Maple Shade Township, New Jersey


Maple Shade Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 19,980, an increase of 849 from the 2010 census count of 19,131, which in turn reflected an increase of 0.3% from the 19,079 counted in the 2000 census. The township, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.

History

What is now Maple Shade was originally formed as Chester Township on November 6, 1688, and was known as Cropwell Township from June 5, 1690, through February 22, 1699. Chester was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Cinnaminson Township and Moorestown Township. The municipality's name was changed to Maple Shade Township as of November 6, 1945, based on the results of a referendum passed that same day.
The Mary's Cafe sit-in was an informal sit-in style protest which occurred on the evening of June 11, 1950, at Mary's Cafe, a tavern in Maple Shade Township that had a reputation of being unwelcoming of Black patrons. After being refused service, Martin Luther King Jr. and three friends staged a sit-in that is believed to be the first use of the non-violence and civil disobedience tactics which would distinguish Dr. King's civil-rights activism and legacy.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 3.83 square miles, including 3.83 square miles of land and <0.01 square miles of water.
The township borders Cinnaminson Township, Moorestown Township and Mount Laurel Township in Burlington County; and Cherry Hill and Pennsauken Township in Camden County.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Maple Shade Township has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps, with the coldest months of January and February averaging about, and with an annual average temperature of.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 19,131 people, 8,525 households, and 4,655 families in the township. The population density was. There were 9,186 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 78.62% White, 9.54% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 5.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.14% from other races, and 2.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.32% of the population.
Of the 8,525 households, 22.8% had children under the age of 18; 37.9% were married couples living together; 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 45.4% were non-families. Of all households, 36.5% 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 2.21 and the average family size was 2.94.
18.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.2 males.
The Census Bureau's 2015–2019 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $61,335 and the median family income was $825854. Males had a median income of $58,963 versus $49,215 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,774. About 8.1% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% 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 19,079 people, 8,462 households, and 4,721 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 9,009 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the township was 83.17% White, 7.21% African American, 0.16% Native American, 6.10% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.46% of the population.
There were 8,462 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.2% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the township the population was spread out, with 19.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 36.0% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $45,426, and the median income for a family was $53,912. Males had a median income of $40,290 versus $30,858 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,812. About 3.8% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Maple Shade Township operates within the Faulkner Act under the Council-Manager form of municipal government, implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1975. The township is one of 42 municipalities statewide that use this form of government. The governing body is composed of a five-member Township Council, whose members are elected at-large in partisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for election in even-numbered years as part of the November general election. At a reorganization meeting held during the first week of January after each election, the Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Maple Shade Township Council are Mayor Charles Kauffman, Deputy Mayor Steve Schmidt, Sandra Nunes, Claire B. Volpe and J. Nelson Wiest.

Federal, state and county representation

Maple Shade Township is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 6th state legislative district.

Politics

Education

The Maple Shade School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 2,370 students and 219.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 10.8:1. Schools in the district are
Howard R. Yocum Elementary School with 565 students in grades PreK to 1
Maude M. Wilkins Elementary School with 534 students in grades 2-4
Ralph J. Steinhauer Elementary School with 342 students in grades 5-6 and
Maple Shade High School with 888 students in grades 7-12.
Students from Maple Shade 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.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Burlington County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Passing through the township are Route 38, Route 41 and Route 73. The New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 295 are both accessible just outside the township by way of Route 73.

Public transportation

provides bus service to and from Philadelphia on route 317, and 407 to Camden, and on the 413 route between Camden, and Burlington.

Notable people

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