Location of Florence Township in Burlington County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Burlington County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
Census Bureau map of Florence Township, New Jersey
The Florence City Company, formed in 1849, organized the original layout of lots and streets in Florence. It also oversaw construction of the Florence Hotel and wharf.[26] The Florence Iron Works was established in 1857 along the Delaware River by Richard Jones.[27] It continued as a major force in the economy of the community, especially after ownership was transferred to Richard D. Wood in 1867.[26] The 1900 United States census reported that a good portion of the workforce was dependent on the foundry.[28]
Florence was soon recognized as an attractive vacation spot with sandy beaches along the Delaware River.[26] Visitors could also partake of hydrotherapy offered by a center established about 1872 by Dr. Trall of Philadelphia.[26]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 10.17 square miles (26.35 km2), including 9.77 square miles (25.30 km2) of land and 0.41 square miles (1.05 km2) of water (3.98%).[2][3]
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bustleton, Dobbins, Florence Station and Hoffner's Tract.[36]
Of the 4,775 households, 28.3% had children under the age of 18; 51.7% were married couples living together; 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.2% were non-families. Of all households, 25.4% 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 2.54 and the average family size was 3.07.[20]
22.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.8 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $75,219 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,776) and the median family income was $88,479 (+/− $5,289). Males had a median income of $54,010 (+/− $3,496) versus $47,707 (+/− $2,587) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,871 (+/− $1,737). About 1.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[47]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 10,746 people, 4,149 households, and 2,891 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,106.5 inhabitants per square mile (427.2/km2). There were 4,391 housing units at an average density of 452.1 per square mile (174.6/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 85.52% White, 9.74% African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.[34][46]
There were 4,149 households, out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.[34][46]
In the township the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.1 males.[34][46]
The median income for a household in the township was $56,843, and the median income for a family was $67,412. Males had a median income of $45,325 versus $31,215 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,529. About 4.8% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.[34][46]
Economy
Given the accessibility of Florence to various rail and highway corridors, the township's economy is tied to its evolving role as a center for logistics. Florence and nearby towns in Burlington County have become prominent regional warehouse centers, attracting corporations like Amazon to build such facilities there.[1]
Government
Local government
Florence Township is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under Plan F of the Mayor-Council system of municipal government. implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1972.[48][49] The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.[50] The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member Township Council. Voters participate in partisan elections held in odd-numbered years to choose a Mayor for a four-year term along with two councilmembers at-large and then two years later choose one councilmember from each of three wards for overlapping terms of four years. The legislative power is vested in the Council and the Executive power is vested in the Mayor. The Mayor appoints a professionally qualified business administrator with the advice and consent of Council.[48][8][51]
As of 2023[update], the Mayor of Florence Township is Republican Craig H. Wilkie, whose terms of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Florence Township Council are Council President Bruce Garganio (at-large; R, 2023), Council Vice President Nicholas P. Haas Jr. (Ward 2; R, 2025), Frank K. Baldorossi Jr. (Ward 1; D, 2025), Kristan I. Marter (Ward 3; D, 2025) and Paul C. Ostrander (at-large; R, 2023).[4][52][53][54]
The Township Administrator is Stephen Fazekas and the Township Clerk is Nancy L. Erlston.[4]
Federal, state and county representation
Florence Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District[55] and is part of New Jersey's 7th state legislative district.[56][57][58]
Burlington County's Constitutional Officers are:
Clerk Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2028)[73][74]
Sheriff James H. Kostoplis (D, Bordentown, 2025)[75][76] and
Surrogate Brian J. Carlin (D, Burlington Township, 2026).[77][78]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 7,543 registered voters in Florence Township, of which 2,237 (29.7% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,851 (24.5% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 3,452 (45.8% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[79] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 62.3% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 80.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).[79][80]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 3,354 votes here (55.7% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 2,539 votes (42.2% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 80 votes (1.3% vs. 1.0%), among the 6,021 ballots cast by the township's 7,971 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.5% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).[81][82] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 3,235 votes here (53.8% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 2,656 votes (44.2% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 73 votes (1.2% vs. 1.0%), among the 6,015 ballots cast by the township's 7,452 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.7% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).