Woodbury Heights, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.228 square miles (3.182 km²), including 1.222 square miles (3.166 km²) of land and 0.006 square miles (0.016 km²) of water (0.50%).

Glen Lake, although no longer open for swimming, is available for fishing and non-motorized boating.

The borough borders Deptford Township, West Deptford Township, and Woodbury.

Census 2010

As of the census of 2010, there were 3,055 people, 1,081 households, and 832.4 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,499.4 per square mile (965.0/km²). There were 1,125 housing units at an average density of 920.4 per square mile (355.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.96% (2,840) White, 3.40% (104) Black or African American, 0.16% (5) Native American, 1.64% (50) Asian, 0.03% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.36% (11) from other races, and 1.44% (44) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.42% (74) of the population.

There were 1,081 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 92.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $82,411 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,735) and the median family income was $91,667 (+/- $14,100). Males had a median income of $68,478 (+/- $6,757) versus $49,327 (+/- $4,589) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,099 (+/- $2,495). About 0.7% of families and 1.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 0.0% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there are 2,988 people, 1,027 households, and 825 families residing in the borough. The population density is 2,437.2 people per square mile (937.9/km²). There are 1,045 housing units at an average density of 852.4 per square mile (328.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough is 96.35% White, 1.54% African American or Black, 0.27% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. 1.24% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,027 households out of which 38.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% are married couples living together, 9.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% are non-families. 16.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.89 and the average family size is 3.24.

In the borough the population is spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough is $63,266, and the median income for a family is $70,167. Males have a median income of $51,342 versus $33,220 for females. The per capita income for the borough is $24,001. 4.1% of the population and 2.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 3.7% are under the age of 18 and 2.8% are 65 or older.

Local government

Woodbury Heights is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by Woodbury Heights, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Woodbury Heights is Democrat Robbie Conley, whose term of office ends December 31, 2018, Borough Council members are Richard Gambale (D, 2017), Eshia "Jake" Jacob (2017), William C. Packer (D, 2016), Harold "Hap" Pye (D, 2018), Cara Witasick (D, 2016) and Robert Yerka (R, 2018).

Federal, state and county representation

Woodbury Heights is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Woodbury Heights had been in the 5th 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 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).

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 2,255 registered voters in Woodbury Heights, of which 843 (37.4%) were registered as Democrats, 397 (17.6%) were registered as Republicans and 1,011 (44.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 56.9% of the vote (946 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 42.2% (702 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (15 votes), among the 1,673 ballots cast by the borough's 2,275 registered voters (10 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.5%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 54.7% of the vote (990 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 42.4% (768 votes) and other candidates with 1.8% (33 votes), among the 1,811 ballots cast by the borough's 2,304 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.6%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 51.5% of the vote (906 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 47.2% (830 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (17 votes), among the 1,760 ballots cast by the borough's 2,239 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 78.6.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.7% of the vote (625 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.6% (371 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (17 votes), among the 1,040 ballots cast by the borough's 2,249 registered voters (27 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 44.6% of the vote (532 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 41.4% (494 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 11.4% (136 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (9 votes), among the 1,193 ballots cast by the borough's 2,274 registered voters, yielding a 52.5% turnout.

Education

The Woodbury Heights School District serves public school students in kindergarten through sixth grade at Woodbury Heights Elementary School. As of the 2012-13 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 221 students and 20.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.92:1.

For seventh through twelfth grade, public school students attend Gateway Regional High School, a regional public high school established in 1964 that serves students from the boroughs of National Park, Wenonah, Westville and Woodbury Heights, as part of the Gateway Regional High School District. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 961 students and 81.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.9:1.

St. Margaret Regional School, a K-8 Catholic school, is operated under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 18.83 miles (30.30 km) of roadways, of which 14.89 miles (23.96 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.43 miles (3.91 km) by Gloucester County, 0.53 miles (0.85 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.98 miles (1.58 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

CR 553 passes through the heart of the borough, while Route 45 runs along on the western border. The New Jersey Turnpike passes through, but the closest interchange is 15–20 minutes away at Exit 3 in Camden County.

I-295 and Route 55 are accessible in neighboring communities.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service is available on the 410 route between Glassboro and Philadelphia and on the 412 route between Sewell and Philadelphia.

The borough is a planned stop on the Glassboro–Camden Line, an 18-mile (28.97 km) diesel multiple unit (DMU) light rail system projected for completion in 2019.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Woodbury Heights include: