Medford, New Jersey

Medford, New Jersey
—  Township  —
Medford Township highlighted in Burlington County. Inset map: Burlington County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Medford Township, New Jersey
Coordinates: 39°51′55″N 74°49′17″W / 39.86528°N 74.82139°W / 39.86528; -74.82139
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Burlington
Incorporated	March 1, 1847
Government[1]
– Type	Faulkner Act (Council-Manager)
– Mayor	Chris Myers (R)
– Manager	Stephen Addezio (acting)[2]
Area
– Total	39.8 sq mi (103.1 km2)
– Land	39.3 sq mi (101.8 km2)
– Water	0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2)
Elevation[3]	89 ft (27 m)
Population (2007)[4]
– Total	22,727
– Density	566.0/sq mi (218.5/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	08055
Area code(s)	609, 856
FIPS code	34-45120[5][6]
GNIS feature ID	0882083[7]
Website	http://www.medfordtownship.com

Medford is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,253.

Medford Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1847, from portions of Evesham Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. Portions of the township were taken to form Shamong Township (February 19, 1852), Lumberton Township (March 14, 1860) and Medford Lakes (May 17, 1939).^[8]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 39.8 square miles (103.1 km²). 39.3 square miles (101.8 km²) of its land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.23%) is water.

Medford Township borders Evesham Township (known as Marlton), Mount Laurel Township, Lumberton Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle Township, Shamong Township, and Camden County.

Medford Lakes Borough is an independent municipality within the boundaries of Medford Township.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1930	2,021		—
1940	2,237		10.7%
1950	2,836		26.8%
1960	4,844		70.8%
1970	8,292		71.2%
1980	17,622		112.5%
1990	20,526		16.5%
2000	22,253		8.4%
2010	23,033		3.5%
Population 1930 - 1990[9]

As of the census^[5] of 2000, there were 22,253 people, 7,946 households, and 6,285 families residing in the township. The population density was 566.0 people per square mile (218.5/km²). There were 8,147 housing units at an average density of 207.2 per square mile (80.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.74% White, 0.76% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.47% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.

There were 7,946 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.8% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $103,865, and the median income for a family was $117,215.^[10] Males had a median income of $69,786 versus $37,012 for females. The per capita income for the township was $46,859. About 0.9% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Medford Township operates under the Faulkner Act (Council-Manager) form of municipal government. The Township is governed by a five-member Council, elected at-large to four-year terms of office on a staggered basis. After each election, the Council selects a Mayor and a Deputy Mayor from among its members.^[1]

As of 2011^[update], members of the Medford Township Council are Mayor Christopher Myers, Deputy Mayor Mark Sander, David Brown, Victoria Fay, and Bob Martin.^[2]

Councilwoman Victoria Fay was accused by her fellow council members during a February 7, 2011, meeting of not residing within the township. Though investigators found that Fay was living in a home in Evesham Township, Fay said that the arrangements were temporary and that she remained a property owner and legal resident of Medford. Councilwoman Fay left the meeting that night and her seat was declared "vacant" by the remaining council members as a prelude to the council appointing a replacement. A complaint stemming from the February 7 meeting charges that Fay did "cause or attempt to cause bodily injury" to acting Township Manager Stephen Addezio when she allegedly poked him in the chest repeatedly with her finger.^[11]

Federal, state and county representation

Medford Township is in the 3rd Congressional district. New Jersey's Third Congressional District is represented by Jon Runyan (R, Mount Laurel Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

Medford is in the 8th district of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Dawn Marie Addiego (R, Evesham Township) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Gerry Nardello (R, Mount Laurel Township) and Scott Rudder (R, Medford Township).^[12][13]

Burlington County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose five members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. As of 2011, Burlington County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Bruce D. Garganio (Florence Township, 2012), Deputy Director Christopher J. Brown (Evesham Township, 2011), Joseph B. Donnelly (Cinnaminson Township, 2013), Mary Ann O'Brien (Medford Township, 2012) and Mary Anne Reinhart (Shamong Township, 2011).^[14][15]

Education

The Medford Township Public Schools is a K-8 grade public school district, with five elementary schools serving students in kindergarten through fifth grade, a single school serving sixth graders and a school serving seventh and eighth graders.

Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics^[16]) are five K-5 elementary schools — Milton H. Allen School (388 students), Chairville Elementary School (423), Cranberry Pines School (467), Kirby's Mill Elementary School (396) and Taunton Forge School (374) — Maurice And Everett Haines 6th Grade Center School for 6th grade (346) and Medford Memorial School for 7th and 8th grade (697).

High school students attend Shawnee High School, located in Medford Township, which is part of the Lenape Regional High School District. The district serves students from Evesham Township, Medford Lakes, Medford Township, Mount Laurel Township, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle Township and Woodland Township.^[17] The school serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from both Medford Lakes and Medford Township.^[18]

Burlington County Institute of Technology is a countywide public high school offering training to students throughout Burlington County.

Parochial school

St. Mary of the Lakes School (Pre-K-8) is a Catholic school located in Medford. St. Mary's is well regarded in both academics and athletics. There is an open house during January at the Catholic Schools Week events during which the school is open to the public.

History

The area known as Medford was sold to Samual Coles in 1670, in all it consisted of 900 acres (3.6 km²). Within the next few years the Braddocks, Picketts, Strattons, Branins and Wilkins families moved to the area (many of whom continue to live in the area today). Upper Evesham as it was then known, continued to grow from scattered homesteads into a small village. Many of the building and roads built between the sale of the land and the American Revolutionary War are still in existence, which include Oliphant's Mill, Christopher's Mill and the Shamong Trail (now known as Stokes Road). After the American Revolution, Medford struggled as a viable village and it wasn't until March 1847 that Medford was set apart from Evesham Township and incorporated as its own township.

However, it was not until after the Civil War that the town began to expand and grow. Its location along a major rail route, the Camden-Atlantic line, increased trade and Medford expanded at a rapid rate. By the 1920s the rail line had been dismantled and the mill industry was in decline, but Medford's proximity to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden County allowed for the township's growth to continue as many families moved from the city and into a more rural area. In 1820, when the Post Office opened, the town was officially called Medford of Upper Evesham. On March 1, 1847, Medford Township was "set apart from" Evesham by Act of the New Jersey Legislature.^[8] The first township meeting was held at the Cross Roads (County Route 541 and Church Road) on March 9, 1847. The seat of township government remained there for several years.

Part of Medford Township was taken on February 19, 1852, to form Shamong Township, on March 14, 1860, portions were taken to form Lumberton Township. The borders remained unchanged until May 17, 1939, when Medford Lakes was formed.^[8]

Transportation

New Jersey Transit provides bus service to Philadelphia on the 406 bus route.^[19] Greyhound Lines provides nationwide service from nearby Mount Laurel.

Major roads in Medford include Route 70, CR 532, CR 541, and CR 544.

Points of interest

• Kirby's Mill is a grist mill (flour mill) that has been entered in the National Register of Historic Places.
• JCC Camps at Medford near Medford Lakes is the largest Jewish day camp in North America, operating since 1942. Part of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, the camp is accredited by the American Camp Association.^[20] It accepts children as young as four years old, and campers come from all over the tri-county area (Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester counties). Teenagers age 14 or older can join the Counselor-in-Training program to become counselors, lifeguards, or specialists. The camp offers a kosher lunch. The camp is surrounded by the many lakes of Medford, located within the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Lake Atsion, near U.S. Route 206, is near the camp. The campsite has a 4-acre (16,000 m²) lake for boating and fishing, as well as four in-ground pools for swimming. There are four playgrounds, a petting zoo and several athletic fields, including tennis and hockey courts, and a ropes course.
• Camp Ockanickon is a YMCA Summer Camp and Conference Center (est. 1906).
• Medford Canoe Trail is a recently cleared canoe trail connecting Medford Park to Kirby's Mill.
• Johnson's Corner Farm has hayrides during three seasons to pick and take home crops. They hold family events throughout the year.
• Historic Medford Village is where you will find quaint shops, historical homes, and a old-fashion atmosphere. This is the home of Medford's traditional Dicken's Festival.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Medford include:

• David Akers (born 1974), placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers.^[21]
• Martha W. Bark, former member of the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly, who served as Mayor of Medford in 1981 and 1985.^[22]
• Calista Flockhart, (born 1964), actress best known for her title role as Ally McBeal.^[23]
• James Hunter III (1916–89), judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.^[24]
• Charlie and Richie Ingui, the brothers who founded and still sing with the R&B group the Soul Survivors.^[25]
• Kelli James (born 1970), former field hockey striker who earned a total number of 144 caps for the United States women's national field hockey team.^[26]
• Ron Jaworski (born 1951), former NFL quarterback and current analyst on ESPN.^[27]
• Stephen King (born 1986), soccer player for the D.C. United.^[28]
• Carl Lewis (born 1961), athlete. Winner of nine Olympic gold medals.
• Ryan Maki (born 1985), hockey right winger.^[29]
• Scott Rudder (born 1969), represents the 8th legislative district in the New Jersey General Assembly and previously served as Mayor of Medford.^[30]
• Dee Dee Sharp (born 1945), R & B singer whose hits included Billboard #2 "Mashed Potato Time"^[31][32]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 38.
2. ^ ^{a b} Administration Council, Township of Medford. Accessed March 1, 2011.
3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Medford, Geographic Names Information System, accessed December 20, 2007.
4. ^ Census data for Medford, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 14, 2011.
5. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
6. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
7. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
8. ^ ^{a b c} "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 98.
9. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
10. ^ "Medford township, Burlington County, New Jersey – Selected Economic Characteristics: 2005-2007". Factfinder.census.gov. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-context=adp&-qr_name=ACS_2007_3YR_G00_DP3YR3&-ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_G00_&-tree_id=3307&-redoLog=true&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=06000US3400545120&-format=&-_lang=en. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 
11. ^ Coppock, Kristen. "Former councilwoman faces court date", Burlington County Times, February 18, 2011. Accessed February 28, 2011.
12. ^ "Legislative Roster: 2010-2011 Session". New Jersey Legislature. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp. Retrieved 2011-01-25. 
13. ^ "Former Mount Laurel mayor is chosen to fill seat of departing assemblyman". Newark Star-Ledger. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/08/former_mount_laurel_mayor_is_c.html. Retrieved 2011-08-23. 
14. ^ Meet the Freeholders, Burlington County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders. Accessed January 3, 2011.
15. ^ Staff. BRUCE GARGANIO CHOSEN FREEHOLDER DIRECTOR FOR SECOND YEAR; CHRIS BROWN OF EVESHAM CHOSEN DEPUTY DIRECTOR, Burlington County, New Jersey press release dated January 1, 2011. Accessed January 3, 2011.
16. ^ Data for the Medford Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 9, 2008.
17. ^ Lenape Regional High School District 2007 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 8, 2008. "The Lenape Regional High School District serves the eight municipalities of Evesham, Medford, Mount Laurel, Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle and Woodland townships and Medford Lakes borough."
18. ^ Shawnee High School 2007 Report card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 8, 2008. "ATTENDANCE AREAS: Medford Township, Medford Lakes Borough"
19. ^ Burlington County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 15, 2007.
20. ^ "Official Website of the JCC Camp". Jcccampsatmedford.org. http://www.jcccampsatmedford.org. Retrieved 2011-10-24. 
21. ^ Mink, Nate. "David Akers loyal to Eagles, Philly, in sickness and in health", Philadelphia Daily News, August 19, 2010. Accessed January 18, 2011.
22. ^ Senator Bark's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature, backed up by the Internet Archive as of August 17, 2008. Accessed April 9, 2008.
23. ^ Gaul, Lou. "OUTLOOK/CALISTA FLOCKHART: Indiana Jones is getting new leading lady", Burlington County Times, June 19, 2005. Accessed April 1, 2008. "Calista Flockhart, who grew up in Medford and graduated from Shawnee High School in 1983, will reportedly join Ford in the next "Indy" adventure being produced by George Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg."
24. ^ Staff. "James Hunter 3d, 72, Federal Appeals Judge", The New York Times, February 15, 1989. Accessed March 1, 2011. "James Hunter 3d, a judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit since 1971, died of heart failure Friday at Burlington County Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly, N.J. He was 72 years old and lived in Medford, N.J."
25. ^ Logan, Joe. "Still Surviving Fame Was Fleeting For Charlie And Richie Ingui, Who Hit It Big In 1967 With "Expressway To Your Heart." But The South Jersey Brothers Known As The Soul Survivors Are Driving For A Comeback.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 2, 1991. Accessed October 24, 2011. "Now residents of Medford, Richie, 43, a house painter with a wife and two children, and Charlie, 47, an occasional landscaper, would love to return to the music business full time."
26. ^ Vecsey, George. "OLYMPICS;For U.S. Women, Winning Is Hot Issue in Field Hockey", July 17, 1996. Accessed December 19, 2007. "They water the field," said Kelli James, an attacker from Medford, N.J."
27. ^ Yeager, Valeria. "Receipt: Ron Jaworski - Medford resident, former Eagle, current NFL analyst on ESPN", Philadelphia (magazine), February 26, 2010. Accessed January 18, 2011.
28. ^ "King Tabbed To Hermann Trophy Watch List; College Soccer News Preseason All-America Team", CSTV, August 13, 2007. Accessed April 9, 2008. "Senior midfielder Stephen King was named to the [[[Missouri Athletic Club]]'s Hermann Trophy Watch List on August 8 and was also placed on the College Soccer News 2007 Preseason All-America First Team. The Medford, N.J., product was a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy last season, which is awarded to the nation's best collegiate soccer player."
29. ^ Ryan Maki, the Internet Hockey Database. Accessed April 9, 2008.
30. ^ Assemblyman Rudder's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed February 23, 2008.
31. ^ Rosin, James (2011). Philadelphia: City of Music. 
32. ^ Staff. "For Dee Dee Sharp, a good life moves on", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 24, 2008. Accessed October 24, 2011. "Over the next 20 years, that spotlight would shine on a career that took her around the world and finally back to Medford, NJ, where she spends most of her time keeping house for her husband, attorney Bill Witherspoon."

External links

• Township of Medford
• Medford Township Public Schools
• Medford Township Public Schools's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Data for the Medford Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• Lenape Regional High School District
• Medford NJ
• MedfordNJ.com
• Pineland Players

Coordinates: 39°54′03″N 74°49′25″W / 39.90083°N 74.82361°W / 39.90083; -74.82361