Galloway Township, New Jersey

Galloway Township is a township in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. At 115.2 sqmi of total area, Galloway Township is the largest municipality in the State of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 37,349,  reflecting an increase of 6,140 (+19.7%) from the 31,209 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 7,879 (+33.8%) from the 23,330 counted in the 1990 Census; The increase of more than 14,000 in population since the 1990 Census was the 11th-highest in the state.

Galloway Township was incorporated by Royal charter on April 4, 1774, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, when it was still part of Gloucester County. Galloway was incorporated as one of the initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. After becoming part of the newly formed Atlantic County in 1837, portions of the township were taken to create Mullica Township (March 13, 1838), Egg Harbor City (June 14, 1858), Absecon town (February 29, 1872), Brigantine Beach borough (now Brigantine city; June 14, 1890) and Port Republic (March 1, 1905).

History
The Township of Galloway was created by Royal Patent of King George III of Great Britain on April 4, 1774. At that time it was part of Gloucester County, and comprised what is now Hammonton, Mullica Township, Egg Harbor City, Port Republic, Brigantine, Atlantic City, and the northern portion of Absecon. Galloway Township was incorporated by the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships under the Township Act of 1798.

For thousands of years, the area of Galloway Township was occupied by different cultures of indigenous peoples. The Lenape Native Americans were the historic tribe who occupied the area at the time of European encounter. They were one of the many Algonguian language peoples of the East Coast.

They were followed by European settlers, primarily English in the early years of colonial settlement. Historians are uncertain of the source of Galloway Township's name. One theory is that it was named after an area known as Galloway now part of the modern region of Dumfries and Galloway in southern Scotland. An alternative derivation is that the Township was named for Joseph Galloway, a Loyalist delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1774, who was opposed to independence of the Thirteen colonies. During the American Revolutionary War, Galloway was the site of the Battle of Chestnut Neck, in what is now a part of Port Republic.

During the spring of 2007, a large swath of oak and other hardwood trees were defoliated by the Gypsy moth caterpillar. Due to budget constraints, the township did not apply for spraying through the State of New Jersey, and the gypsy moths flourished.

On the morning of August 28, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene made its second U.S. landfall in Brigantine, though initial reports placed it at the Little Egg Inlet on the border with Little Egg Harbor Township. At the time it was believed to be the first hurricane to make landfall in New Jersey since 1903, but later analysis by the National Hurricane Center determined that the storm had weakened to tropical storm status by the time it made its second landfall.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 115.213 square miles (298.402 km2), including 89.074 square miles (230.701 km2) of land and 26.139 square miles (67.701 km2) of water (22.69%).

Pomona (2010 Census population of 7,124 ) and Smithville (2010 Census population of 7,242 ) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Galloway Township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Absecon, Absecon Highlands, Brigantine Junction, Cologne, Cologne Station, Conovertown, Doughtys, Germania, Hewittville, Higbeetown, Island Beach, Johnsontown, Leeds Point, Oceanville, Pinehurst, Pomerania, South Egg Harbor, Somersville and the "Township Center".

The township is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering 1100000 acre, that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve. Parts of the township are included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Atlantic County, along with areas in Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.

2010 Census
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $65,908 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,931) and the median family income was $76,106 (+/- $2,675). Males had a median income of $50,516 (+/- $3,544) versus $40,663 (+/- $2,096) for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,302 (+/- $2,134). About 5.0% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 31,209 people, 10,772 households, and 7,680 families residing in the township. The population density was 344.9 people per square mile (133.2/km²). There were 11,406 housing units at an average density of 126.1 per square mile (48.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 77.16% White, 9.80% African American, 0.24% Native American, 8.00% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.59% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.16% of the population.

There were 10,772 households out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 13.6% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $51,595, and the median income for a family was $57,156. Males had a median income of $38,048 versus $31,167 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,048. About 4.4% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Galloway Township operates under the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) within Plan E of the Council-Manager form of New Jersey municipal government, implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1976. The governing body is the Township Council, which consists of seven members who are elected at-large in partisan elections to four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with an election every two years in which either three or four seats come up for vote as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting after each election, members of Council select one of their members to take the office of Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor, who serve two-year terms in that office. The Township Council is led by a Mayor whose role is to preside over meetings and sign certain documents on behalf of the township. The Council sets policy for the township as its governing body, with the day-to-day operation of the Township and its municipal services delegated to the Township Manager.

, the members of the Galloway Township Council are Mayor Don Purdy (R, term on council and as mayor ends December 31, 2017), Deputy Mayor Anthony J. Coppola Jr. (R, term on council ends 2019; term as deputy mayor ends 2017), Richard Clute (R, 2019), Tony DiPietro (R, 2019), Frank M. Gargione (R, 2017), Robert Maldonado (R, 2017) and Timothy Meadows (R, 2017).

