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Maurice River Township, New Jersey
Township
Township of Maurice River
East Point Light
Nickname(s): 
MRT
Maurice River Township highlighted in Cumberland County. Inset map: Cumberland County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Maurice River Township highlighted in Cumberland County. Inset map: Cumberland County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Maurice River Township, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Maurice River Township, New Jersey
Maurice River Township, New Jersey is located in Cumberland County, New Jersey
Maurice River Township, New Jersey
Maurice River Township, New Jersey
Location in Cumberland County, New Jersey
Maurice River Township, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
Maurice River Township, New Jersey
Maurice River Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Maurice River Township, New Jersey is located in the United States
Maurice River Township, New Jersey
Maurice River Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Cumberland
Formed January 19, 1748
Incorporated February 21, 1798
Named for Maurice, Prince of Orange
Government
 • Type Township
 • Body Township Committee
Area
 • Total 95.90 sq mi (248.38 km2)
 • Land 93.17 sq mi (241.30 km2)
 • Water 2.73 sq mi (7.08 km2)  2.85%
Area rank 6th of 565 in state
1st of 14 in county
Elevation
39 ft (12 m)
Population
 • Total 7,976
 • Estimate 
(2019)
5,949
 • Rank 290th of 566 in state
4th of 14 in county
 • Density 85.7/sq mi (33.1/km2)
 • Density rank 550th of 566 in state
11th of 14 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08327 - Leesburg
Area code(s) 856 exchange: 785
FIPS code 3401144580
GNIS feature ID 0882063
Website

Maurice River Township (/ˈmɔːrɪs/) is the easternmost township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Vineland-Millville- Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 7,976, reflecting an increase of 1,048 (+15.1%) from the 6,928 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 280 (+4.2%) from the 6,648 counted in the 1990 Census.

Maurice River Township was first formed as a precinct on January 19, 1748, and was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to form Millville on March 1, 1866. The township derives its name from Maurice, Prince of Orange.

It is a dry town where alcohol cannot be sold.

History

Originally called Wahatquenak by the local Lenni Lenape Native Americans, the Maurice River is said to be named for a local legend, in which a Dutch ship on the river, the Prince Maurice, was sunk by the local Native Americans in 1657. The land was surveyed by John Worledge and Thomas Budd, and the community of Dorchester was laid out. It was not until 1798 on that the township itself was established.

Port Elizabeth was established as a port of delivery by an Act of Congress in 1789, and trade was done directly with the West Indies until the 1830s, when trading was done more with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City. Dorchester and Leesburg were known for shipbuilding industry, and the A.J. Meerwald (the State Ship of New Jersey) was built in the shipyards of Dorchester. The settlement of Heislerville and its surroundings were known for their oystering industry until around 1957, when a parasitic disease called MSX crippled the oyster population of the river. The oystering industry has not recovered since.

Geography

Map of Cumberland Co., New Jersey - from actual surveys LOC 2010592714
1862 map of Cumberland County
Rainbow over Cumberland Pond
Cumberland Pond

According to the United States Census Bureau, Maurice River township had a total area of 95.90 square miles (248.38 km2), including 93.17 square miles (241.30 km2) of land and 2.73 square miles (7.08 km2) of water (2.85%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bennetts Mill, Bricksboro, Cannon Range, Cumberland, Delmont, Dorchester, East Point, Fries Mill, Halberton, Hands Mill, Heislerville, Hesstown, Hoffmans Mill, Hunters Mill, Jones Mill, Leesburg, Manantico, Manumuskin, Menhaden, Moores Beach, Ormond, Port Elizabeth, Thompsons Beach, Wall Pond, and some portions of Belleplain and Milmay. The township government is based in the community of Leesburg in the municipal complex. Maurice River Township is mostly rural in character and some of the land is covered by extensive forests of the Pine Barrens.

Maurice River Township borders the municipalities of Commercial Township, Millville and Vineland in Cumberland County; Buena Vista Township, Estell Manor and Weymouth Township in Atlantic County; and Dennis Township and Upper Township in Cape May County.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1810 2,085
1820 2,411 15.6%
1830 2,724 13.0%
1840 2,143 −21.3%
1850 2,245 4.8%
1860 2,430 8.2%
1870 2,500 2.9%
1880 2,374 −5.0%
1890 2,279 −4.0%
1900 2,132 −6.5%
1910 2,124 −0.4%
1920 2,016 −5.1%
1930 2,319 15.0%
1940 2,261 −2.5%
1950 2,834 25.3%
1960 3,105 9.6%
1970 3,743 20.5%
1980 4,577 22.3%
1990 6,648 45.2%
2000 6,928 4.2%
2010 7,976 15.1%
2019 (est.) 5,949 −25.4%
Population sources:1810-2010
1810-1920 1840 1850-1870
1850 1870 1880-1890
1890-1910 1910-1930
1930-1990 2000 2010
* = Lost territory in previous decade

Census 2010

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,976 people, 1,364 households, and 970 families residing in the township. The population density was 85.7 per square mile (33.1/km2). There were 1,506 housing units at an average density of 16.2 per square mile (6.3/km2)*. The racial makeup of the township was 58.04% (4,629) White, 36.03% (2,874) Black or African American, 0.44% (35) Native American, 0.35% (28) Asian, 0.03% (2) Pacific Islander, 3.44% (274) from other races, and 1.68% (134) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.52% (919) of the population.

There were 1,364 households out of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the township, the population was spread out with 9.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 52.2% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females there were 343.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 415.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $69,419 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,253) and the median family income was $78,713 (+/- $7,665). Males had a median income of $54,893 (+/- $8,742) versus $33,712 (+/- $6,439) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,705 (+/- $1,946). About 9.5% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 6,928 people, 1,332 households, and 1,012 families residing in the township. The population density was 74.2 people per square mile (28.6/km2). There were 1,461 housing units at an average density of 15.6 per square mile (6.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 98.63% White, 3.98% African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 11.1% Pacific Islander, 9.43% from other races, and 2.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.15% of the population.

There were 1,332 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the township the population was spread out, with 12.9% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 55.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 277.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 343.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $43,182, and the median income for a family was $46,987. Males had a median income of $37,901 versus $27,928 for females. The per capita income for the township was $17,141. About 6.4% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

In 1993, the Maurice River and its tributaries were designated as the Maurice National Scenic and Recreational River by the Congress.

Acres of unspoiled forest and waterways allow residents to enjoy outdoor activities year-round. With an abundance of forests and marshlands, numerous state wildlife refuges in the area are frequented by locals for hunting, fishing, bird-watching, hiking and boating.

The preservation of the unique ecosystem of the Maurice River watershed has become an important issue for some residents. One group, Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, Inc. was formed in 1979 to provide education and organize preservation efforts.

Education

The Maurice River Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Maurice River Township Elementary School. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 406 students and 34.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.9:1.

In the 2007–08 school year, Maurice River Township Elementary School was one of three schools statewide to be designated as a "School to Watch" by the New Jersey Department of Education. Despite this honor, it was one of several schools targeted for closure as part of a plan by the NJ Department of Education that would close and consolidate small school districts within a three-year period. Students at Maurice River Township Elementary School would have been bused to a larger regional school within Cumberland County. By May 2010, the plan had been shelved in the face of inadequate funding to implement the proposal.

Students in ninth through twelfth grades for public school attend high school in Millville together with students from Commercial Township, Lawrence Township and Woodbine, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Millville Public Schools. Students attend Memorial High School for grades 9 and half of 10th with 701 students and Millville Senior High School for grades 10–12 with 1,107 students.

Students are also eligible to attend Cumberland County Technology Education Center in Vineland, serving students from the entire county in its full-time technical training programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.

Transportation

Roads and highways

2021-08-09 08 55 43 View south along New Jersey State Route 55 (Cape May Expressway) from the overpass for Schooner Landing Road in Maurice River Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey
Route 55 southbound in Maurice River Township

Maurice River Township is located about a one-hour drive from both Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Atlantic City.

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 111.55 miles (179.52 km) of roadways, of which 43.80 miles (70.49 km) were maintained by the municipality, 47.88 miles (77.06 km) by Cumberland County and 19.87 miles (31.98 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Major roads that pass through include Route 47, Route 49 and Route 55 (a limited access road) and Route 347. Also, County Routes 548, 550 and 552 all pass through.

Public transportation

NJ Transit offers service on the 313 route between Cape May and Philadelphia.

Notable people

See also (related category): People from Maurice River Township, New Jersey

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

  • Merritt Gant (born 1971), former guitarist of heavy metal bands Overkill and Faith or Fear.
  • Mike Lafferty (born 1975) Enduro motorcycle champion.
  • Andy Lapihuska (1922–1996), MLB pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies.
  • Thomas Lee (1780–1856), represented New Jersey at large in the United States House of Representatives from 1833 to 1837.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Municipio de Maurice River (Nueva Jersey) para niños

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