Williamstown, New Jersey

History

Before the community's settlement in 1737, Williamstown was inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape tribe of Native Americans, from whom the town derived its original name, "Squankum", for "place where evil spirits dwell". The name was changed to Williamstown when the town's first post office was established in 1842, due to postal regulations that prohibited two towns from having the same name and there was an older Squankum located 60 mi northeast. It is generally thought that 'evil spirits' referred to the abundance of mosquitoes in the area, a by-product of the low-lying swamps that characterized the area during that time period. In the early eighteenth century, Richard Penn sold what eventually became Williamstown to his grandson, John Williams, who divided and resold the land in lots to settlers and for whom the town was eventually renamed. The town was officially incorporated as Monroe Township in March 1859, with Williamstown as meeting place to vote and have town discussions. A municipal court was established in the Township of Monroe, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 264 of the Laws of 1948. The first school was built in 1750 and stood where the Washington Hotel now stands. The local schools operated on a pay-as-you-go basis until the 1850s and were predominantly church-run. The area built its first high school in 1958.

The population of the town remained small until the early 1830s when the glass industry sprung up (Glassboro, a neighboring town, still bears the name borne of that commercial boom). The first company to form was called Free Will Glass Manufacturing and caused a population surge. The industry thrived until the early 1900s when agricultural businesses began to flourish in the face of the waning glass industry. One notable company, The John Sharp Canning Co., still operates today as Blue Ribbon. The Monroe Township Historical Society was formed as a volunteer organization on October 16, 1974, by Mayor John W. Sharp (of the Canning Company Sharps), dedicated to the preservation of items that reflect the history of Monroe Township.

In 2014, the community had a death rate from heroin that was 25 times the national average, with about five people per year dying of overdoses and other complications in the previous decade.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Williamstown had a total area of 7.423 mi2, including 7.419 mi2 of land and 0.004 mi2 of water (0.05%). It has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and average monthly temperatures range from 33.2° in January to 76.7 °F in July. The hardiness zone is 7a.

Demographics

1950 1960 1960-1980 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Williamstown first appeared as an unincorporated community in the 1950 U.S. census; and then as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. census.

2010 Census

The 2010 United States census counted 15,567 people, 5,592 households, and 4,037 families in the CDP. The population density was 2098.2 /mi2. There were 5,857 housing units at an average density of 789.4 /mi2. The racial makeup was 80.43% (12,521) White, 13.08% (2,036) Black or African American, 0.19% (29) Native American, 2.04% (318) Asian, 0.01% (2) Pacific Islander, 1.79% (279) from other races, and 2.45% (382) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.27% (820) of the population.

Of the 5,592 households, 35.5% had children under the age of 18; 54.3% were married couples living together; 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.8% were non-families. Of all households, 23.1% were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.26.

26.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.6 males.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 11,812 people, 4,484 households, and 3,223 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 740.4 /km2. There were 4,764 housing units at an average density of 298.6 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.68% White, 10.35% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.87% of the population.

There were 4,484 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $44,200, and the median income for a family was $51,552. Males had a median income of $40,411 versus $29,112 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,112. About 5.5% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Cross Keys Airport is a public-use general aviation airport located 2.5 mi northwest of the central business district. U.S. Route 322 and New Jersey Route 42 pass through Central Williamstown.

Education

Monroe Township Public Schools is a comprehensive public school district serving the educational needs of resident students from grades Kindergarten through twelve.

St. Mary School is a K-8 elementary school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.

Recreation

Scotland Run Golf Club is a public golf course located in Williamstown, near U.S. Route 322.

Tall Pines Day Camp is a summer camp in Williamstown, for young children and teenagers. It was founded in 1996 and is accredited by the American Camping Association.

Operating since 1961 and located within five minutes from the center of Williamstown, Hospitality Creek is a campground consisting of an RV park, Olympic-size swimming pool, 30 acres lake, and other outdoor amenities.

Skydive Cross Keys, operating out of Cross Keys Airport, offers both tandem skydiving and skydive training.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Williamstown include:

• Raymond Arvidson, planetary scientist at Washington University in St. Louis, best known for his contributions to NASA missions to Mars, including as deputy director of the Mars Exploration Rovers
• Dave Calloway (born 1968), college basketball coach and the former head men's basketball coach at Monmouth University
• Donovan Ezeiruaku (born 2003), American football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys
• Brittany Ratcliffe (born 1994), soccer player who plays as a forward for the Washington Spirit in the NWSL

References

References

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau.
2. {{Gnis. 2390518. Williamstown Census Designated Place, [[Geographic Names Information System]]. Accessed November 11, 2012.
3. [http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=williamstown&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code for Williamstown, NJ], [[United States Postal Service]]. Accessed April 24, 2012.
4. [http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2010_place_list_34.txt Gazetteer of New Jersey Places], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 21, 2016.
5. [https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.
6. [https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey], Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed June 9, 2023.
7. [http://geonames.usgs.gov US Board on Geographic Names], [[United States Geological Survey]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.
8. [https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/tigerwebmain/Files/tab20/tigerweb_tab20_cdp_2020_nj.html State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed December 31, 2022.
9. [http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US34005 GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Burlington County, New Jersey] {{Webarchive. link. (2020-02-12 , [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 13, 2013.)
10. [http://www2.census.gov/acs2010_5yr/summaryfile/UserTools/Geography/NJ.xls 2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed January 13, 2013.
11. [https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-32.pdf New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32)], [[United States Census Bureau]], August 2012. Accessed January 13, 2013.
12. [http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Locality Search], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed April 19, 2015.
13. [http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3481380 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Williamstown CDP, New Jersey] {{Webarchive. link. (2020-02-12 , [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed April 24, 2012.)
14. Roncace, Kelly. [https://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/2012/03/williamstown_traces_name_back.html "Williamstown traces name back to Lenni-Lenape"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], March 5, 2012. Accessed December 9, 2024. "Long before Europeans came to Gloucester County, the Lenni-Lenape called the area home.... That’s the case for Squankum, the original moniker for the village now called Williamstown. Part of Monroe Township, the Williamstown area was formerly inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape who hunted the woods and fished the nearby streams. The Native Americans referred to the area as Squankum — meaning 'place of evil ghosts' or 'place where evil spirits dwell.'"
15. "A History of Monroe Township" published by the Historic Society of Monroe Township.
16. Polhamus, Andy. [http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2016/01/meet_the_town_leading_the_fight_against_gloucester.html "Inside the N.J. town with a heroin death-rate 25 times the national average"], [[NJ.com]], January 28, 2016. Accessed July 23, 2016. "In Williamstown — where the heroin death rate in 2014 was nearly 25 times the national average — others haven't been so lucky.... Between 2004 and 2014, at least 53 people died of heroin or opiate overdoses in Williamstown, an unincorporated community located almost entirely in Monroe Township, Gloucester County.... It's not entirely clear why Williamstown — where the rate was 63.8 — has such a high concentration of overdose deaths, but some experts believe geography plays a major role."
17. "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - New Jersey".
18. "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - New Jersey".
19. Staff. [https://books.google.com/books?id=1AVxMztHPuoC&pg=PA50 ''1980 Census of Population: Number of Inhabitants United States Summary''], p. 1-141. [[United States Census Bureau]], June 1983. Accessed January 12, 2012.
20. "1970 Census of Population - Charecteristics of the Population - New Jersey".
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25. "Census Population API". United States Census Bureau.
26. [http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/1600000US3481380 DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Williamstown CDP, New Jersey] {{Webarchive. link. (2020-02-12 , [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed November 11, 2012.)
27. [https://www.airnav.com/airport/17N Cross Keys Airport], AirNav.com. Accessed July 28, 2017.
28. [https://smarys.org/about/ About], St. Mary School. Accessed February 21, 2023.
29. [https://southjerseycatholicschools.org/catholic-schools-in-south-jersey/ Schools], South Jersey Catholic Schools. Accessed February 21, 2023.
30. (February 2003). "Guide to ACA-Accredited Camps".
31. 9781598801569. Accessed July 23, 2016.
32. [https://www.skydivecrosskeys.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjwwevLBRCGy-Sp-fDKjF8SJACpwCb35TCsizgoAls3t_kANW1STWApm0l28XUa3okpi8S0qhoCIY_w_wcB About Us], Skydive Cross Keys. Accessed July 28, 2017.
33. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/gloucester-county-times-updates-on-servi/181354557/ "News of County"], ''[[Gloucester County Times]]'', July 25, 1969. Accessed September 19, 2025, via [[Newspapers.com]]. "Raymond E. Arvidson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Benevento of 439 New Brooklyn Road, Williamstown, is participating; in a U.S. Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFROTC) field training encampment at Loring AFB, Maine."
34. [https://monmouthhawks.com/coaches.aspx?rc=1011 Dave Calloway], [[Monmouth Hawks men's basketball]]. Accessed July 3, 2019. "Calloway was one of Szoke's prize recruits as a sharpshooting guard from St. Joseph's High School.... The Williamstown, N.J., native made an immediate impact in West Long Branch."
35. [https://bceagles.com/sports/football/roster/donovan-ezeiruaku/16754 Donovan Ezeiruaku], [[Boston College Eagles football]]. Accessed August 7, 2023. "Hometown: Williamstown, N.J.; High School: Williamstown"
36. [https://washingtonspirit.com/team-member/brittany-ratcliffe/ Brittany Ratcliffe - Forward], [[Washington Spirit]]. Accessed September 4, 2025. "Hometown: Williamstown, N.J"