The county's largest municipality by population in 2020 was Washington Township, with a population of 48,677,[3] while the largest municipality by area was Franklin Township, which covered 56.39 square miles (146.0 km2).[12]
During the colonial era, Gloucester County's main industry sector was agriculture. Woodbury was the site of the county courthouse, the county jail, a Quaker meeting house that is still in existence, and an inn located on the current location of Woodbury Crossings. Due in part to the county's many creeks that lead to the Delaware River and Atlantic Ocean, smuggling was once common in the county.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 census, the county had a total area of 336.77 square miles (872.2 km2), of which 322.00 square miles (834.0 km2) was land (95.6%) and 14.77 square miles (38.3 km2) was water (4.4%).[1] Gloucester County is largely comprised of low-lying rivers and coastal plains, stretching southeastward from the Delaware River to the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The highest elevation in the county is a slight rise on County Road 654 southeast of Monroe Township that rises to approximately 180 feet (55 m) above sea level. The county's lowest elevation is at sea level on the Delaware River.[18]
Climate and weather
Interactive map of Gloucester County, New Jersey
Average temperatures in the county seat of Woodbury have ranged from a low of 26 °F (−3 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July. A record low of −11 °F (−24 °C) was recorded in February 1934 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in August 1918. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.75 inches (70 mm) in February to 4.35 inches (110 mm) in July.[19] The county has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Average monthly temperatures in Newfield range from 33.0 °F in January to 76.6 °F in July.[20]
Historical sources: 1790–1990[21] 1970–2010[12] 2000[7] 2010[6] 2020[2][3] * = Lost territory in previous decade.[22]
Swedesboro and Bridgeport were among the earliest European settlements in New Jersey and were both part of the 17th century New Sweden colony. Gloucester County dates back to May 26, 1686, when courts were established separate from those in Burlington County. On May 17, 1694, the county was officially formed and its boundaries defined as part of West Jersey. Portions of Gloucester County were set off on February 7, 1837, to create Atlantic County. On March 13, 1844, its boundaries were again defined as part of the creation of neighboring Camden County.[22] The county was named for the city of Gloucester and the county of Gloucestershire in the United Kingdom.[23]
The 2010 United States census counted 288,288 people, 104,271 households, and 75,805 families in the county. The population density was 895.3 inhabitants per square mile (345.7/km2). There were 109,796 housing units at an average density of 341 per square mile (132/km2). The racial makeup was 83.56% (240,890) White, 10.06% (29,006) Black or African American, 0.17% (501) Native American, 2.64% (7,609) Asian, 0.03% (95) Pacific Islander, 1.41% (4,055) from other races, and 2.13% (6,132) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.76% (13,712) of the population.[6]
Of the 104,271 households, 33.4% had children under the age of 18; 55.6% were married couples living together; 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.3% were non-families. Of all households, 22% were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.2.[6]
24.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.1 males.[6]
Rowan College of South Jersey is the county college for Gloucester County. It was established in 1966 as Gloucester County College and opened to students two years later in 1968. Its main campus is in Sewell in Gloucester County; it also operates two satellite campuses in Vineland and Millville, both in Cumberland County.[26]
Gloucester County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners and includes seven members who 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 November. At a reorganization meeting held each January, the Board selects a director and a deputy director from among the members. In 2017, commissioners, then called freeholders, were paid $16,908 annually and the director was paid $17,908.[50] As of 2024[update], Gloucester County's Commissioners are (with terms for director and deputy director ending December 31):
Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the Constitution of New Jersey, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as constitutional officers. These officials are the County Clerk and County Surrogate, both elected for five-year terms of office, and the County Sheriff, who is elected for a three-year term.[59] Gloucester County's constitutional officers are:
Title
Representative
County Clerk
James N. Hogan (D, Franklin Township; 2027),[60][61]
Gloucester County's prosecutor, appointed in March 2020, is Christine A. Hoffman.[67][68] Along with Cumberland and Salem counties, Gloucester County is part of Vicinage 15 of the New Jersey Superior Court, which is based in Woodbury in Gloucester County; the assignment judge for the vicinage is Benjamin C. Telsey. Gloucester County Courthouse is located in Woodbury.[69]
The county leans toward the Democratic Party, though to a slightly lesser degree than the state of New Jersey as a whole. As of October 2021, there were a total of 230,545 registered voters in Gloucester County. Of these, 89,073 (38.6%) were registered as Democrats, 57,779 (25.1%) were registered as Republicans and 80,776 (35.0%) were registered as unaffiliated. There were 2,917 voters (1.3%) registered to other parties.[77]
In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama carried Gloucester County by a 12.2% margin over John McCain, while Obama carried the state by 15.5% over McCain.[78] In the 2012 election, Barack Obama carried Gloucester County by an even larger margin, even as his support declined nationwide. In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican to win Gloucester County since 1988, when George H. W. Bush won it and New Jersey's electoral votes as well, the last time a Republican has done so. In 2020, Democrat Joe Biden was declared victor in the county in the closest Democratic victory in the county in the last 30 years.
