Gloucester County, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gloucester County
County
Rowan College of South Jersey in Sewell at sunset in November 2010
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
Founded	1686
Named for	Gloucester / Gloucestershire, England
Seat	Woodbury
Largest Municipality	Washington Township (population) Franklin Township (area)
Area
• Total	336.77 sq mi (872.2 km2)
• Land	322.00 sq mi (834.0 km2)
• Water	14.77 sq mi (38.3 km2)  4.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	302,294
• Estimate  (2023)	308,423
• Density	897.627/sq mi (346.576/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts	1st, 2nd

Gloucester County is a county located in the state of New Jersey, in the United States. In 2020, about 302,294 people lived here. This makes it the 14th most populated county in New Jersey.

The county seat, which is like the main town for government, is Woodbury. Gloucester County is part of the South Jersey area. The biggest town by population is Washington Township. The largest town by land area is Franklin Township.

Gloucester County is close to Philadelphia, one of the largest cities in the U.S. It is also near Atlantic City. This area is becoming a big center for logistics and warehouse buildings.

History of Gloucester County

The old Gloucester County Courthouse in Woodbury

Some of the first European settlements in New Jersey were in this area. Towns like Swedesboro and Bridgeport were part of the New Sweden colony in the 1600s.

Gloucester County was officially started on May 26, 1686. Its borders were set on May 17, 1694, as part of West Jersey. Later, parts of Gloucester County were used to create Atlantic County in 1837 and Camden County in 1844. The county was named after the city of Gloucester and the county of Gloucestershire in England.

Woodbury was founded in 1683 and is the oldest town in the county. Another town, National Park, was important during the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Red Bank happened there, where Fort Mercer once stood. During the early days, farming was the main way people made a living in Gloucester County.

Geography and Climate

Gloucester County has coastal plains, where pine trees often grow, as seen at Rowan College of South Jersey.

Gloucester County covers about 336.77 square miles. Most of this area, about 322 square miles, is land. The rest is water. The county has many low-lying rivers and flat coastal areas. These stretch from the Delaware River to the New Jersey Pine Barrens.

The highest point in the county is about 180 feet above sea level. The lowest point is at sea level along the Delaware River.

Weather in Gloucester County

The weather in Gloucester County is usually warm and humid in the summer and cold in the winter. In Woodbury, the average temperature in January is about 26 degrees Fahrenheit. In July, it's around 87 degrees Fahrenheit. The county gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.

Population Information

The population of Gloucester County has grown a lot over the years. In 2020, the county had 302,294 people. This was an increase of about 14,000 people since 2010.

Economy

In 2021, the total value of all goods and services produced in Gloucester County was about $14 billion. This shows how much economic activity happens in the county.

Education

Gloucester County has many schools and colleges for students of all ages.

Colleges and Universities

• Rowan University is a public university in Glassboro. It started in 1923.
• Rowan College of South Jersey is the county college. It opened in 1968 and has its main campus in Sewell. It also has campuses in other counties.

School Districts

There are many school districts in Gloucester County. They serve students from kindergarten all the way through high school. Some districts cover all grades (K-12), while others focus on secondary (high school) or elementary (K-8) grades.

K-12 School Districts

Secondary School Districts

• Clearview Regional High School District
• Delsea Regional School District
• Gateway Regional School District
• Kingsway Regional School District

Elementary School Districts

Vocational School

The Gloucester County Institute of Technology is a special high school. It teaches students job skills and is located in Deptford Township.

Towns and Communities

Map of Gloucester County towns and communities

Gloucester County is made up of many different towns and communities. Each one has its own unique features and history. Some of the types of towns include boroughs and townships.

Transportation

Getting around Gloucester County is easy with many roads and public transport options.

Roads and Highways

The New Jersey Turnpike in Deptford Township in May 2021

The county has over 1,600 miles of roads. These roads are maintained by local towns, the county, and the state of New Jersey. Important roads include state routes like New Jersey Route 42 and New Jersey Route 55. U.S. Routes like U.S. Route 130 and U.S. Route 322 also pass through.

The Commodore Barry Bridge connects Gloucester County to Chester, Pennsylvania across the Delaware River. Major highways like Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike also run through the county. The Atlantic City Expressway briefly touches the county.

Public Transportation

NJ Transit offers bus services that connect Gloucester County to Philadelphia and other nearby towns. There are also local bus routes to help people get around within the county.

There is a plan for a new light rail system called the Glassboro–Camden Line. It would connect towns in Gloucester County to Camden. This project is still being planned and funded.

Freight Rail and Port

Gloucester County has freight train lines that help move goods. The Port of Paulsboro is a busy port on the Delaware River. It handles many different types of cargo, like oil products and large items. The port is also being developed to handle parts for wind turbines, which are used to create wind power.

Emergency Services

Gloucester County has its own emergency medical services, called Gloucester County Emergency Medical Services (GCEMS). It was the first county-based EMS agency in New Jersey, starting in 2007.

GCEMS aims to reach people needing help within nine minutes most of the time. They have many ambulances and special quick response vehicles. They operate from 19 stations across the county. In 2010, GCEMS was recognized as an Outstanding Public EMS Agency by the State of New Jersey.

Notable People

Many interesting people have come from Gloucester County, including:

• Corey Clement (born 1994), a former professional football player.
• Linda Fiorentino (born 1958 or 1960), an actress.
• Grace Helbig (born 1985), a comedian and YouTube personality.
• Tara Lipinski (born 1982), an Olympic gold medal winner in figure skating.
• Jimmy Rollins (born 1978), a former professional baseball player.
• Patti Smith (born 1946), a famous punk rock musician.
• Steve Squyres (born 1956), a scientist who worked on the Mars Exploration Rover mission.

Recreation

Gloucester County Historical Society

The Gloucester County Historical Society was started in 1903. It collects and displays old items and information about the history of South Jersey. You can see many of these items at the Hunter–Lawrence–Jessup House in Woodbury.

National Protected Area

Part of the Great Egg Harbor River is a nationally protected area, offering natural beauty and outdoor activities.

Images for kids

• 

  Rowan College of South Jersey in Sewell at sunset in November 2010

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Gloucester (Nueva Jersey) para niños