Wrightstown is a borough in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 720, a decrease of 82 (−10.2%) from the 2010 census count of 802, which in turn reflected an increase of 54 (+7.2%) from the 748 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

Wrightstown was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 4, 1918, from portions of New Hanover Township and North Hanover Township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 26, 1918.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 100. Accessed May 30, 2024. The borough was named for John Wright, an early settler who contributed the land that became the settlement of Wrightstown.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed November 8, 2015.Comegno, Carol. "Wrightstown: Town linked to bases", Courier-Post, October 19, 2006. Accessed November 8, 2015. "1732 to 1742: John Wright, an early settler, buys a large tract of land to farm. He donates land to establish a town and it later takes his name."

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.85 square miles (4.79 km2), all of which was land.

The borough borders the Burlington County municipalities of New Hanover Township, North Hanover Township, Pemberton Township, and Springfield Township, as well as the McGuire AFB and Fort Dix entities of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.Areas touching Wrightstown, MapIt. Accessed March 10, 2020.Municipalities within Burlington County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 10, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

The borough is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering , that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.The Pinelands National Reserve, New Jersey Pinelands Commission. Accessed December 1, 2013. Part of the borough is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Burlington County, along with areas in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.Pinelands Municipalities, New Jersey Pinelands Commission, April 2003. Accessed December 1, 2013.

Demographics

Jozsef A. Farago, a former mayor of Wrightstown, criticized the 2000 Census data that showed that the borough's population had dropped 80%, to 748 from 3,843 a decade earlier, noting that the 1990 population had been inflated and that the conversion of Fort Dix to a reserve base had caused a decrease but that the borough's master plan showed a population of 838.Avril, Tom; and Fleming, Leonard N. "Camden Feeds Towns' Diversity The Census Shows Minorities Leaving For The Inner Suburbs.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 12, 2001. Accessed December 2, 2013. "Former Mayor Jozsef A. Farago said Wrightstown's population couldn't possibly have dropped from 3,843 in 1990 to 748 in 2000, as the census reported. He said census officials had overestimated the Burlington County borough's population in 1990.... The borough, which borders Fort Dix, did lose some people early in the decade when the base converted to a reservist facility, Farago said."

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 802 people, 309 households, and 189 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 348 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 47.38% (380) White, 21.07% (169) Black or African American, 0.75% (6) Native American, 5.99% (48) Asian, 0.37% (3) Pacific Islander, 18.70% (150) from other races, and 5.74% (46) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.05% (225) of the population.

Of the 309 households, 34.3% had children under the age of 18; 28.8% were married couples living together; 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.8% were non-families. Of all households, 28.5% were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.17.

26.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 14.1% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 109.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 110.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $40,096 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,881) and the median family income was $38,438 (+/− $7,242). Males had a median income of $37,917 (+/− $22,280) versus $34,167 (+/− $13,020) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,231 (+/− $4,722). About 15.2% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Wrightstown borough, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 3, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 748 people, 312 households, and 181 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 339 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 49.87% White, 30.21% African American, 0.53% Native American, 7.22% Asian, 7.22% from other races, and 4.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.23% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Wrightstown borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 3, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Wrightstown borough, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 3, 2012.

There were 312 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.2% were married couples living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.7% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $27,500, and the median income for a family was $29,375. Males had a median income of $28,889 versus $25,417 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,489. About 22.8% of families and 24.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.8% of those under age 18 and 22.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Wrightstown is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 43. The borough form of government used by Wrightstown is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.Government, Wrightstown, New Jersey. Accessed October 26, 2019. "In a borough government, a mayor and six council members are elected at-large. A mayor serves a 4 year term, and council members serve staggering 3 year terms, where at the end of every year, 2 seats being contested each year."Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.Government, Wrightstown, New Jersey. Accessed April 25, 2023. "Our Borough government is one of 5 types of governments in NJ. In a borough government, a mayor and six council members are elected at-large. A mayor serves a 4 year term, and council members serve staggering 3 year terms, where at the end of every year, 2 seats being contested each year."

, the mayor of Wrightstown is Republican Donald Cottrell, who was elected to serve a term of office ending December 31, 2024. Members of the Wrightstown Borough Council are Council President William L. Bird Jr. (R, 2023), Jason Bushnell (D, 2024; elected to serve an unexpired term), Donna L. Carroll (R, 2025), Joseph Craig (R, 2023; elected to serve an unexpired term), Jeanie L. Knapp (R, 2025) and Laurance R. Lownds (D, 2024), with one seat vacant.Mayor & Council, Wrightstown, New Jersey. Accessed April 25, 2023.2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Wrightstown, New Jersey. Accessed July 25, 2022.November 8, 2022 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 29, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.November 2, 2021 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.November 3, 2020 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results , Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 23, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.

After David Scott Timberman resigned from office in November 2021, the borough council selected Donald Cottrell from a list of three candidates to fill the seat expiring in December 2024.Borough Council Meeting Minutes of November 10, 2021, Wrightstown Borough. Accessed July 25, 2022. "Acceptance Of Mayor David Scott Timberman’s Letter Of Resignation Dated November 1, 2021... Acting Mayor Cottrell read a letter from the Municipal Republican Committee putting forth three candidates’ names to fill the vacant seat of former Mayor Timberman: Donald Cottrell, William Bird, and Keith Conticelli.... A motion to appoint Mr. Cottrell as Mayor effective November 23, 2021 was made by Mr. Craig. Second by Mr. Lownds.... Motion Carried"