Monroe Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey


Monroe Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 36,129, reflecting an increase of 7,162 from the 28,967 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,264 from the 26,703 counted in the 1990 Census.
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. The township was named for President James Monroe.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 46.926 square miles, including 46.393 square miles of land and 0.533 square miles of water.
Victory Lakes and Williamstown are unincorporated communities and census-designated places located within Monroe Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Berryland, Broad Lane, Cecil, Cross Keys, Downer, New Brooklyn and Radix.
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.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $66,761 and the median family income was $83,929. Males had a median income of $61,505 versus $41,946 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,270. 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.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 28,967 people, 10,521 households, and 7,848 families residing in the township. The population density was 622.3 people per square mile. There were 11,069 housing units at an average density of 237.8 per square mile. 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.
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.
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.
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.

Sports

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.

Government

Local government

Monroe Township is governed within the Faulkner Act system of municipal government, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under Mayor-Council, enacted by direct petition as of January 1, 1971. This form is used in 71 of 565 municipalities statewide. The governing body of Monroe Township consists of a Mayor and a Township Council. The Township Council consists of three at-large seats and four seats selected from wards, all of whom serve four-year terms of office. Elections are held 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.
, the Mayor of Monroe Township is Democrat Richard DiLucia, whose term of office ends December 31, 2021. Members of the Township Council are Marvin G. Dilks Jr., Katherine Falcone, Ronald T. Garbowski, Joseph Marino, Cody D. Miller, Patrick O'Reilly and Gregory A. Wolfe.
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. In the November 2019 general election, Miller was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

Federal, state and county representation

Monroe Township is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 4th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 22,377 registered voters in Monroe Township, of which 9,905 were registered as Democrats, 3,408 were registered as Republicans and 9,051 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 13 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.4% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 41.6%, and other candidates with 0.9%, among the 15,767 ballots cast by the township's 23,556 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.4% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain with 40.5% and other candidates with 1.3%, among the 16,193 ballots cast by the township's 22,994 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 54.9% of the vote, outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 43.6% and other candidates with 0.6%, among the 14,566 ballots cast by the township's 20,814 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 70.0.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.4% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.9%, and other candidates with 1.7%, among the 8,462 ballots cast by the township's 23,319 registered voters, for a turnout of 36.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 47.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 44.0%, Independent Chris Daggett with 7.2% and other candidates with 0.7%, among the 9,165 ballots cast by the township's 22,698 registered voters, yielding a 40.4% turnout.

Education

The Monroe Township Public Schools is a comprehensive district serving the educational needs of resident students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Services are also provided for preschool handicapped students as well as other students with special needs. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district's six schools had an enrollment of 5,995 students and 448.5 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.4:1. Schools in the district are
Holly Glen Elementary School,
Oak Knoll Elementary School,
Radix Elementary School,
Whitehall Elementary School,
Williamstown Middle School and
Williamstown High School.
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.
St. Mary School is a K-8 elementary school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.

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.
The Black Horse Pike is a four-lane, arterial highway which traverses the entire township northwest-to-southeast and provides direct access to downtown Philadelphia and Atlantic City. The northwestern portion within the township is part of New Jersey Route 42, while the southeastern segment forms the eastern portion of U.S. Route 322 within the township. 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, with access to the Commodore Barry Bridge and Delaware Memorial Bridge to Interstate 95. 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 which parallels the Black Horse Pike and provides direct access to downtown Atlantic City and access to the Garden State Parkway, north and south.

Public transportation

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 the Avondale Park and Ride in Sicklerville.
Cross Keys Airport is located in the Cross Keys section.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Monroe Township include:
was built in 1887 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 27, 2006.