Camden County, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Camden County
County
Rutgers University–Camden in Camden, August 2007
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
Founded	March 13, 1844
Named for	Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden
Seat	Camden
Largest municipality	Cherry Hill (population) Winslow Township (area)
Area
• Total	227.42 sq mi (589.0 km2)
• Land	221.36 sq mi (573.3 km2)
• Water	6.06 sq mi (15.7 km2)  2.7%
Population  (2020)
• Total	523,485
• Estimate  (2023)	527,196
• Density	2,301.84/sq mi (888.746/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st

Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its county seat is Camden. As of the 2020 census, the county was the state's ninth-most populous county, with a population of 523,485, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 9,828 (+1.9%) from the 2010 census count of 513,657, which in turn reflected an increase of 4,725 (0.9%) from the 508,932 counted in the 2000 census. The county is part of the South Jersey region of the state.

The most populous place was Cherry Hill with 74,553 residents in the 2020 census, and its geographically largest municipality is Winslow Township, which covers 58.19 square miles (150.7 km²). The county borders Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-most populous city, to its northwest.

The county was formed on March 13, 1844, from portions of Gloucester County. The county was named for Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, a British judge, civil libertarian, and defender of the American cause. Camden County is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan statistical area, also known as the Delaware Valley.

History

Etymology

Camden County is named after Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, who served as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. Camden City, the county seat, was incorporated in 1828.

Geography and climate

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of 227.42 square miles (589.0 km²), of which 221.36 square miles (573.3 km²) was land (97.3%) and 6.06 square miles (15.7 km²) was water (2.7%). Located in a coastal/alluvial plain, the county is uniformly flat and low-lying. The highest points are a survey benchmark near the Burlington County line at 219 feet (67 m) above sea level. The low point is sea level, along the Delaware River.

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Camden have ranged from a low of 26 °F (−3 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −11 °F (−24 °C) was recorded in February 1934 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in August 1918. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.75 inches (70 mm) in February to 4.35 inches (110 mm) in July. The county has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Average monthly temperatures in Chesilhurst range from 33.1 °F (0.6 °C) in January to 76.4 °F (24.7 °C) in July.

Demographics

With the merger of Pine Valley into Pine Hill in January 2022, Camden County has 36 municipalities of diverse sizes and populations. Nine are less than one square mile in area, and five have fewer than 2,000 residents (excluding Tavistock which is a golf course community with nominal populations). In 2020, a majority of county residents live in five municipalities having populations over 30,000: Cherry Hill (74,553), Camden (71,791), Gloucester Township (66,034), Winslow (39,097) and Pennsauken (37,034).

The 2018 American Community Survey estimated show 25 municipalities with poverty rates below the statewide average (10.5%). Nine municipalities had poverty rates higher than the county-wide estimate (12.6%): Camden, Woodlynne, Chesilhurst, Lawnside, Bellmawr, Clementon, Blackwood, Brooklawn, and Lindenwold. Additionally, Cherry Hill and Voorhees are affluent areas with higher-poverty areas including Echelon and Ellisburg.

2020 census

As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county had 523,485 people, 187,780 households, and 125,806 families. The population density was 2,365.9 inhabitants per square mile (913.5/km²). There were 212,759 housing units at an average density of 961.5 per square mile (371.2/km²). The county's racial makeup was 56.0% White, 19.3% African American, 0.47% Native American, 6.22% Asian, and 8.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.2% of the population.

There were 187,780 households, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 9.2% had a male householder with no wife present and 29.4% were non-families. 38.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.30.

About 22.5% of the county's population was under age 18, 8.1% was from age 18 to 24, 38.7% was from age 15 to 44, and 16.1% was age 65 or older. The median age was 38.7 years. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males.

The county's median household income was $73,672, and the median family income was $88,575. About 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 513,657 people, 190,980 households, and 129,866 families in the county. The population density was 2,321.5 inhabitants per square mile (896.3/km²). There were 204,943 housing units at an average density of 926.2 per square mile (357.6/km²). The racial makeup was 65.29% (335,389) White, 19.55% (100,441) Black or African American, 0.31% (1,608) Native American, 5.11% (26,257) Asian, 0.03% (165) Pacific Islander, 7.08% (36,354) from other races, and 2.62% (13,443) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.24% (73,124) of the population.

Of the 190,980 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18; 46.3% were married couples living together; 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 32% were non-families. Of all households, 26.3% were made up of individuals and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.22.

24.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.7 males.

Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the county's gross domestic product was $23.3 billion in 2021, which was ranked 11th in the state and was a 6.5% increase from the prior year.

Municipalities

The 36 municipalities in Camden County and the 2010 census data for population, housing units, and area are:

Historical municipalities

Defunct municipalities in the county (with years of formation and dissolution listed in parentheses) include:

• Centre Township (1855–1926)
• Clementon Township (1903–1941)
• Delaware Township (renamed as Cherry Hill)
• Newton Township (1695–1871)
• Stockton Township (1859–1899)
• Union Township (1831–1868)
• Pine Valley (1929-2022)

Education

Colleges and universities

Rutgers University-Camden is located in the downtown/waterfront district of Camden, and dates back to 1926 with the founding of the South Jersey Law School.

