Downe Township, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Downe, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Cumberland |
| Royal Charter | January 19, 1748 |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | Renee Blizzard |
| Area | |
| - Total | 54.2 sq mi (140.5 km²) |
| - Land | 50.8 sq mi (131.5 km²) |
| - Water | 3.5 sq mi (9.0 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 1,675 |
| - Density | 32.1/sq mi (12.4/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08345 - Newport |
| Area code(s) | 856 |
| FIPS code | 34-18220[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882061[4] |
| Website: http://www.downetwpnj.org | |
Downe Township is a township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,631.
What is now Downe Township was formed as a by Royal Charter on January 19, 1748, as Downes Township, from portions of Fairfield Township. Downe Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Commercial Township (February 27, 1874).[5]
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 54.2 square miles (140.5 km²), of which, 50.8 square miles (131.5 km²) of it is land and 3.5 square miles (9.0 km²) of it (6.40%) is water.
Fortescue is an unincorporated area located within Downe Township, and is known as the "weakfish capital of the world".[6]
Downe Township borders Lawrence Township, Millville, Commercial Township, and the Delaware Bay.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,574 |
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| 1940 | 1,546 | -1.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,786 | 15.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,870 | 4.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,777 | -5.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,803 | 1.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,702 | -5.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,631 | -4.2% | |
| Est. 2006 | 1,675 | [2] | 2.7% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[7] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,631 people, 658 households, and 438 families residing in the township. The population density was 32.1 people per square mile (12.4/km²). There were 1,134 housing units at an average density of 22.3/sq mi (8.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 91.05% White, 4.84% African American, 1.47% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.98% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.37% of the population.
There were 658 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 107.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $34,667, and the median income for a family was $39,375. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $26,397 for females. The per capita income for the township was $17,366. About 11.5% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Downe Township is governed under the Township form of government with a three-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year.[8] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.
Members of the Downe Township Committee are Mayor Renee Blizzard, Deputy Mayor Lisa Garrison, Chester Riland, David Reed and Christine Wilford.[9]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Downe Township is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District.[10]
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 3rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Stephen M. Sweeney (D, Thorofare) and in the Assembly by John J. Burzichelli (D, Thorofare) and Douglas H. Fisher (D, Thorofare).[11] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[12]
Cumberland County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at large in partisan elections to serve staggered three-year terms in office, with two or three seats coming up for election each year.[13] As of 2008, Cumberland County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Louis N. Magazzu (term ends December 31, 2009), Deputy Director Bruce T. Peterson (2008), Jane Yetman Christy (2008), Joseph Pepitone (2010), Douglas M. Rainear (2010), Joseph P. Riley (2009) and Jeffrey M. Trout (2008).[14]
[edit] Education
The Downe Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Downe Township School had an enrollment of 219 students in the 2005-06 school year.[15]
Public school students in grades 9-12 attend Bridgeton High School in Bridgeton, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Bridgeton Public Schools.[16]
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Downe, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Downe township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 29, 2007
- ^ 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. 120.
- ^ Natural, Undisturbed Beauty of Nature, Right Here in the Northeast Corridor, accessed April 5, 2007. "Fortescue is also host to one of the East Coast's most popular fishing tournaments, the Fortescue Weakfish Tournament. Fortescue is known as the weakfish capital of the world."
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 19.
- ^ Downe Township Committee, Downe Township. Accessed May 23, 2008.
- ^ 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.
- ^ About Cumberland County Government, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed May 22, 2008.
- ^ County Freeholders, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed May 23, 2008.
- ^ Data for the Downe Township School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 23, 2008.
- ^ Bridgeton High School 2007 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 23, 2008. "In addition to city students, the high school also serves as a receiving school for two rural school districts, Downe and Lawrence Townships."
[edit] External links
- Downe Township web site
- Downe Township School District
- Downe Township School District's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Downe Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics
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