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64-627: Lower Township is a township in Cape May County , in the U.S. state of New Jersey . The township, and all of Cape May County, is part of the Ocean City metropolitan statistical area , and is part of the Philadelphia - Wilmington - Camden , PA -NJ- DE - MD combined statistical area , also known as the Delaware Valley or Philadelphia metropolitan area . As of the 2020 United States census ,

128-461: A 2010 population of 136,), Erma (2,134), North Cape May (3,226) and Villas (9,483). Other unincorporated communities , localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bennett, Cold Spring , Cold Spring Inlet , Ephraims Island, Fishing Creek, Higbees Landing, Miami Beach, Schellengers Landing, Sewells Point, South Cape May , Sunset Beach , Town Bank, Weers Landing, and Wildwood Gables. Schellengers Landing

192-1036: A 48.0% turnout. Lower Township School District serves public-school students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade . As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,519 students and 149.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.2:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are David C. Douglass Veterans Memorial School with 312 students in grades PreK-K (in Villas ), Carl T. Mitnick School with 440 students in grades 1-2 (in Cold Spring ), Maud T. Abrams School with 355 students in grades 3-4 (in Cold Spring), and Charles W. Sandman Consolidated School with 388 students in grades 5-6 (in Cold Spring). The Lower Township School District participates in

256-424: A CDP name "be one that is recognized and used in daily communication by the residents of the community" (not "a name developed solely for planning or other purposes") and recommend that a CDP's boundaries be mapped based on the geographic extent associated with inhabitants' regular use of the named place. There is no provision, however, that this name recognition be unanimous for all residents, or that all residents use

320-443: A female householder with no husband present and 33.7% were non-families. Of all households, 28.7% were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89. 19.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

384-474: A female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.95. In the township, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

448-416: A one-year term. Partisan elections are allowed under this law. Voters may initiate a referendum to change the membership to consist of either 3 or 5 members. While many township committees directly supervise the operation of their municipality, the revised act allows the committee to delegate all or a portion of its responsibilities to an appointed municipal administrator. A number of municipalities changed to

512-586: A percentage of the population than the other constituent districts, especially Lower Township. The district's board of education is comprisedof nine members, who are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year Seats on the board are allocated based on population, with Lower Township assigned seven seats. Students are also eligible to attend Cape May County Technical High School in Cape May Court House, which serves students from

576-455: A population of at least 10,000. For the 1970 Census , the population threshold for "unincorporated places" in urbanized areas was reduced to 5,000. For the 1980 Census , the designation was changed to "census designated places" and the designation was made available for places inside urbanized areas in New England. For the 1990 Census , the population threshold for CDPs in urbanized areas

640-569: A special election in November 2013 to fill the seat of Glenn Douglass, who had resigned two months earlier and whose seat had been filled on an interim basis by Jackie Henderson. In January 2017, Roland Roy was selected from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the Third Ward seat vacated by Erik Simonsen when he took office as mayor; Roy served on an interim basis until

704-752: A staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year; At an annual reorganization held each January, the commissioners select one member to serve as director and another to serve as vice-director. As of 2024, Cape May County's Commissioners are Director Leonard C. Desiderio ( R , Sea Isle City , 2024), Robert Barr (R, Ocean City ; 2025), Will Morey (R, Wildwood Crest ; 2026), Melanie Collette (R. Middle Township ; 2026), and Vice-Director Andrew Bulakowski (R, Lower Township ; 2025). The county's constitutional officers are Clerk Rita Marie Rothberg (R, 2025, Ocean City), Sheriff Robert Nolan (R, 2026, Lower Township) and Surrogate E. Marie Hayes (R, 2028, Ocean City). As of March 2011, there were

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768-542: A total of 14,612 registered voters in Lower Township, of which 3,000 (20.5%) were registered as Democrats , 5,902 (40.4%) were registered as Republicans and 5,702 (39.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated . There were 8 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens . In the 2012 presidential election , Republican Mitt Romney received 52.6% of the vote (5,493 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 46.2% (4,823 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (120 votes), among

832-464: A township, as townships are equivalent to all other forms of local municipalities. Municipalities in New Jersey may be classified into one of five types , of which townships are one. Townships may retain the township form of government, or adopt one of the modern forms of government, which are not restricted to a particular type of municipality. In New Jersey, a municipality's name (such as X Township)

