Riverton, New Jersey

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Riverton, New Jersey
Riverton highlighted in Burlington County. Inset map: Burlington County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Riverton highlighted in Burlington County. Inset map: Burlington County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Riverton, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Riverton, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°00′42″N 75°00′53″W / 40.01167, -75.01472
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Burlington
Incorporated December 18, 1893
Government
 - Type Borough (New Jersey)
 - Mayor Robert Martin
Area
 - Total 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km²)
 - Land 0.7 sq mi (1.7 km²)
 - Water 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
Elevation [1] 10 ft (3 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 2,715
 - Density 4,205.1/sq mi (1,623.6/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 08076-08077
Area code(s) 856
FIPS code 34-63660[3]
GNIS feature ID 0885373[4]
Website: http://www.riverton-nj.com

Riverton is a Borough located in Burlington County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough had a total population of 2,759.

Riverton was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 18, 1893, from portions of Cinnaminson Township, based on the results of a referendum held six days earlier. Portions of the borough were taken to form Palmyra Township on April 19, 1894.[5]

Riverton is located on the Delaware River. The town is pedestrian-friendly with sidewalks, gas lamps, and Victorian architecture. Riverton is home to the Riverton Yacht Club, one of the oldest and still active yacht clubs in the country. Many residents' sailboats make their home at this landmark.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Riverton is located at 40°0'35" North, 75°0'43" West (40.009712, -75.011915)[6].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²), 0.7 square miles (1.7 km²) of it land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km²), water. The total area is 30.85% water.

Riverton borders Cinnaminson Township, Palmyra, and the Delaware River.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1930 2,483
1940 2,354 −5.2%
1950 2,761 17.3%
1960 3,324 20.4%
1970 3,412 2.6%
1980 3,068 −10.1%
1990 2,775 −9.6%
2000 2,759 −0.6%
Est. 2006 2,715 [2] −1.6%
Population 1930 - 1990[7]

As of the census[3] of 2000, 2,759 people, 1,066 households, and 746 families reside in the borough. The population density is 4,205.1 people per square mile (1,614.0/km²). There are 1,113 housing units at an average density of 1,696.4/sq mi (651.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough is 95.83% White, 1.78% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 1.09% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 1,066 households out of which 30.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% are married couples living together, 8.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% are non-families. Another 25.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.48 and the average family size is 3.00.

In the borough the population is spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough is $58,977, and the median income for a family is $68,125. Males have a median income of $50,950 versus $36,042 for females. The per capita income for the borough is $30,223. 3.1% of the population and 2.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.5% of those under the age of 18 and 2.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

[edit] History

Riverton is a quaint old "river town." Once the exclusive summer retreat of Philadelphia's social elite of the late 1800s, it is now a community of young families.

In 1916, Japanese beetles, now a widespread insect pest in the United States, were first discovered in a nursery near Riverton.[8]

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Riverton is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council made up of six council members, with all positions elected at large in partisan elections. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[9]

The Mayor of Riverton Borough is Robert Martin. Members of the Riverton Borough Council are Council President Robert K. Smyth, William C. Brown, Jr., Ron Cesaretti, Joseph N. Daniel, Michael H. Kinzler and Suzanne Cairns Wells.[10]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Riverton is in the First Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 7th 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 7th district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Diane Allen (R, Edgewater Park Township) and in the Assembly by Herb Conaway (D, Delanco Township) and Jack Conners (D, Pennsauken Township).[12] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[13]

Burlington County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis. As of 2008, Burlington County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director James K. Wujcik (Cinnaminson Township, 2009), Deputy Director Joseph B. Donnelly (Cinnaminson Township, 2010), Dawn Marie Addiego (Evesham Township, 2008), Aubrey A. Fenton (Willingboro Township, 2008) and William S. Haines, Jr. (Medford Township, 2009).[14]

[edit] Education

The Riverton School District serves students in public school in kindergarten through eighth grade. Riverton Elementary School served 229 students as of the 2005-06 school year.[15]

For grades nine through twelve, public school students attend Palmyra High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Palmyra Public Schools.[16]

[edit] Transportation

The Riverton station on the River Line light rail system, is located on Main Street, offering southbound service to Camden, New Jersey and the Walter Rand Transportation Center (with transfers available to the PATCO Speedline) and northbound service to the Trenton Rail Station with connections to New Jersey Transit trains to New York City, SEPTA trains to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Amtrak trains.

New Jersey Transit provides bus service to Philadelphia on the 419 line.[17]

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Riverton include:

[edit] References

  1. ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of Riverton, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Census data for Riverton borough, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 10, 2007.
  3. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 99.
  6. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  7. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  8. ^ Emergency and Domestic Programs: Japanese Beetle, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Accessed December 7, 2006.
  9. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 38.
  10. ^ Riverton Borough Council, Riverton Borough. Accessed May 5, 2008.
  11. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 62. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  12. ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  13. ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  14. ^ The Burlington County Board Of Chosen Freeholders, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2008.
  15. ^ Data for the Riverton School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 5, 2008.
  16. ^ High School Sending Districts, Burlington County Library System. Accessed January 24, 2008.
  17. ^ Burlington County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 15, 2007.
  18. ^ "LLOYD C. GRISCOM UNDER THE KNIFE; Condition Very Grave Last Night in Philadelphia After an Operation", The New York Times, April 2, 1912. Accessed December 14, 2007. "Lloyd Carpenter Griscom was born in Riverton, N. J., on Nov. 4, 1872."
  19. ^ Frank Asbury Mathews, Jr., Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 10, 2007.

[edit] External links