Wrightstown, New Jersey

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 802 people, 309 households, and 189 families in the borough. The population density was 453.6 per square mile (175.1/km²). There were 348 housing units at an average density of 196.8 per square mile (76.0/km²). The racial makeup was 47.38% (380) White, 21.07% (169) Black or African American, 0.75% (6) Native American, 5.99% (48) Asian, 0.37% (3) Pacific Islander, 18.70% (150) from other races, and 5.74% (46) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.05% (225) of the population.^[17]

Of the 309 households, 34.3% had children under the age of 18; 28.8% were married couples living together; 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.8% were non-families. Of all households, 28.5% were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.17.^[17]

26.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 14.1% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 109.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 110.8 males.^[17]

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $40,096 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,881) and the median family income was $38,438 (+/− $7,242). Males had a median income of $37,917 (+/− $22,280) versus $34,167 (+/− $13,020) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,231 (+/− $4,722). About 15.2% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.^[36]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census^[14] there were 748 people, 312 households, and 181 families residing in the borough. The population density was 425.1 inhabitants per square mile (164.1/km²). There were 339 housing units at an average density of 192.7 per square mile (74.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 49.87% White, 30.21% African American, 0.53% Native American, 7.22% Asian, 7.22% from other races, and 4.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.23% of the population.^[33][34]

There were 312 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.2% were married couples living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.09.^[33][34]

In the borough the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.^[33][34]

The median income for a household in the borough was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $29,375. Males had a median income of $28,889 versus $25,417 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,489. About 22.8% of families and 24.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.8% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.^[33][34]

Local government

Wrightstown is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.^[37] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.^[3] The borough form of government used by Wrightstown is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.^{[38][39][40][41]}

As of 2023^[update], the mayor of Wrightstown is Republican Donald Cottrell, who was elected to serve a term of office ending December 31, 2024. Members of the Wrightstown Borough Council are Council President William L. Bird Jr. (R, 2023), Jason Bushnell (D, 2024; elected to serve an unexpired term), Donna L. Carroll (R, 2025), Joseph Craig (R, 2023; elected to serve an unexpired term), Jeanie L. Knapp (R, 2025) and Laurance R. Lownds (D, 2024), with one seat vacant.^{[4][42][43][44][45]}

After David Scott Timberman resigned from office in November 2021, the borough council selected Donald Cottrell from a list of three candidates to fill the seat expiring in December 2024.^[46]

In September 2019, the New Jersey State Comptroller referred a case involving Mayor Thomas Harper to the New Jersey Attorney General for possible criminal charges; it was alleged that the mayor had allowed a private company to dump 565,000 US gallons (2,140,000 L; 470,000 imp gal) of untreated septic tank waste into facilities operated by the borough's municipal utilities authority without the company having paid any fees.^[47] In September 2020, Mayor Harper was charged by the Attorney General's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability with lying to investigators, after he allegedly knowingly made false statements during the course of the Office of the Comptroller's investigation. Harper resigned from office later that month, but his named remained as the only candidate for mayor listed on the ballot in the November 2020 general election.^[48]

In July 2012, following the death of Brian Sperling in the previous month, the borough council selected William Bird to fill Sperling's vacancy on the council and picked Costic Michael Borsavage to take over his role as council president.^[49]

Jennifer Heisler, a councilmember who resigned in October 2010, was sentenced in November 2011 to five years of probation after pleading guilty to the theft of $20,000 from Wrightstown Volunteer Fire Company, of which she had been the treasurer.^[50]

Federal, state and county representation

Wrightstown is located in the 3rd Congressional District^[51] and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.^[52]

For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 3rd congressional district is currently represented Herb Conaway (D, Delran Township).^[53] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).^[54]

For the 2026–2027 session, the 8th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Latham Tiver (R, Southampton Township) and in the General Assembly by Anthony Angelozzi (D, Hammonton) and Andrea Katz (D, Chesterfield Township).^[55]

Burlington County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised of five members who are chosen 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; at an annual reorganization meeting, the board selects a director and deputy director from among its members to serve a one-year term.^[56] As of 2026^[update], Burlington County's Commissioners are: Director Felicia Hopson (D, Willingboro Township, term as commissioner ends December 31, 2027; term as director ends 2026),^[57] Deputy Director Allison Eckel (D, Medford, term as commissioner ends 2028; term as deputy director ends 2026),^[58] Randy Brolo (D, Lumberton, 2026; elected to an unexpired term),^[59] Tyler Burrell (D, Delran Township, 2027)^[60] and Tom Pullion (D, Edgewater Park, 2026).^{[61][56][62][63][64][65]}

Burlington County's constitutional officers are Clerk Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2028),^[66][67] Sheriff James H. Kostoplis (D, Bordentown, 2028)^[68][69] and Surrogate Brian J. Carlin (D, Burlington Township, 2026).^[70][71]

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 293 registered voters in Wrightstown, of which 75 (25.6% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 98 (33.4% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 120 (41.0% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.^[78] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 36.5% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 50.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).^[78][79]

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 143 votes (63.6% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 76 votes (33.8% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 3 votes (1.3% vs. 1.0%), among the 225 ballots cast by the borough's 337 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.8% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).^[81][82] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 118 votes (54.6% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 92 votes (42.6% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 3 votes (1.4% vs. 1.0%), among the 216 ballots cast by the borough's 320 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.5% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).^[83] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 99 votes (49.5% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 93 votes (46.5% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 3 votes (1.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 200 ballots cast by the borough's 306 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.4% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).^[84]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63 votes (62.4% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35 votes (34.7% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 1 votes (1.0% vs. 1.2%), among the 101 ballots cast by the borough's 312 registered voters, yielding a 32.4% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).^[85][86] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62 votes (50.4% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 47 votes (38.2% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 3 votes (2.4% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 4 votes (3.3% vs. 1.2%), among the 123 ballots cast by the borough's 322 registered voters, yielding a 38.2% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).^[87]

Roads and highways

As of May 2010^[update], the borough had a total of 4.35 miles (7.00 km) of roadways, of which 2.70 miles (4.35 km) were maintained by the municipality, 1.18 miles (1.90 km) by Burlington County and 0.47 miles (0.76 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.^[101]

The most significant highway serving Wrightstown is New Jersey Route 68.^[102] County Route 545 also passes through the borough.^[103]

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service in the borough on the 317 route between Asbury Park and Philadelphia.^[104][105]