Haddonfield, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Haddonfield, New Jersey
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Borough
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Downtown Haddonfield in March 2005
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Location of Haddonfield in Camden County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Camden County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
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Census Bureau map of Haddonfield, New Jersey
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 Haddonfield, New Jersey
Location in Camden County, New Jersey
Haddonfield, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Haddonfield, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County | Camden | |
| Incorporated | April 6, 1875 | |
| Named for | Elizabeth Haddon | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Walsh Act | |
| • Body | Board of Commissioners | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.84 sq mi (7.36 km2) | |
| • Land | 2.80 sq mi (7.24 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.12 km2) 1.58% | |
| Area rank | 350th of 565 in state 13th of 37 in county |
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| Elevation | 75 ft (23 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,550 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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12,571 | |
| • Rank | 204th of 565 in state 10th of 37 in county |
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| • Density | 4,488.6/sq mi (1,733.1/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 133rd of 565 in state 13th of 37 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08033
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| Area code(s) | 856 | |
| FIPS code | 3400728770 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885238 | |
Haddonfield is a small town called a borough in Camden County, New Jersey. In 2020, about 12,550 people lived there. This was an increase from 2010.
Haddonfield became its own town on April 6, 1875. It was named after Elizabeth Haddon, an early settler.
Contents
Discovering Haddonfield's Past
Early Settlers and Native Americans
Long ago, the Lenape Native American tribe lived in the Haddonfield area. They moved away before settlers arrived. People have found arrowheads and broken pottery near the Cooper River. This suggests that Native Americans once had a settlement here.
In 1682, Francis Collins, a Quaker from England, was the first European settler. He built a house called "Mountwell." Later, Elizabeth Haddon (1680–1762) helped develop the town. Her father, John Haddon, bought land to escape religious problems in England. Elizabeth sailed to America by herself in 1701. She later married John Estaugh, a Quaker minister. The town was named after her father, John Haddon, even though he never came to America.
The Indian King Tavern and American Independence
The Indian King Tavern was built in 1750. It played a big part in the American Revolutionary War. The New Jersey Legislature met there to avoid British soldiers. In 1777, they declared New Jersey an independent state. Today, the tavern is a historical site and museum. Since 1873, Haddonfield has been a "dry town," meaning alcohol cannot be sold there. However, it can be made and given out in town.
Unearthing Dinosaurs: A Historic Discovery
Haddonfield is famous for a big discovery in paleontology (the study of fossils). In 1838, William Estaugh Hopkins found large bones in a marl pit. These bones caught the attention of William Foulke. In 1858, Foulke dug up the first nearly complete dinosaur skeleton found in North America. It was a Hadrosaurus foulkii.
The skeleton was put together in 1868. You can still see it at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. A 17-foot (5.2 m) bronze statue of "Haddy" stands in the center of Haddonfield. Hadrosaurus became the official state dinosaur of New Jersey in 1991.
Becoming a Borough and Community Spirit
In 1875, Haddonfield became the first community to separate from Haddon Township. It became its own self-governing borough. Haddonfield is known for its old homes and unique shops. It's also a center for legal services in southern New Jersey.
Haddonfield is home to one of the oldest volunteer fire companies in the United States. The Haddon Fire Company No. 1 started in 1764. Its members used to bring leather buckets to fight fires.
In 1971, Haddonfield was one of the first towns in New Jersey to create a historic preservation district. This helps keep the town looking old and charming.
Exploring Haddonfield's Geography
Haddonfield covers about 2.84 square miles (7.36 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
The Cooper River forms the boundary between Haddonfield and Cherry Hill. Haddonfield shares borders with several other towns, including Audubon and Haddon Township.
Bodies of Water in Haddonfield
- Driscoll Pond is a small pond below Hopkins Pond. It's part of Hopkins Pond park.
- Hopkins Pond is held by a large dam. Hopkins Lane is built on top of this dam. Sometimes, there are concerns about algae in the pond.
- Evans Pond is in Wallworth Park. It flows into Wallworth Lake.
