Washington Township is a township located in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. According to the 2020 United States census, the population was 48,677, which was an increase of 118 people, or 0.2%, compared to the 2010 census count of 48,559. The 2010 count showed an increase of 1,445 people, or 3.1%, from the 47,114 counted in the 2000 census. For 2023, the Census Bureau estimated the population to be 49,378.
Washington Township was formed by a law passed by the New Jersey Legislature on February 17, 1836, using parts of Deptford Township. The township officially moved to the newly created Camden County on March 13, 1844. Monroe Township was created on March 3, 1859, from part of Washington Township. Most of Washington Township, along with all of Monroe Township, was returned to Gloucester County on February 28, 1871. The remaining parts of Washington Township that were still in Camden County were transferred to Gloucester Township. Additional transfers to Gloucester Township occurred in 1926 and 1931. The township was named after George Washington, one of more than ten communities in New Jersey named after the first president. It is one of five municipalities in the state with the name Washington Township. The borough of Washington in Warren County is surrounded by Washington Township.
Washington Township is part of the Delaware Valley, also called the Philadelphia metropolitan area, and is located in the South Jersey region of the state. In 2008, CNN and Money magazine ranked Washington Township 58th on its list of the "100 Best Cities to Live in the United States."
History
The oldest community in Washington Township, Grenloch Terrace, was once a Lenape Native American settlement known as Tetamekon. Early settlers in the area included the Collins family, who lived on Chestnut Ridge Farm, and for whom Chestnut Ridge Middle School is named. The Turner family, after whom Turnersville was named, also settled there. The Hurff family, who gave their name to Hurffville and Hurffville Elementary School, were among the early residents. The Heritage family started Heritage's Dairy Farm Stores and are the namesake of the community Heritage Valley. The Morgan family were the first residents of the Olde Stone House, a notable landmark in the township. The Bell family arrived in 1899, and Bells Lake Park and Bells Elementary School are named in their honor. Sewell is named after General William Joyce Sewell, who served in the United States Senate in 1881 and 1895 and was president of the New Jersey Senate in 1876, 1879, and 1880.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township covers a total area of 21.55 square miles (55.81 km²), which includes 21.35 square miles (55.28 km²) of land and 0.20 square miles (0.53 km²) of water (0.95%).
Turnersville (population: 3,594 in 2020), Grenloch (population: 863), and Sewell (population: 3,346) are areas that are not separate cities and are identified by the census as places within Washington Township.
Other areas that are not separate cities and are partly or fully located in the township include Bells Lake, Cressville, Dilkesboro, Fairview, Green Tree, Grenloch Terrace, Hurffville, Mount Pleasant, and Prossers Mill.
The township is next to the cities of Deptford Township, Glassboro, Mantua Township, Monroe Township, Pitman in Gloucester County; and Gloucester Township in Camden County.
Demographics
The 2010 United States census counted 48,559 people, 17,287 households, and 13,328 families in the township. The population density was 2,271.0 people per square mile (876.8/km²). There were 17,810 housing units at an average density of 833.0 per square mile (321.6/km²). The racial makeup was 87.70% (42,588) White, 5.82% (2,825) Black or African American, 0.11% (52) Native American, 3.78% (1,836) Asian, 0.02% (9) Pacific Islander, 0.85% (415) from other races, and 1.72% (834) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.65% (1,774) of the population.
Of the 17,287 households, 34.3% had children under the age of 18; 61.4% were married couples living together; 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. Of all households, 19.3% were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80, and the average family size was 3.23.
24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 89.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) the median household income was $79,017 (with a margin of error of ±$3,281), and the median family income was $94,585 (±$3,639). Males had a median income of $62,702 (±$2,103) versus $46,628 (±$2,959) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,038 (±$1,285). About 2.6% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2000 census, there were 47,114 people, 15,609 households, and 12,658 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,204.6 inhabitants per square mile (851.2/km²). There were 16,020 housing units at an average density of 749.6 per square mile (289.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.20% White, 4.85% African American, 0.08% Native American, 3.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.03% of the population.
