According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 22.56 square miles (58.42 km2), including 22.33 square miles (57.84 km2) of land and 0.22 square miles (0.58 km2) of water (0.99%).[1][2]
Cookstown is a small unincorporated community located near Fort Dix. Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Cranberry Hall, Cranbury Park, Fountain Green, Lewistown, Mahalala, Pointville, Shreve and Taylors Mountain.[25]
The township is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering 1,100,000 acres (450,000 ha), that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.[29] Part of the township is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Burlington County, along with areas in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.[30]
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 7,385 people, 551 households, and 441 families in the township. The population density was 333.0 per square mile (128.6/km2). There were 613 housing units at an average density of 27.6 per square mile (10.7/km2). The racial makeup was 54.06% (3,992) White, 33.57% (2,479) Black or African American, 0.65% (48) Native American, 2.04% (151) Asian, 0.08% (6) Pacific Islander, 6.24% (461) from other races, and 3.36% (248) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.96% (1,548) of the population.[17]
Of the 551 households, 50.8% had children under the age of 18; 67.2% were married couples living together; 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.0% were non-families. Of all households, 16.7% were made up of individuals and 2.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 3.50.[17]
7.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 46.7% from 25 to 44, 34.2% from 45 to 64, and 3.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 624.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 830.1 males.[17]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $63,796 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,062) and the median family income was $61,083 (+/− $9,842). Males had a median income of $33,368 (+/− $5,196) versus $38,977 (+/− $6,300) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,387 (+/− $1,620). About 0.7% of families and 0.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.[43]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[14] there were 9,744 people, 1,162 households, and 991 families residing in the township. The population density was 437.3 inhabitants per square mile (168.8/km2). There were 1,381 housing units at an average density of 62.0 per square mile (23.9/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 64.1% White, 28.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.4% of the population.[41][42]
There were 1,162 households, out of which 60.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.1% were married couples living together, 3.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.7% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 0.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.14 and the average family size was 3.46.[41][42]
In the township the population was spread out, with 14.5% under the age of 18, 15.7% from 18 to 24, 55.4% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 1.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 401.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 561.7 males.[41][42]
The median income for a household in the township was $44,386, and the median income for a family was $45,511. Males had a median income of $26,428 versus $23,050 for females. The per capita income for the township was $12,140. About 3.2% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.[41][42]
Government
Local government
New Hanover 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.[44] 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.[6][45] At an annual reorganization meeting held in January after each election, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.[3]
As of 2023[update], the members of the New Hanover Township Committee are Mayor Paul D. Peterla (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 30, 2023), Deputy Mayor Rick Koshak (R, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Patrick Murphy (R, 2024), Nicholas Pawlyzyn Sr. (R, 2023) and Aaron Smith (R, 2025).[3][46][47][48][49]
Federal, state and county representation
New Hanover Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District[50] and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.[51]
Burlington County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of five members who are chosen 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; at an annual reorganization meeting, the board selects a director and deputy director from among its members to serve a one-year term.[57] As of 2024[update], Burlington County's Commissioners are:
Director Felicia Hopson (D, Willingboro Township, 2024),[58]Tom Pullion (D, Edgewater Park, 2026),[59]Allison Eckel (D, Medford, 2025),[60]Deputy Director Daniel J. O'Connell (D, Delran Township, 2024)[61] and Balvir Singh (D, Burlington Township, 2026).[62][57][63][64][65][66]
Burlington County's Constitutional Officers are:
Clerk Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2028)[67][68]Sheriff James H. Kostoplis (D, Bordentown, 2025)[69][70] and
Surrogate Brian J. Carlin (D, Burlington Township, 2026).[71][72]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 689 registered voters in New Hanover Township, of which 148 (21.5% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 278 (40.3% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 262 (38.0% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[73] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 9.3% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 10.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).[73][74]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 246 votes (55.2% vs. 40.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 194 votes (43.5% vs. 58.1%) and other candidates with 6 votes (1.3% vs. 1.0%), among the 446 ballots cast by the township's 742 registered voters, for a turnout of 60.1% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).[75][76] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 264 votes (56.3% vs. 39.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 190 votes (40.5% vs. 58.4%) and other candidates with 3 votes (0.6% vs. 1.0%), among the 469 ballots cast by the township's 674 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.6% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).[77] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 256 votes (65.3% vs. 46.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 131 votes (33.4% vs. 52.9%) and other candidates with 4 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 392 ballots cast by the township's 572 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.5% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).[78]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 224 votes (76.7% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 57 votes (19.5% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 3 votes (1.0% vs. 1.2%), among the 292 ballots cast by the township's 726 registered voters, yielding a 40.2% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).[79][80] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 206 votes (59.2% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 97 votes (27.9% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 15 votes (4.3% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 10 votes (2.9% vs. 1.2%), among the 348 ballots cast by the township's 723 registered voters, yielding a 48.1% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).[81]
Education
Non-military area Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the New Hanover Township School, which serves students from both New Hanover Township and Wrightstown as part of the New Hanover Township School District;[6][82] portions on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst have separate school zoning.[83] Students living on the base have choices of three school districts, none of them being New Hanover schools.[84]
As of the 2018–19 school year, the New Hanover district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 177 students and 23.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.5:1.[85] In the 2016–2017 school year, the district had the 40th-smallest enrollment of any school district in the state.[86]
Students from New Hanover Township, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton Township.[92]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 24.13 miles (38.83 km) of roadways, of which 13.11 miles (21.10 km) were maintained by the municipality, 10.70 miles (17.22 km) by Burlington County and 0.32 miles (0.51 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[93]
New Jersey Route 68 reaches its southern terminus in New Hanover Township.[94]County Route 545 has a gap in New Hanover due to the restricted area on the Fort Dix entity of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.[95][96]
^ a b cGovernment, New Hanover Township. Accessed April 24, 2023. "New Hanover Township is governed under the Township form of government. 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. At the annual reorganization meeting held in January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor."
^ a bAnnual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023, United States Census Bureau, released May 2024. Accessed May 16, 2024.
^ a b c d eDP-1 – Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for New Hanover township, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 21, 2012.
^New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^ a bSnyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 97. Accessed May 30, 2024.
^Halperin, Frank. "New Hanover: Land of thriving farms" Archived 2015-11-17 at the Wayback Machine, Courier-Post, October 18, 2006. Accessed September 9, 2015.
^DP-1 – Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Fort Dix CDP, Burlington County, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 21, 2012
^DP-1 – Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for McGuire AFB CDP, Burlington County, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 21, 2012.
^Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 27, 2015.
^Areas touching New Hanover Township, MapIt. Accessed March 1, 2020.
^Burlington County Map, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 1, 2020.
^Barnett, Bob. Population Data for Burlington County Municipalities, 1800–2000, WestJersey.org, January 6, 2011. Accessed November 27, 2013.
^Compendium of censuses 1726–1905: together with the tabulated returns of 1905, New Jersey Department of State, 1906. Accessed July 16, 2013.
^Bowen, Francis. American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Year 1843, p. 231, David H. Williams, 1842. Accessed July 16, 2013. Listed as "Hanover".
^Raum, John O. The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 264, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed July 16, 2013. "New Hanover township in 1850 contained a population of 2,245; in 1860, 2,529; and in 1870, 2,536. Jacobstown, Cookstown, Arneytown, Sykesville, Wrightstown, and Pointville, are in this township." The population of 2,529 shown for 1860 is three more than the amount shown in the table.
^Debow, James Dunwoody Brownson. The Seventh Census of the United States: 1850, p. 137. R. Armstrong, 1853. Accessed July 16, 2013.
^Staff. A compendium of the ninth census, 1870, p. 259. United States Census Bureau, 1872. Accessed July 16, 2013.
^Porter, Robert Percival. Preliminary Results as Contained in the Eleventh Census Bulletins: Volume III – 51 to 75, p. 97. United States Census Bureau, 1890. Accessed July 16, 2013.
^Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910: Population by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions, 1910, 1900, 1890, United States Census Bureau, p. 335. Accessed June 21, 2012.
^ a b"Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930 – Population Volume I", United States Census Bureau, p. 715. Accessed June 21, 2012. 1920 population includes 5,018 from Camp Dix.
^Table 6: New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1940 - 2000, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, August 2001. Accessed May 1, 2023.
^ a b c d eCensus 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for New Hanover township, Burlington County, New Jersey Archived 2007-07-11 at the Wayback Machine, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 16, 2013.
^ a b c d eDP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for New Hanover township, Burlington County, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 16, 2013.
^DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for New Hanover township, Burlington County, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 21, 2012.
^Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.
^"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
^2023 Municipal Data Sheet, New Hanover Township. Accessed July 30, 2022.
