Location of Harrison 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 Harrison Township, New Jersey
From Prohibition until 2018, Harrison Township had been a dry township, where alcohol could not be sold.[26][27] The township's voters passed a referendum in 2009 permitting alcohol by consumption in restaurants. A second referendum was passed by the voters in 2015 allowing sales of packaged alcoholic goods in liquor stores. The first liquor store opened in November 2018 and the first bar opened in July 2019.[28]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 19.02 square miles (49.25 km2), including 18.93 square miles (49.03 km2) of land and 0.08 square miles (0.22 km2) of water (0.44%).[1][2]
Mullica Hill is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Harrison Township that had a 2010 Census population of 3,982.[29]Richwood is a CDP that is in portions of both Harrison Township and Mantua Township, which had a 2010 population of 3,459, of which 3,400 were in Harrison Township and 59 in Mantua Township.[30][31] Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ewan, Ewans Mills, Heritage, Jefferson, and Sherwin.[32]
The 2010 United States census counted 12,417 people, 3,942 households, and 3,315 families in the township. The population density was 648.7 inhabitants per square mile (250.5/km2). There were 4,089 housing units at an average density of 213.6 per square mile (82.5/km2). The racial makeup was 90.57% (11,246) White, 3.83% (475) Black or African American, 0.09% (11) Native American, 3.38% (420) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.48% (59) from other races, and 1.66% (206) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.01% (374) of the population.[19]
Of the 3,942 households, 49.9% had children under the age of 18; 72.7% were married couples living together; 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 15.9% were non-families. Of all households, 13.3% were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.15 and the average family size was 3.47.[19]
31.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.2 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $102,162 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,851) and the median family income was $121,366 (+/− $9,400). Males had a median income of $88,157 (+/− $6,618) versus $47,857 (+/− $10,273) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,354 (+/− $2,640). About 5.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.[48]
As of the 2000 United States census,[16] there were 8,788 people, 2,848 households, and 2,323 families residing in the township. The population density was 459.3 inhabitants per square mile (177.3/km2). There were 2,939 housing units at an average density of 153.6 per square mile (59.3/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 95.16% White, 2.96% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.41% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.78% of the population.[46][47]
There were 2,848 households, out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.8% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.44.[46][47]
In the township, the population was spread out, with 33.2% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.[46][47]
The median income for a household in the township was $77,143, and the median income for a family was $84,379. Males had a median income of $61,770 versus $39,583 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,645. About 2.1% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.[46][47]
Harrison Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.[49] The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.[7][50] At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor, each serving a one-year term.[33]
As of 2024[update], the members of the Harrison Township Committee are Mayor Louis Manzo (I, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2024), Deputy Mayor Lawrence Moore (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2024), Kevin French (R, 2026), Jeffrey Jacques (R, 2025) and Michelle Powell (I, 2024).[3][51][52][53][54][55]
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),[71][72]
Sheriff Jonathan M. Sammons (R, Elk Township; 2024)[73][74] and
Surrogate Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D, Woolwich Township; 2028).[75][76][77]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 7,889 registered voters in Harrison Township, of which 1,903 (24.1%) were registered as Democrats, 2,533 (32.1%) were registered as Republicans and 3,447 (43.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 6 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[78]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 56.9% of the vote (3,561 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.8% (2,612 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (81 votes), among the 6,292 ballots cast by the township's 8,439 registered voters (38 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 74.6%.[79][80] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 52.3% of the vote (3,280 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.7% (2,867 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (68 votes), among the 6,273 ballots cast by the township's 7,975 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.7%.[81] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 58.0% of the vote (3,039 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 40.7% (2,132 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (42 votes), among the 5,236 ballots cast by the township's 6,540 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 80.1.[82]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.8% of the vote (2,515 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.6% (839 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (52 votes), among the 3,454 ballots cast by the township's 8,407 registered voters (48 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.1%.[83][84] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 59.5% of the vote (2,214 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 31.7% (1,178 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.1% (265 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (23 votes), among the 3,718 ballots cast by the township's 7,900 registered voters, yielding a 47.1% turnout.[85]
Students from across 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.[102]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 93.60 miles (150.63 km) of roadways, of which 56.92 miles (91.60 km) were maintained by the municipality, 29.64 miles (47.70 km) by Gloucester County, 6.94 miles (11.17 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.10 miles (0.16 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[105]
Al Szolack (born c. 1950), retired basketball player best known for his time spent on the Washington Generals, the traveling exhibition team best known for their spectacular losing streak in exhibition games against the Harlem Globetrotters[125]
^ abTownship Committee, Harrison Township. Accessed April 22, 2024. "Harrison Township operates under the 'Township' form of municipal government and is comprised of five members elected at-large through partisan elections. Members of township committee serve staggered three-year terms and reorganize annually during which the mayor is elected amongst members of township committee."
