Washington 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 48,677, For 2023, the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated a population of 49,378. The township was named for George Washington, one of more than ten communities statewide named for the first president. It is one of five municipalities in the state of New Jersey that share the name Washington Township. The borough of Washington is surrounded by Washington Township in Warren County.
The township is part of the Delaware Valley, also known as the Philadelphia metropolitan area, and the South Jersey region of the state. In 2008, CNN and Money magazine ranked Washington Township 58th on its list of the "100 Best Cities to Live in the United States".
History
The oldest community in Washington Township, Grenloch Terrace, was a thriving Lenape Native American settlement called Tetamekon. Some of the early settlers to the area were the Collins family of Chestnut Ridge Farm, for whom Chestnut Ridge Middle School is named; the Turner family, for whom Turnersville was named; the Hurff family, for whom Hurffville and Hurffville Elementary School are named; the Heritage family, whose family began the Heritage's Dairy Farm Stores, and for whom the community Heritage Valley is named; the Morgan family, who were the first residents of the Olde Stone House, a landmark for residents of the township; and the Bell Family, who arrived in 1899 and for whom Bells Lake Park and Bells Elementary School are named. Sewell is named after General William Joyce Sewell, who was elected to the United States Senate in 1881 and 1895, and served as president of the New Jersey Senate in 1876, 1879 and 1880.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 21.55 square miles (55.81 km<sup>2</sup>), including 21.35 square miles (55.28 km<sup>2</sup>) of land and 0.20 square miles (0.53 km<sup>2</sup>) of water (0.95%).
Other unincorporated communities, localities, and places located partially or completely in the township include Bells Lake, Cressville, Dilkesboro, Fairview, Green Tree, Grenloch Terrace, Hurffville, Mount Pleasant, and Prossers Mill.
The township borders the municipalities of Deptford Township, Glassboro, Mantua Township, Monroe Township, Pitman in Gloucester County; and Gloucester Township in Camden County.