Voorhees Township, New Jersey


Voorhees Township is a township in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is a suburb in the Delaware Valley / Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 31,069, an increase of 1,938 from the 2010 census count of 29,131, which in turn reflects an increase of 1,005 from the 28,126 counted in the 2000 census.
Voorhees Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1899, from portions of Waterford Township. Portions of the township were taken on March 8, 1924, to form Gibbsboro.
The township is named for Foster McGowan Voorhees, the Governor of New Jersey who authorized its creation. The township is part of the state's South Jersey region.
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Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 11.64 square miles, including 11.47 square miles of land and 0.17 square miles of water.
Echelon, with a 2020 population of 11,896, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in the western part of the township between Cherry Hill and Gibbsboro.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and places located partially or completely within the township include Ashland, Brighton Heights, [Glendale, Camden County, New Jersey|Camden County, New Jersey|Glendale], Kirkwood, Kresson and Osage.
Voorhees borders the municipalities of Berlin Township, Cherry Hill, Gibbsboro, Lawnside, Lindenwold and Somerdale in Camden County; and Evesham Township to the east in Burlington County.

Climate

Voorhees has a Humid Continental/Humid Subtropical transition climate according to with mild to very cold winters and hot, humid summers. Temperatures have ranged from.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 29,131 people, 11,470 households, and 7,433 families in the township. The population density was. There were 12,260 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 71.77% White, 8.70% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 16.13% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races and 2.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.43% of the population.
Of the 11,470 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18; 53.8% were married couples living together; 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.2% were non-families. Of all households, 29.8% were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.14.
22.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.8 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $82,146 and the median family income was $107,000. Males had a median income of $72,430 versus $51,322 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $44,169. About 4.0% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 28,126 people, 10,489 households and 7,069 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 11,084 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the township was 78.26% White, 8.00% African American, 0.14% Native American, 11.44% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.47% of the population.
There were 10,489 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.6% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% 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 3.23.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64 and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $68,402 and the median income for a family was $86,873. Males had a median income of $58,484 versus $38,897 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,635. About 3.7% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

New Jersey American Water, previously based in Voorhees Township, is the largest water utility in New Jersey, serving over two million people in 176 communities throughout the state. New Jersey American Water is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water.
Saddlehill Vineyard and Winery was established on the site of the Stafford Farm in 2021. The site of the winery had been given by George Washington to John Stafford in 1773, whose family had farmed the land for more than two centuries.

Sports

Voorhees is the home of the Flyers Training Center, the training facility for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League. In 2018, the Flyers, renovated and expanded their training facility. Current and former players of the team often become residents of Voorhees. Voorhees includes a community park that includes a running track, children's playground, gazebo and dedicated areas for dogs.
The Philadelphia Soul of the now defunct Arena Football League practiced at the Coliseum in Voorhees.

Government

Local government

Voorhees Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are 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. The Mayor and Deputy Mayors are chosen by the Township Committee from among its members during the Reorganization meeting each January.
, the members of the Voorhees Township Committee are Mayor Michael R. Mignogna, Deputy Mayor Michelle M. Nocito, Deputy Mayor Jason A. Ravitz, Jacklyn Fetbroyt and Harry A. Platt.
The township's municipal building is located at the Voorhees Town Center having moved there in 2011. The previous municipal building was located at 620 Berlin Road.

Federal, state and county representation

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

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 19,762 registered voters in Voorhees Township, of which 7,392 were registered as Democrats, 3,129 were registered as Republicans and 9,229 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 12 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 60.3% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 38.7% and other candidates with 1.0%, among the 14,160 ballots cast by the township's 21,493 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 61.1% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 35.3%, with 14,768 ballots cast among the township's 19,553 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.5%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 57.5% of the vote, outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 40.2%, with 13,628 ballots cast among the township's 18,325 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.4.

Education

Students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Voorhees Township Public Schools. As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 2,976 students and 228.6 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1. Schools in the district are Edward T. Hamilton Elementary School with 384 students in grades K–5, Kresson Elementary School with 382 students in grades K–5, Osage Elementary School with 684 students in grades K–5,
Signal Hill Elementary School with 485 students in grades Pre-K–5 and Voorhees Middle School with 1,018 students in grades 6–8. For the 2003–2004 school year, Edward T. Hamilton Elementary School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education, one of 233 selected nationwide.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend the Eastern Camden County Regional High School District, a limited-purpose, public regional school district that serves students at Eastern Regional High School from the constituent communities of Berlin Borough, Gibbsboro and Voorhees Township. As of the 2019–2020 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,928 students and 140.4 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.7:1. The district's board of education is comprised of nine members who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. Representation on the Board of Education is determined by the population of each of the three sending districts, with six seats allocated to Voorhees Township.
Voorhees is home to two private schools. Kellman Brown Academy, formerly Harry B. Kellman Academy, is a private Jewish day school serving children aged 3 through 8th grade which had an enrollment of 112 students as of the 2019–2020 school year. The school was founded in 1958 in association with Congregation Beth El at Parkside in Camden and has been located in Voorhees independently since October 2008 as part of the Solomon Schechter Day School Association.
Naudain Academy is a Montessori education program for children from preschool to kindergarten, located near Kresson Elementary School. Naudain Academy first opened in 1977.
The largest branch of the Camden County Library is located in Voorhees. Officially named the M. Allan Vogelson Regional Branch, it was established in 1969.

Infrastructure

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.
The only major highway that passes through Voorhees is Route 73, which travels from the southern border with Berlin Township towards Evesham Township in Burlington County. Interstate 295 and Route 70 provide access to nearby Philadelphia via Cherry Hill. Exit 32 of Interstate 295 is partially signed for Voorhees, though motorists can also use exits 29A, 31 or 36 to access parts of the township.
County Route 544 runs along the border with Cherry Hill on the north side of the township and County Route 561 clips the southwest corner of the township, from Berlin Township in the south, passes through Gibbsboro, reenters the township's northwest corner before heading into Cherry Hill.

Public transportation

One station on the PATCO Speedline rail system, Ashland, is located within township limits. The Woodcrest and Lindenwold stations are also easily accessible to many residents.
NJ Transit bus service is offered between the township and Philadelphia on the 403 route, with local service provided by the 451 and 459 routes.

Healthcare

Operated by Virtua Health, an academic non-profit healthcare system, the 368-bed Virtua Voorhees Hospital on Route 73 opened in May 2011 after nearly three years of construction, with a facility built on a site. The original West Jersey hospital had been built in 1973 when the area was largely rural and became Virtua West Jersey Hospital Voorhees following the 1998 merger of Memorial Health Alliance of Burlington County and West Jersey Health System that created Virtua Health. The former hospital building was demolished starting in 2012.

Notable people

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