Lawrence Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Lawrence Township is a township in Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Vineland-Bridgeton metropolitan statistical area for statistical purposes.<ref>New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 10, 2023.</ref> As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 3,087,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 203 (−6.2%) from the 2010 census count of 3,290,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 569 (+20.9%) from the 2,721 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>

Lawrence Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 17, 1885, from portions of Fairfield Township.<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. 121. Accessed May 29, 2024.</ref> The township was named in honor of Captain James Lawrence—commander of the frigate Template:USS and one of the naval heroes of the War of 1812—best known for his dying command of "Don't Give up the Ship".<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 2, 2015.</ref>

Lawrence Township is a dry township, where alcohol cannot be sold.<ref>New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)</ref><ref>Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014.</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 38.39 square miles (99.43 km²), including 36.92 square miles (95.63 km²) of land and 1.47 square miles (3.80 km²) of water (3.82%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Cedarville (2010 population of 776<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Cedarville CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 23, 2012.</ref>) and Centre Grove are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDP) located Lawrence Township.<ref>New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed October 23, 2012.</ref>

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Jones Island, Lummis Mill, Lummistown and Sayres Neck.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 14, 2017.</ref>

The township borders the Cumberland County municipalities of Downe Township, Fairfield Township, Millville, and the Delaware Bay.<ref>Historic Sites by Municipality, Cumberland County, New Jersey Cultural and Heritage Commission. Accessed February 25, 2020.</ref><ref>Map of Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed October 28, 2019.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 3,290 people, 1,102 households, and 850 families in the township. The population density was 89.1 per square mile (34.4/km²). There were 1,221 housing units at an average density of 33.1 per square mile (12.8/km²). The racial makeup was 81.03% (2,666) White, 9.24% (304) Black or African American, 1.16% (38) Native American, 0.40% (13) Asian, 0.03% (1) Pacific Islander, 5.02% (165) from other races, and 3.13% (103) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.37% (374) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 1,102 households, 36.3% had children under the age of 18; 59.9% were married couples living together; 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 22.9% were non-families. Of all households, 17.5% were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.28.<ref name=Census2010/>

26.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.1 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $70,948 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,480) and the median family income was $72,014 (+/− $2,843). Males had a median income of $55,208 (+/− $6,323) versus $30,382 (+/− $5,144) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,934 (+/− $3,545). About 5.2% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Lawrence township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 23, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,721 people, 920 households, and 712 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,023 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 81.88% White, 10.40% African American, 1.07% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 3.42% from other races, and 2.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.02% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Lawrence township, Cumberland County, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 23, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Lawrence township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 23, 2012.</ref>

There were 920 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.27.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $46,083, and the median income for a family was $48,456. Males had a median income of $36,891 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income for the township was $17,654. About 6.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Lawrence 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. 19.</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 as Deputy Mayor.

Template:As of, members of the Lawrence Township Council are Mayor Joseph A. Miletta Jr. (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Elmer "Skip" Bowman (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2023) and John M. Tisa (R, 2025).<ref name=Committee>Township Committee, Lawrence Township, Cumberland County. Accessed August 28, 2023. "The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are selected by the Township Committee each year from the members of the Township Committee."</ref><ref>2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Lawrence Township, Cumberland County. Accessed August 14, 2022.</ref><ref name=CumberlandDirectory>2023 Directory of Cumberland County, New Jersey, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Cumberland2022>Election Summary Report General Election Cumberland County November 8, 2022, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Cumberland2021>Election Summary Report General Election Cumberland County November 2, 2021, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Cumberland2020>General Election Results November 3, 2020, Official Results, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

The New Jersey State Police provides police protection in Lawrence Township from the Troop A barracks located in Port Norris.<ref>Police and Public Safety, Lawrence Township, Cumberland County, NJ. Accessed October 31, 2019. "Port Norris State Police Barracks provides police services for Lawrence Township."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Lawrence Township 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>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,917 registered voters in Lawrence Township, of which 584 (30.5%) were registered as Democrats, 364 (19.0%) were registered as Republicans and 969 (50.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Cumberland, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 23, 2012.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 52.6% of the vote (618 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.9% (539 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (17 votes), among the 1,187 ballots cast by the township's 1,972 registered voters (13 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 60.2%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 48.8% of the vote (613 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 48.3% (607 votes), with 1,256 ballots cast among the township's 1,894 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.3%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed October 23, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 51.8% of the vote (586 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry, who received 45.7% (517 votes), with 1,131 ballots cast among the township's 1,683 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 67.2.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 23, 2012.</ref>

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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.7% of the vote (450 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 30.1% (197 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (8 votes), among the 663 ballots cast by the township's 1,902 registered voters (8 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 34.9%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 46.9% of the vote (353 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 40.7% (306 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 7.3% (55 votes), with 752 ballots cast among the township's 1,865 registered voters, yielding a 40.3% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Cumberland County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed October 23, 2012.</ref>

