Westville, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Westville is a borough in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 4,264,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 24 (−0.6%) from the 2010 census count of 4,288,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 212 (−4.7%) from the 4,500 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> Westville has been called "The Gateway to South Jersey!"<ref>"Business Men Organize Westville Trust Company", Courier-Post, March 27, 1926. Accessed February 27, 2023. "The opening of the Philadelphia-Camden Bridge with a direct traffic arrtery over the Crescent Boulevard and with the Camden Relief road, all leading into Westville as the gateway to South Jersey, is another indication to us of the sure growth of our town and success of the trust company."</ref><ref>Westville Borough History: Transportation, Borough of Westville. Accessed June 18, 2007.</ref>

Westville was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1914, from portions of Deptford Township and West Deptford Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 28, 1914. The borough was reincorporated on March 8, 1924.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 140. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref><ref>Boro Incorporated, Borough of Westville. Accessed June 18, 2007.</ref> Legislation had been passed in 1900 to create Westville, but it had to have a majority vote in favor of the new municipality in both Deptford and West Deptford.<ref>Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 314. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed October 26, 2015.</ref> The borough was named for Thomas West, who built a home in the area in 1775 that still stands.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 26, 2015.</ref><ref>The Thomas West Home, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed October 26, 2015. "This old brick house was built ca. 1775 by Thomas West, for whom Westville is named."</ref><ref>Early History, Westville, New Jersey. Accessed October 26, 2015. "Thomas West and his wife built the old 'West' house located on River Drive and raised a family of three children."</ref>

The borough had the 17th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.502% in 2020, compared to 3.212% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.<ref>"Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 17. Westville Equalized tax rate in Westville Borough, Gloucester County, was 4.502 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Gloucester County: 3.212"</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.38 square miles (3.58 km²), including 1.02 square miles (2.65 km²) of land and 0.36 square miles (0.93 km²) of water (25.94%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 /> Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Newbold, South Westville and Westville Manor.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

The borough borders the municipalities of Deptford Township and West Deptford Township in Gloucester County, Bellmawr, Brooklawn, and Gloucester City in Camden County, and Philadelphia, located across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.<ref>Municipalities within Gloucester County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed November 7, 2019.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 7, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 4,288 people, 1,755 households, and 1,095 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,912 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 89.53% (3,839) White, 4.90% (210) Black or African American, 0.16% (7) Native American, 1.49% (64) Asian, 0.05% (2) Pacific Islander, 2.31% (99) from other races, and 1.56% (67) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.02% (258) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 1,755 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18; 40.9% were married couples living together; 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 37.6% were non-families. Of all households, 31.3% were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.06.<ref name=Census2010/>

20.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.1 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $49,854 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,131) and the median family income was $65,089 (+/− $13,208). Males had a median income of $45,294 (+/− $5,957) versus $39,732 (+/− $7,921) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,908 (+/− $3,575). About 13.7% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 24.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Westville borough, Gloucester County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 4,500 people, 1,812 households, and 1,125 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,938 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 93.47% White, 2.71% Black, 0.13% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.96% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Westville borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Westville borough, Gloucester County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref>

There were 1,812 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.15.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough, the age distribution of the population shows 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $39,570, and the median income for a family was $49,005. Males had a median income of $35,909 versus $27,220 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,747. About 7.4% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Westville is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, 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 includes 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 28.</ref> The borough form of government used by Westville 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.<ref name=Officials/><ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Westville is Democrat Fritz H. Sims Jr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Westville Borough Council are Council President Bruce Nordaby (D, 2027), Donna M. Domico (D, 2026), Travis R. Lawrence (D, 2025), Paul C. Mailley (D, 2025), Charles D. Murtaugh (D, 2026), Tracy Van Acker (D, 2025; appointed to serve an unexpired term) and Timothy Young (D, 2027).<ref name=Officials>Elected Officials, Borough of Westville. Accessed January 26, 2025. "The Borough of Westville is classified as a weak Mayor, strong Council form of Government. While the Mayor does not vote on issues unless there is a tie with the Council members, he is the Administrative Head of the Government, calling and governing all meetings of the Council and making appointments to the various Boards and Commissions. Council Members are elected in the November General Election for three year terms. The Mayor is elected for a four year term."</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Westville. Accessed January 26, 2025.</ref><ref name=GloucesterDirectory>Gloucester County 2024 Official Directory, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Gloucester2024>General Election November 5, 2024 Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Gloucester2023>General Election November 7, 2023 Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey, November 20, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Gloucester2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Summary Report Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey Clerk, November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>

