Monroe Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monroe Township, New Jersey
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
Township
|
||
Downer Methodist Episcopal Church in Monroe Township, November 2011
|
||
|
||
Location of Monroe Township in Gloucester County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Gloucester County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
|
||
Census Bureau map of Monroe Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey
|
||
 Monroe Township, New Jersey
Location in Gloucester County, New Jersey
Monroe Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Monroe Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  New Jersey |
|
| County |  Gloucester |
|
| Incorporated | March 3, 1859 | |
| Named for | President James Monroe | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Faulkner Act (mayor–council) | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 46.93 sq mi (121.54 km2) | |
| • Land | 46.42 sq mi (120.23 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.51 sq mi (1.31 km2) 1.08% | |
| Area rank | 36th of 565 in state 2nd of 24 in county |
|
| Elevation | 121 ft (37 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 37,117 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
37,752 | |
| • Rank | 65th of 565 in state 2nd of 24 in county |
|
| • Density | 799.6/sq mi (308.7/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 408th of 565 in state 17th of 24 in county |
|
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08094 – Williamstown
|
|
| Area code(s) | 609 and 856 | |
| FIPS code | 3401547250 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882137 | |
| Website | ||
Monroe Township is a community located in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It's part of the South Jersey region and is a suburb of Philadelphia.
The township was officially created on March 3, 1859. It was originally part of Camden County but later moved to Gloucester County in 1871. Monroe Township was named after President James Monroe.
Contents
Geography of Monroe Township
Monroe Township covers about 46.93 square miles (121.54 km2). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Communities in Monroe Township
Several smaller communities are located within Monroe Township. These include Victory Lakes and Williamstown. Williamstown is the larger of the two.
Other smaller areas you might find in the township are Berryland, Broad Lane, Cecil, Cross Keys, Downer, New Brooklyn, and Radix.
Neighboring Towns
Monroe Township shares borders with several other towns. In Gloucester County, it borders Clayton, Franklin Township, Glassboro, and Washington Township. It also borders Buena Vista Township and Folsom in Atlantic County, and Winslow Township in Camden County.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,417 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,663 | 17.4% | |
| 1880 | 1,858 | 11.7% | |
| 1890 | 1,945 | 4.7% | |
| 1900 | 2,402 | 23.5% | |
| 1910 | 3,015 | 25.5% | |
| 1920 | 3,292 | 9.2% | |
| 1930 | 4,064 | 23.5% | |
| 1940 | 4,310 | 6.1% | |
| 1950 | 5,531 | 28.3% | |
| 1960 | 9,396 | 69.9% | |
| 1970 | 14,071 | 49.8% | |
| 1980 | 21,639 | 53.8% | |
| 1990 | 26,703 | 23.4% | |
| 2000 | 28,967 | 8.5% | |
| 2010 | 36,129 | 24.7% | |
| 2020 | 37,117 | 2.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 37,752 | 4.5% | |
| Population sources: 1860–1870 1880–2000 1860–1920 1860–1870 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
|||
In 2020, the population of Monroe Township was 37,117 people. This was the highest number of residents ever recorded for the township. The population has been growing steadily over the years.
Who Lives Here?
According to the 2010 census, most residents in Monroe Township were White (79.41%). About 14.01% were Black or African American, and 2.42% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 4.97% of the population.
The average age in the township was about 38.9 years old. About 25.7% of the population was under 18 years old.
Sports and Recreation
Scotland Run Golf Club is a popular public golf course in Williamstown. It opened in 1999 and was built on an old sand quarry. The course has 18 holes and has been recognized as one of the top public courses in the country.
Education in Monroe Township
The Monroe Township Public Schools district serves students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. The district has six schools.
Schools in the District
- Holly Glen Elementary School (grades K–4)
- Oak Knoll Elementary School (grades K–4)
- Radix Elementary School (grades Pre-K–4)
- Whitehall Elementary School (grades K–4)
- Williamstown Middle School (grades 5–8)
- Williamstown High School (grades 9–12)
Students can also apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology. This high school in Deptford Township offers technical and vocational training. It's a public school, so students don't pay tuition.
St. Mary School is a private elementary school for grades K–8. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.
Getting Around Monroe Township
_just_east_of_New_Jersey_State_Route_42_and_Gloucester_County_Route_536_Spur_(Sicklerville_Road)_in_Monroe_Township,_Gloucester_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Monroe Township has many roads for getting around. The township maintains most of these roads.
Main Roads and Highways
The Black Horse Pike is a major road that goes through the township. It has four lanes and connects to downtown Philadelphia (about 30 minutes away) and Atlantic City (about 35 minutes away). Part of this road is Route 42, and another part is U.S. Route 322.
U.S. Route 322 also runs west of the Black Horse Pike. It connects to the New Jersey Turnpike, which can take you north or south.
Public Transportation
NJ Transit offers bus services in the area. You can take a bus between Cape May and Philadelphia on the 315 route. The 400 route goes between Sicklerville and Philadelphia. There's also a local bus, the 463 route.
Cross Keys Airport is also located in the Cross Keys area of the township.
Places to See
The Hall Street School is an interesting historical building. It was built in 1887 and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous People from Monroe Township
Some notable people who have lived in or are connected to Monroe Township include:
- Dave Calloway (born 1968), a college basketball coach.
- Donovan Ezeiruaku, an American football player for the Boston College Eagles.
- Cody Miller, a politician who serves in the New Jersey General Assembly.
- Brittany Ratcliffe (born 1994), a soccer player who plays as a forward.
