South Harrison Township, New Jersey: Difference between revisions

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South Harrison Township is a township in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 3,395,<ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 233 (+7.4%) from the 2010 census count of 3,162,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 745 (+30.8%) from the 2,417 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>

South Harrison was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 2, 1883, from portions of Harrison Township. Elk Township was formed from portions of South Harrison Township on April 17, 1891.<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. 140. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> It is a dry town, where alcohol cannot be sold, though alcohol is available at the winery in the township.<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 U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 15.96 square miles (41.32 km²), including 15.90 square miles (41.17 km²) of land and 0.06 square miles (0.15 km²) of water (0.38%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Unincorporated communities, localities, and places located partially or completely within the township include Cedar Grove, Harrisonville (served as ZIP Code 08039), Jessups Mills, and Lincoln.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

The township borders the municipalities of Elk Township, Harrison Township, and Woolwich Township in Gloucester County; and Pilesgrove Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township in Salem County.<ref>Municipalities within Gloucester County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed November 7, 2019.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 7, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

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2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 3,162 people, 1,020 households, and 862 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,056 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 91.59% (2,896) White, 5.06% (160) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 1.20% (38) Asian, 0.03% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.95% (30) from other races, and 1.17% (37) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.10% (98) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 1,020 households, 42.1% had children under the age of 18; 73.1% were married couples living together; 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 15.5% were non-families. Of all households, 11.5% were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.36.<ref name=Census2010/>

28.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.5 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $106,667 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,029) and the median family income was $113,875 (+/− $14,397). Males had a median income of $84,408 (+/− $4,334) versus $55,750 (+/− $10,554) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,515 (+/− $3,976). About 2.0% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for South Harrison township, Gloucester County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,417 people, 800 households, and 663 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 829 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 93.09% White, 3.76% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.19% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.43% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for South Harrison township, Gloucester County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for South Harrison township, Gloucester County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref>

There were 800 households, out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.9% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.1% were non-families. 13.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.25.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.7 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $68,491, and the median income for a family was $76,390. Males had a median income of $55,313 versus $32,337 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,968. About 4.1% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

South Harrison 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 Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with 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, 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><ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.<ref name=MayorCommittee/>

Template:As of, members of the South Harrison Township Committee are Mayor Joseph Marino (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2027; term as mayor ends 2025), Deputy Mayor Robert J. Diaz (R, term on committee ends 2026; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), John Horner (R, 2027), Robert L. Richardson (R, 2025) and Robert Schenk (R, 2026).<ref name=MayorCommittee>Township Committee, South Harrison Township. Accessed January 25, 2025.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, South Harrison Township. Accessed January 25, 2025.</ref><ref name=GloucesterDirectory>Gloucester County 2024 Official Directory, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Gloucester2024>General Election November 5, 2024 Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Gloucester2023>General Election November 7, 2023 Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey, November 20, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Gloucester2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Summary Report Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey Clerk, November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>

In 2007, Charles Tyson was elected Mayor, the first African American to hold the post.<ref>Cox, Paul. "Gloucester County mayor who received racist threats declines term", The Star-Ledger, January 07, 2009.</ref><ref name=ap11-10-09>"Former South Harrison mayor who endured death threats steps down from council", Associated Press via NJ.com, November 10, 2009.</ref> He was re-elected in 2008.Template:Citation needed In 2009, however, he declined to seek re-election to a third term, citing the death threats and racist vandalism that had arisen.<ref name=ap11-10-09 /> He had received threatening phone calls and emails, his tires were slashed, and "KKK" was written on a sign on his lawn.<ref>Morlock, Jackie; and Araiza, Karen. "N.J. Mayor Steps Down Claiming Racism", WCAU, July 17, 2009. Accessed March 9, 2015.</ref> A federal indictment has charged a white supremacist from Virginia, Bill White, with "communicating threats in interstate commerce", based on White's emails to Tyson and phone calls to Tyson's wife in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref name="CNN">"Obama Signs Order to Fund Abortion Education Abroad; Obama Plan to Close GITMO Sparks Debate", CNN, February 3, 2009. Accessed November 10, 2019. "One year before Barack Obama's historic inauguration, Charles Tyson was making some history of his own. He was quietly sworn in as the first African American mayor of tiny South Harrison, New Jersey, a big moment in a very white small town.... Then things got worse. Bill White, one of the country's most notorious white supremacist, whose Web site once displayed a picture of Barack Obama in the crosshairs allegedly contacted Tyson."</ref><ref>Template:Cite video</ref> No arrests have been made, however, in connection with the incidents in 2007,<ref>Hefler, Jan. "S. Harrison mayor steps down over racism", The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 7, 2009, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 23, 2009. Accessed October 7, 2015. "Charles Tyson has decided not to serve a third term as mayor of South Harrison Township, saying he and his family have endured death threats and racist vandalism since he became the town's first black mayor two years ago. At a township reorganization meeting on Monday, the 66-year-old Tyson declined a nomination to continue serving as mayor but agreed to be deputy mayor.... No arrests were made, and investigators said the caller or callers in 2007 used untraceable disposable phones."</ref> even though the town posted a $24,000 reward.<ref name="CNN"/>

Federal, state, and county representation

South Harrison 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 3rd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

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Politics

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As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,146 registered voters in South Harrison, of which 733 (34.2%) were registered as Democrats, 626 (29.2%) were registered as Republicans and 785 (36.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as either Libertarians as Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Gloucester, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 60.9% of the vote (1,008 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.8% (625 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (21 votes), among the 1,666 ballots cast by the township's 2,238 registered voters (12 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 74.4%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 56.2% of the vote (979 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.2% (717 votes) and other candidates with 1.9% (33 votes), among the 1,741 ballots cast by the township's 2,168 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.3%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Gloucester County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 60.8% of the vote (869 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 38.3% (548 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (8 votes), among the 1,429 ballots cast by the township's 1,792 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 79.7.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Gloucester County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.6% of the vote (709 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.9% (243 votes), and other candidates with 2.6% (25 votes), among the 996 ballots cast by the township's 2,218 registered voters (19 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.9%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 58.7% of the vote (666 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 31.4% (356 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.8% (89 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (9 votes), among the 1,134 ballots cast by the township's 2,175 registered voters, yielding a 52.1% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Gloucester County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 8, 2012.</ref>

Education

The South Harrison Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at South Harrison Township Elementary School.<ref>New Jersey School Directory for the South Harrison Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref><ref>South Harrison Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, South Harrison Township School District. Accessed November 1, 2021. "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 six in the South Harrison Township School District. Composition: The South Harrison Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of South Harrison Township."</ref><ref>2023–2024 Gloucester County Office of Education Public School Directory, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the South Harrison Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 10, 2024.</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 315 students and 32.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.8:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for South Harrison Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>

Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades are educated by the Kingsway Regional School District, which also serves students from East Greenwich Township, Swedesboro and Woolwich Township, with the addition of students from Logan Township who attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship in which tuition is paid on a per-pupil basis by the Logan Township School District. South Harrison Township accounted for 13% of district enrollment.<ref>Kingsway Regional School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 9, 2020. "Kingsway is situated in a predominately rural/suburban area, with more than 20,000 people residing within its 52 square mile border. The District includes the Borough of Swedesboro and the Townships of South Harrison, East Greenwich, and Woolwich. Though not part of the District, students from Logan Township attend Kingsway High School through a send/receive relationship as paid tuition students."</ref><ref>Student Enrollment, Kingsway Regional School District. Accessed March 9, 2020. "Kingsway Regional is comprised of the Borough of Swedesboro and the Townships of South Harrison, East Greenwich and Woolwich. Though not part of the District, students from Logan Township attend Kingsway Regional High School through a send/receive relationship as paid tuition students.... Percent of students coming from each resident district is as follows: East Greenwich Twp. – 32%, Woolwich Twp. – 33%, South Harrison Twp. – 13%, Swedesboro – 10%, Logan Twp. (High School Only) – 11%"</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 2,868 students and 207.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.8:1.<ref>District information for Kingsway Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Kingsway Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>) are Kingsway Regional Middle School<ref>Kingsway Regional Middle School, Kingsway Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2022.</ref> with 1,023 students in grades 7–8, and Kingsway Regional High School<ref>Kingsway Regional High School, Kingsway Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2022.</ref> with 1,802 students in grades 9–12.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Kingsway Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 10, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Kingsway Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Under a 2011 proposal, Kingsway would have merged with its constituent member's K–6 districts to become a full K–12 district, with various options for including Logan Township as part of the consolidated district.<ref>Forand, Rebecca. "Kingsway districts may see change", Gloucester County Times, April 7, 2011. Accessed December 9, 2014. "A study is being planned to evaluate the fiscal feasibility of the regionalization of the school districts associated with the Kingsway Regional district, and the impact of continuing or severing the current relationship the district has with Logan Township. Woolwich township, Swedesboro, East Greenwich Township and South Harrison Township all currently feed their elementary students to the Kingsway Regional district for middle and high school, with Logan Township sending students to the high school on a tuition basis. The study will address the fiscal feasibility of regionalizing Kingsway, East Greenwich, South Harrison and Swedesboro-Woolwich."</ref>

Students from across the county are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend the school.<ref>Admissions, Gloucester County Institute of Technology. Accessed November 7, 2019. "There is no charge to attend. GCIT is a public school.... GCIT is the vocational-technical school for Gloucester County residents. You must live in Gloucester County to apply and attend."</ref>