79-701: Maurice River Township ( / ˈ m ɔːr ɪ s / ) is the easternmost township in Cumberland County , in the U.S. state of New Jersey . The township, and all of Cumberland County, is part of the Vineland - Bridgeton metropolitan statistical area for statistical purposes, and of the Philadelphia - Wilmington - Camden , PA -NJ- DE - MD combined statistical area , also known as the Delaware Valley or Philadelphia metropolitan area . As of
158-542: A ballot question the previous November. Originally called Wahatquenak by the local Lenni Lenape Native Americans , the Maurice River is said to be named for a local legend, in which a Dutch ship on the river, the Prince Maurice , was sunk by the local Native Americans in 1657. The land was surveyed by John Worledge and Thomas Budd, and the community of Dorchester was laid out. It was not until 1798 on that
237-449: A fire. The prevalence of forest fire allows the pitch pines to dominate over oaks, which by comparison are usually killed outright by a moderate or intense fire. High air temperatures and dry plant undergrowth contribute to the intensity of the fire. While uncommon, severe fires at fairly frequent intervals can eliminate species that do not bear seed at an early age. Efforts to battle forest fire attract debate over how to best preserve
316-529: A long-lasting attitude that forest fires should be set for local benefit—even on the lands of others. For instance, it was profitable for charcoal burners to set fires deliberately, in order to make the trees useless for any purpose other than charcoal making, then purchase the trees for a discount. During the 17th century, the area that is now New Jersey was explored and settled by the Swedish and Dutch , who developed whaling and fishing settlements mainly along
395-584: A microclimate that allows for a shorter frost-free season, and colder nighttime temperatures compared to most of New Jersey. Because of sandy soil and very little development, clear and calm nights can get much colder in the Pine Barrens than in the surrounding areas. On an average night, a 6 to 8 °F (3.3 to 4.4 °C) difference is commonly seen, but the change can be as much as 10 °F (5.6 °C). The Pine Barrens receives annual snowfall, varying from 15 to 21 inches (380 to 530 mm) throughout
474-590: A newly expanded and renovated $ 145 million Millville High School building. As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,640 students and 70.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 23.4:1. Students are also eligible to attend Cumberland 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. Maurice River Township
553-416: A one-year term. Partisan elections are allowed under this law. Voters may initiate a referendum to change the membership to consist of either 3 or 5 members. While many township committees directly supervise the operation of their municipality, the revised act allows the committee to delegate all or a portion of its responsibilities to an appointed municipal administrator. A number of municipalities changed to
632-534: A state historic site. The Pine Barrens were home to many rural, backwoods families. For years, residents of the rural area were called " Pineys " by outsiders, as a derogatory term. Today many Pinelands residents are proud of both the name and the land on which they live. In the early 20th century, a family identified in a case study by the pseudonym, the Kallikaks , were presented as an example of genetic inferiority by eugenicists . Today, scholars understand that
711-470: A township, as townships are equivalent to all other forms of local municipalities. Municipalities in New Jersey may be classified into one of five types , of which townships are one. Townships may retain the township form of government, or adopt one of the modern forms of government, which are not restricted to a particular type of municipality. In New Jersey, a municipality's name (such as X Township)
790-439: A turnout percentage of 66.4. In the 2013 gubernatorial election , Republican Chris Christie received 67.4% of the vote (621 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 30.3% (279 votes), and other candidates with 2.3% (21 votes), among the 952 ballots cast by the township's 2,225 registered voters (31 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election , Republican Chris Christie received 46.0% of
869-407: Is also notable for its populations of rare pygmy pitch pines and other plant species that depend on the frequent fires of the Pine Barrens to reproduce. The sand that composes much of the area's soil is referred to by the locals as sugar sand . The Pine Barrens remains mostly rural and undisturbed despite its proximity to the sprawling metropolitan cities of Philadelphia and New York City , in
