Riverside Township, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Riverside Township, New Jersey
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Riverside Township highlighted in Burlington County. Inset



mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Riverside Township, New Jersey

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Burlington
government_footnotes =
government_type = Township (New Jersey)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = George Conard, Sr.
leader_title1 = Deputy Mayor
leader_name1 = Lorraine Hatcher
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = February 20, 1895

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 4.2
area_land_km2 = 3.9
area_water_km2 = 0.3
area_total_sq_mi = 1.6
area_land_sq_mi = 1.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_total = 7765
population_density_km2 = 2006.7
population_density_sq_mi = 5197.2

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|882098|Township of Riverside, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.]
elevation_m = 6
elevation_ft = 20
latd = 40 |latm = 2 |lats = 6 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 57 |longs = 26 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 08075
area_code = 856
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-63510GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0882098GR|3
website = http://www.riversidetwp.org/
footnotes =

Riverside Township is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 7,911.

Riverside was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 20, 1895, from portions of Delran Township."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 98.]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (6.14%) is water.

Riverside Township borders Delanco Township and Delran Township.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930= 7061
1940= 7072
1950= 7199
1960= 8474
1970= 8591
1980= 7941
1990= 7974
2000= 7911
estimate=7765
estyear=2007
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=06000US3400557510&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34005%7C06000US3400557510&_street=&_county=riverside&_cityTown=riverside&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=060&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Riverside township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 25, 2008.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990 [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,911 people, 2,978 households, and 1,992 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,197.2 people per square mile (2,009.5/km²). There were 3,118 housing units at an average density of 2,048.4/sq mi (792.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.22% White, 4.44% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.28% from other races, and 2.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.11% of the population.

There were 2,978 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 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 $43,358, and the median income for a family was $52,479. Males had a median income of $36,556 versus $25,510 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,758. About 6.7% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Riverside Township is governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year."2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 38.] 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 Riverside Township Committee are Mayor George Conard, Sr., Deputy Mayor Lorraine Hatcher, Marcus Carroll, Robert Prisco and Thomas Polino. [ [http://www.riversidetwp.org/officials.html Elected Officials] , Township of Riverside. Accessed January 21, 2008.]

On Election Day, November 7, 2006, Mayor Chuck Hilton (R) and fellow Republican James Ott were running for reelection to the Township Council, but were defeated by their Democratic opponents, newcomers Lorraine Hatcher and Thomas Polino. The anti-immigration ordinance passed by the Township Committee that imposed fines on any business that hires or any landlord who rents to an illegal immigrant was a major issue in the campaign. [ [http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061115/NEWS01/611150364/1006 Latinos praise election results in Riverside] , "The Courier-Post", November 15, 2006.]

Federal, state and county representation

Riverside Township is in the Third Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 7th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 62. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

The Riverside School District serves public school students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3414010 Data for the Riverside School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 1, 2008.] ) are [http://www.riverside.k12.nj.us/elementa.htm Riverside Elementary School] for grades PreK-5 (641 students), [http://www.riverside.k12.nj.us/middlesc.htm Riverside Middle School] for grades 6-8 (286 students) and Riverside High School for grades 9-12 (517 students).

Public school students from Delanco Township attend Riverside High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Delanco Township School District. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/05/4450/05-4450-050.html Riverside High School 2007 School Report Card] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 1, 2008. "To achieve this goal, Riverside High School, which draws students from both Delanco and Riverside Townships, offers a comprehensive program of study in grades nine through twelve."]

Transportation

The Riverside station on the River Line light rail system, is located on Franklin Street, offering southbound service to Camden, New Jersey and the Walter Rand Transportation Center (with transfers available to the PATCO Speedline) and northbound service to the Trenton Rail Station with connections to New Jersey Transit trains to New York City, SEPTA trains to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Amtrak trains.

New Jersey Transit provides bus service to Philadelphia on the 419 line. [ [http://www.njtransit.com/sf_tp_rc_burlington.shtml Burlington County Bus/Rail Connections] , New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 15, 2007.]

In film

Riverside was used for the filming of the film "Jesus' Son" along with other locations. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0186253/locations Jesus' Son (1999) - Filming locations ] ]

Immigration debate

In July 2006, a controversial ordinance was passed by the township committee trying to handle the large amount of immigrants, primarily illegally from Brazil, that had moved into the township. The ordinance stated that employers who hired an illegal immigrant and landlords who rented to them would be fined $1,000 - $2,000 per incident and could possibly lose their business license. In response to the ordinance, several civil groups including the ACLU and People for the American Way took or contemplated legal actions against the ordinance. [ [http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060727/NEWS01/607270396/1006 "Riverside OKs illegal aliens measure"] , "The Courier-Post", July 27, 2006.] [ [http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060921/NEWS01/609210399/1006 "Riverside threatened with suit"] , "The Courier-Post", September 21, 2006.]

In August 2007, the ordinance was repealed, and some have speculated that the exodus of over 1,000 immigrants from Riverside to other New Jersey townships was a major factor. [Panaritis, Maria and Wood, Sam. [http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20070823_N_J__town_to_repeal_its_immigrant_laws.html "Riverside to repeal immigrant laws: After an exodus of Brazilian residents, officials plan to end penalties sought for hiring and housing those here illegally."] , "The Philadelphia Inquirer", August 23, 2007. Accessed August 23, 2007.] The ordinance repealing the law cited the high cost of defending it against legal challenges. [Hurdle, John [http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1844508020070918?sp=true] ]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Riverside Township include:
* Deron Cherry (born 1959), played for the NFL Kansas City Chiefs from 1981-1991, and was a six-time Pro Bowler at Safety. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CHERRDER01 Deron Cherry] , Database Football. Accessed January 24, 2008.]
* Michael Giacchino (born 1967), music composer, notably for the TV series "Lost".Fact|date=November 2007
* Derek Holloway (born 1961), retired football player, who was a wide receiver in the NFL for the Washington Redskins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. [ [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=HOLLODER01 Derek Holloway profile] , database Football. Accessed August 6, 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://www.riversidetwp.org/ Township website]
* [http://www.riverside.k12.nj.us/ Riverside School District]
*NJReportCard|05|4450|0|Riverside School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3414010 Data for the Riverside School District] , National Center for Education Statistics