 per square mile (34.4/km2). The township contained 1,221 housing units at an average density of 33.1 per square mile (12.8/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 81.03% (2,666) White, 9.24% (304) Black or African American, 1.16% (38) Native American, 0.40% (13) Asian, 0.03% (1) Pacific Islander, 5.02% (165) from other races, and 3.13% (103) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 11.37% (374) of the population.
Out of a total of 1,102 households, 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the township, 26.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females the census counted 99.5 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 100.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $70,948 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,480) and the median family income was $72,014 (+/- $2,843). Males had a median income of $55,208 (+/- $6,323) versus $30,382 (+/- $5,144) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,934 (+/- $3,545). About 5.2% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,721 people, 920 households, and 712 families residing in the township. The population density was 72.6 people per square mile (28.0/km²). There were 1,023 housing units at an average density of 27.3 per square mile (10.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 81.88% White, 10.40% African American, 1.07% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 3.42% from other races, and 2.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.02% of the population.
There were 920 households out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $46,083, and the median income for a family was $48,456. Males had a median income of $36,891 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income for the township was $17,654. About 6.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Lawrence Township is governed under the Township form of government. The governing body is a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat 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 Lawrence Township Council are Mayor Joseph Miletta Jr. (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2018; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy Mayor Elmer "Skip" Bowman (R, term on committee ends 2017; term as deputy mayor ends 2016) and G. Erwin Sheppard (R, 2016).
Federal, state and county representation
Lawrence 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, Lawrence 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 1,917 registered voters in Lawrence Township, of which 584 (30.5%) were registered as Democrats, 364 (19.0%) were registered as Republicans and 969 (50.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 52.6% of the vote (618 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.9% (539 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (17 votes), among the 1,187 ballots cast by the township's 1,972 registered voters (13 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 60.2%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 48.8% of the vote (613 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 48.3% (607 votes), with 1,256 ballots cast among the township's 1,894 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.3%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 51.8% of the vote (586 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry, who received 45.7% (517 votes), with 1,131 ballots cast among the township's 1,683 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 67.2.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.7% of the vote (450 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 30.1% (197 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (8 votes), among the 663 ballots cast by the township's 1,902 registered voters (8 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 34.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 46.9% of the vote (353 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 40.7% (306 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 7.3% (55 votes), with 752 ballots cast among the township's 1,865 registered voters, yielding a 40.3% turnout.
Education
The Lawrence Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Myron L. Powell School. As of the 2012-13 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 504 students and 41.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.15:1.
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students in Lawrence Township are assigned to one of two school districts based on the location of their residence. Students attend high school either in Bridgeton or Millville, based on sending/receiving relationships with the respective school districts, the Bridgeton Public Schools and the Millville Public Schools. Students sent to Bridgeton attend Bridgeton High School. Students sent to Millville join students from Commercial Township, Maurice River Township and Woodbine and attend Memorial High School for ninth grade and half of the tenth grade and Millville Senior High School for half of the tenth grade through the twelfth grade.
Transportation
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 54.06 miles (87.00 km) of roadways, of which 26.30 miles (42.33 km) were maintained by the municipality and 27.76 miles (44.68 km) by Cumberland County.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Lawrence Township include: