South Harrison 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 3,395, an increase of 233 (+7.4%) from the 2010 census count of 3,162, which in turn reflected an increase of 745 (+30.8%) from the 2,417 counted in the 2000 census.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.
South Harrison was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 2, 1883, from portions of Harrison Township. Elk Township was formed from portions of South Harrison Township on April 17, 1891.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 140. Accessed May 30, 2024. It is a dry town, where alcohol cannot be sold, though alcohol is available at the winery in the township.New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 15.96 square miles (41.32 km2), including 15.90 square miles (41.17 km2) of land and 0.06 square miles (0.15 km2) of water (0.38%).
Unincorporated communities, localities, and places located partially or completely within the township include Cedar Grove, Harrisonville (served as ZIP Code 08039), Jessups Mills, and Lincoln.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The township borders the municipalities of Elk Township, Harrison Township, and Woolwich Township in Gloucester County; and Pilesgrove Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township in Salem County.Municipalities within Gloucester County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed November 7, 2019.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 7, 2019.
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 3,162 people, 1,020 households, and 862 families in the township. The population density was . There were 1,056 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 91.59% (2,896) White, 5.06% (160) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 1.20% (38) Asian, 0.03% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.95% (30) from other races, and 1.17% (37) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.10% (98) of the population.
Of the 1,020 households, 42.1% had children under the age of 18; 73.1% were married couples living together; 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 15.5% were non-families. Of all households, 11.5% were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.36.
28.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.5 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $106,667 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,029) and the median family income was $113,875 (+/− $14,397). Males had a median income of $84,408 (+/− $4,334) versus $55,750 (+/− $10,554) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,515 (+/− $3,976). About 2.0% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for South Harrison township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 2,417 people, 800 households, and 663 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 829 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 93.09% White, 3.76% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.19% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.43% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for South Harrison township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for South Harrison township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.
There were 800 households, out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.9% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.1% were non-families. 13.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $68,491, and the median income for a family was $76,390. Males had a median income of $55,313 versus $32,337 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,968. About 4.1% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Government Local government South Harrison Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 19."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the South Harrison Township Committee are Mayor Joseph Marino (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2027; term as mayor ends 2025), Deputy Mayor Robert J. Diaz (R, term on committee ends 2026; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), John Horner (R, 2027), Robert L. Richardson (R, 2025) and Robert Schenk (R, 2026).Township Committee, South Harrison Township. Accessed January 25, 2025.2024 Municipal Data Sheet, South Harrison Township. Accessed January 25, 2025.Gloucester County 2024 Official Directory, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2025.General Election November 5, 2024 Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.General Election November 7, 2023 Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey, November 20, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.General Election November 8, 2022 Summary Report Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey Clerk, November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
In 2007, Charles Tyson was elected Mayor, the first African American to hold the post.Cox, Paul. "Gloucester County mayor who received racist threats declines term", The Star-Ledger, January 07, 2009."Former South Harrison mayor who endured death threats steps down from council", Associated Press via NJ.com, November 10, 2009. He was re-elected in 2008. In 2009, however, he declined to seek re-election to a third term, citing the death threats and racist vandalism that had arisen. He had received threatening phone calls and emails, his tires were slashed, and "KKK" was written on a sign on his lawn.Morlock, Jackie; and Araiza, Karen. "N.J. Mayor Steps Down Claiming Racism", WCAU, July 17, 2009. Accessed March 9, 2015. A federal indictment has charged a white supremacist from Virginia, Bill White, with "communicating threats in interstate commerce", based on White's emails to Tyson and phone calls to Tyson's wife in 2008."Obama Signs Order to Fund Abortion Education Abroad; Obama Plan to Close GITMO Sparks Debate", CNN, February 3, 2009. Accessed November 10, 2019. "One year before Barack Obama's historic inauguration, Charles Tyson was making some history of his own. He was quietly sworn in as the first African American mayor of tiny South Harrison, New Jersey, a big moment in a very white small town.... Then things got worse. Bill White, one of the country's most notorious white supremacist, whose Web site once displayed a picture of Barack Obama in the crosshairs allegedly contacted Tyson." No arrests have been made, however, in connection with the incidents in 2007,Hefler, Jan. "S. Harrison mayor steps down over racism", The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 7, 2009, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 23, 2009. Accessed October 7, 2015. "Charles Tyson has decided not to serve a third term as mayor of South Harrison Township, saying he and his family have endured death threats and racist vandalism since he became the town's first black mayor two years ago. At a township reorganization meeting on Monday, the 66-year-old Tyson declined a nomination to continue serving as mayor but agreed to be deputy mayor.... No arrests were made, and investigators said the caller or callers in 2007 used untraceable disposable phones." even though the town posted a $24,000 reward.
Federal, state, and county representation South Harrison Township is located in the 2nd Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,146 registered voters in South Harrison, of which 733 (34.2%) were registered as Democrats, 626 (29.2%) were registered as Republicans and 785 (36.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as either Libertarians as Greens.Voter Registration Summary - Gloucester, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 8, 2012.