Rutgers School of Law–Camden is one of two campuses of Rutgers Law School, the other being in Newark.

The Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine is located in Stratford and dates to 1976. It is the state's only osteopathic medical school and was South Jersey's first four-year college of medicine.

The Cooper Medical School of Rowan University is located in the downtown/university district of Camden. Established as a four-year medical school in 1975, the relationship with Rowan University was formed in 2008.

Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences has a campus in Stratford which hosts its dental school and school of public health.

Rowan University at Camden is located on Cooper Street in Camden and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Camden County College is a two-year public community college serving students from Camden County. The school has campuses in Blackwood, Camden and Cherry Hill, and was founded in 1967.

Primary and secondary education

The county has the following school districts:

K-12

Secondary (9-12)

• Black Horse Pike Regional School District
• Camden County Technical Schools
• Eastern Camden County Regional High School District
• Sterling High School

Elementary (K-8, except as indicated)

Former school districts

• Pine Valley Borough School District, non-operating. Pine Valley Borough merged into Pine Hill Borough circa 2021.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden operates area Catholic schools.

Arts and culture

Fine and performing arts

The Ritz Theater in Haddon Township, constructed in 1927 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, hosts theater performances and film festivals.

Symphony in C was established as The Haddonfield Symphony in 1952 and is based on the campus of Rutgers University-Camden.

Perkins Center for the Arts has locations in Moorestown and Collingswood.

The Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood, recognized on the American Institute of Architects's list of "150 Best Buildings and Places" in New Jersey, hosts national music and theater performances.

Wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries

• Amalthea Cellars (located in the West Atco portion of Winslow Township)
• Devil's Creek Brewery (Collingswood)
• Tonewood Brewing (Oaklyn)
• Flying Fish Brewing (headquartered in Somerdale)
• Sharrott Winery (located in the Blue Anchor section of Winslow Township)
• Armageddon Brewing (Somerdale)

National protected area

• Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River (part)

Writers and poets

• Poet Walt Whitman lived in Camden County.
• Matthew Quick's novel The Silver Linings Playbook is set in Collingswood and Voorhees Township, although the screen adaptation is set in Pennsylvania.
• Poet Nick Virgilio was born in Camden and returned to Camden in 1958.

In films

• The Last Broadcast was partially filmed in the Pine Barrens.
• Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is partially set in Cherry Hill.
• Camden was the setting for several scenes in 12 Monkeys.

Transportation

Roads and highways

Camden County hosts numerous county, state, U.S., and Interstates. As of October 2015^[update], the county had a total of 2,045.06 miles (3,291.21 km) of roadways, of which 1,535.22 miles (2,470.70 km) are maintained by the municipality, 377.65 miles (607.77 km) by Camden County and 104.41 miles (168.03 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, 5.11 miles (8.22 km) by the Delaware River Port Authority, 9.07 miles (14.60 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and 13.60 miles (21.89 km) by the South Jersey Transportation Authority.

Major county roads that pass through include County Road 534, County Road 536, County Road 537, County Road 543, County Road 544, County Road 551 and County Road 561.

State routes that pass through are Route 38, Route 41, Route 42 (the North-South Freeway), Route 47 (only in Brooklawn), Route 70, Route 73, Route 90 (the Betsy Ross Bridge), Route 143 (only in Winslow), Route 154 (only in Cherry Hill) and Route 168.

U.S. Routes that traverse are U.S. Route 30 and U.S. Route 130. The interstates that pass through are Interstate 76 (part of the North-South Freeway and the Walt Whitman Bridge), Interstate 295 and Interstate 676 (part of the North-South Freeway and the Ben Franklin Bridge (which is multiplexed with US 30)).

Other limited access roads that pass through are the Atlantic City Expressway and the New Jersey Turnpike. There are five ACE interchanges that are within the county borders: Exits 44 (at NJ 42), 41 (at Berlin-Cross Keys Road / CR 689), 38 (at Williamstown-New Freedom Road / CR 536 Spur), 33 (connecting to NJ 73) and 31 (at NJ 73). The only turnpike interchange that is in the county is Exit 3 at the border of Runnemede and Bellmawr.

Public transportation

NJ Transit has stations along the Atlantic City Line in Pennsauken, Cherry Hill, Lindenwold and Atco in Waterford Township, connecting Philadelphia to Atlantic City along the former Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines main line.

The River Line is a diesel tram-train light-rail system operated for NJ Transit by the Southern New Jersey Rail Group on a former Pennsylvania Railroad line from Trenton. Most stations in the county are in the Camden, including the Walter Rand Transportation Center, except for the 36th Street, Pennsauken Transit Center and Pennsauken–Route 73 station located in Pennsauken Township.

The PATCO Speedline, owned by the Delaware River Port Authority, runs a rapid transit line across the Ben Franklin Bridge from Philadelphia through Camden to the PRSL main right-of-way between Haddonfield and its eastern terminus in Lindenwold. Suburban station stops include Woodcrest, Westmont and Collingswood.

NJ Transit provides commuter and long-distance bus service from many locations in the county to Philadelphia, with additional service to Atlantic City. Extensive local service is offered within the county, including routes to Camden and area train and light rail stations.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Camden (Nueva Jersey) para niños