Washington 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 48,677, an increase of 118 (+0.2%) from the 2010 census count of 48,559, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,445 (+3.1%) from the 47,114 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. For 2023, the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated a population of 49,378.
Washington Township was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 17, 1836, from portions of Deptford Township. The township officially moved to the newly created Camden County on March 13, 1844. Monroe Township was created on March 3, 1859, from part of the township. Most of Washington Township, along with all of Monroe Township, was moved back into Gloucester County on February 28, 1871, with the remaining portions of Washington Township that were still in Camden County being transferred to Gloucester Township. Additional transfers to Gloucester Township were made in 1926 and 1931.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. The township was named for George Washington, one of more than ten communities statewide named for the first president.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 21, 2015.Rondinaro, Gene. "Washington Slept Here And There And. . .", The New York Times, February 17, 1985. Accessed October 21, 2015. "First in war, first in peace and, come tomorrow, first in the hearts of his countrymen, George Washington may be nowhere more fondly remembered than in New Jersey, where 12 communities are named for him. The profusion of such names - six Washington Townships, one each in Bergen, Burlington, Gloucester, Mercer, Morris and Warren Counties; Washington in Warren, Washington Crossing in Mercer, Washington Heights and Washington Park in Middlesex, Washingtonville in Sussex and Washington Valley in Morris - causes problems." It is one of five municipalities in the state of New Jersey that share the name Washington Township.Wilk, Tom. "Awash in Washingtons: New Jersey has six towns named for the father of our country.", New Jersey Monthly, January 17, 2011. Accessed October 22, 2015. "In New Jersey, Washington can lay claim to another first. He's number one in names selected for the state's 566 municipalities. Bergen, Burlington, Gloucester, Morris and Warren counties all have a Washington Township. Warren also has a Washington Borough surrounded—naturally—by Washington Township. The largest is Gloucester County's Washington, with 52,096 people; the smallest is the Washington in Burlington, with a population of 649. New Jersey had a sixth Washington Township in Mercer County until 2008, when voters there approved a name change to Robbinsville." Washington Borough is surrounded by Washington Township in Warren County.
The township is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area,New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 27, 2023. and the South Jersey region of the state. In 2008, CNN and Money magazine ranked Washington Township 58th on its list of the "100 Best Cities to Live in the United States".Staff. "Best Places to Live 2008: #58. Washington, NJ", CNNMoney.com. Accessed August 15, 2011.
History The oldest community in Washington Township, Grenloch Terrace, was a thriving Lenape Native American settlement called Tetamekon. Some of the early settlers to the area were the Collins family of Chestnut Ridge Farm, for whom Chestnut Ridge Middle School is named; the Turner family, for whom Turnersville was named; the Hurff family, for whom Hurffville and Hurffville Elementary School are named; the Heritage family, whose family began the Heritage's Dairy Farm Stores, and for whom the community Heritage Valley is named; the Morgan family, who were the first residents of the Olde Stone House, a landmark for residents of the township; and the Bell Family, who arrived in 1899 and for whom Bells Lake Park and Bells Elementary School are named. Sewell is named after General William Joyce Sewell, who was elected to the United States Senate in 1881 and 1895, and served as president of the New Jersey Senate in 1876, 1879 and 1880.History of Washington Township , Washington Township. Accessed August 15, 2011.William Joyce Sewell, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 15, 2011.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 21.55 square miles (55.81 km2), including 21.35 square miles (55.28 km2) of land and 0.20 square miles (0.53 km2) of water (0.95%).
Turnersville (with a 2020 census population of 3,594), Grenloch (863) and Sewell (3,346) are an unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDP) located entirely or partially within Washington Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities, and places located partially or completely in the township include Bells Lake, Cressville, Dilkesboro, Fairview, Green Tree, Grenloch Terrace, Hurffville, Mount Pleasant, and Prossers Mill.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The township borders the municipalities of Deptford Township, Glassboro, Mantua Township, Monroe Township, Pitman in Gloucester County; and Gloucester Township in Camden 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 48,559 people, 17,287 households, and 13,328 families in the township. The population density was . There were 17,810 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 87.70% (42,588) White, 5.82% (2,825) Black or African American, 0.11% (52) Native American, 3.78% (1,836) Asian, 0.02% (9) Pacific Islander, 0.85% (415) from other races, and 1.72% (834) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.65% (1,774) of the population.
Of the 17,287 households, 34.3% had children under the age of 18; 61.4% were married couples living together; 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 22.9% were non-families. Of all households, 19.3% were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.23.
24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $79,017 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,281) and the median family income was $94,585 (+/− $3,639). Males had a median income of $62,702 (+/− $2,103) versus $46,628 (+/− $2,959) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,038 (+/− $1,285). About 2.6% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Washington township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 47,114 people, 15,609 households, and 12,658 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 16,020 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 90.20% White, 4.85% African American, 0.08% Native American, 3.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.03% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Washington 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 Washington township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.
There were 15,609 households, out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.3% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.38.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $66,546, and the median income for a family was $74,661. Males had a median income of $51,319 versus $35,018 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,705. About 2.5% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government Local government Washington Township is governed under the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law. by the Mayor-Council system of New Jersey municipal government (Plan 2), implemented based on direct petition as of January 1, 1985."The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed November 10, 2013. The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The township's governing body comprises the Mayor and the five-member Township Council. The mayor is directly elected by township voters and is the chief executive in charge of the administrative functions of the town. Members of the township council are elected on an at-large basis in partisan elections held as part of the November general election. All elected officials serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with the mayor and two council seats up for election in even-numbered years and the other three council seats up for vote two years later.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 24."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 10. 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.