Camden County, New Jersey

Etymology

Camden County is named after Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, who served as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. Camden City, the county seat, was incorporated in 1828.^[20]

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Camden have ranged from a low of 26 °F (−3 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −11 °F (−24 °C) was recorded in February 1934 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in August 1918. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.75 inches (70 mm) in February to 4.35 inches (110 mm) in July.^[22] The county has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Average monthly temperatures in Chesilhurst range from 33.1 °F (0.6 °C) in January to 76.4 °F (24.7 °C) in July.^[23]

Sustainability efforts

Camden County’s geography along with previously unkempt stormwater management system makes it vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Its aging infrastructure combined with industrialization from within the county and its surroundings adds on to these effects, making Camden County susceptible to increased flooding, droughts, water contamination, extreme weather, and decreased air quality.^[24]

In 1985, Camden County became the first county in the nation to mandate recycling. These recycling efforts consist of single-stream recycling, composting, and hazardous materials collection. Since then, the county has launched multiple projects and efforts to promote sustainability and mitigate the effects of climate change.^[25]

In 2014, the Camden County Board of Commissioners released its first sustainability plan, titled Plan 2018, a living document outlining 63 initiatives across 11 action categories, including energy, conservation, waste reduction, water quality, green building, and public engagement. From 2014 to 2018, the county committed to retrofitting 50% of its buildings with energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems and green infrastructure.

The Camden SMART Initiative has become a national model for green stormwater management through its use of projects like rain gardens and green roofs, diverting millions of gallons of runoff. Camden City has also preserved over 1,250 acres of open space and increased the urban tree canopy for the purpose of improving carbon sequestration and mitigating heat island effects.

Another initiative includes Sustainable Jersey, an ongoing community outreach effort that provides green job training, environmental education, and municipal assistance.^[26]

Despite these efforts, Camden County continues to face environmental challenges. The county received a poor grade in ozone pollution from the American Lung Association’s 2024 State of the Air report. Ozone pollution poses a threat to the health of children, the elderly, and individuals with asthma and respiratory illnesses. To address this issue, the county released new air quality monitoring efforts and education campaigns to raise awareness and reduce exposure.^[26]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 523,485, 199,373 households, and 125,806 families.^[29][30] The population density was 2,365.9 inhabitants per square mile (913.5/km²). There were 212,759 housing units at an average density of 961.5 per square mile (371.2/km²), of which 6.3% were vacant; among occupied units, 63.4% were owner-occupied and 36.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%.^[30]

The racial makeup of the county was 56.0% White, 19.3% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 6.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 9.8% from some other race, and 8.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 18.2% of the population.^[29]

98.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.3% lived in rural areas.^[31]

Of the 199,373 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 43.3% were married-couple households, 17.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.30.^[30]

The median age was 39.1 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.6 males age 18 and over.^[30]

The county's median household income was $73,672, and the median family income was $88,575. About 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.^[32]

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 513,657 people, 190,980 households, and 129,866 families in the county. The population density was 2,321.5 inhabitants per square mile (896.3/km²). There were 204,943 housing units at an average density of 926.2 per square mile (357.6/km²). The racial makeup was 65.29% (335,389) White, 19.55% (100,441) Black or African American, 0.31% (1,608) Native American, 5.11% (26,257) Asian, 0.03% (165) Pacific Islander, 7.08% (36,354) from other races, and 2.62% (13,443) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 14.24% (73,124) of the population.^[8]

Of the 190,980 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18; 46.3% were married couples living together; 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 32% were non-families. Of all households, 26.3% were made up of individuals and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.22.^[8]

24.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.7 males.^[8]

County government

The county is governed by the Camden County Board of County Commissioners, composed of seven members chosen at-large in partisan elections for three-year terms on a staggered basis by the residents of the county, with either two or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At a reorganization meeting held in January after each election, the newly constituted Board of Commissioners selects one of its members to serve as director and another as deputy director.^[43] In 2016, freeholders were paid $23,000 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $24,000.^[44]