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#1732802024486948-818: Is based in the community of Leesburg in the municipal complex. Maurice River Township is mostly rural in character and some of the land is covered by extensive forests of the Pine Barrens . Maurice River Township borders the municipalities of Commercial Township , Millville and Vineland in Cumberland County; Buena Vista Township , Estell Manor and Weymouth Township in Atlantic County ; and Dennis Township and Upper Township in Cape May County . The 2010 United States census counted 7,976 people, 1,364 households, and 970 families in
1027-679: Is located about a one-hour drive from both Philadelphia , Pennsylvania and Atlantic City . As of May 2010, the township had a total of 111.55 miles (179.52 km) of roadways, of which 43.80 miles (70.49 km) were maintained by the municipality, 47.88 miles (77.06 km) by Cumberland County and 19.87 miles (31.98 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation . Major roads that pass through include Route 47 , Route 49 and Route 55 (a limited access road) and Route 347 . Also, County Routes 548 , 550 and 552 all pass through. NJ Transit offers service on
1106-546: Is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district. For the 118th United States Congress , New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew ( R , Dennis Township ). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker ( Newark , term ends 2027) and George Helmy ( Mountain Lakes , term ends 2024). For
1185-466: Is not necessarily an indication of its form of government. In New Jersey, the township form of government consists of a three to five-member township committee usually elected at-large in partisan elections. At its organization meeting, held after an election, the committee selects one of its elected members to serve as mayor and preside at meetings. The other members of the township committee serve as commissioners of various township departments, overseeing
1264-609: Is now New Jersey . Forest fires have been a common occurrence since before habitation by humans. Fire has played a major ecological role in the Pinelands, and the ecotypes "suggest that short fire intervals may have been typical in the Pine Plains for many centuries, or millennia." Around 10,000 years ago, the ancestors of the Lenape people first inhabited the Pine Barrens. The fire regime before European settlement
1343-461: Is poorly understood. Scholars know that the Lenape tribes burned the woods in the spring and fall to reduce underbrush, and improve plant yields and hunting conditions. The Pine Barrens, with its sandy soil, did not attract a permanent agriculture population (whose main interest would have been to establish permanent boundaries and clear the forests for fields). The area's sparse population encouraged
1422-559: Is used by 27% of New Jersey municipalities; however, slightly over 50% of the state's population resides within them. Townships in New Jersey differ from townships elsewhere in the United States. In many states, townships can be an intermediate form of government, between county government and municipalities that are subordinate parts of the township, with different government responsibilities allocated at each level. In New Jersey, there are no subordinate municipalities located within
1501-532: The 2000 United States census there were 6,928 people, 1,332 households, and 1,012 families residing in the township. The population density was 74.2 inhabitants per square mile (28.6/km). There were 1,461 housing units at an average density of 15.6 per square mile (6.0/km). The racial makeup of the township was 98.63% White , 3.98% African American , 0.78% Native American , 0.27% Asian , 11.1% Pacific Islander , 9.43% from other races , and 2.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.15% of
1580-401: The 2012 presidential election , Republican Mitt Romney received 55.5% of the vote (810 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.9% (627 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (23 votes), among the 1,482 ballots cast by the township's 2,394 registered voters (22 ballots were spoiled ), for a turnout of 61.9%. In the 2008 presidential election , Republican John McCain received 56.3% of
1659-539: The 2020 United States census , the township's population was 6,218, a decrease of 1,758 (−22.0%) from the 2010 census count of 7,976, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,048 (+15.1%) from the 6,928 counted in the 2000 census . Maurice River Township was first formed as a precinct on January 19, 1748, and was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of
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#17328020244861738-525: The 2024-2025 session , the 1st legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Mike Testa ( R , Vineland ) and in the General Assembly by Antwan McClellan (R, Ocean City ) and Erik K. Simonsen (R, Lower Township ). Cumberland County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at large by
