Woodbury, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Woodbury, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Gloucester |
| Incorporated | March 27, 1854 |
| Government | |
| - Type | City (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | Robert Curtis |
| Area | |
| - Total | 2.1 sq mi (5.5 km²) |
| - Land | 2.1 sq mi (5.4 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 52 ft (16 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 10,410 |
| - Density | 4,961.3/sq mi (1,915.6/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 08096-08097 |
| Area code(s) | 856 |
| FIPS code | 34-82120[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885447[4] |
| Website: http://woodbury.nj.us | |
Woodbury is a City in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, 10,307 residents were counted. Woodbury is the county seat of Gloucester County[5].
Woodbury was originally formed as a Borough on March 27, 1854, within Deptford Township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 22, 1854. On January 2, 1871, Woodbury was reincorporated as a City, based on the results of a referendum held that day.[6]
It is home to Underwood-Memorial Hospital as well as the Gloucester County Times daily newspaper headquarters, which is distributed throughout the county for primarily local news.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Woodbury is located at (39.837363, -75.153056)[7].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.89%) is water. Woodbury has a few lakes that feed off of Woodbury Creek.
Woodbury borders Woodbury Heights, West Deptford Township, and Deptford Township.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 8,172 |
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| 1940 | 8,306 | 1.6% | |
| 1950 | 10,931 | 31.6% | |
| 1960 | 12,453 | 13.9% | |
| 1970 | 12,408 | -0.4% | |
| 1980 | 10,353 | -16.6% | |
| 1990 | 10,904 | 5.3% | |
| 2000 | 10,307 | -5.5% | |
| Est. 2006 | 10,410 | [2] | 1.0% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[8] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 10,307 people, 4,051 households, and 2,588 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,961.4 people per square mile (1,913.2/km²). There were 4,310 housing units at an average density of 2,074.7/sq mi (800.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 72.45% White, 22.83% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.99% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.94% of the population.
There were 4,051 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,827, and the median income for a family was $53,630. Males had a median income of $40,429 versus $30,570 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,592. About 11.2% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
Woodbury was founded by Henry Wood, a Quaker from the North-West of England, who had left Great Britain due to religious persecution. Wood was incarcerated in Lancaster gaol for practicing as a Quaker and left his home in the village of Tottington, near Bury, Lancashire, in a boat to set up a community in the new world where he and his family could practice his religion freely. His surname and his home town went to make up the name of the City he founded - Woodbury.
In 2000, the Borough of Bury, England, and the City of Woodbury were twinned as part of millennium celebrations in both countries. The twinning ceremony was the culmination of a week where more than 300 school children and college students, local dignitaries and local residents from Bury took part in sporting and cultural events held in and around Woodbury with local people.
During the week there was a symbolic meeting and reconciliation of the Vicar of Henry Wood's former church in Tottington and the Quaker's meeting house in Woodbury and an ecumenical service attended by many of the residents and visitors.
[edit] Forerunner of recycling
A lesser known fact about Woodbury is that it was the first city in the entire United States to mandate recycling, thus also making it the first city in New Jersey as well.[9] Led by Rose Rowan (currently the president of the promotional products boutique Rowan & Associates) in the early 1970s, the idea of towing a “recycling” trailer behind a waste management vehicle to enable the collection of trash and recyclable material at the same time emerged. Other towns and cities soon followed suit, and today many cities in the country require recycling.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The Mayor and Council of the City of Woodbury, acting as the local government, are the initiators and overseers of all local law. They are also the formulators and guides to all of the departments and positions that have been established by local law. Through a committee system, most in evidence at the regular Council Meetings, the Mayor and Council exercise their authority and responsibilities through which all activities in local government are conducted.
Woodbury is represented by a Mayor elected directly by the voters. The City Council consists of nine members, with three members elected from each of three wards to three-year terms of office, with one seat from each ward coming up for election each year on a staggered basis.[10]
The Mayor of the City of Woodbury is Robert Curtis.
Members of the Woodbury City Council are:[11]
- First Ward: - Roberta Schreyer (2007), Joseph D. Villari (2009) and Harry R. Riskie (2008)
- Second Ward: - William H. Fleming (2009), C. Barry Sloane (2007), Gwendolyn J. Brown (2008)
- Third Ward: - Thomas B. Louis (2009), Heather S. Tierney (2007) and John Belko (2008)
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Woodbury is in the First Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 5th Legislative District.[12]
New Jersey's First Congressional District, covering portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Rob Andrews (D, Haddon Heights). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 5th district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Dana Redd (D, Camden) and in the Assembly by Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D, Barrington) and Joseph J. Roberts (D, Camden).[13] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[14]
Gloucester County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. Each year, the Board selects a Freeholder Director and Deputy Director from among its members. As of 2008, Gloucester County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Stephen M. Sweeney (D, West Deptford Township, term ends December 31, 2008), Deputy Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger (D, West Deptford Township, 2009), Joseph A. Brigandi, Jr., (D, Glassboro, 2010), Jean DuBois (D, Mantua Township, 2010), Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D, Woolwich Township, 2009), Frank J. DiMarco (D, Deptford Township, 2008) and Dr. Warren S. Wallace (D, Washington Township, 2008).[15]
[edit] Education
The Woodbury Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district are three K-5 elementary schools (Evergreen Avenue Elementary School, Walnut Street Elementary School and West End Memorial Elementary School) and Woodbury Junior/Senior High School, which serves grades 6-12.
[edit] Notable residents
- Herb Baptiste, one of The Star-Ledger's top ten best high school wrestlers in New Jersey during the 1940s.[16]
- Arthur 'Ted' Browne, a baseball player in the Negro League on the Zulu Cannibal Giants team, sporting his "Zulu" name Lakola.[17]
- Roscoe Lee Browne, a character actor and former athlete, was born in Woodbury.[18]
- Van Bruner, world record holder of 65-yard indoor dirt track high hurdles; ran in finals of 1952 Olympic Trials and also in first round of the 1965 Trials.[19]
- Dave Budd, former NBA player for the New York Knicks. Was one of the three centers for the Knicks to guard Wilt Chamberlain in the game in which he scored 100 points vs. 13 points for Budd.[20]
- Dave Calloway, head men's basketball coach at Monmouth University, was born in Woodbury
- Joe Colone, one-year player for the New York Knicks, was born in Woodbury.[21]
- Oscar Fraley, co-author, with Eliot Ness, of The Untouchables which sold 1.5 million copies, was raised in Woodbury.[22]
- George Gill Green, a patent medicine entrepreneur (whose fortunes are now equivalent to modern day millions) and Colonel in the American Civil War.
- Robert C. Hendrickson (1898-1964), United States Senator from New Jersey from 1949 to 1955.[23]
- Donald Fletcher Holmes, inventor.[24]
- Ralph Ipri, National High School Tennis Coach of the Year (coaching Cherry Hill East in 1979) and all-time winningest high school boy's tennis coach, graduated from Woodbury High School.[25][26][27]
- James Lawrence, who coined the phrase "Don't give up the ship" during the War of 1812.[28]
- Mike McBath, a defensive end for the Buffalo Bills from 1968-1973 and part-owner of the Orlando Predators.
- Bryant McKinnie, professional football player for the Minnesota Vikings at the offensive tackle position.[29]
- Dan Meyer, pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, was born in Woodbury.[30]
- J. Hampton Moore, former Republican Congressman and Mayor of Philadelphia (1920-24; 1932-36), was born in Woodbury.[31]
- Tim O'Shea, head men's basketball coach of the Ohio Bobcats, was born in Woodbury
- Francis F. Patterson, Jr. (1867-1935), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1920 to 1927.[32]
- Jack Pierce, Olympic bronze medalist in the high jump at the 1992 Olympic Games.[33]
- Milt Plum, quarterback and two-time Pro Bowler for the Cleveland Browns attended Woodbury High School.[34]
- Greg Rizzo, Honorable Mention All-American wrestler during his senior season at Woodbury High School (1980-81).[35]
- H. Browning Ross, an Olympian in long-distance running (1948) and gold medal winner in the 1,500-meter at the 1951 Pan-Am Games.[36]
- Patti Smith (1946-), singer-songwriter, was raised in Woodbury.[37]
- Howie Staeger, track & field coach during the 1960s and 70s for the WHS track dynasties; also founder of the Woodbury Relays.[38]
- D. K. Ulrich, NASCAR driver and owner.
- Ann Cooper Whitall, a prominent Quaker woman in early America, was born in Woodbury.
[edit] Points of interest
- Friends Meeting House built 1717, with addition erected 1783. Used during the Revolutionary War as a place for care of wounded soldiers. Diary of Job Whitall records finding the house filled with sick soldiers.
- Friends Burial Ground. Graves of James Whitall and Ann Cooper Whitall who occupied Whitall Mansion during the battle. Also John Cooper, member of Continental Congress in 1776.
- 90 South Broad Street. Headquarters of Gloucester County Historical Society, once owned by John Lawrence, brother of Captain James Lawrence of "Don't give up the ship" fame, who resided with him and attended the Academy School in Woodbury.
- 130 South Broad Street. Residence of Dr. Duncan Campbell, built and occupied by John Cooper, member of the Continental Congress, the Committee on Correspondence and Council of Safety. He was also judge of the County Court. The house was used by Lord Cornwallis as headquarters during the three days he was in Woodbury.
- Opposite to 130 South Broad Street, bronze Soldiers' Memorial to commemorate the dead of Gloucester who fell in the World War I. Designed by R. Tait McKenzie.
- Laboratory of Colonel G.G. Green, which includes a cannon dredged from the Delaware River bearing the Coat of Arms of George III from the British ship "Augusta."
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: City of Woodbury, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Woodbury city, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 11, 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.
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. 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. 141.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Rowan & Associates Go Green: 7/18/2007 Press Release - NJBiz.com. Accessed July 22, 2007.
- ^ City Government, City of Woodbury. Accessed January 15, 2007.
- ^ City Council Members, City of Woodbury. Accessed March 14, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 66. 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.
- ^ Gloucester County Elected Officials, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed March 27, 2008.
- ^ NJ.com: The Top 10 Wrestlers of each decade. Accessed April 14, 2008.
- ^ Negro League Players Association obituary (2 February 2002. Accessed April 14, 2008.
- ^ Biography of Roscoe Lee Browne, The New York Times, accessed December 12, 2006.
- ^ Gloucester County Hall of Fame - 1984 class. Accessed April 14, 2008.
- ^ Box score: Wilt's 100-point game, Sporting News, accessed December 16, 2006.
- ^ Database Basketball: Joe Colone. Accessed April 14, 2008.
- ^ "Oscar Fraley, 79, 'Untouchables' Author", The New York Times, January 9, 1994. Accessed June 24, 2007. "Born in Philadelphia and reared in Woodbury, N.J., Mr. Fraley worked for U.P.I. from 1940 to 1965."
- ^ Robert Clymer Hendrickson biography, United States Congress. Accessed August 11, 2007.
- ^ Inventor's Hall of Fame. Accessed April 13, 2008.
- ^ Gloucester County Sports Hall of Fame. "Class of 1991...Ralph Ipri (Woodbury)." Accessed April 13, 2008.
- ^ USTA Middle States Coach of the Year. Accessed April 13, 2008.
- ^ CourierPost online: Tennis coach Ipri wins No. 900. "The nation's winningest boys' tennis coach reached yet another plateau Saturday." Accessed April 13, 2008.
- ^ Historic Roadsides of New Jersey: Gloucester County, accessed December 12, 2006.
- ^ NFL 2002 Draft profile of Bryant McKinnie, accessed December 12, 2006.
- ^ Dan Meyer player profile, The Baseball Cube. Accessed July 17, 2007.
- ^ Joseph Hampton Moore biography, United States Congress. Accessed July 23, 2007.
- ^ Francis Ford Patterson, Jr., Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 26, 2007.
- ^ South Jersey track & field HOF paragraph, accessed June 11, 2007.
- ^ Milt Plum statistics, databasefootball.com. Accessed June 11, 2007.
- ^ Wrestling USA Magazine: 1979-80 All-America Team. Accessed April 14, 2008.
- ^ Browning Ross, Runners Mecca. Accessed September 16, 2007.
- ^ Patti Smith – Biography. "Three chord rock merged with the power of the word". Arista Records (1996). Retrieved on 2008-05-09.
- ^ South Jersey Track Hall of Fame (Archive). Accessed April 14, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Woodbury website
- Woodbury Public Schools
- Woodbury Public Schools's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Woodbury Public Schools
- Woodbury City Profile
- Woodbury forum
- Images of America: Woodbury (NJ) paperback book
- Historic Sites in Gloucester County
- Underwood-Memorial Hospital
- Millennium Twinning Page
- Woodbury, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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