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Logan Township, New Jersey

Logan Township is a township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 6,032.

Beckett is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Logan Township. The Township is composed of five areas: Beckett, Bridgeport, Center Square, Nortonville, and Repaupo. It is also home to Pureland Industrial Complex, a 3,000-acre industrial park that is one of the largest in the nation.

Logan Township was originally formed as West Woolwich Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1877, from portions of Woolwich Township. The name lasted just last then a year, as the name was changed to Logan Township as of March 6, 1878.

The community's name comes from John Alexander "Black Jack" Logan, a Union Army General and founder of Memorial Day.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 26.8 square miles (69.5 km²), of which, 22.6 square miles (58.6 km²) of it is land and 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²) of it (15.70%) is water.

Logan Township borders Greenwich Township and Woolwich Township. Logan Township also borders the Delaware River and Oldmans Creek serves as its border with Oldmans Township in Salem County. Raccoon Creek branches off from the Delaware River in Logan Township.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 6,032 people, 2,001 households, and 1,610 families residing in the township. The population density was 266.7 people per square mile (103.0/km²). There were 2,077 housing units at an average density of 91.8/sq mi (35.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 82.00% White, 13.51% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.77% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.74% of the population.

There were 2,001 households out of which 48.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the township the population was spread out with 32.1% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $67,148, and the median income for a family was $70,771. Males had a median income of $48,415 versus $34,864 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,853. About 3.0% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Logan Township is governed under the Faulkner Act (Small Municipality) form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Township Council comprising four council members, with all positions elected at large in partisan elections. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Township Council members are elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis.

This five-member governing body is empowered to enact local ordinances, to levy municipal taxes and conduct the affairs of our community. In almost all cases, it can review and approve the actions of other Township of Logan, committees and agencies. The Mayor and Borough Council conducts all of its business during monthly meetings open to the public. All Legislative powers of the Township are exercised by the Mayor and Council. These powers can take the form of a resolution, ordinance or proclamation.

Members of the Logan Township Committee are Mayor Frank W. Minor, Deputy Mayor Lyman Barnes, Doris Hall, Bernadine Jackson and Arthur W. Smith.

Mayor Minor is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Federal, state and county representation

Logan Township is in the First Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District.

Education

The Logan Township School District serves public school students in grades K through 8. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Center Square School on Peachwood Drive for grades PreK - 1 (201 students), and Logan Township Elementary School located on School Lane for grades 2-8 (729 students).

Logan Township's public high school students (grades 9-12) are educated at the Kingsway Regional High School located on Kings Highway in Woolwich Township. The Kingsway Regional School District also provides services to students from Swedesboro and Woolwich, East Greenwich and South Harrison Townships.

Industry

Logan Township is the proposed location for a controversial liquefied natural gas (LNG) off-loading and processing facility called the Crown Landing LNG Terminal along the Delaware River. The facility would include an off-loading pier that would technically enter the waters of the State of Delaware. Delaware is opposed to the project and filed a lawsuit in Federal court to stop the project from going forward on the basis that they control the waters in which part of the pier would be situated; a lawsuit the State of Delaware lost. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the Crown Landing LNG Terminal on June 15, 2006. When completed in late 2008, the terminal will significantly increase natural gas supplies in the Northeastern United States.