Location of Franklin Township in Gloucester County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Gloucester County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
Census Bureau map of Franklin Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 56.39 square miles (146.04 km2), including 55.83 square miles (144.60 km2) of land and 0.56 square miles (1.44 km2) of water (0.99%).[1][2]Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Blue Bell, Downstown, Forest Grove. Franklinville, Fries Mills, Iona, Janvier, Lake, Malaga, Marsh Lake, Piney Hollow, Plainville, Star Cross, and Porchtown.[25]
The 2010 United States census counted 16,820 people, 5,849 households, and 4,562 families in the township. The population density was 300.9 inhabitants per square mile (116.2/km2). There were 6,104 housing units at an average density of 109.2 per square mile (42.2/km2). The racial makeup was 88.44% (14,876) White, 7.18% (1,208) Black or African American, 0.20% (34) Native American, 1.27% (213) Asian, 0.03% (5) Pacific Islander, 1.03% (174) from other races, and 1.84% (310) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.49% (755) of the population.[19]
Of the 5,849 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18; 61.5% were married couples living together; 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 22.0% were non-families. Of all households, 16.9% 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 2.87 and the average family size was 3.23.[19]
24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.5 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that, in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars, median household income was $74,327 with a margin of error of +/− $6,247, and median family income was $80,667 (+/− $7,344). Males had a median income of $51,425 (+/− $3,105) versus $42,297 (+/− $2,605) for females. The per capita income for Franklin Township was $32,141 (+/− $3,019). About 4.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.[40]
2000 census
As of the 2000 U.S. census[16] there were 15,466 people, 5,225 households, and 4,190 families residing in the township. The population density was 276.1 inhabitants per square mile (106.6/km2). There were 5,461 housing units at an average density of 97.5 per square mile (37.6/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 90.22% White, 6.66% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.51% of the population.[38][39]
There were 5,225 households, out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.29.[38][39]
In the township, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.[38][39]
The median income for a household in the township was $55,169, and the median income for a family was $60,518. Males had a median income of $41,159 versus $27,538 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,277. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.[38][39]
Government
Local government
Franklin 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.[41] The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.[7][42] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2022[update], the Franklin Township Committee is comprised of Mayor John "Jake" Bruno (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Deputy Mayor David P. Deegan Jr. (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2022), Timothy Doyle (R, 2023), Heather Flaim (R, 2023) and Mary Petsch-Wilson (R, 2022).[3][43][44][45][46][47]
In January 2020, Timothy Doyle was chosen from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Leah Vasallo until she resigned from office the previous month.[48]
Republican Heather Flaim was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that became vacant following the death of Ed Leopardi in September 2016; a judge ruled in May 2017 that Flaim could take the seat in a ruling in a case in which the local Democratic municipal committee claimed that it had submitted a list of three candidates to succeed Leopardi, which the township claims it never received.[49] Flaim won a full three-year term in the November 2017 general election, while Democrat Charles F. Pluta was elected to serve the balance of Leopardi's term of office.[50]
Federal, state and county representation
Franklin Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District[51] and is part of New Jersey's 4th state legislative district.[52]
Gloucester County is governed by a board of county commissioners, whose seven members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis in partisan elections, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year. At a reorganization meeting held each January, the Board selects a Director and a Deputy Director from among its members. As of 2025[update], Gloucester County's Commissioners are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 10,760 registered voters in Franklin, of which 2,885 (26.8%) were registered as Democrats, 2,422 (22.5%) were registered as Republicans and 5,444 (50.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 9 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[72]
In the 2020 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 61.0% of the vote (5,947 cast), ahead of Democrat Joe Biden with 37.4% (3,644 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (149 votes) among the 9,740 ballots cast by the township's 12,573 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.4%.[73][74]
In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 58.8% of the vote (4,631 cast), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 37.4% (2,646 votes), and other candidates with 3.8% (591 votes) among the 7,868 ballots cast by the township's 11,750 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.0%.[75][76]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 50.9% of the vote (3,782 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 47.8% (3,553 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (101 votes), among the 7,492 ballots cast by the township's 11,180 registered voters (56 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 67.0%.[77][78]
In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.3% of the vote (4,065 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 46.0% (3,646 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (131 votes), among the 7,923 ballots cast by the township's 11,085 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.5%.[79]
In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 49.5% of the vote (3,503 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 48.7% (3,443 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (92 votes), among the 7,073 ballots cast by the township's 9,870 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 71.7.[80]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.2% of the vote (1,138 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 37.0% (677 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (14 votes), among the 1,915 ballots cast by the township's 3,654 registered voters (86 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 52.4%.[81][82] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 49.2% of the vote (2,445 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 40.2% (1,998 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.4% (417 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (35 votes), among the 4,969 ballots cast by the township's 11,042 registered voters, yielding a 45.0% turnout.[83]
Public safety
Franklin Township is served by the Franklin Township Police Department, along with five volunteer fire companies and the County-run Emergency Medical Services. Serving are Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Company (founded 1949), Franklinville Volunteer Fire Company, Janvier Volunteer Fire Company (founded 1946), Malaga Volunteer Fire Company, Star Cross Volunteer Fire Company.[84] Since 2017, Gloucester County EMS provides emergency medical services for the whole township, after the governing body questioned the ability of the Township of Franklin Ambulance Corps to respond to calls with volunteers.[85]
The New Jersey Department of Education considered a vote by the Franklin Township Board of Education in June 2010 requesting that the district withdraw from the Delsea Regional School District, which would require that the Delsea region be dissolved as about 80% of the regional district's students come from Franklin. With the withdrawal of Franklin Township, two options being considered were to either have Franklin and Elk Townships create a new regional district with Newfield students attending on a send-receive basis, or having Franklin Township establish its own Pre-K–12 district which would receive students from both Elk Township and Newfield.[107][108]
Students from across the county are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend the school.[109]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 177.39 miles (285.48 km) of roadways, of which 118.84 miles (191.25 km) were maintained by the municipality, 39.04 miles (62.83 km) by Gloucester County and 19.51 miles (31.40 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[114]
^ abTownship Committee, Franklin Township. Accessed June 16, 2022. "There are five elected members, serving staggered terms to ensure that the Committee always has experienced members. The Mayor is not elected by voters; he or she is chosen by the other Township Committee members at the annual Reorganization Meeting held immediately after the New Year."
