Monroe Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey
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Monroe 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 37,117,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 988 (+2.7%) from the 36,129 recorded at the 2010 census,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 7,162 (+24.7%) from the 28,967 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref> The township is part of the South Jersey region of the state and a suburb of Philadelphia, within the Delaware Valley.
Monroe Township was originally formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 3, 1859, from portions of Washington Township while the area was still part of Camden County. Monroe Township was shifted to Gloucester County on February 28, 1871, along with the majority of Washington Township. In 1950, portions of the township were transferred to Winslow Township in Camden County.<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. 139. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The township was named for President James Monroe.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 7, 2015.</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 46.93 square miles (121.54 km2), including 46.42 square miles (120.23 km2) of land and 0.51 square miles (1.31 km2) of water (1.08%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
Victory Lakes (with a 2010 census population of 2,111,<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Victory Lakes CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.</ref>) and Williamstown (15,567 residents as of 2010<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Williamstown CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.</ref>) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places located in Monroe 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 November 7, 2012.</ref>
Other unincorporated communities, localities, and places located partially or completely within the township include Berryland, Broad Lane, Cecil, Cross Keys, Downer, New Brooklyn and Radix.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>
The township borders the municipalities of Clayton, Franklin Township, Glassboro, and Washington Township in Gloucester County; Buena Vista Township and Folsom in Atlantic County; and Winslow Township in Camden 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
[edit]2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 36,129 people, 12,815 households, and 9,445 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 13,387 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 79.41% (28,689) White, 14.01% (5,060) Black or African American, 0.20% (73) Native American, 2.42% (875) Asian, 0.01% (5) Pacific Islander, 1.54% (557) from other races, and 2.41% (870) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.97% (1,795) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 12,815 households, 34.7% had children under the age of 18; 56.2% were married couples living together; 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.3% were non-families. Of all households, 21.5% were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.28.<ref name=Census2010/>
25.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.0 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,761 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,083) and the median family income was $83,929 (+/− $4,293). Males had a median income of $61,505 (+/− $3,058) versus $41,946 (+/− $1,826) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,270 (+/− $1,121). About 6.1% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Monroe township, Gloucester County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 U.S. census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 28,967 people, 10,521 households, and 7,848 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 11,069 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 84.83% White, 11.15% African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.71% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Monroe township, Gloucester County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Monroe township, Gloucester County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.</ref>
There were 10,521 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.18.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
In the township, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median income for a household in the township was $50,037, and the median income for a family was $56,810. Males had a median income of $41,062 versus $29,849 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,488. About 4.0% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Sports
[edit]Scotland Run Golf Club is a public golf course and country club located in Williamstown. Opened in 1999, the 18-hole course was built on an old sand quarry. The course was named one of the Top 50 Public Courses in the country by the readers of Golf World in their annual Readers' Choice Awards in 2009 and 2010.<ref>Home Page, Scotland Run Golf Club. Accessed July 8, 2015.</ref>
Government
[edit]Local government
[edit]Monroe Township is governed within the Faulkner Act system of municipal government, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under Mayor-Council (Plan F), enacted by direct petition as of January 1, 1971.<ref>"The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed October 22, 2013.</ref> The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<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 of Monroe Township is comprised of the Mayor and the Township Council. The Mayor is directly elected to a four-year term of office. The Township Council is comprised of seven members, with three at-large seats and four seats selected from wards, all of whom serve four-year terms of office. Officials are chosen in partisan voting as part of the November general election in even-numbered years on a staggered basis, with the Mayor and the three council at-large seats up for vote together and two years later the four ward council seats.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 24.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>Government Structure Template:Webarchive, accessed November 1, 2006</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>
