Monroe Township is a township in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 37,117, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 988 (+2.7%) from the 36,129 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 7,162 (+24.7%) from the 28,967 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. The township is part of the South Jersey region of the state and a suburb of Philadelphia, within the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
Monroe Township was originally formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 3, 1859, from portions of Washington Township while the area was still part of Camden County. Monroe Township was shifted to Gloucester County on February 28, 1871, along with the majority of Washington Township. In 1950, portions of the township were transferred to Winslow Township in Camden County.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 139. Accessed May 30, 2024. The township was named for President James Monroe.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 7, 2015.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 46.93 square miles (121.54 km2), including 46.42 square miles (120.23 km2) of land and 0.51 square miles (1.31 km2) of water (1.08%).
Victory Lakes (with a 2020 census population of 1,999) and Williamstown (15,082) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places located in Monroe Township.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed November 7, 2012.
Other unincorporated communities, localities, and places located partially or completely within the township include Berryland, Broad Lane, Cecil, Cross Keys, Downer, New Brooklyn and Radix.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The township borders the municipalities of Clayton, Franklin Township, Glassboro, and Washington Township in Gloucester County; Buena Vista Township and Folsom in Atlantic County; and Winslow Township in Camden County.Municipalities within Gloucester County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed November 7, 2019.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 7, 2019.
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 36,129 people, 12,815 households, and 9,445 families in the township. The population density was . There were 13,387 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 79.41% (28,689) White, 14.01% (5,060) Black or African American, 0.20% (73) Native American, 2.42% (875) Asian, 0.01% (5) Pacific Islander, 1.54% (557) from other races, and 2.41% (870) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.97% (1,795) of the population.
Of the 12,815 households, 34.7% had children under the age of 18; 56.2% were married couples living together; 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.3% were non-families. Of all households, 21.5% were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.28.
25.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,761 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,083) and the median family income was $83,929 (+/− $4,293). Males had a median income of $61,505 (+/− $3,058) versus $41,946 (+/− $1,826) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,270 (+/− $1,121). About 6.1% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Monroe township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 28,967 people, 10,521 households, and 7,848 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 11,069 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 84.83% White, 11.15% African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.71% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Monroe township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Monroe township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.
There were 10,521 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,037, and the median income for a family was $56,810. Males had a median income of $41,062 versus $29,849 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,488. About 4.0% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Sports Scotland Run Golf Club is a public golf course and country club located in Williamstown. Opened in 1999, the 18-hole course was built on an old sand quarry. The course was named one of the Top 50 Public Courses in the country by the readers of Golf World in their annual Readers' Choice Awards in 2009 and 2010.Home Page, Scotland Run Golf Club. Accessed July 8, 2015.
Government Local government Monroe Township is governed within the Faulkner Act system of municipal government, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under Mayor-Council (Plan F), enacted by direct petition as of January 1, 1971."The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed October 22, 2013. The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body of Monroe Township is comprised of the Mayor and the Township Council. The Mayor is directly elected to a four-year term of office. The Township Council is comprised of seven members, with three at-large seats and four seats selected from wards, all of whom serve four-year terms of office. Officials are chosen in partisan voting as part of the November general election in even-numbered years on a staggered basis, with the Mayor and the three council at-large seats up for vote together and two years later the four ward council seats.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 24."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.Government Structure , accessed November 1, 2006Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.
, the Mayor of Monroe Township is Democrat Gregory A. Wolfe, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.Mayor, Township of Monroe. Accessed January 24, 2025. Members of the Township Council are Denise Liszewski Adams (D, 2026; At Large), Brian Cope (D, 2024; Ward 3), Carolann Fox (D, 2028; Ward 2), Donald Heverly (D, 2026; At Large), Al Rossi (D, 2028; Ward 1), Patrick O'Reilly (D, 2026; At Large) and John Valentine (Republican, 2028; Ward 4).Township Council Members, Township of Monroe. Accessed January 24, 2025.2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of Monroe. Accessed January 24, 2025.Gloucester County 2024 Official Directory, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2025.General Election November 5, 2024 Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.General Election November 8, 2022 Summary Report Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey Clerk, November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
In January 2019, Cody Miller was selected to fill the Ward 2 seat expiring in December 2020 that was vacated by Richard DiLucia when he took office as mayor.January 28, 2019 Meeting Minutes, Township of Monroe. Accessed November 9, 2019. "Cncl. Wolfe nominated Cody Miller for Council Ward 2 Seat. The nomination was seconded by Cncl. Marino. No other nominations were made.... Mayor Richard DiLucia administered the Oath of Office to Cncl. Cody Miller." In the November 2019 general election, Miller was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.General Election November 5, 2019 Summary Report Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey Clerk, November 12, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.
In March 2022, Mayor Richard DiLucia switched parties and became a Republican, as did councilmembers Katherine Falcone and Steven McKinney.Wildstein, David. "Democratic mayor, two councilmembers in big Gloucester town switching parties DiLucia will run as a Republican in second-largest town in Gloucester now in play for Republicans", New Jersey Globe, March 4, 2022. Accessed March 7, 2022. "The Democratic mayor and two Democratic councilmembers in Monroe Township are switching parties, putting Republican control of the Gloucester County municipality of 37,117 people in play for the November midterm elections. Mayor Richard DiLucia says he will seek re-election to a second term as a Republican in the county’s second-biggest municipality.... Councilwoman Katherine Falcone will also switch parties and will run for re-election as a Republican. Councilman Steven McKinney, whose seat is not up until 2024, is also become a Republican."
Federal, state, and county representation Monroe Township is located in the 1st Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 4th state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.
Politics