West Deptford Township (pronounced West DEP-fordBerkery, Sheri. "Do you know how to pronounce these S.J. town names?", Courier-Post, September 5, 2019. Accessed January 26, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Deptford/West Deptford: DEP-ford. Commonly and inexplicably heard as DEFF-ort.") 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 22,197, an increase of 520 (+2.4%) from the 2010 census count of 21,677, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,309 (+11.9%) from the 19,368 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.
West Deptford Township was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1871, from portions of Deptford Township. Portions of the township were taken to form the boroughs of National Park (April 15, 1902) and Westville (April 7, 1914).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 141. Accessed May 30, 2024. Woodbury annexed portions of the township in May 1907.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 313. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed October 25, 2015.
West Deptford Township was named for the Deptford area of London, located on the River Thames.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 25, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 104. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed October 25, 2015. The township is part of the South Jersey region of the state.
History Ladd's Castle, also known as Candor Hall, is a historic building located in the Colonial Manor section that is Gloucester County's oldest brick home. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, it was constructed by John Ladd, a surveyor who helped William Penn lay out a master design for the city of Philadelphia.Candor Hall or Ladd's Castle, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed October 25, 2015. "This Colonial manor is the oldest brick house in the county. It was built ca. 1688 by John Ladd, who lived there until his death.He is said to have helped William Penn lay out the streets of Philadelphia."
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 17.81 square miles (46.12 km2), including 15.36 square miles (39.77 km2) of land and 2.45 square miles (6.35 km2) of water (13.77%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Colonial Manor, Eagle Point, Greenfields Village, Hoffman Wharf, League Island, Leonards, North Woodbury, Ogens, Paradise, Parkville, Pierces Corner, Red Bank, Tatens, Thorofare, Verga, Washington Park, and West End.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
West Deptford Township borders the municipalities of Deptford Township, East Greenwich Township, Mantua Township, National Park, Paulsboro, Westville, Woodbury, and Woodbury Heights in Gloucester County; and Philadelphia and Tinicum Township in Pennsylvania, both located on the western side of 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 21,677 people, 8,829 households, and 5,757 families in the township. The population density was . There were 9,441 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 88.96% (19,283) White, 6.52% (1,414) Black or African American, 0.12% (25) Native American, 1.91% (415) Asian, 0.01% (3) Pacific Islander, 0.86% (187) from other races, and 1.61% (350) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.37% (731) of the population.
Of the 8,829 households, 27.9% had children under the age of 18; 48.5% were married couples living together; 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.8% were non-families. Of all households, 28.5% were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.03.
21.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.2 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $69,316 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,689) and the median family income was $84,900 (+/− $5,549). Males had a median income of $61,346 (+/− $4,244) versus $47,155 (+/− $4,421) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,874 (+/− $1,513). About 4.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for West Deptford township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 19,368 people, 7,719 households, and 5,125 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,218.4 people per square mile (470.3/km2). There were 7,999 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 92.29% White, 5.08% Black, 0.23% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.76% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for West Deptford township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for West Deptford township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.
There were 7,719 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,583, and the median income for a family was $64,477. Males had a median income of $42,711 versus $30,621 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,219. About 3.0% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government Local government West Deptford 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. 19."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 Township Committee is the legislative branch of the Township government, developing and adopting ordinances that become the laws of the township.
, members of the West Deptford Township Committee are Mayor James P. Mehaffey (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2025),Mayor's Office, West Deptford. Accessed January 26, 2025. Deputy Mayor Adam Reid (D, term on committee ends 2026; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), Megan Kerr (D, 2025), Ashley Morrell (D, 2027) and Jim Robinson (D, 2025).Township Committee, West Deptford. Accessed January 26, 2025. "The Township Committee is comprised of five members, the Mayor and four committee persons, each of whom serves a term of three years. At the reorganization meeting in January, the Committee selects one of its own to serve as Mayor."2024 Municipal Data Sheet, West Deptford. Accessed January 26, 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 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
The pick-up of two seats by Republicans in the 2011 election gave the party control of the Township Committee for the first time since the 1980s.Barna, John. "Republicans gain five local government seats in Gloucester County", Gloucester County Times, November 8, 2011. Accessed November 11, 2013. "The Republican Party picked up five seats on municipal councils and committees in Gloucester County on Tuesday, including gaining control of municipal government in West Deptford Township for the first time since the mid-80s.... Republicans Samuel G. Cianfarini (2,828) and Raymond Chintall (2,676) defeated Democrats Denice DiCarlo (2,433) and Hunter Kintzing (2,384) and incumbent Len E. Daws (1,078), a longtime Democratic committeeman seeking a new term as an independent, for two open committee seats."Bittner, Gina. "Cianfarini and Chintall win West Deptford committee race", Gloucester County Times, November 8, 2011. Accessed November 11, 2013. "Republicans Ray Chintall and Sam Cianfarini will fill the two open township committee seats come January, giving the GOP their first 3-2 lead in more than a decade."