Elk 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 4,424, an increase of 208 (+4.9%) from the 2010 census count of 4,216, which in turn reflected an increase of 702 (+20.0%) from the 3,514 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.
Elk Township was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 17, 1891, from portions of Clayton Township, Glassboro Township, and South Harrison Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026.} The township was named for elk hunted in the area.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed May 1, 2026.
Until 2016, Elk Township had been a dry township where alcohol could not be sold.New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014. That year, the township sold a package goods license for $300,000 which allows the sale of alcohol for off-premise consumption.O'Brien, Kathleen. "What it means to be one of N.J.'s 32 'dry' towns", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 21, 2016. Accessed August 2, 2017. "'You can't very well sell alcohol to the beavers and the squirrels,' said Debbie Pine, township clerk for Elk Township in Gloucester County. The township recently put its first consumption out to bid in a sealed bid auction - and got no takers. It did, however, sell its first package goods license for $300,033, which is why she described the town as 'kinda-sorta' dry."
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 19.34 square miles (50.08 km2), including 19.16 square miles (49.61 km2) of land and 0.18 square miles (0.47 km2) of water (0.93%). Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Aura, Ferrell, Harding, Hardingville and Monroeville.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The township borders the municipalities of Clayton, Franklin Township, Glassboro, Harrison Township and South Harrison Township in Gloucester County; and Upper Pittsgrove Township in Salem 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 4,216 people, 1,474 households, and 1,117 families in the township. The population density was . There were 1,576 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 79.74% (3,362) White, 14.78% (623) Black or African American, 0.52% (22) Native American, 0.64% (27) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.71% (72) from other races, and 2.61% (110) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.10% (215) of the population.
Of the 1,474 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18; 59.1% were married couples living together; 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.2% were non-families. Of all households, 17.9% were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.20.
23.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.8 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $63,194 (with a margin of error of +/− $18,724) and the median family income was $74,412 (+/− $15,399). Males had a median income of $56,786 (+/− $16,223) versus $39,900 (+/− $15,570) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,707 (+/− $3,616). About 9.3% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Elk township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 3,514 people, 1,263 households, and 958 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 1,347 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 82.07% White, 14.26% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 1.37% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.93% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Elk township, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 31, 2016.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Elk township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.
There were 1,263 households, out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $51,047, and the median income for a family was $55,472. Males had a median income of $41,604 versus $27,407 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,621. About 8.3% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government Local government Elk Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 of the 564 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 19."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, the members of the Elk Township Committee are Mayor Carolyn King-Sammons (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2025), Antonio Cammarata (R, 2027), Christine "Chrisy" Cowan (R, 2027), Nathaniel G. Lucas III (R, 2025) and James Rambo (R, 2026).Township Committee, Elk Township. Accessed January 23, 2025.2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Elk Township. Accessed January 23, 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 7, 2023 Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey, November 20, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.General Election November 8, 2022 Summary Report Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey Clerk, November 12, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2023.
After the November 2014 general election, Elk Township Republicans declined to file for a recount with John J. Norris coming in third place (with 672 votes), six votes behind Republican Carolyn D. King-Sammons (678) and Democrat James Rambo (685).Pritchett, Kristina. "Elk Township Republicans, Democrat decline to challenge election results", South Jersey Times, November 11, 2014. Accessed January 16, 2015. "Elk Township Republicans have decided not to pursue a recount after provisional ballots were counted and determined there wouldn't be a change in results, according to Republican Chairwoman Donna Nicholson.... Republican Carolyn D. King-Sammons (678) and Democrat James Rambo (685) defeated John J. Norris (672) and Spring (668) by a handful of votes, according to unofficial results updated with provisional ballots on Monday afternoon."
Federal, state and county representation Elk Township is located in the 2nd Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 3rd 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
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,005 registered voters in Elk, of which 1,031 (34.3%) were registered as Democrats, 604 (20.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,369 (45.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.Voter Registration Summary - Gloucester, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 7, 2012.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.2% of the vote (1,116 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 47.6% (1,039 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (26 votes), among the 2,201 ballots cast by the township's 3,208 registered voters (20 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 68.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.3% of the vote (1,187 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 46.7% (1,080 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (25 votes), among the 2,312 ballots cast by the township's 3,204 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.2%.2008 Presidential General Election Results: Gloucester County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 7, 2012. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.9% of the vote (1,016 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 47.8% (955 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (14 votes), among the 1,997 ballots cast by the township's 2,727 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 73.2.2004 Presidential Election: Gloucester County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 7, 2012.