Haddon Township, New Jersey
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Haddon Township is a Township in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 14,651.
Haddon Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1865, from portions of Newton Township. Portions of the township have been taken over the years to form Haddonfield (April 6, 1875), Collingswood (May 22, 1888), Woodlynne (March 19, 1901), Haddon Heights (March 2, 1904), Audubon (March 13, 1905) and Oaklyn (also March 13, 1905).[1]
Haddon Township uniquely has two separate exclaves, West Collingswood Heights and West Collingswood Extension. Haddon Township is a center for liquor stores, restaurants, and bars because neighboring boroughs of Audubon, Collingswood, Haddonfield and Haddon Heights prohibit the sale of alcohol.
Westmont, the downtown section of Haddon Township, has a PATCO Park-and-Ride station.
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[edit] History
In the 1700s, the daughter of John Haddon, Elizabeth Haddon Estaugh, came to the American colonies to oversee his large landholdings, which included areas now belonging to Haddon Township and Haddonfield.
The area known as Newton Township encompassed land that would later become part of the municipalities of Oaklyn, Audubon, Audubon Park, Collingswood, Gloucester City, Woodlynne, Camden, Haddon Heights and Haddonfield. Its first European settlers, Irishmen who settled in the area of Newton Creek in 1681, survived the American Revolutionary War and the incorporation of the City of Camden. In the 1860s, however, the area began to lose its cohesion. In 1865, the eastern portion the Newton Township eventually broke off and formed Haddon Township.
Haddon Township uses a 3 commissioner form of government since the early-mid 1900's with the 3 commissioners voting among themselves to choose a mayor. Since it formed this government over 50 years ago it has had only 2 mayors. William Rohrer and William J. Park Jr. are Haddon Townships first and second mayor, respectively, with numerous other commisioners serving during this time.
Famous movie director Steven Spieldburg lived in Haddon Township in his youth and it is said a drawing of a being resembling his later movie character "ET" was found in his old house. He has been quoted speaking of seeing movies at the Westmont Theatre which still stands. The theatre is being redeveloped as a restaurant and music venue by Westmont Development Group headed by Joanna Pang, operator of the "Trocadero" music venue in Philadelphia, PA.
[edit] Saddlertown
In the late 1830s, a runaway slave, who had taken the surname Saddler to avoid detection by his former master, came to New Jersey from a Maryland plantation with his wife and two daughters. The man took a job with Cy Evans, a local Quaker farmer. After learning that he was opposed to slavery, the slave told his employer that he had fled slavery on a plantation. Evans gave the slave 50 acres to farm, and he was able to live there peacefully.
The area where Saddler settled became a predominantly black area known as Saddlertown, so named in honor of Saddler's generosity in inviting others to share in his gift; Saddlertown was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Today, the area has come to include members of other racial groups.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 7.3 km² (2.8 mi²). 7.0 km² (2.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (3.93%) is water.
Haddon Township borders Audubon, Audubon Park, Camden, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Gloucester City, Haddonfield, Mount Ephraim, and Oaklyn.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 9,198 |
|
|
| 1940 | 9,708 | 5.5% | |
| 1950 | 12,379 | 27.5% | |
| 1960 | 17,099 | 38.1% | |
| 1970 | 18,192 | 6.4% | |
| 1980 | 15,875 | -12.7% | |
| 1990 | 14,837 | -6.5% | |
| 2000 | 14,651 | -1.3% | |
| Est. 2005 | 14,575 | [2] | -0.5% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[3] | |||
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 14,651 people, 6,207 households, and 3,891 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,102.9/km² (5,443.4/mi²). There were 6,423 housing units at an average density of 921.9/km² (2,386.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.42% White, 1.18% African American, 0.05% Native American, 2.01% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
There were 6,207 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the township the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $51,076, and the median income for a family was $65,269. Males had a median income of $44,943 versus $32,967 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,610. About 1.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Haddon Township is governed by a three-member, non-partisan commission under the Walsh Act.
Members of the Haddon Township Committee are:[4]
- Mayor William J. Park Jr. - Director of Public Affairs and Public Safety
- James T. Broderick - Director of Public Works, Parks and Public Property
- Kathleen V. Hogan - Director of Revenue and Finance
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Haddon Township is part of the 1st Congressional District and part of New Jersey's 6th Legislative District.[5]
New Jersey's First Congressional District, covering portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Gloucester County, is represented by Rob Andrews (D, Haddon Heights). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 6th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by John H. Adler (D, Cherry Hill) and in the Assembly by Louis Greenwald (D, Voorhees) and Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D, Cherry Hill). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Camden County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Camden County's Freeholders are: Louis Cappelli, Jr (Freeholder Director), Edward McDonnell (Freeholder Deputy Director), Riletta L. Cream, Jeffrey L. Nash, Joseph Ripa, Carmen Rodriguez, and Rodney Greco.
[edit] Education
The Haddon Township School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district consists of five PreK-5/K-5 elementary schools ( Thomas A. Edison Elementary School, Clyde S. Jennings Elementary School, Stoy Elementary School, Strawbridge Elementary School, Van Sciver Elementary School) William G. Rohrer Middle School for grades 6-8 and Haddon Township High School for grades 9-12.
[edit] References
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 106.
- ^ Census data for Haddon township, United States Census Bureau, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Haddon Township Directory, accessed August 22, 2006
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 58, accessed August 30, 2006
[edit] External links
- Haddon Township municipal website
- Haddon Township School District
- Haddon Township School District's 2005-06 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Haddon Township School District
- Saddler's Woods Conservation Association
- Haddon Township Historical Society
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(County seat: Camden) |
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| Boroughs | Audubon | Audubon Park | Barrington | Bellmawr | Berlin | Brooklawn | Chesilhurst | Clementon | Collingswood | Gibbsboro | Haddon Heights | Haddonfield | Hi-Nella | Laurel Springs | Lawnside | Lindenwold | Magnolia | Merchantville | Mount Ephraim | Oaklyn | Pine Hill | Pine Valley | Runnemede | Somerdale | Stratford | Tavistock | Woodlynne |  |
| Cities | Camden | Gloucester | |
| Townships | Berlin | Cherry Hill | Gloucester | Haddon | Pennsauken | Voorhees | Waterford | Winslow | |
| CDPs and other communities | Ashland | Barclay-Kingston | Blackwood | Cherry Hill Mall | Echelon | Erial | Erlton-Ellisburg | Glendora | Golden Triangle | Greentree | Sicklerville | Springdale | |
