Location of Greenwich 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 Greenwich Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey
Greenwich Township was first formed on March 1, 1695, and was formally incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Over the centuries, portions of the township were taken to form Woolwich Township (March 7, 1767), Franklin Township (January 27, 1820), Spicer Township (March 13, 1844; now Harrison Township), Mantua Township (February 23, 1853), East Greenwich Township (February 10, 1881), and Paulsboro (March 2, 1904).[21] The township was named for Greenwich, England.[22]
C. A. Nothnagle Log House in Greenwich Township is one of the oldest standing wooden structures built by European settlers in the Eastern United States.[23] It was likely built by early Finnish-Swedish settlers after 1638 but before 1700; its precise age has not been definitively determined. A plaque at the house indicates that the structure was built between 1638 and 1643, while the National Register of Historic Places web site states: "Period of Significance: 1650–1699". The one-room cabin is constructed of square-hewn logs with a low-beamed ceiling with a large corner fireplace in a rear corner.[24]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 12.03 square miles (31.16 km2), including 8.96 square miles (23.21 km2) of land and 3.07 square miles (7.95 km2) of water (25.50%).[1][2]
Gibbstown, with a 2010 population of 3,739,[25] is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Greenwich Township.[26] Other unincorporated communities, localities, and places located partially or completely in the township are Clements, Green, Monds Island, and Thompsons Point.[27]
Of the 1,946 households, 25.8% had children under the age of 18; 53.3% were married couples living together; 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.5% were non-families. Of all households, 24.9% were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01.[18]
20.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.2 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that, in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars, median household income was $63,817 with a margin of error of +/− $7,652, and median family income was $81,250 (+/− $14,406). Males had a median income of $47,927 (+/− $6,567) versus $41,750 (+/− $4,066) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,685 (+/− $3,226). About 8.1% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.[42]
As of the 2000 United States census,[15] there were 4,879 people, 1,866 households, and 1,393 families residing in the township. The population density was 523.7 inhabitants per square mile (202.2/km2). There were 1,944 housing units at an average density of 208.7 per square mile (80.6/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 94.55% White, 3.32% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.[40][41]
There were 1,866 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.05.[40][41]
In the township, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.[40][41]
The median income for a household in the township was $53,651, and the median income for a family was $60,565. Males had a median income of $41,875 versus $31,627 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,791. About 1.3% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.[40][41]
Greenwich Township is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council Plan A form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 71 of New Jersey's 564 municipalities that use this form.[43] The governing body is comprised of five members elected at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two council seats up for election in each of the first two years and the mayoral seat up for vote in the third year of a three-year cycle.[7][44][45]
As of 2022[update], the Mayor of Greenwich Township is Democrat Vincent Giovannitti, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.[3] Members of the Greenwich Township Council are Council President Joseph L. DiMenna (D, 2022;elected to serve an unexpired term), Antonio Chila (D, 2022), Bryan Nastase (R, 2024) and Wanda Tranquillo (R, 2024).[46][47][48][49][50][51]
Gloucester County is governed by a board of county commissioners, whose seven members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis in partisan elections, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year. At a reorganization meeting held each January, the Board selects a Director and a Deputy Director from among its members. As of 2024[update], Gloucester County's Commissioners are:
Gloucester County's constitutional officers are:
Clerk James N. Hogan (D, Franklin Township; 2027),[70][71]
Sheriff Jonathan M. Sammons (R, Elk Township; 2024)[72][73] and
Surrogate Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D, Woolwich Township; 2028).[74][75][76]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,690 registered voters in Greenwich Township, of which 2,246 (60.9%) were registered as Democrats, 444 (12.0%) were registered as Republicans and 1,000 (27.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[77]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.5% of the vote (1,435 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 45.0% (1,206 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (39 votes), among the 2,712 ballots cast by the township's 3,711 registered voters (32 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.1%.[78][79] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.8% of the vote (1,564 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.8% (1,353 votes) and other candidates with 1.6% (47 votes), among the 3,022 ballots cast by the township's 3,863 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2%.[80] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 53.9% of the vote (1,602 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 44.0% (1,308 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (34 votes), among the 2,972 ballots cast by the township's 3,853 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 77.1.[81]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.2% of the vote (1,138 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 37.0% (677 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (14 votes), among the 1,915 ballots cast by the township's 3,654 registered voters (86 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 52.4%.[82][83] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 49.6% of the vote (1,103 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 36.8% (817 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.4% (187 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (20 votes), among the 2,222 ballots cast by the township's 3,169 registered voters, yielding a 70.1% turnout.[84]
Students in the county are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend the school.[97]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 38.06 miles (61.25 km) of roadways, of which 23.72 miles (38.17 km) were maintained by the municipality, 8.96 miles (14.42 km) by Gloucester County and 5.38 miles (8.66 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[100]
Several major roadways cross the township.[101]Route 44 passes through the center of the township[102] and U.S. Route 130 and Interstate 295 multiplexed together pass near the town's southern center with three interchanges: Exits 15, 16, and 17 on the border with neighboring East Greenwich Township.[103]
^Raum, John O. The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 257, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed September 9, 2013. "Greenwich township contained a population in 1850 of 3,067; in 1860, 2,199; and in 1870, 2,342. Berkeley (or Sandtown), Paulsboro' and Billingsport, the former named after Lord Berkeley, and the latter after Edward Byllinge, are in this township."
^Report of Audit for the year ended December 31, 2009Archived December 30, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Township of Greenwich. Accessed December 29, 2014. "The Township has a Mayor-Council form of government known as the Mayor-Council Plan A under the Optional Municipal Charter Law of 1960, popularly known as the Faulkner Act. The Mayor is separately elected."
^Full Biography, Congressman Donald Norcross. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Donald and his wife Andrea live in Camden City and are the proud parents of three grown children and grandparents of two."
^Greenwich Township (Gloucester County) Board of Education District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Greenwich Township School District. Accessed July 31, 2023. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Greenwich Township School District. Composition: The Greenwich Township school District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Greenwich Township."
^About GTSD, Greenwich Township School District. Accessed July 31, 2023. "The Greenwich Township School District is a preK-8 school district located in beautiful Gibbstown, NJ. Students in grades prek-4th grade attend Greenwich Township Elementary School aka Broad Street School. Students in grades 5 - 8 attend Nehaunsey Middle School."
^Staff. "Gloucester County municipal snapshots", Courier-Post, February 28, 2008. Accessed December 29, 2014. "Greenwich is Gloucester County's oldest township, incorporated in 1694.... About 650 students attend Greenwich's two local schools, the Broad Street School and the Nehaunsey Middle School. High school students attend Paulsboro High School."
^AdmissionsArchived May 22, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Gloucester County Institute of Technology. Accessed November 7, 2019. "There is no charge to attend. GCIT is a public school.... GCIT is the vocational-technical school for Gloucester County residents. You must live in Gloucester County to apply and attend."
^HistoryArchived August 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Borough of Paulsboro. Accessed July 26, 2014. "Just before World War I, the export business of Vacuum Oil required a refinery on the east coast. A location near Paulsboro seemed most suitable and Vacuum purchased it in April 1916. The Paulsboro Plant, which began in 1917, was designed to manufacture lubricating oil. Gasoline and kerosene were considered by-products. ....the plant's present name, is actually located in Gibbstown and it pays taxes to that municipality (Penn's boundary), but it is referred to as the Paulsboro plant and many of its employees live in Paulsboro. ... Some of the great advances in petroleum processing were first used commercially at the Paulsboro refinery."
^Morris, Allen Covington. The Florida Handbook, Volume 12, p. 138. Peninsular Publishing Company, 1970. Accessed July 6, 2015. "Earle, Lewis S. 'Lew,' Republican, 43rd District (Orange, Seminole); dentist, born August 22, 1933, Gibbstown, New Jersey"
^Duggan, Dan. "Rutgers alums Tiquan Underwood and Alex Silvestro recall when Super Bowl fates intersected", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 1, 2015. Accessed July 6, 2015. "Signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers in 2011, Silvestro was released in the final round of preseason roster cuts. The defensive end from Gibbstown was re-signed to the Patriots' practice squad three weeks into the season."