DEPTFORD TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY

'Deptford Township' (commonly known as 'Deptford') is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 26,763. As of the 2006 Census estimate, the population was 30,216.
Deptford was formed as a township dating back to 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)."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 138.
Deptford is a suburb of Philadelphia, located on the eastern side of the Walt Whitman Bridge, which joins South Jersey with Philadelphia. It is located 10 miles east of Philadelphia and 50 miles west of Atlantic City.
Oak Valley is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Deptford Township.

Contents

History

Geography

Demographics

Government

Local government

Federal, state and county representation

Education

Deptford Mall

Transportation

Notable residents

References

External links

History

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 has a total area of 45.5 km² (17.6 mi²). 45.3 km² (17.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.46%) is water.
Deptford Township borders Mantua Township, Washington Township, Wenonah, West Deptford Township, Westville, Woodbury and Woodbury Heights. Deptford Township also borders Camden County.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 26,763 people, 10,013 households, and 7,079 families residing in the township. The population density was 590.5/km² (1,529.7/mi²). There were 10,647 housing units at an average density of 234.9/km² (608.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 83.44% White, 12.38% African American, 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.

Government

Local government

Members of the Deptford Township Committee are Mayor Paul Medany, Deputy Mayor Jacquelyn Love, Frank DiMarco, Tom Hufnell, MaryBeth Connelly Monroe, Phillip Schocklin and Lin Tenaglia.^[1]

Federal, state and county representation

Deptford Township is in the First Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 5th Legislative District.^[2]

Education

The Deptford Township Schools serve over 4,200 students. There are seven elementary/early childhood schools for students in kindergarten through sixth grade:
Central Early Childhood Center,
Good Intent School,
Lake Tract School,
New Sharon School,
Oak Valley School,
Pine Acres Early Childhood Center and
Shady Lane School.
Monongahela Middle School serves Deptford Township students in grades seven and eight. Deptford Township High School, which (in the 2005-2006 school year) had an enrollment of 1,230 students, serves students in grades nine through 12.

Deptford Mall

The Deptford Mall, located in Deptford, 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 (GLA) of 1.3 million square feet.
The Deptford Mall is surrounded by two movie theaters (with a total of fourteen screens between them), eight strip malls, bars, and numerous restaurants and individual stores.

Transportation

Deptford Township is criss-crossed by major transportation routes in and near the township, including Interstate 295, Route 41, Route 42, Route 47, Route 55, as well as County Route 534, County Route 544, County Route 551 and County Route 553.

Notable residents

★ Isaac Hopper, abolitionist, founder of the Underground Railroad.^[3]

★ Michael Johns, health care executive, former White House speechwriter, conservative policy analyst and writer.

References

1. Deptford Township Mayor and Council, Deptford Township. Accessed March 12, 2007.
2. 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New jersey League of Women Voters, p. 56. Accessed August 30, 2006.
3. Bulletin Article - September 2005, Histroical Society of Haddonfield, accessed April 17, 2007. "In the city, she boarded with the family of Isaac Hopper whose ancestors had lived in what is now Deptford, New Jersey."

External links

★ Deptford Township Official Web Site.

★ Deptford Township Schools Official Web Site.

★

★ National Center for Education Statistics data for the Deptford Township Schools.

★ Deptford Mall Official Web Site.

★ Deptford forum