Buena Vista Township, New Jersey | |
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 Russian Orthodox Church, New Kuban | |
 logo | |
| Motto: "44 miles of opportunity" | |
 Location of Buena Vista Township inAtlantic County highlighted in yellow (left). Inset map: Location of Atlantic County inNew Jersey highlighted in black (right). | |
 Census Bureau map of Buena Vista, New Jersey | |
  Buena Vista Township Location in the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:39°30′47″N74°52′48″W / 39.513087°N 74.880028°W /39.513087; -74.880028[1][2] | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Atlantic |
| Incorporated | March 5, 1867 |
| Named after | Battle of Buena Vista |
| Government | |
| • Type | Township |
| • Body | Township Committee |
| • Mayor | William Ruggieri (R, term ends December 31, 2023)[3] |
| • Administrator | Lisa A. Tilton[4] |
| • Municipal clerk | Lisa A. Tilton[5] |
| Area | |
• Total | 41.58 sq mi (107.69 km2) |
| • Land | 41.08 sq mi (106.39 km2) |
| • Water | 0.50 sq mi (1.30 km2) 1.20% |
| • Rank | 49th of 565 in state 6th of 23 in county[1] |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 7,033 |
| 7,090 | |
| • Rank | 318th of 565 in state 12th of 23 in county[11] |
| • Density | 171.2/sq mi (66.1/km2) |
| • Rank | 514th of 565 in state 19th of 23 in county[11] |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code | |
| Area codes | 609,856[14] |
| FIPS code | 3400108710[1][15][16] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882048[1][17] |
| Website | buenavistanj |
Buena Vista Township (/ˌbjuːnəˈvɪstə/BYOO-nuh-VISS-tuh[18][19]) is atownship located inAtlantic County, in theU.S. state ofNew Jersey. The township, and all of Atlantic County, is part of theAtlantic City-Hammontonmetropolitan statistical area, which in turn is included in thePhiladelphia-Reading-Camdencombined statistical area and theDelaware Valley.[20]
As of the2020 United States census, the township's population was 7,033,[8] a decrease of 537 (−7.1%) from the2010 census count of 7,570,[21][22] which in turn reflected an increase of 134 (+1.8%) from the 7,436 counted in the2000 census.[23]
Buena Vista was incorporated as a township by an act of theNew Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1867, from portions ofHamilton Township. Portions of the township were taken on May 23, 1906, to createFolsom, and on September 1, 1948, to createBuena Borough.[24] The name comes from the 1847Battle of Buena Vista of theMexican–American War.[25][26]
The township is headquarters for Troop A of theNew Jersey State Police, which covers more than 2,000 square miles (5,200 km2) and 1.7 million residents.[27]
On April 26, 2004, the Buena Vista Township Committee voted to temporarily rename the community ofRichland, a section of Buena Vista Township. For the first half of the month of May, Richland becameMojito, New Jersey, named after theCuban rum drink.Bacardi had offered to give the township $5,000 for recreation projects in exchange for a sign placed onU.S. Route 40 commemorating the new name. Richland was chosen because it is home to the family-run Dalponte Farms, a major east coast supplier ofmint, an essential ingredient of themojito.[28]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 41.58 square miles (107.69 km2), including 41.08 square miles (106.39 km2) of land and 0.50 square miles (1.30 km2) of water (1.20%).[1][2]
Collings Lakes (with a 2020 population of 1,501),East Vineland (925),Milmay (919),Newtonville (742), andRichland (623) are anunincorporated communities andcensus-designated places (CDP) located partially or completely within Buena Vista Township.[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Buena Acres, Lake Ann, New Kuban, and Pine Lake Estates.[37]
The township bordersBuena,Folsom,Hamilton Township andWeymouth Township in Atlantic County;Maurice River Township andVineland inCumberland County; and bothFranklin Township andMonroe Township inGloucester County.[38][39][40]
The township is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within theNew Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering 1,100,000 acres (450,000 ha), that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.[41] Part of the township is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Atlantic County, along with areas inBurlington,Camden,Cape May,Cumberland,Gloucester andOcean counties. 90% of the township's area is within the boundaries of the Pine Barrens.[42]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 948 | — | |
| 1880 | 885 | −6.6% | |
| 1890 | 1,299 | 46.8% | |
| 1900 | 1,646 | 26.7% | |
| 1910 | 2,723 | * | 65.4% |
| 1920 | 3,647 | 33.9% | |
| 1930 | 4,176 | 14.5% | |
| 1940 | 4,067 | −2.6% | |
| 1950 | 2,106 | * | −48.2% |
| 1960 | 3,915 | 85.9% | |
| 1970 | 4,239 | 8.3% | |
| 1980 | 6,959 | 64.2% | |
| 1990 | 7,655 | 10.0% | |
| 2000 | 7,436 | −2.9% | |
| 2010 | 7,570 | 1.8% | |
| 2020 | 7,033 | −7.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 7,090 | [8][10] | 0.8% |
| Population sources: 1870–2000[43] 1870–1920[44] 1870[45][46] 1880–1890[47] 1890–1910[48] 1910–1930[49] 1940–2000[50] 2000[51][52] 2010[21][22] 2020[8][9] * = Lost territory in previous decade.[24] | |||
The2010 United States census counted 7,570 people, 2,786 households, and 2,020 families in the township. Thepopulation density was 184.4 per square mile (71.2/km2). There were 3,008 housing units at an average density of 73.3 per square mile (28.3/km2). The racial makeup was 78.18% (5,918)White, 13.45% (1,018)Black or African American, 0.46% (35)Native American, 1.06% (80)Asian, 0.04% (3)Pacific Islander, 4.12% (312) fromother races, and 2.69% (204) from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.48% (869) of the population.[21]
Of the 2,786 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18; 55.6% were married couples living together; 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.5% were non-families. Of all households, 22.7% were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.19.[21]
22.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.8 males.[21]
As of the2000 United States census[15] there were 7,436 people living in the township, organized into 2,648 households and 1,972 families. The population density was 179.8 inhabitants per square mile (69.4/km2). There were 2,827 housing units at an average density of 68.3 per square mile (26.4/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 77.34%White, 15.69%African American, 0.23%Native American, 0.22%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 4.07% fromother races, and 2.43% from two or more races. 9.27% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.[51][52]
There were 2,648 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% weremarried couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.20.[51][52]
In the township the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.[51][52]
The median income for a household in the township was $43,770, and the median income for a family was $50,403. Males had a median income of $36,064 versus $26,180 for females. Theper capita income for the township was $18,382. 12.1% of the population and 7.8% of families were below thepoverty line. Out of the total population, 13.2% of those under the age of 18 and 13.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.[51][52]
Buena Vista is governed under theTownship 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.[53] The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the votersat-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 as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.[6][54] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2023[update], the members of the Buena Vista Township Committee are Mayor William Ruggieri (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2023), Deputy Mayor Ellen Testa (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2024), Aaron Krenzer (R, 2024), Kurt Renart (R, 2025) and John H. Williams (R, 2025).[55][56][57][58][59][60]
In December 2019, the Township Committee selected Ronnise White to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that became vacant following the death of Chuck Chiarello earlier that month; Chiarello had served on the Township Committee for 28 years and as mayor for the previous 23 years.[61][62]
Buena Vista Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District[63] and is part of New Jersey's 4th state legislative district.[64]
For the119th United States Congress,New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented byJeff Van Drew (R,Dennis Township).[65] New Jersey is represented in theUnited States Senate byDemocratsCory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) andAndy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).[66]
