Dennis Township, New Jersey
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| Dennis, New Jersey | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Cape May |
| Area | |
| - Total | 64.3 sq mi (166.5 km²) |
| - Land | 61.4 sq mi (158.9 km²) |
| - Water | 2.9 sq mi (7.6 km²) |
| Elevation | 3 ft (1 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 6,492 |
| - Density | 105.8/sq mi (40.9/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| FIPS code | 34-17560[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882046[2] |
Dennis Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 6,492.
Dennis Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1827, from portions of Upper Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Sea Isle City borough (May 22, 1882) and Woodbine (March 3, 1903).[3]
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Dennis Township as its 20th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[4]
Contents |
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 64.3 square miles (166.5 km²), of which, 61.3 square miles (158.9 km²) of it is land and 2.9 square miles (7.6 km²) of it is water. The total area is 4.57% water.
Dennisville is the most important unincorporated community in Dennis Township.
Dennis Township borders Cumberland County, Upper Township, Woodbine Borough, Sea Isle City, Middle Township, and the Delaware Bay.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,615 |
|
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| 1940 | 1,877 | 16.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,981 | 5.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,327 | 17.5% | |
| 1970 | 2,635 | 13.2% | |
| 1980 | 3,989 | 51.4% | |
| 1990 | 5,574 | 39.7% | |
| 2000 | 6,492 | 16.5% | |
| Est. 2006 | 5,907 | [5] | -9.0% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[6] | |||
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,492 people, 2,159 households, and 1,737 families residing in the township. The population density was 105.8 people per square mile (40.9/km²). There were 2,327 housing units at an average density of 37.9/sq mi (14.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.43% White, 0.96% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population.
There were 2,159 households out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $56,595, and the median income for a family was $61,445. Males had a median income of $41,404 versus $31,329 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,455. About 4.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The Township of Dennis was established in 1827. The Township operates under the Township Committee form of government pursuant to New Jersey State Statutes.[7]
The governing body originally consisted of three elected officials, one of which would be elected by the membership to serve as the Mayor. In, 1989 a question was approved for the General Election ballot to increase the membership from three members to five members. That question was approved by the voters and in November of 1990 the voters elected two additional Committee members. In January of 1991 a full Committee of five members was sworn into office. At that same meeting the governing body established the position of Township Administrator.[7]
Today, Dennis Township operates with a five-member Township Committee with one of its members serving as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor, both of whom are selected by the Committee from among its members. The Committee members serve in a part-time capacity and receive an annual salary.[7]
Members of the Dennis Township Committee are Mayor Ruth J. Blessing (term ends December 31, 2007), Deputy Mayor John Murphy (2007), Al Dicicco (2009), Dennis M. Crippen (2008) and Brian O'Connor (2008).[8]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Dennis Township is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District.[9]
New Jersey's Second Congressional District, covering all of Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County and Salem County and portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 1st legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nicholas Asselta (R) and in the Assembly by Nelson Albano (D, Vineland) and Jeff Van Drew (D, Dennis Township).[10] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[11]
Cape May County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected at large in partisan elections to serve staggered three-year terms in office. Cape May County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel (Upper Township, term expires December 31, 2008), Freeholder Vice-Director Ralph E. Sheets, Jr. (2008), Ralph E. Bakley, Sr. (2010), Leonard C. Desiderio (Sea Isle City, 2009) and Gerald M. Thornton (2010).[12]
[edit] Education
The Dennis Township Public Schools serve over 800 students in Kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools in the district are Dennis Township Primary School for grades K-2 Dennis Township Elementary for 3-5 and Dennis Township Middle School for grades 6-8.
Students in public school for grades 9-12 attend Middle Township High School in Cape May Court House, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Middle Township Public Schools.[13]
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Dennis Township include:
- Jeff Van Drew, member of the New Jersey General Assembly who represents the 1st legislative district.[14]
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 114.
- ^ "Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100", New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008.
- ^ Census data for Dennis township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 8, 2007.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ a b c History and Organization of the Dennis Township Committee, Dennis Township. Accessed March 6, 2007.
- ^ 2006 Dennis Township Mayor & Committee Members, Dennis Township. Accessed March 6, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 56. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ Freeholders Home Page, Cape May County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2008.
- ^ Middle Township High School 2006 School Report Card, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 13, 2008. "Middle Township High School is a four-year, accredited, comprehensive high school situated in central Cape May County. The school serves the communities of Middle Township, Dennis Township, Avalon, and Stone Harbor."
- ^ Assembly Member Jeff Van Drew profile, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 8, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Dennis Township website
- Dennis Township Public Schools
- Dennis Township Public Schools's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Dennis Township Public Schools
- The Cape May County Gazette Local community newspaper
- The Beachcomber
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