1817-726: The 313 route between Cape May and Philadelphia . People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Maurice River Township include: Township (New Jersey) A township , in the context of New Jersey local government , refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government . As a political entity, a township in New Jersey is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town , city , borough , or village . They collect property taxes and provide services such as maintaining roads, garbage collection, water, sewer, schools, police and fire protection. The Township form of local government
1896-612: The American Revolutionary War , 400 British troops under Patrick Ferguson fought an American force under Casimir Pulaski at the Battle of Chestnut Neck before burning several local buildings. In 1799, the first glassworks opened in Port Elizabeth, and by that time, whaling operations had stopped. The first cotton mill in the Pine Barrens opened in 1810 at Retreat . Cultivated cranberry bogs begin in
1975-655: The Bayside State Prison and the Southern State Correctional Facility are located in the township. As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 2,329 registered voters in Maurice River Township, of which 574 (24.6%) were registered as Democrats , 595 (25.5%) were registered as Republicans and 1,157 (49.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated . There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens . In
2054-587: The northeastern United States : the Long Island Central Pine Barrens and the Massachusetts Coastal Pine Barrens . The name pine barrens refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil. Although European settlers could not cultivate their familiar crops there, the unique ecology of the Pine Barrens supports a diverse spectrum of plant life, including orchids and carnivorous plants . The area
2133-564: The 1830s, and in 1832, the first paper mill opened in the region. In 1854, the first railroad across the Pinelands opened, connecting Camden and the newly-established Atlantic City . Railroads soon connected the various small towns that existed across the Pine Barrens. In 1869, the bog iron industry ended in the Pine Barrens, after the discovery that iron ore could be mined more cheaply in Pennsylvania . Other industries such as paper mills, sawmills, and gristmills rose and fell throughout
2212-401: The 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 402 students and 38.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.6:1. In the 2007–08 school year, Maurice River Township Elementary School was one of three schools statewide to be designated as a "School to Watch" by the New Jersey Department of Education . Despite this honor, it
2291-580: The Delaware River. The English claimed the area as of 1606 under their London Company , and the Dutch abandoned their claim to the English in 1664. The first shipbuilding operations began in the Pine Barrens in 1688, utilizing the cedar , oak , and pitch trees, as well as local tar and turpentine. The first sawmills and gristmills opened around 1700, leading to the first European settlements in
2370-631: The Maurice National Scenic and Recreational River by the Congress. Acres of unspoiled forest and waterways allow residents to enjoy outdoor activities year-round. With an abundance of forests and marshlands, numerous state wildlife refuges in the area are frequented by locals for hunting, fishing, bird-watching, hiking and boating. The preservation of the unique ecosystem of the Maurice River watershed has become an important issue for some residents. One group, Citizens United to Protect
2449-513: The Maurice River and Its Tributaries, Inc. was formed in 1979 to provide education and organize preservation efforts. Maurice River Township is governed under the Township 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. The governing body is comprised of a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by
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2528-461: The NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, including the rare eastern timber rattlesnakes ( Crotalus horridus ) and bald eagles . A threatened species of frog, the Pine Barrens tree frog , has a disjunct population there. American black bears are finding their way back into the Pine Barrens after a history of hunting and trapping had driven them out. Believed to have been extirpated from
2607-413: The Pine Barrens are primarily related to agriculture and tourism. New Jersey produces the third-highest number of cranberries in the country, mostly cultivated in the areas around Chatsworth, including Whitesbog. The first cultivated blueberries were developed in the Pine Barrens in 1916 through the work of Elizabeth White of Whitesbog, and blueberry farms are nearly as common as cranberry bogs in
2686-439: The Pine Barrens. The region hosts more than 20 species of wild berries, including wild raisin , red chokeberry , highbush blueberry , huckleberry , bearberry , and cranberry. The forest communities are strongly influenced by fire, varying from dwarf pine forests less than 4 feet (120 cm) tall where fires are frequent, to pine forests, to oak forests where fires are rare. Dark swamps of Atlantic white cedar grow along
