Franklin 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 16,380, a decrease of 440 (−2.6%) from the 2010 census count of 16,820, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,354 (+8.8%) from the 15,466 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.
Franklin Township was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 27, 1820, from portions of Greenwich Township and Woolwich Township. Parts of the township have been taken to form Clayton Township (February 5, 1858) and Newfield (March 8, 1924).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 138. Accessed October 25, 2012. The township was named for Benjamin Franklin.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.History The Franklinville Inn. Accessed August 31, 2015. "In 1820 the Township of Franklin was formed. The first town meeting was held in that hotel which was then known as Cake's Tavern.... The village of Little Ease evolved into the Town of Franklinville. The origin of this name is uncertain; however, many believe Benjamin Franklin's influence in the area, as a result of his trips to Cape May, may have been instrumental in naming the town."
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 56.39 square miles (146.04 km2), including 55.83 square miles (144.60 km2) of land and 0.56 square miles (1.44 km2) of water (0.99%). Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Blue Bell, Downstown, Forest Grove. Franklinville, Fries Mills, Iona, Janvier, Lake, Malaga, Marsh Lake, Piney Hollow, Plainville, Star Cross, and Porchtown.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 28, 2015.
The township borders the municipalities of Clayton, Elk Township, Monroe Township, and Newfield in Gloucester County; Buena and Buena Vista Township in Atlantic County; Vineland in Cumberland County; and Pittsgrove Township 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 16,820 people, 5,849 households, and 4,562 families in the township. The population density was . There were 6,104 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 88.44% (14,876) White, 7.18% (1,208) Black or African American, 0.20% (34) Native American, 1.27% (213) Asian, 0.03% (5) Pacific Islander, 1.03% (174) from other races, and 1.84% (310) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.49% (755) of the population.
Of the 5,849 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18; 61.5% were married couples living together; 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 22.0% were non-families. Of all households, 16.9% were made up of individuals and 6.2% 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 3.23.
24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.5 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that, in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars, median household income was $74,327 with a margin of error of +/− $6,247, and median family income was $80,667 (+/− $7,344). Males had a median income of $51,425 (+/− $3,105) versus $42,297 (+/− $2,605) for females. The per capita income for Franklin Township was $32,141 (+/− $3,019). About 4.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Franklin township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 U.S. census there were 15,466 people, 5,225 households, and 4,190 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 5,461 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 90.22% White, 6.66% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.51% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Franklin 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 Franklin township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.
There were 5,225 households, out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $55,169, and the median income for a family was $60,518. Males had a median income of $41,159 versus $27,538 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,277. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government Franklin Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) 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. 24."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.Cerra, 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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, the Franklin Township Committee is comprised of Mayor John "Jake" Bruno (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2027; term as mayor ends 2025), Deputy Mayor Tim Doyle (R, term on committee ends 2026; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), Mark Fiorella (R, 2026), Jonathan Keen (R, 2025) and Mike Marsh (R, 2025).Township Committee, Franklin Township. Accessed January 23, 2025. "There are five elected members, serving staggered terms to ensure that the Committee always has experienced members. The Mayor is not elected by voters; he or she is chosen by the other Township Committee members at the annual Reorganization Meeting held immediately after the New Year."2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Franklin 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.
In January 2020, Timothy Doyle was chosen from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Leah Vasallo until she resigned from office the previous month.Resignation Letters, OPRAmachine, December 20, 2019. accessed April 1, 2020.
Republican Heather Flaim was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that became vacant following the death of Ed Leopardi in September 2016; a judge ruled in May 2017 that Flaim could take the seat in a ruling in a case in which the local Democratic municipal committee claimed that it had submitted a list of three candidates to succeed Leopardi, which the township claims it never received.Gray, Matt. "Judge rules resident can fill vacant township committee seat", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 31, 2017. Accessed September 19, 2018. "The township committee appointed Heather Flaim to fill the seat in October, but Leopardi's wife, Rene' Pistilli-Leopardi, and the Democratic Executive Committee of Franklin Township sued to block the move, saying the committee had not selected one of three replacements the township Democratic party had submitted. Township officials responded that they had not received the list." Flaim won a full three-year term in the November 2017 general election, while Democrat Charles F. Pluta was elected to serve the balance of Leopardi's term of office.General Election November 7, 2017 Summary Report Unofficial Results, Gloucester County, New Jersey Clerk, November 14, 2017. Accessed January 1, 2018.
Federal, state and county representation Franklin 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 4th state legislative district.Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 10,760 registered voters in Franklin, of which 2,885 (26.8%) were registered as Democrats, 2,422 (22.5%) were registered as Republicans and 5,444 (50.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 9 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.Voter Registration Summary - Gloucester, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 7, 2012.