GCEMS was launched in September 2007 with the goal of providing emergency medical services to county residents within nine minutes from the time of dispatch 90 percent of the time, which is considered to be the gold standard in EMS services. The program currently has 15 ambulances in service around the clock and four power shift ambulances on duty from 8am to 8pm seven days a week. GCEMS operates three Quick Response Vehicles (QRV) units that based in West Deptford Township, Newfield, and South Harrison Township. The department operates from 19 stations throughout the county. GCEMS administrative offices are located at the county's Emergency Response Center in Clayton.[81] It was the winner of the 2010 Outstanding Public EMS Agency by the State of New Jersey.[82]
Gloucester County's special weapons and tactics (SWAT) unit includes police officers from Gloucester County and provides emergency services for SWAT-oriented scenarios, including barricaded and suicidal subjects, hostage rescues, high-risk warrant service, dignitary protection, and counterterrorism responses.[83]
Heroin overdoses
In 2014, heroin overose rate in Gloucester County was 17.3 deaths per 100,000 people, the fourth-highest rate in New Jersey and nearly seven times the national average.[84]
The Gloucester County Historical Society, founded in 1903, maintains a collection of materials and artifacts related to the history of South Jersey. Hunter–Lawrence–Jessup House in Woodbury displays many of these artifacts.[99]
^Willis, David P. "'This is how wars start': Does Central Jersey include both Ocean and Union counties?", Asbury Park Press, February 20, 2023. Accessed March 31, 2024. "North Jersey is defined as Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties; South Jersey would be Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties. But for Central, things get a little tricky. It would include Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties."
^Jon Hurdle (May 13, 2021). "Report details surge in warehouse construction…". NJ Spotlight News. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023. In South Jersey, the area has become the "epicenter" of warehouse construction in the greater Philadelphia region..'Activity in the Southern New Jersey industrial market continues to amaze,' the report said.
^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."
^Gloucester County EMS Frequently Asked Questions[permanent dead link], Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed August 11, 2020. "Twenty Two municipalities currently have joined the GCEMS family: Clayton, East Greenwich, Glassboro, Greenwich, Logan, Mantua, National Park, Paulsboro, Pitman, Swedesboro, West Deptford, Woolwich, Harrison, South Harrison, Wenonah, Elk Woodbury Heights, Franklin Township, Newfield, Woodbury, Westville, and Deptford. Additional County of Gloucester municipalities are welcome to request service from GCEMS."
^Polhamus, Andy. "Inside the N.J. town with a heroin death-rate 25 times the national average", NJ.com, January 29, 2016. Accessed October 22, 2017. "In Gloucester County, the heroin death rate was 17.3 deaths per 100,000 people in 2014 -- nearly seven times the national average, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. Only Atlantic, Camden and Cape May counties had a higher death rate that year."
^Spadaro, Dave. "Corey Clement; Glassboro’s NFL rookie finds a home with the Eagles", South Jersey Magazine, November 2017. Accessed September 4, 2018. "Corey Clement, a 22-year-old running back in his first season for the Philadelphia Eagles, regaled reporters who approached his locker at Lincoln Financial Field with stories of growing up in nearby Glassboro, of driving past the stadium as a kid and dreaming of playing there one day."
^Shryock, Bob. "Local took his shot at fame", Gloucester County Times, December 13, 2007, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 15, 2007. Accessed May 31, 2018. "A recent column about famous Gloucester County residents, sparked by Woolwich Township transplant Jimmy Rollins being named National League MVP, encouraged readers to submit their own nominations to the unofficial list of luminaries."
^Leon, Matt.
[1], 1-on-1 with Matt Leon, August 3, 2022. "'Get behind the wheel and make it work': How Swedesboro's Stephen Mallozzi achieved a NASCAR dream"
^LaGorce, Tammy. "Patti Smith, New Jersey's Truest Rock-Poet", The New York Times, December 11, 2005. Accessed June 22, 2022. "But of all the ways to know Patti Smith, few people, including Ms. Smith, would think to embrace her as Deptford Township's proudest export."