There were 15,609 households, out of which 43.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.3% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00, and the average family size was 3.38.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $66,546, and the median income for a family was $74,661. Males had a median income of $51,319 versus $35,018 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,705. About 2.5% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Washington Township is managed under the Faulkner Act, also called the Optional Municipal Charter Law. It uses the Mayor-Council system of government (Plan 2) in New Jersey, which was started by a direct petition on January 1, 1985. This system is used by 71 towns out of 564 in the state. The township’s leaders include a mayor and a five-member Township Council. The mayor is elected directly by voters and is the top leader responsible for managing the town’s daily operations. Council members are elected in nonpartisan elections during the November general election. All elected officials serve four-year terms, with the mayor and two council seats up for election every even-numbered year, and the other three council seats up for election two years later.
As of 2025, the mayor of Washington Township is Republican Anthony DellaPia, whose term ends on December 31, 2028. The Township Council includes Council President Peter Del Borello III (R, 2026), Council Vice-President Donald C. Brown Jr. (R, 2026), Joseph J. Harris (R, 2028), Dana Pasqualone (R, 2028; appointed to serve an unexpired term), and Johnson "Jack" Yerkes III (R, 2026).
In June 2025, Richard Bennett resigned from his council seat, which was set to end in December 2028, after being arrested for sending fake and threatening documents to school board members. The seat is currently empty until the next election. The following month, Dana Pasqualone was appointed to fill the vacancy and will serve temporarily until November 2025, when voters will choose someone to complete the term.
Washington Township is located in New Jersey’s 1st Congressional District and is part of the state’s 4th legislative district.
For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey’s 1st congressional district is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden). New Jersey’s U.S. Senators are Cory Booker (D, Newark; term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (D, Moorestown; term ends 2031).
For the 2026–2027 session, the 4th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Paul D. Moriarty (D, Washington Township) and in the General Assembly by Dan Hutchison (D, Gloucester Township) and Cody Miller (D, Monroe Township).
Gloucester County is managed by a board of county commissioners, whose seven members are elected in nonpartisan elections. They serve three-year terms, with two or three seats up for election each year. In January, the board selects a Director and a Deputy Director from its members. As of 2025, the commissioners are: Director Frank J. DiMarco (D, Deptford Township, 2025), Matt Weng (D, Pitman, 2026), Joann Gattinelli (D, Washington Township, 2026), Nicholas DeSilvio (R, Franklin Township, 2027), Denice DiCarlo (D, West Deptford Township, 2025), Deputy Director Jim Jefferson (D, Woodbury, 2026), and Christopher Konawel Jr. (R, Glassboro, 2027).
Gloucester County’s constitutional officers include Clerk James N. Hogan (D, Franklin Township; 2027), Sheriff Carmel Morina (D, Greenwich Township; 2027), and Surrogate Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D, Woolwich Township; 2028).
As of March 2011, Washington Township had 33,934 registered voters. Of these, 11,872 (35.0%) were Democrats, 7,763 (22.9%) were Republicans, and 14,279 (42.1%) were unaffiliated. There were 20 voters registered with other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 49.7% of the vote (12,169 votes), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama (49.2%, 12,050 votes) and other candidates (1.1%, 273 votes). A total of 24,648 ballots were cast by the township’s 35,305 registered voters, with a 69.8% turnout. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 49.6% of the vote (12,815 votes), ahead of Republican John McCain (48.6%, 12,570 votes) and other candidates (1.0%, 268 votes), with a 73.4% turnout. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.9% of the vote (12,805 votes), ahead of Democrat John Kerry (48.0%, 12,082 votes) and other candidates (0.5%, 163 votes), with a 76.1% turnout.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.1% of the vote (9,129 votes), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono (31.6%, 4,294 votes) and other candidates (1.3%, 172 votes). A total of 13,803 ballots were cast by the township’s 34,580 registered voters, with a 39.9% turnout. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 52.6% of the vote (7,789 votes), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine (38.8%, 5,757 votes), Independent Chris Daggett (7.0%, 1,043 votes), and other candidates (0.5%, 79 votes), with a 43.2% turnout.
