Willingboro Township, New Jersey

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

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

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



mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Willingboro 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 = Faulkner Act (Council-Manager)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jacqueline Jennings
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = February 21, 1798

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 20.8
area_land_km2 = 19.9
area_water_km2 = 0.9
area_total_sq_mi = 8.0
area_land_sq_mi = 7.7
area_water_sq_mi = 0.3

population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_total = 36865
population_density_km2 = 1657.4
population_density_sq_mi = 4292.7

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|882099|Township of Willingboro, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.]
elevation_m = 12
elevation_ft = 39
latd = 40 |latm = 1 |lats = 39 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 53 |longs = 1 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 08046
area_code = 609 and 856
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-81440GR|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 = 0882099GR|3
website = http://www.willingborotwp.org/
footnotes =

Willingboro is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 33,008.

Willingboro was originally developed in the 1950s and 1960s as a planned community by Abraham Levitt and Sons in the Levittown model, with the 1950 population of 852 exploding to 11,861 in 1960 and 43,386 in 1970. The community was known as "Levittown, New Jersey" in 1958, and "Levittown Township" from 1959 to 1963. [ [http://www.willingboro.org/twpchron.htm Chronology of Willingboro] , Willingboro Township. Accessed June 29, 2007.]

History

Willingboro was one of the original nine divisions in the organization of Burlington County, West Jersey, and was originally formed as the "Constabulary of Wellingborrow" on November 6, 1688."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 100.] At the time, it included present day Delanco Township, New Jersey. The original name of Wellingborough was after the community in England which was the home of Thomas Olive, who led the original settlers into what would become Willingboro Township, but there were other spellings used at different times.

After the establishment of the United States and the State of New Jersey, the community was formally incorporated as "Willingborough Township", one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships, on February 21, 1798, by the New Jersey Legislature when it enacted "An Act incorporating the Inhabitants of Townships, designating their Powers, and regulating their Meetings", P.L.1798, p. 289. This makes Willingboro one of the oldest Townships in the State.

Portions of the township were taken to form Beverly borough (March 5, 1850, now Beverly city) and Beverly Township (March 1, 1859, now known as Delanco Township).

In the 1950s and 1960s Willingboro was the location for a massive residential development by Abraham Levitt and Sons. The first Levittown homes were sold in June 1958, at which time the community was already known as Levittown, New Jersey. The name was changed by the voters, by referendum held on November 3, 1959 to "Levittown Township." Willingboro is less than 12 miles from Levittown, Pennsylvania and this occasionally caused confusion. A referendum held on the issue on November 12, 1963, changed the name back to Willingboro.

Sociologist Herbert J. Gans used Willingboro as the subject of his 1967 book "The Levittowners".Sociologist Herbert J. Gans used Willingborough as the subject of his 1967 book The Levittowners: Ways of Life and Politics in a New Suburban Community. In his book, he discusses a community frozen in time as an ideal representation of past, present and future America. At the same time, he analyzes the perpetuating American tradition and capacity to changes. In The Levittowners, Gans studies three major aspects of the life in Willingborough. He first deals with the development and growth of this new suburbia community. Later, he describes the qualities and the characteristics of such a life. Finally, Gans focuses on the effects that suburbia will have on its inhabitants.According to the author, the Levittowners are the archetypical American characters, sharing the same way of life, values, religion, believes, ethnicity and living standards. They represent the American Way of Life. However, Levittown isn’t homogenous in a sense that it still embodies a constructive individualism. Gans draws a positive portrait of those citizens who are there to cement a stable society. They are an epitome of the “traditional” values but they are also capable of opening up to changing times. They represent modernity.Nevertheless, Gans only portrays a certain “half” of the population. In fact, the “other half” Riis, J: ”How The Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York ”, 1890.] is left apart and ignored, which shows that Levittown was in a sense an enclave and for the represents of an American exceptionalism.

