West Deptford Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Deptford Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Ladd's Castle in West Deptford Township, January 2009
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Location of West Deptford Township in Gloucester County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Gloucester County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
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Census Bureau map of West Deptford Township, New Jersey
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 West Deptford Township, New Jersey
Location in Gloucester County, New Jersey
West Deptford Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
West Deptford 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 | Gloucester | |
| Incorporated | March 1, 1871 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 17.81 sq mi (46.12 km2) | |
| • Land | 15.36 sq mi (39.77 km2) | |
| • Water | 2.45 sq mi (6.35 km2) 13.77% | |
| Area rank | 161st of 565 in state 8th of 24 in county |
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| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 22,197 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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22,472 | |
| • Rank | 125th of 565 in state 5th of 24 in county |
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| • Density | 1,445.4/sq mi (558.1/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 341st of 565 in state 12th of 24 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08051, 08063, 08066, 08086, 08093, 08096
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| Area code(s) | 856 | |
| FIPS code | 3401578800 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882148 | |
West Deptford Township is a township located in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The name "West Deptford" comes from the Deptford area in London, England, which is located on the River Thames.
In 2020, about 22,197 people lived in West Deptford Township. This was a small increase from the 2010 population of 21,677. The township was officially formed on March 1, 1871. It was created from parts of Deptford Township. Later, some areas became separate towns, like National Park in 1902 and Westville in 1914.
Contents
History of West Deptford Township
West Deptford Township has a rich history. One of its most famous landmarks is Ladd's Castle, also known as Candor Hall. This historic building is the oldest brick home in Gloucester County.
Ladd's Castle: A Historic Home
Ladd's Castle was built around 1688. It was constructed by John Ladd, who was a surveyor. A surveyor is someone who measures and maps land. John Ladd even helped William Penn plan the city of Philadelphia. The castle was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, which means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Geography and Location
West Deptford Township covers an area of about 17.81 square miles (46.12 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a smaller part being water.
Communities and Neighborhoods
Many smaller communities and neighborhoods are found within West Deptford Township. Some of these include:
- Colonial Manor
- Eagle Point
- Greenfields Village
- Hoffman Wharf
- League Island
- Leonards
- North Woodbury
- Ogens
- Paradise
- Parkville
- Pierces Corner
- Red Bank
- Tatens
- Thorofare
- Verga
- Washington Park
- West End
Neighboring Towns and Cities
West Deptford Township shares its borders with several other towns in Gloucester County, New Jersey. These include:
- Deptford Township
- East Greenwich Township
- Mantua Township
- National Park
- Paulsboro
- Westville
- Woodbury
- Woodbury Heights
The township also borders Philadelphia and Tinicum Township in Pennsylvania. These areas are located across the Delaware River to the west.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,399 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,588 | 13.5% | |
| 1900 | 1,951 | 22.9% | |
| 1910 | 2,057 | * | 5.4% |
| 1920 | 1,781 | * | −13.4% |
| 1930 | 3,956 | 122.1% | |
| 1940 | 4,336 | 9.6% | |
| 1950 | 5,446 | 25.6% | |
| 1960 | 11,152 | 104.8% | |
| 1970 | 13,928 | 24.9% | |
| 1980 | 18,002 | 29.3% | |
| 1990 | 19,380 | 7.7% | |
| 2000 | 19,368 | −0.1% | |
| 2010 | 21,677 | 11.9% | |
| 2020 | 22,197 | 2.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 22,472 | 3.7% | |
| Population sources: 1880–2000 1880–1920 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory on previous decade. |
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In 2010, West Deptford Township had 21,677 people living in 8,829 households. About 27.9% of these households had children under 18 years old. Most households (48.5%) were married couples living together.
The population was mostly White (88.96%). Other groups included Black or African American (6.52%), Asian (1.91%), and people of two or more races (1.61%). About 3.37% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in the township in 2010 was 40.7 years. About 21.6% of the population was under 18 years old.
