Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hamilton Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Weymouth Road Bridge in Hamilton Township
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| Motto(s):
"New Jersey's Largest Municipality"
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Location of Hamilton Township in Atlantic County highlighted in yellow (left). Inset map: Location of Atlantic County in New Jersey highlighted in black (right).
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Census Bureau map of Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey
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 Hamilton Township, New Jersey
Location in Atlantic County, New Jersey
Hamilton Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Hamilton 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 | Atlantic | |
| Incorporated | February 5, 1813 | |
| Named for | Alexander Hamilton | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 112.94 sq mi (292.52 km2) | |
| • Land | 110.90 sq mi (287.22 km2) | |
| • Water | 2.05 sq mi (5.31 km2) 1.81% | |
| Area rank | 2nd of 565 in state 2nd of 23 in county |
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| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 27,484 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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28,266 | |
| • Rank | 92nd of 565 in state 4th of 23 in county |
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| • Density | 247.8/sq mi (95.7/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 490th of 565 in state 16th of 23 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08330 – Mays Landing
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| Area code(s) | 609 | |
| FIPS code | 3400129280 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882049 | |
| Website | ||
Hamilton Township is a community in Atlantic County, New Jersey. It is called a "township" and is part of the United States. In 2020, about 27,484 people lived here. This was a small increase from 2010.
Hamilton Township was officially created on February 5, 1813. It is known as "New Jersey's Largest Municipality" because it has the most land area. It covers about 110.90 square miles. However, when you include water, it is the second largest in New Jersey. Galloway Township is slightly larger overall.
Hamilton Township is in the South Jersey area. It is also part of the Atlantic City and Hammonton metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Hamilton Township
Early Beginnings and Shipbuilding
The history of Hamilton Township is closely linked to the Great Egg Harbor River. This river and its smaller streams flow through the area. In 1756, a man named George May built a shipyard and trading post. This was near Babcock Creek, and the village of Mays Landing was named after him.
By the mid-1800s, Mays Landing was very busy with shipbuilding. Between 1830 and 1880, over 200 ships were built here. They used wood from local forests and iron from Weymouth foundries. Half of these ships were built in Mays Landing. However, by the late 1800s, wood for shipbuilding became scarce. Ships then started to be made from iron instead.
How Hamilton Township Was Formed
Hamilton Township became an official township on February 5, 1813. This happened through a law passed by the New Jersey Legislature. It was formed from parts of Egg Harbor Township and Weymouth Township. At that time, the area was part of Gloucester County.
In 1837, Hamilton became part of the new Atlantic County. Later, some parts of the township were used to create other towns. Hammonton was formed in 1866, and Buena Vista Township in 1867. The township was named after Alexander Hamilton, a very important person in early American history.
Geography and Natural Areas
Land and Water in Hamilton Township
Hamilton Township covers about 112.94 square miles. Most of this is land, about 110.90 square miles. The rest, about 2.05 square miles, is water.
Mays Landing is a community within Hamilton Township. It has been the main town, or county seat, of Atlantic County since 1837. Other small communities in the township include Cologne, McKee City, and Mizpah.
Hamilton Township shares borders with several other towns in Atlantic County. These include Buena Vista Township, Egg Harbor Township, and Galloway Township.
The Pinelands National Reserve
A large part of Hamilton Township is inside the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve. This is a special protected natural area. It covers over 1.1 million acres and has unique plants and animals. Congress created it in 1978 as the first National Reserve in the U.S.
The western three-quarters of the township are protected by the New Jersey Pinelands Commission. This means there are strict rules about building new things there. This area remains mostly pine forest and has a rural feel.
The eastern part of the township is different. It is part of the Regional Growth Area. Here, new buildings and development are allowed and even encouraged. Most of the people in Hamilton Township live in this eastern area. It has a more suburban feel with many shopping areas. One example is the Hamilton Mall.