896-787: Is in Middle Township , with a Cape May Courthouse postal address and within the CMCH census-designated place. Richard Degener of the Press of Atlantic City described it as being in Burleigh . Its campus has 6.5 acres (2.6 ha) of area. Cape May County Library operates the Lower Township Library in Villas. As of May 2010, the township had a total of 179.10 miles (288.23 km) of roadways, of which 131.92 miles (212.30 km) were maintained by

960-679: Is in Lower Township. People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Lower Township include: Township (New Jersey) A township , in the context of New Jersey local government , refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government . As a political entity, a township in New Jersey is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town , city , borough , or village . They collect property taxes and provide services such as maintaining roads, garbage collection, water, sewer, schools, police and fire protection. The Township form of local government

1024-466: Is not necessarily an indication of its form of government. In New Jersey, the township form of government consists of a three to five-member township committee usually elected at-large in partisan elections. At its organization meeting, held after an election, the committee selects one of its elected members to serve as mayor and preside at meetings. The other members of the township committee serve as commissioners of various township departments, overseeing

1088-552: Is used by 27% of New Jersey municipalities; however, slightly over 50% of the state's population resides within them. Townships in New Jersey differ from townships elsewhere in the United States. In many states, townships can be an intermediate form of government, between county government and municipalities that are subordinate parts of the township, with different government responsibilities allocated at each level. In New Jersey, there are no subordinate municipalities located within

1152-505: Is where boats dock and where a bridge between Cape Island and the mainland is located. Schellengers Landing was named after people who moved from New England to New Jersey in the 1600s. There were multiple families with the Schellenger name who had settled the area. Schellengers Landing is connected to Cape May city via a bridge, and is on Route 109 . The name of the community is spelled differently in different works. Lower Township borders

1216-643: The 1890 Census , in which the Census mixed unincorporated places with incorporated places in its products with "town" or "village" as its label. This made it confusing to determine which of the "towns" were or were not incorporated. The 1900 through 1930 Censuses did not report data for unincorporated places. For the 1940 Census , the Census Bureau compiled a separate report of unofficial, unincorporated communities of 500 or more people. The Census Bureau officially defined this category as "unincorporated places" in

1280-455: The 1950 Census and used that term through the 1970 Census. For the 1950 Census, these types of places were identified only outside " urbanized areas ". In 1960 , the Census Bureau also identified unincorporated places inside urbanized areas (except in New England , whose political geography is based on the New England town , and is distinctly different from other areas of the U.S.), but with

1344-623: The 2024-2025 session , the 1st legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Mike Testa ( R , Vineland ) and in the General Assembly by Antwan McClellan (R, Ocean City ) and Erik K. Simonsen (R, Lower Township ). Cape May County is governed by a five-person Board of County Commissioners whose members are elected at-large on a partisan basis to three-year terms of office on

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1408-643: The 313 and 315 routes between Cape May / Wildwood / Philadelphia , on the 552 between Cape May and Atlantic City , with seasonal service on the 319 route serving shore points between Cape May and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City 's Midtown Manhattan . The Cape May–Lewes Ferry terminal is located in North Cape May. Operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority ,

1472-624: The Dutch West India Company purchased a 16 sq mi (41 km) tract of land along the Delaware from indigenous people, and additional land in the county was purchased 11 years later. Due to the large number of whales in the region of Cape May , Dutch explorers founded Town Bank around 1640 as a whaling village in what is now Lower Township. It was the first European settlement in Cape May County. The village once functioned as

1536-526: The Erma area of the township, which also serves students from Cape May City and West Cape May , along with students from Cape May Point who attend the district as part of a sending/receiving relationship . Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Richard M. Teitelman Middle School with 433 students in grades 7-8 and Lower Cape May Regional High School (LCMRHS) with 757 students in grades 9-12. In

1600-589: The Interdistrict Public School Choice Program , which allows non-resident students to attend the district's schools without cost to their parents, with tuition paid by the state. Seats in the program for non-resident students are specified by the district and are allocated by lottery. For seventh through twelfth grades , public-school students attend the schools of the Lower Cape May Regional School District , in

1664-654: The New Jersey General Assembly . Lower Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district. For the 118th United States Congress , New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew ( R , Dennis Township ). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker ( Newark , term ends 2027) and George Helmy ( Mountain Lakes , term ends 2024). For

1728-431: The court house for the county, along with Coxehall, built by Dr. Daniel Coxe to be a center for a manorial style of government. The sole remaining section of the original structure, which was moved several times during its history, is now preserved as Coxe Hall Cottage at Historic Cold Spring Village , a 19th century living history museum in Lower Township. Lower Township was formed as a precinct on April 2, 1723, and

1792-655: The poverty line , including 10.3% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over. Lower Township operates within the Faulkner Act , formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager form of government, which was adopted in 1984. The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government. The council is comprised of five members—the Mayor,

1856-469: The 10,534 ballots cast by the township's 15,217 registered voters (98 ballots were spoiled ), for a turnout of 69.2%. In the 2008 presidential election , Republican John McCain received 52.2% of the vote (5,831 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama , who received 45.1% (5,040 votes), with 11,177 ballots cast among the township's 14,435 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.4%. In the 2004 presidential election , Republican George W. Bush received 54.3% of

1920-470: The 2011–12 school year, the city of Cape May paid $ 6 million in property taxes to cover the district's 120 high-school students, an average of $ 50,000 per student attending the Lower Cape May district. Cape May officials have argued that the district's funding formula based on assessed property values unfairly penalizes Cape May, which has higher property values and a smaller number of high-school students as

1984-427: The 7,142 ballots cast by the township's 14,910 registered voters (205 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election , Republican Chris Christie received 51.6% of the vote (3,712 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 40.1% (2,882 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 6.0% (433 votes), with 7,190 ballots cast among the township's 14,989 registered voters, yielding

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2048-510: The CDP is named, plus surrounding inhabited countryside of varying dimensions and, occasionally, other, smaller unincorporated communities as well. CDPs include small rural communities, edge cities , colonias located along the Mexico–United States border , and unincorporated resort and retirement communities and their environs. The boundaries of any CDP may change from decade to decade, and

2112-552: The Cape May County municipalities of Cape May City , Cape May Point Borough , Middle Township , West Cape May Borough , Wildwood City , Wildwood Crest Borough , and Delaware Bay and the Atlantic Ocean . The 2010 United States census counted 22,866 people, 9,579 households, and 6,351 families in the township. The population density was 824.3 per square mile (318.3/km). There were 14,507 housing units at an average density of 523.0 per square mile (201.9/km). The racial makeup

2176-422: The Census Bureau may de-establish a CDP after a period of study, then re-establish it some decades later. Most unincorporated areas within the United States are not and have not been included in any CDP. The boundaries of a CDP have no legal status and may not always correspond with the local understanding of the area or community with the same name. However, criteria established for the 2010 census require that

2240-764: The Charter. The Manager serves the Council for an indefinite term of office and may be removed by a majority vote of the Council. The Manager is the chief executive and administrator of the Township. As of 2023, members of the Lower Township Council are Mayor Frank Sippel ( R , term ends December 31, 2024; At Large), Deputy Mayor David Perry (R, 2024; At Large), Thomas Conrad (R, 2026; Ward I), Kevin Coombs (R, 2026; Ward II) and Roland A. Roy Jr. (R, 2026; Ward III). Erik Simonsen won

2304-509: The Council Member-at-Large and three Ward seats—each elected on a partisan basis to four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two seats (mayor and council at-large) or the three ward seats up for election in even-numbered years on an alternating basis as part of the November general election. The Mayor presides at all Council meetings and has a voice and vote in the proceedings. Powers are limited to those expressly conferred by

2368-620: The November 2017 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term through December 2018. In February 2020, the Township Council selected Keven Coombs to fill the Ward II seat expiring in December 2022 that became vacant when David Perry was chosen to serve as deputy mayor. Earlier that month, Perry had been shifted to deputy mayor after Frank Sippel was selected as mayor to replace Erik K. Simonsen , who resigned to take office in

2432-794: The Sea School in Cape May . In 2010 Our Lady Star of the Sea merged into Cape Trinity Regional School (Pre-K–8) in North Wildwood. That school in turn merged into Wildwood Catholic Academy in 2020. As of 2020 Bishop McHugh Regional School in Dennis Township takes students from Lower Township. Two of the initial properties of Cape Christian Academy , formed c.  1990 as a merger of South Cape Christian Academy and Cape May County Christian School were in Lower Township. The current consolidated school building

