Maple Shade Township, New Jersey

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Maple Shade Township has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps, with the coldest months of January and February averaging about 33 °F (0.6 °C), and with an annual average temperature of 54 °F (12 °C).^[29]

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 19,131 people, 8,525 households, and 4,655 families in the township. The population density was 5,006.1 per square mile (1,932.9/km²). There were 9,186 housing units at an average density of 2,403.7 per square mile (928.1/km²). The racial makeup was 78.62% (15,040) White, 9.54% (1,826) Black or African American, 0.16% (31) Native American, 5.65% (1,080) Asian, 0.03% (5) Pacific Islander, 3.14% (601) from other races, and 2.86% (548) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.32% (1,591) of the population.^[19]

Of the 8,525 households, 22.8% had children under the age of 18; 37.9% were married couples living together; 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 45.4% were non-families. Of all households, 36.5% 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 2.21 and the average family size was 2.94.^[19]

18.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.2 males.^[19]

The Census Bureau's 2015–2019 American Community Survey showed that (in 2019 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $61,335 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,606) and the median family income was $825854 (+/− $7,763). Males had a median income of $58,963 (+/− $4,320) versus $49,215 (+/− $2.945) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,774 (+/− $2,053). About 8.1% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.^[40]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census^[16] there were 19,079 people, 8,462 households, and 4,721 families residing in the township. The population density was 4,959.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,914.8/km²). There were 9,009 housing units at an average density of 2,341.8 per square mile (904.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 83.17% White, 7.21% African American, 0.16% Native American, 6.10% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.46% of the population.^[41][21]

There were 8,462 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.2% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.95.^[41][21]

In the township the population was spread out, with 19.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.^[41][21]

The median income for a household in the township was $45,426, and the median income for a family was $53,912. Males had a median income of $40,290 versus $30,858 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,812. About 3.8% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.^[41][21]

Local government

Maple Shade Township operates within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Council-Manager (Plan E) form of municipal government, implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1975.^[42] The township is one of 42 (of the 564) municipalities statewide that use this form of government.^[43] The governing body is composed of a five-member Township Council, whose members are elected at-large in partisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for election in even-numbered years as part of the November general election.^[4][44] At a reorganization meeting held during the first week of January after each election, the Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.^[45]

As of 2023^[update], members of the Maple Shade Township Council are Mayor Charles Kauffman (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Steve Schmidt (D, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Sandra Nunes (D, 2026), Claire B. Volpe (D, 2024) and J. Nelson Wiest (D, 2024).^{[5][46][47][48]}

Federal, state and county representation

Maple Shade Township is located in the 1st Congressional District^[49] and is part of New Jersey's 6th state legislative district.^[50][51][52]

For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 1st congressional district is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden).^[53][54] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).^[55]

For the 2026–2027 session, the 6th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by James Beach (D, Voorhees Township) and in the General Assembly by Louis Greenwald (D, Voorhees Township) and Melinda Kane (D, Cherry Hill).^[56]

Burlington County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised of five members who are chosen at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year; at an annual reorganization meeting, the board selects a director and deputy director from among its members to serve a one-year term.^[57] As of 2026^[update], Burlington County's Commissioners are: Director Felicia Hopson (D, Willingboro Township, term as commissioner ends December 31, 2027; term as director ends 2026),^[58] Deputy Director Allison Eckel (D, Medford, term as commissioner ends 2028; term as deputy director ends 2026),^[59] Randy Brolo (D, Lumberton, 2026; elected to an unexpired term),^[60] Tyler Burrell (D, Delran Township, 2027)^[61] and Tom Pullion (D, Edgewater Park, 2026).^{[62][57][63][64][65][66]}

Burlington County's constitutional officers are Clerk Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2028),^[67][68] Sheriff James H. Kostoplis (D, Bordentown, 2028)^[69][70] and Surrogate Brian J. Carlin (D, Burlington Township, 2026).^[71][72]

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 10,638 registered voters in Maple Shade Township, of which 4,172 (39.2% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,593 (15.0% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 4,863 (45.7% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 10 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.^[79] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 55.6% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 68.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).^[79][80]

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 5,003 votes here (65.1% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 2,546 votes (33.2% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 92 votes (1.2% vs. 1.0%), among the 7,680 ballots cast by the township's 11,433 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.2% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).^[82][83] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,904 votes here (61.7% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 2,844 votes (35.8% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 120 votes (1.5% vs. 1.0%), among the 7,942 ballots cast by the township's 10,653 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.6% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).^[84] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 4,628 votes here (59.0% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 3,060 votes (39.0% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 76 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 7,848 ballots cast by the township's 10,658 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.6% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).^[85]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,333 votes here (60.5% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 1,419 votes (36.8% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 53 votes (1.4% vs. 1.2%), among the 3,857 ballots cast by the township's 11,283 registered voters, yielding a 34.2% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).^[86][87] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 2,059 ballots cast (48.2% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,904 votes (44.5% vs. 47.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 230 votes (5.4% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 57 votes (1.3% vs. 1.2%), among the 4,275 ballots cast by the township's 10,780 registered voters, yielding a 39.7% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).^[88]

Roads and highways

As of May 2010^[update], the township had a total of 51.98 miles (83.65 km) of roadways, of which 42.65 miles (68.64 km) were maintained by the municipality, 3.38 miles (5.44 km) by Burlington County and 5.95 miles (9.58 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.^[100]

Passing through the township are Route 38, Route 41 and Route 73. The New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 295 are both accessible just outside the township by way of Route 73.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service to and from Philadelphia on route 317 (from Asbury Park), and 407 (from Moorestown Mall) to Camden, and on the 413 route between Camden, and Burlington.^[101][102]