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Deptford Township, New Jersey

Deptford Township (pronounced DEP-ford ) 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 31,977, an increase of 1,416 (+4.6%) from the 2010 census count of 30,561,  which in turn reflected an increase of 3,798 (+14.2%) from the 26,763 counted in the 2000 census.

Deptford Township was formed June 1, 1695, and was known initially as Bethlehem. It was incorporated as a township by the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of the state's initial 104 townships formed under the Township Act. Since then, portions of the township were taken to create Washington Township (February 17, 1836), Woodbury Borough (March 27, 1854; now Woodbury), West Deptford Township (March 1, 1871), Wenonah (March 10, 1883), Westville (April 7, 1914), and Woodbury Heights (April 6, 1915).

Deptford is a southeastern suburb of Philadelphia, located on the eastern side of the Walt Whitman Bridge, one of several bridges that join Deptford Township with Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-largest city as of 2020. It is located 10 mi southeast of Philadelphia and 50 mi northwest of Atlantic City.

Deptford Township was named for the Deptford area of London, located on the River Thames. It is part of the South Jersey region of the state.

History
Dutch explorer Cornelius Jacobsen May led some of the earliest European settlement in the area. May was followed by settlers from Sweden and Finland before the area ultimately came under British colonial rule. The township was formed in 1695, and covered an area of 106 sqmi that included today's Deptford Township along with present-day Monroe Township, Washington Township, West Deptford Township, Westville, Woodbury, and Woodbury Heights.

Clement Oak in Deptford, an old oak tree estimated to have sprouted between 1555 and 1615, was the site of the first hot air balloon landing in North America when Jean-Pierre Blanchard completed his flight to Deptford from Philadelphia in 1793. During his flight, Blanchard carried a personal letter from George Washington to be delivered to the owner of whatever property Blanchard landed on, making the flight the first airmail delivery in the nation.

On September 1, 2021, Deptford Township was hit by a strong EF3 tornado with winds up to 150 mph produced by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. More than 100 homes in the township were damaged in the tornado outbreak.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 17.57 square miles (45.50 km2), including 17.33 square miles (44.89 km2) of land and 0.24 square miles (0.61 km2) of water (1.35%). The township borders Mantua Township, Washington Township, Wenonah, West Deptford Township, Westville, Woodbury, and Woodbury Heights in Gloucester County, and Bellmawr, Gloucester Township, and Runnemede in Camden County.

Oak Valley, with a 2010 census population of 3,483, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located in Deptford Township. Other unincorporated communities, localities, and places located partially or completely within the township include Almonesson, Blackwood Terrace, Clements Bridge, Cooper Village, Country Club Estates, Good Intent, Hammond Heights, Jericho, Lake Tract, New Sharon, Oak Valley, Salina, Westcottville, Westville Grove, Woodbury Gardens, Woodbury Park, and Woodbury Terrace.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 30,561 people, 11,689 households, and 7,995 families in the township. The population density was 1760.3 /sqmi. There were 12,361 housing units at an average density of 712.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 78.80% (24,082) White, 12.16% (3,717) Black or African American, 0.24% (73) Native American, 4.45% (1,361) Asian, 0.04% (12) Pacific Islander, 2.04% (622) from other races, and 2.27% (694) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.99% (1,830) of the population.

Of the 11,689 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18; 50.1% were married couples living together; 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.6% were non-families. Of all households, 25.3% were made up of individuals and 10.0% 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 3.11.

21.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that, in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars, median household income was $66,833 with a margin of error of +/− $2,897 and median family income was $76,303 (+/− $2,216). Males had a median income of $52,310 (+/− $2,247) versus $46,532 (+/− $4,525) for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,476 (+/− $1,269). About 6.9% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 26,763 people, 10,013 households, and 7,079 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,529.7 PD/sqmi. There were 10,647 housing units at an average density of 608.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 83.44% White, 12.38% Black, 0.21% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.99% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.86% of the population.

There were 10,013 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the township, the age distribution of the population showed 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $50,147, and the median income for a family was $56,642. Males had a median income of $40,641 versus $28,986 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,477. 5.9% of the population and 4.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.2% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Economy
Deptford Mall, the largest mall in the South Jersey region of the state with a gross leasable area of 1069657 sqft, is located in the township. Macerich purchased the mall in 2007 for $241 million. The mall is surrounded by an eight-screen movie theater, twelve strip malls, bars, restaurants, and stores.

Parks and recreation
Tall Pines State Preserve is a 111 acres nature preserve that is Gloucester County's first state park. Opened in November 2015, the park is located on Deptford Township's border with Mantua Township. Originally a forest that was turned into an asparagus field and then a golf course, the land was preserved through efforts of the South Jersey Land and Water Trust, the Friends of Tall Pines, Gloucester County Nature Club, and the New Jersey Green Acres Program.

Local government
Deptford Township operates under the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager form of municipal government. The township is one of 42 (of the 564) municipalities in New Jersey that uses this form of government. The governing body is comprised of a seven-member Township Council, whose members are elected on an at-large basis in partisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either three or four seats coming up for election in odd-numbered years. The council then selects a mayor and a deputy mayor to serve two-year terms from among its members during the reorganization meeting in January. There are no term limits for council, mayor or deputy mayor, and elected officials can remain in those offices as long as they continue to be nominated by the council every two years and as long as they win their council elections every four years. The council hires an independent manager to serve as the chief administrative official of the township. The Township Manager is Thomas Newman Jr.

, members of the Deptford Township Council are Mayor Paul Medany (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2027; term as mayor ends 2025), Deputy Mayor Tom Hufnell (D, term on committee ends 2027; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), Kenneth Barnshaw (D, 2025), Bill Lamb (D, 2025), Brandi Leidy (D, 2027), Wayne Love (D, 2025) and Phillip Schocklin (D, 2025).

Federal, state, and county representation
Deptford Township is located in New Jersey's 1st congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 5th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there was a total of 19,449 registered voters in Deptford. Among these, 8,169 (42.0%) were registered as Democrats, 2,740 (14.1%) were registered as Republicans, and 8,523 (43.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 17 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 62.3% of the vote (8,427 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 36.5% (4,938 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (168 votes), among the 13,639 ballots cast by the township's 20,488 registered voters (106 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 60.4% of the vote (8,655 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 37.1% (5,311 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (215 votes), among the 14,332 ballots cast by the township's 20,166 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 58.0% of the vote (7,426 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 40.8% (5,220 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (104 votes), among the 12,806 ballots cast by the township's 17,725 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.2.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 60.9% of the vote (4,794 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 37.7% (2,969 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (111 votes), among the 8,093 ballots cast by the township's 20,145 registered voters (219 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 48.9% of the vote (4,158 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 41.0% (3,487 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.3% (622 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (65 votes), among the 8,500 ballots cast by the township's 19,678 registered voters, yielding a 43.2% turnout.

Primary and secondary education
Public school students in the township are served by Deptford Township Schools, a public school district that includes eight schools for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district had an enrollment of 3,942 students and 329.8 classroom teachers on an FTE basis for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics, ) are Central Early Childhood Center with 489 students in grades Pre-K–1, Pine Acres Early Childhood Center with 240 students in grades Pre-K–1, Good Intent School with 334 students in grades 2–6, Lake Tract School with 382 students in grades 2–6, Oak Valley School with 354 students in grades 2–6, Shady Lane School with 361 students in grades 2–6, Monongahela Middle School with 704 students in grades 7–8, Deptford Township High School with 1,009 students in grades 9–12, and Deptford Transitional Learning Academy, which assists students with developmental or cognitive disabilities ages 14 to 21 learn life and career skills.

Gloucester County students are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend the school.

Guardian Angels Regional School (PreK-Grade 3 campus in Gibbstown and 4–8 campus in Paulsboro), managed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden, also accepts students from Deptford.

College
Gloucester County College, now part of Rowan College of South Jersey, opened in Deptford Township in 1968, with classes held at Monongahela Junior High School and Deptford Township High School.

Roads and highways
, the township had a total of 150.03 mi of roadways. Of this, 99.01 mi were maintained by the municipality, 28.87 mi by Gloucester County, 18.75 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and 3.40 mi by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

Several major transportation routes crisscross Deptford Township. These include Route 41, Route 42, Route 45, Route 47, and Route 55. County roads include County Route 534, County Route 544, County Route 551, and County Route 553. The New Jersey Turnpike passes through the area at Exit 3 at Bellmawr and Runnemede. A very short section of Interstate 295 passes through the township for .07 mi.

Public transportation
NJ Transit bus service is available to Philadelphia from Deptford Township on the 400, 401, 402, 408, 410, and 412 routes. Local service is provided on the 455 and 463 routes.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or closely associated with Deptford Township include:
 * Enrico Di Giuseppe (1932–2005), operatic tenor who performed with the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera
 * Evan Edinger (born 1990), YouTuber
 * Joe Fields (born 1953), former professional American football center and guard who played in the NFL for the New York Jets and the New York Giants
 * Kenneth A. Gewertz (1934–2006), politician who served as Mayor of Deptford Township and in the New Jersey General Assembly
 * Isaac Hopper (1771–1852), abolitionist, founder of the Underground Railroad
 * Michael Johns (born 1964), health care executive, former White House speechwriter, conservative policy analyst and writer
 * Katrina Law (born c. 1985), actress
 * Bob Levy (born 1962), stand-up comic
 * Dave Rowe (born 1945), former professional football player who played for the Baltimore Colts, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers
 * Shaun T (born 1978), motivational speaker, fitness trainer and choreographer best known for his home fitness programs T25, Insanity and Hip-Hop Abs
 * Mel Sheppard (1883–1942), winner of four gold medals at the 1908 Summer Olympics and 1912 Summer Olympics
 * Patti Smith (born 1946), punk rock singer-songwriter, musician, author, and poet
 * Gary Stuhltrager (born 1955), eight-term member of the New Jersey General Assembly
 * Crystal Waters (born 1961), house and dance music singer and songwriter
 * Lillian Willoughby (1915–2009), Quaker activist who advocated for world peace and founded Take Back the Night

In popular culture
Deptford Township is featured briefly in the film Patti Smith: Dream of Life, a 2008 documentary about rock musician Patti Smith.

title: Deptford Township, New Jersey


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East Greenwich Township, New Jersey

East Greenwich 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 11,706, an increase of 2,151 (+22.5%) from the 2010 census count of 9,555,  which in turn reflected an increase of 4,125 (+76.0%) from the 5,430 counted in the 2000 census.

East Greenwich Township was created by the New Jersey Legislature on February 10, 1881, from the eastern part of Greenwich Township and western part of Mantua Township.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 14.922 square miles (38.649 km2), including 14.440 square miles (37.400 km2) of land and 0.482 square miles (1.249 km2) of water (3.23%). East Greenwich borders the municipalities of Greenwich Township, Harrison Township, Logan Township, Mantua Township, Paulsboro, and Woolwich Township in Gloucester County. Unincorporated communities, localities, and places located partially or completely within the township include Clarksboro, Hendricksons Mills, Mickleton, Middleton, Mount Royal, Tomlins, Warringtons Mills, and Wolfert.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 9,555 people, 3,262 households, and 2,645 families in the township. The population density was 661.7 PD/sqmi. There were 3,405 housing units at an average density of 235.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 88.45% (8,451) White, 5.86% (560) Black or African American, 0.14% (13) Native American, 3.61% (345) Asian, 0.05% (5) Pacific Islander, 0.59% (56) from other races, and 1.31% (125) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.02% (289) of the population.

Of the 3,262 households, 41.5% had children under the age of 18; 70.4% were married couples living together; 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 18.9% were non-families. Of all households, 14.9% were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.22.

27.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.3 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that, in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars, median household income was $98,295 with a margin of error of +/− $13,759, and median family income was $109,375 (+/− $12,449). Males had a median income of $90,476 (+/− $9,127) versus $50,431 (+/− $6,983) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,234 (+/− $3,245). About 3.4% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 5,430 people, 1,901 households, and 1,515 families residing in the township. The population density was 368.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,971 housing units at an average density of 133.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 94.68% White, 3.26% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.40% of the population.

There were 1,901 households, out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.9% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.3% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% 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 3.12.

In the township, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $65,701, and the median income for a family was $74,455. Males had a median income of $51,662 versus $31,619 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,345. About 2.6% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture
The indie rock band Danielson comes from East Greenwich.

Local government
East Greenwich Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 (of the 564) municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. 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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

, East Greenwich Township Committee members are Mayor Dale L. Archer (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2024), Deputy Mayor James R. Philbin Jr. (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), Eileen Hollingshead (R, 2025), Richard P. Schober (R, 2026) and Robert Tice (R, 2026).

Federal, state, and county representation
East Greenwich Township is split between the 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, all of East Greenwich Township had been part of the 1st Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections. The split placed 7,747 residents living in the township's north and east in the 1st District, while 1,808 residents in the southwestern portion of the township were placed in the 2nd District.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 6,416 registered voters in East Greenwich, of which 2,088 (32.5%) were registered as Democrats, 1,285 (20.0%) were registered as Republicans and 3,042 (47.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 53.4% of the vote (2,752 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.6% (2,346 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (52 votes), among the 5,185 ballots cast by the township's 7,019 registered voters (35 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 50.6% of the vote (2,319 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 47.7% (2,186 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (32 votes), among the 4,580 ballots cast by the borough's 5,869 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.0%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 55.0% of the vote (2,062 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 43.6% (1,633 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (29 votes), among the 3,749 ballots cast by the borough's 4,723 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 79.4.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 71.5% of the vote (2,348 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.9% (884 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (50 votes), among the 3,359 ballots cast by the township's 7,070 registered voters (77 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 52.7% of the vote (1,636 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 37.0% (1,148 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.7% (269 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (14 votes), among the 3,103 ballots cast by the borough's 6,096 registered voters, yielding a 50.9% turnout.

Education
Public school students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade attend the East Greenwich Township School District. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 1,308 students and 110.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.9:1. The schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Jeffrey Clark School located on Quaker Road with 575 students in Grades Pre-K–2 and Samuel Mickle School located on Kings Highway with 728 students in Grades 3–6. Based on data from the 2014 Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending prepared by the New Jersey Department of Education, the East Greenwich district's total per pupil spending of $12,585 was the lowest of any regular school district.

Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades are educated by the Kingsway Regional School District, which also serves students from South Harrison Township, Swedesboro, and Woolwich Township, with the addition of students from Logan Township who attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship in which tuition is paid on a per-pupil basis by the Logan Township School District. East Greenwich Township accounts for almost a third of district enrollment. As of the 2020–2021 school year, the district's two schools had an enrollment of 2,544 students and 189.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.4:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–2021 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Kingsway Regional Middle School with 1,023 students in grades 7–8 and Kingsway Regional High School with 1,802 students in grades 9–12. Under a 2011 proposal, Kingsway would merge with its constituent member's K–6 districts to become a full K–12 district with various options for including Logan Township as part of the consolidated district.

Students from across the county are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend the school.

Guardian Angels Regional School (Pre-K-Grade 3 campus in Gibbstown CDP and 4–8 campus in Paulsboro) serves students from Clarksboro, Mickleton, Mount Royal, and other sections of East Greenwich township. It is under the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.

Roads and highways
, the township had a total of 76.53 mi of roadways, of which 47.44 mi were maintained by the municipality, 23.68 mi by Gloucester County, 0.75 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 4.66 mi by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

The New Jersey Turnpike passes through in the southeast, but the closest interchange is Interchange 2 in neighboring Woolwich. Interstate 295 and U.S. Route 130 pass through with Exit 17 straddling the border between the municipality and neighboring Greenwich.

The major county highway to pass through is County Road 551.

Public transportation
NJ Transit bus service is available to Philadelphia on the 401 route.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with East Greenwich Township include:
 * Rachel Davis DuBois (1892–1993), educator, human rights activist and pioneer of intercultural education
 * George Gill Green (1842–1925), patent medicine manufacturer
 * Martin A. Herman (born 1939), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly, where he represented the 3rd Legislative District from 1974 to 1986, and was later appointed as a judge in New Jersey Superior Court in Gloucester County
 * Amos J. Peaslee (1887–1969), politician, military official, author and diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Australia
 * Hardy Richardson (1855–1931), Major League Baseball player

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: East Greenwich Township, New Jersey


text:
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (born Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones, 20 January 1965) is a member of the British royal family. She is married to Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, the youngest sibling of King Charles III.

Sophie grew up at Brenchley, Kent, and later attended West Kent College, training as a secretary. She then worked in public relations, representing firms across the UK, Switzerland and Australia before opening her own agency in 1996. She met Edward in 1987 while working for Capital Radio; they began dating in 1993. Their engagement was announced in January 1999, and they married on 19 June at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The couple have two children: Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex, who are respectively sixteenth and fifteenth in line to the British throne.

In 2002, Sophie closed her business interests and began full-time work as a member of the royal family. She is the patron of over 70 charities and organisations, including Childline and the London College of Fashion. She undertakes over 200 engagements each year, including visits to schools, universities and military bases. Her charity work primarily revolves around people with disabilities, women's rights, avoidable blindness and agriculture.

Early life and career
Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was born at Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, on 20 January 1965 into a middle-class family. Her father, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones (born 1931), is a retired sales director for an importer of industrial tyres and rubber goods. Her mother was Mary (née O'Sullivan; 1934–2005), a charity worker and secretary. She has an elder brother, David (born 1963), and was named after her father's sister, Helen, who died in a riding accident in 1960. Her godfather, actor Thane Bettany, was her father's stepbrother; both men spent their early life in Sarawak, North Borneo, then a British Protectorate ruled by the White Rajahs.

She descends from King Henry IV of England, and is related to the family of the Viscounts Molesworth through her grandmother, Margaret Patricia Rhys-Jones (née Molesworth; 1904–1985), who was the great-granddaughter of the Rev. John Molesworth, himself the father of Sir Guilford Molesworth and a great-grandson of Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth.

Rhys-Jones was raised in a four-bedroom 17th-century farmhouse in Brenchley, Kent. She began her education at Dulwich Preparatory School, before moving on to Kent College, Pembury, where she was friends with Sarah Sienesi, with whom she subsequently shared a flat in Fulham and who later became her lady-in-waiting. Rhys-Jones then trained as a secretary at West Kent College, Tonbridge.

She began a career in public relations, working for a variety of firms, including four years at Capital Radio, where she was assigned to the press and promotions department, as well as public relations companies The Quentin Bell Organisation and MacLaurin Communications & Media. She also worked as a ski representative in Switzerland and spent a year travelling and working in Australia. In 1996, Rhys-Jones launched her public relations agency, RJH Public Relations, which she ran with her business partner, Murray Harkin, for five years.

Prior to her marriage, Rhys-Jones lived at Coleherne Court, London.

Marriage and children
While working at Capital Radio, Rhys-Jones met Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for the first time in 1987 when he was dating her friend. She met him again at a promotion shoot for the Prince Edward Summer Challenge to raise money for charity in 1993, and the two began their relationship soon afterwards. In December 1993 and amid growing speculation about whether they were planning to marry, Edward wrote a letter to newspaper editors, in which he denied any wedding plans and asked the media to respect their privacy. Edward proposed to Rhys-Jones at a vacation in the Bahamas in December 1998 and their engagement was announced on 6 January 1999. Edward proposed to her with an engagement ring featuring a two-carat oval diamond flanked by two heart-shaped gemstones set in 18-carat white gold. The ring was made by Asprey and Garrard (now Garrard & Co) and is worth an estimated £105,000. Rhys-Jones, who was reportedly close to the Queen from the beginning of her relationship with Edward, was allowed to use the royal apartments at Buckingham Palace prior to her engagement.

The wedding took place on 19 June 1999 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, a break from the weddings of Edward's older siblings, which were large, formal events at Westminster Abbey or St Paul's Cathedral. On the day of their marriage, Prince Edward was created a hereditary peer as Earl of Wessex with the subsidiary title of Viscount Severn (derived from the Welsh roots of his wife's family).

The couple spent their honeymoon at Balmoral Castle. Following their union, the Earl and Countess of Wessex moved to Bagshot Park, their home in Surrey. While their private residence is Bagshot Park, their office and official London residence is based at Buckingham Palace.

In December 2001, Sophie was taken to the King Edward VII Hospital after feeling unwell. It was discovered that she was suffering from an ectopic pregnancy and the foetus had to be removed. Two years later, on 8 November 2003, she prematurely gave birth to her daughter, Lady Louise, resulting from a sudden placental abruption that placed both mother and child at risk, and the Countess had to undergo an emergency caesarean section at Frimley Park Hospital, while the Earl of Wessex rushed back from Mauritius. Sophie returned to Frimley Park Hospital on 17 December 2007, to give birth, again by caesarean section, to her son, James (then Viscount Severn, now Earl of Wessex).

Public life
Sophie's first overseas tour after her marriage was to the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island in 2000.

In December 2011, the Countess of Wessex joined her husband visiting troops in Afghanistan. In February and March 2012, the Earl and Countess visited the Caribbean for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, visiting Saint Lucia, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla and Antigua and Barbuda. Highlights of the tour included the 50th Anniversary Independence Day celebrations in Saint Lucia, a joint address from both houses of the Barbados Parliament and a visit to sites affected by the recent volcanic eruptions in Montserrat. In June 2012, as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Edward and Sophie, represented the Queen during a three-day tour to Gibraltar. The couple attended a Queen's Birthday Parade and toured Main Street, in the historic old town.