2496-504: The Township type, or the Township form of government, between 1979 and 1982. A federal law, The State and Local Fiscal Assistance Act of 1972 provided funding to the states to be divided between state and municipal governments. In 1981, states were removed from the program and the law was amended to provide direct grants to the most popular form of local government in the United States - townships. In Essex County alone, 11 municipal governments changed their form or name to take advantage of

2560-497: The borough was $ 28,175 (+/− $ 1,295). About 6.6% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2000 U.S. census , there were 22,945 people, 9,328 households, and 6,380 families residing in the township. The population density was 813.0 inhabitants per square mile (313.9/km). There were 13,924 housing units at an average density of 493.4 per square mile (190.5/km). The racial makeup of

2624-502: The borough was dissolved on April 30, 1945), Wildwood Crest (April 6, 1910), and North Cape May (March 19, 1928; restored to Lower Township after it was dissolved on April 30, 1945). According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the township had a total area of 31.06 square miles (80.45 km), including 27.38 square miles (70.91 km) of land and 3.69 square miles (9.54 km) of water (11.86%). Census-designated places (CDPs) located within Lower Township include Diamond Beach (with

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2688-484: The boundaries for CDPs. The PSAP was to be offered to county and municipal planning agencies during 2008. The boundaries of such places may be defined in cooperation with local or tribal officials, but are not fixed, and do not affect the status of local government or incorporation; the territories thus defined are strictly statistical entities. CDP boundaries may change from one census to the next to reflect changes in settlement patterns. Further, as statistical entities,

2752-419: The boundaries of the CDP may not correspond with local understanding of the area with the same name. Recognized communities may be divided into two or more CDPs while on the other hand, two or more communities may be combined into one CDP. A CDP may also cover the unincorporated part of a named community, where the rest lies within an incorporated place. By defining an area as a CDP, that locality then appears in

2816-588: The community for which the CDP is named for services provided therein. There is no mandatory correlation between CDP names or boundaries and those established for other human purposes, such as post office names or zones, political precincts, or school districts. The Census Bureau states that census-designated places are not considered incorporated places and that it includes only census-designated places in its city population list for Hawaii because that state has no incorporated cities. In addition, census city lists from 2007 included Arlington County, Virginia 's CDP in

2880-622: The entire county in its comprehensive and vocational programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents. Special needs students may be referred to Cape May County Special Services School District in Cape May Court House. Wildwood Catholic Academy (Pre-K–12) in North Wildwood , of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden , is the nearest Catholic school. Villas had its own Catholic K–8 school , St. Raymond's School, until 2007, when it merged into Our Lady Star of

2944-632: The ferry makes the 17-mile (27 km) trip between Lower Township and Lewes, Delaware in 85 minutes, carrying passengers and vehicles. The Delaware River and Bay Authority operates a shuttle bus service that connects the ferry terminal with the Cape May Transportation Center in Cape May in the summer months and to the Cape May County Park & Zoo in July and August. Cape May Airport

3008-610: The larger Delaware Valley or Philadelphia metropolitan area . Before the region was settled by Europeans, the Kechemeche tribe of the Lenape Native Americans inhabited South Jersey , and traveled to the barrier islands during the summer to hunt and fish. On August 28, 1609, English explorer Henry Hudson entered the Delaware Bay and stayed one day on land, north of what is now Cape May Point . In 1630, representatives of

3072-543: The list with the incorporated places, but since 2010, only the Urban Honolulu CDP, Hawaii, representing the historic core of Honolulu, Hawaii , is shown in the city and town estimates. The Census Bureau reported data for some unincorporated places as early as the first census in 1790 (for example, Louisville, Kentucky , which was not legally incorporated in Kentucky until 1828), though usage continued to develop through

3136-472: The mayor's office each year, while others elect the same mayor for 2–3 consecutive years. Out of the 240 townships in the state, the township form of government is used by 140. On road signs, township is often abbreviated TWP or Twp . Some official documents abbreviate it as "Twsp." Historically, a variety of legislation has been passed by the state legislature that has defined and refined the township form of municipal government: The Township Act of 1798

3200-732: The municipality, 33.83 miles (54.44 km) by Cape May County and 6.87 miles (11.06 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 6.48 miles (10.43 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority . The most prominent highway serving Lower Township is the Garden State Parkway , which has its southern terminus at the intersection with Route 109 , in the township. U.S. Route 9 , Route 109 , Route 162 , and Ocean Drive are other significant roadways within Lower Township. NJ Transit offers bus service on

3264-462: The program. There are a total of 240 townships in the state, including: Census-designated place CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counterparts of incorporated places , such as self-governing cities , towns , and villages , for the purposes of gathering and correlating statistical data. CDPs are populated areas that generally include one officially designated but currently unincorporated community, for which

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3328-457: The same category of census data as incorporated places. This distinguishes CDPs from other census classifications, such as minor civil divisions (MCDs), which are in a separate category. The population and demographics of the CDP are included in the data of county subdivisions containing the CDP. Generally, a CDP shall not be defined within the boundaries of what the Census Bureau regards to be an incorporated city, village or borough. However,

3392-413: The term "municipality" and recognized five types of government: borough , township, city , town , and village and granted each equal legal standing. The Township Act of 1989 simplified the much-amended Act of 1899. It retains a three or five member township committee serving staggered terms, whose members are generally elected at-large. The committee elects a mayor from among its members to serve

3456-581: The township for a rent of at least five dollars a year. A group of five freeholders was elected to one-year terms on the Township Committee, which was responsible to oversee the expenditure of revenue in between town meetings. The Township Act of 1899 abolished the town meeting and strengthened the role of the Township Committee, which was initially set at three and amended to allow for expansion to five members. Members were elected for staggered three-year terms. The Home Rule Act of 1917 legally defined

3520-406: The township was 96.26% White , 1.39% African American , 0.23% Native American , 0.53% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.65% from other races , and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.88% of the population. There were 9,328 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 11.7% had

3584-412: The township's population was 22,057, a decrease of 809 (−3.5%) from the 2010 census count of 22,866, which in turn reflected a decrease of 79 (−0.3%) from the 22,945 counted in the 2000 census . New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Lower Township as its 34th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey. The township is part of the state's South Jersey region and

3648-430: The vote (5,951 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry , who received around 44.1% (4,830 votes), with 10,961 ballots cast among the township's 14,709 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.5. In the 2013 gubernatorial election , Republican Chris Christie received 70.8% of the vote (4,909 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.6% (1,913 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (115 votes), among

3712-439: The work of those areas along with overall legislative issues. Some mayors in this form of government also oversee specific departments. The mayor in this form of government is primarily ceremonial and has the same power as other township committee members. The mayor does hold the powers vested in all mayors under state law One township committee member is elected deputy mayor each year. Some towns with this form of government rotate

3776-414: Was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males. The median income for a household in the township was $ 38,977, and the median income for a family was $ 45,058. Males had a median income of $ 35,201 versus $ 24,715 for females. The per capita income for the township was $ 19,786. About 5.3% of families and 7.7% of the population were below

3840-494: Was 46.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.9 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $ 51,101 (with a margin of error of +/− $ 2,460) and the median family income was $ 62,587 (+/− $ 7,438). Males had a median income of $ 50,572 (+/− $ 3,361) versus $ 35,978 (+/− $ 2,297) for females. The per capita income for

3904-413: Was 94.24% (21,549) White , 1.99% (456) Black or African American , 0.16% (37) Native American , 0.62% (142) Asian , 0.04% (10) Pacific Islander , 1.20% (275) from other races , and 1.74% (397) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.24% (969) of the population. Of the 9,579 households, 22.6% had children under the age of 18; 49.3% were married couples living together; 12.1% had

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3968-766: Was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships established by the Township Act of 1798 . The township's name came from its location when Cape May was split into three townships in 1723 at the same time that Middle Township and Upper Township were created. Portions of the township were taken to form Cape Island Borough (March 8, 1848; now known as Cape May city ), Cape May Point borough (created April 19, 1878; restored to Lower Township on April 8, 1896; re-created April 6, 1908), Holly Beach (April 14, 1885, now part of Wildwood city ), South Cape May (August 27, 1894; restored to Lower Township after

4032-477: Was reduced to 2,500. From 1950 through 1990, the Census Bureau specified other population requirements for unincorporated places or CDPs in Alaska , Puerto Rico , island areas, and Native American reservations . Minimum population criteria for CDPs were dropped with the 2000 Census . The Census Bureau's Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP) allows designated participants to review and suggest modifications to

4096-400: Was the first state legislation to incorporate municipalities. The government defined was a form of direct democracy , similar to the New England town meeting , in which the vote was available to all white males, at least 21 years old, who were citizens of New Jersey, and residents of the township for at least six months; and who paid taxes in the township, or who owned land, or rented a home in

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