Concerned by the potential of white flight, the township in 1974 enacted an ordinance that prohibited the posting of "for sale" or "sold" signs on real estate. Many other communities had enacted similar laws in reaction to the practice of blockbusting in the 1960s and 1970s. The Supreme Court in the 1977 case of Linmark Associates, Inc. v. Willingboro ruled that the ordinance violated the First Amendment protections for commercial speech.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.8 km²), of which, 7.7 square miles (19.9 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (4.11%) is water.

Willingboro Township borders Edgewater Park Township, Burlington Township, Westampton Township, Mount Laurel Township, Moorestown Township, Delran Township, and Delanco Township.

Parks & Sections

Willingboro is divided into several sections, each section's street names beginning with the corresponding section. For example, streets in Pennypacker Park all begin with the letter P. This is the case with all parks, excluding Martin's Beach and certain streets in Rittenhouse Park.

* Buckingham Park
* Country Club Ridge
* Pennypacker Park
* Millbrook Park
* Martin's Beach
* Deer Park
* Somerset Park (First house was occupied here. [Building Social Housing Foundation, [http://www.willingboro.org/twpchron.htm Chronology of Willingboro] .] )
* Windsor Park
* Garfield Park
* Garfield Park East
* Garfield Park North
* Rittenhouse Park
* Twin Hill Park
* Ironside Court (Non-residential, restricted to Public Works Department
* Hawthorne Park
* Fairmount Park

There is another section without a name located near Olympia Lakes. This is the only part of the town with the Area code 856. The rest of Willingboro is in Area code 609.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930= 613
1940= 642
1950= 852
1960= 11861
1970= 43386
1980= 39912
1990= 36291
2000= 33008
estimate=36865
estyear=2007
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=06000US3400578200&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34005%7C06000US3400578200&_street=&_county=willingboro&_cityTown=willingboro&_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 Willingboro township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 15, 2007.]
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 33,008 people, 10,713 households, and 8,784 families residing in the township. The population density was 4,292.7 people per square mile (1,657.3/km²). There were 11,124 housing units at an average density of 1,446.7/sq mi (558.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 66.71% African American, 24.67% White, 0.30% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.62% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.05% of the population.

There were 10,713 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.0% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.07 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the township the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $60,869, and the median income for a family was $64,338. Males had a median income of $39,963 versus $31,554 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,799. About 3.5% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

The Township of Willingboro is governed under the Council-Manager form of government. The current Council-Manager form of government was adopted by referendum in November 1960 based on the recommendations of a charter study commission. The first Council under the new Council-Manager form of government took place in November 1961, with the new Council taking office as of January 1, 1962 under the new form. [http://www.willingborotwp.org/page.php?page_id=29&PHPSESSID=d4974d9b0b25c2d8d3a4e7200519a89f Historical and Governmental Notes] , Willingboro Township. Accessed April 1, 2008.]

The five-member Township Council is elected in partisan elections to serve four-year terms in office on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election in the November of odd-numbered years. After each election, the council selects a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among its members."2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 38.]

The Members of the Willingboro Township Council are Mayor Jacqueline Jennings, Deputy Mayor Paul Stephenson, James Ayrer, Eddie Campbell, Jr., and Jeffrey Ramsey, Councilman. [ [http://www.willingborotwp.org/page.php?page_id=45 Local Government] , Willingboro Township. Accessed April 1, 2008.]

Federal, state and county representation

Willingboro Township is in the Third Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 7th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvn.j.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 66. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

The Willingboro Township Public Schools serves students in Pre-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=3418000 Data for the Willingboro Township Public Schools] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 27, 2008.] ) are six pre-K to 5 elementary schools — [http://www.willingboroschools.org/site/schools/gfe/#top Garfield East] (359 students) [http://www.willingboroschools.org/site/schools/haw/#top Hawthorne] (321), [http://www.willingboroschools.org/site/schools/jcs/#top J.C. Stuart] 315), [http://www.willingboroschools.org/site/schools/ths/#top Twin Hills] (351) and [http://www.willingboroschools.org/site/schools/wrj/#top W.R. James Sr.] (319) — [http://www.willingboroschools.org/site/schools/mem/#top Memorial Upper Elementary School] for grades 5 and 6 (713), [http://www.willingboroschools.org/site/schools/lvt/#top Levitt Middle School] for grades 7 and 8 (659) and
Willingboro High School for grades 9-12 (1,272).

The S.W. Bookbinder, J.A. McGinley and Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary Schools were closed at the end of the 2005-06 school year as part of an effort to save about $3.7 million, through the reduction of 70 staff members meant class sizes increased to as many as 28 at the five remaining elementary schools. The cuts were needed to fill a two-year budget deficit of nearly $10 million. [ [http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/article.cfm?id=632688 McGinley, S.W. Bookbinder and Martin Luther King Jr. elementary schools will close] , "Burlington County Times", March 28, 2006.]

Transportation

New Jersey Transit provides bus service to Philadelphia on the 409 line. [ [http://www.njtransit.com/sf_tp_rc_burlington.shtml Burlington County Bus/Rail Connections] , New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 15, 2007.]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Willingboro Township include:
* Malik Allen (born 1978), NBA power forward for the Milwaukee Bucks. [ [http://www.sportsline.com/nba/players/playerpage/205902 Malik Allen] , CBS Sports. Accessed April 16, 2008.]
* Arnie Berman (born 1961), technology stock strategist, [ [http://www.cowen.com/ResearchCoverage.asp?target=AnalystByIndustry&IndustryName=Technology&IndustryID=-256] ] CNBC commentator, [ [http://video.aol.com/video-detail/profiting-from-mobile-devices/1233058370] , ] cultural pundit, humorist, holder of Brown University Basketball’s all-time scoring record with 1668 points (until 2002), [ [http://brownbears.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/archive/brow-m-baskbl-2002.html] ] named to the All-East, All-Ivy League, and All-New England basketball teams. [ [http://www.jewishhoopstars.com/directory/aBerman.html] ]
* T. J. Brennan (born 1989), 31st pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2007 NHL Draft. [Wawrow, John. [http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/228826 "Sabres select Brennan 31st"] , "Toronto Star", June 23, 2007. Accessed July 2, 2008. "'Once I started, I didn't want to stop,' said Brennan, a Willingboro, N.J. native, of his interest in hockey."]
* Sean Casey (born 1974), Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers. [Stringer, Matt. [http://media.www.temple-news.com/media/storage/paper143/news/2003/11/20/Features/Philadelphia.The.Cradle.Of.Baseball-564047.shtml?sourcedomain=www.temple-news.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com "Philadelphia: The cradle of baseball"] , "The Temple News", November 20, 2003. Accessed December 3, 2007. "For example, Sean Casey, a lifetime .300 hitter, plays first base for the Cincinnati Reds and hails from Willingboro, NJ."]
* Mike Chioda - WWE Professional Wrestling Referee and "RAW" Senior Referee. [ [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwereferees/mikechioda/bio/ "Chioda Reppin' The Boro"] , WWE.com.]
* William Franklin (1731-1813), Last Colonial Governor of New Jersey, son of Benjamin Franklin. [ [http://www.willingboro.org/twphist.htm A Short History of Willingboro] , Willingboro Township. Accessed August 15, 2007.]
* Anthony Griggs (born 1960), Former NFL Linebacker who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns.Fact|date=July 2008
* City High - R&B group
* Crystal Langhorne (born 1986), WNBA basketball player drafted in 2008 by the Washington Mystics. [Orton, Kathy. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/04/09/ST2008040904377.html "Mystics Draft Langhorne, One of Two Terps Selected"] , "The Washington Post", April 10, 2008. Accessed July 16, 2008. "'I love the area,' said Langhorne, who grew up in Willingboro, N.J."] Won the National Championship in 2006 as a member of the Maryland Terrapins. [ [http://umterps.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/langhorne_crystal00.html "Player Bio: Crystal Langhorne."] , "highest drafted Terrapin, taken with the sixth pick in the first round by the WNBA's Washington Mystics." Accessed July 16, 2007.]
