Mullica Township, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 56.902 square miles (147.377 km²), including 56.421 square miles (146.130 km²) of land and 0.481 square miles (1.246 km²) of water (0.85%).

Despite a relatively small population, Mullica Township comprises many small communities. Elwood is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) (with a 2010 Census population of 1,437) located within Mullica Township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Amatol, Colwell, Dacosta, Devonshire, East Hammonton, Indian Cabin, Nesco, New Columbia, Pleasant Mills, Speedway, Sweetwater, Weekstown, Wescoatville, West Egg Harbor and Woodland. Unincorporated communities in Mullica Township are largely identified by landmarks such as the Elwood Deli, the Sweetwater Casino, or the Weekstown Firehouse. The small unincorporated communities within the township engender a particularly high level of pride, and many Mullica Township residents refer to themselves as residents of their unincorporated community, before referring to themselves as residents of Mullica Township.

The township is located in the northeast portion of Atlantic County. It is bounded on the north by Washington Township in Burlington County; on the east by Egg Harbor City; on the south by Hamilton Township; and on the west by the Town of Hammonton. The Township is approximately 13 miles (21 km) outside of Atlantic City and 40 miles (64 km) outside of Philadelphia.

The township is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering 1,100,000 acres (450,000 ha), that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve. All of the township is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Atlantic County, along with areas in Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 6,147 people, 2,154 households, and 1,631 families residing in the township. The population density was 108.9 per square mile (42.0/km²). The township contained 2,360 housing units at an average density of 41.8 per square mile (16.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 83.26% (5,118) White, 5.68% (349) Black or African American, 0.23% (14) Native American, 0.68% (42) Asian, 0.03% (2) Pacific Islander, 7.19% (442) from other races, and 2.93% (180) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 17.02% (1,046) of the population.

Out of a total of 2,154 households, 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 18.4% 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 2.81 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the township, 23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females the census counted 100.6 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 $54,730 (with a margin of error of +/- $11,733) and the median family income was $62,000 (+/- $10,758). Males had a median income of $42,931 (+/- $9,882) versus $41,716 (+/- $5,514) for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,217 (+/- $3,264). About 3.6% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,912 people, 2,044 households, and 1,537 families residing in the township. The population density was 104.5 people per square mile (40.3/km²). There were 2,176 housing units at an average density of 38.5 per square mile (14.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 80.58% White, 6.28% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 8.61% from other races, and 3.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.49% of the population.

There were 2,044 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% 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 3.30.

In the township the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $50,417, and the median income for a family was $55,143. Males had a median income of $40,033 versus $29,965 for females. The per capita income for the township was $19,764. About 5.7% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Mullica Township operates under the Township Committee form of New Jersey municipal 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. The mayor and deputy mayor are selected at an annual reorganization meeting by the Committee from among its members to serve terms of one year. The mayor presides over Township Committee meetings.

As of 2016, members of the Mullica Township Committee are Mayor James R. Brown (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2016; Director of Revenue and Finance), Deputy Mayor Lawrence E. Riffle Jr. (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2016), Edward Hagaman (R, 2018), Christopher Silva (R, 2017) and John Walther (R, 2018).

Federal, state and county representation

Mullica Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 2nd 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 2nd Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jim Whelan (D, Atlantic City) and in the General Assembly by Chris A. Brown (R, Ventnor City) and Vince Mazzeo (D, Northfield). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Atlantic County is governed by a directly elected executive and a nine-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, responsible for legislation. The executive serves a four-year term and the freeholders are elected to staggered three-year terms, of which four are elected from the county on an at-large basis and five of the freeholders represent equally populated districts. As of 2015, Atlantic County's Executive is Republican Dennis Levinson, whose term of office ends December 31, 2015. Members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders are Chairman Frank D. Formica, Freeholder District 2, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part), Linwood, Longport, Margate, Northfield, Somers Point and Ventnor (R, 2015), Vice Chairman James A. Bertino, Freeholder District 5, including Buena Borough, Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hamilton Township (part), Hammonton, Mullica Township and Weymouth (R, 2015), Colin G. Bell, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2015), John Carman, Freeholder District 3, including Egg Harbor Township (part) and Hamilton Township (part) (R, 2017), Ernest D. Coursey, Freeholder District 1, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part) and Pleasantville (R, 2016), Richard Dase, Freeholder District 4, including Absecon, Brigantine, Galloway Township and Port Republic (D, 2016), Alexander C. Marino, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2017), Will Pauls, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2016) and John W. Risley, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2017). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Edward P. McGettigan (2016), Sheriff Frank X. Balles (R, 2017) and Surrogate James Curcio (2015).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 4,077 registered voters in Mullica Township, of which 917 (22.5% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,336 (32.8% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans and 1,821 (44.7% vs. 44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 66.3% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 86.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,439 votes (49.1% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,430 votes (48.8% vs. 57.9%) and other candidates with 41 votes (1.4% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,933 ballots cast by the township's 4,249 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.0% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,512 votes (49.5% vs. 41.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,467 votes (48.0% vs. 56.5%) and other candidates with 43 votes (1.4% vs. 1.1%), among the 3,057 ballots cast by the township's 4,278 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.5% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,487 votes (53.5% vs. 46.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,244 votes (44.8% vs. 52.0%) and other candidates with 24 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,778 ballots cast by the township's 3,811 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.9% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,315 votes (67.8% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 553 votes (28.5% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with 34 votes (1.8% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,939 ballots cast by the township's 4,288 registered voters, yielding a 45.2% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,131 votes (53.4% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 801 votes (37.8% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 102 votes (4.8% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 35 votes (1.7% vs. 1.2%), among the 2,117 ballots cast by the township's 4,111 registered voters, yielding a 51.5% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Education

The Mullica Township Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's two schools had an enrollment of 724 students and 57.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.57:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics.) are Mullica Township Elementary School with 407 students in grades pre-K - 4 and Mullica Township Middle School with 317 students in grades 5 - 8.

Students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Cedar Creek High School, which is located in the northern section of Egg Harbor City and opened to students in September 2010. The school is one of three high schools operated as part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, which also includes the constituent municipalities of Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township and Hamilton Township, and participates in sending/receiving relationships with Port Republic and Washington Township (Burlington County). Cedar Creek High School is zoned to serve students from Egg Harbor City, Mullica Township, Port Republic and Washington Township, while students in portions of Galloway and Hamilton townships have the opportunity to attend Cedar Creek through the school of choice program or through attendance in magnet programs offered at Cedar Creek.

Students from Mullica Township, and all of Atlantic County, have the option to attend the career technical programs and full-time career academies offered by the Atlantic County Institute of Technology located in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 106.24 miles (170.98 km) of roadways, of which 59.91 miles (96.42 km) were maintained by the municipality, 38.26 miles (61.57 km) by Atlantic County and 8.07 miles (12.99 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Many of the street names in Mullica Township are used on multiple, sometimes intersecting roads within the township, or reused from adjacent municipalities. Examples are Elwood Rd, Weekstown Road, Pleasant Mills Road, and Columbia Road. In fact, 7th Ave has two major intersections, one with County Road 612 and the other with County Road 643. Both of the county roads are named Weekstown Road at the point where they intersect with 7th Ave, approximately 2.5 miles away from each other.

U.S. Route 30 (White Horse Pike) passes through Mullica Township.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service in the township on the 554 route that runs between Lindenwold station and Atlantic City.

Notable people

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