Edgewater Park, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 3.040 square miles (7.873 km²), including 2.894 square miles (7.495 km²) of land and 0.146 square miles (0.377 km²) of water (4.79%).

The township borders Burlington Township, Willingboro Township, Delanco Township, Beverly and both Bensalem Township and Bristol Township across the Delaware River.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Capitol Hill, Perkins and Wallrope Works.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 8,881 people, 3,683 households, and 2,324 families residing in the township. The population density was 3,068.8 per square mile (1,184.9/km²). The township contained 3,926 housing units at an average density of 1,356.6 per square mile (523.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 57.71% (5,125) White, 27.32% (2,426) Black or African American, 0.34% (30) Native American, 3.19% (283) Asian, 0.02% (2) Pacific Islander, 6.50% (577) from other races, and 4.93% (438) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 10.92% (970) of the population.

Out of a total of 3,683 households, 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% 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 3.00.

In the township, 20.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females the census counted 91.6 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 87.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $53,502 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,682) and the median family income was $68,572 (+/- $15,261). Males had a median income of $45,865 (+/- $6,080) versus $40,400 (+/- $9,192) for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,916 (+/- $2,025). About 9.7% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 0.0% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 7,864 people, 3,152 households, and 2,099 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,701.8 people per square mile (1,043.4/km²). There were 3,301 housing units at an average density of 1,134.1 per square mile (438.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 68.07% White, 21.40% African American, 0.17% Native American, 3.26% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 3.20% from other races, and 3.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.60% of the population.

As of the 2000 Census, 1.9% of residents identified themselves as being of Turkish American ancestry, the second-highest of any municipality in the United States and highest in the state.

There were 3,152 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the township the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $48,936, and the median income for a family was $52,016. Males had a median income of $38,156 versus $27,304 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,920. About 7.3% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Edgewater Park 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 Edgewater Park Township Committee are Mayor Lauren Kremper (D, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2017), Deputy Mayor Bill A. Belgard (D, term on committee ends 2019; term as deputy mayor ends 2017), Azunnah C. Amutah (D, 2017; appointed to serve an unexpired term), John G. McElwee (D, 2018) and Michael J. Trainor (D, 2018).

In January 2017, the Township Committee selected Azunnah C. Amutah from three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to assume the term expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Barbara Perkins, who resigned from office in December 2016.

Chief Gene J. DiFilippo is the Police Chief of the Edgewater Park Township Police Department.

Federal, state and county representation

Edgewater Park 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 4,798 registered voters in Edgewater Park Township, of which 2,119 (44.2% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 819 (17.1% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 1,857 (38.7% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 54.0% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 67.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,596 votes (69.3% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,083 votes (28.9% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 41 votes (1.1% vs. 1.0%), among the 3,744 ballots cast by the township's 5,007 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.8% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,719 votes (67.8% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,223 votes (30.5% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 36 votes (0.9% vs. 1.0%), among the 4,012 ballots cast by the township's 4,942 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.2% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 2,218 votes (60.9% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,385 votes (38.0% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 20 votes (0.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,643 ballots cast by the township's 4,680 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.8% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,189 votes (53.0% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 996 votes (44.4% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 17 votes (0.8% vs. 1.2%), among the 2,244 ballots cast by the township's 5,087 registered voters, yielding a 44.1% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 1,363 ballots cast (56.7% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 871 votes (36.2% vs. 47.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 115 votes (4.8% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 22 votes (0.9% vs. 1.2%), among the 2,403 ballots cast by the township's 4,940 registered voters, yielding a 48.6% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Education

The Edgewater Park School District serves public school students in grades from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's two schools had an enrollment of 858 students and 67.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.81:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Mildred Magowan Elementary School (Grades PreK-4, 532 students) and Samuel M. Ridgway Middle School (Grades 5-8, 326 students).

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Burlington City High School in Burlington, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the City of Burlington Public School District, in which Edgewater Park students account for almost 40% of the high school's enrollment. As of the 2013-14 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 720 students and 81.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.9:1.

Students from Edgewater Park, 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.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 28.76 miles (46.28 km) of roadways, of which 22.69 miles (36.52 km) were maintained by the municipality, 4.80 miles (7.72 km) by Burlington County and 1.27 miles (2.04 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Public transportation

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

BurLink bus service is offered on the B2 route between Beverly and Westampton Township.

Notable people

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