In December 2024, Tracy Van Acker was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2025 that had been held by Matthew Gayle until he resigned from office.<ref>"New Council Member Sworn In", Borough of Westville, December 24, 2024. Accessed January 26, 2025. "At the December 23rd Special Council Meeting, a majority vote authorized the appointment of Tracy Van Acker to fill the Council position left vacant by the resignation of Matthew Gayle."</ref>

In June 2020, Fritz H. Sims Jr. was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that became vacant following the resignation of Russell W. Welsh Jr. after moving out of Westville.<ref>New Mayor, Borough of Westville, June 2, 2020. Accessed October 25, 2020. "Congratulations to Councilman Fritz H. Sims, Jr. who was elected to the position of Mayor at the June 1, 2020 council meeting as a result of former Mayor Welsh moving out of the Borough."</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Westville is located in the 1st Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.<ref>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

Politics

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As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,636 registered voters in Westville, of which 898 (34.1%) were registered as Democrats, 481 (18.2%) were registered as Republicans and 1,256 (47.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Gloucester, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.2% of the vote (967 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 40.5% (685 votes), and other candidates with 2.4% (40 votes), among the 1,711 ballots cast by the borough's 2,715 registered voters (19 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 63.0%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.0% of the vote (1,133 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 38.8% (770 votes) and other candidates with 2.5% (50 votes), among the 1,987 ballots cast by the borough's 2,854 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.6%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Gloucester County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 55.5% of the vote (1,044 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 43.1% (812 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (19 votes), among the 1,882 ballots cast by the borough's 2,623 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 71.7.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Gloucester County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.2% of the vote (602 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 32.4% (304 votes), and other candidates with 3.4% (32 votes), among the 961 ballots cast by the borough's 2,666 registered voters (23 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.0%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 45.0% of the vote (514 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 41.5% (473 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 10.2% (116 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (10 votes), among the 1,141 ballots cast by the borough's 2,759 registered voters, yielding a 41.4% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Gloucester County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref>

Education

The Westville School District is a community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at Parkview Elementary School.<ref>2023-2024 Gloucester County Office of Education Public School Directory, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Westville Boro School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Westville Boro Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 367 students and 36.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.0:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Westville Boro Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>

For seventh through twelfth grade, public school students attend Gateway Regional High School, a regional public high school that also serves students from the boroughs of National Park, Wenonah and Woodbury Heights, as part of the Gateway Regional High School District.<ref>Gateway Regional High School District 2015 School Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 8, 2016. "Gateway Regional High School is a one school district located in Woodbury Heights, NJ. It serves students in grades 7-12 from the municipalities of National Park, Wenonah, Westville, and Woodbury Heights."</ref><ref>Shryock, Bob. "Plans are in the works for Gateway's 50th anniversary", Gloucester County Times, March 22, 2012. Accessed February 11, 2025. "The 50-year milestone is based on Gateway opening in the fall of 2014 when four sending districts (Woodbury Heights, Westville, National Park and Wenonah) split from Woodbury and sent seventh, eighth and ninth graders to the new school on Egg Harbor Road in Woodbury Heights."</ref> As of the 2023–24 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 875 students and 82.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.6:1.<ref>School data for Gateway Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>

Students from across the county are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend the school.<ref>Admissions, Gloucester County Institute of Technology. Accessed November 7, 2019. "There is no charge to attend. GCIT is a public school.... GCIT is the vocational-technical school for Gloucester County residents. You must live in Gloucester County to apply and attend."</ref>

Transportation

File:2021-06-24 14 26 16 View south along Interstate 295 from the overpass for New Jersey State Route 47 (Delsea Drive) in Westville, Gloucester County, New Jersey.jpg

Interstate 295 southbound in Westville

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Gloucester County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Gloucester County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

County Route 551,<ref>County Route 551 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2012. Accessed November 18, 2022.</ref> Route 45,<ref>Route 45 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2017. Accessed November 18, 2022.</ref> Route 47,<ref>Route 47 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2014. Accessed November 18, 2022.</ref> U.S. Route 130,<ref>U.S. Route 130 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2018. Accessed November 18, 2022.</ref> and Interstate 295<ref>Interstate 295 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated May 2017. Accessed November 18, 2022.</ref> are the major roads that pass through the borough.<ref>Official Road Map, Gloucester County, New Jersey, adopted March 4, 2009. Accessed November 18, 2022.</ref><ref>Gloucester County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 5, 2023.</ref>

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service on the 401 route between Salem and Philadelphia, the 402 between Pennsville Township and Philadelphia, the 408 between Millville and Philadelphia, the 410 between Bridgeton and Philadelphia, the 412 route between Sewell and Philadelphia, the 455 between Cherry Hill Mall and Paulsboro, and the 463 route between Woodbury and the Avandale Park-and-Ride in Sicklerville.<ref>Gloucester County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 26, 2010. Accessed September 1, 2013.</ref><ref>Gloucester County's Transit Guide, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed November 7, 2019.</ref>

