Location of National Park in
Gloucester County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Gloucester County in
New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
National Park had the 18th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey in 2020, with an equalized rate of 4.446% compared to 3.212% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.[21]
In 1895, the area began to be commercially developed as a religious retreat for members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church and called National Park on the Delaware. The founder, the Rev. James E. Lake, also created
Ocean City, New Jersey.[24]
The
2010 United States census counted 3,036 people, 1,092 households, and 816 families in the borough. The population density was 3,023.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,167.3/km2). There were 1,153 housing units at an average density of 1,148.1 per square mile (443.3/km2). The racial makeup was 96.28% (2,923)
White, 1.35% (41)
Black or African American, 0.16% (5)
Native American, 0.59% (18)
Asian, 0.00% (0)
Pacific Islander, 0.13% (4) from
other races, and 1.48% (45) from two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.04% (62) of the population.[18]
Of the 1,092 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18; 52.5% were married couples living together; 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.3% were non-families. Of all households, 20.2% were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.18.[18]
23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.2 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010
American Community Survey showed that (in 2010
inflation-adjusted dollars)
median household income was $65,852 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,987) and the median family income was $70,341 (+/− $8,049). Males had a median income of $51,886 (+/− $2,493) versus $32,788 (+/− $5,594) for females. The
per capita income for the borough was $26,699 (+/− $2,574). About 4.1% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.[36]
2000 census
As of the
2000 census,[15] there were 3,205 people, 1,111 households, and 865 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,219.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,242.9/km2). There were 1,165 housing units at an average density of 1,170.1 per square mile (451.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.35%
White, 0.09%
Black, 0.25%
Native American, 0.25%
Asian, 0.03%
Pacific Islander, 0.53% from
other races, and 0.50% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.[34][35]
There were 1,111 households, out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were
married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.24.[34][35]
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.[34][35]
The median income for a household in the borough was $48,534, and the median income for a family was $51,535. Males had a median income of $35,102 versus $27,398 for females. The
per capita income for the borough was $18,048. About 6.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.[34][35]
Government
Local government
National Park is governed under the
borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[37] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected
at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council is comprised of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[6] The borough form of government used by National Park is a "
weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can
veto ordinances subject to an
override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[38][39]
Joy Hibbs Gunn was selected by the borough council in August 2014 from three names nominated by the municipal Democratic committee to fill the vacant seat of Dennis Mehaffey, who resigned in the previous month due to conflicts with his work schedule.[40] in the November 2014 general election, Hibbs was elected to serve the balance of the term though December 2016.[41]
As of 2022[update], the mayor of National Park is
Democrat Mark Cooper, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Jason Bish (D, 2023), Dennis R. Burke (D, 2022), James J. Butler (D, 2024), Aimee Hart (D, 2022), Ronald D. Sparks Jr. (D, 2024) and Kate Wadsworth (D, 2023; appointed to serve an unexpired term).[3][42][43][44][45][46]
Aimee Hart was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Joy Gunn.
Federal, state, and county representation
National Park is located in the 1st Congressional District[47] and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.[48][49][50]
Gloucester County is governed by a
board of county commissioners, whose seven members 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 year. At a reorganization meeting held each January, the Board selects a Director and a Deputy Director from among its members. As of 2024[update], Gloucester County's Commissioners are:
Gloucester County's constitutional officers are:
Clerk James N. Hogan (D, Franklin Township; 2027),[65][66]
Sheriff Jonathan M. Sammons (R,
Elk Township; 2024)[67][68] and
Surrogate Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D,
Woolwich Township; 2028).[69][70][71]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,045 registered voters in National Park, of which 1,021 (49.9%) were registered as
Democrats, 213 (10.4%) were registered as
Republicans and 811 (39.7%) were registered as
Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[72]
In the
2020 Presidential election, Republican
Donald Trump received 823 votes and Democrat
Joe Biden received 717 votes.[73] In the
