Harrison Township, New Jersey


Harrison Township is a township in Gloucester County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 13,641, an increase of 1,224 from the 2010 census count of 12,417, which in turn reflected an increase of 3,629 from the 8,788 counted in the 2000 census.
Harrison Township was originally formed as Spicer Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1844, from portions of [Greenwich Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey|Gloucester County, New Jersey|Greenwich Township] and Woolwich Township. That name lasted for less than a year, with Harrison Township adopted as of April 1, 1845. The township was named for President William Henry Harrison. Mullica Hill is the historical center of the Township.
From Prohibition until 2018, Harrison Township had been a dry township, where alcohol could not be sold. 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.
WWW harrisontwp.us

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 19.02 square miles, including 18.93 square miles of land and 0.08 square miles of water.
Mullica Hill is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within Harrison Township that had a 2010 Census population of 3,982. 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. Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ewan, Ewans Mills, Heritage, Jefferson, and Sherwin.
The township borders the Gloucester County municipalities of East Greenwich Township, Elk Township, Glassboro, Mantua Township, South Harrison Township, and Woolwich Township.
Multiple homes were destroyed when the area was hit by an EF3 tornado on September 1, 2021, produced by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 12,417 people, 3,942 households, and 3,315 families in the township. The population density was. There were 4,089 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 90.57% White, 3.83% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 3.38% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.01% of the population.
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.
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.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $102,162 and the median family income was $121,366. Males had a median income of $88,157 versus $47,857 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,354. 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.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 8,788 people, 2,848 households, and 2,323 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 2,939 housing units at an average density of. 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.
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.
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.
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.

Government

Local government

Harrison Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. 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 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.
, the members of the Harrison Township Committee are Mayor J. Adam Wingate, Deputy Mayor Lawrence Moore, Thomas "TJ" Coakley, Kevin French and Jeffrey Jacques.

Federal, state, and county representation

Harrison Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.

Education

Harrison Township School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 1,341 students and 107.8 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.4:1. Schools in the district are
Harrison Township Elementary School with 770 students in grades PreK-3 and
Pleasant Valley School with 568 students in grades 4-6.
Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades attend the schools of the Clearview Regional High School District, which serves students from Harrison Township and Mantua Township. Schools in the high school district are
Clearview Regional Middle School with 753 students in grades 7-8 and
Clearview Regional High School with 1,431 students in grades 9-12. Seats on the high school district's nine-member board are allocated based on population, with four seats assigned to Harrison Township.
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.
Friends School Mullica Hill is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational day school located in the Mullica Hill section of Harrison Township that was established in 1969 and now serves students pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
Guardian Angels Regional School takes students from Mullica Hill. It operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Gloucester County, by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Several major roadways pass through Harrison Township. The New Jersey Turnpike runs through the township for a tenth of a mile, but the nearest interchange is just over the border in neighboring Woolwich Township. U.S. Route 322 passes through the center of town, concurrent with County Route 536. State routes include Route 45, Route 55 and Route 77. The other major county road that goes through is County Route 581.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service is available between Bridgeton and Philadelphia on the 410 route.

Wineries

Notable people

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