Monroe Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 46.926 square miles (121.539 km²), including 46.393 square miles (120.158 km²) of land and 0.533 square miles (1.381 km²) of water (1.14%).

Victory Lakes (with a 2010 Census population of 2,111) and Williamstown (15,567 residents as of 2010) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places located within Monroe Township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Berryland, Broad Lane, Cecil, Cross Keys, Downer, New Brooklyn and Radix.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 36,129 people, 12,815 households, and 9,445 families residing in the township. The population density was 778.8 per square mile (300.7/km²). The township contained 13,387 housing units at an average density of 288.6 per square mile (111.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 79.41% (28,689) White, 14.01% (5,060) Black or African American, 0.20% (73) Native American, 2.42% (875) Asian, 0.01% (5) Pacific Islander, 1.54% (557) from other races, and 2.41% (870) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.97% (1,795) of the population.

Out of a total of 12,815 households, 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the township, 25.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.9 years. For every 100 females the census counted 94.1 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 90.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,761 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,083) and the median family income was $83,929 (+/- $4,293). Males had a median income of $61,505 (+/- $3,058) versus $41,946 (+/- $1,826) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,270 (+/- $1,121). About 6.1% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 28,967 people, 10,521 households, and 7,848 families residing in the township. The population density was 622.3 people per square mile (240.3/km²). There were 11,069 housing units at an average density of 237.8 per square mile (91.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 84.83% White, 11.15% African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.71% of the population.

There were 10,521 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $50,037, and the median income for a family was $56,810. Males had a median income of $41,062 versus $29,849 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,488. About 4.0% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Sports

Scotland Run Golf Club is a public golf course and country club located in Williamstown. Opened in 1999, the 18-hole course was built on an old sand quarry. The course was named one of the Top 50 Public Courses in the country by the readers of Golf World in their annual Readers' Choice Awards in 2009 and 2010.

Local government

Monroe Township is governed within the Faulkner Act system of municipal government, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under Mayor-Council (Plan F), enacted by direct petition as of January 1, 1971. Monroe Township is governed by a Mayor and a seven-member Council, consisting of three at-large seats and four seats selected from wards, all of whom serve four-year terms of office. Elections are held every two years on a staggered basis, with the Mayor and the three council at large seats up for vote together and two years later the four ward council seats.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Monroe Township is Democrat Dan Teefy, whose term of office ends December 31, 2018. Members of the Township Council are Council President Cody D. Miller (D, 2018; At Large), Council Vice President Bart McIlvaine (D, 2018; At Large) Walt Bryson (D, 2016; Ward 3), Frank J. Caligiuri (D, 2016; Ward 4), Marvin Dilks Jr. (2016; Ward 1), Rich DiLucia (D, 2016; Ward 2), and Bob Heffner (D, 2018; At Large).

Federal, state and county representation

Monroe Township is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 4th 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 4th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Fred H. Madden (D, Washington Township, Gloucester County) and in the General Assembly by Paul Moriarty (D, Washington Township, Gloucester County) and Gabriela Mosquera (D, Gloucester 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 22,377 registered voters in Monroe Township, of which 9,905 (44.3%) were registered as Democrats, 3,408 (15.2%) were registered as Republicans and 9,051 (40.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 13 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.4% of the vote (8,986 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 41.6% (6,513 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (145 votes), among the 15,767 ballots cast by the township's 23,556 registered voters (123 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.4% of the vote (9,296 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 40.5% (6,555 votes) and other candidates with 1.3% (216 votes), among the 16,193 ballots cast by the township's 22,994 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 54.9% of the vote (7,994 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 43.6% (6,351 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (133 votes), among the 14,566 ballots cast by the township's 20,814 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 70.0.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.4% of the vote (5,182 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.9% (2,977 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (143 votes), among the 8,462 ballots cast by the township's 23,319 registered voters (160 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 47.0% of the vote (4,304 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 44.0% (4,034 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.2% (659 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (64 votes), among the 9,165 ballots cast by the township's 22,698 registered voters, yielding a 40.4% turnout.

Education

The Monroe Township Public Schools is a comprehensive district serving the educational needs of resident students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Services are also provided for preschool handicapped students as well as other students with special needs. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's six schools had an enrollment of 5,921 students and 437.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.52:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Holly Glen Elementary School (565 students), Oak Knoll Elementary School (553), Radix Elementary School (726) and Whitehall Elementary School (392) for grades K-4; Williamstown Middle School (1,905) for grades 5-8 and Williamstown High School (1,780) for grades 9-12.

St. Mary School is a K-8 elementary school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 180.28 miles (290.13 km) of roadways, of which 131.72 miles (211.98 km) were maintained by the municipality, 32.30 miles (51.98 km) by Gloucester County and 16.26 miles (26.17 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

The Black Horse Pike is a four-lane, arterial highway which traverses the entire township northwest-to-southeast and provides direct access to downtown Philadelphia (30 minutes) and Atlantic City (35 minutes). U.S. Route 322 is a two-lane arterial highway which traverses the Township east to west and provides access to the New Jersey Turnpike, north and south (30 minutes), with access to the Commodore Barry Bridge and Delaware Memorial Bridge to Interstate 95 (40 minutes). The Atlantic City Expressway is a four-lane, limited access highway which parallels the Black Horse Pike and provides direct access to downtown Atlantic City (30 minutes) and access to the Garden State Parkway, north and south. Route 42 goes through the township, as do County Route 536 and County Route 538.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service is available between Cape May and Philadelphia on the 315 route and between Sicklerville and Philadelphia on the 400 route, with local service on the 463 route between Woodbury and the Avondale Park and Ride in Sicklerville.

Cross Keys Airport is located in the Cross Keys section.

Notable people

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

Points of interest

Hall Street School was built in 1887 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 27, 2006.