Dennis Township, New Jersey


Dennis Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. The township's population as of the 2010 United States Census was 6,467, reflecting a decline of 25 from the 6,492 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 918 from the 5,574 counted in the 1990 Census.
Dennis Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1827, from portions of Upper Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Sea Isle City borough and Woodbine borough.
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Dennis Township as its 20th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.

History

Dennis Township had been a dry town, where alcohol could not be sold, until 2001 when voters passed a referendum allowing liquor to be sold; the township council authorized the sale of a single license, which netted the township $1.1 million.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 64.328 square miles, including 60.799 square miles of land and 3.529 square miles of water.
Belleplain is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within the township.
Dennisville is the most important unincorporated community in Dennis Township. Ocean View is served as ZIP Code 08230. Other communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Clermont, East Creek, Eldora, Mount Pleasant, North Dennis, North-West Dennis, Ocean View, Savage Pond, South Dennis, South Seaville, Stipsons Island and West Creek Landing.
The township borders the municipalities of Avalon, Middle Township, Sea Isle City, Upper Township, Woodbine Borough in Cape May County; portions of Cumberland County, and the Delaware Bay.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $84,205 and the median family income was $84,400. Males had a median income of $52,571 versus $40,023 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,545. About 5.4% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 6,492 people, 2,159 households, and 1,737 families residing in the township. The population density was 105.8 people per square mile. There were 2,327 housing units at an average density of 37.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 97.43% White, 0.96% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population.
There were 2,159 households out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $56,595, and the median income for a family was $61,445. Males had a median income of $41,404 versus $31,329 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,455. About 4.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Dennis Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 of 565 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, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor. The Committee members serve in a part-time capacity and receive an annual salary.
The governing body originally consisted of three elected officials, one of which would be elected by the membership to serve as the Mayor. In 1989 voters approved a ballot question to increase the membership from three members to five members, and in November 1990 the voters elected two additional Committee members. The first five-member committee took office in January 1991 at which time the governing body established the position of Township Administrator.
, the members of the Dennis Township Committee are Mayor Zeth Anthony Matalucci, Deputy Mayor Scott J. Turner, Matthew J. Cox, Frank L. Germanio Jr. and Thomas Van Artsdalen III.
In October 2017, the Township Committee appointed Nicolas Elisano to fill the seat expiring December 2019 that became vacant following the resignation of Melanie Smith, who was moving out of the township. In November 2018, Matthew J. Cox was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

Federal, state and county representation

Dennis Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 4,499 registered voters in Dennis Township, of which 1,091 were registered as Democrats, 1,527 were registered as Republicans and 1,877 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 55.5% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.1%, and other candidates with 1.4%, among the 3,296 ballots cast by the township's 4,624 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.3%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 55.4% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 42.4%, with 3,437 ballots cast among the township's 4,331 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 58.1% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry, who received around 40.0%, with 3,401 ballots cast among the township's 4,424 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.9.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.1% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.4%, and other candidates with 1.5%, among the 2,481 ballots cast by the township's 4,559 registered voters, for a turnout of 54.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 51.9% of the vote, ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 37.1% and Independent Chris Daggett with 8.2%, with 2,411 ballots cast among the township's 4,572 registered voters, yielding a 52.7% turnout.

Education

The Dennis Township Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising two schools, had an enrollment of 564 students and 68.3 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 8.3:1. Schools in the district are
Dennis Township Primary School for grades PreK-3 and
Dennis Township Elementary / Middle School for grades 4-8.
Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Middle Township High School in Cape May Court House, together with students from Avalon, Stone Harbor and Woodbine, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Middle Township Public Schools. As of the 2017–18 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 807 students and 67.5 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1.
Students are also eligible to attend the Cape May County Technical High School in Cape May Court House, which serves students from the entire county in its comprehensive and vocational programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.

Transportation

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Cape May County, by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
The Garden State Parkway is the most prominent highway serving Dennis Township, running for more than through the township. Other significant roads serving the township include U.S. Route 9, New Jersey Route 47, New Jersey Route 83 and New Jersey Route 347.

Notable people

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