2016 presidential election, Republican
Donald Trump received 627 votes, ahead of Democrat
Hillary Clinton with 550 votes.[74] In the
2012 presidential election, Democrat
Barack Obama received 63.8% of the vote (819 cast), ahead of Republican
Mitt Romney with 34.4% (442 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (23 votes), among the 1,301 ballots cast by the borough's 2,064 registered voters (17 ballots were
spoiled), for a turnout of 63.0%.[75][76] In the
2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 59.5% of the vote (892 cast), ahead of Republican
John McCain with 37.3% (560 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (26 votes), among the 1,500 ballots cast by the borough's 2,164 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.3%.[77] In the
2004 presidential election, Democrat
John Kerry received 60.9% of the vote (868 ballots cast), outpolling Republican
George W. Bush with 37.6% (536 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (15 votes), among the 1,426 ballots cast by the borough's 2,069 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 68.9.[78]
In the
2013 gubernatorial election, Republican
Chris Christie received 64.6% of the vote (469 cast), ahead of Democrat
Barbara Buono with 32.0% (232 votes), and other candidates with 3.4% (25 votes), among the 746 ballots cast by the borough's 2,041 registered voters (20 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.6%.[79][80] In the
2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat
Jon Corzine received 46.2% of the vote (408 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 40.2% (355 votes), Independent
Chris Daggett with 10.2% (90 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (7 votes), among the 883 ballots cast by the borough's 2,095 registered voters, yielding a 42.1% turnout.[81]
The
Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden operated St. Matthews School, which had campuses in National Park and the Verga section of
West Deptford Township, New Jersey.[89] In 2007 it was consolidated into Holy Trinity Regional School,[90] in
Deptford Township. In 2017, it was moved to the former St. Patrick's Building in
Woodbury due to the superior condition of that building, according to the archdiocese.[91] It opened as Holy Angels Catholic School which still operates.[92] Guardian Angels Regional School is a
K-8 school that operates under the auspices of the Diocese of Camden, and accepts students from National Park.[93] Its PreK-3 campus is in
Gibbstown while its 4-8 campus is in
Paulsboro.[94]
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 15.68 miles (25.23 km) of roadways, of which 12.59 miles (20.26 km) were maintained by the municipality and 3.09 miles (4.97 km) by Gloucester County.[95]
^"Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for
NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 18. National Park Equalized tax rate in National Park Borough, Gloucester County, was 4.446 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Gloucester County: 3.212"
^Shamlin, Wilford S.
"National Park has green, but no park", Courier-Post, July 1, 2005. Accessed November 7, 2012. "Originally named National Park on the Delaware River, National Park was incorporated on April 15, 1902. But it was several years earlier, in 1895, that the Rev. James E. Lake, who also founded Ocean City, and others incorporated The National Park Association."
^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."
^Biography of Bob Menendez,
United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^About the School, National Park School District. Accessed May 11, 2020. "National Park School is a vibrant educational environment where teachers, students, families and community members work together to promote a love of learning. Comprised of approximately 50 staff members and 275 students in Pre-Kindergarten through Sixth Grade, the school is located in National Park, a small town along the Delaware River."
^Shryock, Bob.
"Plans are in the works for Gateway's 50th anniversary", Gloucester County Times, March 22, 2012. Accessed June 8, 2016. "The 50-year milestone is based on Gateway opening in the fall of 2014 when four sending districts (Woodbury Heights, Westville, National Park, and Wenonah) split from Woodbury and sent seventh, eighth, and ninth graders to the new school on Egg Harbor Road in Woodbury Heights."
^Admissions,
Gloucester County Institute of Technology. Accessed November 7, 2019. "There is no charge to attend. GCIT is a public school... GCIT is the vocational-technical school for Gloucester County residents. You must live in Gloucester County to apply and attend."
^Gray, Matt.
"After 10 years, closed Catholic school to reopen under a new name", NJ Advance Media for
NJ.com, January 28, 2017. Accessed February 23, 2023. "A Catholic school that closed 10 years ago as part of a consolidation effort will reopen under a new name. The former St. Patrick's School will return as Holy Angels Catholic School this fall. Citing declining enrollment and an over-reliance on parish subsidies, the Diocese of Camden closed St. Patrick's and St. Matthew's in West Deptford in 2007 as part of a three-school consolidation move with Most Holy Redeemer School in Deptford."
^"Engagements Announced", Courier-Post, November 8, 1972. Accessed December 22, 2023, via
Newspapers.com. "The engagement of Miss Deborah Ann Wood, to Mr. Dennis Anthony Coralluzzo, son of Mrs. Enrico Coralluzzo of 806 Princeton Ave., National Park, and the late Mr. Coralluzzo, is announced by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Forrest W. Wood of 361 Lycoming Ave., Wenonah."