Medford Lakes, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Medford Lakes, New Jersey
|
|
|---|---|
|
Borough
|
|
Lower Aetna Lake
|
|
| Motto(s):
Medford Lakes-in-the-pines, the year round summer playground
|
|
Location of Medford Lakes in Burlington County highlighted in red with arrow (right). Inset map: Location of Burlington County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
|
|
Census Bureau map of Medford Lakes, New Jersey
|
|
 Medford Lakes, New Jersey
Location in Burlington County, New Jersey
Medford Lakes, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Medford Lakes, New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Burlington |
| Incorporated | May 17, 1939 |
| Named for | Medford, Massachusetts |
| Government | |
| • Type | 1923 Municipal Manager Law |
| • Body | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.27 sq mi (3.29 km2) |
| • Land | 1.14 sq mi (2.95 km2) |
| • Water | 0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2) 10.24% |
| Area rank | 476th of 565 in state 35th of 40 in county |
| Elevation | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 4,264 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
4,291 |
| • Rank | 405th of 565 in state 30th of 40 in county |
| • Density | 3,741.2/sq mi (1,444.5/km2) |
| • Density rank | 178th of 565 in state 8th 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 | 3400545210 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885295 |
| Website | |
Medford Lakes is a small town, also called a borough, located in Burlington County, New Jersey. In 2020, about 4,264 people lived here. This area is part of a larger region that includes the cities of Philadelphia, Reading, and Camden.
Medford Lakes became an official borough on May 17, 1939. It was formed from parts of Medford Township. The town got its name from Medford Township, which was named after Medford, Massachusetts.
The borough is special because it has 22 lakes and many unique log cabins. These lakes and the surrounding communities are part of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, which helps protect the natural environment. A group called the Medford Lakes Colony helps manage the lakes and fun places for people to use.
History
Early Days: Native Americans and European Settlers
Long ago, the area where Medford Lakes is now was home to the Lenni-Lenape tribe. They used the many lakes and forests for food and shelter. Later, in the 17th century, Europeans arrived. The English took control from the Dutch. The first permanent European settlements began in the 18th century. At that time, the land was mostly used for farming and cutting down trees for wood.
Medford Lakes During the American Revolution
During the American Revolutionary War, a place called Charles Read's Aetna Furnace was very important. It used local bog iron to make cannonballs for the American army. Also, a man named John Haines built a saw and grist mill. These early industries helped shape the area that would become Medford Lakes.
Growth and Log Cabins
In the 19th century, Medford Lakes became an industrial center. More iron was mined, and factories were built along the waterways. The number of people living here grew a lot.
The Medford Lakes Development Company started in 1927. They began building special log cabins. These cabins were great for keeping warm in winter and cool in summer. They often had big stone fireplaces. This made Medford Lakes a popular place for people from Philadelphia and New York City to visit all year round. In 1931, the St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church, a log cabin itself, was built. It is now a historic place.
Becoming a Borough and Modern Life
Medford Lakes officially became a borough on May 17, 1939. Since then, the town has worked hard to keep its special log cabin look. Over time, it changed from being mostly a summer vacation spot to a place where people live all year.
The Annual Canoe Carnival
Every year since 1931, Medford Lakes hosts the Canoe Carnival. This fun event happens on Lower Aetna Lake in the first week of August. People create amazing floats using canoes. Spectators watch from the lake shore. A winner is chosen, along with a king, queen, and court.
Geography
Where is Medford Lakes Located?
Medford Lakes covers about 1.293 square miles (3.348 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 0.131 square miles (0.340 square kilometers) is water. The borough is completely surrounded by Medford Township. This makes it one of 21 "doughnut towns" in New Jersey, where one town completely wraps around another.
The Pinelands National Reserve
Medford Lakes is part of the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve. This is a huge protected natural area covering over 1.1 million acres. It's known for its unique plants and animals. The Pinelands is a special place that helps protect the environment.
Climate in Medford Lakes
| Climate data for Medford Lakes, New Jersey | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 41 (5) |
42 (6) |
51 (11) |
62 (17) |
73 (23) |
82 (28) |
86 (30) |
84 (29) |
77 (25) |
68 (20) |
55 (13) |
44 (7) |
64 (18) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23 (−5) |
23 (−5) |
32 (0) |
37 (3) |
48 (9) |
57 (14) |
60 (16) |
60 (16) |
53 (12) |
41 (5) |
32 (0) |
26 (−3) |
41 (5) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Population
How Many People Live in Medford Lakes?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 137 | — | |
| 1950 | 461 | 236.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,876 | 523.9% | |
| 1970 | 4,792 | 66.6% | |
| 1980 | 4,958 | 3.5% | |
| 1990 | 4,462 | −10.0% | |
| 2000 | 4,173 | −6.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,146 | −0.6% | |
| 2020 | 4,264 | 2.8% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 4,291 | 3.5% | |
| Population sources: 1940–2000 1940–1990 2000<2010 2020 |
|||
In 2010, there were 4,146 people living in Medford Lakes. By 2020, the population had grown slightly to 4,264 people. The town has grown quite a bit since 1940, when only 137 people lived there.
Education
Schools in Medford Lakes
Students in Medford Lakes from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend schools run by the Medford Lakes School District. The district has two schools:
- Nokomis School: For students in Pre-K through 2nd grade.
- Neeta School: For students in grades 3 through 8.
High School Education
After eighth grade, students from Medford Lakes go to Shawnee High School. This high school is located in Medford Township. Shawnee High School is part of the Lenape Regional High School District. This district serves students from eight different towns in Burlington County.
Students in Burlington County, including those from Medford Lakes, can also choose to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology. This school offers special vocational and technical training for high school students and adults. It has campuses in Medford and Westampton.
Transportation
Roads in Medford Lakes
Medford Lakes has about 27.42 miles of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the town itself. The main roads that go through Medford Lakes are County Route 532 and County Route 541.
_between_Trading_Post_Way_and_Aetna_Way-Powhatan_Trail_in_Medford_Lakes,_Burlington_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Notable People
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Medford Lakes, including:
- Brian Earl: A former professional basketball player. He is now a college basketball coach.
- Dan Earl: Also a basketball coach, like his brother Brian.
- George Makris: He was the head coach for the Temple Owls football team.
- Gregg Rakoczy: An NFL football player who played for the Cleveland Browns.
- Liz Tchou: A former field hockey player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
See also
In Spanish: Medford Lakes para niños
