Upper Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Upper Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Marshallville Inn
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Location of Upper Township in Cape May County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Cape May County in New Jersey highlighted in red (right).
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Census Bureau map of Upper Township, New Jersey
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 Upper Township, New Jersey
Location in Cape May County, New Jersey
Upper Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Upper 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 |  Cape May |
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| Formed | April 2, 1723 | |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 68.68 sq mi (177.89 km2) | |
| • Land | 62.03 sq mi (160.65 km2) | |
| • Water | 6.66 sq mi (17.24 km2) 9.69% | |
| Area rank | 17th of 565 in state 2nd of 16 in county |
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| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,539 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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12,510 | |
| • Rank | 205th of 565 in state 3rd of 16 in county |
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| • Density | 202.2/sq mi (78.1/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 502nd of 565 in state 15th of 16 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Codes | ||
| Area code(s) | 609 | |
| FIPS code | 3400974810 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882047 | |
| Website | ||
Upper Township is a large community in Cape May County, New Jersey. It's part of the South Jersey region. The township is also near the Ocean City area. This larger area is sometimes called the Delaware Valley.
In 2020, about 12,539 people lived in Upper Township. This was a small increase from 2010. New Jersey Monthly magazine once called Upper Township the 2nd best place to live in New Jersey in 2008.
Did you know Upper Township has the only yellow fire trucks in Cape May County? This tradition started in 1985. The Seaville Fire Rescue Company thought a new rule would make them use yellow. This company has been helping the area since 1964. They respond to over 200 calls each year.
Contents
History of Upper Township
Upper Township was first set up as a "precinct" on April 2, 1723. It officially became one of New Jersey's first townships on February 21, 1798. Over the years, some parts of Upper Township were used to create new towns. These include Dennis Township in 1827 and Ocean City borough in 1884.
The name "Upper Township" comes from its location. When Cape May County was divided into three townships in 1723, this one was the "upper" part. The other two were Lower Township and Middle Township. In 2008, Upper Township thought about joining with nearby Corbin City.
Geography and Communities
Upper Township covers about 68.68 square miles (177.89 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 62.03 square miles (160.65 square kilometers). The rest is water, like rivers and bays.
Strathmere is a community within Upper Township. It's also a "census-designated place," which means the government counts its population separately. In 2010, 158 people lived there.
Many other small communities are also part of Upper Township. These include Beesley's Point, Marmora, Seaville, and Tuckahoe. The township has different areas, from Great Egg Harbor to the Atlantic Ocean. Seaville is the biggest community. Strathmere is a beach town on an island.
Upper Township shares borders with several other towns. These include Dennis Township and Ocean City in Cape May County. It also borders towns in Atlantic County and Cumberland County.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 1,664 | — | |
| 1820 | 2,107 | 26.6% | |
| 1830 | 1,067 | * | −49.4% |
| 1840 | 1,217 | 14.1% | |
| 1850 | 1,341 | 10.2% | |
| 1860 | 1,552 | 15.7% | |
| 1870 | 1,483 | −4.4% | |
| 1880 | 1,702 | 14.8% | |
| 1890 | 1,381 | * | −18.9% |
| 1900 | 1,351 | −2.2% | |
| 1910 | 1,483 | 9.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,272 | −14.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,657 | 30.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,675 | 1.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,922 | 14.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,539 | 32.1% | |
| 1970 | 3,413 | 34.4% | |
| 1980 | 6,713 | 96.7% | |
| 1990 | 10,681 | 59.1% | |
| 2000 | 12,115 | 13.4% | |
| 2010 | 12,373 | 2.1% | |
| 2020 | 12,539 | 1.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 12,510 | 1.1% | |
| Population sources:1810–2000 1810–1920 1840 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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2010 Census Details
In 2010, there were 12,373 people living in Upper Township. There were 4,566 households, which are groups of people living together. Most people were White (96.61%). About 2.36% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 23.8% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in the township was 43.6 years. For every 100 females, there were about 94.4 males.
Parks and Recreation
Upper Township has beaches in the Strathmere area. These beaches are special because they offer free public access. Lifeguards watch over them to keep everyone safe. Only a few towns in New Jersey offer free oceanfront beaches with lifeguards.
Education in Upper Township
The Upper Township School District serves younger students. It includes students from pre-kindergarten up to eighth grade. In the 2021–22 school year, about 1,404 students attended the three schools in the district.
The schools are:
- Upper Township Primary School (PreK-2)
- Upper Township Elementary School (grades 3-5)
- Upper Township Middle School (grades 6-8)
Students from Corbin City also attend these schools.
For high school, students from Upper Township go to Ocean City High School. This school is in Ocean City. Students from Corbin City, Longport, and Sea Isle City also attend Ocean City High School. In 2015, about 60% of the students at Ocean City High School were from Upper Township.
There are also county-wide schools. These include Cape May County Technical High School for technical training. The Cape May County Special Services School District helps students with special needs.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden runs Bishop McHugh Regional School. This is a Catholic school for grades K-8. It is located in Dennis Township.
The Cape May County Library has an Upper Township Branch in Petersburg.
Police Services
Upper Township does not have its own police department. Instead, the New Jersey State Police serve the township. They respond to calls from their station in nearby Woodbine.
Transportation
_at_Exit_20_(U.S._Route_9,_New_Jersey_State_Route_50_NORTH,_Upper_Township)_in_Upper_Township,_Cape_May_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Roads and Highways
As of 2015, Upper Township had over 140 miles of roads. The township maintains many of these roads. Others are kept up by Cape May County or the state of New Jersey.
The Garden State Parkway is a major highway that goes through Upper Township. US 9 also passes through the town. These roads connect Upper Township to other areas. They both cross the Great Egg Harbor Bridge.
Other important roads include Route 49, CR 548, and CR 557.
Public Transportation
NJ Transit offers bus services in Upper Township.
- Routes 313 and 315 travel between Cape May and Philadelphia.
- The 316 route runs during certain seasons.
- The 319 route connects Cape May to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
- The 552 route goes between Cape May and Atlantic City.
Places to Visit
- Tuckahoe station
- Marshallville Historic District
- Thomas Beesley Sr. House
- John Wesley Gandy House
Famous People from Upper Township
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Upper Township:
- George Gandy (1851–1946) – A business leader who built the first bridge across Tampa Bay in Florida.
- Garet Garrett (1878–1954) – A journalist and writer.
- Carlton Godfrey (1865–1929) – A politician and businessman who served in the New Jersey government.
- Ford Palmer (born 1990) – A professional runner who specializes in middle-distance races.
- Bob Pellegrini (1934–2008) – A football player who played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Dummy Stephenson (1869–1924) – A baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Adam Williamson (born 1984) – A professional soccer player.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Upper (Nueva Jersey) para niños
