Galloway Township is a township in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and a growing edge city to neighboring Atlantic City. At of total area of land and water, Galloway Township is the largest municipality in the state.GCT-PH1 Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – State – County Subdivision from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 25, 2012.Barlas, Thomas. "Step aside, Hamilton twp.: Galloway is bigger / 'Largest' N.J. town a little smaller than neighbor, data show" , The Press of Atlantic City, July 9, 2007. Accessed October 3, 2012. "But Hamilton Township residents might want to take another look at the numbers before becoming too smug with its bigness: The federal government says neighboring Galloway Township is actually larger."GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Atlantic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 4, 2012. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 37,813, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 464 (+1.2%) from the 2010 census count of 37,349, which in turn reflected an increase of 6,140 (+19.7%) from the 31,209 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.

Galloway Township was incorporated by Royal charter on April 4, 1774, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, when it was still part of Gloucester County. Galloway was incorporated as one of the initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. After becoming part of the newly formed Atlantic County in 1837, portions of the township were taken to create Mullica Township (March 13, 1838), Egg Harbor City (June 14, 1858), Absecon (February 29, 1872), Brigantine Beach borough (now Brigantine; June 14, 1890) and Port Republic (March 1, 1905).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 69. Accessed August 2, 2012.

Geographically, the township, and all of Atlantic County, is part of the South Jersey region of the state and of the Atlantic City-Hammonton metropolitan statistical area, which in turn is included in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.

History The Township of Galloway was created by a Royal Patent issued by King George III of Great Britain on April 4, 1774. At that time it was part of Gloucester County, and encompassed what are now Hammonton, Mullica Township, Egg Harbor City, Port Republic, Brigantine, Atlantic City, and the northern portion of Absecon. Galloway Township was incorporated by the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships under the Township Act of 1798.

For thousands of years, the area now known as Galloway Township was occupied by different cultures of indigenous peoples. The Lenape Native Americans were the historic tribe who occupied the area at the time of European encounter. They were one of the many Algonguian language peoples of the East Coast.

European settlers arrived later, with the English forming the majority of the earliest colonial settlements. Historians are uncertain about the origin of Galloway Township's name. One theory is that it was named after the historic region of Galloway, which is now part of the modern region of Dumfries and Galloway in southern Scotland. An alternative derivation is that the Township was named for Joseph Galloway, a Loyalist delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1774, who opposed the independence of the Thirteen Colonies. During the American Revolutionary War, Galloway was the site of the Battle of Chestnut Neck, which took place in an area that is now a part of Port Republic."History", Galloway Township, backed up by the Internet Archive as of March 18, 2013. Accessed May 18, 2015. "Historians are unsure as to how Galloway got its name. One opinion is that it was named after an area in Scotland known as Galloway Mull. The other theory is that it was named after Joseph Galloway, a Loyalist delegate to the Continental Congress."

During the spring of 2007, a large swath of oak and other hardwood trees was defoliated by gypsy moth caterpillars. Due to budget constraints, the township did not apply for spraying through the State of New Jersey, and the gypsy moth population expanded significantly.Prisament, Steve. "State approach on gypsy moth spraying really bugs council", copy of article from The Current, June 13, 2007. Accessed June 14, 2015.

On the morning of August 28, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene made its second U.S. landfall in Brigantine, though initial reports placed it at the Little Egg Inlet on the border with Little Egg Harbor Township. At the time it was believed to be the first hurricane to make landfall in New Jersey since 1903,Staff. "Hurricane Irene makes landfall in New Jersey; storm should be gone by mid-afternoon, meteorologist predicts - Update", The Express-Times, August 28, 2011. Accessed September 29, 2014. "Hurricane Irene made landfall at 5:35 this morning in Little Egg Inlet, near Atlantic City, according to Hackettstown-based WeatherWorks meteorologist Nick Troiano, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, 1 mile an hour above the level at which a hurricane is defined. It was 1903 the last time a hurricane – also a category one storm – Troiano said." but later analysis by the National Hurricane Center determined that the storm had weakened to tropical storm status by the time it made its second landfall.Avila, Lixion A.; and Cangialosi, John. , National Hurricane Center, December 14, 2011, updated April 11, 2012. Accessed September 29, 2014. "Irene then continued north-northeastward, just offshore of the Delmarva peninsula, and made another landfall very near Atlantic City, New Jersey, at Brigantine Island, at 0935 UTC 28 August. Although Irene's intensity at the New Jersey landfall was 60 kt, winds of that strength were confined to the waters east of the track of the center."

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 114.49 square miles (296.52 km2), including 88.67 square miles (229.65 km2) of land and 25.82 square miles (66.87 km2) of water (22.55%). Galloway Township serves as a growing edge city to neighboring Atlantic City.

Absecon Highlands (2020 Census population of 1,414), Cologne (1,461), Germania (297), Leeds Point (205), Oceanville (793), Pomona (7,416), Smithville (7,242), and Stockton University (2,428) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Galloway Township.GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Monmouth County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2012.2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2012.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed December 22, 2012.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Absecon, Brigantine Junction, Cologne Station, Conovertown, Doughtys, Hewittville, Higbeetown, Island Beach, Johnsontown, Pinehurst, Pomerania, South Egg Harbor, Somersville, and the "Township Center".Fast Facts Brochure 2009, Galloway Township, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 28, 2011. Accessed May 18, 2015. "Unincorporated Areas Within Galloway Township: Absecon Highlands, Cologne, Conovertown, Germania, Higbeetown, Leeds Point, Oceanville, Pinehurst, Pomona, Smithville and South Egg Harbor, and the 'Township Center'"Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 18, 2015.

The township borders the municipalities of Absecon, Atlantic City, Egg Harbor City, Egg Harbor Township, Hamilton Township, Mullica Township, and Port Republic in Atlantic County; Bass River Township and Washington Township in Burlington County; and Little Egg Harbor Township in Ocean County.Areas touching Galloway Township, MapIt. Accessed March 30, 2020.Atlantic County District Map, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed July 9, 2024.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

The township is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering , that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.The Pinelands National Reserve, New Jersey Pinelands Commission. Accessed November 18, 2013. Parts of the township are included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Atlantic County, along with areas in Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Ocean counties.Pinelands Municipalities, New Jersey Pinelands Commission, April 2003. Accessed November 18, 2013.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 37,349 people, 13,067 households, and 9,173 families in the township. The population density was . There were 14,132 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 71.92% (26,860) White, 11.44% (4,271) Black or African American, 0.27% (99) Native American, 10.02% (3,744) Asian, 0.02% (9) Pacific Islander, 3.39% (1,266) from other races, and 2.95% (1,100) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.05% (3,752) of the population.

Of the 13,067 households, 31.6% had children under the age of 18; 51.5% were married couples living together; 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.8% were non-families. Of all households, 23.2% were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.12.

21.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 14.3% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $65,908 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,931) and the median family income was $76,106 (+/− $2,675). Males had a median income of $50,516 (+/− $3,544) versus $40,663 (+/− $2,096) for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,302 (+/− $2,134). About 5.0% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Galloway township, Atlantic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 8, 2012.

2000 census