Oldmans Township, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 20.381 square miles (52.786 km²), including 19.455 square miles (50.387 km²) of land and 0.926 square miles (2.399 km²) of water (4.54%).

Pedricktown (with a 2010 Census population of 524) is a unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Oldmans Township.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Auburn, Dolbows Landing, Jumbo, Magnolia, Oldmans Point, Parkertown and Perkintown.

The township borders Carneys Point Township and Pilesgrove Township. Oldmans Township also borders the Delaware River and Oldmans Creek serves as its border with Logan Township and Woolwich Township in Gloucester County.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 1,773 people, 652 households, and 502 families residing in the township. The population density was 91.1 per square mile (35.2/km²). The township contained 699 housing units at an average density of 35.9 per square mile (13.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 87.48% (1,551) White, 7.73% (137) Black or African American, 0.23% (4) Native American, 0.90% (16) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 2.31% (41) from other races, and 1.35% (24) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.99% (124) of the population.

Out of a total of 652 households, 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the township, 23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.5 years. For every 100 females the census counted 95.5 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 96.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,016 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,844) and the median family income was $68,077 (+/- $6,044). Males had a median income of $55,565 (+/- $4,420) versus $32,283 (+/- $4,346) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,150 (+/- $2,268). About 3.3% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 1,798 people, 654 households, and 517 families residing in the township. The population density was 90.0 people per square mile (34.8/km²). There were 694 housing units at an average density of 34.8 per square mile (13.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.82% White, 9.62% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 2.00% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.17% of the population.

There were 654 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the township the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $57,589, and the median income for a family was $64,091. Males had a median income of $45,469 versus $31,705 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,495. About 6.1% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Oldmans Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government. The three-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 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 council selects one of its members to serves as mayor and another as deputy mayor.

As of 2016, members of the Oldmans Township Committee are Mayor Dean Sparks (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2017; term as mayor ends in 2016), Deputy Mayor George W. Bradford (R, term as deputy mayor and on committee ends in 2016) and Anthony Musumeci Jr. (R, 2018).

Federal, state and county representation

Oldmans Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 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 3rd Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Stephen M. Sweeney (D, West Deptford Township) and in the General Assembly by John J. Burzichelli (D, Paulsboro) and Adam Taliaferro (D, Woolwich Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Salem County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders who are elected at-large to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Director and a Deputy Director from among its members. As of 2014, Salem County's Freeholders (with party, residence, term-end year and committee chairmanship listed in parentheses) are Director Julie A. Acton (R, Pennsville Township, 2016; Administration), Deputy Director Dale A. Cross (R, Pennsville Township, 2014; Public Safety), Bruce L. Bobbitt (D, Pilesgrove Township, 2014; Public Services), Ben Laury (R, Elmer, 2015; Public Works) Beth E. Timberman (D, Woodstown, 2015; Social Services), Robert J. Vanderslice (R, Pennsville Township, 2014; Health and Human Services) Lee R. Ware (D, Elsinboro Township, 2016; Transportation, Agriculture and Cultural Affairs). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Gilda T. Gill (2014), Sheriff Charles M. Miller (2015) and Surrogate Nicki A. Burke (2015).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 1,251 registered voters in Oldmans Township, of which 321 (25.7% vs. 30.6% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 385 (30.8% vs. 21.0%) were registered as Republicans and 545 (43.6% vs. 48.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 70.6% (vs. 64.6% in Salem County) were registered to vote, including 91.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 84.4% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 51.0% of the vote (477 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 47.9% (448 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (11 votes), among the 941 ballots cast by the township's 1,320 registered voters (5 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 71.3%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 501 votes (51.6% vs. 46.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 440 votes (45.4% vs. 50.4%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.2% vs. 1.6%), among the 970 ballots cast by the township's 1,263 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.8% (vs. 71.8% in Salem County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 516 votes (56.1% vs. 52.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 396 votes (43.0% vs. 45.9%) and other candidates with 6 votes (0.7% vs. 1.0%), among the 920 ballots cast by the township's 1,228 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.9% (vs. 71.0% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.0% of the vote (432 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 28.1% (176 votes), and other candidates with 2.9% (18 votes), among the 633 ballots cast by the township's 1,338 registered voters (7 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 337 votes (51.4% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 226 votes (34.5% vs. 39.9%), Independent Chris Daggett with 77 votes (11.7% vs. 9.7%) and other candidates with 10 votes (1.5% vs. 2.0%), among the 656 ballots cast by the township's 1,246 registered voters, yielding a 52.6% turnout (vs. 47.3% in the county).

Education

The Oldmans Township School District serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Oldmans Township School. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 341 students and 21.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 16.1:1.

A majority of public school students in ninth through twelfth grades from Oldmans Township attend Penns Grove High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District, with the balance attending Woodstown High School in the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District. Students east of Interstate 295 attend Woodstown High School, with all other students attending Penns Grove High School. As of the 2014-15 school year, Penns Grove High School had an enrollment of 592 students and 52.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.4:1, while Woodstown High School had an enrollment of 684 students and 57.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1.

Some students also attend Gloucester Catholic High School in Gloucester City.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 40.89 miles (65.81 km) of roadways, of which 7.12 miles (11.46 km) were maintained by the municipality, 24.32 miles (39.14 km) by Salem County, 7.25 miles (11.67 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 2.20 miles (3.54 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

U.S. Route 130 passes through the northwestern part of the municipality while Interstate 295 travels through the center of the township and includes exit 3.

The New Jersey Turnpike passes through southern Oldmans. Two of the turnpike's service areas, named for people who lived or worked in New Jersey, are located in the township. From south to north, these are the Clara Barton Service Area (named for Clara Barton): southbound, milepost 5.4, and the John Fenwick Service Area (named for John Fenwick; northbound, milepost 5.4).

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service between Pennsville Township and Philadelphia on the 402 route.

The Spitfire Aerodrome (FAA LID: 7N7) is a small municipal airport located in the township, and is the only one of its kind in Salem County.

Notable people

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