Haddon Township allows the sale of alcohol, and has several bars and restaurants which serve alcoholic beverages, unlike the neighboring boroughs of Collingswood, Haddonfield and Haddon Heights which prohibit the sale of alcohol.[23]
The township's first European settlers settled in the area of Newton Creek in 1681. In 1701, Elizabeth Haddon Estaugh, the daughter of John Haddon, arrived in the American colonies to oversee his large landholdings, which included areas that are now Collingswood, Haddon Township, and Haddonfield. Contemporary Newton Township included land that later became part of Audubon, Audubon Park, Camden, Collingswood, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Haddonfield, Oaklyn, and Woodlynne.[24]
In the late 1830s, a runaway enslaved man, who had taken the surname Saddler to avoid detection by his former master, came to New Jersey from a Maryland plantation with his wife and two daughters. Saddler worked for Cy Evans, a local Quaker farmer, from whom he bought five acres to farm.[25] The area where Saddler settled became a predominantly black community known as Saddlertown, a stop on the Underground Railroad. Today, Saddlertown is racially diverse.[25]
According to the United States Census Bureau, Haddon Township had a total area of 2.82 square miles (7.30 km2), including 2.69 square miles (6.97 km2) of land and 0.13 square miles (0.33 km2) of water (4.54%).[1][2]
Haddon Township has two exclaves, West Collingswood Heights and West Collingswood Extension. The downtown portion of the township is known as Westmont, a name probably derived from a noted harness racing horse.[26] Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Crystal Lake, Cuthbert and Oakdale.[27]
Of the 6,226 households, 26.7% had children under the age of 18; 48.5% were married couples living together; 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.0% were non-families. Of all households, 32.3% were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.04.[18]
21.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.3 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $70,392 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,948) and the median family income was $90,156 (+/− $6,251). Males had a median income of $60,221 (+/− $5,315) versus $52,179 (+/− $4,167) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,506 (+/− $2,687). About 3.6% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.[41]
As of the 2000 United States Census,[15] there were 14,651 people, 6,207 households, and 3,891 families residing in the township. The population density was 5,443.4 inhabitants per square mile (2,101.7/km2). There were 6,423 housing units at an average density of 2,386.4 per square mile (921.4/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 95.42% White, 1.18% African American, 0.05% Native American, 2.01% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.[39][40]
There were 6,207 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.05.[39][40]
In the township, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.[39][40]
The median income for a household in the township was $51,076, and the median income for a family was $65,269. Males had a median income of $44,943 versus $32,967 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,610. About 1.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.[39][40]
Since 1950, Haddon Township has been governed under the Walsh Act with a governing body comprised of a three-member commission. The Township is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under the commission form of government.[42] Commission members are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis as part of the May municipal election to serve four-year concurrent terms of office. At a reorganization meeting held after the election, each commissioner is assigned responsibility for supervising a specific department. The commissioners select one of their members to serve as a part-time mayor, who presides over meetings but has no independent executive function.[6][43][44] Haddon Township has had only three mayors in its history: William Rohrer, William J. Park. Jr., (1997 New Jersey State League of Municipalities Mayors Hall of Fame),[45] and Randall Teague.
As of 2023[update], members of the Haddon Township Commission are
Mayor Randall W. "Randy" Teague (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property),
Ryan Linhart (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance) and
Jim Mulroy (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety); all serving terms of office that end May 16, 2027.[3][46][47] Linhart, Mulroy and Teague ran unopposed in the May 2023 municipal election, the fourth consecutive time that township candidates won election to four-year terms, without facing any challengers.[48]
In November 2018, Ryan Linhart was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Paul Dougherty, who resigned the previous month before he pleaded guilty to a criminal charge.[49]
Jim Mulroy was sworn into office in February 2017 to fill the seat vacated by John Foley, who resigned from office earlier that month.[50]
Haddon Township has three fire districts (a fourth, District 2, was dissolved in 2016), each governed by five elected fire commissioners. Fire District 1 is the Westmont and Bluebird section, protected by the Westmont Fire Company No. 1, which was established in 1902.[51] The former Fire District 2 covered the West Collingswood Extension section. Since being dissolved, Haddon Township now contracts directly with the Borough of Collingswood Fire Department (Station 16-1) for fire protection in the Extension section. Fire District 3 is the Bettlewood, Heather Glen, Heather House and Heather Woods sections and it contracts with the Westmont Fire Company No. 1 for fire protection from District 1. Fire District 4 is the West Collingswood Heights section, protected by the West Collingswood Heights Fire Co., Westmont Fire Co. (Station 15-1) and West Collingswood Heights Fire Co. (Station 15-2) are both Haddon Township companies, but separate entities with their own chiefs.[52]
Ambulance service throughout the Township is also divided, mirroring the fire service.
The Westmont Fire Company No. 1 provides both fire and EMS services. John D. Medes has served as Chief since 2007.
Police coverage throughout the entire township is provided by the Haddon Township Police Department, which also provides services for Audubon Park.[53] The department was established in 1926.[54] As of 2017, it consists of 26 sworn officers.[55]
Camden County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members chosen at-large in partisan elections for three-year terms on a staggered basis by the residents of the county, with either two or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At a reorganization meeting held in January after each election, the newly constituted Board of Commissioners selects one member to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director, each serving a one-year term in that role.[66] As of 2024[update], Camden County's Commissioners are:
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. (D, Collingswood, 2026),[67]
Commissioner Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell (D, Pennsauken Township, 2025),[68]
Virginia Ruiz Betteridge (D, Runnemede, 2025),[69]
Almar Dyer (D, Pennsauken Township, 2024),[70]
Melinda Kane (D, Cherry Hill, 2024),[71]
Jeffrey L. Nash (D, Winslow Township, 2024),[72] and
Jonathan L. Young Sr. (D, Berlin Township, 2026).[73][66][74][75][76]
Haddon Township does not have a dedicated postal ZIP Code, sharing the codes of Collingswood, Haddonfield, Audubon, Audubon Park, and Oaklyn.[citation needed]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 10,876 registered voters in Haddon Township, of which 4,408 (40.5%) were registered as Democrats, 2,036 (18.7%) were registered as Republicans and 4,415 (40.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 17 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[84]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 60.5% of the vote (4,975 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 37.8% (3,104 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (143 votes), among the 8,272 ballots cast by the township's 11,643 registered voters (50 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 71.0%.[85][86] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 59.7% of the vote (5,185 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 37.4% (3,244 votes), with 8,685 ballots cast among the township's 10,887 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.8%.[87] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 58.7% of the vote (5,021 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 39.8% (3,401 votes), with 8,549 ballots cast among the township's 10,762 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 79.4.[88]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 58.3% of the vote (2,834 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 39.9% (1,941 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (90 votes), among the 4,978 ballots cast by the township's 11,501 registered voters (113 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.3%.[89][90] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 49.2% of the vote (2,705 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 43.0% (2,365 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 5.9% (327 votes), with 5,498 ballots cast among the township's 10,864 registered voters, yielding a 50.6% turnout.[91]
The Haddon Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.[92] As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of seven schools, had an enrollment of 2,060 students and 165.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.4:1.[93] Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[94]) are
Thomas A. Edison Elementary School[95] (152 students; in grades Pre-K–5),
Clyde S. Jennings Elementary School[96] (113; K–5),
Stoy Elementary School[97] (168; Pre-K–5),
Strawbridge Elementary School[98] (196; K–5),
Van Sciver Elementary School[99] (319; Pre-K–5),
William G. Rohrer Middle School[100] (465; 6–8) and
Haddon Township High School[101] (622; 9–12).[102]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 51.83 miles (83.41 km) of roadways, of which 39.96 miles (64.31 km) were maintained by the municipality, 9.73 miles (15.66 km) by Camden County and 2.14 miles (3.44 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[111]
Mary Roebling (1905–1994), banker, businesswoman, and philanthropist who was the first woman to serve as president of a major U.S. bank[132]
William G. Rohrer (1909–1989), founder of First Peoples Bank of New Jersey, the first bank in South Jersey to reach $1 billion in deposits, and mayor of Haddon Township for 36 years[133]
^ abGovernment, Haddon Township. Accessed June 7, 2023. "Under the Walsh Act, Haddon Township has been governed by a three-member commission since 1950. Commission members are elected at-large in nonpartisan elections to serve four-year concurrent terms. Each commissioner is responsible for surveying an assigned department. The three commissioners vote among themselves to choose a part-time mayor, who presides over meetings but has no independent executive function."
^Ticker, Bruce S. "Liquor Issue Is Debated In Haddon", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 17, 1988. Accessed March 18, 2015. "Haddon Township - Bordered by a number of dry towns - is the host of more liquor-license holders than state law allows, a township resident argued last night."
^History, Haddon Township. Accessed March 31, 2020.
^ abHistory, Saddler's Woods Conservation Association. Accessed October 17, 2007. Saddler willed the property to his wife and nine surviving children.
^Fox, Joey. "Candidates win local races uncontested in six towns", New Jersey Globe, May 9, 2023. Accessed June 7, 2023. "In Haddon Township, Mayor Randy Teague and Councilmen James Mulroy and Ryan Linhart have won the town’s fourth consecutive uncontested election."
^Walsh, Jim. "Haddon Township names Linhart to fill commissioner's seat", Courier-Post, November 13, 2008. Accessed September 16, 2019. "A financial analyst for the University of Pennsylvania has been appointed to a vacant seat on the township commission. Ryan Linhart succeeds Paul Dougherty, who left the governing body shortly before pleading guilty to a criminal charge last month."
^Full Biography, Congressman Donald Norcross. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Donald and his wife Andrea live in Camden City and are the proud parents of three grown children and grandparents of two."
^Haddon Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Haddon Township School District. Accessed May 16, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Haddon Township School District. Composition: The Haddon Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Haddon Township."
^Staff. "Students, parishioners have reason to mourn schools", Courier-Post, June 17, 2008. Accessed September 20, 2012. "Closing for good to merge with other Catholic elementary schools are Annunciation in Bellmawr, Blessed Sacrament in Margate, Holy Saviour in Westmont, Queen of Heaven in Cherry Hill, St. Agnes in Blackwood, St. Bridget in Glassboro, St. Lawrence in Lindenwold and Our Lady of Grace/Holy Rosary in Somerdale."
^Haddon Twp. Branch, Camden County Library System. Accessed September 18, 2022.
^Rothschild, Barbara S. "Longtime rabbi dies at age 90"Archived November 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Courier-Post, February 12, 2008. Accessed March 24, 2011. "Lewis was an inspiration to Haddon Township native Mitch Albom, best-selling author of Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven."
^Staff. "Laurie Beechman", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 10, 1998. Accessed March 24, 2011. "Laurie Beechman, 44, a diminutive singer and actress whose immense talent, energy and heart took her from the stage at Haddon Township High School all the way to Broadway, died Sunday of ovarian cancer at home in White Plains, N.Y.... Last year, Haddon Township made her the first inductee into the Haddon Township Cultural Hall of Fame."
^Brahms, William B.; White-Grear, Sandra. Haddon Township, p. 34. Arcadia Publishing, 2011. ISBN9780738576503. Accessed April 16, 2022. "The Haddon Hills Estates were single-family, colonial-style homes built in the early 1950s and stretched from Crystal Lake Avenue down to Crestwood Avenue. Author William B. Brahms is shown in front of his house on the 300 block of Briarwood Avenue, a few years after his family moved there in the late 1960s from the Haddon Hills Apartments."
^Staff. "George E. Brunner, Camden Ex-Mayor". The New York Times, February 9, 1975. Accessed March 24, 2011. "George E. Brunner, who was Mayor of Camden, N.J., from 1936 to 1959, died yesterday at his home in Haddon Township, N.J."
^Hagenmayer, S. Joseph. "John P. Mccarthy, 81, S. Jersey Basketball Coach", The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 14, 1998. Accessed December 14, 2013. "John P. 'Mac' McCarthy, 81, a legendary South Jersey basketball coach whose peers nicknamed him the Silver Fox for abilities as a strategist, died Tuesday at his Westmont home."
^"Donald H. McComb", Courier-Post. Accessed May 16, 2020. "Donald H. McComb, of Haddon Twp., passed away Sunday, June 3, 2018 at his home with his family."
^Strauss, Robert. "Theater; For Comedian, Old Jokes, Loyal Fans", The New York Times, October 19, 2006. Accessed December 13, 2014. "He admits to having homes in Florida and Wildwood, in addition to his primary residence along the Cooper River in Haddon Township in Camden County, where he lives with his wife, Bobbie."
^William G. Rohrer, Rowan University. Accessed May 16, 2020. "A resident of Haddon Township since 1929, Mr. Rohrer served as a committeeman for four years and as mayor for 36 years."
^Lavinia, DeCastro. "Haddon Township: Part of a larger whole", Courier-Post, October 19, 2006, Accessed April 16, 2022. "Did you know film director Steven Spielberg lived in Haddon Township as a youngster? Spielberg lived in the township from 1950 to 1953 and he is believed to have seen one of his first movies at the Westmont Theater."