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 located in Camden County, in the state of New Jersey. It's a busy place, and as of the 2020 United States census, it was the 22nd most populated town in New Jersey. About 66,034 people live there.
Gloucester Township was first created on June 1, 1695. This was a long time ago, even before New Jersey became a state! It officially became one of New Jersey's first 104 townships on February 21, 1798. Later, in 1844, it became part of the new Camden County. Over the years, some parts of Gloucester Township were used to create other towns like Winslow Township and Gloucester City. The township is part of an area called South Jersey and is close to the big city of Philadelphia.
Contents
History of Gloucester Township
Gloucester Township was one of the very first townships in the old Gloucester County. It became the county's first official area in 1685. Back then, Gloucester County was huge, stretching from the Delaware River all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.
How Gloucester Township Got Its Name
In 1683, the large Gloucester County was split into two townships: Egg Harbor Township and Gloucester Township. Gloucester Township was named after a cathedral city called Gloucester in England. This city is located on the banks of the River Severn.
Becoming an Official Town
Gloucester Township was further divided into four smaller areas. On June 1, 1695, it became one of the first towns in New Jersey to be officially recognized. In 1844, the township joined the newly formed Camden County.
Historic Buildings in Gloucester Township
The Gabreil Daveis Tavern House is a very old building in Glendora. It was built in 1756, even before the American Revolutionary War. For many years, it was an inn where boatmen could stay. They used to transport their goods to Philadelphia using the nearby Big Timber Creek.
This historic building has been fixed up and is now a main historical spot for Gloucester Township. It was even used as a hospital by George Washington during the Revolutionary War! The Gabreil Daveis Tavern House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can visit it on Sunday afternoons from April to December, except on holidays.
Geography of Gloucester Township
Gloucester Township covers about 23.30 square miles (60.34 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Communities Within the Township
There are several communities located inside Gloucester Township. Some of the larger ones are Blackwood and Glendora. These are known as census-designated places (CDPs), which means they are recognized areas for counting population.
Other smaller communities and places within the township include Blenheim, Chews Landing, Davisville, Erial, Glen Oaks, Grenloch, Hilltop, Lakeland, Lambs Terrace, Little Gloucester, Nashs Mill Point Pleasant, and Turkey Foot.
Neighboring Towns and Counties
Gloucester Township shares its borders with several other towns. In Camden County, it borders Hi-Nella, Lindenwold, Magnolia, Pine Hill, Runnemede, Somerdale, Stratford, and Winslow Township. It also borders Deptford Township and Washington Township in Gloucester County.
Natural Features
The Big Timber Creek flows through Gloucester Township from east to west. It eventually reaches the Delaware River. Near the banks of Big Timber Creek, there is a large enclosed dog park where dogs can run and play.
Population and People
The population of Gloucester Township has grown a lot over the years. In 1800, there were only 1,398 people living there. By 2020, the population had reached 66,034.
Who Lives in Gloucester Township?
Based on the 2010 census, most people in Gloucester Township are White (about 75.8%). About 16.2% are Black or African American, and 3.7% are Asian. About 5.65% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
The average household in Gloucester Township had about 2.73 people. About 32.7% of households had children under 18. The median age of people living in the township was 37.8 years old.
Education in Gloucester Township
Gloucester Township has a strong education system for its students.
Elementary and Middle Schools
The Gloucester Township Public Schools system serves students from pre-kindergarten all the way up to eighth grade. The district has eight elementary schools for younger students (PreK/K–5) and three middle schools for grades 6–8. One of the middle schools, Ann A. Mullen Middle School, was named after a former mayor.
The schools in the district include:
- Blackwood Elementary School
- Chews Elementary School
- Erial Elementary School
- Glendora Elementary School
- Gloucester Township Elementary School
- James W. Lilley Jr. Elementary School
- Loring-Flemming Elementary School
- Union Valley Elementary School
- Glen Landing Middle School
- Charles W. Lewis Middle School
- Ann A. Mullen Middle School
High Schools
Students in grades nine through twelve attend one of three high schools that are part of the Black Horse Pike Regional School District. These schools are:
- Highland Regional High School (located in Blackwood)
- Timber Creek Regional High School (located in Erial)
- Triton Regional High School (located in Runnemede)
Students from Gloucester Township go to one of these three schools depending on where they live. Gloucester Township has seven representatives on the high school district's board of education.
Other Educational Opportunities
The Gloucester Township Technical High School offers special vocational classes for students from all over the county.
Our Lady of Hope Regional School is a private Roman Catholic elementary school. It was formed when two other schools, St. Jude's Regional School and St. Agnes School, merged in 2008.
Camden County College has a campus in Blackwood. It's a large campus where students can study many different subjects, from health to engineering. The college also offers evening and weekend classes, and even has a dental hygiene clinic that local residents can use.
Transportation in Gloucester Township
Getting around Gloucester Township is easy with its network of roads and public transportation.
Roads and Highways
The Atlantic City Expressway is the main highway that goes through the southwestern part of Gloucester Township. Other important roads include Route 41, Route 42 (also known as the North-South Freeway), and Route 168. Several county roads, like CR 534 and CR 544, also run through or along the township's borders.
_from_the_overpass_for_Camden_County_Route_689_(Berlin-Cross_Keys_Road)_in_Gloucester_Township,_Camden_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Public Transportation
NJ Transit provides bus service for people in Gloucester Township. You can take a bus to Philadelphia using the 400 route. There are also local bus routes, the 403 and 459, for getting around within the area.
Notable People from Gloucester Township
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Gloucester Township. Here are a few:
- Jersey Bakley (1864–1915), a professional baseball pitcher.
- 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 for the Green Bay Packers.
- John A. Dramesi (1933–2017), a military veteran.
- Kyle Hines (born 1986), a professional basketball player.
- Dan Hutchison, a politician serving in the New Jersey General Assembly.
- Jim Jackson (born 1963), a sportscaster for the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Flyers.
- Sandra Love (born 1945), a former mayor of Gloucester Township and politician.
- David R. Mayer (born 1967), the current mayor of Gloucester Township.
- Joseph Menna (born 1974), a sculptor.
- Jeff Moore (born 1980), a retired soccer player.
- Gabriela Mosquera (born 1977), a politician serving in the New Jersey General Assembly.
- Ann A. Mullen (1935–1994), a politician and former mayor of Gloucester Township.
- Ray Narleski (1928–2012), a professional baseball pitcher.
- Billy Paul (1934–2016), a Grammy Award-winning soul singer.
- A. Raymond Randolph (born 1943), a federal judge.
- Lisa Regina (born c. 1961), an actress, screenwriter, and director.
- Dennis L. Riley (born 1945), a politician.
- Joe Vitt (born 1954), a football coach.
Images for kids
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Chew-Powell House
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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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Logo of Gloucester Township, New Jersey
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Gloucester (Nueva Jersey) para niños