2765-594: The Pine Barrens. While fires constitute a danger to property and inhabitants, preservationists argue that eliminating forest fires would cause the Pine Barrens to become dominated by oak trees. A few areas which had previously consisted of scrub and pitch pine have become dominated by oak trees because of intervention after settlement to reduce the frequency of forest fires. The Pine Barrens is home to at least 39 species of mammals , over 300 species of birds, 59 reptile and amphibian species, and 91 fish species. At least 43 species are considered threatened and endangered by
2844-408: The Pinelands (the northern pinelands receive the most snowfall, on average). Summers are typically hot and humid, and winters are typically cold, and fall/spring are milder transition seasons. Frost can be seen in fall, spring, and winter. In the Pine Barrens, frost occurs earlier in the fall and later in the spring than the surrounding areas due to the sandy soil. The average annual precipitation in
2923-768: The Pinelands National Reserve is strictly controlled by an independent state/federal agency, the New Jersey Pinelands Commission . The Pinelands Reserve contains the Wharton , Brendan T. Byrne (formerly Lebanon), Penn , and Bass River state forests. The reserve also includes two National Wild and Scenic Rivers : the Maurice and the Great Egg Harbor . John McPhee 's 1967 book The Pine Barrens focuses on
3002-419: The Pinelands is from 42 to 46 inches (1,100 to 1,200 mm), but year-to-year precipitation varies greatly. Thunderstorms are frequent in the warmer months, along with strong winds and heavy rains from these storms. The Pine Barrens is home to at least 850 species of plants, of which 92 are considered threatened and endangered. Several species of orchidss , including the pink lady's slipper , are native to
3081-639: The Pinelands. During the colonial era, the Pine Barrens was the location of various industries. In 1740, charcoal operations began in the Pine Barrens, and the first iron furnace opened in 1765. Bog iron was mined from bogs, streams, and waterways, and was worked in about 35 furnaces including Batsto , Lake Atsion , Hampton Furnace in Shamong , Hanover Furnace in Pemberton , Ferrago in Lacey , and several other locations. Iron from these early furnaces
3160-560: The Township type, or the Township form of government, between 1979 and 1982. A federal law, The State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972 provided funding to the states to be divided between state and municipal governments. In 1981, states were removed from the program and the law was amended to provide direct grants to the most popular form of local government in the United States - townships. In Essex County alone, 11 municipal governments changed their form or name to take advantage of
3239-545: The United States. As a result of all these factors, in 1978, Congress passed legislation to designate 1.1 million acres (4,500 km ; 1,700 sq mi) of the Pine Barrens as the Pinelands National Reserve (the nation's first National Reserve) to preserve its ecology. A decade later, it was designated by the United Nations as an International Biosphere Reserve . Development in
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3318-506: The act are Atlantic , Burlington , Camden , Cape May , Cumberland , Gloucester and Ocean . The Pine Barrens comprise a major part of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion . Although natural fires have occurred, evidence shows that most fires in the region are of human origin. The Pine Barrens of New Jersey are in the transition zone between humid subtropical and humid continental climates . The Pine Barrens, however, have
3397-455: The aid of GPS transmitters in order to determine habitat ranges and preferences. A scent-post survey in 1995 proved bobcat presence in four northern counties. There have been reliable sightings of the bobcat in nine additional (mostly southern) counties, including those encompassing large swathes of the Pine Barrens and others skirting it, namely: Atlantic , Burlington , Cape May , Cumberland , Ocean , and Salem counties. Industries in
3476-908: The area made the plan appealing. Congress created the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve , the country's first National Reserve, to protect the area under the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978. The surviving Medford office of Dr. James Still , the 19th century "Black Doctor of the Pines", was purchased for preservation by the State of New Jersey in 2006. Today it is the Dr. James Still Historic Office Site and Education Center. The reserve contains Wharton State Forest , Brendan T. Byrne State Forest , Bass River State Forest , and Penn State Forest . The Pinelands
3555-411: The average family size was 3.03. In the township the population was spread out, with 12.9% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 55.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 277.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 343.8 males. The median income for a household in the township
3634-472: The center of the very densely populated Boston-Washington Corridor on the Eastern Seaboard . The heavily traveled Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway traverse sections of the eastern and southern Pine Barrens, respectively. The Pine Barrens territory helps recharge the 17-trillion-US-gallon (64-billion-cubic-metre) Kirkwood–Cohansey aquifer , containing some of the purest water in
3713-1075: 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. As of 2024, members of the Cumberland County Board of County Commissioners (with party affiliation, residence and term-end year listed in parentheses) are: Douglas A. Albrecht ( R , Vineland , 2025), Deputy Director Antonio Romero (R, Vineland, 2024), Sandra Taylor (R, Downe Township ; 2026), Victoria Groetsch-Lods (R, Vineland, 2025), Arthur Marchand (R, Hopewell Township , 2026), James Sauro (R, Vineland, 2026) and Director Joseph V. Sileo (R, Vineland, 2024). The county's constitutional officers are: Clerk Celeste Riley (D, Bridgeton , 2024), Sheriff Michael Donato (R, Bridgeton, 2026) and Surrogate Rudolph Luisi (R, Vineland, 2028). Two New Jersey Department of Corrections prisons,
3792-731: The facts in the Kallikaks study were misrepresented, including photographs altered to make the family members appear more backward. On July 12, 1928, the Mexican aviator and national hero Emilio Carranza crashed and was killed in Tabernacle, New Jersey , while returning from a historic goodwill flight from Mexico City to the United States. Flying back from Long Island, he encountered a thunderstorm and crashed in Burlington County . A 12 ft (3.6 m) monument identifies
3871-547: The ghost of the "Black Doctor", the ghost of Captain Kidd , the " Black Dog ", and various other ghosts, as well as folklore associated with the Blue Hole and other so-called "blue holes" in the Pine Barrens. The New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve contains approximately 1.1 million acres (4,500 km ) of land, and occupies 22% of New Jersey's land area, including territory of much of seven counties. Counties affected by
3950-535: The history and ecology of the region. Between 170–200 million years ago, the Atlantic coastal plain began to form. The Barrens formed in the southernmost and newest land area in New Jersey 1.8 to 65 million years ago, during the Tertiary era. Over millions of years, the rising and falling of the coastline deposited minerals underground, culminating with the end of the last ice age about 12,000 years ago, when plants and trees began growing in what
4029-479: The lands bordering it. With rising environmental concerns at the time, people became alerted to the possible destruction of the Pine Barrens and its aquifer by urban sprawl . State authorities in the region discussed plans to construct a jetport and associated city in the Pine Barrens to alleviate congestion at other major regional airports of the Mid-Atlantic. The low cost of land and lower incidence of fog in
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#17328020244864108-430: The location of the crash. Despite rapid urbanization of surrounding areas, the Pine Barrens remained largely untouched because its sandy soil was unsuitable for growing most crops. Its iron and charcoal deposits did not compete with more readily accessible deposits elsewhere. In 1969, the Pine Barrens averaged a density of 15 inhabitants per square mile (5.8/km ), compared with 1,000 inhabitants per square mile (390/km ) in
4187-472: The mayor's office each year, while others elect the same mayor for 2–3 consecutive years. Out of the 240 townships in the state, the township form of government is used by 140. On road signs, township is often abbreviated TWP or Twp . Some official documents abbreviate it as "Twsp." Historically, a variety of legislation has been passed by the state legislature that has defined and refined the township form of municipal government: The Township Act of 1798
4266-432: The population were under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 52.2% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 343.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 415.1 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income
4345-415: The population. Of the 1,364 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18; 55.4% were married couples living together; 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.9% were non-families. Of all households, 22.7% were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.05. 9.5% of
4424-408: The population. There were 1,332 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and
4503-512: The program. There are a total of 240 townships in the state, including: Pine Barrens (New Jersey) The New Jersey Pine Barrens , also known as the Pinelands or simply the Pines , is the largest remaining example of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecosystem, stretching across more than seven counties of New Jersey . Two other large, contiguous examples of this ecosystem remain in