* Carl Lewis (born 1961), United States Olympic track athlete, won ten Olympic medals (9 gold, 1 silver). Ranked #1 on the "Sports Illustrated" list of "The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures". [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/features/si50/states/new_jersey/greatest/ The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures] , "Sports Illustrated", December 27, 1999.] [ [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB35CC6354719F1&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "CARL LEWIS SWEEPS TRIPLE IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP"] , "Miami Herald", June 20, 1983. Accessed July 20, 2007. "Lewis, a 21-year-old from Willingboro, N.J., who had won the 100 in 10.27 Saturday night, leaped a remarkable 28 feet 10 1/4 inches in capturing the long jump and was clocked in an American record 19.75 seconds in the 200 on the final night of the USA- Mobil Outdoor track and field championships."]
* Joey Marella (1964-1994) WWE Professional Wrestling Referee, Refereed main event for the indoor attendance record setting match at "WrestleMania III" between André the Giant versus Hulk Hogan in the Pontiac Silverdome.
* Kareem McKenzie (born 1979), National Football League offensive tackle. [Eisen, Michael. [http://www.giants.com/news/eisen/story.asp?story_id=5854 "Giants Sign OL Kareem McKenzie: Signing is second major addition in two days for Big Blue"] , new York Giants, March 4, 2005. Accessed May 25, 2007. "McKenzie played only two years of football at Willingboro High School, but was still named an All-America by USA Today. He was All-State and All-Burlington County. McKenzie competed in the discus and shot put on the track team, serving as captain for two seasons."]
* Gorilla Monsoon (1937-1999), WWE Hall of Fame Professional Wrestler, Former President of WWE. [Hagenmayer, S. Joseph. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB5CECBDDB6CF42&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "ROBERT MARELLA, 62, WRESTLER KNOWN AS 'GORILLA MONSOON'"] , "The Philadelphia Inquirer", October 7., 1999. Accessed February 27, 2008. "Robert "Gorilla Monsoon" Marella, 62, a professional wrestler whose demeanor in the ring resembled Atilla the Hun's but whose deeds and personality were more akin to those of Santa Claus, died yesterday at his Willingboro home after being ill for the last month."]
* Gervase Peterson (born 1969), contestant on "", the first season of the program. [ [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/08/03/entertainment/main221396.shtml "Gervase Gets Booted Off"] , CBS News, August 3, 2000. Accessed May 25, 2007. "For weeks the buzz, fueled by Internet rumors, was the Willingboro N.J., resident had won the million-dollar prize, even prompting a Philadelphia newspaper to feature Peterson on one of its covers."]
* Shaun Phillips (born 1981), National Football League defensive tackle. [ [http://chargers.com/team/roster/shaun-phillips.htm Shaun Phillips player profile] , San Diego Chargers. Accessed July 20, 2007. "Shaun grew up in Willingboro, New Jersey, not far from Giants Stadium where the New York Jets play their home games....all-state, All-South Jersey and all-city at Willingboro High School in Willingboro, New Jersey"]
* Jimmy Valiant (born 1942), WWE Hall of Fame Professional Wrestler.Fact|date=February 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.willingborotwp.org/ Willingboro Township website]
* [http://www.willingboroschools.org Willingboro Township Public Schools]
*NJReportCard|05|5805|0|Willingboro Township Public Schools
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3418000 Data for the Willingboro Township Public Schools] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.homesurfer.com/crimereports/view/crime_report.cfm?state=NJ&area=Willingboro%20Township Willingboro Crime Statistics]
* [http://www.levittownbeyond.com Levittownbeyond.com: The Unofficial Resource for Levitt and Sons Communities after 1937 including Levitt's third-largest project Levittown, NJ (Willingboro) ]