Location of Commercial Township in Cumberland County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Cumberland County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
Census Bureau map of Commercial Township, New Jersey
Commercial Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 27, 1874, from portions of Downe Township.[20] The township was named for its shellfish industry.[21]
Geographyedit
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 34.41 square miles (89.13 km2), including 31.91 square miles (82.66 km2) of land and 2.50 square miles (6.47 km2) of water (7.26%).[1][2]
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Baileytown, Bivalve, Buckshutem, Haleyville, Lores Mill, North Port Norris and Shell Pile.[25]
The 2010 United States census counted 5,178 people, 1,880 households, and 1,337 families in the township. The population density was 161.2 inhabitants per square mile (62.2/km2). There were 2,115 housing units at an average density of 65.8 per square mile (25.4/km2). The racial makeup was 83.72% (4,335) White, 10.24% (530) Black or African American, 0.35% (18) Native American, 0.52% (27) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.53% (79) from other races, and 3.65% (189) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.10% (316) of the population.[17]
Of the 1,880 households, 30.6% had children under the age of 18; 42.9% were married couples living together; 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.9% were non-families. Of all households, 22.4% were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.14.[17]
25.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.0 males.[17]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $45,323 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,873) and the median family income was $46,790 (+/− $10,373). Males had a median income of $42,297 (+/− $6,069) versus $31,391 (+/− $5,851) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,242 (+/− $2,315). About 18.0% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 21.2% of those age 65 or over.[36]
2000 censusedit
As of the 2000 United States census[13] there were 5,259 people, 1,873 households, and 1,367 families residing in the township. The population density was 162.0 inhabitants per square mile (62.5/km2). There were 2,171 housing units at an average density of 66.9 per square mile (25.8/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 82.98% White, 13.42% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.86% of the population.[34][35]
There were 1,873 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.22.[34][35]
In the township the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.[34][35]
The median income for a household in the township was $34,960, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $35,030 versus $21,610 for females. The per capita income for the township was $14,663. About 13.0% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.[34][35]
Governmentedit
Local governmentedit
Commercial 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.[37] The governing body is comprised of a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by 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.[6][38] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor, each serving a one-year term.[3]
As of 2023[update], members of the Commercial Township Committee are Mayor Warren "Mike" Vizzard (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2025; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Fletcher Jamison (D, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2023) and Joseph E. Klaudi (R, 2024).[3][39][40][41][42][43]
After Mayor Judson Moore resigned from office in March 2016, Ronald Sutton was named as mayor to replace Moore and Fletcher Jamison shifted to deputy mayor.[44]
In the November 2013 general election, Moore became the first candidate to win election running as an independent, while Ronald Sutton was elected to fill the vacant seat of Bill Riggin, who had resigned from office.[45]
Federal, state and county representationedit
Commercial Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District[46] and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.[47][48][49]
Cumberland County is governed by a Board 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.[55] As of 2024[update], members of the Cumberland County Board of County Commissioners (with party affiliation, residence and term-end year listed in parentheses) are:
The county's constitutional officers are:
Clerk Celeste Riley (D, Bridgeton, 2024),[68][69]
Sheriff Michael Donato (R, Bridgeton, 2026)[70][71] and
Surrogate Rudolph Luisi (R, Vineland, 2028).[72][73][63]
Politicsedit
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,183 registered voters in Commercial Township, of which 1,004 (31.5%) were registered as Democrats, 568 (17.8%) were registered as Republicans and 1,608 (50.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[74]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.6% of the vote (983 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 41.1% (701 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (23 votes), among the 1,726 ballots cast by the township's 3,270 registered voters (19 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 52.8%.[75][76] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 55.0% of the vote (1,032 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received 41.7% (781 votes), with 1,875 ballots cast among the township's 3,151 registered voters, for a turnout of 59.5%.[77] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.2% of the vote (849 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry, who received 49.2% (832 votes), with 1,690 ballots cast among the township's 2,931 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 57.7.[78]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 60.9% of the vote (691 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.4% (413 votes), and other candidates with 2.7% (31 votes), among the 1,191 ballots cast by the township's 3,031 registered voters (56 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 39.3%.[79][80] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 46.5% of the vote (475 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 43.6% (446 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 6.0% (61 votes), with 1,022 ballots cast among the township's 3,017 registered voters, yielding a 33.9% turnout.[81]
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.[89]
Transportationedit
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 77.15 miles (124.16 km) of roadways, of which 44.08 miles (70.94 km) were maintained by the municipality and 33.07 miles (53.22 km) by Cumberland County.[90]
^ abcMayor & Committee, Township of Commercial. Accessed August 27, 2023. "Commercial Township is under the 'Township' form of local government. As in all local governments, our Township is highly regulated by the State of New Jersey and falls under the laws of the State Legislature. Three people serve on the Township government for a three year term. A single position is open each year for someone from the public to run for office.... The Mayor is appointed by the three Township committee people and is not elected directly by the public."
^2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023. As of date accessed, Vizzard is listed with a term-end year of 2025, which is the end of his three-year committee term, not his one-year mayoral term of office.
^Clerk's Office, Township of Commercial. Accessed May 12, 2022.
^ abAnnual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022, United States Census Bureau, released May 2023. Accessed May 18, 2023.
^New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 10, 2023.
^ abcdeDP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Commercial township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 11, 2012.
^Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 120. Accessed July 11, 2012.
^Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.
^DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Laurel Lake CDP, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 11, 2012.
^DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Port Norris CDP, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 11, 2012.
^New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
^Barnett, Bob. Population Data for Cumberland County Municipalities, 1810 - 2000, WestJersey.org, January 6, 2011. Accessed July 11, 2012.
^Compendium of censuses 1726-1905: together with the tabulated returns of 1905, New Jersey Department of State, 1906. Accessed October 8, 2013.
^Porter, Robert Percival. Preliminary Results as Contained in the Eleventh Census Bulletins: Volume III - 51 to 75, p. 97. United States Census Bureau, 1890. Accessed September 2, 2013.
^Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910: Population by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions, 1910, 1900, 1890, United States Census Bureau, p. 336. Accessed July 11, 2012.
^Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I, United States Census Bureau, p. 715. Accessed July 11, 2012.
^Table 6: New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1940 - 2000, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, August 2001. Accessed May 1, 2023.
^ abcdeCensus 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Commercial township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Archived 2003-10-15 at the Wayback Machine, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 11, 2012.
^ abcdeDP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Commercial township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 11, 2012.
^DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Commercial township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 11, 2012.
^Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.
^"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
^2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of Commercial. Accessed August 27, 2023.
^Election Summary Report General Election Cumberland County November 8, 2022, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
^Election Summary Report General Election Cumberland County November 2, 2021, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.
^General Election Results November 3, 2020, Official Results, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
^Woods, Don E. Twp. mayor resigns with 9 months left in office", NJ.com, March 15, 2016. Accessed June 30, 2016. "Moore was two years into his three-year appointment on committee when he announced his resignation Monday night at a Commercial Township work session meeting.... According to township clerk Hannah Nichols, Ronald Sutton Sr. was made mayor during Monday's meeting and Fletcher Jamison was made deputy mayor."
^Tomlinson, Philip. "Commercial Township reorganizes, Judson Moore appointed mayor", South Jersey Times, January 6, 2014. Accessed July 23, 2014. "In November, Judson Moore became the first Independent candidate elected to the township's three-person committee.... Democrat Ronald Sutton was also sworn in to serve the remainder of the term of former committeeman Bill Riggin, who resigned due to health concerns this past fall; Sutton, elected for the seat in November, had served in that capacity by appointment since shortly after Riggin's resignation. Longtime Democratic Committeeman Fletcher Jamison was tabbed as deputy mayor."
^U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^Home, sweet home: Bob Menendez back in Hudson County. nj.com. Accessed April 30, 2021. "Booker, Cory A. - (D - NJ) Class II; Menendez, Robert - (D - NJ) Class I"
^ 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."
^Commissioner Douglas Albrecht, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Commissioner Antonio Romero, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Commissioner John Capizola Jr., Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Commissioner Victoria Groetsch-Lods, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Commissioner Carol Musso, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Commissioner Donna M. Pearson, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Commissioner Joseph V. Sileo, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^ ab2022 Directory of Cumberland County, New Jersey, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^2022 County Data Sheet, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Election Summary Report Cumberland County General Election November 8, 2022 General Election Official Results, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
^Election Summary Report General Election November 2, 2021, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.
^General Election November 3, 2020 Official Results, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
^County Clerk: Celeste M. Riley, Cumberland County Clerk's Office. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Members List: Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Sheriff's Office, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Members List: Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Cumberland County Surrogate Office, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Members List: Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Voter Registration Summary - Cumberland, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^"Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Cumberland County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. March 15, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^"Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Cumberland County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. March 15, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^2008 Presidential General Election Results: Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^2004 Presidential Election: Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^"Governor - Cumberland County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. January 29, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^"Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Cumberland County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. January 29, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^Sending District Students Archived 2014-12-08 at the Wayback 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."
^Jones, Jean. "Maurice River enlists state help in fighting Millville HS tuition increase", South Jersey Times, January 16, 2008. Accessed December 8, 2014. "He said Millville is unwilling to pass on its need for more funding to its own taxpayers so it is passing the increase on to the sending districts -- Commercial, Maurice River and Lawrence townships and Woodbine."
^Admissions Booklet, Cumberland County Technical Education Center. Accessed December 20, 2022. "Who Can Apply? Applicants must be enrolled in 8th grade and live in Cumberland County."
^Gentry, Curt. J. Edgar Hoover: The Man and the Secrets, pp. 73-74. W. W. Norton & Company, 2001. ISBN 9780393343502. Accessed July 23, 2014. "His choice, who was already working in the department as a file clerk, was a twenty-one-year-old woman from Port Norris, New Jersey. Helen Gandy would remain Hoover's secretary until his death fifty-four years later."
^Staff. "Help solve a Cumberland County history mystery: Where is Civil War Medal of Honor recipient John Davis buried?", The News of Cumberland County, July 7, 2009. Accessed July 23, 2014. "Elden H. Johnson, born in Bivalve, has been recognized by Commercial Township for his service in World War II."
^Sharp, Dallas Lore; and Millard, Columbus Norman. A Watcher in the Woods, p. viii. Century Company, 1911. Accessed July 23, 2014. "Dallas Lore Sharp was born on a farm in Haleyville, New Jersey, where the pine barrens, the marshes of Maurice River, and the great river swamps stretched out around him."
External linksedit
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