Harrison Township is a township in Gloucester County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 13,641, an increase of 1,224 (+9.9%) from the 2010 census count of 12,417, which in turn reflected an increase of 3,629 (+41.3%) from the 8,788 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
Harrison Township was originally formed as Spicer Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1844, from portions of Greenwich Township and Woolwich Township. That name lasted for less than a year, with Harrison Township adopted as of April 1, 1845.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 139. Accessed May 28, 2024. The township was named for President William Henry Harrison.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 150. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 31, 2015. Mullica Hill is the historical center of the Township.
From Prohibition until 2018, Harrison Township had been a dry township, where alcohol could not be sold.New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014. The township's voters passed a referendum in 2009 permitting alcohol by consumption in restaurants. A second referendum was passed by the voters in 2015 allowing sales of packaged alcoholic goods in liquor stores. The first liquor store opened in November 2018 and the first bar opened in July 2019.Batal, Caytlinn, "Developments to drink: Restaurants and liquor store to be first in Mullica Hill since prohibition", The Mullica Hill Sun, August 11, 2017. "Although many residents may say Mullica Hill is a dry town, Mayor Louis Manzo said, the area has not been dry since 2009 when a referendum was passed approving strictly the consumption of liquor, such as restaurants, exclusively in the Richwood Town Center redevelopment area, located near the intersection of Route 322 and Route 55.... The project was on hold until around 2013, Manzo said, and it was then the township auctioned off the first four licenses to the Richwood Town Center developer Madison Marquette, for $500,000 each. Within two years, a separate stand-alone ballot was passed in 2015 allowing two distribution liquor licenses based on Harrison Township’s population."
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 19.02 square miles (49.25 km2), including 18.93 square miles (49.03 km2) of land and 0.08 square miles (0.22 km2) of water (0.44%).
Mullica Hill is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Harrison Township that had a 2010 Census population of 3,982.DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Mullica Hill CDP, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 26, 2012. Richwood is a CDP that is in portions of both Harrison Township and Mantua Township, which had a 2010 population of 3,459, of which 3,400 were in Harrison Township and 59 in Mantua Township.DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Richwood CDP, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 26, 2012.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed November 7, 2012. Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ewan, Ewans Mills, Heritage, Jefferson, and Sherwin.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2015.
The township borders the Gloucester County municipalities of East Greenwich Township, Elk Township, Glassboro, Mantua Township, South Harrison Township, and Woolwich Township. About the Township, Harrison Township. Accessed November 8, 2019. "Harrison Township is bordered by the municipalities of East Greenwich Township, Mantua Township, the Borough of Glassboro, Elk Township, South Harrison Township, and Woolwich Township.... The township committee is comprised of five members elected at-large through partisan elections. Members of township committee serve staggered three-year terms. The township committee reorganizes annually during the first week of January, during which the mayor is elected amongst members of township committee to serve a term of one year."Municipalities within Gloucester County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed November 7, 2019.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 7, 2019.
Multiple homes were destroyed when the area was hit by an EF3 tornado on September 1, 2021, produced by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.20210901's Storm Reports, National Weather Service. Accessed September 5, 2021. "2221 1 ENE Mullica Hill Gloucester NJ 3974 7520 Significant damage in the Mullica Hill area including several homes damaged and trees down on cedar road. time estimated from radar. (PHI)"
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 12,417 people, 3,942 households, and 3,315 families in the township. The population density was . There were 4,089 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 90.57% (11,246) White, 3.83% (475) Black or African American, 0.09% (11) Native American, 3.38% (420) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.48% (59) from other races, and 1.66% (206) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.01% (374) of the population.
Of the 3,942 households, 49.9% had children under the age of 18; 72.7% were married couples living together; 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 15.9% were non-families. Of all households, 13.3% 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 3.15 and the average family size was 3.47.
31.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.2 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $102,162 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,851) and the median family income was $121,366 (+/− $9,400). Males had a median income of $88,157 (+/− $6,618) versus $47,857 (+/− $10,273) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,354 (+/− $2,640). About 5.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Harrison township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 26, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census, there were 8,788 people, 2,848 households, and 2,323 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 2,939 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 95.16% White, 2.96% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.41% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.78% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Harrison township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 26, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Harrison township, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 26, 2012.
There were 2,848 households, out of which 49.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.8% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.44.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 33.2% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $77,143, and the median income for a family was $84,379. Males had a median income of $61,770 versus $39,583 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,645. About 2.1% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government Local government Harrison 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.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 19."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor, each serving a one-year term.