Pennsauken Township is a Township in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 35,737.
Pennsauken Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 18, 1892, from portions of Stockton Township.
Pennsauken is home to a Pepsi plant, Disc Makers, and J & J Snack Foods Corporation. The exact origin of the name "Pennsauken" is unclear but it is probably from the tongue of the Lenni Lenape people (a Native American group which once occupied the area), an Algonquian language, and it is usually said to mean "tobacco pouch."
History
Geography
Pennsauken Township is located at (39.956562, -75.055918).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.6 km² (12.2 mi²). 27.3 km² (10.5 mi²) of it is land and 4.3 km² (1.6 mi²) of it (13.54%) is water.
The township includes Petty's Island, a 450 acre island in the Delaware River although most of the island actually sits across a narrow strait from neighboring Camden. Once an oil storage and distribution facility, the island is presently the site of a container cargo shipping operation and nesting bald eagles. Petty's Island is currently the focal point of the township's waterfront redevelopment plan.
Pennsauken borders Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The two municipalities are connected across the Delaware River by the Betsy Ross Bridge which is owned and operated by the Delaware River Port Authority. In New Jersey, Pennsauken borders Camden, Collingswood, Merchantville, Cherry Hill, Palmyra,Maple Shade and, Cinnaminson.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,737 people, 12,389 households, and 9,093 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,310.4/km² (3,392.4/mi²). There were 12,945 housing units at an average density of 474.7/km² (1,228.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 60.10% White, 24.18% African American, 0.35% Native American, 4.58% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.27% from other races, and 2.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.34% of the population.
There were 12,389 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.34.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64,...