For the2024-2025 session, the4th legislative district of theNew Jersey Legislature is represented in theState Senate byPaul D. Moriarty (D,Washington Township) and in theGeneral Assembly byDan Hutchinson (D,Gloucester Township) andCody Miller (D,Monroe Township).[67]
Atlantic County is governed by a directly electedcounty executive and a nine-memberBoard of County Commissioners, responsible for legislation. The executive serves a four-year term and the commissioners are elected to staggered three-year terms, of which four are elected from the county on anat-large basis and five of the commissioners represent equally populated districts.[68][69] As of 2025[update], Atlantic County's Executive is Dennis Levinson (R,Northfield), whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.[70] Members of the Board of County Commissioners are:
Ernest D. Coursey (D, District 1--Atlantic City,Egg Harbor Township (part),Longport,Margate City, andVentnor City; 2025, Atlantic City),[71] Chair Maureen Kern (R, District 2--Egg Harbor Township (part),Linwood,Northfield,Somers Point andPleasantville; 2027, Somers Point),[72] Andrew Parker III (R, District 3--Egg Harbor Township (part) andHamilton Township (part); 2026, Egg Harbor Township),[73] Richard R. Dase (R, District 4, includingBrigantine,Galloway Township,Egg Harbor Township (part), andPort Republic; 2025, Galloway Township),[74] Vice Chair James A. Bertino (R, District 5--Buena,Buena Vista Township,Corbin City,Egg Harbor City,Estell Manor,Folsom,Hamilton Township (part),Hammonton,Mullica Township andWeymouth Township; 2027, Hammonton),[75] June Byrnes (R, At-Large; 2026, Linwood),[76] Michael Ruffu (R, At-Large; Margate, 2027)[77] Amy L. Gatto (R, At-large; 2025, Hamilton Township)[78] and John W. Risley (R, At-Large; 2026, Egg Harbor Township)[79][68][80]
Atlantic County's constitutional officers are: Clerk Joesph J. Giralo (R, 2026, Hammonton),[81][82] Sheriff Joe O'Donoghue (R, 2026, Egg Harbor Township)[83][84] and Surrogate James Curcio (R, 2025, Hammonton).[85][86][87]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,833 registered voters in Buena Vista Township, of which 1,406 (29.1% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered asDemocrats, 1,105 (22.9% vs. 25.2%) were registered asRepublicans and 2,320 (48.0% vs. 44.3%) were registered asUnaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as eitherLibertarians orGreens.[88] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 63.8% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 82.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).[88][89]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2021 | 1,650 | 63.68% | 922 | 35.58% | 19 | 0.73% |
| 2017 | 701 | 42.56% | 903 | 54.83% | 43 | 2.61% |
| 2013 | 1,347 | 59.21% | 889 | 39.08% | 39 | 1.71% |
| 2009 | 1,191 | 47.47% | 1,149 | 45.80% | 169 | 6.74% |
| 2005 | 794 | 40.04% | 1,111 | 56.03% | 78 | 3.93% |
In the2012 presidential election, DemocratBarack Obama received 1,920 votes (55.3% vs. 57.9% countywide), ahead of RepublicanMitt Romney with 1,483 votes (42.7% vs. 41.1%) and other candidates with 36 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,471 ballots cast by the township's 5,068 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.5% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County).[91][92] In the2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,910 votes (54.8% vs. 56.5% countywide), ahead of RepublicanJohn McCain with 1,504 votes (43.1% vs. 41.6%) and other candidates with 50 votes (1.4% vs. 1.1%), among the 3,486 ballots cast by the township's 5,131 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.9% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County).[93] In the2004 presidential election, DemocratJohn Kerry received 1,747 votes (52.4% vs. 52.0% countywide), ahead of RepublicanGeorge W. Bush with 1,504 votes (45.1% vs. 46.2%) and other candidates with 36 votes (1.1% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,333 ballots cast by the township's 4,791 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.6% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county).[94]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024[95] | 61.8%2,418 | 36.6%1,433 | 1.6%52 |
| 2020[96] | 57.0%2,341 | 41.7%1,711 | 1.3%42 |
