Weymouth Township, New Jersey
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Weymouth Township is a township in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 2,614,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 101 (−3.7%) from the 2010 census count of 2,715,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 458 (+20.3%) from the 2,257 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>
Named for Weymouth, Dorset,<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 28, 2015.</ref> the township was created as a constablewick in 1694 and was known in its early days as "New Waymouth Township".<ref>Weymouth Historic Museum, Township of Weymouth. Accessed July 20, 2020.</ref> Weymouth Township was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 12, 1798, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, while the area was still part of Gloucester County, and was incorporated nine days later. Portions of the township were taken on February 5, 1813, to create Hamilton Township. Weymouth Township became part of the newly created Atlantic County on February 7, 1837. Portions of the township were taken on March 11, 1922, to form Corbin City, and on March 14, 1925, to form Estell Manor.<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. 71. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref>
Geographically, the township, and all of Atlantic County, is part of the South Jersey region of the state and of the Atlantic City-Hammonton metropolitan statistical area, which in turn is included in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.<ref>New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 12.17 square miles (31.52 km2), including 11.82 square miles (30.62 km2) of land and 0.35 square miles (0.90 km2) of water (2.84%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Belcoville, Dorothy, Grassy Pond and High Bank Landing.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>
The township borders the municipalities of Buena Vista Township, Egg Harbor Township, Estell Manor and Hamilton Township in Atlantic County; and Maurice River Township in Cumberland County.<ref>Areas touching Weymouth Township, MapIt. Accessed March 8, 2020.</ref><ref>Atlantic County District Map, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed July 9, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
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 Template:Convert, that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.<ref>The Pinelands National Reserve, New Jersey Pinelands Commission. Accessed November 20, 2013.</ref> Part of the township is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Atlantic County, along with areas in Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.<ref>Pinelands Municipalities, New Jersey Pinelands Commission, April 2003. Accessed November 20, 2013.</ref>
Demographics
[edit]2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 2,715 people, 1,153 households, and 762 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,220 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 92.04% (2,499) White, 4.75% (129) Black or African American, 0.22% (6) Native American, 0.88% (24) Asian, 0.07% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.66% (18) from other races, and 1.36% (37) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.57% (124) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 1,153 households, 19.3% had children under the age of 18; 52.4% were married couples living together; 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.9% were non-families. Of all households, 28.9% were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.<ref name=Census2010/>
17.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 18.3% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 27.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.6 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $51,574 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,234) and the median family income was $67,857 (+/− $5,235). Males had a median income of $59,688 (+/− $4,165) versus $38,438 (+/− $5,634) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,857 (+/− $3,096). About 5.7% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Weymouth township, Atlantic County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 23, 2013.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,257 people, 851 households, and 623 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 909 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 91.98% White, 4.79% African American, 0.40% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 1.02% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.81% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Weymouth township, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 23, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Weymouth township, Atlantic County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 23, 2013.</ref>
There were 851 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.06.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
In the township the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median income for a household in the township was $45,882, and the median income for a family was $49,800. Males had a median income of $41,842 versus $29,464 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,987. About 4.7% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Government
[edit]Local government
[edit]Weymouth Township operates under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.<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 Township Committee is comprised of three members, who are 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 13.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>