^2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023. As of date accessed, Bruno is listed as mayor with an incorrect term-end year of 2024, which is the end of his three-year committee term, not his one-year mayoral term.
^HistoryArchived 2016-06-05 at the Wayback Machine The Franklinville Inn. Accessed August 31, 2015. "In 1820 the Township of Franklin was formed. The first town meeting was held in that hotel which was then known as Cake's Tavern.... The village of Little Ease evolved into the Town of Franklinville. The origin of this name is uncertain; however, many believe Benjamin Franklin's influence in the area, as a result of his trips to Cape May, may have been instrumental in naming the town."
^Gray, Matt. "Judge rules resident can fill vacant township committee seat", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 31, 2017. Accessed September 19, 2018. "The township committee appointed Heather Flaim to fill the seat in October, but Leopardi's wife, Rene' Pistilli-Leopardi, and the Democratic Executive Committee of Franklin Township sued to block the move, saying the committee had not selected one of three replacements the township Democratic party had submitted. Township officials responded that they had not received the list."
^Gray, Matt. "Franklin Twp. votes to join Gloucester County EMS", NJ.com, February 10, 2017. Accessed May 25, 2017. "The township has agreed to join Gloucester County EMS. The township committee voted Thursday night to approve the move, making it the 18th municipality to join the county force. The county has provided EMS service to the township under a shared services agreement since September as a result of concerns about the local volunteer service's ability to respond to calls."
^Township of Franklin Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed March 11, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre Kindergarten through six in the Township of Franklin School District. Composition: The Township of Franklin School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Franklin Township."
^Township of Franklin Public School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 12, 2020. "The Township of Franklin Public School District, covering 56 square miles, is located in the southeast corner of Gloucester County. Our schools have an enrollment of approximately 1425 and service grades K-6 and a Pre-School Disabilities program. The enrollment includes nearly 100 students from the Newfield School District."
^Delsea Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Delsea Regional School District. Accessed March 10, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades 7 through 12 in the Delsea Regional High School District. Composition: The Delsea Regional High School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Elk Township and Franklin Township."
^Community, Delsea Regional School District. Accessed March 10, 2024. "Sending Districts: Aura Elementary School, Franklin Township Schools"
^Romalino, Carly Q. "Newfield's 'no' could hurt other districts", Courier-Post, November 4, 2015. Accessed March 10, 2024. "In 2012, Newfield ended its send-receive agreement with Buena schools in Atlantic County, instead sending its 400 elementary and 120 high school students to districts in neighboring Franklin Township. The send-receive agreement with Franklin Township Public Schools and Delsea Regional School District — which also educated Elk Township high schoolers — was touted as cheaper tuition than Buena."
^Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the Delsea Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2018. Accessed April 1, 2020. "The nine-member Board of Education is an elected body consisting of seven representatives from Franklin Township and two from Elk Township.... The Delsea Regional High School District is a Type II district located in the County of Gloucester, State of New Jersey. As a Type II District, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education. The Board is comprised of nine members elected to three-year terms."
^Cooney, Joe. "Vote could end Delsea district; Franklin board seeks K-12 system", Asbury Park Press, July 13, 2012. Accessed December 24, 2014. "Franklin — The township's school board is seeking approval for a referendum that could lead to dissolution of the Delsea Regional School District. Franklin and Elk currently make up the regional district for students in grades 7 to 12. If a vote takes place, residents in those communities would decide on whether to create a new district for both municipalities' students in prekindergarten through 12th grade.... Newfield, which previously sent its kids to Buena Regional schools, now sends its students to Franklin and Delsea."
^AdmissionsArchived May 22, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Gloucester County Institute of Technology. Accessed November 7, 2019. "There is no charge to attend. GCIT is a public school.... GCIT is the vocational-technical school for Gloucester County residents. You must live in Gloucester County to apply and attend."
^Schools, South Jersey Catholic Schools. Accessed February 22, 2023.
^Sending Parishes, St. Michael teh Archangel Regional School. Accessed February 22, 2023.
^Giordano, Rita. "After much work, newly merged school opens in Clayton", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 6, 2008. Accessed February 22, 2023. "St. Michael's is about people pulling together and getting it done - the families of the two former schools and others from their other sending parishes, Our Lady of Lourdes in Glassboro, Our Lady Queen of Peace in Pitman, and Nativity in Franklinville."
^School History, Our Lady of Mercy Academy. Accessed February 22, 2023. "Founded and operated by the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, Our Lady of Mercy Academy (OLMA) opened in September 1962 to 52 young women, embodying the first freshman and sophomore classes. "
^Hagenmayer, S. Joseph. "Jay Dinshah, 66, American Vegan Society Leader", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 15, 2000, copied at International Vegetarian Union. Accessed May 25, 2017. "H. Jay Dinshah, 66, who as the leader of the American Vegan Society was an advocate for life without violence toward animals or humans, died on June 8, apparently from a heart attack while working in his office in Malaga, New Jersey.... A lifelong Malaga resident, Mr. Dinshah founded the American Vegan Society in 1960 and was its president for 40 years."