- Wallworth Lake is also in Wallworth Park, below Evans Pond. Both ponds are actually parts of the Cooper River.
People and Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 944 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,075 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,480 | 37.7% | |
| 1890 | 2,502 | 69.1% | |
| 1900 | 2,776 | 11.0% | |
| 1910 | 4,142 | 49.2% | |
| 1920 | 5,646 | 36.3% | |
| 1930 | 8,857 | 56.9% | |
| 1940 | 9,742 | 10.0% | |
| 1950 | 10,495 | 7.7% | |
| 1960 | 13,201 | 25.8% | |
| 1970 | 13,118 | −0.6% | |
| 1980 | 12,337 | −6.0% | |
| 1990 | 11,628 | −5.7% | |
| 2000 | 11,669 | 0.4% | |
| 2010 | 11,593 | −0.7% | |
| 2020 | 12,550 | 8.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 12,571 | 8.4% | |
| Population sources: 1850–1960 1880–2000 1880–1920 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2010 2020 |
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Haddonfield's Community in 2010
In 2010, there were 11,593 people living in Haddonfield. Most residents were White (95.23%). About 1.11% were Black or African American, and 1.85% were Asian. About 2.14% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (36.0%) had children under 18. Most families (61.7%) were married couples. The average household had 2.61 people. About 27.7% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age was 42.9 years.
Places to Visit in Haddonfield
The Indian King Tavern Museum
The Indian King Tavern is a historic building. In 1777, the New Jersey General Assembly met here. They officially declared New Jersey an independent state. Today, it's a State Historic Site and museum. You can take guided tours to learn about its history.
The Hadrosaurus Dinosaur Statue
On Kings Highway, Haddonfield's main street, you'll find a statue of a Hadrosaurus dinosaur. This type of dinosaur was first discovered in Haddonfield. The statue was put up in 2003. It's a main landmark and a kind of mascot for the town.
Parks and Fun Activities
Haddonfield has many parks managed by the Camden County Parks Department:
- Hopkins Pond park covers over 33 acres. It includes both Hopkins Pond and Driscoll Pond.
- Pennypacker Park is near the Cooper River. It's where the Hadrosaurus Foulkii Leidy Site is located.
- Wallworth Park has Evans Pond and Wallworth Pond. These ponds are connected by dams.
Other groups also maintain parks:
- The Crows Woods Complex has community gardens and fields for public use. It also has a hiking trail.
- Mountwell Park has a small playground, a baseball field, and wooded areas.
Education in Haddonfield
Public Schools for All Ages
The Haddonfield Public Schools district serves students from pre-kindergarten through high school. Students from Tavistock also attend these schools. In the 2022–23 school year, about 2,766 students were enrolled.
The district has five schools:
- Central Elementary School (PreK-5)
- Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School (PreK-5)
- J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School (PreK-5)
- Haddonfield Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Haddonfield Memorial High School (grades 9-12)
Several Haddonfield schools have won the National Blue Ribbon School award. This is a very high honor for American schools. J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School won it in 2023. Elizabeth Haddon School won in 2015, and Haddonfield Memorial High School won in 2004-05.
Private Schools in the Area
- Haddonfield Friends School is a Quaker school that started in 1786. It served students from Pre-K through eighth grade.
- Christ the King Regional School was founded in 1940. It serves students from Pre-K3 through eighth grade. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.
- The Beechwood School, founded in 1951, is a private preschool for children aged 2.5 to 6.
Bancroft School, a special education school, was in Haddonfield until 2017. It has since moved to Mount Laurel.
Fun Events in Haddonfield
Haddonfield hosts many special events throughout the year:
- A community sidewalk sale in the summer.
- A fall festival in October, where local groups have booths. Kids can make scarecrows.
- A weekly farmers' market from May to November.
- The Haddonfield Crafts & Fine Arts Festival, with many vendors.
- A yearly car show in September.
- Historic house tours and designer show houses.