Template:As of, the Mayor of Monroe Township is Democrat Gregory A. Wolfe, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.<ref name=Mayor>Mayor, Township of Monroe. Accessed January 24, 2025.</ref> Members of the Township Council are Denise Liszewski Adams (D, 2026; At Large), Brian Cope (D, 2024; Ward 3), Carolann Fox (D, 2028; Ward 2), Donald Heverly (D, 2026; At Large), Al Rossi (D, 2028; Ward 1), Patrick O'Reilly (D, 2026; At Large) and John Valentine (Republican, 2028; Ward 4).<ref>Township Council Members, Township of Monroe. Accessed January 24, 2025.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of Monroe. Accessed January 24, 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=Gloucester2022>General Election November 8, 2022 Summary Report Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey Clerk, November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>
In January 2019, Cody Miller was selected to fill the Ward 2 seat expiring in December 2020 that was vacated by Richard DiLucia when he took office as mayor.<ref>January 28, 2019 Meeting Minutes, Township of Monroe. Accessed November 9, 2019. "Cncl. Wolfe nominated Cody Miller for Council Ward 2 Seat. The nomination was seconded by Cncl. Marino. No other nominations were made.... Mayor Richard DiLucia administered the Oath of Office to Cncl. Cody Miller."</ref> In the November 2019 general election, Miller was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Gloucester2019>General Election November 5, 2019 Summary Report Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey Clerk, November 12, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>
In March 2022, Mayor Richard DiLucia switched parties and became a Republican, as did councilmembers Katherine Falcone and Steven McKinney.<ref>Wildstein, David. "Democratic mayor, two councilmembers in big Gloucester town switching parties DiLucia will run as a Republican in second-largest town in Gloucester now in play for Republicans", New Jersey Globe, March 4, 2022. Accessed March 7, 2022. "The Democratic mayor and two Democratic councilmembers in Monroe Township are switching parties, putting Republican control of the Gloucester County municipality of 37,117 people in play for the November midterm elections. Mayor Richard DiLucia says he will seek re-election to a second term as a Republican in the county’s second-biggest municipality.... Councilwoman Katherine Falcone will also switch parties and will run for re-election as a Republican. Councilman Steven McKinney, whose seat is not up until 2024, is also become a Republican."</ref>
Federal, state, and county representation
[edit]Monroe Township is located in the 1st 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 4th 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 22,377 registered voters in Monroe Township, of which 9,900 (44.2%) were registered as Democrats, 3,413 (15.3%) were registered as Republicans and 9,051 (40.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 13 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Gloucester, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 7, 2012.</ref>
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.4% of the vote (8,986 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 41.6% (6,513 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (145 votes), among the 15,767 ballots cast by the township's 23,556 registered voters (123 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.9%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.4% of the vote (9,296 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 40.5% (6,555 votes) and other candidates with 1.3% (216 votes), among the 16,193 ballots cast by the township's 22,994 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.4%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Gloucester County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 7, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 54.9% of the vote (7,994 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 43.6% (6,351 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (133 votes), among the 14,566 ballots cast by the township's 20,814 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 70.0.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Gloucester County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 7, 2012.</ref>
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.4% of the vote (5,182 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.9% (2,977 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (143 votes), among the 8,462 ballots cast by the township's 23,319 registered voters (160 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.3%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 47.0% of the vote (4,304 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 44.0% (4,034 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.2% (659 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (64 votes), among the 9,165 ballots cast by the township's 22,698 registered voters, yielding a 40.4% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Gloucester County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 7, 2012.</ref>
Education
[edit]