In 2013, the couple visited South Africa. Later that year, the Countess made solo trips to India and Qatar as the patron of the sight-saving charity Orbis UK. She made a similar visit to Bangladesh in November 2017. Sophie, as Colonel-in-Chief of Corps of Army Music, visited The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra at the Royal Artillery Barracks, in London. On 3 March 2014, the Queen approved the title of "The Countess of Wessex's String Orchestra" for the new Army String Orchestra in recognition of the Corps of Army Music's Colonel-in-Chief. In November 2014, Sophie was in Zambia representing the Queen at the state funeral of the late president of Zambia, Michael Sata.

On 26 March 2015, Sophie attended the reburial of Richard III of England in Leicester Cathedral. In May 2015, Sophie represented the Queen in the 70th anniversary celebrations to mark the Liberation Day of the Channel Islands. The Countess delivered a message from the Queen, who paid tribute to the island's continued allegiance and loyalty to the Crown. She visited Canada and the United States in November 2015. While in Toronto, she criss-crossed across the city, making stops at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the UHN's Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital, of which she is patron. Sophie then travelled to New York City, paying an emotional visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Sophie also made an appearance at an Armistice Day service at the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden, which was opened in commemoration of the 67 British victims of the attack. The Countess later attended the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala dinner in Manhattan.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex toured Canada in June 2016, visiting Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The couple visited a variety of places in and around Regina, Saskatchewan before attending the Globe Theatre's 50th anniversary gala. In March 2017, Sophie embarked on a 4-day visit to Malawi as Vice-Patron of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, visiting programmes to end avoidable blindness and champion young leaders. On 9 May 2017, the Countess attended King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway's 80th Birthday Celebrations on behalf of the royal family. The Earl and Countess of Wessex represented the Queen at the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's Accession to the Throne of Brunei in October 2017. On 30 November 2017, Sophie visited the 'Making for Change' fashion training and manufacturing unit, a fashion training and manufacturing unit established by the Ministry of Justice and London College of Fashion at HM Prison Downview as patron of the London College of Fashion During her visit, the Countess met staff and prisoners, including female inmates, and awarded participants with certificates as part of their training programme. An avid supporter of charities that deal with learning disabilities, Sophie made a solo trip to Belfast in January 2018 to visit a number of charities that she had supported through her work over the last decade, including Mencap's children's centre. She also opened the new dementia-friendly unit of Northern Ireland Hospice, the first of its kind in the UK. The Earl and Countess of Wessex visited Sri Lanka in February 2018 to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Independence, Sri Lanka–United Kingdom relations, the Commonwealth, education and young people. In October 2018, Edward and Sophie toured the Baltic states.

In March 2019, the Countess travelled to New York City to attend the 63rd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The annual event brought together more than 9,000 gender equality representatives from around the world. The CSW is "the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women." From 29 April to 3 May 2019, the Countess, Vice-Patron of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, visited India in her final overseas tour as vice-patron ahead of the Trust's planned closure in January 2020. Sophie saw the work the charitable foundation has supported to tackle avoidable blindness and heard about programmes successfully launched by Queen's Young Leaders.

In July 2019, the Earl and Countess visited Forfar on their first official visit to the town since the Queen granted the Earl the additional title Earl of Forfar in March 2019. Later in October, Sophie visited Kosovo to meet victims of sexual violence after the Kosovo War and their families. By the end of 2019, Sophie had completed 236 official engagements. In March 2020, Sophie became the first member of the royal family to visit South Sudan. During the visit, which was requested by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sophie met victims and survivors of gender-based violence and promoted their rights by meeting the female political leaders in the country.

In January 2022, the Countess went on a solo visit to Qatar in her capacity as the global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to support the organisation's '2030 in Sight' initiative and visit projects by the Qatar Fund and Orbis International aimed at improving eye tests and treatments in India and Bangladesh. As a supporter of the Women Peace and Security Network she met with Afghan women refugees who had been evacuated from the country following the 2021 Taliban offensive. In March 2022, Sophie went on a four-day solo trip to New York City, visiting the Queen Elizabeth II September 11th Garden and Consuls General from across the Commonwealth to mark the Commonwealth Day. She also delivered the keynote address on women's rights in Afghanistan at an event hosted by the UN Women and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.

In April 2022, Edward and Sophie toured Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Their planned visit to Grenada was postponed after talks with the island's government and governor general, and the couple expressed their hopes to visit the country on a later date. In October 2022, she visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo to engage with projects preventing sexual and gender-based violence in conflict, becoming the first member of the royal family to visit the country. The tour also included visits to Rwanda, Botswana, and Malawi. After her husband was created Duke of Edinburgh on his 59th birthday, Sophie and Edward visited Edinburgh to meet with members of the Ukrainian and Eastern European communities in the city, some of whom were displaced following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In May 2023, Sophie visited Iraq at the request of the Foreign Office to promote the Women, Peace and Security agenda and raise awareness about conflict-related sexual violence. She became the first member of the royal family to visit Baghdad. On 29 April 2024, the Duchess visited Ukraine, the first British royal to make the trip since the Russian invasion, where she met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Sophie also met with survivors of war-related sexual violence and torture as well as children who had been returned to Ukraine after being abducted from their families by Russia. She also paid her respects to victims of the massacre in Bucha.

Charity work and patronage
The Earl and Countess of Wessex established their foundation The Wessex Youth Trust in 1999 to support initiatives and charities that help children and young people. After twenty years of operation, the Wessex Youth Trust was renamed the Earl and Countess of Wessex Charitable Trust in 2019 and its management was transferred to the Private Office of the Earl and Countess of Wessex and Forfar. It was announced that the Trust's broad charitable objectives would not change, however, their future efforts would be aimed towards supporting a different range of charities.

In 2000, she became patron of a number of organisations, including Foundation of Light (formerly Sunderland A.F.C Foundation) which develops educational and community programmes in northern England, based around football. Moved by the death of her friend Jill Dando in 1999, the Countess became a trustee of UCL Jill Dando Institute, an institute of crime science established in her name in 2001. As a full-time member of the royal family, part of her focus became charities that dealt with communications difficulties, including Southampton General Hospital, and the New Haven Trust in Toronto, a learning centre for children with autism. In 2003, she became patron of Tomorrow's People Trust, which helps the disadvantaged to find work, housing and a place in society. In February 2003, Sophie became patron and ambassador of Meningitis Now, a charity that supports meningitis patients and raises awareness of the disease. Later that month, she became patron to The Scar Free Foundation, a medical research charity coordinating funds in wound healing, burns and cleft research. In 2003, she succeeded Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother as patron of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Sophie, who was a Brownie as a child, became the new president of Girlguiding UK in 2003, following the death of Princess Margaret in February 2002. She established the Women in Business Group in 2003 to support the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and reach more young people to help them develop skills that can transform their futures. The Countess became president of the Brainwave Centre in 2003, a charity providing therapy for children with developmental delay. In June 2003, she became patron of the Greater London Fund for the Blind, which raises funds for smaller charities for visually impaired people in London. In August 2003, the Countess received patronage of the National Autistic Society, passed down from the Princess Royal. In 2004, she joined St John Ambulance as grand president, and heads the work of St John's County Presidents, who provide a variety of support for their local St John members. She was associated with ChildLine for many years, preceding her appointment as their first ever royal patron in 2005. In 2006, she lent her support to the Born in Bradford research project, which investigated causes of low birth weight and infant mortality between 2007 and 2010. In September 2006, she was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. In the same year, she became patron of England Hockey.

Sophie is a supporter of agriculture, farming and food production and held the position of show president of the Royal Bath and West Show in 2010 before becoming vice patron in 2011. She is also patron of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations and has been patron of the Border Union Agricultural Society since its bicentennial year in 2012. Sophie works to support the 'Campaign for Wool', which was set up by the then-Prince of Wales, and aims to promote the use of British wool. During her 2013 trips to India, and Qatar, the Countess visited numerous facilities in her capacity as patron of Vision 2020: The Right to Sight and ambassador for IAPB, in order to raise awareness about preventable blindness. Her work on the issue has been described as influential in creating the Qatar Creating Vision initiative. In 2013, Sophie became the first ever patron of the London College of Fashion and was announced as the royal patron of British Wheelchair Basketball. In June 2013, she was appointed global ambassador for the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation, an umbrella body co-ordinating organisations running the Duke of Edinburgh's Award worldwide. She has been the founder and chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Women's Network Forum since January 2014, whose goal is the advancement of gender balance and equality by influencing business leaders, inspiring the next generation and sharing best practice. In June 2014, the Countess was appointed the patron of Ubunye Foundation, based in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, a rural development trust dedicated to unlocking the potential of rural communities.

On Sophie's 50th birthday, she became vice patron of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, a charitable foundation established in 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The trust was a time-limited foundation and closed on 31 January 2020. In February 2015, the Queen gave a joint reception to celebrate the 50th birthdays of the Earl and Countess, as well as their patronages and affiliations, at Buckingham Palace. Elizabeth, accompanied by the couple, met key supporters, staff, volunteers and alumni from the charities of their patronage and presidency, as well as representatives from their various military appointments. In November 2015, 100 Women in Hedge Funds announced that the Countess will serve as Global Ambassador of 100WF's Next Generation initiatives. In September 2016, Sophie took part in a cycling challenge from the Holyrood Palace to Buckingham Palace for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Diamond Challenge. The ride raised more than £180,000 for the Award, which was celebrating its 60th anniversary. Linking Environment And Farming named Sophie as its new honorary president in October 2016. In November 2016, she was announced as Women of the Future's official ambassador, which supports and celebrates the successes of young women. In December 2016, the Countess participated in ICAP charity day in order to raise money for Shooting Star Chase, a children's hospice of which she is patron. During the same month. after the Queen stepped down from her position as patron of numerous charities, Sophie replaced her as the principal patron of NSPCC, Blind Veterans UK and British Cycling Federation.

The Countess of Wessex was elected president of the Devon County Agricultural Association in February 2017. In May 2017, as patron of the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association Sophie attended its 90th anniversary and commemorative athlete awards dinner. The Ice Maiden, five British Army women, received royal patronage from the Countess for their ambitious coast-to-coast ski expedition across Antarctica in October 2017. The team aimed to inspire women and girls everywhere to challenge perceptions and grow their ambitions. In January 2018, Sophie became the Royal Patron of the Nursing Memorial Appeal. The Appeal aims to create a memorial dedicated to the 1,500 nurses who gave their lives in First and Second World Wars. In February 2018, Westmorland Agricultural Society welcomed the Countess as its president. In January 2019, Sophie became the patron of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, which saved her life during her ectopic pregnancy in 2001. On 29 January, she was elected president of the Royal Smithfield Club, which promotes the education and knowledge to advance best practice in the meat and livestock industry. On International Women's Day March 2019, Sophie officially announced her involvement in taking a stand against sex crimes in conflict zones, joining Angelina Jolie to work with the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) as well as Women, Peace and Security (WPS) formed 20 years ago to tackle the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, and to promote the positive role women play in building peace and stability. On 25 April 2019, it was announced that the Countess, along with her husband and her brother-in-law, the Duke of York, have each been appointed vice president of the annual Royal Windsor Horse Show. In May 2019, she took over the patronage of the Chartered Management Institute from Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

In April 2020, the Countess helped Rhubarb, a catering company, in preparing and delivering food to NHS staff amidst the coronavirus pandemic, an initiative organised by Ian Wace. Sophie has also volunteered at local food banks, including the Hope Hub and the Lighthouse, in Surrey and delivered parcels to the homeless during the pandemic. In September 2020, Sophie, alongside her husband and children, participated in the Great British Beach Clean at Southsea Beach in support of the Marine Conservation Society.

In February 2021, as grand president of St John Ambulance, the Countess started working as a care volunteer at an NHS vaccination centre. In May 2021, Sophie become royal patron of Wellbeing of Women, a charity focused on all areas of women's reproductive health across a woman's life course, from menstrual health to menopause. A patron of this charity, she later discussed her own struggles with menopause and how it affected her memory. In July 2021, Princess Alexandra handed over the patronage of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to Sophie. In December 2022, Sophie was honoured at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, where she received the Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for her work concerning sexual violence in war zones.

Public image and style
At the start of her relationship with Prince Edward, Sophie was referred to as "the girl next door", and noted for her successful career and ordinary background. In the early years of her marriage, Sophie faced public scrutiny for her business interests, and was often compared to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who had died two years earlier. On her transition to becoming a full-time royal, she later stated: "Certainly it took me a while to find my feet. The frustration was I had to reduce my expectations of what I could actually do. I couldn't turn up at a charity and go, right, I think you should be doing this, because that's what I was used to doing in my working life. I had to take a really big step back and go, OK, they want you to be the icing on the cake, the person to come in to thank their volunteers and funders, not necessarily to tell them how to run their communications plan."

Sophie has since been cited as an under-the-radar "stabilizing influence" and a "safe pair of hands". She has been said to have a low-key approach to royal engagements, and often drives herself to and from events. Amanda Pullinger stated to Town and Country, "She actually presents herself as an ordinary person and I think that is increasingly what the royal family needs to do." She has also been noted for her long-term work on "gritty" subject matters such as gender-based violence in conflict, and trips to "difficult areas", such as South Sudan and Sierra Leone. The Countess's engagements gained significant attention from the public post-Megxit, with her charity work and style choices receiving increased commentary and analysis. Writer Ingrid Seward states that Sophie "is not a self-publicist....She looks good, without being over-the-top, and she's not craving celebrity. You often wouldn't know she had carried out all those engagements."

Sophie was not initially prominent for her fashion, but eventually began to develop her own style and has worn outfits by many notable designers. She has exclusively worn Jane Taylor millinery designs since 2009 on numerous occasions. In a Marie Claire interview, Taylor described her first royal commission: "My first royal client was the Countess of Wessex, and it was quite nerve-racking. But she wears such lovely clothes and she always looks so fabulous, so it's quite easy to design for her. Since she came to see me, she's never worn any other milliner's hats, which is a big compliment. I was really excited, honored, and slightly nervous." Alongside the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex, Sophie has been named one of the most stylish members of the royal family. Sophie is particularly known for wearing different combinations of hats and coats, and favours silk dresses and frocks. Describing her style in an interview by Sunday Express Sophie said: "It's about my charities, but I recognize that I'm on display. [...] When you walk into a room, yes, people are going to talk about what you're doing there, but they're also going to want to know what you're wearing". She also revealed that she has never had a stylist of her own and that she makes her fashion choices herself. In 2015, the Countess was named on Vanity Fair's Best Dressed List. Together with the then-Duchess of Cambridge, Sophie hosted the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange reception at Buckingham Palace during the 2018 London Fashion Week.

Violation of privacy
In May 1999, less than a month before her wedding, The Sun published a photo of a topless Sophie with her Capital Radio colleague Chris Tarrant, which was taken during a business trip to Spain in 1988. Buckingham Palace immediately issued a statement saying, "This morning's story in The Sun is a gross invasion of privacy and cannot be regarded as in the public interest. It has caused considerable distress." Prime Minister Tony Blair also condemned the publication of the photograph. The Palace made an official complaint to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC). According to Sophie's business partner the incident had left her "distressed", and she was reportedly "devastated" and felt "she was 'letting the side down' before her wedding". Tarrant later said, "There was never, ever the slightest hint of romance between Sophie and myself, let alone these snidey insinuations." Following its publication, the newspaper issued a statement and apologised to Rhys-Jones and the next issue came out with the headline "Sorry, Sophie". It also said that it would again apologise to Sophie in a letter and donate all sale proceeds of the issue to her charities. The photo was sold to the tabloid by Kara Noble, a former friend and colleague of Sophie. Noble later apologised in the following months saying, "I just want to say sorry to everyone who was involved." Both she and the newspaper faced criticism from the public, and Noble was fired from her job at Heart 106.2 FM. The couple later decided not to make a formal complaint.

In 2011, close associates of Jonathan Rees, a private investigator connected to the News International phone hacking scandal, stated that he had penetrated Sophie and Edward's bank accounts and sold details about them to the Sunday Mirror.

Media sting
In April 2001, Sophie appeared in the media after she was misled in a meeting at the Dorchester by a News of the World reporter posing as an Arab sheikh, Mazher Mahmood, who was later exposed for perjury in Southwark Crown Court. It was claimed by the newspapers that during their "secretly taped" conversation, the Countess had insulted the royal family and politicians, calling the Queen "old dear" and criticising the leadership of prime ministers John Major and Tony Blair and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown. She also reportedly commented on Prince Charles's relationship with his then-partner Camilla, arguing that a marriage would not be possible as long as the Queen Mother was alive. However, despite some initial reports, the paper acquitted her of referring to Cherie Blair as "absolutely horrid" and mocking Leader of the Opposition William Hague's appearance. Murray Harkin, Sophie's business partner who was also present at the meeting, was recorded discussing his sex life and cocaine use and boasting about Sophie's abilities in securing celebrities for various events. Tabloid newspapers claimed the Countess had sent apology letters to Blair, Hague and Prince Charles.

Buckingham Palace denied the accuracy of the reports, saying: "The Countess of Wessex, who is trying to pursue her own career, is obviously vulnerable to set-ups such as this." The Palace released a statement saying the reported comments were "selective, distorted and in several cases, flatly untrue". The Palace officials stated that Sophie had not insulted the Queen, the Queen Mother, or the politicians, while according to the Mail on Sunday four reliable sources had confirmed these reports. The News of the World attributed the negative reactions to the jealousy of the rival media, as the outlet had previously conducted an interview with Sophie in which she addressed the rumours about her difficulties in marriage and discussed her husband's sexuality. Sophie had reportedly agreed to the intimate interview on the condition that the newspaper would not publish transcript of the tapes. In a separate statement Sophie said she was "distressed by the carrying out of an entrapment operation" on her, but also regretted her "own misjudgment in succumbing to that subterfuge". Subsequently, in 2002, both the Earl and Countess announced that they would quit their business interests in order to focus on activities and official engagements on behalf of the royal family and aid the Queen in her Golden Jubilee year.

Jewellery gifts
The Countess of Wessex was criticised for accepting two sets of jewels from the royal family of Bahrain during an official day-long visit to the country in December 2011, as she and her husband returned to the UK from a trip to Afghanistan. She was given one set by Bahrain's king and a second set by the country's prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Her husband, the Earl, received a pen and a watch as well as a silk rug from the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who also gave Sophie a silver and pearl cup. The value of the jewellery has not been estimated and its precise contents were not disclosed. Given concern about human rights abuses in Bahrain, this gift attracted controversy, with calls for the jewels to be sold, and the proceeds used for the benefit of the Bahraini people.

Critics said the Countess should sell the gems and give the proceeds to political protesters in Bahrain. Denis MacShane, then a Labour Member of Parliament (MP) and previously a Foreign Office minister, said: "Given the appalling suffering and repression of the Bahraini people, it would be a fitting gesture for the Countess of Wessex to auction these trinkets and distribute the proceeds to the victims of the regime."

Royal family guidelines and procedures relating to gifts, published by the government in 2003, state that "before accepting any gift, careful consideration should always be given, wherever practicable, to the donor, the reason for and occasion of the gift and the nature of the gift itself ... Equally, before declining the offer of a gift, careful consideration should be given to any offence that might be caused by such action."

Titles and styles
Sophie was styled as "Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex" from her marriage in 1999 to 2023. On 10 March 2019, her husband was created Earl of Forfar, according her the title by courtesy of Countess of Forfar. She was at times referred to as the Countess of Wessex and Forfar, such as at the funerals of her father-in-law and mother-in-law. Since 10 March 2023, when her husband was advanced as Duke of Edinburgh (for life), she has been known as "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh".

Honours

 * [[Image:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|45px]] 2002: Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
 * UK Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II ribbon.svg 2004: Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II
 * CAN Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan ribbon.svg 2005: Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan
 * Royal Victorian Order UK ribbon.png 2010: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)
 * QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg 2012: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
 * CAN Canadian Forces Decoration ribbon.svg 2016: Canadian Forces' Decoration (CD)
 * Service Medal of the Order of St John Ribbon.svg 2017: Service Medal of the Order of St John
 * Service Medal of the Order of St John, bar.jpg 2021: Service Medal of the Order of St John (with bar)
 * UK Queen EII Platinum Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg 2022: Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal
 * Order of St John (UK) ribbon -vector.svg 2022: Dame Grand Cross of the Most Venerable Order of Saint John (GCStJ)
 * 2005–2022: Dame of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of Saint John (DJStJ)
 * UK King Charles III Coronation Medal BAR.svg 2023: King Charles III Coronation Medal

Foreign

 * 🇲🇽 9 September 2015: Sash of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle
 * 2017: Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal
 * 🇸🇪19 June 2010: Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel Medal

Honorary military appointments

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇨🇦 2004: Colonel-in-Chief of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment;
 * 🇨🇦 2005: Colonel-in-Chief of the South Alberta Light Horse

 * United Kingdom
 * 2003: Colonel-in-Chief of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
 * 2005: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Corps of Army Music
 * 2006: Lady Sponsor of HMS Daring
 * 2007: Royal Colonel of the 5th Battalion The Rifles
 * 2008: Honorary Air Commodore Royal Air Force Wittering
 * 2022: Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
 * 2023: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Irish Regiment
 * 2023: Royal Colonel of the Queen's Own Yeomanry

Honorific eponyms

 * The Countess of Wessex Cup, an annual competition which sees regiments and military organisations affiliated with Sophie compete against each other in a series of challenges
 * The rose cultivar Rosa 'Countess of Wessex' was named in her honour in 2004.

title: Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh


text:
Elk Township, New Jersey

Elk 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 4,424, an increase of 208 (+4.9%) from the 2010 census count of 4,216, which in turn reflected an increase of 702 (+20.0%) from the 3,514 counted in the 2000 census.

Elk Township was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 17, 1891, from portions of Clayton Township, Glassboro Township, and South Harrison Township. The township was named for elk hunted in the area.

