Woodland Township, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Woodland Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 1,544,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 244 (−13.6%) from the 2010 census count of 1,788,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 618 (+52.8%) from the 1,170 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> The township, and all of Burlington County, is a part of 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>

Woodland was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1866, from portions of Pemberton Township, Shamong Township, Southampton Township and Washington Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Tabernacle Township on March 22, 1901.<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. 100. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref>

History

The area now known as Woodland Township was originally inhabited by the Lenape Native American tribe. European settlers began arriving in the late 17th century, attracted by the fertile soil and abundant lumber resources. The settlers cleared land for farming and built homes and other structures using local materials, including wood and sandstone.

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Woodland was predominantly an agricultural community, with farming being the primary occupation for most residents. The fertile soil in the region was ideal for growing a variety of crops, including corn, wheat, and potatoes. In addition to crop farming, livestock, dairy, and poultry farming also played a significant role in the local economy.

In the early 20th century, several small-scale industries began to emerge in Woodland, including sawmills, gristmills, and blacksmith shops. These industries relied heavily on the local resources, such as timber and iron ore, and provided employment opportunities for the residents.

In the latter half of the 20th century, Woodland experienced a shift away from agriculture and towards a more diversified economy. Although farming remained an important aspect of the township's identity, the focus shifted to include manufacturing, retail, and service-based industries.

The township has a mix of residential, commercial, and agricultural areas, reflecting its multifaceted history. Woodland is known for its landscapes, including the scenic Brendan T. Byrne State Forest, which offers numerous recreational opportunities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 94.45 square miles (244.61 km²), including 92.64 square miles (239.93 km²) of land and 1.81 square miles (4.68 km²) of water (1.91%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The township borders Bass River Township, Pemberton Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle Township, Washington Township in Burlington County; and Barnegat Township, Lacey Township, Little Egg Harbor Township and Manchester Township in Ocean County.<ref>Areas touching Woodland Township, MapIt. Accessed March 10, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities within Burlington County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 10, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bullock, Butlers Place, Chatsworth (the postal address for most of the residents of the township), DeCou Pond, Dukes Bridge, Four Mile,Template:Citation needed Goose Pond, Hedger House, Johnson Place, Jones Mill, Lebanon, Long Causeway, Old Halfway, South Park and Woodmansie.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</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 December 2, 2013.</ref> All of the township is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Burlington County, along with areas in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.<ref>Pinelands Municipalities, New Jersey Pinelands Commission, April 2003. Accessed December 2, 2013.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 1,788 people, 476 households, and 359 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 494 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 89.60% (1,602) White, 8.11% (145) Black or African American, 0.06% (1) Native American, 0.84% (15) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.45% (8) from other races, and 0.95% (17) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.81% (86) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 476 households, 30.5% had children under the age of 18; 60.7% were married couples living together; 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.6% were non-families. Of all households, 17.9% were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.14.<ref name=Census2010/>

20.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 37.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 152.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 166.0 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $65,568 (with a margin of error of +/− $16,290) and the median family income was $96,875 (+/− $31,126). Males had a median income of $61,250 (+/− $11,359) versus $33,393 (+/− $4,757) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,552 (+/− $5,866). About 4.9% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Woodland township, Burlington County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 3, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 1,170 people, 425 households, and 323 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 448 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 98.03% White, 0.60% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.17% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Woodland township, Burlington County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 2, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Woodland township, Burlington County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 2, 2012.</ref>

There were 425 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.15.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $59,271, and the median income for a family was $65,972. Males had a median income of $43,654 versus $31,765 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,126. About 2.0% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Woodland Township is governed 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 governing body is comprised of a three-member Township Committee, whose members 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. 103.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as deputy mayor.<ref>Government, Woodland Township. Accessed March 10, 2020. "Woodland Township is a Committee form of government. We have 3 elected committee people, one of which is appointed Mayor, on a yearly basis. Committee people terms run on a 3 year basis, with a different committee person being up for election each year."</ref>

Template:As of, the members of the Woodland Township Committee are Mayor William DeGroff (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2023), Deputy Mayor Mark J. Herndon (R, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2023) and Donna Mull (R, 2025).<ref name=Committee>Meet Our Mayor and Committee, Woodland Township. Accessed April 25, 2023. "Woodland Township is a committee based township. We have 3 elected committeemen which sit for 3 years terms. Terms are staggered, so a different committeeman runs each year. The Mayor's position is a one year term, appointed by the other committee members."</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Tabernacle Township. Accessed April 25, 2023.</ref><ref name=Burlington2022>November 8, 2022 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 29, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Burlington2021>November 2, 2021 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Burlington2020>November 3, 2020 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 23, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

In May 2022, Donna Mull was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Derrick Daniels until he resigned from office after moving out of Woodland Township.<ref>Melegari, Douglas D. "Woodland Committeeman, In Graceful Exit Upon Move To Shamong, Speaks Of Keeping ‘Commitment,’ Offers ‘Words Of Encouragement’",Pine Barrens Tribune. Accessed August 29, 2022. "Derrick Daniels, who served on the Woodland Township Committee for the last three years, has resigned from the governing body after moving out of the municipality, with resident Donna Mull, currently the administrator for Pemberton Borough, who has plans to retire from that borough post later this year, tapped as a replacement. Daniels, a Republican, tendered his resignation at the end of a township committee meeting on May 6, with it becoming effective May 7."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Woodland Township is located in the 3rd 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 8th 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>