4582-627: The proposal. The district sends 180 students in ninth through twelfth grades for public school to attend high school in Millville , as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Millville Public Schools , together with students from Commercial Township and Lawrence Township . Starting in the 2022-23 school year, students who had previously been split between Memorial High School for grades 9-10 and Millville Senior High School for grades 10-12 were consolidated into
4661-687: The shipyards of Dorchester. The settlement of Heislerville and its surroundings were known for their oystering industry until around 1957, when a parasitic disease called MSX crippled the oyster population of the river. The oystering industry has not recovered since. According to the United States Census Bureau , Maurice River township had a total area of 95.90 square miles (248.38 km), including 93.17 square miles (241.30 km) of land and 2.73 square miles (7.08 km) of water (2.85%). Unincorporated communities , localities and place names located partially or completely within
4740-412: The state by 1970 due to destruction of its territory and human encroachment, the bobcat gained legal protection in 1972. It is classified as a game species with a closed season; in 1991 it was added to the list of endangered species in New Jersey. Between 1978 and 1982, the state introduced 24 bobcats from Maine into the northern portion of the state. Since 1996, they have been monitored by biologists with
4819-413: The term "municipality" and recognized five types of government: borough , township, city , town , and village and granted each equal legal standing. The Township Act of 1989 simplified the much-amended Act of 1899. It retains a three or five member township committee serving staggered terms, whose members are generally elected at-large. The committee elects a mayor from among its members to serve
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#17328020244864898-589: The township for a rent of at least five dollars a year. A group of five freeholders was elected to one-year terms on the Township Committee, which was responsible to oversee the expenditure of revenue in between town meetings. The Township Act of 1899 abolished the town meeting and strengthened the role of the Township Committee, which was initially set at three and amended to allow for expansion to five members. Members were elected for staggered three-year terms. The Home Rule Act of 1917 legally defined
4977-403: The township include Bennetts Mill, Bricksboro, Cannon Range, Cumberland , Delmont , Dorchester , East Point, Fries Mill , Halberton, Hands Mill, Heislerville , Hesstown , Hoffmans Mill, Hunters Mill, Jones Mill, Leesburg , Manantico, Manumuskin, Menhaden, Moores Beach, Ormond, Port Elizabeth , Thompsons Beach, Wall Pond, and some portions of Belleplain and Milmay . The township government
5056-524: The township itself was established. Port Elizabeth was established as a port of delivery by an Act of Congress in 1789, and trade was done directly with the West Indies until the 1830s, when trading was done more with Philadelphia , Pennsylvania and New York City . Dorchester and Leesburg were known for shipbuilding industry, and the A.J. Meerwald (the State Ship of New Jersey) was built in
5135-413: The township were taken to form Millville on March 1, 1866. The township derives its name from Maurice, Prince of Orange . It had long been a dry town where alcohol could not legally be sold. The Township Committee began consideration in 2012 of asking residents to approve the creation of two liquor licenses. In 2018, the committee created an ordinance allowing the sale of alcohol, after voters approved
5214-457: The township. The population density was 85.7 per square mile (33.1/km). There were 1,506 housing units at an average density of 16.2 per square mile (6.3/km). The racial makeup was 58.04% (4,629) White , 36.03% (2,874) Black or African American , 0.44% (35) Native American , 0.35% (28) Asian , 0.03% (2) Pacific Islander , 3.44% (274) from other races , and 1.68% (134) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.52% (919) of
5293-411: The vote (533 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 40.3% (467 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 8.1% (94 votes), with 1,158 ballots cast among the township's 2,335 registered voters, yielding a 49.6% turnout. The Maurice River Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Maurice River Township Elementary School. As of
5372-432: The vote (906 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama , who received 39.9% (642 votes), with 1,610 ballots cast among the township's 2,355 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.4%. In the 2004 presidential election , Republican George W. Bush received 57.7% of the vote (889 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry , who received 39.8% (614 votes), with 1,541 ballots cast among the township's 2,322 registered voters, for
