Township of Mount Laurel, NJ

History Mount Laurel was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1872, from portions of Evesham Township.[21] The township was named for a hill covered with laurel trees.[22] There are several historical landmarks, including General Clinton's headquarters, Paulsdale, Evesham Friends Meeting House, Jacob's Chapel, Hattie Britt School and Farmer's Hall.[23] Mount Laurel Decision The Mount Laurel Decision is a judicial interpretation of the New Jersey State Constitution that requires municipalities to use their zoning powers in an affirmative manner to provide a realistic opportunity for the production of housing affordable to low and moderate income households. The decision was a result of a lawsuit brought against the town by the N.A.A.C.P. that was decided by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 1975 and reaffirmed in a subsequent decision in 1983.[24] The history behind this, and the story leading to the Decision was highlighted in Our Town, a book by David L. Kirp.[25] Mount Laurel was a small, rural farming community until it was hit with massive suburban growth from Philadelphia in the later 1960s. Some families, whose history had resided there for centuries, were suddenly priced out of buying property. In 1970, at a meeting about a proposal for affordable housing, held at an all black church in Mount Laurel, Mayor Bill Haines summed up the newcomers' perspective by saying: "If you people can't afford to live in our town, then you'll just have to leave."[25] Even though the black families in Mount Laurel were not from urban ghettos, and were not involved in gang activity, the new suburban influx thought otherwise, and significantly delayed the creation of affordable housing areas, citing concerns of gang activity and an influx of inner city criminals. Exampled comments from town meetings against forced construction of housing projects included "we need this like Custer needed more Indians"; "it's reverse discrimination"; "we lived in this in South Philly and Newark", and that the housing would be a "breeding ground for violent crime and drug abuse".[25] Resident advocates of the housing initiative were treated with abuse and threats. Leading advocate Ethel Lawrence, a black resident who lived her life in Mount Laurel, had her house repeatedly vandalized, and once her bedroom window was damaged by gunfire.[26][27] Longtime white residents also tried to force the black residents out of town. Although the court ruled in favor of creating affordable housing, residents did manage to delay the process for decades.[25] Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 21.99 square miles (56.95 km2), including 21.72 square miles (56.26 km2) of land and 0.27 square miles (0.69 km2) of water (1.21%).[1][2] It is drained by the Delaware River and Parkers Creek (a tributary of Rancocas Creek) and the South Branch Pennsauken Creek flow through its eastern and western portions respectively. Mount Laurel has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and average monthly temperatures range from 33.0° F in January to 76.9° F in July.[28] The local hardiness zone is 7a. Ramblewood (with a 2010 Census population of 5,907) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Mount Laurel.[29] Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Birchfield,[citation needed] Bougher, Centerton, Colemantown, Coxs Corner, Fellowship, Hartford, Heulings Hill, Masonville, Petersburg, Pine Grove, and Rancocas Woods.[30] The township borders the municipalities of Evesham Township, Hainesport Township, Lumberton Township, Maple Shade Township, Medford, Moorestown and Willingboro Township in Burlington County; and Cherry Hill in Camden County.[31][32][33] Demographics Historical population Census Pop. %± 1880 1,739 — 1890 1,699 −2.3% 1900 1,644 −3.2% 1910 1,573 −4.3% 1920 1,667 6.0% 1930 1,929 15.7% 1940 2,189 13.5% 1950 2,817 28.7% 1960 5,249 86.3% 1970 11,221 113.8% 1980 17,614 57.0% 1990 30,270 71.9% 2000 40,221 32.9% 2010 41,864 4.1% 2019 (est.) 41,250 [12][34][35] −1.5% Population sources: 1880-2000[36] 1880-1920[37] 1880-1890[38] 1890-1910[39] 1910-1930[40] 1930-1990[41] 2000[42][43] 2010[9][10][11] 2010 Census The 2010 United States Census counted 41,864 people, 17,538 households, and 11,294 families in the township. The population density was 1,930.0 inhabitants per square mile (745.2/km2). There were 18,249 housing units at an average density of 841.3 per square mile (324.8/km2). The racial makeup was 79.42% (33,249) White, 9.70% (4,061) Black or African American, 0.16% (67) Native American, 7.26% (3,040) Asian, 0.04% (17) Pacific Islander, 1.00% (418) from other races, and 2.42% (1,012) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.56% (1,907) of the population.[9] Of the 17,538 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18; 51.0% were married couples living together; 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.6% were non-families. Of all households, 30.4% were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.[9] 22.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 87.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 83.5 males.[9] The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $84,632 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,366) and the median family income was $100,189 (+/- $4,065). Males had a median income of $75,870 (+/- $3,130) versus $54,215 (+/- $2,830) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,573 (+/- $1,416). About 3.0% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.[44] 2000 Census As of the 2000 United States Census[17] there were 40,221 people, 16,570 households, and 11,068 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,844.3 people per square mile (712.0/km2). There were 17,163 housing units at an average density of 787.0 per square mile (303.8/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 87.10% White, 6.92% African American, 0.09% Native American, 3.80% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.24% of the population.[42][43] There were 16,570 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.98.[42][43] In the township the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.[42][43] The median income for a household in the township was $63,750, and the median income for a family was $76,288. Males had a median income of $55,597 versus $37,198 for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,245. About 2.5% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.[42][43] Parks and recreation Laurel Acres Park Laurel Acres Park is known for its Veterans Memorial, fishing lake, playground, and huge grassy hill used for concerts and sledding in the winter when it snows. Laurel Acres Park is right between Church Street at Union Mill Road. The Mount Laurel Baseball League and the Mount Laurel United Soccer Club play in the park's sports fields, and since 2008, the Mount Laurel Premiership.[45] Mount Laurel also includes 2 dog parks. Government Local government Mount Laurel voted to change its form of government in 1970 from a Township Committee form to a Faulkner Act system using the Council-Manager (Plan E), enacted based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1972.[46] The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 565) statewide that use this form of government.[47] In this form of government, the Township Manager oversees the daily functions of the Township. The governing body is comprised of the Township Council, which is made up of five members elected at-large in partisan elections to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election in even-numbered years as part of the November general election.[7] At an annual reorganization meeting held in January, the council selects one of its members to serve as mayor and another to serve as deputy mayor, each for a one-year term.[3] As of 2020, members of the Mount Laurel Township Council are Mayor Irwin Edelson (R, term on council and as mayor ends December 31, 2020), Deputy Mayor Linda Bobo (R, term on council ends 2020; term as deputy mayor ends 2019), Kurt D. Folcher (R, 2020), Kareem Pritchett (D, 2022) and Stephen Steglik (D, 2022).[3][48][49][50] Federal, state and county representation Mount Laurel Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District[51] and is part of New Jersey's 7th state legislative district.[10][52][53] Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Mount Laurel Township had been in the 8th state legislative district.[54] For the 116th United States Congress, New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District is represented by Andy Kim (D, Bordentown).[55] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2021)[56] and Bob Menendez (Paramus, term ends 2025).[57][58] For the 2018–2019 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 7th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Troy Singleton (D, Palmyra) and in the General Assembly by Herb Conaway (D, Moorestown) and Carol A. Murphy (D, Mount Laurel).[59][60] Burlington County is governed by a board of chosen freeholders, whose five members are elected at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year; at an annual reorganization meeting, the board selects a director and deputy director from among its members.[61] As of 2018, Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders are Director Kate Gibbs (R, Lumberton Township, term as freeholder and as director ends December 31, 2018),[62] Deputy Director Linda Hughes (R, Evesham Township, term as freeholder and as deputy director ends 2018)[63] Tom Pullion (D, Edgewater Park, 2020),[64] Balvir Singh (D, Burlington Township, 2020),[65] and Latham Tiver (R, Southampton Township, 2019).[66][61][67][68] Burlington County's Constitutional Officers are County Clerk Tim Tyler (R, Fieldsboro, 2018),[69][70] Sheriff Jean E. Stanfield (R, Westampton, 2019)[71][72] and Surrogate Mary Ann O'Brien (R, Medford, 2021).[73][74][68] Politics As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 28,317 registered voters in Mount Laurel Township, of which 9,089 (32.1% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 6,880 (24.3% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 12,328 (43.5% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 20 voters registered to other parties.[75] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 67.6% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 87.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).[75][76] In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 12,634 votes (55.5% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 9,797 votes (43.0% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 194 votes (0.9% vs. 1.0%), among the 22,762 ballots cast by the township's 29,792 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.4% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).[77][78] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 13,420 votes (57.2% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 9,657 votes (41.2% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 220 votes (0.9% vs. 1.0%), among the 23,443 ballots cast by the township's 28,847 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.3% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).[79] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 11,618 votes (52.3% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 10,382 votes (46.7% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 146 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 22,231 ballots cast by the township's 27,385 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.2% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).[80] In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 8,696 votes (65.1% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 4,341 votes (32.5% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 148 votes (1.1% vs. 1.2%), among the 13,354 ballots cast by the township's 29,635 registered voters, yielding a 45.1% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).[81][82] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 7,082 votes (50.4% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 6,149 votes (43.8% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 617 votes (4.4% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 108 votes (0.8% vs. 1.2%), among the 14,047 ballots cast by the township's 29,086 registered voters, yielding a 48.3% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).[83] Education The Mount Laurel Schools serve public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The grade configuration includes six schools serving pre-kindergarten / kindergarten through fourth-grade students. Students are assigned on a geographic basis to one of the six K-4 schools; Countryside serves the township's northwest; Fleetwood, the northeast; Hillside covers the north central portion of the township; Larchmont, a piece of the eastern side; Parkway, covers the western portion; and Springville the southern tip.[84] All students from the six K-4 schools feed into a single upper elementary school (for grades 5 and 6) and middle school (grades 7 and 8).[85] As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of eight schools, had an enrollment of 4,214 students and 350.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1.[86] Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics)[87] are Countryside Elementary School[88] (with 309 students; in grades PreK-4), Fleetwood Elementary School[89] (372; K-4), Hillside Elementary School[90] (348; PreK-4), Larchmont Elementary School[91] (395; K-4), Parkway Elementary School[92] (342; K-4), Springville Elementary School[93] (512; PreK-4), Mount Laurel Hartford School[94] (961; 5-6) and Thomas E. Harrington Middle School[95] (963; 7-8).[96][97] Parkway Elementary School was one of four schools in New Jersey recognized by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, awarded by the United States Department of Education, for the 2005–06 school year.[98] Public school students from Mount Laurel in ninth through twelfth grades attend Lenape High School, located in Medford Township.[99][100] As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,895 students and 156.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1.[101] Lenape High School is part of the Lenape Regional High School District, a regional secondary school district in Burlington County that also serves the eight municipalities of Evesham Township, Medford Lakes, Medford Township, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle Township and Woodland Township at its four high schools.[102][103] Students from Mount Laurel, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton Township.[104] Transportation View north along the New Jersey Turnpike in Mount Laurel Roads and highways As of May 2010, the township had a total of 170.19 miles (273.89 km) of roadways, of which 115.86 miles (186.46 km) were maintained by the municipality, 33.26 miles (53.53 km) by Burlington County and 13.55 miles (21.81 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 7.52 miles (12.10 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[105] The New Jersey Turnpike is the most prominent highway passing through Mount Laurel. It enters from Cherry Hill in the township's southwest corner and continues for about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) to Westampton Township at Mount Laurel's northern edge.[106] The Turnpike's James Fenimore Cooper rest area is located within the township on the northbound side at milepost 39.4.[107] The only exit within Mount Laurel is Exit 4, which provides access to Route 73.[108] Interstate 295 passes through the township, with three exits (Exit 36: Berlin/Tacony Bridge/Route 73, Exit 40: Moorestown/Mount Holly/Route 38, Exit 43: Delran/Rancocas Woods).[109] Other major thoroughfares through Mount Laurel are Route 38, Route 73 and County Route 537. Public transportation Greyhound station NJ Transit provides bus service to and from Philadelphia on routes 317 (from Asbury Park), the 413 route between Camden and Burlington and the 457 route between Moorestown Mall and Camden.[110][111] The Greyhound Lines bus station on Fellowship Road provides service to Philadelphia, New York City, Atlantic City and other points.[112]