Camden County, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Camden County, New Jersey | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of New Jersey |
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 New Jersey's location in the U.S. |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | March 13, 1844 |
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| Seat | Camden |
| Largest city | Camden |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
228 sq mi (589 km²) 222 sq mi (576 km²) 5 sq mi (14 km²), 2.32% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
508,932 2,290/sq mi (884/km²) |
| Website: www.co.camden.nj.us | |
Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 508,932. Its county seat is Camden[1]. It was formed on March 13, 1844, from portions of Gloucester County.[2]
This county is part of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area area.
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[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 228 square miles (589 km²), of which, 222 square miles (576 km²) of it is land and 5 square miles (14 km²) of it (2.32%) is water.
Located in a coastal/alluvial plain area, the county is uniformly flat and low-lying. The highest points are a survey benchmark near the Burlington County line at 219 feet (66.7 m) above sea level, and another nearby area at least 210 feet. The low point is sea level, along the Delaware River.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Burlington County, New Jersey - northeast
- Atlantic County, New Jersey - southeast
- Gloucester County, New Jersey - southwest
- Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania - northwest
[edit] National protected area
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 25,422 |
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| 1860 | 34,457 | 35.5% | |
| 1870 | 46,193 | 34.1% | |
| 1880 | 62,942 | 36.3% | |
| 1890 | 87,687 | 39.3% | |
| 1900 | 107,643 | 22.8% | |
| 1910 | 142,029 | 31.9% | |
| 1920 | 190,508 | 34.1% | |
| 1930 | 252,312 | 32.4% | |
| 1940 | 255,727 | 1.4% | |
| 1950 | 300,743 | 17.6% | |
| 1960 | 392,035 | 30.4% | |
| 1970 | 456,291 | 16.4% | |
| 1980 | 471,650 | 3.4% | |
| 1990 | 502,824 | 6.6% | |
| 2000 | 508,932 | 1.2% | |
| Est. 2006 | 517,001 | [3] | 1.6% |
| historical census data source: [4][5] | |||
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 508,932 people, 185,744 households, and 129,835 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,289 people per square mile (884/km²). There were 199,679 housing units at an average density of 898 per square mile (347/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 70.88% White American, 18.09% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 3.72% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.09% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. 9.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.9% were of Italian, 15.4% Irish, 10.5% German and 5.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 185,744 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.1% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $48,097, and the median income for a family was $57,429. Males had a median income of $41,609 versus $30,470 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,354. About 8.1% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
While most of its boroughs are working class, Camden County has many contrasts in its demographics. All of Camden and parts of Lindenwold are considered highly impoverished, while Cherry Hill Township, Voorhees Township, Haddon Heights, and Haddonfield have a number of upper-class enclaves.
[edit] Government
The county is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of seven members elected at-large for three-year terms on a staggered basis by the residents of the county.[7] As of 2008, Camden County's Freeholders are:[8]
- Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. (Collingswood, term ends December 31, 2008)
- Freeholder Deputy Director Edward McDonnell (Pennsauken Township, 2010)
- Riletta L. Cream (Camden, 2008)
- Rodney A. Greco (Gloucester Township, 2009)
- Jeffrey L. Nash (Cherry Hill Township, 2009)
- Joseph Ripa (Voorhees Township, 2009)
- Carmen Rodriguez (Merchantville, 2010)
In addition, the voters also elect a sheriff (Charles H. Billingham), a county clerk (James Beach), and a surrogate (Patricia Egan Jones).[8] The Camden County Prosecutor is appointed by the Governor of New Jersey with the advice and consent of the New Jersey Senate (the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature).
As with most counties in the state, the court system consists of municipal courts for each township, borough and city, as well as a New Jersey Superior Court for the county. The latter handles the more serious criminal and civil cases, while the municipal courts handle traffic and other minor items.
[edit] Municipalities
- Audubon Borough
- Audubon Park Borough
- Barrington Borough
- Bellmawr Borough
- Berlin Borough
- Berlin Township
- Brooklawn Borough
- Camden City
- Cherry Hill Township
- Chesilhurst Borough
- Clementon Borough
- Collingswood Borough
- Gibbsboro Borough
- Gloucester City
- Gloucester Township
- Haddon Heights Borough
- Haddon Township
- Haddonfield Borough
- Hi-Nella Borough
- Laurel Springs Borough
- Lawnside Borough
- Lindenwold Borough
- Magnolia Borough
- Merchantville Borough
- Mount Ephraim Borough
- Oaklyn Borough
- Pennsauken Township
- Pine Hill Borough
- Pine Valley Borough
- Runnemede Borough
- Somerdale Borough
- Stratford Borough
- Tavistock Borough
- Voorhees Township
- Waterford Township
- Winslow Township
- Woodlynne Borough
[edit] Historical municipalities
- Centre Township
- Clementon Township
- Delaware Township
- Newton Township
- Stockton Township
- Union Township
[edit] Education
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 Township and was founded in 1967.
Rutgers University-Camden is located in the downtown/waterfront district of Camden.
School of Osteopathic Medicine (UMDNJ) is located in Stratford.
[edit] References
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 103.
- ^ QuickFacts: Camden County, New Jersey. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-08-25.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by County: 1880 - 1930.
- ^ Geostat Center: Historical Census Browser. University of Virginia Library. Retrieved on 2007-03-02.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ What is a Freeholder?, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2008.
- ^ a b Board of Freeholders, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed April 14, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Official County Website
- Camden County Historical Society
- Camden County Democratic Party
- Camden County Republican Party
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