Florence Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 12,812, an increase of 703 (+5.8%) from the 2010 census count of 12,109, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,363 (+12.7%) from the 10,746 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. The township, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.

Florence was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1872, from portions of Mansfield Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 96. Accessed June 19, 2012. The township was named for Florence, Italy.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.

History

The Florence City Company, formed in 1849, organized the original layout of lots and streets in Florence. It also oversaw construction of the Florence Hotel and wharf. The Florence Iron Works was established in 1857 along the Delaware River by Richard Jones.Florence Iron Works, RootsWeb. Accessed August 31, 2015. It continued as a major force in the economy of the community, especially after ownership was transferred to Richard D. Wood in 1867.History of Florence And Roebling , Township of Florence. Accessed March 30, 2020. The 1900 United States census reported that a good portion of the workforce was dependent on the foundry.Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Florence, Burlington, New Jersey - 1900 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com.

Florence was soon recognized as an attractive vacation spot with sandy beaches along the Delaware River. Visitors could also partake of hydrotherapy offered by a center established about 1872 by Dr. Trall of Philadelphia.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 10.17 square miles (26.35 km2), including 9.77 square miles (25.30 km2) of land and 0.41 square miles (1.05 km2) of water (3.98%).

Florence CDP (with a 2020 Census population of 4,705) and Roebling (3,585) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within the township.GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 17, 2013.2006–2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 17, 2013.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, p. III-3, August 2012. Accessed June 17, 2013. "Burlington County — Annexations from MCDs: Medford Lakes borough from Medford township; New CDPs: Florence (formed from part of deleted Florence-Roebling CDP), Juliustown (formed from part of Fort Dix CDP and additional area), and Roebling (formed from part of deleted Florence-Roebling CDP); Deleted CDPs: Florence-Roebling (split to form Florence and Roebling CDPs)" As of the 2000 Census, the CDP's population was 8,200. Up to and including the 2000 United States census, the two CDPs had been combined as Florence-Roebling, which had a total population of 8,200 in 2000.DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Florence-Roebling CDP, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 17, 2013.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bustleton, Dobbins, Florence Station and Hoffner's Tract.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The township borders Bordentown Township, Burlington Township, Mansfield Township, Springfield Township in Burlington County; and Bristol Township, Falls Township and Tullytown across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.Areas touching Florence Township, MapIt. Accessed March 30, 2020.Municipalities within Burlington County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 30, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 12,109 people, 4,775 households, and 3,285 families in the township. The population density was . There were 5,053 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 78.43% (9,497) White, 12.23% (1,481) Black or African American, 0.19% (23) Native American, 5.04% (610) Asian, 0.06% (7) Pacific Islander, 1.00% (121) from other races, and 3.06% (370) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.76% (576) of the population.

Of the 4,775 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18; 51.7% were married couples living together; 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.2% were non-families. Of all households, 25.4% were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07.

22.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $75,219 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,776) and the median family income was $88,479 (+/− $5,289). Males had a median income of $54,010 (+/− $3,496) versus $47,707 (+/− $2,587) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,871 (+/− $1,737). About 1.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Florence township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 19, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 10,746 people, 4,149 households, and 2,891 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 4,391 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 85.52% White, 9.74% African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Florence township, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 17, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Florence township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 17, 2013.

There were 4,149 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% 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 3.10.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $56,843, and the median income for a family was $67,412. Males had a median income of $45,325 versus $31,215 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,529. About 4.8% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy Given the accessibility of Florence to various rail and highway corridors, the township's economy is tied to its evolving role as a center for logistics. Florence and nearby towns in Burlington County have become prominent regional warehouse centers, attracting corporations like Amazon to build such facilities there.Woods, Brian. "Burlington County, towns pull support of huge warehouse zone plan in Florence, Mansfield" , Burlington County Times, July 10, 2017. Accessed October 17, 2019.

Government

Local government Florence Township is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under Plan F of the Mayor-Council system of municipal government. implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1972.Form of Municipal Government , Township of Florence. Accessed March 30, 2020. "Florence Township is governed under the provisions of the Mayor-Council Plan F of the Faulkner Act, Chapter 210 of the 1971 laws of the State of New Jersey as amended (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-1, et seq.). Under this form of government the voters elect a Mayor for a four year term and two Council members At-Large and three Council members from three wards for over-lapping terms of four years.""The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed November 25, 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 governing body is composed of the Mayor and the five-member Township Council. Voters participate in partisan elections held in odd-numbered years to choose a Mayor for a four-year term along with two councilmembers at-large and then two years later choose one councilmember from each of three wards for overlapping terms of four years. The legislative power is vested in the Council and the Executive power is vested in the Mayor. The Mayor appoints a professionally qualified business administrator with the advice and consent of Council.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 38."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.

, the Mayor of Florence Township is Republican Craig H. Wilkie, whose terms of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Florence Township Council are Council President Bruce Garganio (at-large; R, 2023), Council Vice President Nicholas P. Haas Jr. (Ward 2; R, 2025), Frank K. Baldorossi Jr. (Ward 1; D, 2025), Kristan I. Marter (Ward 3; D, 2025) and Paul C. Ostrander (at-large; R, 2023).Mayor and Township Council, Florence Township. Accessed April 24, 2023.2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Florence Township. Accessed July 10, 2022.November 2, 2021 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.November 5, 2019 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 16, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.