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Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Township
Chew-Powell House
Chew-Powell House
Official logo of Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Motto(s): 
"A great place to live, work and play."
Location of Gloucester Township in Camden County highlighted in red
Location of Gloucester Township in Camden County highlighted in red
Census Bureau map of Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Gloucester Township, New Jersey is located in Camden County, New Jersey
Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Location in Camden County, New Jersey
Gloucester Township, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Gloucester Township, New Jersey is located in the United States
Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Camden
Formed June 1, 1695
Incorporated February 21, 1798
Named for Gloucester, England
Government
 • Type Faulkner Act (mayor–council)
 • Body Township Council
Area
 • Total 23.30 sq mi (60.34 km2)
 • Land 22.95 sq mi (59.45 km2)
 • Water 0.34 sq mi (0.88 km2)  1.46%
Area rank 119th of 565 in state
4th of 37 in county
Elevation
118 ft (36 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 66,034
 • Estimate 
(2023)
66,239
 • Rank 22nd of 565 in state
3rd of 37 in county
 • Density 2,876.7/sq mi (1,110.7/km2)
 • Density rank 226th of 565 in state
25th of 37 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Codes
08012 – Blackwood
08021 – Clementon
08029 – Glendora
Area code(s) 856
FIPS code 3400726760
GNIS feature ID 0882154

Gloucester Township is a community in Camden County, New Jersey. It is one of the largest townships in the state. In 2020, about 66,034 people lived here, making it the 22nd most populated place in New Jersey. The population has grown steadily over the years.

Gloucester Township was first created on June 1, 1695. It became one of New Jersey's first official townships on February 21, 1798. Later, in 1844, it became part of the new Camden County. Over time, some parts of Gloucester Township were used to form other towns like Winslow Township and Gloucester City. The township is located in South Jersey and is part of the larger Philadelphia area.

Exploring Gloucester Township's Past

Gloucester Township was one of the very first townships in old Gloucester County. It was named after the city of Gloucester in England. On June 1, 1695, it became one of the first towns in New Jersey to be officially recognized. In 1844, it joined the newly formed Camden County.

Historic Buildings and Landmarks

The Gabreil Daveis Tavern House is a very old building in Glendora. It was built in 1756 and used to be an inn for people who transported goods to Philadelphia. During the American Revolutionary War, George Washington even used it as a hospital! Today, it's a historical center for Gloucester Township. You can visit it on Sunday afternoons from April to December.

Geography and Natural Features

Gloucester Township covers about 23.30 square miles (60.34 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Communities within the Township

Several communities are located within Gloucester Township. These include Blackwood, Glendora, and Grenloch. Other smaller areas are Blenheim, Chews Landing, and Erial.

Nearby Towns and Waterways

Gloucester Township shares borders with several other towns. These include Hi-Nella, Lindenwold, Magnolia, and Winslow Township in Camden County. It also borders Deptford Township and Washington Township in Gloucester County.

The Big Timber Creek flows through the township towards the Delaware River. There's a large dog park near the creek where people can take their dogs to play.

Greyhound Walking In Timber Creek Dog Park
A greyhound walking through the forested area of Timber Creek dog park in Gloucester, New Jersey.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1800 1,398
1810 1,726 23.5%
1820 2,059 19.3%
1830 2,332 13.3%
1840 2,837 * 21.7%
1850 2,371 * −16.4%
1860 2,320 −2.2%
1870 2,710 16.8%
1880 2,527 −6.8%
1890 3,091 22.3%
1900 4,018 30.0%
1910 2,380 * −40.8%
1920 3,097 30.1%
1930 5,820 87.9%
1940 6,198 6.5%
1950 7,952 28.3%
1960 17,591 121.2%
1970 26,511 50.7%
1980 45,156 70.3%
1990 53,797 19.1%
2000 64,350 19.6%
2010 64,634 0.4%
2020 66,034 2.2%
2023 (est.) 66,239 2.5%
Population sources:
1800–1840 1850–2000
1800–1920 1840 1850–1870
1850 1870 1880–1890
1890–1910 1910–1930
1940–2000 2000
2010 2020
* = Lost territory in previous decade.