Template:As of, members of the Weymouth Township Committee are Mayor Kenneth R. Haeser (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Carl "Peter" Keiffenheim (R, 2023) and Edward G. Norton (R, 2025).<ref name=Committee>Township Committee, Weymouth Township. Accessed June 6, 2023.</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Weymouth Township. Accessed June 6, 2023.</ref><ref name=Govt>Municipal Government, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2023.</ref><ref name=Atlantic2022>2022 General Election Results - Amended, Atlantic County Clerk, updated December 5, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Atlantic2021>General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Atlantic County, New Jersey, updated January 4, 2022. Accessed February 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Atlantic2020>November 3, 2020 General Election Official Results, Atlantic County, New Jersey, update January 4, 2021. Accessed February 1, 2021.</ref>
Republican Sean O'Brikis resigned from the Township Committee in October 2010 and then had to resign again after winning re-election unopposed in the November election.<ref>Procida, Lee. "Weymouth Township committeeman to resign for second time in matter of weeks", The Press of Atlantic City, November 8, 2010. Accessed November 20, 2013. "Two weeks after resigning from the Weymouth Township Committee for family reasons, Sean O'Brikis won re-election in his unopposed local race last week. Once the county Clerk's Office certifies those election results this week, O'Brikis will have to submit yet another resignation as committeeman-elect."</ref> The committee selected Kenneth Haeser to fill the vacant seat, though Haeser lost to Democrat Dennis Doyle in the November 2011 general election to fill the balance of the term vacated by O'Brikis.<ref name=Atlantic2011>Atlantic County General Election November 8, 2011, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed November 20, 2013.</ref><ref>Procida, Lee. "Weymouth Township Council candidates focus on stability, future", The Press of Atlantic City, October 20, 2011. Accessed November 20, 2013. "For the unexpired term, incumbent Republican Kenneth Haeser is running against Democrat Dennis Doyle. Haeser was appointed to the term shortly after former committeeman Sean O'Brikis resigned last year."</ref>
Federal, state and county representation
[edit]Weymouth is located in the 2nd 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 1st state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>
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Politics
[edit]As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,785 registered voters in Weymouth Township, of which 456 (25.5% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 610 (34.2% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans and 719 (40.3% vs. 44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Atlantic, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 65.7% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 79.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref>
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 701 votes (51.1% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 650 votes (47.4% vs. 57.9%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.7% vs. 0.9%), among the 1,371 ballots cast by the township's 1,856 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.9% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Atlantic County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Atlantic County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 777 votes (52.7% vs. 41.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 645 votes (43.8% vs. 56.5%) and other candidates with 31 votes (2.1% vs. 1.1%), among the 1,474 ballots cast by the township's 1,896 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.7% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 636 votes (51.0% vs. 46.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 588 votes (47.2% vs. 52.0%) and other candidates with 11 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 1,246 ballots cast by the township's 1,623 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.8% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref>
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2024<ref name="2024Elections">Template:Cite web</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|59.8% 1,032 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|38.0% 656 | 2.2% 35 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2020<ref name="2020Elections">Template:Cite web</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|60.2% 1,040 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|38.7% 668 | 1.1% 19 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2016<ref name="2016Elections">Template:Cite web</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|58.8% 774 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|37.4% 492 | 3.8% 50 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2012<ref name="2012Elections">Template:Cite web</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|51.1% 701 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|47.4% 650 | 0.7% 9 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2008<ref name="state.nj.us">[1], New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|52.7% 777 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|43.8% 645 | 2.1% 31 |
| style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2004<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">[2], New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref> | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|51.0% 636 | style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|47.2% 588 | 0.9% 11 |
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 695 votes (70.0% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 258 votes (26.0% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with 16 votes (1.6% vs. 1.3%), among the 993 ballots cast by the township's 1,890 registered voters, yielding a 52.5% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county).<ref>2013 Governor: Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 5, 2013 General Election Results : Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 571 votes (53.3% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 387 votes (36.1% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 66 votes (6.2% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 22 votes (2.1% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,071 ballots cast by the township's 1,835 registered voters, yielding a 58.4% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Atlantic County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref>
Education
[edit]The Weymouth Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Weymouth Township School.<ref>Weymouth Township Board of Education District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Weymouth Township School District. Accessed July 24, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Weymouth Township School District. The Weymouth Township School District shall maintain a sending/receiving relationship for the education of students in grades nine through twelve. Composition: The Weymouth Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Weymouth Township."</ref><ref>Public School Directory 2023–2024, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2024.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Weymouth Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Weymouth Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 161 students and 16.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.6:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Weymouth Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> In the 2016–17 school year, Weymouth was tied with the 30th smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 155 students.<ref>Guion, Payton. "These 43 N.J. school districts have fewer than 200 students", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 2017. Accessed January 30, 2020. "Based on data from the state Department of Education from the last school year and the Census Bureau, NJ Advance Media made a list of the smallest of the small school districts in the state, excluding charter schools and specialty institutions....30. Weymouth Township (tie); Enrollment: 155; Grades: Pre-K-8; County: Atlantic; Town population: 2,715"</ref>
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Buena Regional High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Buena Regional School District. Students attend the high school from Buena and Buena Vista Township, along with students from Estell Manor, who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship.<ref>Buena Regional School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 22, 2020. "The District's high school serves students from Buena Vista Township and Buena Borough, along with students from the neighboring municipalities of Estell Manor and Weymouth Township through a sending/receiving relationship."</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 496 students and 44.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1.<ref>School data for Buena Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>
Township public school students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township<ref>Frequently Asked Questions, Atlantic County Institute of Technology. Accessed May 17, 2017. "What does it cost to attend ACIT? As a public school, there is no cost to Atlantic County residents of high school age. New Jersey Title 18A:54-20.1 entitles students the right to choose ACIT for their high school education."</ref> or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point.<ref>Profile, Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts. Accessed May 18, 2017.</ref>
Transportation
[edit]_just_south_of_Atlantic_County_Route_669_(Eleventh_Avenue)_and_Grant_Street_in_Weymouth_Township,_Atlantic_County,_New_Jersey.jpg){kind=link}
Roads and highways
[edit]Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Atlantic County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Atlantic County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed November 20, 2013.</ref>
New Jersey Route 50 (Boulevard) is the main highway serving Weymouth Township.<ref>Route 50 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2016. Accessed July 20, 2022.</ref><ref>Atlantic County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed March 7, 2023.</ref>
Public transportation
[edit]NJ Transit provides bus service in the township on the 315 route that runs between Cape May and Philadelphia.<ref>Atlantic County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 26, 2010. Accessed November 17, 2013.</ref><ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed November 17, 2013.</ref>
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Weymouth Township include:
- Frances Edelstein (1926–2018), businesswoman who ran the Cafe Edison in New York City's Theater District, together with her husband<ref>Jewish Agriculturalism in the United States: A World of Jewish Farming, Rutgers University. Accessed March 7, 2023. "After the Holocaust, the Jewish Agricultural Society resettled 2500 Displaced Persons. Among them were Frances (Frima) and Harry Edelstein. Holocaust survivors from Poland, the Edelsteins emigrated in 1947 and settled on a poultry farm in Dorothy, a Jewish colony in New Jersey."</ref>
- Kathleen Karr (1946–2017), author of historical novels for children and young adults<ref>Kathleen Karr, The Children's Book Guild of Washington, D.C. Accessed November 20, 2013. "Kathleen Karr was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and grew up on a chicken farm in Dorothy, New Jersey."</ref>
- Walter Lowenfels (1897–1976), poet, journalist and member of the Communist Party USA who edited the communist newspaper the Daily Worker<ref>Guide to the Walter Lowenfels Papers YCAL MSS 367, Yale University Library. Accessed October 28, 2015. "The same year, his family moved to a cabin in Weymouth, New Jersey."</ref>
- William Moore (1810–1878), served in the United States House of Representatives, where he represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district from 1867 to 1871<ref>William Moore, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 24, 2007.</ref>
- Rhoda Scott (born 1938), soul jazz organist and singer<ref>Wilkins, Tim. "Master musician Rhoda Scott is back in Jersey, and back in school", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com / The Star-Ledger, December 2, 2011. Accessed March 7, 2023. "Scott has a gift for understatement. The Atlantic County native — she grew up in the Dorothy section of Weymouth Township — has lived in Paris for 43 years, and since she is one of her instrument’s greatest players, it’s big news that she is back."</ref>