Mannington Township is a township in Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 1,475, a decrease of 331 (−18.3%) from the 2010 census count of 1,806, which in turn reflected an increase of 247 (+15.8%) from the 1,559 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.

History

Mannington Township was first mentioned on May 12, 1701. It had been previously known as East Fenwick Township, which was mentioned on September 3, 1679, though the details of its incorporation are unknown. The township was incorporated by New Jersey Legislature's Township Act of 1798 on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's original group of 104 townships. A portion of the township was taken in 1878 and annexed by Quinton Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 216. Accessed May 29, 2024. The township's name derives from the Lenape deity, variously spelled as Maneto or Manito.Home Page, Mannington Township. Accessed September 4, 2015. "Mannington is derived from the Native American word Maneto."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 4, 2015."Indian Place Names in New Jersey", from the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration 1938–1939 Series, Bulletin 12. Accessed September 4, 2015. "Each subtribe of the Lenape kept its own Walam Olum, but all the records began by describing how the great Manito (god) made the sea, the sky and the earth, and created man and the animals."

As a dry town, the sale of alcohol is not legally permitted.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.

Among the oldest buildings are Barrett's Plantation House and the Salem County Insane Asylum.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 37.90 square miles (98.17 km2), including 33.88 square miles (87.76 km2) of land and 4.02 square miles (10.41 km2) of water (10.61%).

The Salem River flows along the township's northern and western boundaries.DeLorme (2005). New Jersey Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. .

The township borders the Salem County municipalities of Alloway Township, Carneys Point Township, Pennsville Township, Pilesgrove Township, Quinton Township and Salem.Salem County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed February 26, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Acton, Claysville, Halltown, Marshalltown, Pointers, Portertown, Slapes Corner, Welchtown and Welchville.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 11, 2015.

As of 2026, the township is a member of Local Leaders for Responsible Planning in order to address the township's Mount Laurel doctrine-based housing obligations.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 1,806 people, 540 households, and 392 families in the township. The population density was . There were 592 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 72.59% (1,311) White, 21.10% (381) Black or African American, 0.66% (12) Native American, 0.44% (8) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.93% (71) from other races, and 1.27% (23) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.19% (148) of the population.

Of the 540 households, 27.4% had children under the age of 18; 58.0% were married couples living together; 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.4% were non-families. Of all households, 22.6% were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.09.

18.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 141.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 143.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $63,650 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,287) and the median family income was $75,625 (+/− $17,613). Males had a median income of $59,896 (+/− $6,020) versus $42,159 (+/− $10,096) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,369 (+/− $5,096). About 6.1% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Mannington township, Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2013.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,559 people, 539 households, and 409 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 573 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 75.63% White, 20.91% African American, 0.51% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 1.73% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Mannington township, Salem County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Mannington township, Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2013.

There were 539 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% 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 3.02.

In the township the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 23.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $52,625, and the median income for a family was $62,500. Males had a median income of $45,714 versus $29,727 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,262. About 3.8% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy Mannington Mills operates a manufacturing facility which occupies over , which it moved to Mannington after the company was established in Salem in 1915. In 2010, the company undertook an extensive cleanup of contaminated soil on the plant site.Gallo Jr., Bill. "Mannington Mills plans major environmental cleanup at local plant", South Jersey Times, November 7, 2009. Accessed September 23, 2013.

Government

Local government Mannington 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 governing body is a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat 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. 20."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. At an annual reorganization meeting conducted during the first week of January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

, members of the Mannington Township Committee are Mayor Donald C. Asay (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2022), Deputy Mayor Luke S. Patrick Jr. (R, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2022) and Kenneth H. Dunham Jr. (R, 2024).Township Committee, Mannington Township. Accessed April 12, 2022.2021 Municipal Data Sheet, Mannington Township. Accessed April 12, 2022.Election Summary Report General Election Salem County November 2, 2021 Official Results Report, Salem County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.Election Summary Report Salem County NJ General Election November 3, 2020 Official Report, Salem County, New Jersey, updated November 25, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.November 5, 2019 Summary Report Salem County, NJ Official Results, Salem County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 18, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.

In the 2012 general election, the Township Committee had Democrats in the majority for the first time in township history, though the committee decided to choose the committee's only Republican, Donald C. Asay, as mayor.Williams, Michael. "Democratic majority on Mannington Township Committee names Republican mayor", South Jersey Times, January 4, 2013. Accessed January 17, 2013. "During the reorganization of township committee on Thursday, newly elected Democratic Committeeman John Emel was sworn into a three year term. Emel's election brought the make-up of the three member township committee to 2 to 1 with a Democratic majority, which marks the first time in the township's history that Republicans have not held the majority in Mannington. But in a somewhat unusual move, the Democratic members of committee nominated lone Republican Donald Asay to continue serving as mayor."

Federal, state and county representation Mannington 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