Federal, state and county representation
Galloway Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 9th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Galloway Township had been in the 2nd state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 22,037 registered voters in Galloway Township, of which 5,897 (26.8% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 5,214 (23.7% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans and 10,913 (49.5% vs. 44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 13 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 59.0% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 75.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 8,707 votes here (54.7% vs. 57.9% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 6,935 votes (43.6% vs. 41.1%) and other candidates with 190 votes (1.2% vs. 0.9%), among the 15,918 ballots cast by the township's 23,413 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.0% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 8,823 votes here (53.4% vs. 56.5% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 7,361 votes (44.6% vs. 41.6%) and other candidates with 177 votes (1.1% vs. 1.1%), among the 16,515 ballots cast by the township's 22,944 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.0% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 7,040 votes here (49.4% vs. 46.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 6,960 votes (48.8% vs. 52.0%) and other candidates with 112 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 14,256 ballots cast by the township's 19,036 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.9% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 6,337 votes here (64.6% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 3,171 votes (32.3% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with 115 votes (1.2% vs. 1.3%), among the 9,815 ballots cast by the township's 24,012 registered voters, yielding a 40.9% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 5,226 votes here (50.4% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 4,409 votes (42.5% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 531 votes (5.1% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 105 votes (1.0% vs. 1.2%), among the 10,379 ballots cast by the township's 22,353 registered voters, yielding a 46.4% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Education
For pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, students attend the Galloway Township Public Schools. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its six schools had an enrollment of 4,932 students and 307.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 16.1:1. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Pomona Preschool (87 students in PreK), Arthur Rann Elementary School (646; K-6), Reeds Road Elementary School (607; K-6), Roland Rogers Elementary School (543; K-6), Smithville Elementary School (615; K-6) and Galloway Township Middle School with 777 students in grades 7–8.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Absegami High School, located in the township. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,410 students and 115.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.3:1. Students in the western portion of the township have the option of attending Cedar Creek High School in neighboring Egg Harbor City under the school of choice program. Both high schools are part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, a regional public high school district serving students from the constituent districts of Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township and Mullica Township. The district also serves students from the districts of the City of Port Republic and Washington Township (in Burlington County) as part of sending/receiving relationships.

Township public school students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point.

The Galloway Community Charter School is a public school that serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school operates independently of the Galloway Township Public Schools under a charter issued by the New Jersey Department of Education. There is no tuition charged; costs are paid on a per-student basis by each of the sending districts, with additional funding provided by the State of New Jersey. The school draws its students from throughout Atlantic County. As of the 2014-15 school year, the charter school had an enrollment of 232 students and 24.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.4:1.

Assumption Regional Catholic School is a Catholic elementary school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grades with a specially designed Middle School system, operated under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Camden and serving students from the sending parishes of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish (Galloway Township), St. Thomas the Apsotle Church (Brigantine) and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish (Absecon).

Stockton University is a liberal arts university located in the Pomona section of Galloway Township.

Roads and highways
, the township had a total of 253.48 mi of roadways, of which 171.70 mi were maintained by the municipality, 59.44 mi by Atlantic County and 16.66 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 5.68 mi by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

The Garden State Parkway passes through the township, extending 5.7 mi from Egg Harbor Township in the south to Port Republic in the north. Included in the township are Interchange 40 for U.S. Route 30 White Horse Pike East, Interchange 41 for Route 561 Jimmie Leeds Road, and Interchange 44 for Route 575 Pomona. It was on this stretch of the Parkway that Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine was involved in a serious accident on April 12, 2007.

Also passing through the township are Route 50 and U.S. Route 30, along with CR 561, CR 561 Alternate, CR 563 and CR 575.

Public transportation
NJ Transit provides bus service to Atlantic City on routes 508 (from the Hamilton Mall), 554 (from Lindenwold station) and 559 (from Lakewood Township).

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Galloway Township include:
 * Tabitha D'umo (born 1973), choreographer and creative director.
 * Elias Higbee (1795–1843), associate of Joseph Smith, and an official historian and recorder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
 * Albert Hoffman (1915–1993), painter and wood carver.
 * Larry James (1947–2008), gold medalist at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
 * Fred Jerkins III, music producer who works with his brother Rodney.
 * Rodney Jerkins (born 1977), music producer and owner of the DarkChild recording studio.
 * Austin Johnson (born 1994), defensive lineman who plays for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team.
 * Enoch "Nucky" Johnson (1883–1968), Atlantic City political boss and racketeer.
 * Mushond Lee (born 1967), actor who appeared on The Cosby Show and in the film Lean on Me.
 * Natasha (born 1988), R&B singer.
 * Samuel Ojserkis (born 1990), rower who competed in the men's eight event at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
 * Vincent J. Polistina (born 1971), member of the New Jersey General Assembly who represented the 2nd Legislative District from 2008 to 2012.
 * Myron Rolle (born 1986), 2009 Rhodes Scholar, All-American safety for the Florida State Seminoles, former Tennessee Titan and Pittsburgh Steeler in the National Football League.
 * Nicky Scarfo Jr. (born 1964), former Philadelphia crime family boss and Lucchese crime family soldier.
 * Erica Skroski (born 1994), soccer player who plays as a defender for Sky Blue FC in the NWSL.

Points of interest

 * Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, whose headquarters and visitor center are located in the township.
 * The Federal Aviation Administration's William J. Hughes Technical Center in the Pomona section of the township.
 * Galloway National Golf Club, designed by Tom Fazio, has been recognized by Golf Digest as one of its Best New Courses of 1994.
 * Historic Smithville and Village Greene
 * Renault Winery
 * Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, hosted the 1942 PGA Championship and was host of the ShopRite LPGA Classic in 1986-87, from 1998-2006 and again starting in 2010.
 * Sylvin Farms Winery