Gloucester County, New Jersey

Etymology

The county is named after the city of Gloucester and county of Gloucestershire in England.^[17]

Climate and weather

Average temperatures in the county seat of Woodbury have ranged from a low of 26 °F (−3 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July. A record low of −11 °F (−24 °C) was recorded in February 1934 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in August 1918. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.75 inches (70 mm) in February to 4.35 inches (110 mm) in July.^[19] The county has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Average monthly temperatures in Newfield range from 33.0 °F in January to 76.6 °F in July.^[20]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 302,294, representing an increase of 14,006 (4.9%) from the 288,288 residents enumerated in the 2010 census.^[2] The median age was 40.1 years, 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 16.5% were 65 years of age or older, while for every 100 females there were 94.7 males and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.9 males age 18 and over.^[24]

The racial makeup of the county was 76.2% White, 10.9% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.7% from some other race, and 6.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.3% of the population.^[25]

88.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 11.3% lived in rural areas.^[26]

There were 110,471 households in the county, of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.9% were married-couple households, 15.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[24]

There were 117,208 housing units, of which 5.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.3% were owner-occupied and 22.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.^[24]

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 288,288 people, 104,271 households, and 75,805 families in the county. The population density was 895.3 inhabitants per square mile (345.7/km²). There were 109,796 housing units at an average density of 341 per square mile (132/km²). The racial makeup was 83.56% (240,890) White, 10.06% (29,006) Black or African American, 0.17% (501) Native American, 2.64% (7,609) Asian, 0.03% (95) Pacific Islander, 1.41% (4,055) from other races, and 2.13% (6,132) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.76% (13,712) of the population.^[6]

Of the 104,271 households, 33.4% had children under the age of 18; 55.6% were married couples living together; 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.3% were non-families. Of all households, 22% were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.2.^[6]

24.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.1 males.^[6]

Colleges and universities

Rowan University in Glassboro is a public university that was founded in 1923 on a 25-acre (10 ha) site donated by the borough.^[37]

Rowan College of South Jersey is the county college for Gloucester County. It was established in 1966 as Gloucester County College and opened to students two years later in 1968. Its main campus is in Sewell in Gloucester County; it also operates two satellite campuses in Vineland and Millville, both in Cumberland County.^[38]

School districts

School districts in Gloucester County include:^{[39][40][41][42]}

K-12

Secondary

• Clearview Regional High School District
• Delsea Regional School District
• Gateway Regional School District
• Kingsway Regional School District

Elementary (K-6, except as indicated)

Vocational school

Gloucester County has a vocational school, the Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year vocational-technical high school in Deptford Township that serves students from across the county and is part of the Gloucester County Vocational-Technical School District, located in Sewell.^[43]

Roads and highways

As of 2010^[update], the county had 1,698.59 miles (2,733.62 km) of roadways, 1,126.99 miles (1,813.71 km) of which is maintained by the local municipality, 406.47 miles (654.15 km) by Gloucester County, 145.11 miles (233.53 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, 2.22 miles (3.57 km) by the Delaware River Port Authority, 1.09 miles (1.75 km) by the South Jersey Transportation Authority, and 16.71 miles (26.89 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.^[46]

Various county, state, U.S. routes, and interstates pass through the county. Major county highways include County Route 534, County Route 536, County Route 538, County Route 544, County Route 551, County Route 553, County Route 555, and County Route 557.

State Routes include Route 41, Route 42, which is part of the North-South Freeway, Route 45, Route 47, Route 55, Route 77, and Route 168. Route 324 is located in Logan Township in the county. The three U.S. routes that traverse the county include: U.S. Route 130 in the northwest, U.S. Route 322 near the county's center, and U.S. Route 40 at the county's southern tip.

The Commodore Barry Bridge crosses the Delaware River, carrying U.S. Route 322 between Chester, Pennsylvania and Logan Township in the county.^[47]

Interstate 295 is an interstate that runs through the county's northwest for about 14 miles (23 km). The New Jersey Turnpike passes through the county in the northwest and interchanges at Exit 2 in Woolwich Township in the county. The Atlantic City Expressway briefly passes through the county in Washington Township before ending at an interchange with Route 42.^[48]

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service between the county and 30th Street Station in Center City Philadelphia is available on the 313 and 315 routes. Additional public transportation in the county includes the 400, 401 (from Salem), 402 (from Pennsville Township), 403, 408, 410 (from Bridgeton), and 412 (from Sewell) routes, and local service is available on the 455 (Cherry Hill to Paulsboro) and 463 (between Woodbury and the Avandale Park/Ride in Winslow Township) routes.^[49][50]

The Glassboro–Camden Line, a proposed 18-mile (28.97 km) diesel multiple unit (DMU) light rail system to connect with the River Line and PATCO Speedline in Camden, was initially anticipated to be in operation by 2019.^[51][52] However, a lack of an official sponsor and funding source have to date delayed the project.

Freight rail

Gloucester County is located in Conrail's South Jersey/Philadelphia Shared Assets Area,^[53] freight rail in the county travels along the Penns Grove Secondary, the Salem Branch, and the Vineland Secondary. SMS Rail Lines handles interchanges with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway.

Port

The Port of Paulsboro is located on the Delaware River and Mantua Creek in and around Paulsboro in the county. Traditionally one of the nation's busiest ports for marine transfer operations of petroleum products, the port is undergoing redevelopment as an adaptable omni port able to handle bulk, breakbulk cargo, and shipping containers. Studies completed in 2012^[54][55] concluded that the port is well suited to become a center for the manufacture, assembly, and transport of wind turbines and platforms involved in wind power development.^{[56][57][58][59][60][61]}

County government

Gloucester County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners and includes seven members who are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis in partisan elections, with either two or three seats coming up for election each November. At a reorganization meeting held each January, the Board selects a director and a deputy director from among the members. In 2017, commissioners, then called freeholders, were paid $16,908 annually and the director was paid $17,908.^[62] As of 2025^[update], Gloucester County's Commissioners are (with terms for director and deputy director ending December 31):

Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the Constitution of New Jersey, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as constitutional officers. These officials are the County Clerk and County Surrogate, both elected for five-year terms of office, and the County Sheriff, who is elected for a three-year term.^[71] Gloucester County's constitutional officers are:

Gloucester County's prosecutor, appointed in March 2020, is Christine A. Hoffman.^[79][80] Along with Cumberland and Salem counties, Gloucester County is part of Vicinage 15 of the New Jersey Superior Court, which is based in Woodbury in Gloucester County; the assignment judge for the vicinage is Benjamin C. Telsey. Gloucester County Courthouse is located in Woodbury.^[81]

Federal representatives

Gloucester County is part of the 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts.^[82][83] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 1st congressional district is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden).^[84][85] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).^[86]

State representatives

The 24 municipalities of Gloucester County are part of three legislative districts.

State elections

Heroin overdoses

In 2014, heroin overdose rate in Gloucester County was 17.3 deaths per 100,000 people, the fourth-highest rate in New Jersey and nearly seven times the national average.^[99]

Gloucester County Historical Society

The Gloucester County Historical Society, founded in 1903, maintains a collection of materials and artifacts related to the history of South Jersey. Hunter–Lawrence–Jessup House in Woodbury displays many of these artifacts.^[114]

National protected area

• Great Egg Harbor River (part)