Tabernacle Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tabernacle Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Center of the township — The municipal building is in the foreground
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| Motto(s):
Gateway to the Pines
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Tabernacle Township highlighted in Burlington County. Inset map: Burlington County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
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Census Bureau map of Tabernacle Township, New Jersey
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 Tabernacle Township, New Jersey
Location in Burlington County, New Jersey
Tabernacle Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Tabernacle Township, 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 |  Burlington |
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| Incorporated | March 22, 1901 | |
| Named for | Tabernacle in the Wilderness Church | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 49.63 sq mi (128.54 km2) | |
| • Land | 49.20 sq mi (127.43 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.43 sq mi (1.11 km2) 0.86% | |
| Area rank | 33rd of 565 in state 5th of 40 in county |
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| Elevation | 69 ft (21 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,776 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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6,877 | |
| • Rank | 324th of 565 in state 24th of 40 in county |
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| • Density | 137.7/sq mi (53.2/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 526th of 565 in state 36th of 40 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08088
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| Area code(s) | 609 exchanges: 268, 801, 859 | |
| FIPS code | 3400572060 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882081 | |
| Website | ||
Tabernacle Township is a community in Burlington County, New Jersey. It's a type of local government called a township. In 2020, about 6,776 people lived here.
Tabernacle was officially created as a township on March 22, 1901. It was formed from parts of nearby areas like Shamong, Southampton, and Woodland. The township got its name from a church called "Tabernacle in the Wilderness."
This area is part of the larger Philadelphia-Reading-Camden region. Magazines have often ranked Tabernacle Township as one of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey. For example, New Jersey Monthly ranked it 6th in 2010.
Contents
History of Tabernacle Township
The land where Tabernacle Township is today was first home to the Lenape Native Americans.
Early Settlements and Churches
In 1778, a person named John Brainerd started a Christian church. He called it "Tabernacle in the Wilderness." His goal was to teach local Native Americans about Christianity. Later, in 1803, land was sold to create the Tabernacle Cemetery next to this church.
The church building was also used as a school at first. As more people moved to the area, a special one-room schoolhouse was built in 1856. This school was located where the Tabernacle Town Hall is now.
Around 1860, Gilbert Knight built the Knight-Pepper House. This house was later given to the Tabernacle Historic Society. In the 1880s, the Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal Church was built on the original church site. It is still there today.
Becoming a Township
Tabernacle officially became a township on March 22, 1901. This happened through a law passed by the New Jersey Legislature. It included parts of Shamong, Southampton, and Woodland townships.
Aviation History and Growth
On July 13, 1928, a famous pilot named Emilio Carranza crashed in Tabernacle. He was known as the "Lindbergh of Mexico." He crashed during a storm while flying from New York City to Mexico.
A special monument, the Carranza Memorial, was built to remember him. Mexican schoolchildren helped pay for it. A road in the area was also renamed Carranza Road in his honor.
In 1909, the old one-room schoolhouse was replaced with a bigger two-room school. This school was moved in 1936, and two more rooms were added. Later, in the 1950s, Tabernacle Elementary School was built. Kenneth R. Olson Middle School was built nearby in 1968. It was renamed after Kenneth R. Olson, who passed away in 1990.
In 2003, Seneca High School opened. It serves high school students from Tabernacle and other nearby townships.
The population of Tabernacle grew a lot in the 1970s and 1980s. It went from 2,103 people in 1970 to 6,236 in 1980. This was because many people were moving to the suburbs in South Jersey. The population reached its highest point in 1990 with 7,362 residents. Since then, it has slowly decreased.
Geography and Nature
Tabernacle Township covers about 49.63 square miles (128.54 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
Local Communities and Borders
Many small communities and places are located within Tabernacle Township. Some of these include Apple Pie Hill, Friendship, Eagle, and White Horse Station.
Tabernacle Township shares its borders with several other townships in Burlington County. These include Medford Township, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Washington Township, and Woodland Township.
The Pinelands National Reserve
Tabernacle Township is part of the Pinelands National Reserve. This is a special natural area in New Jersey. It protects a unique environment with many plants and animals. The Pinelands is a very large area, covering about 1.1 million acres. It was made a National Reserve by the U.S. Congress in 1978.
Population and People
Tabernacle Township has seen its population change over the years.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 487 | — | |
| 1920 | 431 | −11.5% | |
| 1930 | 460 | 6.7% | |
| 1940 | 490 | 6.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,034 | 111.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,621 | 56.8% | |
| 1970 | 2,103 | 29.7% | |
| 1980 | 6,236 | 196.5% | |
| 1990 | 7,360 | 18.0% | |
| 2000 | 7,170 | −2.6% | |
| 2010 | 6,949 | −3.1% | |
| 2020 | 6,776 | −2.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 6,877 | −1.0% | |
| Population sources: 1910–2000 1910–1920 1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 6,949 people living in Tabernacle Township. Most of the residents were White. About 24.1% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age of people in the township was 42.8 years.
Parks and Fun Things to Do
Tabernacle Township offers several places for outdoor activities and recreation.
- The Carranza Monument: This is a 12-foot tall monument in the Wharton State Forest. It marks the spot where pilot Emilio Carranza crashed in 1928. The monument shows a falling eagle. Every July, people gather here to honor him.
- Delanco Camp: This is a Christian camp meeting and summer camp located by Lake Agape. It has been here since 1964.
- The Batona Trail: This is a long hiking trail, about 49.5 miles long. A big part of it goes through Tabernacle Township.
- Apple Pie Hill: This is the highest point in the Pine Barrens. It is 205 feet above sea level. There is a 60-foot fire tower on top that offers amazing views of the region. Sometimes, you can go up the tower when park staff are there.
Schools in Tabernacle
The Tabernacle School District serves students from pre-kindergarten up to eighth grade. There are two schools in the district:
- Tabernacle Elementary School (for Pre-K to 4th grade)
- Kenneth R. Olson Middle School (for 5th to 8th grade)
After eighth grade, students from Tabernacle Township go to Seneca High School. This high school is located in Tabernacle Township. It also serves students from Shamong, Southampton, and Woodland Townships. Seneca High School is part of the Lenape Regional High School District.
Students from Tabernacle and all of Burlington County can also attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology. This school offers special vocational and technical training for high school students. It has campuses in Medford and Westampton.
Getting Around Tabernacle
Tabernacle Township has many roads. Most of them are maintained by the township itself.
The two main roads that go through Tabernacle are County Route 532 and U.S. Route 206.
Larger highways like the Atlantic City Expressway, Garden State Parkway, Interstate 295, and New Jersey Turnpike are not directly in Tabernacle. However, you can reach them by driving a short distance to nearby towns.
There are only two traffic lights in Tabernacle Township, and both are on U.S. Route 206.
Famous People from Tabernacle
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Tabernacle Township.
- Howard P. Boyd (born 1914): A scientist who studied the Pine Barrens.
- Sean Doolittle (born 1986): A professional baseball player who was a relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals.
- Shana Hiatt (born 1975): A model and host of the TV show Poker After Dark.
- Brandon Taylor (born 1994): A professional basketball player.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Tabernacle (Nueva Jersey) para niños
