Evesham Township, New Jersey
Evesham Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a suburb of Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-most populous city. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 46,826, an increase of 1,288 from the 2010 census count of 45,538, which in turn reflected an increase of 3,263 from the 42,275 counted in the 2000 census. Colloquially, the area is referred to as Marlton, the name of a community within the township.
The township is part of the South Jersey region of the state and, along with all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.
History
The area now known as Evesham Township was originally settled by Quakers in 1672. The township's name may have been inspired by the town of Evesham in England or possibly by a prominent English settler, Thomas Eves.On November 6, 1688, Evesham Township was established as 'Eversham' in the Province of West Jersey, preceding the formation of the county itself. The extra "R" in the name was later dropped. It was officially incorporated as part of New Jersey's first 104 townships through the Township Act of 1798, enacted by the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798.
Over time, portions of the township were sectioned off to form separate townships: Washington Township was formed on November 19, 1802, Medford Township on March 1, 1847, and Mount Laurel Township on March 7, 1872. The township was considerably larger than its present-day borders, initially encompassing what are now known as Mount Laurel, Medford, Lumberton, Hainesport, Shamong, and Washington Townships. Geographically, the South Branch of the Rancocas on the east and Cropwell Creek on the west originally bounded this area.
The township was incorporated in 1692, becoming one of the initial thirteen townships in Burlington County. Following subsequent separations, Evesham Township was divided for the final time in 1872, when the northern part of the township was designated as Mount Laurel Township.
Evesham Township is often referred to as Marlton, a name that is used interchangeably, originating from the census-designated place within the township. The moniker 'Marlton' traces its origins to the early 19th century and is derived from "marl," a naturally occurring mixture of green clay with shell remnants, which was used as a fertilizer. The extraction of marl, a significant economic activity, catalyzed the first "building boom" in the 1830s and 1840s. Local marl mining continued until 1930.
Recognized as a village in 1758, Marlton was officially named in 1845. That same year, both the "Evesham" Post Office and the "Evesham" Baptist Church adopted the "Marlton" name. To this day, most maps and directional signs use 'Marlton' rather than 'Evesham'. The historical village, Olde Marlton, largely remains intact and is recognized as a locally regulated Historic District. The township instituted full-time police services in 1966.
Until the 1950s, Evesham Township retained much of its original character. However, developers began purchasing farms and creating the township's first housing developments, eliminating significant farmland by the present day.
In 1955, the United States Army opened the PH-32 Nike Ajax facility on a on Tomlinson Mill Road. This facility served as one of twelve defense installations protecting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from potential aerial attacks during the Cold War. The base was decommissioned in the mid-1960s and subsequently served various purposes, including acting as a civil defense center. By the mid-1990s, the site had been repurposed into a housing development.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 29.59 square miles, including 29.16 square miles of land and 0.43 square miles of water.Marlton is an historic community, census-designated place and unincorporated area within Evesham Township with 10,594 residents that covers of the township. "Marlton" is often used in place of the township's name, often referring to locations beyond the CDP's boundaries.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names partially or completely within the township include Berlin Heights, Cambridge Park, Cropwell, Crowfoot, Donlontown, Elmwood Road, Evans Corner, Evesboro, Gibbs Mill, Milford, Pine Grove and Tomlinsons Mill.
The township borders the municipalities of Mount Laurel and Medford in Burlington County; and Berlin Township, Cherry Hill, Voorhees Township and Waterford Township in Camden County.
The township is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities included within the Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering, 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 township is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes parts of Burlington County, along with areas in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 45,538 people, 17,620 households, and 12,316 families in the township. The population density was. There were 18,303 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 86.98% White, 4.19% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 6.16% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.39% of the population.Of the 17,620 households, 32.8% had children under the age of 18; 57.1% were married couples living together; 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.1% were non-families. Of all households, 25.4% were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.12.
23.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.9 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $88,980 and the median family income was $104,784. Males had a median income of $73,801 versus $50,667 for females. The township's per capita income was $39,910. About 1.5% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 42,275 people, 15,712 households, and 11,344 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 16,324 housing units at an average density of. The township's racial makeup was 91.26% White, 3.11% African American, 0.07% Native American, 4.07% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.96% of the population.There were 15,712 households, of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.21.
The township's population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The township's median household income was $67,010, and the median family income was $77,245. Males had a median income of $54,536 versus $36,494 for females. The township's per capita income was $29,494. About 1.7% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Evesham Township operates within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager plan 11 form of municipal government, as implemented as of July 1, 1983, based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission. The township is one of 42 municipalities statewide that use this form of government. The township had first switched to the Council-Manager Plan B of the Faulkner Act on July 1, 1969 to replace the township committee government.The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the four-member Township Council, all elected at-large in elections held every other year. The Mayor is elected directly by the voters. Members are elected in partisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two council seats up for vote in even-numbered years as part of the November general election. In 2009, a change was approved to shift municipal elections from May to November and from non-partisan to partisan, with officials citing low May turnout and costs estimated at $50,000 to oversee the municipal elections.
, the Mayor of Evesham Township is Democrat Jaclyn Veasy, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Evesham Township Council are Deputy Mayor Ginamarie A. Espinoza, Heather Cooper, Eddie S. Freeman III and Krystal Hunter.
In October 2024, Krystal Hunter appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2026 that became vacant following the resignation of Patricia Hansen the previous month.
In the May 2009 municipal elections, Republicans Kurt Croft, Debbie Hackman and Joe Howarth were elected, with the three taking office on July 1, 2009, and giving Republicans control of the council.
On March 6, 2010, Democratic Mayor Randy Brown announced he was switching parties to become a Republican, citing philosophical disagreements. That same year, he endorsed Jon Runyan, a Republican for Congress.
In November 2010, the Republican slate swept the township's first partisan elections, with Mayor Randy Brown and Councilmember Debbie Hackman winning re-election along with newcomer Steve Zeuli.
Deputy Mayor Joe Howarth resigned from the council in December 2011 in advance of taking a seat on the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders, with his council seat filled until November 2012 chosen from among prospective candidates selected by the local Republican committee. In January 2012, Ken D'Andrea was selected to fill Howarth's vacancy. Robert DiEnna was chosen in September 2013 to fill the vacancy of Kurt Croft following his resignation.