Williamstown is an unincorporated community and census-designated placeState of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 31, 2022. (CDP) located in Monroe Township in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 13, 2013.2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 13, 2013.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed January 13, 2013.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 19, 2015. As of the 2020 census, Williamstown had a population of 15,082.

History Before the community's settlement in 1737, Williamstown was inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape tribe of Native Americans, from whom the town derived its original name, "Squankum", for "place where evil spirits dwell".Roncace, Kelly. "Williamstown traces name back to Lenni-Lenape", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 5, 2012. Accessed December 9, 2024. "Long before Europeans came to Gloucester County, the Lenni-Lenape called the area home.... That’s the case for Squankum, the original moniker for the village now called Williamstown. Part of Monroe Township, the Williamstown area was formerly inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape who hunted the woods and fished the nearby streams. The Native Americans referred to the area as Squankum — meaning 'place of evil ghosts' or 'place where evil spirits dwell.'" The name was changed to Williamstown when the town's first post office was established in 1842, due to postal regulations that prohibited two towns from having the same name and there was an older Squankum located northeast. It is generally thought that 'evil spirits' referred to the abundance of mosquitoes in the area, a by-product of the low-lying swamps that characterized the area during that time period. In the early eighteenth century, Richard Penn sold what eventually became Williamstown to his grandson, John Williams, who divided and resold the land in lots to settlers and for whom the town was eventually renamed."A History of Monroe Township" published by the Historic Society of Monroe Township. The town was officially incorporated as Monroe Township in March 1859, with Williamstown as meeting place to vote and have town discussions. A municipal court was established in the Township of Monroe, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 264 of the Laws of 1948. The first school was built in 1750 and stood where the Washington Hotel now stands. The local schools operated on a pay-as-you-go basis until the 1850s and were predominantly church-run. The area built its first high school in 1958.

The population of the town remained small until the early 1830s when the glass industry sprung up (Glassboro, a neighboring town, still bears the name borne of that commercial boom). The first company to form was called Free Will Glass Manufacturing and caused a population surge. The industry thrived until the early 1900s when agricultural businesses began to flourish in the face of the waning glass industry. One notable company, The John Sharp Canning Co., still operates today as Blue Ribbon. The Monroe Township Historical Society was formed as a volunteer organization on October 16, 1974, by Mayor John W. Sharp (of the Canning Company Sharps), dedicated to the preservation of items that reflect the history of Monroe Township.

In 2014, the community had a death rate from heroin that was 25 times the national average, with about five people per year dying of overdoses and other complications in the previous decade.Polhamus, Andy. "Inside the N.J. town with a heroin death-rate 25 times the national average", NJ.com, January 28, 2016. Accessed July 23, 2016. "In Williamstown — where the heroin death rate in 2014 was nearly 25 times the national average — others haven't been so lucky.... Between 2004 and 2014, at least 53 people died of heroin or opiate overdoses in Williamstown, an unincorporated community located almost entirely in Monroe Township, Gloucester County.... It's not entirely clear why Williamstown — where the rate was 63.8 — has such a high concentration of overdose deaths, but some experts believe geography plays a major role."

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Williamstown had a total area of , including of land and of water (0.05%).US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014. It has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and average monthly temperatures range from 33.2° in January to 76.7 °F in July. The hardiness zone is 7a.

Demographics

Williamstown first appeared as an unincorporated community in the 1950 U.S. census; and then as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. census.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Williamstown had a population of 15,082. The median age was 42.1 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.3 males age 18 and over.

96.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 5,625 households in Williamstown, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.4% were married-couple households, 15.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 5,941 housing units, of which 5.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 11,132 73.8% Black or African American 2,097 13.9% American Indian and Alaska Native 40 0.3% Asian 333 2.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2 0.0% Some other race 423 2.8% Two or more races 1,055 7.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,172 7.8%

2010 Census

The 2010 United States census counted 15,567 people, 5,592 households, and 4,037 families in the CDP. The population density was . There were 5,857 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 80.43% (12,521) White, 13.08% (2,036) Black or African American, 0.19% (29) Native American, 2.04% (318) Asian, 0.01% (2) Pacific Islander, 1.79% (279) from other races, and 2.45% (382) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.27% (820) of the population.DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Williamstown CDP, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed April 24, 2012.

Of the 5,592 households, 35.5% had children under the age of 18; 54.3% were married couples living together; 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.8% were non-families. Of all households, 23.1% were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.26.

26.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.6 males.

2000 Census As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 11,812 people, 4,484 households, and 3,223 families residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 4,764 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.68% White, 10.35% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.87% of the population.DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Williamstown CDP, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 11, 2012.

There were 4,484 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $44,200, and the median income for a family was $51,552. Males had a median income of $40,411 versus $29,112 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,112. About 5.5% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation Cross Keys Airport is a public-use general aviation airport located northwest of the central business district.Cross Keys Airport, AirNav.com. Accessed July 28, 2017. U.S. Route 322 and New Jersey Route 42 pass through Central Williamstown.

Education Monroe Township Public Schools is a comprehensive public school district serving the educational needs of resident students from grades Kindergarten through twelve.

St. Mary School is a K-8 elementary school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.About, St. Mary School. Accessed February 21, 2023.Schools, South Jersey Catholic Schools. Accessed February 21, 2023.

Recreation Scotland Run Golf Club is a public golf course located in Williamstown, near U.S. Route 322.

Tall Pines Day Camp is a summer camp in Williamstown, for young children and teenagers. It was founded in 1996 and is accredited by the American Camping Association.

Hospitality Creek is a campground consisting of an RV park, Olympic-size swimming pool, lake, and other outdoor amenities. It was established in 1961 and located within five minutes from the center of Williamstown.Kiniry, Laura. Moon New Jersey, p. 201. Avalon Travel, 2009. . Accessed July 23, 2016.

Skydive Cross Keys, operating out of Cross Keys Airport, offers both tandem skydiving and skydive training.About Us, Skydive Cross Keys. Accessed July 28, 2017.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Williamstown include: Raymond Arvidson, planetary scientist at Washington University in St. Louis, best known for his contributions to NASA missions to Mars, including as deputy director of the Mars Exploration Rovers"News of County", Gloucester County Times, July 25, 1969. Accessed September 19, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Raymond E. Arvidson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Benevento of 439 New Brooklyn Road, Williamstown, is participating; in a U.S. Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFROTC) field training encampment at Loring AFB, Maine." Dave Calloway (born 1968), college basketball coach and the former head men's basketball coach at Monmouth UniversityDave Calloway, Monmouth Hawks men's basketball. Accessed July 3, 2019. "Calloway was one of Szoke's prize recruits as a sharpshooting guard from St. Joseph's High School.... The Williamstown, N.J., native made an immediate impact in West Long Branch."