| Florence Township, New Jersey | |
| Settlement Type: | Township |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Image Map1: | Census_Bureau_map_of_Florence_Township,_New_Jersey.png |
| Mapsize1: | 250x200px |
| Map Caption1: | Census Bureau map of Florence Township, New Jersey |
| Pushpin Map: | USA New Jersey Burlington County#USA New Jersey#USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Florence Township |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Burlington County##Location in New Jersey##Location in the United States |
| Pushpin Relief: | yes |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Burlington |
| Government Type: | Faulkner Act (mayor–council) |
| Governing Body: | Township Council |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Craig H. Wilkie (R, term ends December 31, 2023)[1] |
| Leader Title1: | Administrator |
| Leader Name1: | Stephen Fazekas[2] |
| Leader Title2: | Municipal clerk |
| Leader Name2: | Nancy L. Erlston[3] |
| Established Title: | Incorporated |
| Established Date: | March 7, 1872 |
| Named For: | Florence, Italy |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [4] |
| Area Total Km2: | 26.35 |
| Area Land Km2: | 25.30 |
| Area Water Km2: | 1.05 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 10.17 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 9.77 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.41 |
| Area Water Percent: | 3.98 |
| Area Rank: | 210th of 565 in state 20th of 40 in county |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 12812 |
| Population Rank: | 198th of 565 in state 11th of 40 in county[5] |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1311.5 |
| Population Density Rank: | 354th of 565 in state 22nd of 40 in county |
| Population Est: | 12895 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | −05:00 |
| Timezone Dst: | Eastern (EDT) |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −04:00 |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [6] |
| Elevation Ft: | 39 |
| Coordinates Footnotes: | [7] |
| Coordinates: | 40.0947°N -74.7839°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 08518[8] [9] |
| Area Code: | 609 exchange: 499[10] |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 3400523850[11] [12] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0882107[13] |
Florence Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 12,812, an increase of 703 (+5.8%) from the 2010 census count of 12,109, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,363 (+12.7%) from the 10,746 counted in the 2000 census.[14] The township, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.[15]
Florence was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1872, from portions of Mansfield Township.[16] The township was named for Florence, Italy.[17]
The Florence City Company, formed in 1849, organized the original layout of lots and streets in Florence. It also oversaw construction of the Florence Hotel and wharf. The Florence Iron Works was established in 1857 along the Delaware River by Richard Jones.[18] It continued as a major force in the economy of the community, especially after ownership was transferred to Richard D. Wood in 1867.[19] The 1900 United States Census reported that a good portion of the workforce was dependent on the foundry.[20]
Florence was soon recognized as an attractive vacation spot with sandy beaches along the Delaware River. Visitors could also partake of hydrotherapy offered by a center established about 1872 by Dr. Trall of Philadelphia.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 10.17 square miles (26.35 km2), including 9.77 square miles (25.30 km2) of land and 0.41 square miles (1.05 km2) of water (3.98%).[4]
Florence CDP (with a 2010 Census population of 4,426[21]) and Roebling (3,715[22]) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within the township.[23] [24] [25] As of the 2000 Census, the CDP's population was 8,200. Up to and including the 2000 United States Census, the two CDPs had been combined as Florence-Roebling,[25] which had a total population of 8,200 in 2000.[26]
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bustleton, Dobbins, Florence Station and Hoffner's Tract.[27]
The township borders Bordentown Township, Burlington Township, Mansfield Township, Springfield Township in Burlington County; and Bristol Township, Falls Township and Tullytown across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.[28] [29] [30]
The 2010 United States census counted 12,109 people, 4,775 households, and 3,285 families in the township. The population density was . There were 5,053 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 78.43% (9,497) White, 12.23% (1,481) Black or African American, 0.19% (23) Native American, 5.04% (610) Asian, 0.06% (7) Pacific Islander, 1.00% (121) from other races, and 3.06% (370) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.76% (576) of the population.
Of the 4,775 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18; 51.7% were married couples living together; 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.2% were non-families. Of all households, 25.4% were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07.
