Berlin, New Jersey

History

What is now Berlin was known in earlier times as "Longacoming." Local Native Americans used Lonaconing Trail to describe the travel route that ran through the area, connecting the Jersey Shore to the Delaware River. Another tradition cites early European visitors who found a stream at the head of the Great Egg Harbor River and appreciated the respite as being "long a coming".

Long-A-Coming became a stopping point for stagecoaches located at the halfway point between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. Upon the creation of Camden County in 1844, it was briefly named the county seat (while the area was still a part of Waterford Township), until 1848 when the seat moved to the city of Camden. A rail line was laid in 1853. Three years later, the Long-A-Coming railroad station was built. In February 1867, the station was renamed "Magnolia". This caused confusion because there was a community called Magnolia nearby. Three months later, the station's name changed to Berlin. The name "Berlin" may have been chosen as a reference to the city of Berlin in Germany, though the derivation is uncertain.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Berlin borough had a total area of 3.601 square miles (9.326 km²), including 3.588 square miles (9.293 km²) of land and 0.013 square miles (0.034 km²) of water (0.36%).

The borough borders Berlin Township, Lindenwold, Pine Hill, Waterford Township, Clementon, and Winslow Township.

The borough is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering 1,100,000 acres (450,000 ha), that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve. Part of the borough is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Camden County, along with areas in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 7,588 people, 2,806 households, and 1,967 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,114.9 per square mile (816.6/km²). The borough contained 2,949 housing units at an average density of 821.9 per square mile (317.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 90.47% (6,865) White, 4.19% (318) Black or African American, 0.09% (7) Native American, 2.78% (211) Asian, 0.04% (3) Pacific Islander, 0.88% (67) from other races, and 1.54% (117) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.12% (237) of the population.

Out of a total of 2,806 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the borough, 22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females the census counted 90.9 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 86.3 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $65,771 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,475) and the median family income was $79,347 (+/- $13,820). Males had a median income of $53,102 (+/- $7,153) versus $47,292 (+/- $13,458) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,672 (+/- $5,917). About 4.4% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 6,149 people, 2,205 households, and 1,660 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,718.6 people per square mile (663.2/km²). There were 2,275 housing units at an average density of 635.8 per square mile (245.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.06% White, 2.18% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.69% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.11% of the population.

There were 2,205 households out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $60,286, and the median income for a family was $68,704. Males had a median income of $44,211 versus $31,980 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,675. About 1.9% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Berlin 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 Berlin, 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 Berlin Borough is Independent James Bilella, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Borough Council are Council President James Pearce (R, 2016), Leonard Badolato (I, 2017), Michael Buchanan (I, 2018), Lynn Kupchik (R, 2016), Rick Miller (I, 2017) and Ron Rocco (I, 2018).

Federal, state and county representation

Berlin Borough is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Berlin Borough 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 8th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Dawn Marie Addiego (R, Evesham Township) and in the General Assembly by Maria Rodriguez-Gregg (R, Evesham Township) and Joe Howarth (R, Evesham Township). 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 5,225 registered voters in Berlin, of which 1,731 (33.1% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,044 (20.0% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,450 (46.9% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 68.9% (vs. 57.1% in Camden County) were registered to vote, including 89.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,851 votes (50.9% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,720 votes (47.3% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 44 votes (1.2% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,635 ballots cast by the borough's 5,478 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.4% (vs. 70.4% in Camden County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,993 votes (52.2% vs. 66.2% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,724 votes (45.2% vs. 30.7%) and other candidates with 45 votes (1.2% vs. 1.1%), among the 3,817 ballots cast by the borough's 5,281 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.3% (vs. 71.4% in Camden County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,842 votes (50.2% vs. 61.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,766 votes (48.2% vs. 36.4%) and other candidates with 38 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,667 ballots cast by the borough's 4,790 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.6% (vs. 71.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.1% of the vote (1,255 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 33.4% (645 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (29 votes), among the 1,975 ballots cast by the borough's 5,487 registered voters (46 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.0%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,261 votes (52.0% vs. 38.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 989 votes (40.8% vs. 53.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 120 votes (5.0% vs. 4.5%) and other candidates with 16 votes (0.7% vs. 1.1%), among the 2,423 ballots cast by the borough's 5,126 registered voters, yielding a 47.3% turnout (vs. 40.8% in the county).

Education

The Berlin Borough School District serves public school students in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade at Berlin Community School. As of the 2013-14 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 861 students and 70.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.2:1. Many Community Education and Recreation (CER) programs are held at Berlin Community School, including preschool and after school programs.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend the Eastern Camden County Regional High School District, a limited-purpose, public regional school district that serves students at Eastern Regional High School from the constituent communities of Berlin Borough, Gibbsboro and Voorhees Township. As of the 2013-14 school year, the high school district had an enrollment of 2,049 students.

Students from Berlin Borough, 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 the Gloucester Township Campus in the Sicklerville section of Gloucester Township or the Pennsauken Camps 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.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Regional School, founded in 1956, is an elementary school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 41.51 miles (66.80 km) of roadways, of which 27.66 miles (44.51 km) were maintained by the municipality, 9.52 miles (15.32 km) by Camden County and 4.33 miles (6.97 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service is available in the borough on the 554 route, which operates between the Lindenwold train station and Atlantic City.

Camden County Airport is located one mile southwest of the central business district.

Berlin was formerly served by the Berlin Railroad Station.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Berlin include: