Editing Deptford Township, New Jersey (section)

==History==
[[Netherlands|Dutch]] explorer [[Cornelius Jacobsen May]] led some of the earliest European settlement in the area. May was followed by settlers from [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]] before the area ultimately came under [[Colonial history of the United States|British colonial rule]]. The township was formed in 1695, and covered an area of {{convert|106|sqmi}} that included today's Deptford Township along with present-day [[Monroe Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey|Monroe Township]], [[Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey|Washington Township]], [[West Deptford Township, New Jersey|West Deptford Township]], [[Westville, New Jersey|Westville]], [[Woodbury, New Jersey|Woodbury]], and [[Woodbury Heights, New Jersey|Woodbury Heights]].<ref name=Story/><ref name=History>[https://www.deptford-nj.org/content/15952/16159/default.aspx Township History], Deptford Township. Accessed November 7, 2019. "The old township, incorporated in 1695, comprised some 106 square miles and included what today is West Deptford, Washington Township, Monroe, Westville, Woodbury and Woodbury Heights.... It was settled in 1623 by the Dutch under Cornelius Jacobse Mey and was later claimed by the Swedes and the Finns before coming under British control.... Today, Deptford is comprised of many sections, including Almonesson, Jericho, New Sharon, Oak Valley, Westville Grove, Cooper Village, Blackwood Terrace, Hammond Heights, Lake Tract, Woodbury Terrace, Woodbury Gardens, Country Club Estates and Good Intent."</ref>

[[Clement Oak]] in Deptford, an old [[oak|oak tree]] estimated to have sprouted between 1555 and 1615, was the site of the first [[hot air balloon]] landing in North America when [[Jean-Pierre Blanchard]] completed his flight to Deptford from [[Philadelphia]] in 1793. During his flight, Blanchard carried a personal letter from [[George Washington]] to be delivered to the owner of whatever property Blanchard landed on, making the flight the first [[airmail]] delivery in the nation.<ref>Roncace, Kelly. [http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/towns/index.ssf/2010/01/jean-pierre_blanchards_balloon.html "Jean-Pierre Blanchard's balloon landing, a major part of Deptford's history, turns 217"], ''[[Gloucester County Times]]'', January 5, 2010. Accessed May 7, 2012. "More than 200 years ago, President George Washington watched as Jean-Pierre Blanchard soared over the Delaware River and into New Jersey skies, before finally landing in Deptford Township for the first hot air balloon flight and landing in North America's history."</ref>

On September 1, 2021, [[Hurricane Ida tornado outbreak#Cedar Grove–Mullica Hill–Wenonah–Deptford, New Jersey|Deptford Township was hit by a strong EF3 tornado]] with winds up to {{convert|150|mph}} produced by the remnants of [[Hurricane Ida]].<ref>Gray, Matt. [https://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/2021/09/nj-weather-as-rare-ef-3-tornado-hit-woman-was-sucked-through-her-house-residents-recount-twisters-fury.html "N.J. weather: As rare EF-3 tornado hit, woman 'was sucked through her house.' Residents recount twister's fury."], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], September 10, 2021. Accessed January 21, 2022. "The EF-3 tornado that blasted Gloucester County with winds of up to 150 mph on Wednesday, obliterating homes and toppling farm silos, tore a more than 12-mile path from Harrisonville to Deptford Township over the course of 20 minutes, first touching down at 6:10 p.m., the National Weather Service reported."</ref> More than 100 homes in the township were damaged in the tornado outbreak.<ref>Gray, Matt. [https://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/2021/10/costs-exceed-64m-for-mega-tornado-that-ripped-through-nj-county-during-ida.html "Costs exceed $64M for mega tornado that ripped through N.J. county during Ida"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], October 29, 2021. Accessed January 21, 2022. "Dozens of homes were destroyed and nearly 100 more suffered major damage, according to figures compiled by the county. Wenonah reported the highest number of properties with some sort of damage at 204, while Harrison Township reported 155, Deptford Township reported 101, Mantua Township had 51 and Woodbury Heights reported 40."</ref>