Population and People
Hamilton Township has grown a lot over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 877 | — | |
| 1830 | 1,424 | 62.4% | |
| 1840 | 1,565 | 9.9% | |
| 1850 | 2,015 | 28.8% | |
| 1860 | 1,945 | −3.5% | |
| 1870 | 1,271 | * | −34.7% |
| 1880 | 1,464 | 15.2% | |
| 1890 | 1,512 | 3.3% | |
| 1900 | 1,682 | 11.2% | |
| 1910 | 2,271 | 35.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,406 | 5.9% | |
| 1930 | 3,193 | 32.7% | |
| 1940 | 3,363 | 5.3% | |
| 1950 | 3,774 | 12.2% | |
| 1960 | 6,017 | 59.4% | |
| 1970 | 6,445 | 7.1% | |
| 1980 | 9,499 | 47.4% | |
| 1990 | 16,012 | 68.6% | |
| 2000 | 20,499 | 28.0% | |
| 2010 | 26,503 | 29.3% | |
| 2020 | 27,484 | 3.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 28,266 | 6.7% | |
| Population sources: 1820-1920 1820-1830 1840-2000 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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Population Details from 2010
In 2010, there were 26,503 people living in Hamilton Township. There were about 9,490 households, which are groups of people living together. About 6,690 of these were families.
Most of the people, about 68%, were White. About 18.5% were Black or African American. About 5.4% were Asian, and 4.1% were from other races. About 12.8% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 24% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in the township was 37.1 years.
Economy and Businesses
Hamilton Township has many places to shop. It has over 3 million square feet of retail stores. This includes the Hamilton Mall, Consumer Square, and Hamilton Commons.
Balic Winery is also located here. It started in 1966 and makes 27 different kinds of wine. The winery has a 57-acre vineyard.
Parks and Recreation
The Great Egg Harbor River and Lake Lenape are popular spots for fun activities. Local people and visitors enjoy these natural areas. The Lake Lenape Parks cover more than 2,000 acres. They offer many chances to enjoy the outdoors.
Education in Hamilton Township
Public Schools for Younger Students
Students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend schools in the Hamilton Township Schools district. In the 2021–22 school year, about 2,974 students were enrolled. The district has three schools:
- Joseph C. Shaner Memorial School (grades K-1)
- George Hess Educational Complex (pre-kindergarten and grades 2-5)
- William Davies Middle School (grades 6–8)
High School Education
Students in ninth through twelfth grades go to Oakcrest High School. This high school is located right in Hamilton Township. It is part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District. This district also serves students from Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township, and Mullica Township.
Specialized and Higher Education
Atlantic County Institute of Technology (ACIT) is also in Hamilton Township. It opened in 1974 and teaches high school students and adults. ACIT offers training for different jobs and careers. In 2008, it was named a National Blue Ribbon School.
Students can also attend the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts. This school is in Somers Point and focuses on arts education.
For Catholic education, Saint Vincent de Paul Regional School is in Mays Landing. It teaches students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
Atlantic Cape Community College is a college located in Mays Landing. It was one of the first community colleges in New Jersey. It serves students from both Atlantic County and Cape May County.
Transportation and Roads
Major Roads and Highways
Hamilton Township has many roads. As of 2010, there were over 258 miles of roadways. The Atlantic City Expressway runs through the township for about 14 miles. It has three exits in Hamilton.
Other important roads include U.S. Route 40, U.S. Route 322, and Route 50. Several county roads also pass through the area.
_from_the_overpass_for_Atlantic_County_Route_559_(Weymouth_Road)_in_Hamilton_Township,_Atlantic_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Public Bus Service
NJ Transit provides bus services in Hamilton Township. You can take a bus from here to Cape May and Philadelphia on route 315. There are also buses to Atlantic City on routes 502 and 553.
Notable People from Hamilton Township
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Hamilton Township. Here are a few:
- Brandon Bell (born 1995), a football player for the Penn State Nittany Lions.
- Colin Bell (born 1981), who served in the New Jersey Senate.
- Johnny Berchtold, an actor.
- Cory Bird (born 1978), a safety who played for the Indianapolis Colts football team.
- Suzette Charles (born 1963), a singer and entertainer who became Miss America in 1984.
- Carmen Cincotti (born 1992), a competitive eater.
- Darren Drozdov (born 1969), a former NFL player and professional wrestler.
- Mae Faggs (1932–2000), a track-and-field athlete who won a gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
- Ronnie Faisst (born 1977), a professional freestyle motocross rider.
- Harvey Kesselman (born 1951), the fifth president of Stockton University.
- Shameka Marshall (born 1983), a long jumper who won a gold medal in 2007.
- Bo Melton (born 1999), an American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers.
- Max Melton, an American football cornerback for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
- William Moore (1810–1878), who served in the United States House of Representatives.
- Graciela Rivera (1921–2011), the first Puerto Rican to sing a main role at the Metropolitan Opera.
