Audubon, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Audubon, New Jersey
Borough
Aerial view of suburban Audubon, New Jersey
Seal
Location of Audubon in Camden County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Camden County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Census Bureau map of Audubon, New Jersey
Audubon, New Jersey Location in Camden County, New Jersey Show map of Camden County, New Jersey Audubon, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Audubon, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Camden
Incorporated	March 13, 1905
Named for	John James Audubon
Government
• Type	Walsh Act
• Body	Board of Commissioners
Area
• Total	1.50 sq mi (3.87 km2)
• Land	1.48 sq mi (3.84 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)  0.93%
Area rank	451st of 565 in state 24th of 37 in county
Elevation	56 ft (17 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,707
• Estimate  (2023)	8,716
• Rank	275th of 565 in state 15th of 37 in county
• Density	5,875.2/sq mi (2,268.4/km2)
• Density rank	92nd of 565 in state 7th of 37 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	08106
Area codes	856 exchanges: 233, 337, 619, 916, 962
FIPS code	3400702200
GNIS feature ID	0885144

Audubon is a small town, known as a borough, located in Camden County, in the southern part of New Jersey. It's close to Philadelphia and the city of Camden, making it part of the larger Philadelphia area. In 2020, about 8,707 people lived here.

History of Audubon

The area that is now Audubon was first settled in the late 1600s. It was mostly used for farms and mills. In 1695, this land was part of Newton Township. By the early 1700s, the first families built their homes. Two of these original farmhouses still stand in Audubon today.

Early Homes and Naming the Town

The Low-Stokes-Nicholson house was built around 1732. Another home, "The Mansion House," was built around 1740. A large addition was added to "The Mansion House" in 1853 by a shipbuilder named John Dialogue.

Later, Samuel Nicholson Rhodes, a local expert on nature and an author, owned this farm from 1898 to 1912. He called his farm "Cedarcroft." It was Mrs. Rhodes who suggested the name for the town. When the Atlantic City Railroad arrived in the 1880s, the large farms were divided into smaller communities. These included Audubon, Cedarcroft, and Orston. More homes were built when train stations opened in Audubon and Orston in the 1890s.

Becoming a Borough

On March 13, 1905, Audubon officially became a borough. This happened through a special act by the New Jersey Legislature. The town was named after John James Audubon, a famous naturalist who studied birds. Later, on October 28, 1947, a part of Audubon was used to create the new borough of Audubon Park.

Honoring Heroes

Audubon is special because it is home to three people who received the Medal of Honor. This is the highest award for bravery in the U.S. military. These heroes are Samuel M. Sampler (from World War I), Edward Clyde Benfold (from the Korean War), and Nelson V. Brittin (also from the Korean War). A memorial at Audubon High School honors them.

Geography and Climate

Audubon covers about 1.50 square miles (3.87 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Nearby Towns

Audubon shares borders with several other towns. These include Audubon Park, Haddon Heights, Haddon Township, Haddonfield, Mount Ephraim, and Oaklyn.

Weather in Audubon

The weather in Audubon has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.

Population and People

Audubon has seen some changes in its population over the years.

In 2010, there were 8,819 people living in Audubon. Most residents were White (95.23%). About 1.44% were Black or African American, and 1.13% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 3.29% of the population.

The average age in Audubon in 2010 was about 40.4 years old. About 21.2% of the people were under 18.

How Audubon is Governed

Audubon Municipal Building

Audubon is run by a special type of local government called the Walsh Act commission form. Three commissioners are elected by the whole town. They serve four-year terms at the same time. These elections are held in May and are non-partisan, meaning candidates don't run as part of a political party.

Each commissioner is in charge of a specific department. They also help make laws for the town. The commissioners choose one of their members to be the Mayor. As of 2024, the Mayor is Robert Jakubowski. He is also the Director of Public Works, Parks, and Buildings. The other commissioners are Robert Lee and Jeffrey Whitman. Their terms end on May 10, 2025.

Emergency Services

Audubon has its own police department, which started in 1931. The current police chief is Thomas J. Tassi.

The Audubon Fire Department is made up entirely of volunteers. It has about 50 members. They respond to around 300 calls each year. They help not only Audubon but also parts of nearby towns like Audubon Park and Mount Ephraim.

Education in Audubon

The Audubon School District serves students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. For the 2023–24 school year, the district had 1,366 students across four schools.

Schools in the District

• Audubon Preschool: For pre-kindergarten students.
• Haviland Avenue School: For students in kindergarten through second grade.
• Mansion Avenue School: For students in grades three through six.
• Audubon High School: For students in grades seven through twelve.

Students from Audubon Park also attend schools in the Audubon district. This arrangement started after Audubon Park closed its own school in 1979. Also, high school students from Mount Ephraim attend Audubon High School.

For students interested in special job training, the Camden County Technical Schools offer programs. These schools are located in Gloucester Township and Pennsauken Township.

Getting Around Audubon

U.S. Route 30 eastbound in Audubon

Roads and Highways

As of 2015, Audubon had about 29.80 miles of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the town itself. Some are managed by Camden County, and a small part by the state of New Jersey.

U.S. Route 30, also known as White Horse Pike, runs through Audubon. Route 168 (Black Horse Pike) also passes along the town's border.

Public Transportation

NJ Transit offers bus service in Audubon. You can take buses like the 400, 403, 450, and 457. These buses connect Audubon to places like Philadelphia, Camden, and nearby malls.

Famous People from Audubon

Many notable people have connections to Audubon, New Jersey.

• Edward Clyde Benfold (1931–1952): A U.S. Navy sailor who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Korean War.
• Nelson V. Brittin (1920–1951): Another Korean War veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor.
• Mario Cerrito (born 1984): A filmmaker, writer, and producer known for horror and thriller movies.
• Joe Flacco (born 1985): A professional NFL quarterback.
• Bill Laxton (born 1948): A former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher.
• Brett Laxton (born 1973): Also a former MLB pitcher.
• Edward Longacre (born 1946): A historian and writer.
• Merl Reagle (1950–2015): A nationally known creator of crossword puzzles.
• Samuel M. Sampler (1895–1979): A World War I veteran who received the Medal of Honor.
• William Siri (1919–2004): A co-leader of the first American team to successfully climb Mount Everest.
• Anne McConaghie Volp (1921–2010): A field hockey player and coach who was captain of the U.S. women's national team.

See also

In Spanish: Audubon (Nueva Jersey) para niños