Westampton, New Jersey


Westampton Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 8,813 reflecting an increase of 1,596 from the 7,217 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 1,213 from the 6,004 counted in the 1990 Census.
Westampton was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 6, 1850, from portions of Northampton Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Eastampton Township on February 11, 1880. Its name derives from its original location in the western portion of what was Northampton Township.
The township is the home of the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office serving the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Westampton township had a total area of 11.195 square miles, including 11.025 square miles of land and 0.170 square miles of water.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Rancocas, Timbuctoo and Woodlane.
The township borders the Burlington County municipalities of Burlington Township, Eastampton Township, Hainesport Township, Mount Holly, Mount Laurel, Springfield Township and Willingboro Township.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $89,713 and the median family income was $97,080. Males had a median income of $65,651 versus $45,956 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,334. About 2.8% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 7,217 people, 2,525 households, and 1,966 families residing in the township. The population density was 653.6 people per square mile. There were 2,581 housing units at an average density of 233.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 70.81% White, 21.27% African American, 0.28% Native American, 3.03% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.83% from other races, and 2.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.21% of the population.
There were 2,525 households out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $63,973, and the median income for a family was $69,656. Males had a median income of $46,536 versus $32,167 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,594. About 2.7% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Westampton 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, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Westampton Township Committee are Mayor Sandy V. Henley, Anthony K. DeSilva, Glynn Lee Eckart, Jaime Mungo and John Wisniewski.
In January 2020, the Township Committee appointed Jaime Mungo to complete the term of office expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Linda A. Hynes until she resigned from office to take a seat on the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

Federal, state and county representation

Westampton Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Westampton Township had been in the 7th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 5,540 registered voters in Westampton Township, of which 2,175 were registered as Democrats, 1,115 were registered as Republicans and 2,249 were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 62.9% were registered to vote, including 83.2% of those ages 18 and over.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 3,060 votes here, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,368 votes and other candidates with 46 votes, among the 4,509 ballots cast by the township's 5,848 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 3,138 votes here, ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,448 votes and other candidates with 44 votes, among the 4,661 ballots cast by the township's 5,556 registered voters, for a turnout of 83.9%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 2,259 votes here, ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,640 votes and other candidates with 26 votes, among the 3,937 ballots cast by the township's 4,795 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.1%.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,410 votes here, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 1,187 votes and other candidates with 28 votes, among the 2,675 ballots cast by the township's 5,802 registered voters, yielding a 46.1% turnout. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 1,501 ballots cast, ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,162 votes, Independent Chris Daggett with 115 votes and other candidates with 33 votes, among the 2,835 ballots cast by the township's 5,592 registered voters, yielding a 50.7% turnout.

Education

For pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, public school students attend the Westampton Township Schools. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising two schools, had an enrollment of 1,010 students and 76.7 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.2:1. The schools in the district are
Holly Hills Elementary School with 523 students in kindergarten through 4th grade and
Westampton Township Middle School with 482 students in PreK and grades 5 to 8.
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend the Rancocas Valley Regional High School, a comprehensive regional public high school that is part of the Rancocas Valley Regional High School District, which also serves students from the communities of Eastampton Township, Hainesport Township, Lumberton Township and Mount Holly Township. As of the 2017–18 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 2,052 students and 141.1 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 14.5:1. 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 two seats assigned to Westampton.
Burlington County Institute of Technology is a countywide public vocational-technical school district offering training to students throughout Burlington County, with a campus located in Westampton and the Burlington County Institute of Technology Medford Campus in Medford.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, 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 and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Westampton hosts two major highways. A section of the New Jersey Turnpike, including the four-lane toll gate for Exit 5, is located within the township. Interstate 295 also runs through the northwestern section of the township for about 2½ miles, including one interchange, Exit 45. The most significant county road is County Route 541, which passes through the municipality from the northwestern section to the southeastern corner.

Public transportation

provides bus service on route 413 between Burlington and Camden.
BurLink bus service is offered on the B1 route and on the B2 route.
Academy Bus provides service from a park-and-ride facility near Exit 5 of the New Jersey Turnpike to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and other street service in Midtown Manhattan and to both Jersey City and the Wall Street area in Lower Manhattan.

Notable people

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