Cherry Hill, New Jersey


Cherry Hill is a township within Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As a suburb of Philadelphia, the township is part of the South Jersey and Delaware Valley regions. Cherry Hill Township grew during the mid-20th century suburbanization, becoming one of the Delaware Valley's main commercial centers, including the Cherry Hill Mall. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 74,553.
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History

The area now known as Cherry Hill was originally settled by the Lenni-Lenape Native Americans before being displaced by the first settlers from England, namely Quaker followers of William Penn who arrived in the late 17th century.
The first settlement was a small cluster of homes named Colestown, in the perimeters of what is now the Colestown Cemetery on the corner of Route 41 and Church Road. The municipality was incorporated on February 25, 1844, at a town meeting as part of Gloucester County as Delaware Township from half of the area of Waterford Township and became part of Camden County at its creation some two weeks later on March 13, 1844. Portions of the township were taken to form Stockton Township and Merchantville. At its territorial peak, Delaware Township included all of modern-day Cherry Hill Township, as well as the neighborhood of North Camden and the municipalities of Merchantville and Pennsauken.
Ellisburg, named for the Ellis family who settled the area, served as the social and political hub of Delaware Township. Now located at the intersection of King's Highway and Route 70, Ellisburg grow to include a general store, a blacksmith, residential homes and a tavern. The tavern, founded by Isaac Ellis, would later be bought by John Ilg and renamed the Ellisburg Inn. The inn became a popular stagecoach shop until 1881, when the [Mount Holly and Medford Branch|railroad between Philadelphia and Medford] was completed. Ellisburg was also the home of Delaware Township's first school, the Ellisburg School, which was built in 1831. The school also hosted town meetings until 1885, when the first town hall was built. The inn, general store and school were demolished in 1938 to make room for the Ellisburg traffic circle.
Large family farms grew around Delaware Township in the 19th century, supplied by Haddonfield, Merchantville, Colestown and Ellisburg, and powered by mills such as the Kay-Evans mill at present-day Croft Farm. Much of the produce was grown for the Campbell's Soup company in Camden.
The township's population and economy boomed after World War II and continued to increase until the 1980s. Today, the municipality's population is stable, with new development generally occurring in pockets of custom luxury houses or through the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of commercial and industrial areas.

Origin of the name

Cherry Hill was a 19th-century farm on Kaighn Avenue, owned by Capt. Abraham M. Browning. The farm property, named Cherry Hill because of the cherry trees growing on the property, later became the Cherry Hill Inn, as well as an RCA office campus, and today's Cherry Hill Towers and Cherry Hill Estates housing developments.
Adding to the prevalence of the Cherry Hill name and leading to the official name change from Delaware Township to Cherry Hill Township, developer Eugene Mori branded several properties using the name, starting with the Cherry Hill Inn and Cherry Hill Lodge hotels. Cherry Hill Shopping Center opened in 1961 opposite the old Cherry Hill Farm site, featuring 75 stores within a single enclosed space.
When the township sought a new post office, another New Jersey municipality in Hunterdon County was using the name Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Delaware Township]. The United States Postal Service insisted on a name change, suggesting "Deltown". Delaware Township mayors Christian Weber and John Gilmour pursued public write-in campaigns to select possible titles and chose Cherry Hill from suggestions that included Chapel Hill, Cherry Valley and Delaware City. The name "Cherry Hill" was chosen by the township's citizens in a non-binding referendum in 1961 and was officially adopted on November 7, 1961.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 24.20 square miles, including 24.07 square miles of land and 0.12 square miles of water.
Ashland, Barclay, Cherry Hill Mall, Ellisburg, Golden Triangle, Greentree, Kingston Estates and Springdale are unincorporated communities and census-designated places located within the township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities, neighborhoods, and place names located partially or completely within the township include Coffins Corner, Colwick, Cooperstown, Deer Park, Erlton, Freeman, Greenbrier, Huttons Hill, Locust Grove, Old Orchard, Point of Woods and Woodcrest.
The township's eastern border with Burlington County is defined by the Pennsauken Creek. The creek separates Cherry Hill from the communities of Maple Shade Township, Evesham Township, and Mount Laurel Township. The Cooper River forms the southern border with Collingswood, Haddon Township, Haddonfield Borough, Lawnside Borough and Somerdale, through the Maria Barnaby Greenwald Park and parallel to the east-west Route 70. To the north, Cherry Hill borders Merchantville Borough and Pennsauken Township, while Voorhees Township shares its southern border along County Route 544.

Demographics

Since 2010, the population increased after several decades of slow growth. As of 2020, the township was the state's 12th most populous municipality, and the largest in Camden County, after having been the state's 14th most-populous municipality and the county's second largest in the 2010 Census, having surpassed both Brick Township, as well as nearby Camden, within the previous decade, and was ranked 13th in 2000.
The Asian American population in Cherry Hill is experiencing rapid growth, increasing by 25% from 7,661 in 2010 to 9,587 in the 2013–2017 American Community Survey, compared to 0.3% growth for the township as a whole during the same period. An extensive array of businesses owned by Korean Americans has emerged along Marlton Pike (Route 70) in Cherry Hill since 2010, with signage in Hangul ubiquitous along this stretch.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 71,045 people, 26,882 households, and 19,301 families in the township. The population density was. There were 28,452 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 78.06% White, 6.14% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 11.69% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.83% from Race and ethnicity in [the United States census|other races], and 2.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.64% of the population.
Of the 26,882 households, 31.2% had children under the age of 18; 58.6% were married couples living together; 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.2% were non-families. Of all households, 24.2% were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.12.
23.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.4 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $88,183 and the median family income was $105,786. Males had a median income of $72,128 versus $48,937 for females. The per capita income for the township was $41,252. About 3.0% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 69,965 people, 26,227 households, and 19,407 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 27,074 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the township was 84.67% White, 8.87% Asian, 4.46% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.54% of the population.
There were 26,227 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.
According to a 2010 estimate, the median income for a household in the township was $87,392, and the median income for a family was $104,983. Males had a median income of $82,325 versus $49,129 for females. The per capita income for the township was $43,192. About 2.6% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

Cherry Hill features a temperate, humid subtropical climate, with mild winters, and receives approximately 58% of total possible sunshine annually. However, the weather is subject to changeable conditions. Occasional ice and significant snowfall usually melt within hours to days of falling. Summers are long, hot, and humid. The area can feel effects from Atlantic tropical storms. Precipitation is plentiful in all seasons.

Economy

Cherry Hill is a corporate and employment hub. The township is the headquarters of TD Bank, N.A., whose US$350 billion in deposits in 2021 made it the eighth-largest American bank by deposits. On February 28, 2022, TD Bank, N.A. announced plans to acquire Memphis, Tennessee–based First Horizon Corp for US$13.4 billion. The combined entity will be based in Cherry Hill, and will constitute a Top 6 US bank. The deal is expected to close in 2023, pending approval by regulators in both the United States and Canada. The post-merger bank will have approximately US$600 billion in assets.
Melitta USA has its coffee roasting plant in the township. The Courier-Post, the fifth-largest New Jersey–based newspaper, is published in Cherry Hill. Subaru of America's headquarters was also located in the township until 2018. Cherry Hill Mall, a principal shopping center in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, was the first enclosed shopping mall in the eastern United States, opening in October 1961.
Many residents of Cherry Hill also work elsewhere. Cherry Hill is an edge city within a half-hour commute to Philadelphia, Camden, Trenton or Princeton.

Food and dining

is a deli best known for hoagies and cheesesteaks, notable for having a single retail location, which is in Cherry Hill. Marlton Pike also features numerous Korean restaurants.

In popular culture

  • "Cherry Hill Park", a 1969 hit song by Billy Joe Royal, takes its title from Cherry Hill. Royal came up with the title after a friend mentioned seeing Cherry Hill on a visit to Philadelphia. The song appears on a 1969 album also titled Cherry Hill Park.
  • The 86th episode of the crime drama Criminal Minds, "A Shade of Gray", which aired on April 22, 2009, was set in Cherry Hill.
  • The Latin Casino was a nightclub that showcased popular entertainers from the time it relocated to Cherry Hill in 1960 until it was demolished in the early 1980s. Singer Jackie Wilson suffered a heart attack at the club in 1975.
  • In the movie White Castle">White (U.S. Census)">White Castle, Cherry Hill is the location of the White Castle franchise Harold and Kumar ultimately visit. There are, in fact, no White Castle locations in Cherry Hill, nor does the movie's representation of Cherry Hill accurately reflect the dense, suburban nature of the town or its proximity to Philadelphia. Rather, it depicts Cherry Hill as rural farmland.
  • In the movie The Freshman, Clark Kellogg is sent to Cherry Hill to deliver a Komodo dragon.

Community

  • The Carol Neulander murder occurred in Cherry Hill. Rabbi Fred Neulander was convicted of paying two men to carry out a "hit" on his wife Carol Neulander, who was murdered in the family home in the Old Orchard Neighborhood in 1994. He was sentenced to a prison term of 30 years to life and served his sentence at the Trenton State prison until his death in 2024.
  • Springdale Farms is Cherry Hill's only working farm on both sides of Springdale Road south of Route 70, receiving massive property tax breaks as it is zoned agricultural.
  • Barclay Farm House, a farm house constructed in 1816 and listed on the National and New Jersey registers of historic places.
  • Cherry Hill was the home of four of the five members of the Fort Dix 5, who were convicted in federal court in Camden on December 22, 2008, on a plot to kill soldiers at Fort Dix. The Cherry Hill members are Dritan Duka, 30, Shain Duka, 27, and Eljvir Duka, 25, as well as Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer, 23. Ages were at the time of conviction.

Sports

In 1973–1974, the Cherry Hill Arena hosted a WHA hockey team, the New Jersey Knights, and from 1964 to 1971, an Eastern Hockey League team, the Jersey Devils.
Muhammad Ali purchased a house at 1121 Winding Drive in Cherry Hill's Voken Tract in 1971, living there with his family until 1974.

Parks and recreation

Cherry Hill has more than 50 municipal public parks, plus three parks owned by Camden County. Most parks have playground equipment, basketball courts, tennis courts, walking paths, and athletic fields.
Croft Farm, which was originally a working mill and farm, was built in 1753 and is a historic landmark in Cherry Hill. The farmhouse underwent many changes throughout the years, including an expansion in 1816. The property was sold to the township in 1985 and transformed into the Cherry Hill Arts Center in 1995, which serves the community for art classes, seminars, and concerts produced by the Cherry Hill Recreation Department.
Toward the last two weeks of April, one can see a two-mile avenue of continuous rows of cherry blossoms on Chapel Avenue between Haddonfield Road and Kings Highway. The avenue of cherry blossoms was conceived by a group of residents who wanted to unify the townspeople of Cherry Hill to participate in a community-wide celebration of the diverse community of Cherry Hill. This effort started in 1972 and cherry trees are still being planted every year by the Cherry Hill Fire Department and community volunteers.

Golf courses

Merchantville Country Club is a private 9-hole country club in Cherry Hill established in 1892. Woodcrest Country Club is a private 18-hole golf course located in the Woodcrest section. The course was founded in 1929 as a 9-hole course. An additional 9 holes were added in 1931. It was sold at a bankruptcy auction in spring 2013, and is a private club as of 2020.

Emergency services

Police

The Cherry Hill Police Department is the third-largest police department in the tri-county area, employing more than 130 sworn officers as well as 21 civilians. The current chief of the department is Robert Kempf. The department's TRT responds to requests for the service of high risk warrants, the resolving of barricaded and/or hostage situations, and dealing with suicidal individuals just to name a few of their assignments. TRT responds to requests for mutual aid throughout the tri-county area as needed. CHPD is home to its own 9-1-1 public safety answering point, when a resident of the township dials 9-1-1 they are routed directly to the CHPD, which provides a significant advantage in response time to the caller, the 9-1-1 center is the hub of the department's 800 MHz trunked radio system, as well as an advanced CAD system, and RMS. Both systems work together to provide patrol units up to date information directly to their patrol car computers. CHPD's Community Policing Unit provides many services for residents including child fingerprinting, neighborhood watches, and drug & alcohol awareness seminars.

Fire Department and EMS

The Cherry Hill Fire Department is a career department. It also has two volunteer units, the Cherry Hill Fire Police and the Special Services Unit, which provides on scene support for the Cherry Hill Fire Department as well as departments throughout Southern New Jersey. In December 2016, the department was awarded with a Class 1 designation by the Insurance Services Office, a classification held by 130 of the 30,000 fire departments in the United States, and only three in New Jersey. Also in 2016, the department was accredited by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. The Fire Chief is Wade Houlihan.
The department also provides emergency medical services. The only hospital in Cherry Hill is Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital, an extension of Philadelphia's Jefferson Health, located on Chapel Avenue. Residents also have access to nearby Virtua Hospitals in Voorhees Township, Marlton and Berlin as well as Cooper University Hospital and Our [Lady of Lourdes Medical Center] in Camden.

Fire companies

Fire stations in Cherry Hill are:
  • Engine 22 is located on North Kings Highway and Chelton Parkway. It was built in 2005 and began operating in 2006, making it Cherry Hill's newest fire station. It houses Engine 22.
  • Station 2 is located on Route 70. It was established in 1927 and houses Ladder 24.
  • Station 3 & Headquarters is located on Marlkress Road off Route 70. It was built in 1972 and replaced in 2010. It houses Ladder 34, Rescue 13, and the technical rescue unit.
  • Station 4 is located at 1000 Springdale Road and was established in October 1976. The station was renovated and expanded in 2009. It houses Squrt 41.
  • Station 5 is located at Route 38 and Church Road. It was built in 1926 and was renovated in the 1950s. It houses Squrt 51.
  • Station 6 is located on Burnt Mill Road and Haddonfield-Berlin Road. It was built in 1967 and replaced in 2010. It houses Squad 13, the hazmat unit, and the foam tender.
  • Woodland Fire Company, just north of Route 38 on Woodland Ave.
  • Station 8 is located on Cropwell Road. It was built in 1968 with outbuildings added in 2006 and 2014. Currently, it houses the Deer Park Fire Company Special Services and Rehab unit.

Civil Air Patrol

The Jack Schweiker Composite Squadron, located at the Cherry Hill Army National Guard Armory is the Cherry Hill component of the Civil Air Patrol, a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force. The Squadron has about 60 members, 40 of which are cadets and 20 of which are senior members.

Public library

At, the Cherry Hill Public Library is among the largest municipal libraries in New Jersey. The current facility was completed in December 2004 to replace the 1966 Malcolm Wells-designed structure at 1100 King's Highway North. The library is an agency of the Township's municipal government.

Government

Local government

Created as Delaware Township in 1844, the community was first governed by a Township Committee. On May 19, 1951, the citizens adopted, in a special election, a Walsh Act Commission form of government, consisting of a three-member Board of Commissioners. In 1962, the Township's population passed the 30,000 mark and two additional Commissioners were elected. Following a study made by a Citizen's Advisory Committee, a special election was held in 1962. The township voted to change its form of government to the Council-Manager Plan A under the Faulkner Act. Five Council members were elected at-large in a May election to serve concurrent four-year terms. The Council members elected one of their own as Mayor, and a Township Manager served as the Chief Administrator of the Township.
By 1975, after a Charter Study Commission report and the passage of a ballot referendum, the township adopted the Council-Manager Plan B form of government. Two features of the government were changed: council members were to be elected every two years for overlapping terms of four years and the number of Council members would increase from five to seven.
After a 1981 referendum, the government changed yet again, this time to a Mayor-Council Plan B form of government. The township is one of 71 municipalities statewide that use this form of government. The governing body is comprised of a full-time 'strong' mayor who is elected directly by the people and seven council members who are elected at-large for staggered four-year terms, with either three or four seats up for election in odd-numbered years. After the passage of a ballot referendum in November 1986, voting or the mayor and council was shifted from a non-partisan May election to a partisan November election.
, the Mayor of Cherry Hill is Democrat David Fleisher, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Township Council are Council President William Carter, Council Vice President Michele Golkow, Jennifer Apell, William A. Carter III, Rob Connor, Sangeeta Doshi and Jill Hulnick.
In January 2024, the Township Council selected Jill Hulnick to fill the council seat expiring in December 2027 that became vacant when David Fleisher took office as mayor and appointed Daniel DiRenzo to fill the seat expiring in December 2025 that was vacated after Brian Baurele resigned to take the position as the mayor's chief of staff; both will serve on an interim basis until the November 2024 general election, when voters will choose candidates to serve the balance of the two terms of office.
In January 2016, the Township Council selected Carolyn Jacobs from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2017 that became vacant when Susan Shin Angulo took office as a Camden County Freeholder.
N. John Amato, whose 30 years of service made him the township's longest-serving council member, died in office in September 2014. At a special council meeting in October 2014, Brian Bauerle was selected to fill Amato's seat, which expired in December 2015.

Federal, state and county representation

Cherry Hill is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 6th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Cherry Hill had been part of the, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

Education

Public schools

is a public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district operates 19 schools including an early childhood center, 12 elementary schools, three middle schools, two traditional high schools and an alternative high school. Cherry Hill was the state's 12th-largest school district in 2011 and was one of the largest suburban districts.
As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of 19 schools, had an enrollment of 10,772 students and 882.1 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.2:1. Schools in the district are
Estelle V. Malberg Early Childhood Center,
Clara Barton Elementary School,
James F. Cooper Elementary School,
Bret Harte Elementary School,
James H. Johnson Elementary School,
Joyce Kilmer Elementary School,
Kingston Elementary School,
A. Russell Knight Elementary School,
Horace Mann Elementary School,
Thomas Paine Elementary School,
Joseph D. Sharp Elementary School,
Richard Stockton Elementary School,
Woodcrest Elementary School,
Henry C. Beck Middle School,
John A. Carusi Middle School,
Rosa International Middle School,
Cherry [Hill High School East],
Cherry Hill High School West and
Coles High School Program.
Cherry Hill's school district offered the International Baccalaureate certificate and diploma program at Cherry Hill West beginning in 2001, but phased it out at the conclusion of the 2007–2008 school year. The IB Primary Years Programme is offered at Joseph D. Sharp, James F. Cooper and Thomas Paine Elementary Schools. This program is also a part of the IB Middle Years Programme offered for grades 6–8 at Rosa International Middle School.

Private schools

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden operates Resurrection Regional Catholic School, a Pre-K to 8 elementary school resulting of the merger of St. Peter Celestine School and Queen of Heaven School, as well as Camden Catholic High School for grades 9–12, which was established in 1887.
The King's Christian School is a private Christian fully accredited Pre-K–12 institution founded as the Christian Day School of Camden County in 1946.
Politz Day School of Cherry Hill is a private Modern Orthodox Jewish day school serving early childhood through middle school students, co-located with and supported by Congregation Sons of Israel.

Colleges and universities

operates one of its three campuses at the William G. Rohrer Center at Route 70 East and Springdale Road.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Camden County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
The New Jersey Turnpike passes through Cherry Hill Township. The Walt Whitman rest area is located in the township, but the closest interchange is exit 4 with Route 73 in neighboring Mount Laurel Township.
Interstate 295 has three exits in the township. Exit 34A/B is Route 70 ; exit 32 is CR 561 ; and exit 31 goes directly to the Woodcrest station of the PATCO high-speed commuter rail line. The other major highways in Cherry Hill include Route 38, Route 41, and Route 154.

Public transportation

bus service is available to and from Philadelphia on the 317, 404, and 406 routes, with local service on the 405, 450, 451, 455, and 457 routes. FlixBus, and Chinatown bus lines provide frequent express service to and from New York City, and also frequent commuter service to and from the 34th Street – Hudson Yards New York City Subway station.
NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line, traveling on the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Line route, stops at the Cherry Hill station, located on the west side of the tracks between the Garden State Pavilion shopping center and the newer development on the grounds of the former Garden State Racetrack.
The Woodcrest station of the PATCO Speedline is located in Cherry Hill, offering service between Lindenwold and 15–16th & Locust station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
, two Taiwan-based airlines, China Airlines and EVA Air, provides scheduled airport shuttle bus or van services to and from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City for customers based in New Jersey and the Philadelphia area. These shuttle services stop in Cherry Hill.

Rankings

  • In 2006, Cherry Hill was named among the "Best Places to Live" in the United States by Money magazine and was ranked eighth safest place to live in the same survey.
  • Cherry Hill was also named among the "Best Places to Live" in the Philadelphia region for 2006 by Philadelphia magazine.