Audubon Park, New Jersey

History

Audubon Park was established as a community within Audubon in 1941 with the construction of 500 housing units for employees of New York Shipbuilding in Camden, New Jersey. It is named for naturalist John James Audubon. This was the first of eight projects undertaken by the Mutual Ownership Defense Housing Division of the Federal Works Agency under the leadership of Colonel Lawrence Westbrook. Residents of Audubon, seeking to rid itself of the development's Democratic voters and its public school students, pushed for and passed a referendum to form Audubon Park in 1947. The Audubon Mutual Housing Corporation owns and administers all property in the borough and in turn is responsible for renting homes to residents.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Audubon Park borough had a total area of 0.155 square miles (0.402 km²), including 0.145 square miles (0.376 km²) of land and 0.010 square miles (0.026 km²) of water (6.37%).

Audubon Park borders Audubon, Collingswood, and Oaklyn.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 1,023 people, 493 households, and 282 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,046.7 per square mile (2,720.7/km²). The borough contained 499 housing units at an average density of 3,437.3 per square mile (1,327.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.95% (1,002) White, 0.29% (3) Black or African American, 0.10% (1) Native American, 0.29% (3) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.10% (1) from other races, and 1.27% (13) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.05% (21) of the population.

Out of a total of 493 households, 15.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.8% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the borough, 13.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.7 years. For every 100 females the census counted 77.3 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 75.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $41,726 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,661) and the median family income was $53,036 (+/- $8,477). Males had a median income of $46,176 (+/- $8,213) versus $38,036 (+/- $5,655) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,855 (+/- $2,141). About 5.7% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 1,102 people, 496 households, and 302 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,561.7 people per square mile (2,836.6/km²). There were 499 housing units at an average density of 3,424.1 per square mile (1,284.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.91% White, 0.36% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.

There were 496 households out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $34,643, and the median income for a family was $41,029. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $25,662 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,926. About 9.0% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Audubon Park is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by Audubon Park, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Audubon Park is Democrat Lawrence "Larry" Pennock, whose term of office ends December 31, 2018. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Karen Lewis (D, 2017), John Carpinelli (D, 2018), Dennis Delengowski (D, 2016), Judith DiPasquale (D, 2017), Sandra "Sandy" Hook (D, 2018), Gloria Jones (D, 2016).

In January 2014, the Borough Council selected John Carpinelli from among three names nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Frederick T. Passon following his death. Carpinelli served on an interim basis until the November 2014 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term expiring in December 2015.

In May 2012, the Borough council chose Judy Judy DiPasquale from among a list of three names provided to fill the vacant seat of Charles Beeman.

Federal, state and county representation

Audubon Park is located in the 1st Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 5th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Audubon Park had been in the 6th state legislative district.

New Jersey's First Congressional District is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 5th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D, Barrington) and in the General Assembly by Arthur Barclay (D, Camden) and Patricia Egan Jones (D, Barrington). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Camden County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose seven members chosen at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year. As of 2015, Camden County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. (Collingswood, term as freeholder ends December 31, 2017; term as director ends 2015), Freeholder Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell (Pennsauken Township, term as freeholder ends 2016; term as deputy director ends 2015), Michelle Gentek (Gloucester Township, 2015), Ian K. Leonard (Camden, 2015), Jeffrey L. Nash (Cherry Hill, 2015), Carmen Rodriguez (Merchantville, 2016) and Jonathan L. Young, Sr. (Berlin Township, November 2015; serving the unexpired term of Scot McCray ending in 2017)

Camden County's constitutional officers, all elected directly by voters, are County clerk Joseph Ripa, Sheriff Charles H. Billingham, and Surrogate Patricia Egan Jones. The Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo was appointed by the Governor of New Jersey with the advice and consent of the New Jersey Senate (the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 800 registered voters in Audubon Park, of which 535 (66.9% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 55 (6.9% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 210 (26.3% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 78.2% (vs. 57.1% in Camden County) were registered to vote, including 90.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 368 votes (67.9% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 164 votes (30.3% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 7 votes (1.3% vs. 0.9%), among the 542 ballots cast by the borough's 832 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.1% (vs. 70.4% in Camden County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 374 votes (64.5% vs. 66.2% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 183 votes (31.6% vs. 30.7%) and other candidates with 17 votes (2.9% vs. 1.1%), among the 580 ballots cast by the borough's 814 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.3% (vs. 71.4% in Camden County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 425 votes (69.0% vs. 61.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 183 votes (29.7% vs. 36.4%) and other candidates with 2 votes (0.3% vs. 0.8%), among the 616 ballots cast by the borough's 810 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.0% (vs. 71.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.5% of the vote (216 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.9% (93 votes), and other candidates with 0.6% (2 votes), among the 323 ballots cast by the borough's 831 registered voters (12 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 38.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 184 ballots cast (52.0% vs. 53.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 137 votes (38.7% vs. 38.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 18 votes (5.1% vs. 4.5%) and other candidates with 9 votes (2.5% vs. 1.1%), among the 354 ballots cast by the borough's 809 registered voters, yielding a 43.8% turnout (vs. 40.8% in the county).

Education

Audubon Park is a non-operating school district, having closed its lone school in 1979, after which students were sent outside of the borough as part of a sending/receiving relationship. Public school students from Audubon Park attend school in Audubon, having been consolidated into the Audubon School District.

Students from Audubon Park, and from all of Camden County, are eligible to attend the Camden County Technical Schools, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at Gloucester Township Technical High School in the Sciklerville section of Gloucester Township or Pennsauken Technical High School in Pennsauken Township. Students are accepted based on district admission standards and costs of attendance and transportation are covered by the home district of each student.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 3.07 miles (4.94 km) of roadways, of which 2.48 miles (3.99 km) were maintained by the municipality, 0.11 miles (0.18 km) by Camden County, 0.28 miles (0.45 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.20 miles (0.32 km) by the Delaware River Port Authority.

Route 168 (Black Horse Pike) runs for 0.3 miles (0.48 km) from Audubon to Haddon Township.

A small 0.2 miles (0.32 km) piece of Interstate 76 connects Route 168 in Audubon Park to Camden.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service is available in the borough on routes 400 (between Sicklerville in Winslow Township and Philadelphia) and 450 (between the Cherry Hill Mall and Camden).