As of 2025^[update], Camden County's Commissioners are (with terms for director and deputy director ending every December 31):^{[43][45][46][47]}

Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).^[55] Camden County's constitutional officers, all elected directly by voters, are:^[56]

The County Prosecutor is Grace C. MacAulay, who was sworn into office in January 2022.^[64] Camden County constitutes Vicinage 4 of the New Jersey Superior Court, which is seated at the Camden County Hall of Justice in Camden, with additional facilities at various locations in Cherry Hill. The Assignment Judge for the vicinage is Deborah Silverman Katz.^[65] As with most counties in the state, the court system in Camden County also includes municipal courts for each township, borough and city to handle traffic and other minor items. Law enforcement at the county level, in addition to a sheriff, includes the Camden County Police Department and the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. The Camden Police Department and the Camden County Park Police were absorbed into the newly formed Camden County Police Department in 2013.^[66]

In March 2019, Melinda Kane was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Bill Moen, who resigned from office to run for a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly.^[67] Kane served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office. No Republican has been elected to countywide office since 1991.^[68]

Federal representatives

Camden County is entirely within the 1st congressional district.^[69] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 1st congressional district is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden).^[70][71]

State representatives

The 36 municipalities of Camden County are part of three legislative districts.

State elections

Historical municipalities

Defunct municipalities in the county (with years of formation and dissolution listed in parentheses) include:^[13]

• Centre Township (1855–1926)
• Clementon Township (1903–1941)
• Delaware Township (renamed as Cherry Hill)
• Newton Township (1695–1871)
• Stockton Township (1859–1899)
• Union Township (1831–1868)
• Pine Valley (1929-2022)^[84]

Colleges and universities

Rutgers University-Camden is located in the downtown/waterfront district of Camden, and dates back to 1926 with the founding of the South Jersey Law School.^[85][86]

Rutgers School of Law–Camden is one of two campuses of Rutgers Law School, the other being in Newark.^[87]

The Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine is located in Stratford and dates to 1976. It is the state's only osteopathic medical school and was South Jersey's first four-year college of medicine.^[88]

The Cooper Medical School of Rowan University is located in the downtown/university district of Camden. Established as a four-year medical school in 1975, the relationship with Rowan University was formed in 2008.^[89]

Rutgers Health has a campus in Stratford which hosts its dental school and school of public health.^[90]

Rowan University at Camden is located on Cooper Street in Camden and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.^[91]

Camden County College is a two-year public community college serving students from Camden County. The school has campuses in Blackwood, Camden and Cherry Hill, and was founded in 1967.^[92]

Primary and secondary education

The county has the following school districts:^[93][94][95]

K-12

Secondary (9-12)

• Black Horse Pike Regional School District
• Camden County Technical Schools
• Eastern Camden County Regional High School District
• Sterling High School

Elementary (K-8, except as indicated)

Former school districts

• Pine Valley Borough School District,^[96] non-operating.^[97] Pine Valley Borough merged into Pine Hill Borough circa 2021.^[98]

Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden operates area Catholic schools.

Fine and performing arts

The Ritz Theater in Haddon Township, constructed in 1927 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, hosts theater performances and film festivals.^[99]

Symphony in C was established as The Haddonfield Symphony in 1952 and is based on the campus of Rutgers University-Camden.^[100]

Perkins Center for the Arts has locations in Moorestown and Collingswood.^[101]

The Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood, recognized on the American Institute of Architects's list of "150 Best Buildings and Places" in New Jersey, hosts national music and theater performances.^[102]

The Walter K. Gordon Theater at Rutgers University-Camden hosts student and other productions.^[103]

The South Camden Theater features plays and other works throughout the year with a focus on local playwrights and actors.^[104]

The Stedman Gallery at Rutgers University-Camden houses works of local, national, and international artists.^[105]

Wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries

• Amalthea Cellars (located in the West Atco portion of Winslow Township)
• Raccoon Brewery (Collingswood)
• Tonewood Brewing (Oaklyn and Barrington)
• King's Road Brewery (Haddonfield)
• Mechanical Brewing (Cherry Hill)
• Eclipse Brewery (Merchantville)
• Double Nickel Brewery (Pennsauken)
• Flying Fish Brewing (headquartered in Somerdale)
• Sharrott Winery (located in the Blue Anchor section of Winslow Township)
• Armageddon Brewing (Somerdale)

National protected area

• Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River (part)

Writers, poets, and artists

• Poet Walt Whitman lived in Camden.
• Matthew Quick's novel The Silver Linings Playbook is set in Collingswood and Voorhees Township, although the screen adaptation is set in Pennsylvania. Quick grew up in Oaklyn, graduated from Collingswood High School and is a former teacher in the Haddonfield School District.^[106]
• Poet Nick Virgilio was born in Camden and returned to Camden in 1958.^[107]
• Children's author Marguerite de Angeli lived in Collingswood^[108]
• Visual artist Mickalene Thomas was born in Camden.^[109]

In films

• The Last Broadcast was partially filmed in the Pine Barrens.^{[citation needed]}
• Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is partially set in Cherry Hill.^[110]
• Camden was the setting for several scenes in 12 Monkeys.

Public transportation

NJ Transit has stations along the Atlantic City Line in Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Lindenwold and Atco in Waterford Township, connecting Philadelphia to Atlantic City along the former Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines main line.^[111]

The River Line is a diesel tram-train light-rail system operated for NJ Transit by the Southern New Jersey Rail Group on a former Pennsylvania Railroad line from Trenton. Most stations in the county are in the Camden, including the Walter Rand Transportation Center, except for the 36th Street, Pennsauken Transit Center and Pennsauken–Route 73 station located in Pennsauken Township.^[112]

The PATCO Speedline, owned by the Delaware River Port Authority, runs a rapid transit line across the Ben Franklin Bridge from Philadelphia through Camden to the PRSL main right-of-way between Haddonfield and its eastern terminus in Lindenwold. Suburban station stops include Woodcrest, Westmont and Collingswood.^[113]

NJ Transit provides commuter and long-distance bus service from many locations in the county to Philadelphia, with additional service to Atlantic City. Extensive local service is offered within the county, including routes to Camden and area train and light rail stations.^[114]

Roads and highways

Camden County hosts numerous county, state, U.S., and Interstates. As of October 2015^[update], the county had a total of 2,045.06 miles (3,291.21 km) of roadways, of which 1,535.22 miles (2,470.70 km) are maintained by the municipality, 377.65 miles (607.77 km) by Camden County and 104.41 miles (168.03 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, 5.11 miles (8.22 km) by the Delaware River Port Authority, 9.07 miles (14.60 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and 13.60 miles (21.89 km) by the South Jersey Transportation Authority.^[115]

Major county roads that pass through include County Road 534, County Road 536, County Road 537, County Road 543, County Road 544, County Road 551 and County Road 561.

State routes that pass through are Route 38, Route 41, Route 42 (the North-South Freeway), Route 47 (only in Brooklawn), Route 70, Route 73, Route 90 (the Betsy Ross Bridge), Route 143 (only in Winslow), Route 154 (only in Cherry Hill) and Route 168.

U.S. Routes that traverse are U.S. Route 30 and U.S. Route 130. The interstates that pass through are Interstate 76 (part of the North-South Freeway and the Walt Whitman Bridge), Interstate 295 and Interstate 676 (part of the North-South Freeway and the Ben Franklin Bridge (which is multiplexed with US 30)).

Other limited access roads that pass through are the Atlantic City Expressway and the New Jersey Turnpike. There are five ACE interchanges that are within the county borders: Exits 44 (at NJ 42),^[116] 41 (at Berlin-Cross Keys Road / CR 689),^[117] 38 (at Williamstown-New Freedom Road / CR 536 Spur),^[118] 33 (connecting to NJ 73)^[118] and 31 (at NJ 73).^[119][120] The only turnpike interchange that is in the county is Exit 3 at the border of Runnemede and Bellmawr.^[121]