22.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.8 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $75,219 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,776) and the median family income was $88,479 (+/− $5,289). Males had a median income of $54,010 (+/− $3,496) versus $47,707 (+/− $2,587) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,871 (+/− $1,737). About 1.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[31]
As of the 2000 United States census there were 10,746 people, 4,149 households, and 2,891 families residing in the township. The population density was 1106.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 4,391 housing units at an average density of 452.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the township was 85.52% White, 9.74% African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.[32] [33]
There were 4,149 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.[32] [33]
In the township the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.[32] [33]
The median income for a household in the township was $56,843, and the median income for a family was $67,412. Males had a median income of $45,325 versus $31,215 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,529. About 4.8% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.[32] [33]
Given the accessibility of Florence to various rail and highway corridors, the township's economy is tied to its evolving role as a center for logistics. Florence and nearby towns in Burlington County have become prominent regional warehouse centers, attracting corporations like Amazon to build such facilities there.[34]
Florence Township is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under Plan F of the Mayor-Council system of municipal government. implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1972.[35] [36] The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.[37] The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member Township Council. Voters participate in partisan elections held in odd-numbered years to choose a Mayor for a four-year term along with two councilmembers at-large and then two years later choose one councilmember from each of three wards for overlapping terms of four years. The legislative power is vested in the Council and the Executive power is vested in the Mayor. The Mayor appoints a professionally qualified business administrator with the advice and consent of Council.[35] [38] [39]
, the Mayor of Florence Township is Republican Craig H. Wilkie, whose terms of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Florence Township Council are Council President Bruce Garganio (at-large; R, 2023), Council Vice President Nicholas P. Haas Jr. (Ward 2; R, 2025), Frank K. Baldorossi Jr. (Ward 1; D, 2025), Kristan I. Marter (Ward 3; D, 2025) and Paul C. Ostrander (at-large; R, 2023).[40] [41] [42] [43]
The Township Administrator is Stephen Fazekas and the Township Clerk is Nancy L. Erlston.[40]
Florence Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District[44] and is part of New Jersey's 7th state legislative district.[45] [46] [47]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 7,543 registered voters in Florence Township, of which 2,237 (29.7% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,851 (24.5% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 3,452 (45.8% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[48] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 62.3% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 80.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).[48] [49]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 3,354 votes here (55.7% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 2,539 votes (42.2% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 80 votes (1.3% vs. 1.0%), among the 6,021 ballots cast by the township's 7,971 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.5% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).[50] [51] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 3,235 votes here (53.8% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 2,656 votes (44.2% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 73 votes (1.2% vs. 1.0%), among the 6,015 ballots cast by the township's 7,452 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.7% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).[52] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 2,703 votes here (49.7% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 2,682 votes (49.3% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 32 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,439 ballots cast by the township's 6,817 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.8% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).[53]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,651 votes here (63.8% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 1,365 votes (32.9% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 46 votes (1.1% vs. 1.2%), among the 4,153 ballots cast by the township's 7,975 registered voters, yielding a 52.1% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).[54] [55] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,130 votes here (49.2% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,866 votes (43.1% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 217 votes (5.0% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 52 votes (1.2% vs. 1.2%), among the 4,332 ballots cast by the township's 7,538 registered voters, yielding a 57.5% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).[56]
The Florence Township School District serves public school students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.[57] As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,581 students and 128.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.3:1.[58] Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[59]) are Roebling Elementary School[60] with 396 students in grades K–3, Riverfront Middle School[61] with 694 students in grades 4–8 and Florence Township Memorial High School[62] with 452 students in grades 9–12.[63]
Students from Florence 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.[64]
WIFI, 1460 AM, is a radio station broadcasting out of Florence Township. It has an urban contemporary format.[65]
, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Burlington County, by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[66]
Florence hosts a section of Interstate 95 (New Jersey Turnpike Pennsylvania Extension), which extends from the border with Burlington Township on the west side of the township to the border with Mansfield Township on the east.[67] One interchange, known as "6A" but not actually signed with a number, connects I-95 with U.S. Route 130, which follows a southwest–northeast alignment through Florence.[68] This interchange previously connected with Cedar Lane in an unusual roadway setup (where Cedar Lane overpasses itself) the locals termed the "whirlybird" until 1999, when the Authority constructed a double-trumpet interchange directly with US 130.[69] The 6 toll gate is just east of Exit 6A on the Pennsylvania Extension. Interchange 6 (itself) is located in Mansfield Township.[70] [71]
Interstate 295 also passes through Florence Township, but the nearest interchanges are in Mansfield Township and Burlington Township.[72] County Route 543 also traverses Florence, passing over Interstate 295 without an interchange.[73]
The NJ Transit River Line light rail system offers service in the township at the Florence station at U.S. Route 130[74] and Roebling station at Hornberger Avenue[75] providing southbound service to Camden and the Walter Rand Transportation Center (with transfers available to the PATCO Speedline) and northbound service to the Trenton Rail Station with connections to NJ Transit trains to New York City, SEPTA trains to Philadelphia, and Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor.[76]
NJ Transit provides bus service on the 409 route between Trenton and Philadelphia.[77] [78]
BurLink bus service is offered on the B5 route between the Florence light rail station and Haines Industrial Center.[79]
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Florence Township include: