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). 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 census, the county had a population of 523,485, 199,373 households, and 125,806 families. The population density was . There were 212,759 housing units at an average density of , of which 6.3% were vacant; among occupied units, 63.4% were owner-occupied and 36.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%.
Of the 199,373 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 43.3% were married-couple households, 17.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% 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.
Racial and ethnic composition
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Camden County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition<br><small></small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(NH = Non-Hispanic)</small>
!Pop 1980
!Pop 1990
!Pop 2000
!Pop 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020
!% 1980
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|White alone (NH)
|377,889
|376,357
|344,998
|309,648
|style='background: #ffffe6; |279,274
|80.12%
|74.85%
|67.79%
|60.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |53.35%
|-
|Black or African American alone (NH)
|66,497
|77,875
|88,017
|94,762
|style='background: #ffffe6; |95,135
|14.10%
|15.49%
|17.29%
|18.45%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |18.17%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|549
|914
|875
|859
|style='background: #ffffe6; |692
|0.12%
|0.18%
|0.17%
|0.17%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.13%
|-
|Asian alone (NH)
|5,036
|11,227
|18,710
|26,043
|style='background: #ffffe6; |32,328
|1.07%
|2.23%
|3.68%
|5.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.18%
|-
|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|x
|x
|123
|106
|style='background: #ffffe6; |99
|x
|x
|0.02%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02%
|-
|Other race alone (NH)
|1,053
|429
|573
|731
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,576
|0.22%
|0.09%
|0.11%
|0.14%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.49%
|-
|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|x
|x
|6,470
|8,384
|style='background: #ffffe6; |18,126
|x
|x
|1.27%
|1.63%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.46%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|20,626
|36,022
|49,166
|73,124
|style='background: #ffffe6; |95,255
|4.37%
|7.16%
|9.66%
|14.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |18.20%
|-
|Total
|471,650
|502,824
|508,932
|513,657
|style='background: #ffffe6; |523,485
|100.00%
|100.00%
|100.00%
|100.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%
|}
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 . There were 204,943 housing units at an average density of . 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 residents of any race were 14.24% (73,124) of the population.
Subaru of America and Campbell's corporate headquarters are in Camden County.
Government
County government
The county is governed by the Camden County Board of County Commissioners, composed of seven members chosen at-large in partisan elections for three-year terms on a staggered basis by the residents of the county, with either two or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At a reorganization meeting held in January after each election, the newly constituted Board of Commissioners selects one of its members to serve as director and another as deputy director. In 2016, freeholders were paid $23,000 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $24,000.
, Camden County's Commissioners are (with terms for director and deputy director ending every December 31):
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Commissioner
! Party, Residence, Term
|-
| Director Louis Cappelli Jr.
| D, Collingswood, 2026
|-
| Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell
| D, Pennsauken Township, 2025
|-
| Virginia Ruiz Betteridge
| D, Runnemede, 2025
|-
| Almar Dyer
| D, Pennsauken Township, 2027
|-
| Melinda Kane
| D, Cherry Hill, 2027
|-
| Jeffrey L. Nash
| D, Winslow Township, 2027
|-
| Jonathan L. Young Sr.
| D, Berlin Township, 2026
|}
Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term). Camden County's constitutional officers, all elected directly by voters, are:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title
! Representative
|-
| County Clerk
| Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D, Cherry Hill, 2029),
|-
| Sheriff
| Chuck Billingham (D, Gloucester City, 2027),
|-
| Surrogate
| Michelle Gentek-Mayer (D, Gloucester Township, 2025).
|}
The County Prosecutor is Grace C. MacAulay, who was sworn into office in January 2022. Camden County constitutes Vicinage 4 of the New Jersey Superior Court, which is seated at the Camden County Hall of Justice in Camden, with additional facilities at various locations in Cherry Hill. The Assignment Judge for the vicinage is Deborah Silverman Katz. As with most counties in the state, the court system in Camden County also includes municipal courts for each township, borough and city to handle traffic and other minor items. Law enforcement at the county level, in addition to a sheriff, includes the Camden County Police Department and the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. The Camden Police Department and the Camden County Park Police were absorbed into the newly formed Camden County Police Department in 2013.
In March 2019, Melinda Kane was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Bill Moen, who resigned from office to run for a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly. Kane served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office. No Republican has been elected to countywide office since 1991.
Federal representatives
Camden County is entirely within the 1st congressional district.
State representatives
The 36 municipalities of Camden County are part of three legislative districts.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!District
!Senator
!Assembly
<!-- PresRow should be -->
Camden County has long been a Democratic stronghold, and almost all of the county is in the 1st congressional district. The county usually votes overwhelmingly Democratic in national, state, and local elections. The county has only voted Republican for president five times since 1936, and for governor just twice since 1973. As of August 1, 2020, there were a total of 376,429 registered voters in Camden County, of whom 178,834 (47.5%) were registered as Democrats, 57,545 (15.3%) were registered as Republicans and 134,908 (35.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5,142 (1.4%) voters registered to other parties. Among the county's 2010 Census population, 69.1% were registered to vote, including 75.6% of those ages 18 and over.
State elections
Municipalities
The 36 municipalities in Camden County and the 2010 census data for population, housing units, and area are:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Municipality<br>(with map key)
! Map key
! Mun.<br>type
! Pop.
! Housing<br>units
! Total<br>area
! Water<br>area
! Land<br>Area
! Pop.<br>density
! Housing<br>density
! School district
! Communities
|-
|Audubon
|9|| borough || 8,707 || 3,779 || 1.50 || 0.02 || 1.49 || 5,925.7 || 2,539.2 || Audubon ||
|-
|Audubon Park
|6|| borough || 991 || 499 || 0.16 || 0.01 || 0.15 || 7,046.7 || 3,437.3 || Audubon (S/R) ||
|-
|Barrington
|16|| borough || 7,075 || 3,158 || 1.61 || 0.00 || 1.61 || 4,346.0 || 1,965.4 || Haddon Heights (9-12) (S/R)<br>Barrington (K-8) ||
|-
|Bellmawr
|12|| borough || 11,707 || 4,883 || 3.11 || 0.13 || 2.98 || 3,887.7 || 1,638.9 || Black Horse Pike (9-12)<br>Bellmawr (PK-8) ||
|-
|Berlin Borough
|28|| borough || 7,489 || 2,949 || 3.60 || 0.01 || 3.59 || 2,114.9 || 821.9 || E. Camden County (9-12)<br>Berlin Borough (PK-8) ||
|-
|Berlin Township
|32|| township || 5,867 || 2,069 || 3.24 || 0.01 || 3.23 || 1,657.5 || 640.2 || Pine Hill (9-12) (S/R)<br>Berlin Township (PK-8) || West Berlin CDP (2,686)
|-
|Brooklawn
|11|| borough || 1,815 || 806 || 0.52 || 0.03 || 0.49 || 3,974.6 || 1,638.6 || Gloucester City (9-12) (S/R)<br>Brooklawn (PK-8) ||
|-
|Camden
|2|| city || 71,191 || 28,358 || 10.34 || 1.42 || 8.92 || 8,669.6 || 3,178.7 || Camden ||
|-
|Cherry Hill
|35|| township || 74,553 || 28,452 || 24.24 || 0.15 || 24.10 || 2,948.3 || 1,180.7 || Cherry Hill || Ashland CDP (8,513)<br>Barclay CDP (4,656)<br>Cherry Hill Mall CDP (14,805)<br>Ellisburg CDP (4,601)<br>Golden Triangle CDP (4,764)<br>Greentree CDP (12,012)<br>Kingston Estates CDP (6,322)<br>Springdale CDP (14,518)<br>Westmont CDP (13,726)<br>Woodcrest
|-
|Chesilhurst
|29|| borough || 1,536 || 621 || 1.72 || 0.00 || 1.72 || 951.2 || 361.5 || Winslow Township (S/R) ||
|-
|Clementon
|25|| borough || 5,338 || 2,235 || 1.97 || 0.06 || 1.91 || 2,612.0 || 1,167.6 || Pine Hill (9-12) (S/R)<br>Clementon (PK-8) ||
|-
|Collingswood
|3|| borough || 14,186 || 6,822 || 1.92 || 0.10 || 1.82 || 7,639.4 || 3,742.3 || Collingswood ||
|-
|Gibbsboro
|24|| borough || 2,189 || 809 || 2.22 || 0.04 || 2.18 || 1,041.9 || 370.7 || E. Camden County (9-12)<br>Gibbsboro (K-8) ||
|-
|Gloucester City
|5|| city || 11,484 || 4,712 || 2.78 || 0.46 || 2.32 || 4,937.8 || 2,031.0 || Gloucester City ||
|-
|Gloucester Township
|33|| township || 66,034 || 24,711 || 23.26 || 0.28 || 22.98 || 2,812.2 || 1,075.2 || Black Horse Pike (9-12)<br>Gloucester Township (K-8) || Blackwood CDP (4,622)<br>Blenheim<br>Chews Landing<br>Glendora CDP (4,784)<br>Grenloch CDP (part; 863)
Sicklerville CDP (45,084)<br>Springdale CDP (14,811)
|-
|Haddon Township
|36|| township || 15,407 || 6,477 || 2.79 || 0.10 || 2.69 || 5,472.6 || 2,410.1 || Haddon Township ||
|-
|Haddonfield
|8|| borough || 12,550 || 4,634 || 2.87 || 0.05 || 2.82 || 4,104.9 || 1,640.8 || Haddonfield ||
|-
|Haddon Heights
|13|| borough || 7,495 || 3,159 || 1.57 || 0.01 || 1.57 || 4,764.1 || 2,013.9 || Haddon Heights ||
|-
|Hi-Nella
|20|| borough || 927 || 420 || 0.23 || 0.00 || 0.23 || 3,773.3 || 1,821.6 || Sterling (9-12) (S/R)<br>Stratford (PK-8) (S/R) ||
|-
|Laurel Springs
|22|| borough || 1,978 || 771 || 0.47 || 0.01 || 0.46 || 4,163.7 || 1,682.5 || Sterling (9-12) (S/R)<br>Stratford (7-8) (S/R)<br>Laurel Springs (K-6) ||
|-
|Lawnside
|15|| borough || 2,955 || 1,174 || 1.41 || 0.00 || 1.41 || 2,091.5 || 833.7 || Haddon Heights (9-12) (S/R)<br>Lawnside (K-8) ||
|-
|Lindenwold
|23|| borough || 21,641 || 8,251 || 3.95 || 0.06 || 3.89 || 4,525.1 || 2,119.8 || Lindenwold ||
|-
|Magnolia
|18|| borough || 4,352 || 1,850 || 0.97 || 0.00 || 0.97 || 4,485.3 || 1,911.5 || Sterling (9-12)<br>Magnolia (PK-8) ||
|-
|Merchantville
|1|| borough || 3,820 || 1,688 || 0.60 || 0.00 || 0.60 || 6,371.3 || 2,814.6 || Haddon Heights (9-12) (S/R)<br>Merchantville (PK-8) ||
|-
|Mount Ephraim
|10|| borough || 4,651 || 2,010 || 0.90 || 0.02 || 0.88 || 5,307.9 || 2,281.6 || Audubon (9-12) (S/R)<br>Mount Ephraim (PK-8) ||
|-
|Oaklyn
|7|| borough || 3,930 || 1,847 || 0.69 || 0.07 || 0.63 || 6,432.9 || 2,942.4 || Collingswood (6-12) (S/R)<br>Oaklyn (K-5) ||
|-
|Pennsauken<br>Township
|27|| township || 37,074 || 13,275 || 12.08 || 1.65 || 10.44 || 3,438.9 || 1,272.2 || Pennsauken ||
|-
|Pine Hill
|26|| borough || 10,764 || 4,357 || 3.91 || 0.04 || 3.87 || 2,643.4 || 1,125.5 || Pine Hill ||
|-
|Runnemede
|17|| borough || 8,324 || 3,548 || 2.11 || 0.06 || 2.06 || 4,117.2 || 1,725.1 || Black Horse Pike (9-12)<br>Runnemede (PK-8) ||
|-
|Somerdale
|19|| borough || 5,566 || 2,158 || 1.39 || 0.00 || 1.39 || 3,714.0 || 1,556.0 || Sterling (9-12)<br>Somerdale (PK-8) ||
|-
|Stratford
|21|| borough || 6,981 || 2,761 || 1.55 || 0.00 || 1.55 || 4,547.0 || 1,783.3 || Sterling (9-12)<br>Stratford (PK-8) ||
|-
|Tavistock
|14|| borough || 9 || 3 || 0.26 || 0.00 || 0.25 || 19.7 || 11.8 || Haddonfield (S/R) ||
|-
|Voorhees<br>Township
|34|| township || 31,069 || 12,260 || 11.64 || 0.15 || 11.49 || 2,534.9 || 1,066.8 || E. Camden County (9-12)<br>Voorhees (K-8) || Echelon CDP (11,896)<br>Kirkwood<br>Kresson<br>Osage
|-
|Waterford<br>Township
|31|| township || 10,421 || 3,839 || 36.27 || 0.23 || 36.04 || 295.5 || 106.5 || Hammonton (7-12) (S/R)<br>Waterford Township (PK-6) || Atco CDP (9,058)
|-
|Winslow<br>Township
|30|| township || 39,907 || 14,560 || 58.19 || 0.85 || 57.34 || 688.8 || 253.9 || Winslow Township || Sicklerville<br>Tansboro<br>Waterford Works<br>West Atco
|-
|Woodlynne
|4|| borough || 2,902 || 1,016 || 0.23 || 0.01 || 0.22 || 13,600.4 || 4,640.0 || Collingswood (9-12) (S/R)<br>Woodlynne (K-5) ||
|-
|Camden County
| || county || 523,485 || 204,943 || 227.29 || 6.03 || 221.26 || 2,321.5 || 926.2 || ||
|}
Historical municipalities
Defunct municipalities in the county (with years of formation and dissolution listed in parentheses) include:
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 Health 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:
- Audubon School District
- Camden City School District
- Cherry Hill Public Schools
- Collingswood Public Schools
- Gloucester City Public Schools
- Haddon Heights School District
- Haddon Township School District
- Haddonfield Public Schools
- Lindenwold Public Schools
- Pennsauken Public Schools
- Pine Hill Schools
- Winslow Township School District
;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):
- Barrington Public Schools
- Bellmawr School District
- Berlin Borough School District
- Berlin Township Public Schools
- Brooklawn Public School District
- Chesilhurst Borough School District (K-6)
- Clementon School District
- Gibbsboro School District
- Gloucester Township Public Schools
- Laurel Springs School District (K-6)
- Lawnside School District
- Magnolia School District
- Merchantville School District
- Mount Ephraim Public Schools
- Oaklyn Public School District (K-5)
- Runnemede Public School District
- Somerdale School District
- Stratford School District
- Voorhees Township Public Schools
- Waterford Township School District (K-6)
- Woodlynne School District
;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
thumb|right|The Ritz Theater, Haddon Township
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.
The Walter K. Gordon Theater at Rutgers University-Camden hosts student and other productions.
The South Camden Theater features plays and other works throughout the year with a focus on local playwrights and actors.
The Stedman Gallery at Rutgers University-Camden houses works of local, national, and international artists.
Wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries
- Amalthea Cellars (located in the West Atco portion of Winslow Township)
- Raccoon Brewery (Collingswood)
- Tonewood Brewing (Oaklyn and Barrington)
- King's Road Brewery (Haddonfield)
- Mechanical Brewing (Cherry Hill)
- Eclipse Brewery (Merchantville)
- Double Nickel Brewery (Pennsauken)
- 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, poets, and artists
thumb|Walt Whitman House, Camden, New Jersey
- Poet Walt Whitman lived in Camden.
- Matthew Quick's novel The Silver Linings Playbook is set in Collingswood and Voorhees Township, although the screen adaptation is set in Pennsylvania. Quick grew up in Oaklyn, graduated from Collingswood High School and is a former teacher in the Haddonfield School District.
- Poet Nick Virgilio was born in Camden and returned to Camden in 1958.
- Children's author Marguerite de Angeli lived in Collingswood
- Visual artist Mickalene Thomas was born in Camden.
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
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.
thumb|PATCO train in Haddonfield
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.
Roads and highways
Camden County hosts numerous county, state, U.S., and Interstates. , the county had a total of of roadways, of which are maintained by the municipality, by Camden County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, by the Delaware River Port Authority, by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and 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.
thumb|Ben Franklin Bridge pedestrian walkway looking west toward Philadelphia
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) The only turnpike interchange that is in the county is Exit 3 at the border of Runnemede and Bellmawr.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Camden County, New Jersey
References
Further reading
- History of Camden County in the Great War, 1917–1918 Camden, NJ: Publicity and Historical Committee, 1919.
External links
- Official website
- Camden County Historic Photos, Part I (Audubon, New Jersey to Camden, New Jersey)
- Camden County Historic Photos, Part II (Cherry Hill, New Jersey to Haddon Township, New Jersey)
- Camden County Historic Photos, Part III (Haddonfield, New Jersey to Pennsauken Township, New Jersey)
- Camden County Historic Photos, Part IV (Pine Hill, New Jersey to Woodlynne, New Jersey)
- Camden County Historical Society