Politics

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |}

As of March 2011, there were a total of 947 registered voters in Woodland Township, of which 153 (16.2% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 394 (41.6% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 400 (42.2% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Burlington, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 29, 2014.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 53.0% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 66.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% 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 29, 2014.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 379 votes here (57.0% vs. 40.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 275 votes (41.4% vs. 58.1%) and other candidates with 6 votes (0.9% vs. 1.0%), among the 665 ballots cast by the township's 962 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.1% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Burlington County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 29, 2014.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Burlington County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 29, 2014.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 396 votes here (55.4% vs. 39.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 300 votes (42.0% vs. 58.4%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.7% vs. 1.0%), among the 715 ballots cast by the township's 953 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.0% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Burlington County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 29, 2014.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 351 votes here (57.0% vs. 46.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 254 votes (41.2% vs. 52.9%) and other candidates with 8 votes (1.3% vs. 0.8%), among the 616 ballots cast by the township's 874 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.5% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Burlington County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 29, 2014.</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 310 votes here (70.6% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 107 votes (24.4% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 8 votes (1.8% vs. 1.2%), among the 439 ballots cast by the township's 977 registered voters, yielding a 44.9% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).<ref>2013 Governor: Burlington County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 29, 2014.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 5, 2013 General Election Results : Burlington County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 29, 2014.</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 307 votes here (60.9% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 160 votes (31.7% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 28 votes (5.6% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 5 votes (1.0% vs. 1.2%), among the 504 ballots cast by the township's 950 registered voters, yielding a 53.1% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Burlington County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 29, 2014.</ref>

Education

The Woodland Township School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Chatsworth Elementary School.<ref>Woodland Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Woodland Township School District. Accessed June 22, 2020. "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 Woodland Township School District. Composition: The Woodland Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Woodland Township."</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Woodland Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 120 students and 16.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.1:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Woodland Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> In the 2016–2017 school year, Woodland had the 24th smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 147 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.... 24. Woodland Township; Enrollment: 147; Grades: K-7; County: Burlington; Town population: 1,788"</ref>

Public school students from Woodland Township in ninth through twelfth grades attend Seneca High School, located in Tabernacle Township, which also serves students from Shamong Township, Southampton Township and Tabernacle Townships.<ref>Seneca High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 22, 2020. "Attendance Area: Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle and Woodland Townships"</ref> The school is part of the Lenape Regional High School District, which also serves students from Evesham Township, Medford Lakes, Medford Township and Mount Laurel Township.<ref>Lenape Regional High School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 22, 2020. "The Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) serves the eight municipalities of Evesham, Medford, Mount Laurel, Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle and Woodland Townships and Medford Lakes Borough. Encompassing an area of 350 square miles the Lenape District is the largest school district in Burlington County."</ref><ref>Staff. "Regional School Districts", Burlington County Times, April 26, 2015. Accessed January 1, 2025. "Lenape Regional Serves: Evesham, Medford, Medford Lakes, Mount Laurel, Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle, Woodland"</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,073 students and 103.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.4:1.<ref>School data for Seneca High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>

Students from Woodland 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.<ref>Why Choose BCIT?, Burlington County Institute of Technology. Accessed December 2, 2013.</ref>

Transportation

File:2020-09-04 16 09 36 View east along New Jersey State Route 72 (Barnegat Road) at New Jersey State Route 70 in Woodland Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.jpg

Route 72 at Route 70 in Woodland Township

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 Burlington County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Burlington County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed December 2, 2013.</ref>

Two major state routes and two additional significant county routes pass through Woodland Township. Route 70 runs along the northwestern border while Route 72 travels from the northwest to the southeast. CR 532 and CR 563 also pass through and intersect with each other in Chatsworth. Four Mile Circle is a traffic circle located at the junction of Route 70, Route 72, Buddtown Road (County Route 644), and New Lisbon Road (County Route 646).<ref>Four Mile Circle, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed November 5, 2015.</ref>

The Garden State Parkway is the closest limited-access highway. It is accessible via neighboring Lacey, Barnegat, Stafford, Little Egg Harbor and Bass River Townships.

Coyle Field, a small airport used as an air attack base for firefighting planes by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, is located within the township.<ref>Teitelbaum, Larry. "1963 Blaze -a Nightmare in the Pines.", Burlington County Times, April 20, 1986, page 5A, accessed via State of New Jersey. Accessed March 26, 2025. "After fighting fires for 11 hours straight, Lorincz said, the weary crew was sent to Coyle Field, an airport off Route 72 in Woodland Township for firefighting planes, to protect the fuel tanks."</ref>

External links

• Municipal website
• Woodland Township School District
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the Woodland Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• Lenape Regional High School District