Until 2016, Elk Township had been a dry township where alcohol could not be sold. That year, the township sold a package goods license for $300,000 which allows the sale of alcohol for off-premise consumption.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 19.34 square miles (50.08 km2), including 19.16 square miles (49.61 km2) of land and 0.18 square miles (0.47 km2) of water (0.93%). Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Aura, Ferrell, Harding, Hardingville and Monroeville.

The township borders the municipalities of Clayton, Franklin Township, Glassboro, Harrison Township and South Harrison Township in Gloucester County; and Upper Pittsgrove Township in Salem County.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 4,216 people, 1,474 households, and 1,117 families in the township. The population density was 216.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,576 housing units at an average density of 80.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 79.74% (3,362) White, 14.78% (623) Black or African American, 0.52% (22) Native American, 0.64% (27) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.71% (72) from other races, and 2.61% (110) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.10% (215) of the population.

Of the 1,474 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18; 59.1% were married couples living together; 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.2% were non-families. Of all households, 17.9% were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.20.

23.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $63,194 (with a margin of error of +/− $18,724) and the median family income was $74,412 (+/− $15,399). Males had a median income of $56,786 (+/− $16,223) versus $39,900 (+/− $15,570) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,707 (+/− $3,616). About 9.3% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 3,514 people, 1,263 households, and 958 families residing in the township. The population density was 179.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,347 housing units at an average density of 68.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 82.07% White, 14.26% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 1.37% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.93% of the population.

There were 1,263 households, out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the township, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $51,047, and the median income for a family was $55,472. Males had a median income of $41,604 versus $27,407 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,621. About 8.3% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Elk Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 of the 564 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. 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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

, the members of the Elk Township Committee are Mayor Carolyn King-Sammons (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Donna M. Nicholson (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2024), Christine "Chrissy" Cowan (R, 2024), Nathaniel G. Lucas III (R, 2025) and James Rambo (R, 2026).

After the November 2014 general election, Elk Township Republicans declined to file for a recount with John J. Norris coming in third place (with 672 votes), six votes behind Republican Carolyn D. King-Sammons (678) and Democrat James Rambo (685).

Federal, state and county representation
Elk Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,005 registered voters in Elk, of which 1,031 (34.3%) were registered as Democrats, 604 (20.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,369 (45.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.2% of the vote (1,116 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 47.6% (1,039 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (26 votes), among the 2,201 ballots cast by the township's 3,208 registered voters (20 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 68.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.3% of the vote (1,187 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 46.7% (1,080 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (25 votes), among the 2,312 ballots cast by the township's 3,204 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.9% of the vote (1,016 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 47.8% (955 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (14 votes), among the 1,997 ballots cast by the township's 2,727 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 73.2.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.7% of the vote (962 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 33.1% (484 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (18 votes), among the 1,503 ballots cast by the township's 3,083 registered voters (39 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 50.7% of the vote (784 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 39.2% (607 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.2% (112 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (12 votes), among the 1,547 ballots cast by the township's 3,105 registered voters, yielding a 49.8% turnout.

Education
The Elk Township School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at Aura School. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 336 students and 32.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.3:1. Aura School was built in 1927 and rededicated in 1949 after a fire the previous year, with the newest addition built in 2002.

For seventh through twelfth grades, public school students attend the Delsea Regional School District, which serves students from both Elk Township and Franklin Township. Students from Newfield attend the district's schools as part of a sending/receiving relationship begun in September 2010 after Newfield ended its prior relationship with the Buena Regional School District. Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Delsea Regional Middle School with 518 students in grades 7-8 and Delsea Regional High School with 1,074 students in grades 9-12. The seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated to the constituent municipalities based on population, with two seats assigned to Elk Township.

The New Jersey Department of Education considered a vote by the Board of Education of the Franklin Township Public Schools in June 2010, requesting that the district withdraw from the Delsea Regional School District, which would require that the Delsea region be dissolved since about 80% of the regional district's students come from Franklin. With the withdrawal of Franklin Township, two options considered were to either have Franklin and Elk Townships create a new regional district with Newfield students attending on a send-receive basis, or having Franklin Township establish its own Pre-K–12 district which would receive students from both Elk Township and Newfield.

Students from across the county are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend the school.

Roads and highways
, the township had a total of 66.75 mi of roadways, of which 26.51 mi were maintained by the municipality, 32.61 mi by Gloucester County and 7.63 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Major state routes that pass through include Route 77 and the limited access Route 55. The two main county routes that are accessible include County Route 538 and County Route 553. The New Jersey Turnpike passes through in neighboring Harrison Township with an exit two towns away.

Public transportation
NJ Transit offers bus service on the 410 route between Bridgeton and Philadelphia.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Elk Township include:
 * Sean F. Dalton (born 1962), member of the New Jersey General Assembly

title: Elk Township, New Jersey


text:
Franklin Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey

Franklin 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 16,380, a decrease of 440 (−2.6%) from the 2010 census count of 16,820,  which in turn reflected an increase of 1,354 (+8.8%) from the 15,466 counted in the 2000 census.

Franklin Township was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 27, 1820, from portions of Greenwich Township and Woolwich Township. Parts of the township have been taken to form Clayton Township (February 5, 1858) and Newfield (March 8, 1924). The township was named for Benjamin Franklin.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 56.39 square miles (146.04 km2), including 55.83 square miles (144.60 km2) of land and 0.56 square miles (1.44 km2) of water (0.99%). Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Blue Bell, Downstown, Forest Grove. Franklinville, Fries Mills, Iona, Janvier, Lake, Malaga, Marsh Lake, Piney Hollow, Plainville, Star Cross, and Porchtown.

The township borders the municipalities of Clayton, Elk Township, Monroe Township, and Newfield in Gloucester County; Buena and Buena Vista Township in Atlantic County; Vineland in Cumberland County; and Pittsgrove Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township in Salem County.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 16,820 people, 5,849 households, and 4,562 families in the township. The population density was 300.9 PD/sqmi. There were 6,104 housing units at an average density of 109.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 88.44% (14,876) White, 7.18% (1,208) Black or African American, 0.20% (34) Native American, 1.27% (213) Asian, 0.03% (5) Pacific Islander, 1.03% (174) from other races, and 1.84% (310) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.49% (755) of the population.

Of the 5,849 households, 33.6% had children under the age of 18; 61.5% were married couples living together; 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 22.0% were non-families. Of all households, 16.9% were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.23.

24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that, in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars, median household income was $74,327 with a margin of error of +/− $6,247, and median family income was $80,667 (+/− $7,344). Males had a median income of $51,425 (+/− $3,105) versus $42,297 (+/− $2,605) for females. The per capita income for Franklin Township was $32,141 (+/− $3,019). About 4.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 U.S. census there were 15,466 people, 5,225 households, and 4,190 families residing in the township. The population density was 276.1 PD/sqmi. There were 5,461 housing units at an average density of 97.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 90.22% White, 6.66% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.25% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.51% of the population.

There were 5,225 households, out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 15.9% of all households 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 2.94 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the township, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $55,169, and the median income for a family was $60,518. Males had a median income of $41,159 versus $27,538 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,277. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Franklin 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. 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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

, the Franklin Township Committee is comprised of Mayor John "Jake" Bruno (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Deputy Mayor David P. Deegan Jr. (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2022), Timothy Doyle (R, 2023), Heather Flaim (R, 2023) and Mary Petsch-Wilson (R, 2022).

In January 2020, Timothy Doyle was chosen from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Leah Vasallo until she resigned from office the previous month.

Republican Heather Flaim was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that became vacant following the death of Ed Leopardi in September 2016; a judge ruled in May 2017 that Flaim could take the seat in a ruling in a case in which the local Democratic municipal committee claimed that it had submitted a list of three candidates to succeed Leopardi, which the township claims it never received. Flaim won a full three-year term in the November 2017 general election, while Democrat Charles F. Pluta was elected to serve the balance of Leopardi's term of office.

Federal, state and county representation
Franklin Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 4th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 10,760 registered voters in Franklin, of which 2,885 (26.8%) were registered as Democrats, 2,422 (22.5%) were registered as Republicans and 5,444 (50.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 9 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.

In the 2020 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 61.0% of the vote (5,947 cast), ahead of Democrat Joe Biden with 37.4% (3,644 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (149 votes) among the 9,740 ballots cast by the township's 12,573 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.4%.

In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 58.8% of the vote (4,631 cast), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 37.4% (2,646 votes), and other candidates with 3.8% (591 votes) among the 7,868 ballots cast by the township's 11,750 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.0%.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 50.9% of the vote (3,782 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 47.8% (3,553 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (101 votes), among the 7,492 ballots cast by the township's 11,180 registered voters (56 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 67.0%.

In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.3% of the vote (4,065 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 46.0% (3,646 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (131 votes), among the 7,923 ballots cast by the township's 11,085 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.5%.

In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 49.5% of the vote (3,503 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 48.7% (3,443 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (92 votes), among the 7,073 ballots cast by the township's 9,870 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 71.7.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.2% of the vote (1,138 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 37.0% (677 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (14 votes), among the 1,915 ballots cast by the township's 3,654 registered voters (86 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 52.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 49.2% of the vote (2,445 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 40.2% (1,998 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.4% (417 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (35 votes), among the 4,969 ballots cast by the township's 11,042 registered voters, yielding a 45.0% turnout.

Public safety
Franklin Township is served by the Franklin Township Police Department, along with five volunteer fire companies and the County-run Emergency Medical Services. Serving are Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Company (founded 1949), Franklinville Volunteer Fire Company, Janvier Volunteer Fire Company (founded 1946), Malaga Volunteer Fire Company, Star Cross Volunteer Fire Company. Since 2017, Gloucester County EMS provides emergency medical services for the whole township, after the governing body questioned the ability of the Township of Franklin Ambulance Corps to respond to calls with volunteers.

Education
Franklin Township Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,338 students and 116.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.5:1. Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Mary F. Janvier Elementary School with 555 students in grades K-2, Main Road School with 392 students in grades 3-4 and Caroline L. Reutter School with 379 students in grades 5-6. Students from Newfield attend the Franklin Township district's schools as part of a sending/receiving relationship in which Newfield accounts for about 100 of the nearly 1,400 students in the district.

For seventh through twelfth grades, students attend the Delsea Regional School District, which serves students from both Elk Township and Franklin Township. Students from Newfield attend the district's schools as part of a sending/receiving relationship begun in September 2010 after Newfield ended its prior relationship with the Buena Regional School District. Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Delsea Regional Middle School with 518 students in grades 7-8 and Delsea Regional High School with 1,074 students in grades 9-12. The seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated to the constituent municipalities based on population, with seven seats assigned to Franklin Township.

The New Jersey Department of Education considered a vote by the Franklin Township Board of Education in June 2010 requesting that the district withdraw from the Delsea Regional School District, which would require that the Delsea region be dissolved as about 80% of the regional district's students come from Franklin. With the withdrawal of Franklin Township, two options being considered were to either have Franklin and Elk Townships create a new regional district with Newfield students attending on a send-receive basis, or having Franklin Township establish its own Pre-K–12 district which would receive students from both Elk Township and Newfield.

Students from across the county are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend the school.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden operates St. Michael the Archangel Regional School in Clayton; Nativity Church in Franklinville is one of the sending parishes. Our Lady of Mercy Academy is a college preparatory, all-girls Catholic high school founded in 1962 by the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy.

Roads and highways
, the township had a total of 177.39 mi of roadways, of which 118.84 mi were maintained by the municipality, 39.04 mi by Gloucester County and 19.51 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

U.S. Route 40 passes through the southern area while both Route 47 and the Route 55 pass through the western part of the township.

The county roads that pass through Franklin Township include CR 538, CR 555, and CR 557.

Public transportation
NJ Transit provides bus service in the township on service between Cape May and Philadelphia on the 313 and between Millville and Philadelphia on the 408 route.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Franklin Township include:
 * Domenick DiCicco (born 1963), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2010 to 2012, where he represented the 4th Legislative District
 * H. Jay Dinshah (1933–2000), founder and president of the American Vegan Society and editor of its publication, Ahimsa magazine
 * Ed Keegan (1939–2014), MLB pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Athletics
 * Eliot Marshall (born 1980), retired mixed martial artist

Wineries

 * Coda Rossa Winery located in the Franklinville section of the township.


text:
Gibbstown, New Jersey

Gibbstown is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Greenwich Township, in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the CDP's population was 3,739. Gibbstown is the location of C. A. Nothnagle Log House, purportedly the oldest house in New Jersey and the oldest surviving log house in the U.S., dating to around 1638.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Gibbstown had a total area of 1.642 mi2, all of which was land.

The Port of Paulsboro is located on the Delaware River and Mantua Creek in and around Paulsboro. Traditionally one of the nation's busiest for marine transfer operations of petroleum products, including the Paulsboro Refinery, which is mostly located in Gibbstown. The port is being redeveloped as an adaptable omniport able to handle a diversity of bulk, break bulk cargo and shipping containers. Studies completed in 2012 concluded that the port is well suited to become a center for the manufacture, assembly, and transport of wind turbines and platforms the development of Atlantic Wind Connection

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 3,739 people, 1,472 households, and 1,039 families in the CDP. The population density was 2277.0 /mi2. There were 1,551 housing units at an average density of 944.5 /mi2. The racial makeup was 95.91% (3,586) White, 1.77% (66) Black or African American, 0.05% (2) Native American, 0.43% (16) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.32% (12) from other races, and 1.52% (57) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.01% (75) of the population.

Of the 1,472 households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18; 54.1% were married couples living together; 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.4% were non-families. Of all households, 23.5% were made up of individuals and 10.8% 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 3.00.

21.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.8 males.

2000 census
As of the 2000 U.S. census there were 3,758 people, 1,453 households, and 1,060 families living in the CDP. The population density was 890.2 /km2. There were 1,513 housing units at an average density of 358.4 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.65% White, 1.09% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.

There were 1,453 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% 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 3.05.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,444, and the median income for a family was $59,833. Males had a median income of $41,200 versus $31,225 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $23,931. About 1.2% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Greenwich Township School District operates the area public schools except high school, which is operated by Paulsboro Public Schools.

Guardian Angels Regional School is a K-8 school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Its PreK-3 campus is in Gibbstown while its 4-8 campus is in Paulsboro.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Gibbstown include:
 * Sylvia Earle (born 1935), marine biologist, oceanographer and explorer.
 * Alex Silvestro (born 1988), former football tight end / defensive end who played in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots.

title: Gibbstown, New Jersey