[83] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 2,703 votes here (49.7% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 2,682 votes (49.3% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 32 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,439 ballots cast by the township's 6,817 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.8% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).[84]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,651 votes here (63.8% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 1,365 votes (32.9% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 46 votes (1.1% vs. 1.2%), among the 4,153 ballots cast by the township's 7,975 registered voters, yielding a 52.1% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).[85][86] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,130 votes here (49.2% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,866 votes (43.1% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 217 votes (5.0% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 52 votes (1.2% vs. 1.2%), among the 4,332 ballots cast by the township's 7,538 registered voters, yielding a 57.5% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).[87]
Students from Florence Township, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton Township.[95]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 67.24 miles (108.21 km) of roadways, of which 45.31 miles (72.92 km) were maintained by the municipality, 14.11 miles (22.71 km) by Burlington County, 4.52 miles (7.27 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 3.30 miles (5.31 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[97]
Florence hosts a 3.3 miles (5.3 km) section of Interstate 95 (New Jersey Turnpike Pennsylvania Extension), which extends from the border with Burlington Township on the west side of the township to the border with Mansfield Township on the east.[98] One interchange, known as "6A" but not actually signed with a number, connects I-95 with U.S. Route 130, which follows a southwest–northeast alignment through Florence.[99] This interchange previously connected with Cedar Lane in an unusual roadway setup (where Cedar Lane overpasses itself) the locals termed the "whirlybird" until 1999, when the Authority constructed a double-trumpet interchange directly with US 130.[100] The 6 toll gate is just east of Exit 6A on the Pennsylvania Extension. Interchange 6 (itself) is located in Mansfield Township.[101][102]
Interstate 295 also passes through Florence Township, but the nearest interchanges are in Mansfield Township and Burlington Township.[103]County Route 543 also traverses Florence, passing over Interstate 295 without an interchange.[104]
^ abNew Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, p. III-3, August 2012. Accessed June 17, 2013. "Burlington County — Annexations from MCDs: Medford Lakes borough from Medford township; New CDPs: Florence (formed from part of deleted Florence-Roebling CDP), Juliustown (formed from part of Fort Dix CDP and additional area), and Roebling (formed from part of deleted Florence-Roebling CDP); Deleted CDPs: Florence-Roebling (split to form Florence and Roebling CDPs)"
^ abForm of Municipal GovernmentArchived October 16, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Township of Florence. Accessed March 30, 2020. "Florence Township is governed under the provisions of the Mayor-Council Plan F of the Faulkner Act, Chapter 210 of the 1971 laws of the State of New Jersey as amended (N.J.S.A. 40:69A-1, et seq.). Under this form of government the voters elect a Mayor for a four year term and two Council members At-Large and three Council members from three wards for over-lapping terms of four years."
^Joseph Bodner 1925–1982, Artistic Gallery, Accessed November 25, 2013. "Joseph Bodner was born January 16, 1925 in Florence, NJ. He died on May 28, 1982 in Sherman Oaks, CA."
^Ginburg, Yana. "Burlco State Sen. John E. Dimon, 77", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 21, 1993. Accessed November 25, 2013. "The son of immigrants from what is now the Czech Republic, Mr. Dimon was born in Robeling on May 14, 1916. He lived in the Robeling-Florence area all his life."
^Fisher, Rich. "Former local standout Heath Fillmyer 'extremely grateful' to play for Royals", The Trentonian, June 22, 2018. Accessed June 25, 2018. "Since being called up to the Royals Monday night, Heath Fillmyer has yet to scale a Major League pitching mound in the heat of battle.... It matters not to the former Florence High/Mercer County Community College standout that Kansas City has lost nine straight as it begins a weekend series with the Astros Friday night.... Thus, he called his girlfriend and dispatched her to his Roebling residence, where she pounded on the door and woke everyone up to hear the news."
^Zygo, Brian. "New Jersey – The Garden State with Soccer Roots", MLS Talk, June 2, 2009. Accessed February 3, 2013. "Gene Olaff, considered by some to be one of the greatest American goalkeepers, was born in Bayonne, New Jersey in 1920 ... Olaff currently lives in Florence Township, New Jersey, where he's actively involved in youth soccer."
^McKee, Don. "Willingboro Falters Vs. Holy Cross", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 30, 1989. Accessed August 21, 2014. "Semptimphelter and Dengler grew up together in Florence, a tiny industrial town where football is well-woven into the social fabric of the community."
^Council Members, New Jersey Council on Local Mandates. Accessed December 24, 2017. "The Acting Chair of the Council is Hon. John A. Sweeney, Florence (Appointed by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, term expires February 1, 2021), Assignment Judge of Burlington County from 2000 until his retirement in 2008. A graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law, Judge Sweeney previously served a term in the New Jersey General Assembly, was Chief Counsel to Governor Florio, and later Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement."