Willingboro, NJ

Willingboro was originally developed in the 1950s and 1960s as a planned community by Abraham Levitt and Son in the Levittown model, with the 1950 population of 852 exploding to 11,861 in 1960 and 43,386 in 1970. The community was known as "Levittown Township" from 1959 to 1963.^[6]

History

Willingboro was one of the original nine divisions in the organization of Burlington County, West Jersey, and was originally formed as the "Constabulary of Wellingborrow" on November 6, 1688.^[7] At the time, it included present day Beverly, Delanco Township and Edgewater Park Township. The original name of Wellingborough was after the community in England which was the home of Thomas Olive, who led the original settlers into what would become Willingboro Township, but there were other spellings used at different times.

After the establishment of the United States and the State of New Jersey, the community was formally incorporated as "Willingborough Township", one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships, on February 21, 1798, by the New Jersey Legislature when it enacted "An Act incorporating the Inhabitants of Townships, designating their Powers, and regulating their Meetings", P.L.1798, p. 289.^[7] This makes Willingboro one of the oldest Townships in the State.

In the 1950s and 1960s Willingboro was the location for a massive residential development by Abraham Levitt and Sons. The first Levittown homes were sold in June of 1958, at which time the community was already known as Levittown, New Jersey. The name was changed by the voters, by referendum held on November 3, 1959 to "Levittown Township." Willingboro is less than 12 miles from Levittown, Pennsylvania and this occasionally caused confusion. A referendum held on the issue on November 12, 1963, changed the name back to Willingboro.^[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.8 km²), of which, 7.7 square miles (19.9 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (4.11%) is water.

Parks & Sections

Willingboro is divided into several sections, each section's street names beginning with the corresponding section. For example, streets in Pennypacker Park all begin with the letter P. This is the case with all parks, excluding Martin's Beach and certain streets in Rittenhouse Park.

There is another section without a name located near Olympia Lakes. This is the only part of the town with the Area code 856. The rest of Willingboro is in Area code 609.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 33,008 people, 10,713 households, and 8,784 families residing in the township. The population density was 4,292.7 people per square mile (1,657.3/km²). There were 11,124 housing units at an average density of 1,446.7/sq mi (558.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 66.71% African American, 24.67% White, 0.30% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.62% from other races, and 3.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.05% of the population.

There were 10,713 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.0% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.07 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the township the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $60,869, and the median income for a family was $64,338. Males had a median income of $39,963 versus $31,554 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,799. About 3.5% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

The Township of Willingboro is governed under the Council-Manager form of government. The current Council-Manager form of government was adopted by referendum in November 1960 based on the recommendations of a charter study commission. The first Council under the new Council-Manager form of government took place in November 1961, with the new Council taking office as of January 1, 1962 under the new form.^[10]

The five-member Township Council is elected in partisan elections to serve four-year terms in office on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election in the November of odd-numbered years. After each election, the council selects a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among its members.^[10]^[11]

The Members of the Willingboro Township Council are Mayor Jacqueline Jennings, Deputy Mayor Paul Stephenson, James Ayrer, Eddie Campbell, Jr., and Jeffrey Ramsey, Councilman.^[12]

Federal, state and county representation

Willingboro Township is in the Third Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 7th Legislative District.^[13]

Education

The S.W. Bookbinder, J.A. McGinley and Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary Schools were closed at the end of the 2005-06 school year as part of an effort to save about $3.7 million, through the reduction of 70 staff members meant class sizes increased to as many as 28 at the five remaining elementary schools. The cuts were needed to fill a two-year budget deficit of nearly $10 million.^[18]

Transportation

Notable residents

References

^ USGS GNIS: Township of Willingboro, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
^ ^a ^b Census data for Willingboro township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 15, 2007.
^ ^a ^b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ Chronology of Willingboro, Willingboro Township. Accessed June 29, 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 100.
^ Building Social Housing Foundation, Chronology of Willingboro.
^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
^ ^a ^b Historical and Governmental Notes, Willingboro Township. Accessed April 1, 2008.
^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 38.
^ Local Government, Willingboro Township. Accessed April 1, 2008.
^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 66. Accessed August 30, 2006.
^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
^ The Burlington County Board Of Chosen Freeholders, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2008.
^ Data for the Willingboro Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 27, 2008.
^ McGinley, S.W. Bookbinder and Martin Luther King Jr. elementary schools will close, Burlington County Times, March 28, 2006.
^ Burlington County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 15, 2007.
^ Malik Allen, CBS Sports. Accessed April 16, 2008.
^ Wawrow, John. "Sabres select Brennan 31st", Toronto Star, June 23, 2007. Accessed July 2, 2008. "'Once I started, I didn't want to stop,' said Brennan, a Willingboro, N.J. native, of his interest in hockey."
^ Stringer, Matt. "Philadelphia: The cradle of baseball", The Temple News, November 20, 2003. Accessed December 3, 2007. "For example, Sean Casey, a lifetime .300 hitter, plays first base for the Cincinnati Reds and hails from Willingboro, NJ."
^ "Chioda Reppin' The Boro", WWE.com.
^ A Short History of Willingboro, Willingboro Township. Accessed August 15, 2007.
^ Orton, Kathy. "Mystics Draft Langhorne, One of Two Terps Selected", The Washington Post, April 10, 2008. Accessed July 16, 2008. "'I love the area,' said Langhorne, who grew up in Willingboro, N.J."
^ "Player Bio: Crystal Langhorne.", "highest drafted Terrapin, taken with the sixth pick in the first round by the WNBA's Washington Mystics." Accessed July 16, 2007.
^ The 50 Greatest New Jersey Sports Figures, Sports Illustrated, December 27, 1999.
^ "CARL LEWIS SWEEPS TRIPLE IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP", Miami Herald, June 20, 1983. Accessed July 20, 2007. "Lewis, a 21-year-old from Willingboro, N.J., who had won the 100 in 10.27 Saturday night, leaped a remarkable 28 feet 10 1/4 inches in capturing the long jump and was clocked in an American record 19.75 seconds in the 200 on the final night of the USA- Mobil Outdoor track and field championships."
^ Eisen, Michael. "Giants Sign OL Kareem McKenzie: Signing is second major addition in two days for Big Blue", new York Giants, March 4, 2005. Accessed May 25, 2007. "McKenzie played only two years of football at Willingboro High School, but was still named an All-America by USA Today. He was All-State and All-Burlington County. McKenzie competed in the discus and shot put on the track team, serving as captain for two seasons."
^ Hagenmayer, S. Joseph. "ROBERT MARELLA, 62, WRESTLER KNOWN AS 'GORILLA MONSOON'", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 7., 1999. Accessed February 27, 2008. "Robert "Gorilla Monsoon" Marella, 62, a professional wrestler whose demeanor in the ring resembled Atilla the Hun's but whose deeds and personality were more akin to those of Santa Claus, died yesterday at his Willingboro home after being ill for the last month."
^ "Gervase Gets Booted Off", CBS News, August 3, 2000. Accessed May 25, 2007. "For weeks the buzz, fueled by Internet rumors, was the Willingboro N.J., resident had won the million-dollar prize, even prompting a Philadelphia newspaper to feature Peterson on one of its covers."
^ Shaun Phillips player profile, San Diego Chargers. Accessed July 20, 2007. "Shaun grew up in Willingboro, New Jersey, not far from Giants Stadium where the New York Jets play their home games....all-state, All-South Jersey and all-city at Willingboro High School in Willingboro, New Jersey"

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