Medford, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Medford, New Jersey
Township
Downtown Medford at County Road 541 and Union Street, August 2016
Seal
Location of Medford in Burlington County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Burlington County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
Census Bureau map of Medford Township, New Jersey
Medford, New Jersey Location in Burlington County, New Jersey Show map of Burlington County, New Jersey Medford, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Medford, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Burlington
Incorporated	March 1, 1847
Named for	Medford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Government
• Type	Faulkner Act Council-Manager
• Body	Township Council
Area
• Total	39.81 sq mi (103.10 km2)
• Land	38.80 sq mi (100.49 km2)
• Water	1.01 sq mi (2.61 km2)  2.53%
Area rank	56th of 565 in state 8th of 40 in county
Elevation	52 ft (16 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	24,497
• Estimate  (2023)	25,000
• Rank	107th of 565 in state 5th of 40 in county
• Density	631.4/sq mi (243.8/km2)
• Density rank	425th of 565 in state 27th of 40 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	08055
Area code	609 exchanges: 654, 714, 953
FIPS code	3400545120
GNIS feature ID	0882083
Website

Medford is a township located in Burlington County, in the state of New Jersey. It's part of the wider Philadelphia area. In 2020, about 24,497 people lived here. This was an increase from previous years, showing the township is growing!

Medford officially became a township on March 1, 1847. This happened after people voted for it. Over the years, some parts of Medford were used to create new towns like Shamong Township, Lumberton, and Medford Lakes. Medford is also part of the "South Jersey" region.

Medford's Past: A Look at History

Early European Settlement

The Medford area first saw European settlers in 1670. Samuel Coles bought a large piece of land, about 900 acres. Soon after, families like the Braddocks and Pricketts moved here. Many of their descendants still live in Medford today!

At first, this area was called Upper Evesham. It slowly grew from a few scattered homes into a small village. Some old buildings and roads from before the American Revolutionary War are still around. These include Oliphant's Mill and Christopher's Mill.

How Medford Got Its Name

In 1820, the area officially became "Medford of Upper Evesham." This happened when a post office was set up. Mark Reeve, a local developer, suggested the name. He had just visited Medford, Massachusetts, and liked the name.

On March 1, 1847, Medford Township officially separated from Evesham Township. The first town meeting was held on March 9, 1847. It took place at the Cross Roads, which is now a main intersection.

The Glass-Making Industry

By 1825, Medford had a busy glass-making industry. It started with a furnace that made window panes. By 1850, a factory run by William Porter was making glass. This factory was known by names like Medford Glass Works.

At its busiest, the factory employed about 250 workers. It was like a "company town," providing homes for workers and managers. There was even a company store where workers could buy food. Glass-making stopped around 1925. Today, you can still see nearly 30 of the workers' homes on Trimble Street and Mill Street.

Dr. James Still: The Black Doctor of the Pines

Dr. James Still (1812–1882) was a self-taught African-American doctor. He was known as "the Black Doctor of the Pines." Dr. Still lived and worked in Medford.

His original home was taken down in 1932. However, his office building was saved in 2006. The State of New Jersey bought it. Now, it's the Dr. James Still Historic Office Site and Education Center.

Growth and Changes Over Time

Medford's location near the Camden and Atlantic Railroad helped it grow quickly. This was especially true after the American Civil War. The railroad made it easier to trade goods.

By the 1920s, the railroad line was gone. The milling industry also started to slow down. But Medford kept growing! Many families moved here from bigger cities like Philadelphia. They wanted a more rural and quiet lifestyle.

Medford's Location and Surroundings

Area and Natural Features

Medford Township covers about 39.81 square miles (103.10 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. Many small communities and places are located within Medford. Some of these include Chairville, Christopher Mills, and Taunton.

Medford is part of the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve. This is a special protected natural area. It has unique plants and animals. Congress created it in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.

Neighboring Towns

Medford Lakes is a separate town completely surrounded by Medford Township. This makes it one of 21 "doughnut towns" in New Jersey!

Medford Township shares borders with several other towns. These include Evesham Township (which includes Marlton), Lumberton, and Mount Laurel Township. It also borders towns in Camden County.

Climate in Medford

Medford Township has a humid continental climate. This means it has cold winters and hot summers. The air is humid all year round. On average, Medford gets about 41 inches of rain and 23 inches of snow each year.

People of Medford: Demographics

In 2020, Medford's population was 24,497 people. This was a good increase from 23,033 people in 2010. The population density was about 631 people per square mile.

Most people in Medford are White. However, the number of people from other racial and ethnic backgrounds is growing. About 26% of the population is under 18 years old. The average age in Medford is about 43.6 years.

Fun Things to Do in Medford

Parks and Nature

Jonathan Haines House

• Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge: This is a 170-acre nature preserve. It's also a wildlife rehabilitation center. You can visit and see rescued animals.
• Freedom Park: A great public park with lots of playground equipment. It has basketball and volleyball courts, bike paths, and open fields. There's even a special area for dogs!
• Kirby's Mill: This is an old flour mill. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Medford Canoe Trail: A newly cleared trail for canoeing. It connects Medford Park to Kirby's Mill.
• Historic Medford Village: This area offers unique shops and historic homes. It has an old-fashioned feel and hosts the traditional Dickens Festival.

Camps and Outdoor Activities

• JCC Camps at Medford: This is one of the biggest Jewish day camps in North America. It's been open since 1942. Kids aged three and up can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming pools, sports fields, and even a petting zoo!
• Camp Ockanickon, Matollionequay, and Stockwell: These are three YMCA summer camps. They cover over 800 acres in the Pine Barrens. They offer many outdoor activities and conference centers.

Learning in Medford: Education

Public Schools

The Medford Township Public Schools district serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. There are five elementary schools for younger students. There's a separate school for sixth graders. And another school for seventh and eighth graders.

• Elementary Schools (Grades K-5): Milton H. Allen School, Chairville Elementary School, Cranberry Pines School, Kirby's Mill Elementary School, and Taunton Forge School.
• Middle Schools: Maurice and Everett Haines Sixth Grade Center (6th grade) and Medford Memorial Middle School (7th-8th grades).

For high school, students attend Shawnee High School. This school is also located in Medford Township. It serves students from Medford and Medford Lakes. Shawnee High School is part of the Lenape Regional High School District. This district also includes students from other nearby towns.

Vocational and Private Schools

The Burlington County Institute of Technology has a campus in Medford. This school offers special training for different jobs. It's a vocational-technical school for students across Burlington County.

St. Mary of the Lakes School is a Catholic school. It was started in 1954. It teaches students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

Getting Around Medford: Transportation

Route 70 in Medford

Roads and Highways

Medford has over 179 miles of roadways. Most of these are maintained by the township itself. Some larger roads are managed by Burlington County or the state of New Jersey.

Important roads in Medford include Route 70, County Road 532, and County Road 541.

Public Transport and Airport

In the past, NJ Transit offered bus service to Philadelphia. This service has now stopped. However, Greyhound Lines provides bus service from nearby Mount Laurel. You can travel to many places across the country with Greyhound.

Medford also has a public airport called the Flying W Airport. It's located near the border with Lumberton Township.

Famous People From Medford

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Medford. Here are a few:

• Brenden Aaronson (born 2000) and Paxten Aaronson (born 2003): Professional soccer players.
• David Akers (born 1974): A former football player for the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Brandon Brooks (born 1989): Another former football player for the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Calista Flockhart (born 1964): An actress known for her role in Ally McBeal.
• Ron Jaworski (born 1951): A former NFL quarterback and sports analyst.
• Carl Lewis (born 1961): A famous athlete who won nine Olympic gold medals.
• Carli Lloyd (born 1982): A former professional soccer player.
• Rebecca Quick (born 1972): A television journalist for CNBC.
• Dee Dee Sharp (born 1945): An R&B singer.
• Mitch Williams (born 1964): A former baseball pitcher.

See also

In Spanish: Municipio de Medford (Nueva Jersey) para niños