^November 8, 2022 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 29, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
^November 2, 2021 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.
^November 3, 2020 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 23, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
^Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.
^Coyne, Kevin. "Garden Variey Q&A: Andy Kim", New Jersey Monthly, May 2021. Accessed April 25, 2023. "Grew up in Marlton and Cherry Hill; Lives in Moorestown"
^U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^Home, sweet home: Bob Menendez back in Hudson County. nj.com. Accessed April 30, 2021. "Booker, Cory A. - (D - NJ) Class II; Menendez, Robert - (D - NJ) Class I"
^ a bBoard of County Commissioners, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Felicia Hopson, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Tom Pullion, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Allison Eckel, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Daniel J. O'Connell, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Balvir Singh, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^2022 County Data Sheet, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^November 8, 2022 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 29, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
^November 2, 2021 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.
^November 3, 2020 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results Archived February 13, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 23, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
^County Clerk, Burlington County. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Members List: Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Sheriff's Department, Burlington County. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Members List: Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Surrogate, Burlington County. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Members List: Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^ a bVoter Registration Summary – Burlington, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 25, 2014.
^GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 – State – County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 25, 2014.
^Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results – Burlington County Archived December 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 25, 2014.
^Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results – Burlington County Archived December 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 25, 2014.
^2008 Presidential General Election Results: Burlington County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 25, 2014.
^2004 Presidential Election: Burlington County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 25, 2014.
^2013 Governor: Burlington County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 25, 2014.
^Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 5, 2013 General Election Results : Burlington County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 25, 2014.
^New Hanover Township School District 2014 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 30, 2016. "Built in 1938 with funding from the Public Works Administration, the New Hanover Township School currently serves the residents of Wrightstown and Cookstown as a vibrant, growing community of diverse learners spanning grades PK through 8."
^"2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Burlington County, NJ" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2022. - Text list
^"Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Education". Military One Source. Retrieved August 7, 2022. - This is a .mil site.
^Guion, Payton. "These 43 N.J. school districts have fewer than 200 students", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 2017. Accessed January 30, 2020. "Based on data from the state Department of Education from the last school year and the Census Bureau, NJ Advance Media made a list of the smallest of the small school districts in the state, excluding charter schools and specialty institutions.... 40. New Hanover Township (tie) – Enrollment: 190; Grades: Pre-K-8; County: Burlington"
^District Information, Bordentown Regional School District. Accessed August 18, 2020. "Our district is comprised of the Township of Bordentown, the City of Bordentown and the Borough of Fieldsboro. New Hanover Township sends students on a tuition basis grades 9-12."
^Bordentown Regional School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 21, 2017. "Bordentown Regional School District is a vibrant learning community, proudly serving the communities of Fieldsboro, Bordentown City and Bordentown Township.... In addition to the three aforementioned communities, Bordentown Regional High School also welcomes students from New Hanover into its ninth-twelfth grade population."
^Staff. "Regional School Districts" Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Burlington County Times, April 26, 2015. Accessed June 2, 2016. "Bordentown Regional – Serves: Bordentown City, Bordentown Township, Fieldsboro, New Hanover"
^Zimmaro, Mark. "Figures suggest deficit in New Hanover send-receive school proposal" Archived 2011-12-04 at the Wayback Machine, Burlington County Times, December 4, 2011. Accessed December 17, 2011. "The idea of sending the district’s sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders to the Bordentown Regional Middle School on a tuition basis surfaced last year, but the school board shot down the proposal by a 4-3 vote.... The district has been considering sending 51 middle school students to Bordentown next year, in a similar agreement the districts have with the high school students. Bordentown Regional High School receives New Hanover and Wrightstown students in a 60-year-old agreement."
^Burlington County Bus/Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 28, 2010. Accessed November 28, 2013.
^South Jersey Transit Guide Archived 2018-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed November 28, 2013.
^Gen. Edward S. Godfrey House, National Register of Historic Places, listed February 28, 1997. Accessed January 6, 2021. "The General Edward Settle Godfrey House is a mid-eighteenth century Georgian and expanded Federal style frame farmhouse situated on the corner of Main Street and Wrightstown-Cookstown Road in Cookstown, New Hanover Township, Burlington County, New Jersey.... The General Godfrey House is significant under National Register Criterion B for its association with Brigadier General Edward Settle Godfrey, a noted nineteenth-century cavalry officer with the United States Army.... Godfrey married Ida Emley in 1892 and in 1907 they moved into the house."
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