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| Mullica Township, New Jersey | |
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| Township | |
| Township of Mullica | |
Pleasant Mills
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 Map of Mullica Township in Atlantic County. Inset: Location of Atlantic County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. |
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 Census Bureau map of Mullica Township, New Jersey |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Atlantic |
| Incorporated | March 13, 1838 |
| Named for | Eric Pålsson Mullica |
| Area | |
| • Total | 56.902 sq mi (147.377 km2) |
| • Land | 56.421 sq mi (146.130 km2) |
| • Water | 0.481 sq mi (1.246 km2) 0.85% |
| Area rank | 25th of 566 in state 4th of 23 in county |
| Elevation | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Population (2010 Census) | |
| • Total | 6,147 |
| • Estimate (2015) | 6,098 |
| • Rank | 338th of 566 in state 15th of 23 in county |
| • Density | 108.9/sq mi (42.0/km2) |
| • Density rank | 539th of 566 in state 21st of 23 in county |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08217 - Elwood |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 3400149410 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882053 |
| Website | www |
Mullica Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 6,147 reflecting an increase of 235 (+4.0%) from the 5,912 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 16 (+0.3%) from the 5,896 counted in the 1990 Census.
Mullica Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1838, from the western section of Galloway Township. Egg Harbor City was created from portions of the township on June 14, 1858, while the Town of Hammonton was created and split off on March 5, 1866.
The township and its river were named after Eric Pålsson Mullica, an early Finnish settler born in 1636 who founded a homestead on the river after moving there from the vicinity of Philadelphia, and who later moved to Mullica Hill in Gloucester County. When used as a common noun, mullikka is the Finnish term for a bull calf.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 56.902 square miles (147.377 km2), including 56.421 square miles (146.130 km2) of land and 0.481 square miles (1.246 km2) of water (0.85%).
Despite a relatively small population, Mullica Township comprises many small communities. Elwood is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) (with a 2010 Census population of 1,437) located within Mullica Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Amatol, Colwell, Dacosta, Devonshire, East Hammonton, Indian Cabin, Nesco, New Columbia, Pleasant Mills, Speedway, Sweetwater, Weekstown, Wescoatville, West Egg Harbor and Woodland. Unincorporated communities in Mullica Township are largely identified by landmarks such as the Elwood Deli, the Sweetwater Casino, or the Weekstown Firehouse. The small unincorporated communities within the township engender a particularly high level of pride, and many Mullica Township residents refer to themselves as residents of their unincorporated community, before referring to themselves as residents of Mullica Township.
The township is located in the northeast portion of Atlantic County. It is bounded on the north by Washington Township in Burlington County; on the east by Egg Harbor City; on the south by Hamilton Township; and on the west by the Town of Hammonton. The Township is approximately 13 miles (21 km) outside of Atlantic City and 40 miles (64 km) outside of Philadelphia.
The township is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering 1,100,000 acres (450,000 ha), that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve. All of the township is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Atlantic County, along with areas in Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 1,056 | — | |
| 1850 | 918 | −13.1% | |
| 1860 | 1,600 | * | 74.3% |
| 1870 | 861 | * | −46.2% |
| 1880 | 717 | −16.7% | |
| 1890 | 697 | −2.8% | |
| 1900 | 880 | 26.3% | |
| 1910 | 811 | −7.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,166 | 43.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,425 | 22.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,500 | 5.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,804 | 20.3% | |
| 1960 | 2,944 | 63.2% | |
| 1970 | 3,391 | 15.2% | |
| 1980 | 5,243 | 54.6% | |
| 1990 | 5,896 | 12.5% | |
| 2000 | 5,912 | 0.3% | |
| 2010 | 6,147 | 4.0% | |
| Est. 2015 | 6,098 | −0.8% | |
| Population sources: 1840-2000 1840-1920 1840 1850-1870 1850 1870 1880-1890 1890-1910 1910-1930 1930-1990 2000 2010 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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As of the census of 2010, there were 6,147 people, 2,154 households, and 1,631 families residing in the township. The population density was 108.9 per square mile (42.0/km2). There were 2,360 housing units at an average density of 41.8 per square mile (16.1/km2)*. The racial makeup of the township was 83.26% (5,118) White, 5.68% (349) Black or African American, 0.23% (14) Native American, 0.68% (42) Asian, 0.03% (2) Pacific Islander, 7.19% (442) from other races, and 2.93% (180) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.02% (1,046) of the population.
There were 2,154 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the township, the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 100.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $54,730 (with a margin of error of +/- $11,733) and the median family income was $62,000 (+/- $10,758). Males had a median income of $42,931 (+/- $9,882) versus $41,716 (+/- $5,514) for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,217 (+/- $3,264). About 3.6% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,912 people, 2,044 households, and 1,537 families residing in the township. The population density was 104.5 people per square mile (40.3/km²). There were 2,176 housing units at an average density of 38.5 per square mile (14.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 80.58% White, 6.28% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 8.61% from other races, and 3.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.49% of the population.
There were 2,044 households out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,417, and the median income for a family was $55,143. Males had a median income of $40,033 versus $29,965 for females. The per capita income for the township was $19,764. About 5.7% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 106.24 miles (170.98 km) of roadways, of which 59.91 miles (96.42 km) were maintained by the municipality, 38.26 miles (61.57 km) by Atlantic County and 8.07 miles (12.99 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Many of the street names in Mullica Township are used on multiple, sometimes intersecting roads within the township, or reused from adjacent municipalities. Examples are Elwood Rd, Weekstown Road, Pleasant Mills Road, and Columbia Road. In fact, 7th Ave has two major intersections, one with County Road 612 and the other with County Road 643. Both of the county roads are named Weekstown Road at the point where they intersect with 7th Ave, approximately 2.5 miles away from each other.
U.S. Route 30 (White Horse Pike) passes through Mullica Township.
NJ Transit provides bus service in the township on the 554 route that runs between Lindenwold station and Atlantic City.