The Monroe Township Public Schools is a comprehensive district serving the educational needs of resident students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Monroe Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Monroe Township Public Schools. Accessed February 4, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through twelve in the Monroe Township School District. Composition: The Monroe Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the Township of Monroe."</ref> Services are also provided for preschool handicapped students as well as other students with special needs. As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 5,736 students and 449.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Monroe Township Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2021.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Monroe Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2021.</ref>) are Holly Glen Elementary School<ref>Holly Glen Elementary School, Monroe Township Public Schools. Accessed February 5, 2022.</ref> with 437 students in grades K–4, Oak Knoll Elementary School<ref>Oak Knoll Elementary School, Monroe Township Public Schools. Accessed February 5, 2022.</ref> with 529 students in grades K–4, Radix Elementary School<ref>Radix Elementary School, Monroe Township Public Schools. Accessed February 5, 2022.</ref> with 640 students in grades Pre-K–4, Whitehall Elementary School<ref>Whitehall Elementary School, Monroe Township Public Schools. Accessed February 5, 2022.</ref> with 311 students in grades K–4, Williamstown Middle School,<ref>Williamstown Middle School, Monroe Township Public Schools. Accessed February 5, 2022.</ref> with 1,867 students in grades 5–8 and Williamstown High School<ref>Williamstown High School, Monroe Township Public Schools. Accessed February 5, 2022.</ref> with 1,837 students in grades 9–12.<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 Monroe Township Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Monroe Township Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</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>
St. Mary School is a K–8 elementary school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.<ref>About, St. Mary School. Accessed February 21, 2023.</ref><ref>Schools, South Jersey Catholic Schools. Accessed February 21, 2023.</ref>
Transportation
[edit]_just_east_of_New_Jersey_State_Route_42_and_Gloucester_County_Route_536_Spur_(Sicklerville_Road)_in_Monroe_Township,_Gloucester_County,_New_Jersey.jpg){kind=link}
Roads and highways
[edit]Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Gloucester County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Gloucester County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>
Black Horse Pike is a four-lane, arterial highway which traverses the entire township northwest-to-southeast and provides direct access to downtown Philadelphia (30 minutes) and Atlantic City (35 minutes). The northwestern portion within the township is part of Route 42,<ref>U.S. Route 42 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2017. Accessed November 6, 2022.</ref> while the southeastern segment forms the eastern portion of U.S. Route 322 within the township.<ref>U.S. Route 322 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated May 2017. Accessed November 6, 2022.</ref> The remainder of U.S. Route 322 in Monroe Township is a two-lane arterial highway which traverses the township west of the Black Horse Pike. It provides access to the New Jersey Turnpike, north and south (30 minutes), with access to the Commodore Barry Bridge and Delaware Memorial Bridge to Interstate 95 (40 minutes). Major county roads within the township include County Route 536, County Route 538, and County Route 555.
Running just outside the township is the Atlantic City Expressway, a four-lane, limited access highway that parallels the Black Horse Pike and provides direct access to downtown Atlantic City (30 minutes) and access to the Garden State Parkway, north and south.
Public transportation
[edit]NJ Transit bus service is available between Cape May and Philadelphia on the 315 route and between Sicklerville and Philadelphia on the 400 route with local service on the 463 route between Woodbury and Avondale Park and Ride in Sicklerville.<ref>Gloucester County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 26, 2010. Accessed November 6, 2012.</ref><ref>Gloucester County's Transit Guide, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed November 7, 2019.</ref>
Cross Keys Airport is located in the Cross Keys section.<ref>"Pilot survives small plane crash", WPVI, July 16, 2008. Accessed July 28, 2008. "Chopper 6 was over Cross Keys Airport in Monroe Township, Gloucester County."</ref>
In popular culture
[edit]Musical groups from the township include Ju-Taun, a multi-cultural rhythm and blues male vocal group.<ref>Roberts, Kimberly C. "Leon Huff takes vocal group Ju-Taun under his wing", The Philadelphia Tribune, December 5, 2011. Accessed July 8, 2015. "His recent connection with vocal group Ju-Taun, of Williamstown, N.J., has reignited that passion."</ref>
Points of interest
[edit]
Hall Street School was built in 1887 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 27, 2006.<ref>Registration Form for Hale Street School, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed June 29, 2022.</ref>
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Monroe Township include:
- Dave Calloway (born 1968), college basketball coach and the former head men's basketball coach at Monmouth University<ref>Dave Calloway, Monmouth Hawks men's basketball. Accessed July 3, 2019. "Calloway was one of Szoke's prize recruits as a sharpshooting guard from St. Joseph's High School.... The Williamstown, N.J., native made an immediate impact in West Long Branch."</ref>
- Donovan Ezeiruaku (born 2003), American football defensive end for the Boston College Eagles<ref>Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College Eagles football. Accessed August 7, 2023. "Hometown: Williamstown, N.J.; High School: Williamstown"</ref>
- Cody Miller, politician serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 4th legislative district, since taking office on January 9, 2024<ref>Cody Miller, District 4 Democrats. Accessed December 25, 2023. "Cody Miller currently serves on the Monroe Township Board of Education and is the director of Foundation and Alumni Relations at Rowan College of South Jersey. Prior to his election to the school board in 2021, Miller served on the Monroe Township Council for four years and was the youngest Democratic council member elected in township history at age 23."</ref>
- Brittany Ratcliffe (born 1994), soccer player who plays as a forward for Kansas City NWSL in the NWSL<ref>Brittany Ratcliffe - Forward, Boston Breakers. Accessed February 27, 2018. "Hometown: Williamstown, N.J.... Played at Paul VI High School"</ref>
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Monroe Township website
- Monroe Township Public Schools
- Template:NJReportCard
- School Data for the Monroe Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
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