Editing Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey

{{short description|Township in Salem County, New Jersey, US}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = {{nowrap|Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey}}
|official_name            = 
|settlement_type          = [[Township (New Jersey)|Township]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = The Heart of South Jersey<ref name=Motto>Genovese, Peter. [http://www.nj.com/inside-jersey/index.ssf/2012/08/hidden_jersey_lower_alloways_creek.html "Hidden Jersey: Lower Alloways Creek"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], August 17, 2012. Accessed July 29, 2016. "Lower Alloways — not to be confused with Alloway Township, to the north and east — includes the hamlets of Hancocks Bridge, Canton, Harmersville and Maskells Mill, and calls itself 'The Heart of South Jersey.'"</ref>

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Hancock House, Lower Alloways Creek Township, NJ.jpg
|imagesize                = 250x200px
|image_caption            = [[Hancock House (Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey)|Hancock House]] in the [[Hancock's Bridge, New Jersey|Hancock's Bridge]] section of the township
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = Lower Alloways Creek Seal.png

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Map of Salem County highlighting Lower Alloways Creek Township.png
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Lower Alloways Creek Township highlighted in [[Salem County, New Jersey|Salem County]]. Inset map: Salem County highlighted in the State of [[New Jersey]].
|image_map1               = Census_Bureau_map_of_Lower_Alloways_Creek_Township,_New_Jersey.png
|mapsize1                 = 250x200px
|map_caption1             = Census Bureau map of Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey
|pushpin_map              = USA New Jersey Salem County#USA New Jersey#USA
|pushpin_label            = Lower Alloways Creek Township
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in [[Salem County, New Jersey|Salem County]]##Location in [[New Jersey]]##Location in the United States
|pushpin_relief           = yes

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States}}}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|New Jersey}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New Jersey|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = {{flagicon image|}} [[Salem County, New Jersey|Salem]]
|government_footnotes     = <ref name=DataBook/>
|government_type          = [[Township (New Jersey)|Township]]
|governing_body           = Township Committee
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Paul M. Collier ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], term ends December 31, 2024)<ref name=TownshipCommittee/><ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/dca/home/2023mayors.pdf 2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory], [[New Jersey Department of Community Affairs]], updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023. As of date accessed, Collier is listed with a term-end year of 2025, which is the end of his three-year committee term, not his one-year mayoral term of office.</ref>
|leader_title1            = [[Municipal clerk]]
|leader_name1             = Ronald L. Campbell Sr.<ref>[https://www.lowerallowayscreek-nj.gov/clerk-registrar Municipal Clerk], Lower Alloway's Creek Township. Accessed August 16, 2022.</ref>
|established_title        = Formed
|established_date         = June 17, 1767
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = February 21, 1798

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name=CensusArea>[https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_cousubs_34.txt 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 1, 2020.</ref>
|area_magnitude           =
|area_total_km2           = 187.84
|area_land_km2            = 117.35
|area_water_km2           =  70.49
|area_total_sq_mi         =  72.53
|area_land_sq_mi          =  45.31
|area_water_sq_mi         =  27.22
|area_water_percent       =  37.53
|area_rank                = 14th of 565 in state<br>1st of 15 in county<ref name=CensusArea/>

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name=LWD2020/>
|population_total         = 1717
|population_rank          = 500th of 565 in state<br>12th of 15 in county<ref name=LWD2020Density>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/dmograph/est/mcd/density.xlsx Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021], [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref>
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = 37.9
|population_density_rank  = 557th of 565 in state<br>15th of 15 in county<ref name=LWD2020Density/>
|population_est           = 1736
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name=PopEst/>

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = −05:00
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|Eastern (EDT)]]
|utc_offset_DST           = −04:00
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Gnis|882065|Township of Lower Alloways Creek}}, [[Geographic Names Information System]]. Accessed March 7, 2013.</ref>
|elevation_m              = 
|elevation_ft             = 3
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR1">[https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref>
|coordinates              = {{coord|39.450506|-75.457741|region:US-NJ_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 08038 – [[Hancock's Bridge, New Jersey|Hancock's Bridge]]<ref>[http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=hancock%27s%20bridge&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code for Hancock's Bridge, NJ], [[United States Postal Service]]. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref>
|area_code                = [[Area code 856|856]] [[Telephone exchange|exchanges]]: 339, 935<ref>[http://www.area-codes.com/search.asp?frmNPA=&frmNXX=&frmState=NJ&frmCounty=Salem&frmCity=Hancocks+Bridge Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Hancocks Bridge, NJ], Area-Codes.com. Accessed October 21, 2013.</ref>
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 3403341640<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR2">[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey], Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0882065<ref name="GR3">[http://geonames.usgs.gov US Board on Geographic Names], [[United States Geological Survey]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref>
|website                  = {{nowrap|{{URL|https://www.lowerallowayscreek-nj.gov/}}}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Lower Alloways Creek Township''' is a [[Township (New Jersey)|township]] in [[Salem County, New Jersey|Salem County]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the township's population was 1,717,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 53 (−3.0%) from the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] count of 1,770,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 81 (−4.4%) from the 1,851 counted in the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]].<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2010/2010data/table7cm.xls 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>

[[Public Service Enterprise Group|PSE&G]] operates three [[nuclear reactor]]s in Lower Alloways Creek Township. Salem 1 and Salem 2 are [[pressurized water reactor]]s at the [[Salem Nuclear Power Plant]] and the [[Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station]] has one [[boiling water reactor]].<ref>[https://www.pseg.com/family/power/nuclear/index.jsp PSEG Nuclear], [[Public Service Enterprise Group]]. Accessed January 11, 2018. "PSEG Nuclear operates the Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations in Lower Alloways Creek, NJ and is a part owner of the Peach Bottom Nuclear generation station in Delta, PA."</ref> Lower Alloways Creek Township is a [[dry county|dry town]] where alcohol cannot be sold legally.<ref>New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)</ref><ref>Giordano, Rita. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140224024649/http://articles.philly.com/2007-06-24/news/25234867_1_liquor-licenses-quota-licenses-liquor-stores "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell"], ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'', June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014.</ref>

== History ==
Lower Alloways Creek Township was formed on June 17, 1767, when [[Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey|Alloways Creek Township]] was subdivided and Upper Alloways Creek Township (now [[Alloway Township, New Jersey|Alloway Township]]) was also formed. The township was incorporated by the [[New Jersey Legislature]]'s [[Township Act of 1798]] on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's original group of 104 townships.<ref name="Story">Snyder, John P. [https://nj.gov/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf ''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606&ndash;1968''], Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 215. Accessed May 29, 2024.</ref> The name Alloway is derivative of Allowas, a local [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] chief.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. [http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=6 ''The Origin of New Jersey Place Names''], New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 30, 2015.</ref><ref>Pierce, Arthur Dudley. [https://books.google.com/books?id=luzPpZi34TEC&pg=PA87 ''Smugglers' Woods: Jaunts and Journeys in Colonial and Revolutionary New Jersey''], p. 87. [[Rutgers University Press]], 1960. {{ISBN|9780813504445}}. Accessed September 3, 2015.</ref><ref>[[Henry Gannett|Gannett, Henry]]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA21 ''The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States''], p. 21. [[United States Government Printing Office]], 1905. Accessed December 23, 2014.</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. [http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=6 ''The Origin of New Jersey Place Names''], New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 26, 2015.</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Reactors (7238282472).jpg|thumb|left|The [[Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station|Hope Creek]] (left) and [[Salem Nuclear Power Plant|Salem]] (right) nuclear power plants as seen from the [[Delaware River]]]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township had a total area of 72.53 square miles (187.84&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), including 45.31 square miles (117.35&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of land and 27.22 square miles (70.49&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of water (37.53%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

[[Hancock's Bridge, New Jersey|Hancock's Bridge]] (with a 2010 Census population of 254<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3429520 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Hancocks Bridge CDP, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212135654/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3429520 |date=2020-02-12 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 18, 2013.</ref>) is an [[Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) located within Lower Alloways Creek Township, and home to the township's municipal building, police station and a post office.<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US34033 GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Salem County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212195629/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US34033 |date=2020-02-12 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 18, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www2.census.gov/acs2010_5yr/summaryfile/UserTools/Geography/NJ.xls 2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 18, 2013.</ref><ref name=CPH232>[https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-32.pdf New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32)], [[United States Census Bureau]], August 2012. Accessed January 18, 2013.</ref>

The township includes the great majority of [[Artificial Island, New Jersey|Artificial Island]], the northern tip of which is crossed east-westward by the New Jersey-Delaware state line, so it borders a tiny portion of [[New Castle County, Delaware]], which is one of two areas of land of Delaware (and New Castle County) that is east of the [[Delaware River]], the other being [[Finns Point]], also part of New Castle County, DE, adjacent to [[Pennsville Township, New Jersey|Pennsville Township]].<ref>Schoonejongen, John. [http://blogs.app.com/capitolquickies/2010/09/10/how-delaware-got-on-jerseys-side-of-the-river/ "How Delaware got on Jersey's side of the river"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', September 10, 2010. Accessed September 17, 2015. "Over the years, dumping grounds for dredge spoils have actually expanded the land mass in New Jersey, but the old border holds fast, meaning that in areas of Salem County, for example, someone can walk from New Jersey to Delaware without getting his or her feet wet. A part of Lower Alloways Creek's Artificial Island, upon which three nuclear generators sit, is one of those areas. Killcohook, in Pennsville Township, is another."</ref>

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Alder Cove, Arnold Point, [[Canton, New Jersey|Canton]], Cumberland, Harmersville, Haskells Mills, Maskellers Mill, New Bridge and Woods Landing.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Locality Search], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed May 2, 2015.</ref>

The township borders the Salem County municipalities of [[Elsinboro Township, New Jersey|Elsinboro Township]], [[Quinton Township, New Jersey|Quinton Township]] and [[Salem, New Jersey|Salem]]. Lower Alloways Creek Township also borders the [[Delaware Bay]], [[Cumberland County, New Jersey|Cumberland County]] and a small point of land that is located within Delaware's [[Twelve-Mile Circle]].<ref>[http://chnj.njpn.org/salem-county/ Salem County Map], Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed February 26, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/polnoroads.pdf New Jersey Municipal Boundaries], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]]. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1810=1182
| 1820=1217
| 1830=1223
| 1840=1252
| 1850=1423
| 1860=1471
| 1870=1483
| 1880=1373
| 1890=1308
| 1900=1242
| 1910=1252
| 1920=1084
| 1930=1063
| 1940=1124
| 1950=1307
| 1960=1293
| 1970=1400
| 1980=1547
| 1990=1858
| 2000=1851
| 2010=1770
| 2020=1717
| estimate=1736
| estyear=2023
| estref=<ref name=PopEst>[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/mcds/totals/SUB-MCD-EST2023-POP-34.xlsx Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023], [[United States Census Bureau]], released May 2024. Accessed May 16, 2024.</ref>
| footnote=Population sources:<small> 1810–2000<ref>Barnett, Bob. [http://westjersey.org/popsal_04.htm Population Data for Salem County Municipalities, 1810 - 2000], WestJersey.org, January 6, 2011. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref><br>1810–1920<ref>[https://dspace.njstatelib.org/xmlui/handle/10929/25218?show=full ''Compendium of censuses 1726-1905: together with the tabulated returns of 1905''], [[New Jersey Department of State]], 1906. Accessed October 21, 2013.</ref> 1840<ref>[[Francis Bowen|Bowen, Francis]]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=DnUFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA232 ''American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Year 1843''], p. 232, David H. Williams, 1842. Accessed October 21, 2013.</ref> 1850–1870<ref>Raum, John O. [https://books.google.com/books?id=5qZ4AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA254 ''The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1''], p. 254, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed January 17, 2013. "Lower Alloways creek contained a population in 1830 of 1,222; in 1840, 1,252, in 1850, 1,423; in 1860, 1,471; and in 1870, 1,483."</ref><br>1850<ref>[[J. D. B. De Bow|Debow, James Dunwoody Brownson]]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=25TicJOdU0AC&pg=PA140 ''The Seventh Census of the United States: 1850''], p. 140. R. Armstrong, 1853. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref> 1870<ref>Staff. [https://books.google.com/books?id=gNwIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA260 ''A compendium of the ninth census, 1870''], p. 260. [[United States Census Bureau]], 1872. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref> 1880–1890<ref>Porter, Robert Percival. [https://books.google.com/books?id=8gUkQkJdLpsC&pg=PA99 ''Preliminary Results as Contained in the Eleventh Census Bulletins: Volume III - 51 to 75''], p. 99. [[United States Census Bureau]], 1890. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref><br>1890–1910<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=T9HrAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA338 ''Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910: Population by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions, 1910, 1900, 1890''], [[United States Census Bureau]], p. 338. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref> 1910–1930<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=kifRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA718 ''Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I''], [[United States Census Bureau]], p. 718. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref><br>1940–2000<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2kpub/njsdcp3.pdf#page=27 Table 6: New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1940 - 2000], Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, August 2001. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> 2000<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/><br>2010<ref name=Census2010>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0600000US3403341640 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Lower Alloways Creek township, Salem County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212104309/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0600000US3403341640 |date=2020-02-12 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref><ref name=LWD2010>[http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/dp1_sal/lowerallowayscreek1.pdf Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Lower Alloways Creek township] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304094422/http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/dp1_sal/lowerallowayscreek1.pdf |date=2016-03-04 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref> 2020<ref name=LWD2020>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2020/2020%20pl94%20Tables/2020_Mun/MCD%200_All.pdf Total Population: Census 2010 - Census 2020 New Jersey Municipalities], [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref></small>
}}

===2010 census===
The [[2010 United States census]] counted 1,770 people, 679 households, and 503 families in the township. The population density was {{convert|39.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 727 housing units at an average density of {{convert|16.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup was 96.95% (1,716) [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 1.36% (24) [[Black (U.S. census)|Black or African American]], 0.28% (5) [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 0.17% (3) [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.00% (0) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.11% (2) from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#Race|other races]], and 1.13% (20) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 1.53% (27) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 679 households, 27.4% had children under the age of 18; 62.2% were married couples living together; 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.9% were non-families. Of all households, 20.8% were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.03.<ref name=Census2010/>

21.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.7 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 [[American Community Survey]] showed that (in 2010 [[inflation adjustment|inflation-adjusted]] dollars) [[median household income]] was $66,384 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,808) and the median family income was $72,969 (+/− $7,867). Males had a median income of $46,964 (+/− $6,435) versus $43,083 (+/− $8,815) for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $27,325 (+/− $2,057). About none of families and 1.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including none of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0600000US3403341640 DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Lower Alloways Creek township, Salem County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212082746/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0600000US3403341640 |date=2020-02-12 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census]]<ref name="GR2" /> there were 1,851 people, 693 households, and 537 families residing in the township. The population density was {{convert|39.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 730 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the township was 96.38% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.16% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.11% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.65% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.16% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.54% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 0.49% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>[http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/0603403341640.pdf Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Lower Alloways Creek township, Salem County, New Jersey]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3403341640 DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Lower Alloways Creek township, Salem County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212102406/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3403341640 |date=2020-02-12 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref>

There were 693 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.00.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $55,078, and the median income for a family was $59,653. Males had a median income of $44,081 versus $30,313 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $21,962. About 4.2% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

== Government ==

=== Local government ===
Lower Alloways Creek Township is governed under the [[Township (New Jersey)|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>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''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 five members, who are elected [[direct election|directly]] by the voters [[at-large]] in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats 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]], April 2006, p. 19.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=7 "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 as deputy mayor.

{{As of|2024}} members of the Lower Alloways Creek Township Committee are [[Mayor]] Paul M. Collier ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], 2025, term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Timothy W. Bradway ([[Independent politician|R]], 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2024), Laura Tice Crane (R, 2024), Jeffrey P. Palombo (R, 2025) and Richard W. Venable Sr. (R, 2026).<ref name=TownshipCommittee>[https://www.lowerallowayscreek-nj.gov/township-committee Township Committee], Lower Alloways Creek Township. Accessed August 16, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.lowerallowayscreek-nj.gov/home/news/township-committee-reorganizes-2022 "Township Committee Reorganizes for 2022"], Lower Alloways Creek Township, January 1, 2022. Accessed August 16, 2022."Mrs. Crane and Mr. Bradway were sworn-in for three-years terms. Mr. Bradway was chosen by the Township Committee to be the Mayor for 2022."</ref><ref>[https://www.lowerallowayscreek-nj.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3381/f/uploads/2022budget_intro.pdf 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], Lower Alloways Creek Township. Accessed August 16, 2022.</ref><ref name=Salem2021>[https://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/OFFICIAL-General-Election-Results-Salem-County-2021-min.pdf Election Summary Report General Election Salem County November 2, 2021 Official Results Report], [[Salem County, New Jersey]], updated November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Salem2020>[https://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/ElectionSummaryReportRPT-short-version-revised-min.pdf Election Summary Report Salem County NJ General Election November 3, 2020 Official Report], [[Salem County, New Jersey]], updated November 25, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Salem2019>[https://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Official-Result-Summary-Report-min.pdf November 5, 2019 Summary Report Salem County, NJ Official Results], [[Salem County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated November 18, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $2,157, the lowest in the county, compared to an average bill of $5,711 in Salem County and $8,767 statewide.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dlgs/resources/property_docs/18_data/18taxes.xls 2018 Property Tax Information], [[New Jersey Department of Community Affairs]], updated January 16, 2019. Accessed November 7, 2019.</ref><ref>Marcus, Samantha. [https://www.nj.com/politics/2019/04/these-are-the-towns-with-the-lowest-property-taxes-in-each-of-njs-21-counties.html "These are the towns with the lowest property taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], April 30, 2019. Accessed November 7, 2019. "New Jersey’s average property tax bill may have hit $8,767 last year — a new record — but taxpayers in some parts of the state pay just a fraction of that.... The average property tax bill in Lower Alloways Creek Township was $2,157 in 2018, the lowest in Salem County."</ref>

=== Federal, state and county representation ===
Lower Alloways Creek Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf 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 name=Districts2011>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>[https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf ''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''], New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#3 Districts by Number for 2011-2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 02}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 03}}

{{NJ Salem County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,302 registered voters in Lower Alloways Creek Township, of which 461 (35.4% vs. 30.6% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 337 (25.9% vs. 21.0%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 503 (38.6% vs. 48.4%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref name=VoterRegistration>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-salem-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Salem], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 73.6% (vs. 64.6% in Salem County) were registered to vote, including 94.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 84.4% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212202223/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 |date=2020-02-12 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Republican [[Mitt Romney]] received 65.7% of the vote (620 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barack Obama]] with 33.2% (313 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (11 votes), among the 1,153 ballots cast by the township's 1,313 registered voters (209 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for a turnout of 87.8%.<ref name=2012Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-salem.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Salem County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |accessdate=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-salem.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Salem County|date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |accessdate=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Republican [[John McCain]] received 657 votes (65.2% vs. 46.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Barack Obama]] with 316 votes (31.4% vs. 50.4%) and other candidates with 23 votes (2.3% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,007 ballots cast by the township's 1,323 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.1% (vs. 71.8% in Salem County).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-salem.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Salem County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Republican [[George W. Bush]] received 761 votes (70.0% vs. 52.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[John Kerry]] with 313 votes (28.8% vs. 45.9%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.8% vs. 1.0%), among the 1,087 ballots cast by the township's 1,358 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.0% (vs. 71.0% in the whole county).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_salem_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Salem County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Lower Alloways Creek Township |source=<br>2024<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-salem.pdf Presidential November 5, 2024 General Election Results Salem County], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2020<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-president-salem.pdf Presidential November 3, 2020 General Election Results Salem County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], published December 18, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2016<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2016/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-salem.pdf Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results Salem County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated December 14, 2016. Accessed January 16, 2025.</ref> 2012<ref name=2012Election>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-salem.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Salem County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> 2008<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-salem.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Salem County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref> 2004<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_salem_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Salem County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref>}}

<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|782|203|10|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|846|211|20|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|750|211|44|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|620|313|11|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|657|316|23|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|761|313|9|New Jersey}}
|}

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 78.9% of the vote (597 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 19.8% (150 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (10 votes), among the 772 ballots cast by the township's 1,330 registered voters (15 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 58.0%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-salem.pdf |title=Governor - Salem County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |accessdate=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-salem.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Salem County|date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |accessdate=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Republican Chris Christie received 438 votes (53.5% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 248 votes (30.3% vs. 39.9%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 95 votes (11.6% vs. 9.7%) and other candidates with 19 votes (2.3% vs. 2.0%), among the 819 ballots cast by the township's 1,328 registered voters, yielding a 61.7% turnout (vs. 47.3% in the county).<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-salem.pdf 2009 Governor: Salem County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017231212/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-salem.pdf |date=2012-10-17 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref>

==Education==
The [[Lower Alloways Creek Township School District]] serves students in [[pre-kindergarten]] through [[eighth grade]] at Lower Alloways Creek Elementary School.<ref>[https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/selectreport/2022-2023/33/2800 School Performance Reports for the Lower Alloways Creek School District], [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed May 10, 2023.</ref> As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 143 students and 19.5 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a [[student–teacher ratio]] of 7.3:1.<ref name=NCES>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&details=1&ID2=3409030&DistrictID=3409030 District information for The Lower Alloways Creek School District], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> In the 2016–17 school year, Lower Alloways Creek Township had the 32nd smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 159 students.<ref>Guion, Payton. [https://www.nj.com/education/2017/09/njs_smallest_school_districts.html "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.... 32. Lower Alloways Creek Township; Enrollment: 159; Grades: Pre-K-8; County: Salem; Town population: 1,770"</ref>