Education

The Lawrence Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Myron L. Powell School.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Lawrence Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Lawrence 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 484 students and 44.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Lawrence Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students in Lawrence Township are assigned to one of two school districts based on the location of their residence. Students attend high school either in Bridgeton or Millville, based on sending/receiving relationships with the respective school districts, the Bridgeton Public Schools and the Millville Public Schools.<ref>Lawrence Township Board of Education District Policy Manual, Lawrence Township School District. Accessed August 20, 2020. "It shall be the policy of the Lawrence Township Board of Education that secondary school students residing in Lawrence Township shall follow the following procedures concerning secondary school attendance: Students living east or south of a line that follows the Central Railroad tracks from the southern border of the township to the stream running from Lummistown Pond and feeding Cedarville Pond and south of Lummis Mill Road shall attend Millville High School. All other students shall attend Bridgeton High School."</ref><ref>Lawrence Township Template:Webarchive, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed December 8, 2014. "Students in Lawrence Township go on to finish their high school education at Millville High School or Bridgeton High School, depending on their location, under a regional partnership agreement."</ref> Students sent to Bridgeton attend Bridgeton High School.<ref>Staff. "Bridgeton High School", South Jersey Magazine. Accessed December 8, 2014. "Bridgeton High School provides opportunities for students from Bridgeton, Lawrence Township and Downe Township in Cumberland County to become members of society who are thoughtful, informed, involved and committed to life-long learning."</ref> Students sent to Millville join students from Commercial Township and Maurice River Township at Millville High School<ref>Sending District Students Template:Webarchive, Millville Public Schools. Accessed December 8, 2014. "9TH – 12th grade students who attend Memorial and MSHS from Woodbine, Commercial Township, Lawrence Township, and Maurice River Township will need to establish their proof of residency with their district."</ref><ref>Jones, Jean. "Maurice River enlists state help in fighting Millville HS tuition increase", South Jersey Times, January 16, 2008. Accessed December 8, 2014. "He said Millville is unwilling to pass on its need for more funding to its own taxpayers so it is passing the increase on to the sending districts -- Commercial, Maurice River and Lawrence townships and Woodbine."</ref>

Students are also eligible to attend Cumberland County Technical Education Center in Vineland, serving students from the entire county in its full-time technical training programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.<ref>Admissions Booklet, Cumberland County Technical Education Center. Accessed December 20, 2022. "Who Can Apply? Applicants must be enrolled in 8th grade and live in Cumberland County."</ref>

Transportation

File:2018-08-08 09 18 05 View north along Cumberland County Route 553 (Bridgeton-Port Norris Road-Main Street) just north of Cumberland County Route 629 (Back Road-Newport-Centre Grove Road) in Lawrence Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey.jpg

County Route 553 northbound in Lawrence Township

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

County Route 553 is the most significant roadway serving Lawrence Township.<ref>County Route 553 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2012. Accessed October 31, 2019.</ref><ref>Cumberland County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 14, 2023.</ref>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Lawrence Township include:

• Ephraim Bateman (1780–1829), represented New Jersey in the United States Senate from 1826 to 1829 and in the United States House of Representatives from 1815 to 1823<ref>Ephraim Bateman, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 21, 2007.</ref>
• John Davis (died 1863), United States Navy sailor in the American Civil War who received the Medal of Honor for his action aboard the Template:USS<ref>Staff. "Help solve a Cumberland County history mystery: Where is Civil War Medal of Honor recipient John Davis buried?", The News of Cumberland County, July 7, 2009. Accessed May 14, 2017. "With memories fresh in our minds of tributes to our brave men and women of the Armed Forces, a question has been posed by an anonymous reader about one of Cumberland County's three Medal of Honor recipients, John Davis.... Davis, a quarter gunner with the U.S. Navy, was born in Cedarville."</ref>
• Ebenezer Elmer (1752–1843), physician and politician who represented New Jersey in the House of Representatives from 1801 to 1807<ref>Brooks, John Nixon. "Extracts from the Journal of Surgeon Ebenezer Elmer of the New Jersey Continental Line, September 11-19, 1777", p. 103, in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 35, No. 1 (1911), pp. 103-107. Accessed May 14, 2017. "Dr. Ebenezer Elmer, born in Cedarville, Cumberland. County, New Jersey, was a grandson of Rev. Daniel Elmer, who came from Connecticut in 1727."</ref>
• Jonathan Elmer (1745–1817), politician who represented New Jersey in the United States Senate from 1789 to 1791<ref>Lurie, Maxine N.; and Mappen, Marc. "Elmer, Jonathan", p. 250, in Encyclopedia of New Jersey. Rutgers University Press, 2004. Template:ISBN. Accessed May 14, 2017. "Jonathan Elmer was born in Cedarville. Cumberland County, the son of Daniel Elmer and Abigail Lawrence."</ref>
• Benjamin Franklin Howell (1844–1933), represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from 1895 to 1911<ref>Benjamin Franklin Howell, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 29, 2007.</ref>
• Samuel Alexander Kinnier Wilson (1878–1937), neurologist who described hepatolenticular degeneration, a copper metabolism disorder affecting the liver and central nervous system, that would later be called Wilson's disease<ref>Staff. "Wilson, Samuel Alexander Kinnier" in Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences, p. 769. Academic Press, 2014. Template:ISBN. Accessed December 27, 2016. "Wilson was born in Cedarville, New Jersey, USA, but his family moved to Edinburgh shortly after he was born."</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website
• Cumberland County webpage for Lawrence Township