Education in West Deptford
The West Deptford Public Schools system provides education for students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade.
Public Schools
As of the 2021–2022 school year, the district had about 2,947 students and 238.5 teachers. This means there were about 12.4 students for every teacher. The district has five schools:
- Oakview Elementary School: Serves about 423 students in grades PreK-1.
- Red Bank Elementary School: Serves about 308 students in grades K and 2.
- Green-Fields Elementary School: Serves about 483 students in grades 3-4.
- West Deptford Middle School: Serves about 869 students in grades 5-8.
- West Deptford High School: Serves about 821 students in grades 9-12.
Students from anywhere in Gloucester County can also apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology. This is a four-year high school in Deptford Township that offers special technical and vocational training. Students do not pay tuition to attend this public school.
Catholic Schools
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden also operates schools that serve students from West Deptford Township.
- Holy Trinity Regional School: This school was formed in 2007 by combining St. Matthews School. It is located in Deptford Township. In 2017, it moved to a new building in Woodbury and was renamed Holy Angels Catholic School.
- Guardian Angels Regional School: This school serves students from kindergarten to 8th grade. Its PreK-3 campus is in Gibbstown, and its 4-8 campus is in Paulsboro.
Transportation
West Deptford Township has many roads and highways that help people travel around.
Major Roads and Highways
Several important roads pass through or near West Deptford Township:
- Interstate 295: This major highway runs through the township for about 5.5 miles. It has several exits that connect to different parts of West Deptford.
- U.S. Route 130: This route runs together with Interstate 295 for a bit, then splits off and continues into Westville.
- Route 44: This road closely follows Interstate 295.
- Route 45: This route runs along the eastern border of the township.
- County Route 551: Also known as Kings Highway, this road goes northeast into Woodbury.
- New Jersey Turnpike: This major toll road passes through the southeastern part of the township. While it doesn't have an exit directly in West Deptford, nearby exits are available.
Public Transportation
NJ Transit offers bus services that connect West Deptford Township to Philadelphia. These bus routes include:
- 401: Travels between Salem and Philadelphia.
- 402: Travels between Pennsville Township and Philadelphia.
- 410: Travels between Bridgeton and Philadelphia.
- 412: Travels between Glassboro and Philadelphia.
There is also a local bus service, the 455 route, which runs between Cherry Hill Township and Paulsboro.
Port of Paulsboro
The Port of Paulsboro is a very important port located on the Delaware River and Mantua Creek. It is shared by Paulsboro and West Deptford.
This port has traditionally been busy with moving petroleum products (like oil). However, it is being updated to become an "omniport." This means it can handle many different types of cargo, such as bulk cargo (like grains or minerals), break bulk cargo (items packed individually), and shipping containers.
Studies have shown that the Port of Paulsboro is a good place for making, assembling, and shipping wind turbines. These turbines are used to create wind energy.
Community Activities
West Deptford is proud to host the annual Senior Little League Baseball Eastern Regional Tournament. The team that wins this tournament gets to move on to the Senior League World Series, which is held every year in Bangor, Maine.
Notable People from West Deptford
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to West Deptford Township:
- Dan Baker (born 1946): A well-known sports announcer for the Philadelphia Eagles (football) and Philadelphia Phillies (baseball).
- Jeremy Maclin (born 1988): A former professional football player who played for teams like the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles.
- Anthony Scirrotto (born 1986): Another former professional football player who played in the NFL for the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Eagles.
- Stephen Sweeney (born 1959): A politician who used to be the president of the New Jersey Senate.
- Elaine Van Blunk (born 1964): A long-distance runner who achieved third place in the 1994 Chicago Marathon.
- Dajuan Wagner (born 1983): A former player in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Images for kids
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Ladd's Castle in West Deptford Township, January 2009
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Location of West Deptford Township in Gloucester County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Gloucester County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
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Census Bureau map of West Deptford Township, New Jersey
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Seal of West Deptford Township