In 2010, Gloucester Township had 64,634 people living there. Most residents were White (75.80%), followed by Black or African American (16.19%), and Asian (3.67%). About 5.65% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

The average household had about 2.73 people. About 24.3% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 37.8 years. This means half the people were younger than 37.8 and half were older.

How Gloucester Township is Governed

Gloucester Township uses a "Mayor-Council" system for its local government. This means there is a Mayor and a seven-member Township Council. Both the mayor and council members are elected by the people to serve four-year terms.

Local Leaders

The current Mayor of Gloucester Township is David R. Mayer, who is a Democrat. His term ends on December 31, 2025. The Township Council members include Council President Orlando Mercado and Council Vice President Tracey L. Trotto. Other council members are Dan Hutchison, Carolyn Grace, Michael D. Mignone, Andrea L. Stubbs, and Michelle L. Winters.

Political Views

In March 2011, most registered voters in Gloucester Township were Democrats (39.7%) or Unaffiliated (45.9%). About 14.4% were Republicans.

In the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama (Democrat) received 63.9% of the votes. In the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton (Democrat) received 59.4% of the votes. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden (Democrat) received 60.3% of the votes. These results show that the township tends to vote for Democratic candidates in presidential elections.

United States presidential election results for Gloucester Township
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 14,186 41.75% 19,313 56.84% 480 1.41%
2020 13,926 39.26% 21,132 59.57% 416 1.17%
2016 11,843 40.24% 16,673 56.65% 918 3.12%
2012 9,999 35.15% 18,178 63.90% 271 0.95%
2008 10,645 35.08% 18,601 61.31% 1,095 3.61%
2004 11,529 40.71% 16,318 57.61% 476 1.68%

Learning and Schools

Gloucester Township has its own public school system for students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The district has eight elementary schools (PreK/K–5) and three middle schools (grades 6–8). One of the middle schools, Ann A. Mullen Middle School, is named after a former mayor.

High Schools

For high school, students attend one of three schools in the Black Horse Pike Regional School District. These are Highland Regional High School in Blackwood, Timber Creek Regional High School in Erial, and Triton Regional High School in Runnemede. Which high school a student attends depends on where they live in Gloucester Township.

Other Educational Opportunities

Gloucester Township Technical High School offers special classes for students interested in vocational skills.

Camden County College is also located in Blackwood. It's a large campus that offers many different programs, from health to engineering. Students can also take evening and weekend classes.

Getting Around Gloucester Township

Gloucester Township has many roads and highways that help people travel.

Major Roads

The Atlantic City Expressway is a major highway that goes through the township. Other important roads include Route 41, Route 42, and Route 168. There are also several county roads that connect different parts of the township.

2021-05-31 16 58 25 View west along New Jersey State Route 446 (Atlantic City Expressway) from the overpass for Camden County Route 689 (Berlin-Cross Keys Road) in Gloucester Township, Camden County, New Jersey
The westbound Atlantic City Expressway in Gloucester Township

Public Transport

NJ Transit provides bus service for residents. You can take a bus from Gloucester Township to Philadelphia on the 400 route. There are also local bus routes like the 403 and 459.

Famous People from Gloucester Township

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Gloucester Township:

  • Damiere Byrd (born 1993), a wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League.
  • Nick Comoroto (born 1991), a professional wrestler.
  • Mike Daniels (born 1989), a defensive end who played for the Green Bay Packers.
  • Kyle Hines (born 1986), a professional basketball player.
  • Jim Jackson (born 1963), a sportscaster for the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Flyers.
  • David R. Mayer (born 1967), the current Mayor of Gloucester Township.
  • Billy Paul (1934–2016), a Grammy Award-winning soul singer.
  • A. Raymond Randolph (born 1943), a federal judge.
  • Lisa Regina (born circa 1961), an actress, screenwriter, and director.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Municipio de Gloucester (Nueva Jersey) para niños

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