Deptford Township, New Jersey


Deptford Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 30,561, reflecting an increase of 3,798 from the 26,763 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,626 from the 24,137 counted in the 1990 Census.
Deptford was first formed on June 1, 1695, at which time it was known as Bethlehem. It was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships formed under its new Township Act. Over the centuries, portions of the township were taken to create Washington Township, Woodbury Borough, West Deptford Township, Wenonah, Westville and Woodbury Heights.
Deptford is a suburb of Philadelphia, located on the eastern side of the Walt Whitman Bridge, one conduit which joins southern New Jersey with Philadelphia. It is located southeast of Philadelphia and northwest of Atlantic City.

History

explorer Cornelius Jacobsen May led some of the earliest European settlement in the area, and was followed by settlers from Sweden and Finland before coming under British colonial rule. When it was first formed in 1695, the township covered an area of that included today's Deptford Township along with present-day Monroe Township, Washington Township, West Deptford Township, Westville, Woodbury and Woodbury Heights.
Deptford Township is named after the English port of Deptford.
The Clement Oak in Deptford was the site of the first hot air balloon landing in North America, gathering that distinction when Jean-Pierre Blanchard completed his flight to Deptford from Philadelphia in 1793. During his flight, Blanchard carried a personal letter from George Washington to be delivered to the owner of whatever property Blanchard happened to land on, making the flight the first delivery of air mail in the United States as well.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 17.611 square miles, including 17.362 square miles of land and 0.249 square miles of water.
The township borders the municipalities of Mantua Township, Washington Township, Wenonah, West Deptford Township, Westville, Woodbury and Woodbury Heights in Gloucester County; and Bellmawr, Gloucester Township and Runnemede in Camden County.
Oak Valley is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within Deptford Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Almonesson, Blackwood Terrace, Clements Bridge, Cooper Village, Country Club Estates, Good Intent, Hammond Heights, Jericho, Lake Tract, New Sharon, Oak Valley, Salina, Westcottville, Westville Grove, Woodbury Gardens, Woodbury Park and Woodbury Terrace.

Demographics

2010 Census

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $66,833 and the median family income was $76,303. Males had a median income of $52,310 versus $46,532 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,476. About 6.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 26,763 people, 10,013 households, and 7,079 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,529.7 people per square mile. There were 10,647 housing units at an average density of 608.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 83.44% White, 12.38% Black, 0.21% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.86% of the population.
There were 10,013 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the township the age distribution of the population showed 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,147, and the median income for a family was $56,642. Males had a median income of $40,641 versus $28,986 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,477. 5.9% of the population and 4.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.2% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Economy

The Deptford Mall is the seventh-largest shopping mall in New Jersey and the largest in the South Jersey region of the state, with a Gross leasable area of. Macerich purchased the mall in 2007 for $241 million.
The Deptford Mall is surrounded by an eight-screen movie theater, 12 strip malls, bars and numerous restaurants and individual stores. This business district is a major contributor to Deptford having one of the lowest municipal tax rates in Gloucester County.

Arts and culture

Deptford is featured briefly in the film , a 2008 documentary about rock musician Patti Smith.

Parks and recreation

is a nature preserve that opened in November 2015 as Gloucester County's first state park and is located along the border of Deptford Township and Mantua Township. Originally a forest that was turned into an asparagus field and then a golf course, the land was preserved through the efforts of the South Jersey Land and Water Trust, the Friends of Tall Pines, Gloucester County Nature Club, and the New Jersey Green Acres Program.

Government

Local government

Deptford Township operates within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager form of municipal government and is governed by a seven-member Township Council. Council members are elected on an at-large basis in partisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either three or four seats coming up for election every other year. The council then selects a mayor and a deputy mayor to serve two-year terms from among its members during the reorganization meeting in January. There are no term limits for council, mayor or deputy mayor, and elected officials can remain in those offices as long as they continue to be nominated by the council every two years and as long as they win their council elections every four years. The council hires an independent manager to serve as the chief administrative official of the township. The Township Manager is Rob Hatalovsky.
, the members of the Deptford Township Council are Mayor Paul Medany, Deputy Mayor Tom Hufnell, Kenneth Barnshaw, MacKenzie Belling,
Bill Lamb, Wayne Love, Phillip Schocklin.

Federal, state and county representation

Deptford Township is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 5th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there was a total of 19,449 registered voters in Deptford, of whom 8,169 were registered as Democrats, 2,740 were registered as Republicans and 8,523 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 17 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 62.3% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 36.5%, and other candidates with 1.2%, among the 13,639 ballots cast by the township's 20,488 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 60.4% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain with 37.1% and other candidates with 1.5%, among the 14,332 ballots cast by the township's 20,166 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 58.0% of the vote, outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 40.8% and other candidates with 0.6%, among the 12,806 ballots cast by the township's 17,725 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.2.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 60.9% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 37.7%, and other candidates with 1.4%, among the 8,093 ballots cast by the township's 20,145 registered voters, for a turnout of 40.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 48.9% of the vote, ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 41.0%, Independent Chris Daggett with 7.3% and other candidates with 0.8%, among the 8,500 ballots cast by the township's 19,678 registered voters, yielding a 43.2% turnout.

Education

The Deptford Township Schools is a public school district, comprising eight school facilities, that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district and its eight schools had an enrollment of 4,419 students and 329.5 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.4:1. Schools in the district are
Central Early Childhood Center,
Pine Acres Early Childhood Center,
Good Intent School,
Lake Tract School,
Oak Valley School,
Shady Lane School,
Monongahela Middle School,
Deptford Township High School and
New Sharon School which serves students ages 3–21 with developmental or cognitive disabilities.
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.
Rowan College at Gloucester County is located in Deptford, and opened there in 1968 as Gloucester County College with classes held at Monongahela Junior High School and Deptford High School.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Gloucester County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Deptford Township is crisscrossed by several major transportation routes, including Route 41, Route 42, Route 45, Route 47, and Route 55. County roads include County Route 534, County Route 544, County Route 551 and County Route 553. The New Jersey Turnpike passes through, but the nearest interchange is Exit 3 in neighboring Bellmawr/Runnemede. Other nearby transportation routes include Interstate 295.

Public transportation

bus service is available to Philadelphia on the 400, 401, 402, 408, 410 and 412 routes, and local service is provided on the 455 and 463 routes.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Deptford Township include: