Voorhees Township, New Jersey

Voorhees Township, New Jersey
—  Township  —
Voorhees highlighted in Camden County
Census Bureau map of Voorhees Township, New Jersey
Coordinates:
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Camden
Incorporated March 1, 1899
Government[1]
 • Type Township (New Jersey)
 • Mayor Michael R. Mignogna (2011)[2]
 • Administrator Lawrence Spellman[3]
Area
 • Total 11.6 sq mi (30.1 km2)
 • Land 11.6 sq mi (30.1 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation[4] 135 ft (41 m)
Population (2010 Census)[5]
 • Total 29,131
 • Density 2,511.3/sq mi (967.8/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 08043
Area code(s) 856
FIPS code 34-76220[6][7]
GNIS feature ID 0882153[8]
Website http://voorheesnj.com

Voorhees Township is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 29,131.[5] Voorhees is a New Jersey suburb in the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area.

Voorhees Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1899, from portions of Waterford Township. Portions of the township were taken on March 8, 1924, to form Gibbsboro.[9]

The township is named after Foster MacGowan Voorhees, the Governor of New Jersey who authorized its creation.[10]

The area comprises the Ashland, Kirkwood, Kresson, Glendale, and Osage sections.[10] Voorhees is largely a bedroom community, with many of its residents commuting to Cherry Hill or Philadelphia for work.

Contents

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 12 square miles (31 km2), of which, 11.6 square miles (30 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.26%) is water.

Echelon is a census-designated place in the western part of the township between Cherry Hill and Gibbsboro.

Voorhees borders the Camden County communities of Berlin Township, Cherry Hill, Gibbsboro, Lindenwold, and Somerdale. To the east is Evesham Township in Burlington County.

Lawnside Cherry Hill Township
Somerdale Evesham Township
   Voorhees Township    
Lindenwold Gibbsboro Berlin Township

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1930 1,405
—
1940 1,450 3.2%
1950 1,823 25.7%
1960 3,784 107.6%
1970 6,214 64.2%
1980 12,919 107.9%
1990 24,559 90.1%
2000 28,126 14.5%
2010 29,131 3.6%
Population 1930 - 1990[5][11]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 28,126 people, 10,489 households, and 7,069 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,424.0 people per square mile (936.2/km²). There were 11,084 housing units at an average density of 955.2 per square mile (368.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 78.26% White, 8.00% African American, 0.14% Native American, 11.44% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.47% of the population.

There were 10,489 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $68,402, and the median income for a family was $86,873 (these figures had risen to $82,035 and $105,933 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[12]). Males had a median income of $58,484 versus $38,897 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,635. About 3.7% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

The Township of Voorhees is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government by a five-member Township Committee. Members are elected at large in partisan elections to three-year terms in office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[1] The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are chosen by the Township Committee from among its members during the Reorganization meeting each January.

As of 2011, the members of the Voorhees Township Committee are Mayor Michael R. Mignogna, Deputy Mayor Mario DiNatale, Michael Friedman, Joseph Lovallo and Harry Platt.[3]

Federal, state and county representation

Voorhees Township is in the 1st Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 6th state legislative district.[13] The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[5]

New Jersey's First Congressional District is represented by Rob Andrews (D, Haddon Heights). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

6th District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by James Beach (D, Voorhees Township) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Louis Greenwald (D, Voorhees Township) and Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D, Cherry Hill).[14] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[15] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[16]

Camden County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, its seven members elected at-large to three-year terms office on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year.[17] As of 2011, Camden County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. (Collingswood, term ends December 31, 2011)[18], Freeholder Deputy Director Edward McDonnell (Pennsauken Township, 2013)[19], Riletta L. Cream (Camden, 2011)[20], Rodney A. Greco (Gloucester Township, 2012)[21], Ian K. Leonard (Camden, 2012)[22], Jeffrey L. Nash (Cherry Hill, 2012)[23] and Carmen Rodriguez (Merchantville, 2013).[24][25][26][27]

Education

Students in Kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Voorhees Township Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[28]) are four elementary schools serving grades Kindergarten through fifth grade — Edward T. Hamilton Elementary School (504 students), Kresson Elementary School (393), Osage Elementary School (596) and Signal Hill Elementary School (560) — and Voorhees Middle School (1,151) in grades 6 - 8.

Public school students in grades 9 - 12 attend the Eastern Camden County Regional High School District, a limited-purpose, public regional school district. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[29]) are Eastern Intermediate High School with 1,093 students for grades 9 and 10, and Eastern High School with 1,039 students for grades 11 and 12. The schools serve a combined population of approximately 37,000 in the communities of Berlin Borough, Gibbsboro and Voorhees Township. Both schools are located on the same site, but operate independently.[30]

Voorhees is also the home of of two private schools. Kellman Brown Academy (formerly Harry B. Kellman Academy) is a private Jewish day school serving 150 children aged 3 through 8th grade. The school was founded in 1958 in association with Congregation Beth El at Parkside in Camden and has been located in Voorhees independently since October 2008 as part of the Solomon Schechter Day School Association.[31]

Naudian Academy is a Montessori education program for children from preschool to kindergarten, located near Kresson Elementary School. Naudian Academy first opened in 1977.[32]

The main branch of the Camden County Library is located in Voorhees.

Transportation

The only major highway that passes through Voorhees is Route 73. Interstate 295 and Route 70 provide access to nearby Philadelphia via Cherry Hill. Exit 32 of Interstate 295 is partially signed for Voorhees, though motorists can also use exits 29A (U.S. Route 30/Berlin), 31 (Woodcrest Station) or 36 (Route 73) to access parts of the township.

One station on the PATCO High-Speed rail system, Ashland, is located within township limits, but the Woodcrest and Lindenwold stations are also easily accessible to many residents.

New Jersey Transit bus service is offered on the 403 to Philadelphia, with local service provided by the 451 and 459 routes.[33]

Corporate residents

New Jersey American Water, based in Voorhees Township, is the largest water utility in New Jersey, serving over two million people in 176 communities throughout the state. New Jersey American Water is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water.[34]

Sports

Voorhees is noted to be the home of the Skate Zone, a training facility for the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL and its AHL affiliate Philadelphia Phantoms.[35] Current and former players of either team often become residents of Voorhees.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Voorhees Township include:

References

  1. ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 33.
  2. ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed July 11, 2011.
  3. ^ a b 2011 Committee Members, Voorhees Township. Accessed February 6, 2011.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Voorhees, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d 2011 Apportionment Redistricting: Municipalities sorted alphabetically, New Jersey Department of State, p. 11. Accessed July 11, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  7. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  8. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  9. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 109.
  10. ^ a b History of Voorhees, accessed May 8, 2007. "Over the years six "neighborhood" communities took root; Ashland, Glendale, Kirkwood, Kresson, Osage and Gibbsboro. Residents held strong loyalties to these sections of town, rather than to the town itself. One result of this divisive attitude was Gibbsboro’s secession from Voorhees in 1924.... Since Governor Foster McGowan Voorhees granted the request, the township was named in his honor."
  11. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 2, 2009. Accessed July 11, 2011.
  12. ^ U.S. Census Bureau Fact Sheet
  13. ^ 2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 65. Accessed July 11, 2011.
  14. ^ "Legislative Roster: 2010-2011 Session". New Jersey Legislature. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp. Retrieved 2010-02-08. 
  15. ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  16. ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  17. ^ What is a Freeholder?, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 3, 2011.
  18. ^ Louis Cappelli, Jr., Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  19. ^ Edward McDonnell, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  20. ^ Riletta L. Cream, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  21. ^ Rodney A. Greco, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  22. ^ Ian K. Leonard, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  23. ^ Jeffrey L. Nash, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  24. ^ Carmen Rodriguez, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  25. ^ Board of Freeholders, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 3, 2011.
  26. ^ "Louis Cappelli Jr. and Edward McDonnell re-elected to leadership posts on Camden County Freeholder Board at Today’s Reorganization Meeting", Camden County, New Jersey press release dated January 5, 2011. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  27. ^ Osborne, James. "Democrats retain hold on Camden County freeholder board", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 3, 2010. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  28. ^ Data for the Voorhees Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed July 11, 2011.
  29. ^ Data for the Eastern Camden County Regional High School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed July 11, 2011.
  30. ^ Eastern Senior High School 2010 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 11, 2011. "Our district is a limited purpose, public, regional system consisting of two schools: Eastern Intermediate High School (grades 9 and 10) and Eastern Senior High School (grades 11 and 12), located on the same site. Our student population is multicultural and reflects the diversity of the three communities it serves: Berlin Borough, Gibbsboro and Voorhees Township."
  31. ^ Overview, Kellman Brown Academy. Accessed May 11, 2011.
  32. ^ About Us, Naudian Academy. Accessed May 11, 2011.
  33. ^ Camden County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed July 11, 2011.
  34. ^ Sorkin, Andrew Ross. "German Deal for U.S. Water Utility", The New York Times, September 17, 2001. Accessed July 11, 2011. "In the first deal in the United States since the terrorist attacks of last week, American Water Works of Voorhees, N.J., has agreed to be sold to RWE, a German utility, for more than $5 billion, executives close to the transaction said yesterday.... American Water Works, the largest publicly traded water utility in the nation, with annual revenue of $1.4 billion, has been acquisitive itself."
  35. ^ Staff. "FLYERS TAKE FIRST LOOK AT NEXT GENERATION MINUS THE MOSQUITOES, THE ROOKIES OPENED SUMMER \ CAMP IN VOORHEES. SOME ALREADY FELT AT HOME.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 15, 2000. Accessed July 11, 2011. "Amid renewed negotiations for a long-term contract for John LeClair, in which no progress was reported, the Flyers opened their rookie camp yesterday at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees. They held their first official on-ice skate and practice at the new facility, and it was handled by Phantoms coach John Stevens and assistant coach Kjell Samuelsson."
  36. ^ Staff. "Ron Anderson: Comfortable With His Shot and His Life", The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 27, 1991. Accessed March 17, 2011. "Married soon afterward Ron and Gail now live in Voorhees."
  37. ^ Friedman, Jackie. "Voorhees native Andrew Bailey living All-Star Game dream after finding success as Oakland A's reliever", The Star-Ledger, July 13, 2009. Accessed March 17, 2011. "Andrew Bailey and his father Bill drove toward the St. Louis arch during the 17th hour of a 38-hour trek from Voorhees, N.J., to Scottsdale, Ariz., on an especially bitter February morning."
  38. ^ Hank Baskett - Personal, Philadelphia Eagles. Accessed March 17, 2011. "Single and resides in Voorhees, NJ"
  39. ^ Staff. "Democrats maintain grip on N.J. Assembly", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 4, 2009. Accessed March 17, 2011. "In the Senate, Democrat James Beach - a Voorhees resident who served as Camden County clerk and freeholder - bested Republican Joseph Adolf..."
  40. ^ Staff. "Former Eagle Brooks in super situation with Steelers", Philadelphia Daily News, February 3, 2006. Accessed March 17, 2011. "Brooks still lives in the Philadelphia area. He and his family live in Voorhees N.J."
  41. ^ Scher, Valerie. "Violinist's key: Just be a minor -| Gifted Sarah Chang still a teen to the core", San Diego Union-Tribune, October 31, 1995. Accessed March 17, 2011. "'I never play anything the same way twice,' she says by phone from her family's home in Voorhees, NJ."
  42. ^ Schapiro, Rich. "Prince Chunk's the (fat) cat's meow", Daily News, August 1, 2008. Accessed March 17, 2011. "The cat originally named Powder wound up at the Camden County Animal Shelter last week after his owner, Donna Oklatner, 65, of Voorhees, N.J., could no longer pay the bills."]
  43. ^ Klein, Michael. "Buy Brian Dawkins' house", The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 16, 2009. Accessed March 17, 2011. "Seven-time Pro Bowler and former Eagle Brian Dawkins is with the Denver Broncos now, and so his house in Voorhees is on the market."
  44. ^ Schwartz, Erik. "Basketball tournament to honor slaying victim", Courier Post, September 15, 2005. Accessed March 17, 2011. "Also expected to appear and sign autographs are Pervis Ellison a Voorhees resident and YMCA member who was the top pick in the 1989 NBA draft."
  45. ^ a b Condran, Ed. "Paramore movin' up, just not movin' out", Bucks County Courier Times, February 25, 2006. Accessed March 17, 2011. "The Farro brothers who were born in Voorhees NJ met Williams four years ago."
  46. ^ Bracy, Aaron. "Phils may alter lineup -- in booth", Courier-Post, November 16, 2006. Accessed March 17, 2011. "Graham 41 of Voorhees has worked in the Phillies broadcast booth for the past eight years after starting his career with the Phillies in 1991..."
  47. ^ Assembly Member Louis D. Greenwald, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 8, 2007.
  48. ^ Visiting Artist: Dana Hall, Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Accessed July 11, 2011. "Dana Hall was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 13, 1969, and was raised in Philadelphia, where he was exposed to that city’s distinctive soul sounds, then at their peak of popularity with artists such as Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, the O’Jays, and Billy Paul. Through his parents, he also came in contact with Philadelphia’s jazz scene, and Jimmy Smith and Stanley Turrentine were among the musicians who visited the Hall household. He moved to Voorhees, New Jersey, at age 12 and began studying drums in junior high and oboe in high school."
  49. ^ Garber, Greg. "WITH ADRENALINE GONE, THROWING WILL BE A PAIN", Hartford Courant, November 25, 1998. Accessed March 17, 2011. "'I broke every finger on my passing hand at least once -- some of them twice and three times,' Jaworski said Tuesday night from his Voorhees, N.J., home. 'Let me tell you, it's awful hard to throw a football without all your fingers. Any other position out there, it doesn't matter. But for a quarterback, a broken finger is a killer.'"
  50. ^ Ron Jaworski speaker profile, Leading Authorities. Accessed March 17, 2011. "A proud family man, Ron Jaworski currently resides in Voorhees, New Jersey with his wife, Liz."
  51. ^ Anderson, Dave. "Sports of The Times; MacT's Muscular Art: The Crucial Face-Off", The New York Times, May 22, 1995. Accessed March 17, 2011. "Despite their age difference, MacTavish and the 22-year-old Lindros are roommates on Flyer road trips, and the Flyer captain often hangs out at the MacTavish home in nearby Voorhees, N.J."
  52. ^ Ratliff, Ben. "Jimmy McGriff, 72, Jazz and Blues Organist", The New York Times, May 28, 2008. Accessed March 17, 2011. "Jimmy McGriff, who since the early 1960s was one of the most popular jazz and blues organists, died on Saturday in Voorhees, N.J. He was 72 and lived in Voorhees."
  53. ^ Raoul Peck profile for the film Lumumba, Zeitgeist Films. Accessed March 17, 2011.
  54. ^ Panaccio, Tim. "Primeau finally deals with reality", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 14, 2006. Accessed March 17, 2011. "The phone rang at Keith Primeau's house in Voorhees, N.J., on Sept. 6. Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said he wanted to meet the next day."
  55. ^ Staff. "LADIES SET FOR COURT BATTLE \ CAMDEN CATHOLIC STANDS TALL EARLY ON", Philadelphia Daily News, December 26, 1997. Accessed March 17, 2011. "Chris St Croix a defensemen from Voorhees was named to the US National Junior hockey team."
  56. ^ Kindred, David. "One amazing freshman", The Sporting News, August 27, 2001. Accessed March 17, 2011. "For three months, from October 6 past his 19th birthday on New Year's Day to January 5, Taliaferro underwent rehabilitation therapy at the Magee Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia, 15 miles from his home in Voorhees, N.J."
  57. ^ Jeremy Thompson, Database Football. Accessed July 31, 2009.
  58. ^ English, Antonya. "Markings of a champion", St. Petersburg Times, August 31, 2007. Accessed March 17, 2011. "Trautwein, a low-key senior from Voorhees, N.J., had the tattoo done in April, and it has been a conversation piece ever since."
  59. ^ Mandel, Ken. "Phils pay respect to Vukovich", Major League Baseball, March 9, 2007. Accessed March 17, 2011. "A private funeral will be held Tuesday near Vukovich's Voorhees, N.J., home, and many members of the Phillies organization are planning to attend by traveling to Philadelphia on a chartered flight."

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