Public school students in [[ninth grade|ninth]] through [[twelfth grade]]s attend [[Salem High School (New Jersey)|Salem High School]] in [[Salem, New Jersey|Salem City]], together with students from [[Elsinboro Township, New Jersey|Elsinboro Township]], [[Mannington Township, New Jersey|Mannington Township]] and [[Quinton Township, New Jersey|Quinton Township]], as part of a [[sending/receiving relationship]] with the [[Salem City School District (New Jersey)|Salem City School District]].<ref>[http://www.salemnj.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=5607798&pageId=5976960 Our Sending Districts], [[Salem City School District (New Jersey)]]. Accessed January 24, 2017. "Salem High School welcomes students from: Elsinboro Township School; Lower Alloways Creek School; Mannington Township School; Quinton Township School"</ref><ref>Shott, Meghan. [http://www1.southjersey.com/article/33110/Salem-High-School/156/140 "Salem High School"], SouthJersey.com. Accessed January 24, 2017. "Students from Elsinboro, Lower Alloways Creek Township, Mannington Township and Quinton Township attend the high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship, according to the school's 2010 Report Card from the NJ Department of Education."</ref><ref>Bumpus, Robert L. ''Salem County Report on Consolidation and Regionalization'', [[Salem County, New Jersey]] Executive County Superintendent, March 15, 2010. "In this area of Salem County four P-8 districts, Lower Alloway Creek, Quinton, Elsinboro, and Mannington Townships have a send/receive agreement with neighboring Salem City to send their students to Salem High School."</ref> As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 399 students and 39.0 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a [[student–teacher ratio]] of 10.2:1.<ref>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3414550&ID=341455005090 School data for Salem High School], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:2018-09-10 13 49 12 View south along Salem County Route 623 (Main Street-Canton Road) just south of Church Road in Lower Alloways Creek Township, Salem County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|Main Street-Canton Road ([[County Route 623 (Salem County, New Jersey)|County Route 623]]) in Lower Alloways Creek Township]]
{{As of|2010|5}}, the township had a total of {{convert|49.78|mi}} of roadways, of which {{convert|27.18|mi}} were maintained by the municipality and {{convert|22.60|mi}} by Salem County.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/mileage_Salem.pdf Salem County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

No Interstate, U.S., state or major county highways pass through Lower Alloways Creek Township. The only numbered roads are minor county routes, such as [[County Route 623 (Salem County, New Jersey)|County Route 623]].

[[New Jersey Route 45|Route 45]] and [[New Jersey Route 49|Route 49]] are the closest state highways, and are accessible in neighboring municipalities. The closest limited access roads, [[Interstate 295 (New Jersey)|Interstate 295]] and the [[New Jersey Turnpike]], are accessible two towns away in [[Pennsville Township, New Jersey|Pennsville Township]].

==Notable people==
{{Category see also|People from Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey}}
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Lower Alloways Creek Township include:

* [[William Hancock (judge)|William Hancock]], judges. Hancock Sr. commissioned [[Hancock House (Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey)|Hancock House]] in 1734. Hancock Jr. was killed in 1778 in the Hancock's Bridge massacre<ref>Tomlinson, Phillip. [http://www.nj.com/cumberland/index.ssf/2014/03/lower_alloways_creek_relives_hancock_house_massacre.html "Salem County's Revolutionary War massacre at Hancock House relived"], ''[[South Jersey Times]]'', March 23, 2014. Accessed May 2, 2015. "Lower Alloways Creek Twp. — A dark chapter in South Jersey's rich Revolutionary War history was relived this weekend with the commemoration of the massacre of local patriots by the British at Hancocks Bridge.... On March 21, 1778 a band of British loyalists bayoneted a company American militiamen to death, along with Judge William Hancock — purportedly a loyalist himself — and members of his household.The house where the sleeping patriots were slain was built by Hancock's father, who was also William and also a judge, in 1734 and still stands overlooking the bridge that spans Alloways Creek."</ref>
* [[Thomas Jones Yorke]] (1801–1882), [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig Party]] politician who served two terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]]<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=Y000023 "Yorke, Thomas Jones, (1801 - 1882)"], '[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]]''. Accessed May 2, 2015.</ref>

==References==
{{portal|New Jersey}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.lowerallowayscreek-nj.gov/ Lower Alloways Creek Township official website]
*[https://www.lacschool.org/ Lower Alloways Creek Elementary School]
*{{NJReportCard|33|2800|0|Lower Alloways Creek Elementary School}}
*[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3409030 School Data for the Lower Alloways Creek Elementary School], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]

{{Salem County, New Jersey}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey| ]]
[[Category:1767 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1767]]
[[Category:Township form of New Jersey government]]
[[Category:Townships in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Townships in Salem County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:New Jersey populated places on the Delaware River]]