Cinnaminson Township, New Jersey

History

Cinnaminson was formed by resolution in 1860 from a section of Chester Township. Part of this resolution reads, "The inhabitants of the township of Chester having become so numerous that it is impracticable for them to meet with convenience and good order in one assembly... the Township shall be divided."

The name "Cinnaminson" is said to derive from the Lenape Native American word "Senamensing," which means "sweet water". Alternatively, the name may derive from Native American words meaning "stone island".

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 8.061 square miles including (20.876 km²), including 7.505 square miles (19.437 km²) of land and 0.556 square miles (1.439 km²) of water (6.89%).

The township borders Delran Township, Maple Shade Township, Moorestown Township, Palmyra and Riverton in Burlington County; Pennsauken Township in Camden County; and Philadelphia across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.

Cinnaminson includes within its boundaries the confluence point of longitude 75 degrees west and latitude 40 degrees north, one of only four such confluence points in New Jersey. The intersection point is on the 4th fairway of the Riverton Country Club Golf Course, less than ½ mile from the Municipal Building.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bellview, East Riverton, New Albany, North Pennsville, Parry, Taylor and Wrightsville.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 15,569 people, 5,535 households, and 4,351 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,074.5 per square mile (801.0/km²). The township contained 5,758 housing units at an average density of 767.2 per square mile (296.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 89.48% (13,931) White, 5.49% (855) Black or African American, 0.08% (13) Native American, 2.38% (370) Asian, 0.02% (3) Pacific Islander, 0.98% (153) from other races, and 1.57% (244) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.07% (478) of the population.

Out of a total of 5,535 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.2% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township, 22.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.5 years. For every 100 females the census counted 96.7 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 94.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $88,470 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,827) and the median family income was $98,579 (+/- $6,301). Males had a median income of $70,565 (+/- $7,423) versus $47,340 (+/- $3,291) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,104 (+/- $2,329). About 3.9% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 14,595 people, 5,057 households, and 4,141 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,920.4 people per square mile (741.5/km²). There were 5,147 housing units at an average density of 677.3 per square mile (261.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 91.36% White, 5.08% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.88% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.

There were 5,057 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.5% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $68,474, and the median income for a family was $75,920. Males had a median income of $57,122 versus $41,286 for females. The per capita income for the township was $29,863. About 1.4% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Cinnaminson Township is governed under the Township form of government. The five-member Township Committee is elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

As of 2017, members of the Cinnaminson Township Committee are Mayor Anthony Minniti (R, term on committee and as mayor ends 2017), Deputy Mayor William "Ben" Young (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2017), Donald Brauckmann (R, 2018), Howard "Bud" Evans (R, 2019) and John McCarthy (R, 2018).

Federal, state and county representation

Cinnaminson Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 7th state legislative district.

New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District is represented by Tom MacArthur (R, Toms River). 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 7th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Diane Allen (R, Edgewater Park Township) and in the General Assembly by Herb Conaway (D, Moorestown) and Troy Singleton (D, Palmyra). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

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. The board chooses a director and deputy director from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting held in January. As of 2015, Burlington County's Freeholders are Director Mary Ann O'Brien (R, Medford Township, 2017; Director of Administration and Human Services), Deputy Director Bruce Garganio (R, Florence Township, 2017; Director of Public Works and Health), Aimee Belgard (D, Edgewater Park Township, 2015; Director of Hospital, Medical Services and Education) Joseph Donnelly (R, Cinnaminson Township, 2016; Director of Public Safety, Natural Resources, and Education) and Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2015; Director of Health and Corrections). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Tim Tyler, Sheriff Jean E. Stanfield and Surrogate George T. Kotch.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 10,724 registered voters in Cinnnaminson Township, of which 3,191 (29.8% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 3,159 (29.5% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 4,369 (40.7% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 68.9% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 88.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,391 votes here (49.9% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 4,283 votes (48.6% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 99 votes (1.1% vs. 1.0%), among the 8,807 ballots cast by the township's 11,261 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,538 votes here (50.4% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 4,315 votes (47.9% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 95 votes (1.1% vs. 1.0%), among the 8,999 ballots cast by the township's 10,782 registered voters, for a turnout of 83.5% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 4,297 votes here (50.3% vs. 46.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 4,122 votes (48.3% vs. 52.9%) and other candidates with 86 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 8,535 ballots cast by the township's 10,435 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.8% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 3,849 votes here (68.0% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 1,666 votes (29.5% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 52 votes (0.9% vs. 1.2%), among the 5,657 ballots cast by the township's 11,392 registered voters, yielding a 49.7% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 3,249 votes here (54.3% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 2,308 votes (38.5% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 321 votes (5.4% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 57 votes (1.0% vs. 1.2%), among the 5,988 ballots cast by the township's 10,806 registered voters, yielding a 55.4% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Education

The Cinnaminson Township Public Schools serves students in public school for kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's four schools had an enrollment of 1,652 students and 194.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.48:1. Schools in the district (with 2010-11 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are New Albany Elementary School with 327 students in grades K - 2, Eleanor Rush Intermediate School with 374 students in grades 3 - 5, Cinnaminson Middle School with 386 students in grades 6 - 8 and Cinnaminson High School with an enrollment of 565 students in grades 9 through 12. The Project Challenge program is a program for gifted students from grades 2 through 8 who attend New Albany Elementary School, Eleanor Rush Intermediate School and Cinnaminson Middle School, where students can learn more while having fun. Project Challenge was conceived by Elaine Mendelow, a teacher in the district, who taught it for over 20 years, now being retired from the program.

Students from Cinnaminson Township, 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.

Cinnaminson Township is home to several private schools. The historic Westfield Friends School, which serves students from PreK-8th grade, is a Quaker school founded in 1788. St. Charles Borromeo Parish School serves about 300 students in PreK-8th grade from several area communities, operating as part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 80.63 miles (129.76 km) of roadways, of which 67.47 miles (108.58 km) were maintained by the municipality, 9.29 miles (14.95 km) by Burlington County and 3.87 miles (6.23 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Roads traveling through the township include Route 73, Route 90, U.S. Route 130, and County Route 543.

Public transportation

The Cinnaminson station located on Broad Street offers southbound service on the River Line light rail system to Camden and the Walter Rand Transportation Center (with transfers available to the PATCO Speedline) and northbound service to the Trenton Transit Center with connections to NJ Transit trains to New York City, SEPTA trains to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Amtrak trains.

NJ Transit provides bus service on the 409 and 417 route between Trenton and Philadelphia, and on the 419 route between Camden and Burlington.

BurLink bus service is offered on the B9 route (between the Palmyra station and the Moorestown Mall) and the B10 route (between Cinnaminson station and Route 130 / Union Landing Road).

Community

Since 1900, Cinnaminson has been home to the Riverton Country Club, a country club and golf course designed by Donald Ross.

Cinnaminson is home to the Burlington County Footlighters, a production company founded in 1938 who perform regularly at a playhouse within the township. Additionally, Cinnaminson facilitates an all-ages regional chorus and wind ensemble.

Notable people

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