Lower Township, New Jersey

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

imagesize =
image_caption = Lower Township, New Jersey sign


image_

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Lower Township highlighted in Cape May County. Inset



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

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Cape May
government_footnotes =
government_type = Faulkner Act (Council-Manager)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Walt Craig
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 = Formed
established_date = April 2, 1723 as Precinct
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = February 21, 1798

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 80.5
area_land_km2 = 73.1
area_water_km2 = 7.4
area_total_sq_mi = 31.1
area_land_sq_mi = 28.2
area_water_sq_mi = 2.8

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 20785
population_density_km2 = 313.9
population_density_sq_mi = 813.0

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|882044|Township of Lower, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed June 13, 2008.]
elevation_m = 2
elevation_ft = 7
latd = 38 |latm = 58 |lats = 30 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 53 |longs = 59 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 08251 - Villas
area_code = 609
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-41640GR|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 = 0882044GR|3
website = http://www.townshipoflower.org/
footnotes =

Lower Township is a township in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,945.

Lower Township was formed as a precinct on April 2, 1723, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Cape Island Borough (March 8, 1848, now known as Cape May city), Cape May Point borough (created April 19, 1878, restored to Lower Township on April 8, 1896, recreated April 6, 1908), Holly Beach (April 14, 1885, now part of Wildwood city), South Cape May (August 27, 1894, restored to Lower Township on April 30, 1945), Wildwood Crest (April 6, 1910) and North Cape May (March 19, 1928, restored to Lower Township on April 30, 1945)."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 114.]

"New Jersey Monthly" magazine ranked Lower Township as its 34th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey. [ [http://njmonthly.com/articles/best_of/placestolive/best-places-to-live---the-complete-top-towns-list-.html "Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100"] , "New Jersey Monthly", February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008.]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.1 square miles (80.5 km²), of which, 28.2 square miles (73.1 km²) of it is land and 2.8 square miles (7.4 km²) of it (9.17%) is water.

Diamond Beach, Erma, North Cape May and Villas are census-designated places and unincorporated areas located within Lower Township. Other communities in Lower Township include Cold Spring, Fishing Creek, Schellenger's Landing and Townbank. [ [http://www.townshipoflower.org/ Welcome to the Township of Lower's Website] , Township of Lower. Accessed July 12, 2008.]

Lower Township borders Middle Township, Wildwood City, Wildwood Crest Borough, Cape May City, West Cape May Borough, Cape May Point Borough, the Delaware Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930= 1444
1940= 1693
1950= 2737
1960= 6332
1970= 10154
1980= 17105
1990= 20820
2000= 22945
estimate=20785
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=06000US3400941610&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34009%7C06000US3400917560&_street=&_county=lower&_cityTown=lower&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Lower township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 18, 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 22,945 people, 9,328 households, and 6,380 families residing in the township. The population density was 813.0 people per square mile (313.9/km²). There were 13,924 housing units at an average density of 493.4/sq mi (190.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.26% White, 1.39% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.88% of the population.

There were 9,328 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the township the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $38,977, and the median income for a family was $45,058. Males had a median income of $35,201 versus $24,715 for females. The per capita income for the township was $19,786. About 5.3% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Lower Township adopted the Council-Manager form of government under the Faulkner Act in 1984. The council is composed of five council members (Mayor, Council Member-at-Large, and three Wards), each elected on a partisan basis to four-year terms on a staggered basis, with two or three seats up for election every other year."2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 8.]

The Mayor presides at all Council meetings and has a voice and vote in the proceedings. Powers are limited to those expressly conferred by the Charter. The Manager serves the Council for an indefinite term of office and may be removed by a majority vote of the Council. The Manager is the chief executive and administrator of the Township.

As of 2008, members of the Lower Township Council are Mayor Walt Craig, Deputy Mayor Robert Nolan, 1st Ward Council Member Thomas Conrad, 2nd Ward Council Member Wayne Mazurek and 3rd Ward Council Member Glenn Douglass. [ [http://www.townshipoflower.org/mayor_and_council.htm Lower Township Mayor and Council] , Lower Township. Accessed April 16, 2008.]

Federal, state and county representation

Lower Township is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 59. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

The Lower Township School District serves public school students in prekindergarten through sixth 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=3409150 Data for the Lower Township School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 16, 2008.] ) are [http://lowertwpschools.com/memorial/MemorialStaff.htm Memorial School] (PreK and K; 405 students), [http://lowertwpschools.com/mitnick/MitnickStaff.htm Carl T. Mitnick School] (1 and 2; 484), [http://lowertwpschools.com/maudabrams/MaudStaff.htm Maud T. Abrams School] (3 and 4; 465) and [http://lowertwpschools.com/sandman/SandmanStaff.htm Charles W. Sandman Consolidated School] (5 and 6; 561).

The Lower Township School District participates in the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, which allows non-resident students to attend the district's schools without cost to their parents, with tuition paid by the state. Available lots are announced annually by grade. [ [http://www.state.nj.us/education/choice/districts/index.html Interdistrict Public School Choice: Approved Choice Districts] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 16, 2008.]

For grades 7 - 12, public school students attend the schools of the Lower Cape May Regional School District, which serves students from Cape May City, Lower Township and West Cape May, along with students from Cape May Point. [ [http://lcmrschool.org/lcm/lcmr/index.html Lower Cape May Regional - High School] . Accessed April 16, 2008. "Lower Cape May Regional High School is a four year public school that serves students from four communities including Cape May, Lower Township, West Cape May and Cape May Point."] 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=3409090 Data for the Lower Cape May Regional High School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed July 27, 2008.] ) are [http://lcmrschool.org/lcmr/RMT_Main/rmt.htm Richard M. Teitelman School] (grades 7 and 8; 647 students) and
Lower Cape May Regional High School (grades 9-12; 1,195).

There are also two private Catholic schools in close proximity to Lower Township, [http://ladystar.capemayschools.com/ Our Lady Star of The Sea Regional School] (pre-K to 8) in Cape May and Wildwood Catholic High School (9-12) in North Wildwood.

Transportation

Mile marker 0 of the Garden State Parkway is in Lower Township, at the intersection with US 9. [ [http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/00000444__-.pdf Garden State Parkway] , New Jersey Department of Transportation Straight-line diagram. Accessed September 18, 2007.] U.S. Route 9 passes through the township, as do Route 109, Route 162 and Ocean Drive.

Points of Interest

* Cold Spring Presbyterian Church

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Lower township include:
*Charles W. Sandman, Jr. (1921-1985), represented ushr|New Jersey|2 from 167 to 1975. [Kerr, Peter. [http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=FB0A14F63C5F0C748EDDA10894DD484D81 "EX-REP. CHARLES SANDMAN. NIXON SUPPORTER, DIES"] , "The New York Times", August 27, 1985. Accessed October 21, 2007. "He was 64 and lived in Erma Park, N.J"]

References

External links

* [http://www.townshipoflower.org/ Lower Township website]
* [http://lowertwpschools.com/ Lower Township School District]
*NJReportCard|09|2840|0|Lower Township School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3409150 Data for the Lower Township School District] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://lcmrschool.org/ Lower Cape May Regional School District]
* [http://thecapemaygazette.com The Cape May Gazette] - Weekly newspaper covering Lower Township