5451-771: The voters at-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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor. As of 2023, members of the Maurice River Township Committee are Mayor Ken Whildin ( R , term on committee ends December 31, 2025; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor William Ashton (R, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2023) and Joseph Sterling (R, 2023). Maurice River Township
5530-555: The waterways. Forest fires play an important role in regulating the growth of plants in the Pine Barrens. Frequent light fires tend to reduce the amount of undergrowth and promote the growth of mature trees. Forest fires have contributed to the dominance of pitch pine in the Pine Barrens. They can resist and recover quickly from fire by resprouting directly through their bark (something very unusual for pines) and frequent killing fires keep an area covered with small sprouts. Their serotinous pine cones open only after having been heated by
5609-439: The work of those areas along with overall legislative issues. Some mayors in this form of government also oversee specific departments. The mayor in this form of government is primarily ceremonial and has the same power as other township committee members. The mayor does hold the powers vested in all mayors under state law One township committee member is elected deputy mayor each year. Some towns with this form of government rotate
5688-444: The years, catering chiefly to local markets. Smaller industries such as charcoal-making and glassmaking also were developed, meeting with varying degrees of success. Over time, however, the forest reclaimed almost all traces of the Pine Barrens' industrial past. Ghost towns —remnants of villages built around these former industries—can still be found at various locations. Batsto Village has been restored to its mid-19th century state as
5767-400: Was $ 43,182, and the median income for a family was $ 46,987. Males had a median income of $ 37,901 versus $ 27,928 for females. The per capita income for the township was $ 17,141. About 6.4% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over. In 1993, the Maurice River and its tributaries were designated as
5846-423: Was $ 69,419 (with a margin of error of +/− $ 9,253) and the median family income was $ 78,713 (+/− $ 7,665). Males had a median income of $ 54,893 (+/− $ 8,742) versus $ 33,712 (+/− $ 6,439) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $ 15,705 (+/− $ 1,946). About 9.5% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over. As of
5925-648: Was designated a U.S. Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1983 and an International Biosphere Reserve in 1988. Howard P. Boyd was instrumental in working to preserve the Pine Barrens and educate visitors. He died in December 2011, within the Protection Area of the Pinelands National Reserve . The Pine Barrens gave rise to the legend of the Jersey Devil, said to have been born in 1735 to a local woman named Mrs. Leeds in an area known as Leeds Point . It
6004-819: Was instrumental in supplying the American military with weapons and camp tools during the American Revolution , the War of 1812 , and the Second Barbary War . For example, Commodore Stephen Decatur Jr. sailed to Algiers armed with 24-pound cannons that had been cast at Hanover in 1814. The first Indian reservation in the Americas was founded Brotherton in 1758, in what is now Indian Mills in Shamong Township . On October 6, 1778 during
6083-408: Was one of several schools targeted for closure as part of a plan by the New Jersey Department of Education that would close and consolidate small school districts within a three-year period. Students at Maurice River Township Elementary School would have been bused to a larger regional school within Cumberland County. By May 2010, the plan had been shelved in the face of inadequate funding to implement
6162-546: Was said that he was her 13th child and, because of the unlucky number, he was cursed. Another story says that the mother gave birth to a hideous monster that attacked her and her nurses, before flying up and out of the chimney and disappearing into the Barrens. The Devil is said to roam the Pine Barrens, with many sharing stories of encounters with the Devil during dark nights in the Pinelands. Pine Barrens folklore also includes
6241-460: Was the first state legislation to incorporate municipalities. The government defined was a form of direct democracy , similar to the New England town meeting , in which the vote was available to all white males, at least 21 years old, who were citizens of New Jersey, and residents of the township for at least six months; and who paid taxes in the township, or who owned land, or rented a home in
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