Gloucester Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gloucester Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Chew-Powell House
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| Motto(s):
"A great place to live, work and play."
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Location of Gloucester Township in Camden County highlighted in red
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Census Bureau map of Gloucester Township, New Jersey
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 Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Location in Camden County, New Jersey
Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Gloucester Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| 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 |
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| Elevation | 118 ft (36 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 66,034 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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66,239 | |
| • Rank | 22nd of 565 in state 3rd of 37 in county |
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| • Density | 2,876.7/sq mi (1,110.7/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 226th of 565 in state 25th of 37 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Codes |
08012 – Blackwood
08021 – Clementon 08029 – Glendora |
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| 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.
Contents
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.
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. |
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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.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
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| 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.
_from_the_overpass_for_Camden_County_Route_689_(Berlin-Cross_Keys_Road)_in_Gloucester_Township,_Camden_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
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
In Spanish: Municipio de Gloucester (Nueva Jersey) para niños
