Deptford Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Deptford Township, New Jersey
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Township
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| Township of Deptford | |
Benjamin Clark House, built 1769
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| Nickname(s):
"First Flight in America"
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Deptford Township highlighted in Gloucester County. Inset map: Gloucester County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
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Census Bureau map of Deptford Township, New Jersey
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 Deptford Township, New Jersey
Location in Gloucester County, New Jersey
Deptford Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Deptford Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County |  Gloucester |
| Formed | June 1, 1695 as Bethlehem |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Named for | Deptford, England |
| Government | |
| • Type | Faulkner Act Council-Manager |
| • Body | Township Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.57 sq mi (45.50 km2) |
| • Land | 17.33 sq mi (44.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0.24 sq mi (0.61 km2) 1.35% |
| Area rank | 163rd of 565 in state 9th of 24 in county |
| Elevation | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 30,561 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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30,349 |
| • Rank | 72nd of 566 in state 3rd of 24 in county |
| • Density | 1,760.3/sq mi (679.7/km2) |
| • Density rank | 306th of 566 in state 11th of 24 in county |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Codes |
08096
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| Area code | 856 |
| FIPS code | 3401517710 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882149 |
Deptford Township (pronounced DEP-ford) is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 30,561, reflecting an increase of 3,798 (+14.2%) from the 26,763 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,626 (+10.9%) from the 24,137 counted in the 1990 Census.
Deptford was first formed on June 1, 1695, at which time it was known as Bethlehem. It was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships formed under its new Township Act. Over the centuries, portions of the township were taken to create Washington Township (February 17, 1836), Woodbury Borough (March 27, 1854; now Woodbury City), West Deptford Township (March 1, 1871), Wenonah (March 10, 1883), Westville (April 7, 1914) and Woodbury Heights (April 6, 1915).
Deptford is a suburb of Philadelphia, located on the eastern side of the Walt Whitman Bridge, one conduit of which joins southern New Jersey with Philadelphia. It is located 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Philadelphia and 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Atlantic City.
Contents
History
Deptford Township is named after the English port of Deptford.
Deptford was the site of the first hot air balloon landing in North America, gathering that distinction when Jean-Pierre Blanchard completed his flight to Deptford from Philadelphia in 1793. During his flight, Blanchard carried a personal letter from George Washington to be delivered to the owner of whatever property Blanchard happened to land on, making the flight the first delivery of air mail in the United States as well.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 17.611 square miles (45.611 km2), including 17.362 square miles (44.966 km2) of land and 0.249 square miles (0.645 km2) of water (1.41%).
The township borders Mantua Township, Washington Township, Wenonah, West Deptford Township, Westville, Woodbury and Woodbury Heights. Deptford Township also borders Bellmawr, Runnemede, and Gloucester Township, all in Camden County.
Oak Valley (with a 2010 Census population of 3,483) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Deptford Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Almonesson, Blackwood Terrace, Clements Bridge, Good Intent, Jericho, New Sharon, Oak Valley, Salina, Westcottville and Woodbury Park.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1800 | 2,510 | — | |
| 1810 | 2,978 | 18.6% | |
| 1820 | 3,281 | 10.2% | |
| 1830 | 3,599 | 9.7% | |
| 1840 | 2,570 | −28.6% | |
| 1850 | 3,355 | 30.5% | |
| 1860 | 4,213 | 25.6% | |
| 1870 | 2,698 | −36.0% | |
| 1880 | 1,520 | −43.7% | |
| 1890 | 1,681 | 10.6% | |
| 1900 | 2,114 | 25.8% | |
| 1910 | 2,524 | 19.4% | |
| 1920 | 2,224 | −11.9% | |
| 1930 | 4,507 | 102.7% | |
| 1940 | 4,738 | 5.1% | |
| 1950 | 7,304 | 54.2% | |
| 1960 | 17,878 | 144.8% | |
| 1970 | 24,232 | 35.5% | |
| 1980 | 23,473 | −3.1% | |
| 1990 | 24,137 | 2.8% | |
| 2000 | 26,763 | 10.9% | |
| 2010 | 30,561 | 14.2% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 30,349 | −0.7% | |
| Population sources: 1800–2000 1800–1920 1840 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1930–1990 2000 2010 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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2010 Census
As of the census of 2010, there were 30,561 people, 11,689 households, and 7,995 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,760.3 per square mile (679.7/km2). There were 12,361 housing units at an average density of 712.0 per square mile (274.9/km2)*. The racial makeup of the township was 78.80% (24,082) White, 12.16% (3,717) Black or African American, 0.24% (73) Native American, 4.45% (1,361) Asian, 0.04% (12) Pacific Islander, 2.04% (622) from other races, and 2.27% (694) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.99% (1,830) of the population.
