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 (+14.2%) from the 26,763 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,626 (+10.9%) 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. Over the centuries, portions of the township were taken to create Washington Township (February 17, 1836), Woodbury Borough (March 27, 1854; now Woodbury City), West Deptford Township (March 1, 1871), Wenonah (March 10, 1883), Westville (April 7, 1914) and Woodbury Heights (April 6, 1915).
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 10 miles (16Â km) southeast of Philadelphia and 50 miles (80Â km) northwest of Atlantic City.
History
Deptford Township is named after the English port of Deptford.
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 (45.611Â km2), including 17.362 square miles (44.966Â km2) of land and 0.249 square miles (0.645Â km2) of water (1.41%).
The township borders Mantua Township, Washington Township, Wenonah, West Deptford Township, Westville, Woodbury and Woodbury Heights. Deptford Township also borders Bellmawr, Runnemede, and Gloucester Township, all in Camden County.
Oak Valley (with a 2010 Census population of 3,483) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Deptford Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Almonesson, Blackwood Terrace, Clements Bridge, Good Intent, Jericho, New Sharon, Oak Valley, Salina, Westcottville and Woodbury Park.
Demographics
2010 Census
At the 2010 United States Census, there were 30,561 people, 11,689 households, and 7,995 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,760.3 per square mile (679.7/km2). There were 12,361 housing units at an average density of 712.0 per square mile (274.9/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 78.80% (24,082) White, 12.16% (3,717) Black or African American, 0.24% (73) Native American, 4.45% (1,361) Asian, 0.04% (12) Pacific Islander, 2.04% (622) from other races, and 2.27% (694) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.99% (1,830) of the population.
There were 11,689 households, of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the township, 21.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,833 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,897) and the median family income was $76,303 (+/- $2,216). Males had a median income of $52,310 (+/- $2,247) versus $46,532 (+/- $4,525) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,476 (+/- $1,269). 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 (590.5/km²). There were 10,647 housing units at an average density of 608.6 per square mile (234.9/km²). 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 is 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 population was spread out with 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 1,069,657 square feet (99,374.4Â m2). Macerich purchased the mall in 2007 for $241 million.
The Deptford Mall is surrounded by an eight-screen movie theater (the other six-screen theater is now demolished for a new strip mall, though another twelve-screen theater is planned nearby), 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.
Culture
Deptford is featured briefly in the film Patti Smith: Dream of Life, a 2008 documentary about rock musician Patti Smith.
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. The mayor and the deputy mayor 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 also hires a non-partisan manager to serve as the chief administrative official of the township. The Township Manager is Rob Hatalovsky.
As of 2015, the members of the Deptford Township Council are Mayor Paul Medany (D, 2015), Deputy Mayor Tom Hufnell (D, 2015), Kenneth Barnshaw (D, 2017), Bill Lamb (D, 2017), Wayne Love (D, 2017), Phillip Schocklin (D, 2017) and Joe Scott (D, 2015).
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.
New Jersey's First Congressional District is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).
For the 2014-2015 Session, the 5th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D, Camden, serving the unexpired term of Donald Norcross until November 2015) and in the General Assembly by Angel Fuentes (D, Camden) and Gilbert "Whip" Wilson (D, Camden). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).
Gloucester County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose seven members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis in partisan elections, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. At a reorganization meeting held each January, the Board selects a Freeholder Director and a Deputy Freeholder Director from among its members. As of 2014, Gloucester County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger (D, West Deptford Township; term ends December 31, 2015), Deputy Freeholder Director Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D, Woolwich Township; 2015), Lyman J. Barnes (D, Logan Township; 2014), Daniel Christy (D, Washington Township; 2016), Frank J. DiMarco (D, Deptford Township; 2016), Heather Simmons (D, Glassboro; 2014) and Adam Taliaferro (D, Woolwich Township; 2014). Constitutional officers elected countywide are County Clerk James N. Hogan, Surrogate Helene M. Reed (Monroe Township) and Sheriff Carmel Morina (Greenwich Township).
Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there was a total of 19,449 registered voters in Deptford, of whom 8,169 (42.0%) were registered as Democrats, 2,740 (14.1%) were registered as Republicans and 8,523 (43.8%) 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 (8,427 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 36.5% (4,938 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (168 votes), among the 13,639 ballots cast by the township's 20,488 registered voters (106 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 60.4% of the vote (8,655 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 37.1% (5,311 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (215 votes), 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 (7,426 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 40.8% (5,220 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (104 votes), 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 (4,794 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 37.7% (2,969 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (111 votes), among the 8,093 ballots cast by the township's 20,145 registered voters (219 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 48.9% of the vote (4,158 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 41.0% (3,487 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.3% (622 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (65 votes), among the 8,500 ballots cast by the township's 19,678 registered voters, yielding a 43.2% turnout.
Education
The Deptford Township Schools serve students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's nine schools had an enrollment of 4,365 students and 334.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 13.05:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Central Early Childhood Center (584 students; grades PreK-1), Pine Acres Early Childhood Center (271; PreK-1), Good Intent School (399; 2-6), Lake Tract School (493; 2-6), Oak Valley School (364; 2-6), Shady Lane School (399; 2-6), Monongahela Middle School (655; 7&8), Deptford Township High School (1,030; 9-12) and New Sharon School (22; ungraded) serves students ages 3â€"21 with developmental or cognitive disabilities.
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
Deptford Township is crisscrossed by major transportation routes in and near the township, including Interstate 295, Route 41, Route 42, Route 45, Route 47, Route 55, as well as 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.
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 150.03 miles (241.45Â km) of roadways, of which 99.01 miles (159.34Â km) were maintained by the municipality, 28.87 miles (46.46Â km) by Gloucester County and 18.75 miles (30.18Â km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 3.40 miles (5.47Â km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Public transportation
New Jersey Transit 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:
- Isaac Hopper (1771â€"1852), abolitionist, founder of the Underground Railroad.
- Michael Johns (born 1964), health care executive, former White House speechwriter, conservative policy analyst and writer.
- Katrina Law (born 1985), actress.
- Bob Levy (born 1962), stand-up comic.
- Dave Rowe (born 1945), former professional football player who played for the Baltimore Colts, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers.
- Mel Sheppard (1883â€"1942), winner of four gold medals at the 1908 Summer Olympics and 1912 Summer Olympics, who lived here for his first nine years.
- Patti Smith (born 1946), rock musician, songwriter and poet.
- Gary Stuhltrager (born 1955), eight-term member of the New Jersey General Assembly.
References
External links
- Deptford Township Official Web Site
- Deptford Public Library
- Deptford Township Schools
- Deptford Township Schools's 2012â€"13 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- School Data for the Deptford Township Schools, National Center for Education Statistics