Eastampton Township, New Jersey

Eastampton Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 6,069, reflecting a decline of 133 (−2.1%) from the 6,202 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,240 (+25.0%) from the 4,962 counted in the 1990 Census.

History

Eastampton Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 11, 1880, from portions of Westampton Township. Portions of both Lumberton Township and Southampton Township were annexed in 1882.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 95. Accessed June 19, 2012.

Eastampton is the location of Smithville, an industrial community created by Hezekiah Bradley Smith for his machine company, which produced the American Star Bicycle. It is now a county park.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 5.82 square miles (15.06 km²), including 5.73 square miles (14.84 km²) of land and 0.09 square miles (0.22 km²) of water (1.48%).

The township borders the Burlington County municipalities of Lumberton Township, Mount Holly Township, Pemberton Township, Southampton Township, Springfield Township and Westampton Township.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Smithville and Turpentine.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $73,393 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,010) and the median family income was $91,375 (+/− $8,669). Males had a median income of $60,405 (+/− $4,400) versus $44,028 (+/− $8,940) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,065 (+/− $2,298). About 3.0% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 6,202 people, 2,226 households, and 1,638 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 2,312 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 78.25% White, 11.77% African American, 0.23% Native American, 5.42% Asian, 1.44% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.72% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Eastampton township, Burlington County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 9, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Eastampton township, Burlington County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 9, 2013.

There were 2,226 households, out of which 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the township the population was spread out, with 29.5% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 35.3% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $66,406, and the median income for a family was $71,765. Males had a median income of $46,486 versus $31,208 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,534. About 2.0% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Eastampton Township is governed the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Council-Manager system of municipal government (Plan E), implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1983. The residents of Eastampton adopted the Council-Manager form of New Jersey municipal government based on a referendum passed in 1982. The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government. The Eastampton Township Council is comprised of five members elected at-large in partisan elections to staggered four-year terms of office, with either two or three seats coming up for election in even-numbered years as part of the November general election. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are selected by the Council from among its members at a reorganization meeting held each year during the first week of January. The Mayor coordinates the work of the Council, chairs Council meetings and is the township's public representative. The Mayor also signs all contracts and obligations of the Township and is empowered to perform marriages.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 43.

, members of the Eastampton Township Council are Mayor Anthony Zeno ( D, term on council ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends December 31, 2022), Deputy Mayor Robert Apgar (D, term on council ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2022), Eddie Besko (D, 2022), Gerald "Jay" Springer (D, 2024) and Dominic F. Santillo (D, 2022).Township Council
Eastampton Township. Accessed July 5, 2022.November 3, 2020 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results
Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 23, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.November 6, 2018 General Election Summary Report Official Results
Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 17, 2018. Accessed January 1, 2019.

Federal, state and county representation

Eastampton Township is located in the 3rd Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report
New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District
New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''
New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.

Burlington County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised 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.Board of County Commissioners
Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed February 26, 2022. , Burlington County Board of County Commissioners are
Commissioner Director Daniel J. O'Connell ( D, Delran Township; term as commissioner ends December 31, 2024; term as director ends 2022)
Commissioner Deputy Director Tom Pullion (D, Edgewater Park, term as commissioner ends 2023; term as deputy director ends 2022),
Allison Eckel (D, Medford, 2022; appointed to fill an unexpired term),
Felicia Hopson (D, Willingboro Township, 2024) and
Balvir Singh (D, Burlington Township, 2023).
Burlington County's Constitutional Officers are
County Clerk Joanne Schwartz (R, Southampton Township, 2023),
Sheriff Anthony Basantis (D, Burlington Township, 2022) and
Surrogate Brian J. Carlin (D, Burlington Township, 2026).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,610 registered voters in Eastampton Township, of which 1,160 (32.1% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 772 (21.4% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 1,678 (46.5% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.Voter Registration Summary - Burlington
New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 25, 2014. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 59.5% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 78.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).

n the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,651 votes (59.7% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,069 votes (38.6% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 29 votes (1.0% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,766 ballots cast by the township's 3,802 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.8% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,754 votes (58.8% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,172 votes (39.3% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 36 votes (1.2% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,981 ballots cast by the township's 3,786 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.7% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,442 votes (52.6% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,269 votes (46.3% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 15 votes (0.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,741 ballots cast by the township's 3,458 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.3% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 945 votes (58.4% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 637 votes (39.4% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 16 votes (1.0% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,617 ballots cast by the township's 3,796 registered voters, yielding a 42.6% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 886 votes (48.2% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 818 votes (44.5% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 99 votes (5.4% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 29 votes (1.6% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,840 ballots cast by the township's 3,760 registered voters, yielding a 48.9% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Education

For kindergarten through eighth grade, public school students are served by the Eastampton Township School District at Eastampton Community School.As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 561 students and 46.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1.District information for Eastampton Township School District
National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Rancocas Valley Regional High School, a regional public high school serving students from five communities encompassing approximately comprising the communities of Eastampton Township, Hainesport Township, Lumberton Township, Mount Holly Township and Westampton Township. As of the 2020–21 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 2,069 students and 139.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.8:1. The school is located in Mount Holly Township. The district's board of education has nine members who are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. Seats on the board are allocated based on the population of the five constituent municipalities, with one seat assigned to Eastampton.

Students from Eastampton 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.

Transportation

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Burlington County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

U.S. Route 206 is the most prominent highway serving Eastampton, running north–south along the township's border with Pemberton Township. County Route 537 also crosses the township with an east–west orientation.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Eastampton Township include:

* Charles R. Chickering (1891–1970), freelance artist who designed 77 U.S. postage stamps while working at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
* Hezekiah Bradley Smith (1816–1887), inventor and a Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1879 to 1881Remo, Jessica
"Spirits in the Night; Who ya gonna call? The South Jersey Ghost Research team answers when Garden State homeowners get spooked."
''New Jersey Monthly'', September 13, 2010. Accessed July 6, 2015. "Carroll, a 42-year-old antiques dealer, and seven other team members are casing the Smithville Mansion, a circa-1850 Federal manor in Eastampton, for the best places to set up motion sensors and other equipment.... Its most prominent owner was Hezekiah Bradley Smith, an inventor and congressman who bought the property in 1865 for its prime location between Philadelphia and New York."

References

External links

Eastampton Township website

{{Burlington County, New Jersey

1880 establishments in New Jersey
Faulkner Act (council–manager)
Populated places established in 1880
Townships in Burlington County, New Jersey