There were 11,689 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% 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 3.11.
In the township, the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 90.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,833 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,897) and the median family income was $76,303 (+/- $2,216). Males had a median income of $52,310 (+/- $2,247) versus $46,532 (+/- $4,525) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,476 (+/- $1,269). About 6.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Deptford is featured briefly in the film Patti Smith: Dream of Life, a 2008 documentary about rock musician Patti Smith.
Parks and recreation
Tall Pines State Preserve is a 111-acre (45 ha) nature preserve that opened in November 2015 as Gloucester County's first state park and is located along the border of Deptford Township and Mantua Township. Originally a forest that was turned into an asparagus field and then a golf course, the land was preserved through the efforts of the South Jersey Land and Water Trust, the Friends of Tall Pines, Gloucester County Nature Club, and the New Jersey Green Acres Program.
Transportation
_from_the_overpass_for_Gloucester_County_Route_534_(Cooper_Street)_in_Deptford_Township,_Gloucester_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 150.03 miles (241.45 km) of roadways, of which 99.01 miles (159.34 km) were maintained by the municipality, 28.87 miles (46.46 km) by Gloucester County and 18.75 miles (30.18 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 3.40 miles (5.47 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Deptford Township is crisscrossed by several major transportation routes, including Route 41, Route 42, Route 45, Route 47, and Route 55. County roads include County Route 534, County Route 544, County Route 551 and County Route 553. The New Jersey Turnpike passes through, but the nearest interchange is Exit 3 in neighboring Bellmawr/Runnemede. A very short section of Interstate 295 also passes through Deptford Township.
Public transportation
NJ Transit bus service is available to Philadelphia on the 400, 401, 402, 408, 410 and 412 routes, and local service is provided on the 455 and 463 routes.
Economy
The Deptford Mall is the seventh-largest shopping mall in New Jersey and the largest in the South Jersey region of the state, with a Gross leasable area of 1,069,657 square feet (99,374.4 m2). Macerich purchased the mall in 2007 for $241 million.
The Deptford Mall is surrounded by an eight-screen movie theater (the other six-screen theater is now demolished for a new strip mall, though another twelve-screen theater is planned nearby), 12 strip malls, bars and numerous restaurants and individual stores. This business district is a major contributor to Deptford having one of the lowest municipal tax rates in Gloucester County.
Education
The Deptford Township Schools is a public school district, comprising eight school facilities, that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprised of eight schools, had an enrollment of 4,419 students and 329.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.4:1. Schools in the district (with 2017-18 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Central Early Childhood Center (639 students; in grades PreK-1), Pine Acres Early Childhood Center (240; PreK-1), Good Intent School (353; 2-6), Lake Tract School (488; 2-6), Oak Valley School (369; 2-6), Shady Lane School (419; 2-6), Monongahela Middle School (643; 7&8), Deptford Township High School (1,092; 9-12) and New Sharon School which serves students ages 3–21 with developmental or cognitive disabilities.
Students from across the county are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend the school.
As of 2020[update] Guardian Angels Regional School (Pre-K-Grade 3 campus in Gibbstown CDP and 4-8 campus in Paulsboro) takes students from Deptford. It is under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.
Rowan College at Gloucester County is located in Deptford, and opened there in 1968 as Gloucester County College with classes held at Monongahela Junior High School and Deptford High School.
Notable people
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People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Deptford Township include:
- Enrico Di Giuseppe (1932-2005), operatic tenor who performed with the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera.
- Evan Edinger (born 1990), YouTuber and world traveler.
- Shaun T. Fitness (born 1978), motivational speaker, fitness trainer and choreographer best known for his home fitness programs T25, Insanity and Hip-Hop Abs.
- Isaac Hopper (1771–1852), abolitionist, founder of the Underground Railroad.
- Michael Johns (born 1964), health care executive, former White House speechwriter, conservative policy analyst and writer.
- Katrina Law (born c. 1985), actress.
- Bob Levy (born 1962), stand-up comic.
- Dave Rowe (born 1945), former professional football player who played for the Baltimore Colts, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers.
- Mel Sheppard (1883–1942), winner of four gold medals at the 1908 Summer Olympics and 1912 Summer Olympics, who lived here for his first nine years.
- Patti Smith (born 1946), rock musician, songwriter and poet.
- Gary Stuhltrager (born 1955), eight-term member of the New Jersey General Assembly.
