Oak Valley, New Jersey

Oak Valley, New Jersey
—  CDP  —
Map of Oak Valley CDP in Gloucester County, New Jersey
Coordinates: 39°48′22″N 75°9′31″W / 39.80611°N 75.15861°W / 39.80611; -75.15861Coordinates: 39°48′22″N 75°9′31″W / 39.80611°N 75.15861°W / 39.80611; -75.15861
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Gloucester
Area
– Total	0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2)
– Land	0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2)
– Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	66 ft (20 m)
Population (2000)
– Total	3,747
– Density	5,321.6/sq mi (2,054.7/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	08090
Area code(s)	856
FIPS code	34-54060[1]
GNIS feature ID	0878916[2]

Oak Valley is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Deptford Township, in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the Oak Valley CDP population was 3,747. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population had dropped seven percent to 3,483, mainly due the demolition of the former Hill Side Manor Apartment complex.

It is located approximately 10 miles south of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Oak Valley and neighboring Pine Acres are infrastructurally isolated from the rest of Deptford Township, requiring residents to drive through the neighboring communities of Woodbury Heights or Wenonah to reach other destinations in the township.

The neighborhood was built in the mid 1950's on the former grounds of the Forest View Country Club, later known as Oak Valley Country Club, which was a golf course that closed down during the Great Depression.

The area falls under the 08090 ZIP Code for Wenonah.

Places

• Oak Valley School

Geography

Oak Valley is located at 39°48′22″N 75°9′31″W / 39.80611°N 75.15861°W / 39.80611; -75.15861 (39.806013, -75.158735)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, Oak Valley has a total area of 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²), all land. Elevation is 66 feet.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1990	4,055		—
2000	3,747		−7.6%
2010	3,483		−7.0%
source:[4]

As of the census^[1] of 2010, there were 3,747 people, 1,305 households, and 1,060 families residing in Oak Valley. The population density was 2,066.7/km² (5,321.6/mi²). There were 1,322 housing units at an average density of 729.2/km² (1,877.6/mi²). The racial makeup is 93.43% White, 4.06% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.24% of the population.

There were 1,305 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.7% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.20.

In Oak Valley the population is spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household is $50,746, and the median income for a family was $55,573. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $25,350 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,148. About 3.0% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Oak Valley Fire House

The Oak Valley Volunteer Fire Company of Deptford Township was founded in August 1956 by eleven residents and was formally incorporated by the State of New Jersey in February 1957.

Prior to the creation of the company, the area was protected by several fire companies, Community (Tanyard Rd. Station), Wenonah and Woodbury Heights.

Charter members are George Frazier, Thomas Johnston, Paul Parenteau, J.A. Strait, Charles Harrison, Leo MaGee, Edward Tallant, John Stolz, James Stolz, Matt Green, Raymond Wycoff.

Five months after the company's incorporation, three residents in the community purchased an old fire pumper to help the company get started. This piece of equipment had to be kept at the chief's house until an engine room could be constructed at its present location at Princeton and Rutgers Ave.

In October 1957, several of the members wives got together to form a ladies auxiliary to help run functions to make money to assist in operating the company. Since the auxiliary's inception, the organization became an integral part of the fire company and one of the more active in Gloucester County. They also responded for assistance at fires, such as making coffee for firefighters at a fire.

The Oak Valley Vol. Fire Company was accepted as the eighth and newest fire company in Deptford Township in November 1958. Since then, the members have put in many hours of training to fight all types of fires and emergencies. They have also spent many hours going to various training schools and seminars to learn the latest techniques in firefighting.

In the 1970s the company operated one 1,250 gallon per minute (gpm) pumper, one 750 gpm pumper and a mobile cascade system which includes other various emergency equipment.

In 1975, the Deptford Township Ambulance and Rescue Squad formed a third squad, which was composed of a group of firefighters and some interested residents of Oak Valley. During that same year, in May, the company expanded its firehouse to include a new social hall and engine room. This was to accommodate the company's new 1975 Hahn pumper and new cascade truck to fit the firehouse. An agreement was made with the township rescue squad to house the ambulance at the Oak Valley firehouse, which added another service to the community.

The fire company's fire district was mostly residential, but included some of the commercial establishments on Route 45 and Ogden Road. The district's boundaries were Mantua Creek on the south, Route 45 on the west, the railroad track on the east and Woodbury Heights on the north. There was also a junior firefighter program for the teenagers which was instituted in 1967 by Gerald C. Ryan, who later became chief of the company. During the 1970s the company responded to between 150 and 200 fire alarms each year.

In 1981, the fire company received a new 1981 Pierce 1500 gpm engine to replace a 1968 T-Bolt engine that was worn out, 1981 was also the 25th anniversary of the company.

In 1984, Dennis Kappler was elected chief of the fire company at the age of 19. When we contacted the state, they could not confirm this. We were told he was the youngest person ever elected chief of a fire company in New Jersey and probably in the United States. Dennis is now the chief of the National Park Fire Company Station 8-1.

In 1989, mother nature was not very nice to the members and citizens of Oak Valley. While out answering many calls due to a storm that rolled into South Jersey, the crew from engine 911 were returning for a short break. Chief Dennis Kappler and his crew were informed that the alarm was going off at the firehouse. When they got back there, they found a 60' X 120' section of the roof had been removed by a tornado. The storm came through Pine Acres into Oak Valley. The fire company lost the use of the hall for almost 3 years.

In the early 1990s, an electrical fire broke out in the fire company's rec room, causing a lot of damage and shutting the room down for almost two years while repairs were done.

In early 1996, the company was told by the Fire Commissioners, that they were forming a new truck committee and Oak Valley was to receive a new engine. On Saturday September 6, 1997 seven new pieces of apparatus were delivered to the Deptford Fire Department. Oak Valley received a 1997 KME, 1750 gpm, 1000 gallon tank and a 10 man cab. The new engine became engine 911 and the '81 Pierce became engine 912. The old engine, a 1975 Hahn became a reserve engine for the department. In October of '97, the fire department hired a full time Department Chief. The 8 station chief's became battalion chiefs.

In 1998, Ron Newman became Battalion of the Oak Valley Fire Company. In 2000, he became the first person to be appointed to the position of Battalion Chief in one of the new Battalions that were set up by the Commission and the Department Chief.

In 2000, the eight fire companies were consolidated into four Battalions, each under command of a Battalion Chief. The stations are known by their geographic locations.

In December 2001, At the annual banquet, the Oak Valley Fire Company had two milestones. The first was the 45th anniversary and the second was we finally got to have a Mortgage Burning. That was pushed back due to the repairs done after the storm of 1989.

In 2004, the fire department informed the Oak Valley Fire Co. may be replacing the 1981 Pierce. In 2006, the Oak Valley Fire Company celebrated 50 years of proud service to the people of Oak Valley and to the Deptford Fire Department.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
4. ^ "Population Finder: Oak Valley CDP, New Jersey". U.S. Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US3452650&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3452650&_street=&_county=Oak+Valley&_cityTown=Oak+Valley&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=. Retrieved 2007-03-19. 

External links

• Deptford Township
• Oak Valley News