North Hanover Township, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 17.423 square miles (45.126 km²), including 17.284 square miles (44.766 km²) of land and 0.139 square miles (0.359 km²) of water (0.80%).

McGuire Air Force Base is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in portions of both New Hanover Township and North Hanover Township that had a 2010 Census total population of 3,710, of which 2,973 were in the North Hanover portion of the CDP and 737 were in New Hanover.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Arneytown, Ellisdale, Jacobstown, Sykesville and Wrightstown.

The township borders Chesterfield Township, New Hanover Township and Springfield Township in Burlington County; Hamilton Township in Mercer County; Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County; and Plumsted Township in Ocean County.

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. Part of the township is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Burlington County, along with areas in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 7,678 people, 2,784 households, and 2,049 families residing in the township. The population density was 444.2 per square mile (171.5/km²). The township contained 3,370 housing units at an average density of 195.0 per square mile (75.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 80.18% (6,156) White, 9.33% (716) Black or African American, 0.40% (31) Native American, 1.89% (145) Asian, 0.42% (32) Pacific Islander, 3.10% (238) from other races, and 4.69% (360) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 10.43% (801) of the population.

Out of a total of 2,784 households, 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the township, 29.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.2 years. For every 100 females the census counted 99.9 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 99.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $72,410 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,321) and the median family income was $78,523 (+/- $10,326). Males had a median income of $55,352 (+/- $9,756) versus $37,052 (+/- $6,255) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,529 (+/- $2,650). About 3.3% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 7,347 people, 2,498 households, and 2,020 families residing in the township. The population density was 423.7 people per square mile (163.6/km²). There were 2,670 housing units at an average density of 154.0 per square mile (59.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 80.63% White, 10.96% African American, 0.48% Native American, 2.12% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.18% from other races, and 3.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.76% of the population.

There were 2,498 households out of which 52.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.1% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the township the population was spread out with 33.6% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 15.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $39,988, and the median income for a family was $45,553. Males had a median income of $31,698 versus $26,094 for females. The per capita income for the township was $17,580. About 4.4% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

North Hanover 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 North Hanover Township Committee are Mayor Jim Durr (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2016), Deputy Mayor Deb Butler (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2016), Lou Delorenzo (R, 2017), John Kocubinski (R, 2018) and Brendan O'Donnell (R, 2018).

Federal, state and county representation

North Hanover Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 12th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, North Hanover Township had been in the 30th state legislative district.

New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District is represented by Tom MacArthur (R, Toms River). 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 12th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Samuel D. Thompson (R, Old Bridge Township) and in the General Assembly by Robert D. Clifton (R, Matawan) and Ronald S. Dancer (R, Plumsted Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Burlington County is governed by a Board of chosen freeholders, whose five members are elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year. The board chooses a director and deputy director from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting held in January. As of 2015, Burlington County's Freeholders are Director Mary Ann O'Brien (R, Medford Township, 2017; Director of Administration and Human Services), Deputy Director Bruce Garganio (R, Florence Township, 2017; Director of Public Works and Health), Aimee Belgard (D, Edgewater Park Township, 2015; Director of Hospital, Medical Services and Education) Joseph Donnelly (R, Cinnaminson Township, 2016; Director of Public Safety, Natural Resources, and Education) and Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2015; Director of Health and Corrections). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Tim Tyler, Sheriff Jean E. Stanfield and Surrogate George T. Kotch.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,280 registered voters in North Hanover Township, of which 703 (21.4% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 907 (27.7% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 1,668 (50.9% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 42.7% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 60.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,211 votes here (55.2% vs. 40.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 934 votes (42.6% vs. 58.1%) and other candidates with 26 votes (1.2% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,192 ballots cast by the township's 3,469 registered voters, for a turnout of 63.2% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,336 votes here (55.9% vs. 39.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,005 votes (42.1% vs. 58.4%) and other candidates with 32 votes (1.3% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,390 ballots cast by the township's 3,413 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.0% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,421 votes here (59.6% vs. 46.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 922 votes (38.7% vs. 52.9%) and other candidates with 26 votes (1.1% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,383 ballots cast by the township's 3,240 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.5% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,040 votes here (72.9% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 338 votes (23.7% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 19 votes (1.3% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,426 ballots cast by the township's 3,268 registered voters, yielding a 43.6% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 995 votes here (63.8% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 442 votes (28.4% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 69 votes (4.4% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 33 votes (2.1% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,559 ballots cast by the township's 3,339 registered voters, yielding a 46.7% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Education

Children in public school for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade attend the North Hanover Township School District, which includes four elementary schools, including two located on the grounds of McGuire Air Force Base and two in Jacobstown. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its four schools had an enrollment of 1,230 students and 112.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1. It is the largest K-6 school district in Burlington County. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 school enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Discovery Elementary School (grades PreK-K; 294 students) in McGuire AFB Atlantis Elementary School (1-2; 236) in McGuire AFB Clarence B. Lamb Elementary School (1-4; 425) in Jacobstown and Upper Elementary School School (5-6; 272) in Jacobstown.

Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades attend the schools of the Northern Burlington County Regional School District, which also serves students from Chesterfield Township, Mansfield Township and Springfield Township, along with children of United States Air Force personnel based at McGuire Air Force Base. The schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School for grades 7 and 8 (758 students) and Northern Burlington County Regional High School for grades 9-12 (1,355 students). Both schools are in the Columbus section of Mansfield Township. The district's 2013-14 budget included $35.6 million in spending which is allocated using a formula that reflects the population and the value of the assessed property in each of the constituent municipalities, under which taxpayers in North Hanover Township pay 14.2% of the district's tax levy.

Students from New Hanover Township, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton Township.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 42.75 miles (68.80 km) of roadways, of which 22.34 miles (35.95 km) were maintained by the municipality and 20.41 miles (32.85 km) by Burlington County.

No Interstate, U.S., or State route pass through. The two main county routes that traverse are County Road 528 and County Road 537.

Limited access roads that are accessible in neighboring communities include Interstate 295 (Hamilton Township), and Interstate 195 (Hamilton & Upper Freehold Township). While the New Jersey Turnpike is also in bordering Hamilton Township, the closest interchange is exit 7 in Bordentown Township.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service in the township on the 317 route between Asbury Park and Philadelphia.

Notable people

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