Greenwich 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 4,917, an increase of 18 (+0.4%) from the 2010 census count of 4,899, which in turn reflected an increase of 20 (+0.4%) from the 4,879 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.
Greenwich Township was first formed on March 1, 1695, and was formally incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Over the centuries, portions of the township were taken to form Woolwich Township (March 7, 1767), Franklin Township (January 27, 1820), Spicer Township (March 13, 1844; now Harrison Township), Mantua Township (February 23, 1853), East Greenwich Township (February 10, 1881), and Paulsboro (March 2, 1904).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 October 26, 2012. The township was named for Greenwich, England.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.
History C. A. Nothnagle Log House in Greenwich Township is one of the oldest standing wooden structures built by European settlers in the Eastern United States.Staff. "Log Cabin in Greenwich may be Oldest in County", Courier-Post, February 23, 2000. Accessed September 9, 2013. "The Nothnagle log cabin in Greenwich, Gloucester County, is believed to be the oldest log cabin in the United States." It was likely built by early Finnish-Swedish settlers after 1638 but before 1700; its precise age has not been definitively determined. A plaque at the house indicates that the structure was built between 1638 and 1643, while the National Register of Historic Places web site states: "Period of Significance: 1650–1699". The one-room cabin is constructed of square-hewn logs with a low-beamed ceiling with a large corner fireplace in a rear corner.Nothnagle Log Cabin, Gibbstown, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2017.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 12.03 square miles (31.16 km2), including 8.96 square miles (23.21 km2) of land and 3.07 square miles (7.95 km2) of water (25.50%).
Gibbstown, with a 2020 population of 3,822, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Greenwich Township. Other unincorporated communities, localities, and places located partially or completely in the township are Clements, Green, Monds Island, and Thompsons Point.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 22, 2015.
The township borders East Greenwich Township, Logan Township, and Paulsboro in Gloucester County. Greenwich Township also borders the Delaware River.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 4,899 people, 1,946 households, and 1,352 families in the township. The population density was . There were 2,048 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 93.22% (4,567) White, 4.00% (196) Black or African American, 0.06% (3) Native American, 0.76% (37) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.41% (20) from other races, and 1.55% (76) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% (115) of the population.
Of the 1,946 households, 25.8% had children under the age of 18; 53.3% were married couples living together; 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.5% were non-families. Of all households, 24.9% were made up of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01.
20.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.2 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that, in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars, median household income was $63,817 with a margin of error of +/− $7,652, and median family income was $81,250 (+/− $14,406). Males had a median income of $47,927 (+/− $6,567) versus $41,750 (+/− $4,066) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,685 (+/− $3,226). About 8.1% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Greenwich township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census, there were 4,879 people, 1,866 households, and 1,393 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 1,944 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 94.55% White, 3.32% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Greenwich 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 Greenwich township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.
There were 1,866 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $53,651, and the median income for a family was $60,565. Males had a median income of $41,875 versus $31,627 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,791. About 1.3% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government Local government Greenwich Township is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council Plan A form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 71 of New Jersey's 564 municipalities that use this form.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 is comprised of five members elected at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two council seats up for election in each of the first two years and the mayoral seat up for vote in the third year of 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. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.Report of Audit for the year ended December 31, 2009 , Township of Greenwich. Accessed December 29, 2014. "The Township has a Mayor-Council form of government known as the Mayor-Council Plan A under the Optional Municipal Charter Law of 1960, popularly known as the Faulkner Act. The Mayor is separately elected."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.
, the Mayor of Greenwich Township is Democrat Vincent Giovannitti, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.Mayor, Greenwich Township. Accessed January 24, 2025. Members of the Greenwich Township Council are Council President Joseph L. DiMenna (D, 2025), Lee Campbell (D, 2027), Antonio "Tony" Chila (D, 2025) and Wanda Tranquillo (R, 2027)).Township Council, Greenwich Township. Accessed January 24, 2025.2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Greenwich Township. 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 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.
Federal, state, and county representation Greenwich 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 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 3,690 registered voters in Greenwich Township, of which 2,246 (60.9%) were registered as Democrats, 444 (12.0%) were registered as Republicans and 1,000 (27.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.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 53.5% of the vote (1,435 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 45.0% (1,206 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (39 votes), among the 2,712 ballots cast by the township's 3,711 registered voters (32 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.8% of the vote (1,564 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 44.8% (1,353 votes) and other candidates with 1.6% (47 votes), among the 3,022 ballots cast by the township's 3,863 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2%.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, Democrat John Kerry received 53.9% of the vote (1,602 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 44.0% (1,308 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (34 votes), among the 2,972 ballots cast by the township's 3,853 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 77.1.2004 Presidential Election: Gloucester County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 7, 2012.