Reenacting History: The Annual Skirmish
Every June, the Haddonfield Historical Society hosts an annual skirmish. People dress up as redcoats (British soldiers) and militia men. They reenact a battle that happened when the British retreated from the Battle of Red Bank. This event includes colonial dancing, yelling contests, and tours of Historic Haddonfield.
Getting Around Haddonfield
Haddonfield is a very walkable town. Most streets have sidewalks. You can walk from almost any part of town to another. The town promotes a speed limit of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) on all streets.
Roads and Highways
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Route 41 (Kings Highway) goes through the center of Haddonfield. It crosses County Route 561 (Haddon Avenue) in the main business area. Interstate 295 is nearby. The New Jersey Turnpike also passes through the borough.
Public Transportation Options
The PATCO Speedline train has a Haddonfield station. This links Haddonfield to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You can also go to Lindenwold, New Jersey, and transfer to other trains and buses.
NJ Transit provides local bus service. Routes 451, 455, and 457 all stop at the PATCO station.
Famous People from Haddonfield
- John Adler (1959–2011), a politician who served in the U.S. Congress.
- Graham Alexander (born 1989), a singer and entertainer.
- Chris Barrett (born 1982), a filmmaker.
- Brian Boucher (born 1977), an NHL goalie.
- Sam Bradford (born 1987), a former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner.
- Andy Breckman (born 1955), a writer for TV shows like Monk.
- Daniel Brière (born 1977), an NHL player.
- William T. Cahill (1912–1996), a former Governor of New Jersey.
- Joanna Cassidy (born 1945), an actress who grew up in Haddonfield.
- Bobby Clarke (born 1949), a former hockey player and executive for the Philadelphia Flyers.
- Edward Drinker Cope (1840–1897), a paleontologist who lived in Haddonfield to be near fossils.
- Greg Dobbs (born 1978), a former MLB player for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Erin Donohue (born 1983), an athlete who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Alfred E. Driscoll (1902–1975), a former Governor of New Jersey.
- Kevin Eastman (born 1955), a basketball coach.
- Rawly Eastwick (born 1950), a former MLB pitcher.
- Ray Emery (born 1982), an NHL goalie.
- Nick Foles (born 1989), an NFL quarterback who played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Jena Friedman, a comedian and writer.
- Claude Giroux (born 1988), an NHL player.
- Dan Gutman (born 1955), an author.
- Marielle Hall (born 1992), a long-distance runner.
- Bryce Harper (born 1992), an MLB first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Derian Hatcher (born 1972), an NHL player and coach.
- Debra Hill (1950–2005), a co-writer and producer of the film Halloween.
- Jeff Hornacek (born 1963), a former NBA player and coach.
- Pam Jenoff (born 1971), an author.
- Chip Kelly (born 1963), a college football coach.
- Ian Laperrière (born 1974), an NHL player and coach.
- Brad Lidge (born 1976), a former MLB pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Matt Maloney (born 1971), a former NBA player.
- Charlie Manuel (born 1944), a former manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Timothy Matlack (1736–1829), a soldier in the American Revolutionary War.
- Bob McElwee (born 1935), a former NFL football official.
- Joel McHale (born 1971), a comedian and actor.
- Scott Patterson (born 1958), an actor known for Gilmore Girls.
- Chris Pronger (born 1974), an NHL player.
- Mike Richards (born 1985), an NHL player.
- James Rolfe (born 1980), creator of The Angry Video Game Nerd.
- Jennifer Sey (born 1969), a former artistic gymnast and author.
- Mel Sheppard (1883–1942), an Olympic gold medalist in running.
- Tom Sims (1950–2012), a pioneer in snowboarding.
- Jason Smith (born 1973), an NHL player.
- Steven Spielberg (born 1946), a famous film director, lived nearby as a child.
- Frank Stefanko (born 1946), a photographer of rock musicians.
- I. F. Stone (1907–1989), an author and activist.
- Kimmo Timonen (born 1975), an NHL defenseman.
- Eric Weinrich (born 1966), an NHL player.
See also
In Spanish: Haddonfield para niños