Conrai's Penns Grove Secondary freight rail line passes through the town. The planned diesel multiple unit light rail system, the Glassboro-Camden Line, would use the same right-of-way with a stop in Westville at Crown Point Road.<ref>Glassboro-Camden Line Fact Sheet 2013 Template:Webarchive, Delaware River Port Authority and PATCO. Accessed September 1, 2013. "The new line proposed under the Light Rail Alternative would traverse the communities of Glassboro, Pitman, Sewell, Mantua Township, Deptford Township, Wenonah, Woodbury Heights, Woodbury, Westville, Brooklawn, Gloucester City, and Camden."</ref>

Notable people

Notable past and present residents of Westville include:

• George Anastasia (born 1947), expert on the American Mafia, author and journalist with The Philadelphia Inquirer<ref>Manzella, Joseph C. The Struggle to Revitalize American Newspapers, p. 165. E. Mellen Press, 2002. Template:ISBN. Accessed June 11, 2015. "George Anastasia came from South Jersey near Westville."</ref>
• Stephen Decatur (1779–1820), U.S. Navy officer recognized for heroism in the First Barbary War and the Second Barbary War and in the War of 1812<ref>Woodbury Public Schools History, Woodbury Public Schools. Accessed May 11, 2009. "Captain James Laurence, of 'Don't Give Up the Ship' fame, was educated at the Woodbury Academy, as was Commodore Stephen Decatur, who then lived in Westville."</ref>
• Malcolm Fox (1906–1968), former professional race car driver<ref>Reed, Terry. Indy: The Race and Ritual of the Indianapolis 500, p. 57. Potomac Books, 2005. Template:ISBN. Accessed August 15, 2016. "While Louis Meyer enjoyed his somewhat unanticipated second Indianapolis win in 1933, one of the forty-one other cars chasing him was a Studebaker-powered Universal Service Special driven by Westville, New Jersey's Malcolm Fox, who slowed momentarily behind another car in the southwest turn on Fox's 123rd lap."</ref>
• Harold W. Hannold (1911–1995), politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from 1945 to 1959 and as Senate President in 1952<ref>Fitzgerald's Legislative Manual, State of New Jersey, 1971, p. 359. J.A. Fitzgerald, 1971. Accessed November 20, 2017. "Harold W. Hannold (Rep., Westville) Mr. Hannold was born December 20, 1911, in Westville, New Jersey. He is the son of Chaikley C. Hannold and Bertha T. Hannold."</ref>
• James Hunter III (1916–1989), former United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit judge<ref>James Hunter III, Biographical Directory of Federal Judges. Accessed March 1, 2011.</ref>
• Maria Pallante (born 1964), United States Register of Copyrights<ref>Staff "Copyright chief eyes web conflict", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, June 6, 2011. Accessed October 26, 2015. "A native of Westville, N.J., Pallante, who has two children, has spent most of her career hopping back and forth between New York and Washington."</ref>
• Antwine Perez (born 1988), college football player<ref>Dinich, Heather A. "Terps, Rutgers rivals on recruiting trail: Schools frequent foes on recruiting trail in N.J.", The Baltimore Sun, September 29, 2007. Accessed October 26, 2015. "A large outline of the state of New Jersey is tattooed on the right biceps of Maryland senior defensive tackle Carlos Feliciano, a native of Elizabeth, N.J. The same tattoo is etched into the arm of his teammate, defensive back Antwine Perez, of Westville Grove, N.J. And linebacker Jeff Clement, from Westville, plans to get one soon."</ref>
• Milt Plum (born 1935), professional football player with the Cleveland Browns (1957–1961), Detroit Lions (1962–1967), Los Angeles Rams (1968), and New York Giants (1969)<ref>"Westville: Once a part of two other townships", Courier-Post, October 19, 2006. Accessed June 18, 2007. "Milt Plum, who played quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants during a 13-year NFL career that lasted from 1957 to 1969, was born in Westville on Jan. 20, 1935."</ref>
• Larry Sharpe (1951–2017), former professional wrestler<ref>Shyrock, Bob. "Bob Shryock: What Gloucester County people are doing", Gloucester County Times, September 24, 2009, updated January 19, 2019. Accessed November 11, 20119. "Former long-time professional wrestler 'Pretty Boy' Larry Sharpe of Westville will participate in a Friday, 7 p.m. fund-raiser at Dover Downs Raceway & Casino, shooting pool (9-ball) against Miss America, Katie Stam, of Indiana, and NASCAR drivers K.C. Kane, Ryan Newman, Benny Hamlin and K.C. Mears, who are in town for the big race."</ref>

External links

• Official Westville website