| 2016[97] | 54.1%1,732 | 42.7%1,366 | 3.2%104 |
| 2012[98] | 42.7%1,483 | 55.3%1,920 | 1.0%36 |
| 2008[99] | 43.1%1,504 | 54.8%1,910 | 1.4%50 |
| 2004[100] | 45.1%1,504 | 52.4%1,747 | 1.1%36 |
In the2013 gubernatorial election, RepublicanChris Christie received 1,347 votes (57.2% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of DemocratBarbara Buono with 889 votes (37.7% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with 39 votes (1.7% vs. 1.3%), among the 2,356 ballots cast by the township's 5,158 registered voters, yielding a 45.7% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county).[101][102] In the2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,191 votes (46.4% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of DemocratJon Corzine with 1,149 votes (44.7% vs. 44.5%), IndependentChris Daggett with 132 votes (5.1% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 37 votes (1.4% vs. 1.2%), among the 2,568 ballots cast by the township's 4,916 registered voters, yielding a 52.2% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).[103]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 2,230 | 59.88% | 1,420 | 38.13% | 74 | 1.99% |
| 2018 | 957 | 39.76% | 1,357 | 56.38% | 93 | 3.86% |
| 2012 | 1,295 | 40.17% | 1,875 | 58.16% | 54 | 1.67% |
| 2006 | 914 | 45.25% | 1,041 | 51.53% | 65 | 3.22% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 2,206 | 55.47% | 1,698 | 42.70% | 73 | 1.84% |
| 2014 | 792 | 45.78% | 886 | 51.21% | 52 | 3.01% |
| 2013 | 528 | 49.25% | 532 | 49.63% | 12 | 1.12% |
| 2008 | 1,306 | 40.77% | 1,837 | 57.35% | 60 | 1.87% |
Students in public school forpre-kindergarten throughtwelfth grade from Buena Vista Township attend theBuena Regional School District, together with students fromBuena Borough.[106] Students are sent to the district's high school for grades 9–12 from bothEstell Manor City andWeymouth Township as part ofsending/receiving relationships with the respective school districts.[107][108]
As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 1,691 students and 150.0 classroom teachers (on anFTE basis), for astudent–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.[109] Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from theNational Center for Education Statistics[110]) are Collings Lakes Elementary School[111] with 197 students in grades K-2, John C. Milanesi Elementary School[112] with 259 students in grades PreK-2, Dr. J.P. Cleary Elementary School[113] with 309 students in grades 3-5, Buena Regional Middle School[114] with 336 students in grades 6-8 andBuena Regional High School[115] with 535 students in grades 9-12.[116][117][118][119]
Borough public school students are also eligible to attend theAtlantic County Institute of Technology in theMays Landing section ofHamilton Township[120] or theCharter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located inSomers Point.[121]
Founded in 1959,St. Augustine Preparatory School is an all-maleCatholic high school, operated under the jurisdiction of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Camden.[122][123]
_at_New_Jersey_State_Route_54_(Blue_Anchor_Road)-Atlantic_County_Route_619_(Wheat_Road)_in_Buena_Vista_Township%2c_Atlantic_County%2c_New_Jersey.jpg)
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 121.52 miles (195.57 km) of roadways, of which 90.65 miles (145.89 km) were maintained by the municipality, 21.27 miles (34.23 km) by Atlantic County and 9.60 miles (15.45 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation.[124]
The main highways serving Buena Vista Township includeU.S. Route 40, which runs from Buena southeastward across the township to Hamilton Township.Route 54 also crosses the township, starting at U.S. Route 40 at the Buena border and continuing northeastward across the township to Folsom.
The closest limited access roads areRoute 55 in neighboringFranklin Township andVineland, as well as theAtlantic City Expressway inHamilton Township.
NJ Transit provides service between theAtlantic City Bus Terminal inAtlantic City andUpper Deerfield Township on the553 route.[125][126]
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Buena Vista Township include:
Municipalities and communities ofAtlantic County, New Jersey,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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