^Richardson, Herbert, ed. (1978). Harrison Township: An Interpretive Study of its Landscape, History, and Architecture. Glassboro, New Jersey: Department of Geography and History, Glassboro Community College.
^Batal, Caytlinn, "Developments to drink: Restaurants and liquor store to be first in Mullica Hill since prohibition", The Mullica Hill Sun, August 11, 2017. "Although many residents may say Mullica Hill is a dry town, Mayor Louis Manzo said, the area has not been dry since 2009 when a referendum was passed approving strictly the consumption of liquor, such as restaurants, exclusively in the Richwood Town Center redevelopment area, located near the intersection of Route 322 and Route 55.... The project was on hold until around 2013, Manzo said, and it was then the township auctioned off the first four licenses to the Richwood Town Center developer Madison Marquette, for $500,000 each. Within two years, a separate stand-alone ballot was passed in 2015 allowing two distribution liquor licenses based on Harrison Township’s population."
^ abAbout the Township, Harrison Township. Accessed November 8, 2019. "Harrison Township is bordered by the municipalities of East Greenwich Township, Mantua Township, the Borough of Glassboro, Elk Township, South Harrison Township, and Woolwich Township.... The township committee is comprised of five members elected at-large through partisan elections. Members of township committee serve staggered three-year terms. The township committee reorganizes annually during the first week of January, during which the mayor is elected amongst members of township committee to serve a term of one year."
^20210901's Storm Reports, National Weather Service. Accessed September 5, 2021. "2221 1 ENE Mullica Hill Gloucester NJ 3974 7520 Significant damage in the Mullica Hill area including several homes damaged and trees down on cedar road. time estimated from radar. (PHI)"
^Clearview Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Clearview Regional High School District. Accessed March 6, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades seven through twelve in the Clearview Regional High School District. Composition: The Clearview Regional High School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Harrison Township and Mantua Township."
^About Us, Clearview Regional High School District. Accessed March 6, 2024. "The Clearview Regional High School District serves the townships of Harrison and Mantua. The district is comprised of a Middle School (7-8) and High School (9-12), educating approximately 2,450 students."
^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."
^Jay Accorsi, Rowan University. Accessed March 29, 2016. "Accorsi resides in Mullica Hill, NJ with his wife Nancy and daughters, Gabrielle and Rachel and son, Jack."
^Shyrock, Bob. "A Rare Talent", South Jersey Life, August 21, 2007. Accessed October 21, 2018. "Defying considerable odds, John Brancy has posted some rather impressive numbers. For example, in one competition in Miami, the classical baritone from Clearview Regional High School was one of six $10,000 winners.... So it's little wonder the Mullica Hill resident heads to the elite Juilliard School in Manhattan on scholarship in a few weeks to pursue a musical career he hopes will culminate on the worldwide opera stage."
^Staff. "Wilbur Evans Is Dead; A Singer on Broadway", The New York Times, June 3, 1987. Accessed March 29, 2016. "Wilbur Evans, a singer and actor who starred opposite Mary Martin in the London production of South Pacific, died Sunday at his home in Mullica Hill, N.J."
^Staff. "W. And J. To Keep Folwell.; Coach Has Made Wonderful Record in Three Years.", The New York Times, December 1, 1914. Accessed October 22, 2018. "With the return of the Washington and Jefferson football team from New York following the post-season game with Rutgers, Graduate Manager R.M. Murphy announced that Bob Folwell, the old Penn star, had signed a contract to coach the team again in 1915. Folwell did not return here, going direct to his home at Mullica Hill, N.J., where he will spend the Winter on his farm."
^Historical Sites, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed March 29, 2016. "The General French House 136 South Broad Street, Woodbury Built ca. 1766, this house gained fame during the Civil War because it was owned by a General in the Confederate Army. General Samuel Gibbs French, though born in Mullica Hill, chose to fight on the side of the Confederacy."
^Phillies Broadcasters, Philadelphia Phillies. Accessed August 8, 2019. "Gregg lives in Mullica Hill, N.J., and has three children: one daughter, Quinn, and two sons, Matthew and Colin."
^Williams, Victoria. "Under Control", Gloucester County Times, January 15, 2009. Accessed March 29, 2016. "Big Al, wife Carol, and their daughters, Karolena, 18, and Olivia, 11, reside in Mullica Hill."