Woodbury Heights was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 6, 1915, from portions of Deptford Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 27, 1915. Portions were exchanged with Woodbury in 1925, and portions of the city were annexed on March 22, 1938. Portions were exchanged with Deptford Township in 1956 and other portions were annexed from the township in 1965.[21] The borough was named for the city of Woodbury, which in turn was named for its founder Henry Wood, who settled in the area in 1683 after arriving from Bury, England, at the age of 80 to escape religious persecution.[22][23][24]
As of 2020, the borough had the 19th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey with an equalized rate of 4.442% compared to 3.212% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.[25]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.25 square miles (3.24 km2), including 1.25 square miles (3.23 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.48%).[1][2] Glen Lake, although no longer open for swimming, is available for fishing and non-motorized boating.[26]
The 2010 United States census counted 3,055 people, 1,081 households, and 832 families in the borough. The population density was 2,499.4 inhabitants per square mile (965.0/km2). There were 1,125 housing units at an average density of 920.4 per square mile (355.4/km2). The racial makeup was 92.96% (2,840) White, 3.40% (104) Black or African American, 0.16% (5) Native American, 1.64% (50) Asian, 0.03% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.36% (11) from other races, and 1.44% (44) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.42% (74) of the population.[18]
Of the 1,081 households, 32.1% had children under the age of 18; 61.2% were married couples living together; 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.0% were non-families. Of all households, 18.2% 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 2.82 and the average family size was 3.22.[18]
22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.4 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $82,411 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,735) and the median family income was $91,667 (+/− $14,100). Males had a median income of $68,478 (+/− $6,757) versus $49,327 (+/− $4,589) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,099 (+/− $2,495). About 0.7% of families and 1.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[35]
2000 census
As of the 2020 U.S. census,[15] there were 2,988 people, 1,027 households, and 825 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,437.2 inhabitants per square mile (941.0/km2). There were 1,045 housing units at an average density of 852.4 per square mile (329.1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.35% White, 1.54% African American or Black, 0.27% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. 1.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[33][34]
There were 1,027 households, out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.24.[33][34]
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.[33][34]
The median income for a household in the borough was $63,266, and the median income for a family was $70,167. Males had a median income of $51,342 versus $33,220 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,001. 4.1% of the population and 2.4% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 3.7% were under the age of 18 and 2.8% were 65 or older.[33][34]
Government
Local government
Woodbury Heights municipal complex
Woodbury Heights is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 (of the 564) municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[36] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[6] The borough form of government used by Woodbury Heights is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[37][38][39]
At the January 2019 reorganization meeting, the borough council appointed Robert J. Morrison to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that became vacant when William C. Packer took office as mayor and appointed Jeffrey A. Pitzo to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Eshia "Jake" Jacob.[40]
As of 2022[update], the mayor of Woodbury Heights is Democrat William C. Packer, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022. Borough Council members are Richard J. Gambale (D, 2023), Joseph M. Getsinger (D, 2024), Robert J. Morrison Jr. (D, 2022), Jeffrey A. Pitzo (D, 2023; elected to serve an unexpired term), Harold A. "Hap" Pye Jr. (D, 2024) and Cara M. Witasick (D, 2022).[3][41][42][43][44][45][46]
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 2,255 registered voters in Woodbury Heights, of which 843 (37.4%) were registered as Democrats, 397 (17.6%) were registered as Republicans and 1,011 (44.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[69]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 56.9% of the vote (946 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 42.2% (702 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (15 votes), among the 1,673 ballots cast by the borough's 2,275 registered voters (10 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.5%.[70][71] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 54.7% of the vote (990 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 42.4% (768 votes) and other candidates with 1.8% (33 votes), among the 1,811 ballots cast by the borough's 2,304 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.6%.[72] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 51.5% of the vote (906 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 47.2% (830 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (17 votes), among the 1,760 ballots cast by the borough's 2,239 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 78.6.[73]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.7% of the vote (625 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.6% (371 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (17 votes), among the 1,040 ballots cast by the borough's 2,249 registered voters (27 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.2%.[74][75] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 44.6% of the vote (532 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 41.4% (494 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 11.4% (136 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (9 votes), among the 1,193 ballots cast by the borough's 2,274 registered voters, yielding a 52.5% turnout.[76]
For seventh through twelfth grade, public school students attend Gateway Regional High School, a regional public high school established in 1964 that serves students from the boroughs of National Park, Wenonah, Westville and Woodbury Heights, as part of the Gateway Regional High School District.[80][81] As of the 2019–20 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 900 students and 79.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.4:1.[82]
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.[83]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 18.83 miles (30.30 km) of roadways, of which 14.89 miles (23.96 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.43 miles (3.91 km) by Gloucester County, 0.53 miles (0.85 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.98 miles (1.58 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[86]
^ abMayor and Council, Borough of Woodbury Heights. Accessed August 19, 2022. "The Borough of Woodbury Heights is governed by a Mayor and six (6) Borough Council members. The Mayor is elected to a 4-year term; the Council members are elected to 3-year terms. The Mayor votes only in the event of a tie."
^McClure, Vicki. "Embarking On Journey For History's Sake From England To Woodbury - By Yacht.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 25, 2000. Accessed November 4, 2015. "He learned of a man named Henry Wood, who was beaten, imprisoned, and blinded in one eye for his religious beliefs. At 80, Wood left his home in Bury, England, to settle a new community in the United States. With his son John and John's family, Wood founded Woodbury in 1683 on 300 acres along the banks of Woodbury Creek."
^"Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 19. Woodbury Heights Equalized tax rate in Woodbury Heights Borough, Gloucester County, was 4.442 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Gloucester County: 3.212"
^Government Structure, Borough of Woodbury Heights. Accessed November 12, 2019. "The Borough mayor is elected at-large to a four-year term. Six council members are elected at-large to staggered three-year terms. The Borough form is often referred to as a 'weak mayor-strong council' form."
^Full Biography, Congressman Donald Norcross. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Donald and his wife Andrea live in Camden City and are the proud parents of three grown children and grandparents of two."
^Shryock, Bob. "Plans are in the works for Gateway's 50th anniversary", Gloucester County Times, March 22, 2012. Accessed June 8, 2016. "The 50-year milestone is based on Gateway opening in the fall of 2014 when four sending districts (Woodbury Heights, Westville, National Park and Wenonah) split from Woodbury and sent seventh, eighth and ninth graders to the new school on Egg Harbor Road in Woodbury Heights."
^Admissions, 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."
^School Mission and History, St. Margaret Regional School. Accessed February 22, 2023. "St. Margaret Regional School is a Pre-K to 8th grade regional Catholic educational institution in our 51st year of operation.... St. Margaret Regional School has been providing quality education since 1963."
^Schools, South Jersey Catholic Schools. Accessed February 21, 2023.
^Glassboro-Camden Line Fact Sheet 2013, Delaware River Port Authority and PATCO. Accessed September 1, 2013. "The new line proposed under the Light Rail Alternative would traverse the communities of Glassboro, Pitman, Sewell, Mantua Township, Deptford Township, Wenonah, Woodbury Heights, Woodbury, Westville, Brooklawn, Gloucester City, and Camden."
^Duhart, Bill. "18-mile light rail in South Jersey is coming, but not for another 6 years, at least", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, February 17, 2019. Accessed November 10, 2019. "The 18-mile commute time by light rail from Glassboro to Camden looks like it’s coming in now at just under six more years. That’s because a long-planned commuter rail project connecting a growing population hub in South Jersey with mass transit into Philadelphia still appears to be a few more years away, despite an old timeline that still says it’d be up and running in 2019."
^"Obituary of Daniel W. Cluff Sr.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 8, 2019. Accessed November 12, 2019, via Newspapers.com. "Daniel W. Cluff Sr., of Woodbury Heights, died Sunday in Brandon, Fla.... A longtime resident of Woodbury Heights, he also was a councilman there in the early 1970s."
^Roy, Melony. "Woodbury Heights YouTube Star Gets Her Own Cable Network Show", KYW-TV, April 24, 2015. Accessed June 8, 2015. "A Woodbury Heights woman has gone from YouTube star to talk show host on a cable network.... Grace Helbig is an actress, comedian, author, YouTube star and now the host of The Grace Helbig Show on E! but before all that she was a track star at Gateway Regional and once a semi finalist for the Miss NJ pageant."
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