Haddon Township, New Jersey
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| Haddon, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Camden |
| Incorporated | February 23, 1865 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Walsh Act |
| - Mayor | Randall J. "Randy" Teague |
| Area | |
| - Total | 2.8 sq mi (7.3 km²) |
| - Land | 2.7 sq mi (7.0 km²) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 14,484 |
| - Density | 5,443.4/sq mi (2,101.7/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08108 |
| Area code(s) | 856 |
| FIPS code | 34-28740[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882156[4] |
| Website: http://www.haddontwp.com/ | |
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).[5]
Haddon Township has two separate exclaves (rare in New Jersey), West Collingswood Heights and West Collingswood Extension. The main portion of the township is also colloquially known as Westmont[6]. Haddon Township is a center for liquor stores, restaurants, and bars because neighboring boroughs of Collingswood, Haddonfield and Haddon Heights prohibit the sale of alcohol.
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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.
[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.[7]
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.[7]
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), of which, 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) 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 |
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| 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. 2006 | 14,484 | [2] | −1.1% |
| Population 1930 - 1990[8] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 14,651 people, 6,207 households, and 3,891 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,443.4 people per square mile (2,102.9/km²). There were 6,423 housing units at an average density of 2,386.4/sq mi (921.9/km²). 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, which has been in place since 1950.[9] The three commissioners vote among themselves to choose a part-time mayor. Haddon Township has had only three mayors in its history. William Rohrer, William J. Park Jr, and Randall Teague.
Members of the Haddon Township Committee are:[10]
- Mayor Randall J. "Randy" Teague (I) - Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property
- Commissioner Paul Dougherty (D) - Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety
- Commissioner John Foley (R) - Commissioner of Revenue and Finance
[edit] Emergency services
Haddon Township is divided into four fire districts. Each district is governed by five elected fire commissioners. Fire District 1 is the Westmont section and is protected by the Westmont Fire Co. No. 1. Fire District 2 is the West Collingswood Extension section and it contracts with the Borough of Collingswood for fire protection from the Collingswood Fire Department(Station 16-1). Fire District 3 is the Bettlewood, Heather Glen, and Heather Woods sections and it contracts with the Westmont Fire Company Number 1 for fire protection from district 1. Fire District 4 is the West Collingswood Heights section and it is protected by the West Collingswood Heights Fire Co. Westmont Fire Co. (Station 15-1) and West Collingswood Heights Fire Co. (Station 15-2) are both Haddon Township companies, but separate entities each with their own chiefs.
Ambulance service throughout the Township is also divided, mirroring that of the fire service.
The Westmont Fire Co. No. 1 was established in 1902. It provides both fire and EMS services.
Police coverage throughout the entire township is provided by the Haddon Township Police Department.
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Haddon Township is part of the 1st Congressional District and part of New Jersey's 6th Legislative District.[11]
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).
For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 6th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by John Adler (D, Cherry Hill Township) and in the Assembly by Louis Greenwald (D, Voorhees Township) and Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D, Cherry Hill Township).[12] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[13]
Camden County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected at-large for staggered three-year terms by the residents of the county.[14] As of 2008, Camden County's Freeholders are 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) and Carmen Rodriguez (Merchantville, 2010).[15]
[edit] Education
The Haddon Township School District serves public school 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. Haddon Township also has two private schools, Holy Saviour Regional School, which will soon be closing, and merging with another school in Collingswood, NJ, like many other religious schools in this area and[1] Pope Paul VI High School which is a regional high school with attendence of over 1,000 students
Prior to the establishment of Haddon Township High School in the 1960s, most Haddon Township students attended high school at Collingswood High School; however, some went to Haddonfield Memorial High School or Audubon High School depending on the section of the Township they resided in.[16]
[edit] Transportation
Westmont, the downtown section of Haddon Township, has a PATCO Park-and-Ride station.
New Jersey Transit local bus service to Philadelphia is provided on the 403 route, with local service available on the 450 and 451 routes.[17]
[edit] Points of interest
- Ritz Theatre is an active live producing theatre company, built in a Colonial Revival style in 1927 as a vaudeville theatre. In 2002, the Ritz was added to the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places.[18]
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Haddon Township include:
- Mitch Albom (1958-), writer.[19]
- Laurie Beechman (1953-1998), Broadway actress.[20]
- Steven Spielberg (1946-), director.[21]
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Haddon, Geographic Names Information System, accessed October 17, 2007.
- ^ a b Census data for Haddon township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 2, 2007.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). 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. 106.
- ^ The Name "Westmont"
- ^ a b History, Saddler's Woods Conservation Association. Accessed October 17, 2007.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ The Commission Form of Municipal Government, p. 53. Accessed August 10, 2007.
- ^ Haddon Township Directory, accessed May 20, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 58. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ What is a Freeholder?, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
- ^ Board of Freeholders, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed April 14, 2008.
- ^ Haddon Township Historical Society - Haddon Township High School
- ^ Camden County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed June 21, 2007.
- ^ NEW JERSEY - Camden County, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed February 25, 2008.
- ^ Beckerman, Jim, "Everyman as Sombody," The Record (Bergen County), January 11, 2004. Accessed August 19, 2007. "For his first work of fiction, Albom drew on memories of his New Jersey childhood (he grew up in Haddon Township, near Philadelphia, and summered at Atlantic City and Ocean City)."
- ^ Laurie Beechman Tribute web page Accessed August 19, 2007.
- ^ Haddon Township: Part of a larger whole, Courier-Post, October 19, 2006, Accessed April 21, 2007. "Did you know film director Steven Spielberg lived in Haddon Township as a youngster? Spielberg lived in the township from 1950 to 1953 and he is believed to have seen one of his first movies at the Westmont Theater."
[edit] External links
- Haddon Township municipal website
- Haddon Township School District
- Haddon Township School District's 2006-07 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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