Location of Lawrence Township inCumberland County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Cumberland County inNew Jersey highlighted in red (left).
Census Bureau map of Lawrence Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey
Lawrence Township was incorporated as a township by an act of theNew Jersey Legislature on February 17, 1885, from portions ofFairfield Township.[20] The township was named in honor of CaptainJames Lawrence—commander of the frigateUSS Chesapeake and one of the naval heroes of theWar of 1812—best known for his dying command of "Don't Give up the Ship".[21]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 38.39 square miles (99.43 km2), including 36.92 square miles (95.63 km2) of land and 1.47 square miles (3.80 km2) of water (3.82%).[1][2]
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Jones Island, Lummis Mill, Lummistown and Sayres Neck.[26]
Of the 1,102 households, 36.3% had children under the age of 18; 59.9% were married couples living together; 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 22.9% were non-families. Of all households, 17.5% were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.28.[17]
26.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.1 males.[17]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010American Community Survey showed that (in 2010inflation-adjusted dollars)median household income was $70,948 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,480) and the median family income was $72,014 (+/− $2,843). Males had a median income of $55,208 (+/− $6,323) versus $30,382 (+/− $5,144) for females. Theper capita income for the borough was $27,934 (+/− $3,545). About 5.2% of families and 6.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.[38]
As of the2000 United States census[13] there were 2,721 people, 920 households, and 712 families residing in the township. The population density was 72.6 inhabitants per square mile (28.0/km2). There were 1,023 housing units at an average density of 27.3 per square mile (10.5/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 81.88%White, 10.40%African American, 1.07%Native American, 0.26%Asian, 0.18%Pacific Islander, 3.42% fromother races, and 2.79% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 7.02% of the population.[36][37]
There were 920 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% weremarried couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.6% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.27.[36][37]
In the township the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.[36][37]
The median income for a household in the township was $46,083, and the median income for a family was $48,456. Males had a median income of $36,891 versus $22,188 for females. Theper capita income for the township was $17,654. About 6.2% of families and 8.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.[36][37]
Lawrence Township 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.[39] The governing body is comprised of a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the votersat-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.[6][40] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2023[update], members of the Lawrence Township Council are Mayor Joseph A. Miletta Jr. (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Elmer "Skip" Bowman (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2023) and John M. Tisa (R, 2025).[3][41][42][43][44][45]
Cumberland County is governed by aBoard of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at large by the citizens of Cumberland County in partisan elections and serve staggered three-year terms in office, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. Annually, the seven board members select a Director and Deputy Director for one-year terms.[54] As of 2025[update], members of the Cumberland County Board of County Commissioners (with party affiliation, residence and term-end year listed in parentheses) are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,917 registered voters in Lawrence Township, of which 584 (30.5%) were registered asDemocrats, 364 (19.0%) were registered asRepublicans and 969 (50.5%) were registered asUnaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[73]
United States Gubernatorial election results for Lawrence Township[74]
In the2012 presidential election, RepublicanMitt Romney received 52.6% of the vote (618 cast), ahead of DemocratBarack Obama with 45.9% (539 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (17 votes), among the 1,187 ballots cast by the township's 1,972 registered voters (13 ballots werespoiled), for a turnout of 60.2%.[75][76] In the2008 presidential election, RepublicanJohn McCain received 48.8% of the vote (613 cast), ahead of DemocratBarack Obama, who received 48.3% (607 votes), with 1,256 ballots cast among the township's 1,894 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.3%.[77] In the2004 presidential election, RepublicanGeorge W. Bush received 51.8% of the vote (586 ballots cast), outpolling DemocratJohn Kerry, who received 45.7% (517 votes), with 1,131 ballots cast among the township's 1,683 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 67.2.[78]
United States presidential election results for Lawrence Township 2024[79] 2020[80] 2016[81] 2012[82] 2008[83] 2004[84]
In the2013 gubernatorial election, RepublicanChris Christie received 68.7% of the vote (450 cast), ahead of DemocratBarbara Buono with 30.1% (197 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (8 votes), among the 663 ballots cast by the township's 1,902 registered voters (8 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 34.9%.[85][86] In the2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 46.9% of the vote (353 ballots cast), ahead of both DemocratJon Corzine with 40.7% (306 votes) and IndependentChris Daggett with 7.3% (55 votes), with 752 ballots cast among the township's 1,865 registered voters, yielding a 40.3% turnout.[87]
United States Senate election results for Lawrence Township1[88]
Students are also eligible to attendCumberland County Technical Education Center in Vineland, serving students from the entire county in its full-time technical training programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.[98]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 54.06 miles (87.00 km) of roadways, of which 26.30 miles (42.33 km) were maintained by the municipality and 27.76 miles (44.68 km) by Cumberland County.[99]
Samuel Alexander Kinnier Wilson (1878–1937), neurologist who described hepatolenticular degeneration, a copper metabolism disorder affecting the liver and central nervous system, that would later be calledWilson's disease[107]
^abTownship Committee, Lawrence Township, Cumberland County. Accessed August 28, 2023. "The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are selected by the Township Committee each year from the members of the Township Committee."
^2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory,New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023. As of date accessed, Miletta was listed with an incorrect term-end year of 2024, which is the end of his three-year committee term, not his one-year mayoral term of office.
^Township Clerk, Lawrence Township, Cumberland County, NJ. Accessed August 28, 2023.
^Police and Public Safety, Lawrence Township, Cumberland County, NJ. Accessed October 31, 2019. "Port Norris State Police Barracks provides police services for Lawrence Township."
^abBoard of County Commissioners, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023. "By law, Cumberland County is allowed 7 County Commissioners, who serve staggered, overlapping three-year terms. Two are elected in two successive years, three in the third year, elected from the county at-large, for three-year, overlapping terms. A Director of the Board is selected by their colleagues for a one-year term. Each County Commissioner is charged with responsibility for one or more of the county's seven departments."
^Lawrence Township Board of Education District Policy Manual, Lawrence Township School District. Accessed August 20, 2020. "It shall be the policy of the Lawrence Township Board of Education that secondary school students residing in Lawrence Township shall follow the following procedures concerning secondary school attendance: Students living east or south of a line that follows the Central Railroad tracks from the southern border of the township to the stream running from Lummistown Pond and feeding Cedarville Pond and south of Lummis Mill Road shall attend Millville High School. All other students shall attend Bridgeton High School."
^Lawrence TownshipArchived 2014-12-11 at theWayback Machine,Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed December 8, 2014. "Students in Lawrence Township go on to finish their high school education at Millville High School or Bridgeton High School, depending on their location, under a regional partnership agreement."
^Staff."Bridgeton High School",South Jersey Magazine. Accessed December 8, 2014. "Bridgeton High School provides opportunities for students from Bridgeton, Lawrence Township and Downe Township in Cumberland County to become members of society who are thoughtful, informed, involved and committed to life-long learning."
^Sending District StudentsArchived 2014-12-08 at theWayback Machine,Millville Public Schools. Accessed December 8, 2014. "9TH – 12th grade students who attend Memorial and MSHS from Woodbine, Commercial Township, Lawrence Township, and Maurice River Township will need to establish their proof of residency with their district."
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