Education
Washington Township Public School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2023–24 school year, the district includes 11 schools, with a total enrollment of 7,302 students and 654.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), resulting in a student–teacher ratio of 11.2:1. The schools in the district, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, are: Grenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center with 999 students in pre-kindergarten; Bells Elementary School with 552 students in grades K–5; Birches Elementary School with 453 students in grades K–5; Hurffville Elementary School with 555 students in grades K–5; Thomas Jefferson Elementary School with 482 students in grades K–5; Wedgewood Elementary School with 473 students in grades K–5; Whitman Elementary School with 557 students in grades K–5; Bunker Hill Middle School with 575 students in grades 6–8; Chestnut Ridge Middle School with 656 students in grades 6–8; Orchard Valley Middle School with 526 students in grades 6–8; and Washington Township High School with 2,108 students in grades 9–12.
Students from across the county can apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that offers technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend.
Economy
Washington Township has two main areas that are important for the economy. The town center is surrounded by Greentree Road, Egg Harbor Road, Ganttown Road, and Hurffville-Crosskeys Road. Washington Township High School, the TD Bank Arts Centre, Washington Lake Park, and the township municipal building are located near this area. The other main area is near Route 42, which connects Philadelphia to the Jersey Shore.
Washington Township is sometimes called "South Jersey's Premier Community," "South Philly South," or "Little South Philly" because many people who live there moved there from South Philadelphia, which has a large Italian population, over many years. It is also known simply as "Township."
Recent expansion
Washington Township is mostly the border between open areas and places where homes are built. In the 1960s, the township had several separate neighborhoods centered around Wedgwood, Whitman Square, Birches, Birches West, and Hurffville. Over time, the township has grown larger.
Transportation
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 199.78 miles (321.51 km) of roads. Of these, 154.61 miles (248.82 km) were managed by the local government, 35.72 miles (57.49 km) by Gloucester County, 8.36 miles (13.45 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and 1.09 miles (1.75 km) by the South Jersey Transportation Authority.
Several major roads pass through Washington Township. Route 42, also called Black Horse Pike, runs along the eastern part of the township. It enters from Monroe Township in the south and travels north for 4 miles (6.4 km) toward Gloucester Township in Camden County, where it is known as the North-South Freeway. Route 168, also called Black Horse Pike, begins at Route 42 in Washington Township and continues north along the township’s border toward Gloucester Township. Route 47, or Delsea Drive, runs along the western part of the township. It enters from Glassboro in the south and travels north for 3.2 miles (5.1 km) toward Deptford Township. Route 55 runs along the eastern edge of Gloucester Township, stretching 0.4 miles (0.64 km) from Mantua Township in the south to Deptford Township in the north. The Atlantic City Expressway enters from Gloucester Township and passes through both townships before ending at Route 42 in Washington Township.
County Route 534, or Good Intent Road, enters from Deptford Township on the east and continues into Gloucester Township. County Route 555, or Tuckahoe Road, enters from Monroe Township on the west and travels 1.1 miles (1.8 km) to its end at Route 42.
NJ Transit’s Atlantic City commuter rail line and PATCO Speedline train service can be accessed at the Lindenwold station, which is 10 miles (16 km) northeast of the township. NJ Transit buses provide service to Philadelphia on routes 315, 400, 403, 408, and 412, and local service is available on route 463.
In popular culture
Musical groups from Washington Township include a pop punk band named I Call Fives and a pop/hip hop group called Kicking Sunrise.
Notable people
People who were born in Washington Township, people who live in Washington Township, or people who have a connection to Washington Township are: