Town to fight Census numbers

Township officials said North Hanover population did not decrease by 2,600

By: Eve Collins
    NORTH HANOVER — Township officials have decided to contest the U.S. Census Bureau’s numbers for the 2000 Census, which shows that the township lost approximately 2,600 residents since 1990.
    In a special meeting May 22, the Township Committee discussed ways it could prove that the municipality did not lose 2,600 residents between the 1990 Census, which showed that the township had over 10,000 residents, and the 2000 Census.
    Officials will submit a form for inquiry to the U.S. Census Bureau, Mayor John Kocubinski said. The form must be completed by September, but the committee hopes to be finished gathering data by June, he said.
    The committee will hold additional meetings and compare its notes to the bureau’s data, he said.
    Mayor Kocubinski said the township has gathered preliminary numbers through building permits submitted by residents over the years. The municipality should have gained 500 residents, he said.
    Officials said it seems that certain areas were not counted properly either because residents did not turn in census forms or did not receive them.
    Mayor Kocubinski said the township does not have the money or resources to go door to door to gather data. Instead, officials will use census maps and township maps to compare housing units.
    "We are pretty confident that once we get into this, we will have some validity to our appeal," Mayor Kocubinski said.
    The census data has already impacted North Hanover. During reapportionment of the Northern Burlington County Regional School Board, one seat was taken from North Hanover and one was given to Chesterfield. The reapportionment was based on U.S. Census Bureau numbers.
    The Garden State and the Albert C. Wagner youth correctional facilities are based in Chesterfield, adding 3,341 prisoners to the population of that township. The township’s total population is 5,955, including those housed in the facilities.
    The Northern Burlington County Regional School District also serves students from Springfield and Mansfield.
    Mayor Kocubinski said the data also could impact North Hanover’s chances at receiving community block grants, which are based on per-capita income.
    The 1990 Census figures for the township were previously corrected when census officials failed to count off-base military housing located in the township. The census missed approximately 5,000 residents.
    Mayor Kocubinski said that portion of the township was counted correctly in the 2000 Census.