Country United States Elevation 20 ft (6 m) Zip code 08075 Local time Sunday 9:36 PM | Incorporated February 20, 1895 Area 4.18 km² Population 7,911 (2000) | |
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Area rank 439th of 566 in state34th of 40 in county Weather 7°C, Wind NW at 11 km/h, 52% Humidity | ||
Riverside Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 8,079, reflecting an increase of 168 (+2.1%) from the 7,911 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 63 (-0.8%) from the 7,974 counted in the 1990 Census.
Contents
- Map of Riverside NJ 08075 USA
- Geography
- Census 2010
- Census 2000
- Local government
- Federal state and county representation
- Politics
- Education
- Roads and highways
- Public transportation
- In film
- Immigration debate
- Notable people
- References
Map of Riverside, NJ 08075, USA
Riverside was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1895, from portions of Delran Township. A portion of the township was annexed by Delran in 1901. The township was named for its location on the Delaware River.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 1.614 square miles (4.180 km2), including 1.489 square miles (3.856 km2) of land and 0.125 square miles (0.323 km2) of water (7.73%).
The township borders Delanco Township and Delran Township.
Census 2010
The 2010 United States Census counted 8,079 people, 2,959 households, and 2,027 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,425.9 per square mile (2,095.0/km2). The township contained 3,147 housing units at an average density of 2,113.5 per square mile (816.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 80.21% (6,480) White, 6.39% (516) Black or African American, 0.26% (21) Native American, 0.95% (77) Asian, 0.05% (4) Pacific Islander, 7.04% (569) from other races, and 5.10% (412) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 11.34% (916) of the population.
Out of a total of 2,959 households, 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% 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 3.22.
In the township, 23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.3 years. For every 100 females the census counted 101.5 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 99.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $56,377 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,391) and the median family income was $65,825 (+/- $9,709). Males had a median income of $46,962 (+/- $4,387) versus $32,413 (+/- $6,739) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,243 (+/- $2,264). About 3.9% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 7,911 people, 2,978 households, and 1,992 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,197.2 people per square mile (2,009.5/km²). There were 3,118 housing units at an average density of 2,048.4 per square mile (792.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.22% White, 4.44% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.28% from other races, and 2.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.11% of the population.
There were 2,978 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $43,358, and the median income for a family was $52,479. Males had a median income of $36,556 versus $25,510 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,758. About 6.7% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Riverside 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 Riverside Township Committee are Mayor George F. Conard Sr. (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2017; term as mayor ends 2015), Deputy Mayor Lorraine M. Hatcher (D, 2018), John Bienkowski (R, 2017), Timothy M. LeConey (D, 2018), Robert R. Prisco (R, 2016) and Robert VanMeter (D, 2017).
On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Mayor Chuck Hilton and fellow Republican James Ott were running for reelection to the Township Council, but were defeated by their Democratic opponents, newcomers Lorraine Hatcher and Thomas Polino. The anti-immigration ordinance passed by the Township Committee that imposed fines on any business that hires or any landlord who rents to an illegal immigrant was a major issue in the campaign.
Federal, state and county representation
Riverside is located in the 3rd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 7th 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 7th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Diane Allen (R, Edgewater Park Township) and in the General Assembly by Herb Conaway (D, Moorestown) and Troy Singleton (D, Palmyra). 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 4,189 registered voters in Riverside Township, of which 1,527 (36.5% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 685 (16.4% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 1,974 (47.1% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 51.9% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 67.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,816 votes here (61.7% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,073 votes (36.5% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 31 votes (1.1% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,941 ballots cast by the township's 4,329 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.9% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,881 votes here (58.9% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,233 votes (38.6% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 42 votes (1.3% vs. 1.0%), among the 3,191 ballots cast by the township's 4,278 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.6% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,726 votes here (56.7% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,278 votes (42.0% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 24 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,044 ballots cast by the township's 4,197 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.5% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,018 votes here (59.4% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 634 votes (37.0% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 18 votes (1.1% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,714 ballots cast by the township's 4,254 registered voters, yielding a 40.3% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 854 ballots cast (46.4% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 821 votes (44.6% vs. 47.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 104 votes (5.7% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 28 votes (1.5% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,840 ballots cast by the township's 4,324 registered voters, yielding a 42.6% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).
Education
The Riverside School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's three schools had an enrollment of 1,370 students and 115.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.90:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Riverside Township Elementary School for grades PreK-5 (675 students), Riverside Township Middle School for grades 6-8 (262 students) and Riverside Township High School for grades 9-12 (433 students).
Students from Delanco Township attend Riverside High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Delanco Township School District.
Students from Riverside 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 27.39 miles (44.08 km) of roadways, of which 24.14 miles (38.85 km) were maintained by the municipality and 3.25 miles (5.23 km) by Burlington County.
Public transportation
The Riverside station, located on Zubrugg Way (formerly Franklin Street), provides service on the River Line light rail system, offering southbound service to Camden and the Walter Rand Transportation Center with connections to PATCO Speedline trains to Philadelphia and the Camden County suburbs and northbound service to the Trenton Rail Station with connections to NJ Transit trains to New York City, SEPTA trains to Philadelphia and Amtrak trains.
NJ Transit provides bus service in the borough on the 419 route that runs between Camden and Burlington.
In film
Riverside was used for the filming of the film Jesus' Son and was the site of picketing by nuns who objected to the implication from the film's title that Jesus fathered a child.
Immigration debate
In July 2006, a controversial ordinance was passed by the township committee trying to handle the large amount of unauthorized immigrants, primarily from Brazil, that had moved into the township. The ordinance stated that employers who hired an illegal immigrant and landlords who rented to them would be fined $1,000 - $2,000 per incident and could possibly lose their business license. In response to the ordinance, several civil groups including the ACLU and People for the American Way took or contemplated legal actions against the ordinance.
In August 2007, the ordinance was repealed, and some have speculated that the exodus of over 1,000 immigrants from Riverside to other New Jersey townships was a major factor. The ordinance repealing the law cited the high cost of defending it against further legal challenges.
Notable people
Many people born in Riverside Township were born at Zurbrugg Hospital during a period of about 75 years beginning in 1915. People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Riverside Township include: