Haddonfield

Haddonfield is a borough located in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough had a total population of 11,593,[9][10][11] reflecting a decline of 66 (-0.6%) from the 11,659 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 31 (+0.3%) from the 11,628 counted in the 1990 Census.[20] The most recent 2020 census states that the population of Haddonfield is 12,550.[21]

Haddonfield was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 6, 1875, within portions of Haddon Township following a referendum on the same day. The borough became an independent municipality in 1894.[22] The borough was named for Elizabeth Haddon, an early settler of the area.[23][24]

The Haddonfield area was occupied by Lenni Lenape Native Americans. The Lenape disappeared from the local area when settlers arrived. Arrowheads and pottery shards have been found by residents by the banks of the Cooper River, hinting that there was a Native American settlement in Haddonfield at one point in time.

On October 23, 1682, Francis Collins, an English Quaker and a bricklayer by trade, became the first settler within the boundaries of what today is Haddonfield. Collins soon built a house, "Mountwell," on a tract of 400 acres. Haddonfield was further developed by Elizabeth Haddon (1680–1762), whose Quaker father, John Haddon, bought a 500 acres (2.0 km2) tract of land in the English colony of West Jersey to escape religious persecution. Elizabeth set sail alone from Southwark, England to the New World in 1701. Shortly after her arrival, she made a marriage proposal to John Estaugh, a Quaker minister, and they were married in 1702. The town was named for John Haddon, though he never came to America.[25]

The Indian King Tavern, built in 1750, played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. During that war, the New Jersey Legislature met there, avoiding British forces, and in 1777, declared New Jersey to be an independent state. Today the tavern is a state historical site and museum.[25][26] Nevertheless, since 1873, Haddonfield has been a dry town where alcohol cannot be sold though it can be brewed and distributed in town.[26][27][28]

Haddonfield is a significant historic paleontology site. In 1838, William Estaugh Hopkins uncovered large bones in a marl pit in which he was digging. Hopkins displayed the bones at his home, Birdwood; and these bones sparked the interest of a visitor, William Foulke. In 1858, Foulke dug from the marl pit the first relatively complete skeleton of a dinosaur found in North America, Hadrosaurus foulkii. The skeleton was assembled in 1868 and is still displayed at Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.[29] A 12-foot (3.7 m) replica of "Haddy" stands in the center of town.[25] Hadrosaurus was recognized officially as the state dinosaur of New Jersey in June 1991.[30]

In 1875, Haddonfield became the first community to secede from Haddon Township and become a self-governing borough.[22] Haddonfield is noted for its historic homes, quaint shops, and legions of lawyers. As a legal center for southern New Jersey, the town houses the offices of more than 390 attorneys.

Haddonfield once was home to Symphony in C (formerly the Haddonfield Symphony), which is now based in nearby Collingswood, and performs at the Gordon Theater at Rutgers University-Camden.[31]

Haddonfield is home to the second oldest volunteer fire company in continuous service in the United States. Haddon Fire Company No. 1 was established as Friendship Fire Company on March 8, 1764, by 26 townsmen. Each member was to furnish two leather buckets while the company supplied six ladders and three fire hooks.[32]

In 1971, Haddonfield became the second municipality in New Jersey (after Cape May) to establish a historic preservation district.[33] In keeping with the historic appearance of the borough, some candidates for commissioner distribute colored ribbons to their supporters instead of yard signs.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.84 square miles (7.36 km2), including 2.80 square miles (7.24 km2) of land and 0.05 square miles (0.12 km2) of water (1.58%).[1][2]

The Cooper River forms the border between Haddonfield and Cherry Hill. Haddonfield shares land borders with Audubon, Barrington, Haddon Township, Haddon Heights, Lawnside, and Tavistock.[34][35][36]

The 2010 United States census counted 11,593 people, 4,436 households, and 3,181 families in the borough. The population density was 4,104.9 per square mile (1,584.9/km2). There were 4,634 housing units at an average density of 1,640.8 per square mile (633.5/km2). The racial makeup was 95.23% (11,040) White, 1.11% (129) Black or African American, 0.03% (4) Native American, 1.85% (215) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.43% (50) from other races, and 1.34% (155) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% (248) of the population.[9]

Of the 4,436 households, 36.0% had children under the age of 18; 61.7% were married couples living together; 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.3% were non-families. Of all households, 24.9% were made up of individuals and 11.9% 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 3.17.[9]

27.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.7 males.[9]

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $112,105 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,416) and the median family income was $129,100 (+/- $16,987). Males had a median income of $92,409 (+/- $10,521) versus $61,272 (+/- $6,669) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $55,955 (+/- $5,275). About 3.8% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.[48]

As of the 2000 United States Census[17] there were 11,659 people, 4,496 households, and 3,255 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,124.7 people per square mile (1,590.7/km2). There were 4,620 housing units at an average density of 1,634.5 per square mile (630.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.47% White, 1.27% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[45][46]

There were 4,496 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 24.1% 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 2.57 and the average family size was 3.09.[45][46]

In the borough the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.[45][46]

The median income for a household in the borough was $86,872, and the median income for a family was $103,597. Males had a median income of $73,646 versus $44,968 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $43,170. 2.2% of the population and 1.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.0% of those under the age of 18 and 3.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.[45][46]

The Indian King Tavern was a colonial American tavern where, in 1777, the New Jersey General Assembly held a meeting at which they officially ratified the Declaration of Independence. It has since been declared a State Historic Site, restored to its original layout, and turned into a museum with guided tours available to the public.[49][50]

On the "Main Street" of Haddonfield, King's Highway, there is a statue of a Hadrosaurus, a type of Dinosaur discovered in Haddonfield. The statue has been described as "the central landmark of downtown Haddonfield." The town is synonymous with the statue, it being a mascot of sorts for Haddonfield.[51][52][53]

Haddonfield has several parks maintained by the Camden County Parks Department:

It also has several parks maintained by other groups:

The Borough of Haddonfield has been governed under the Walsh Act since 1913.[7][60][61] The borough is one of 30 municipalities (of the 565) statewide that use the commission form of government.[62] The governing body is comprised of three commissioners, who elected to concurrent four-year terms of office on a non-partisan basis as part of the May municipal elections. At a reorganization meeting held after the new council is seated, each Commissioner is assigned to oversee one of the three departments within the Borough and the Commissioners select a Mayor and may select a Deputy Mayor.

As of 2021[update], the borough's commissioners are Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety), Kevin Roche (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance) and Frank Troy (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Buildings), all of whom are serving concurrent terms of office ending May 2025.[3][63][64]

In July 2019, Robert Marshall was selected to fill the seat as commissioner that became vacant following the resignation of John Moscatelli the previous month.[65] Marshall served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election,[66] when voters elected Colleen Bianco Bezich to serve the balance of the term of office through May 2021.[67]

Although the commission is nominally non-partisan, Kasko serves as state Republican Party Committeeman from Camden County and previously served as Haddonfield's Republican Party Chairman and as an aide to Republican Governor Christine Todd Whitman. Moscatelli and Rochford are unaffiliated voters and are not currently involved with local or state Democratic or Republican party activities.

In 2018, the borough had an average property tax bill of $15,182, the highest in the county (though the mini municipality of Tavistock had an average bill of $31,376 for its three homes), compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.[68]

Borough Hall, the home of Haddonfield government, is located at 242 King's Highway East and was built in 1928 by Walter William Sharpley. There are four main offices, including those for the tax assessor, the construction office and the municipal court office. Borough Hall includes a police department, a courtroom, and an auditorium. Its walls are of marble, steel, or plaster, although police station main walls are of steel and cinder block. Haddonfield police write about 8,000 tickets and receive about 300 criminal complaints each year.

In Borough Hall's auditorium are paintings of men who signed the United States Declaration of Independence from New Jersey: Abraham Clark, Francis Hopkinson, Richard Stockton, and John Witherspoon. Some of the paintings are original, other copies.

Weddings have been held in Borough Hall, and while asbestos was being removed from the public library, the upper level of Borough Hall became a temporary library.

Borough Commissioner's meetings are held at Borough Hall every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, usually in the courtroom but sometimes, if there is a large attendance, in the auditorium.

Since 1764, Haddonfield has been the home of Haddon Fire Co. No. 1, the second-oldest fire department in continuous service in the United States.[69][70]

Haddonfield is located in the 1st Congressional District[71] and is part of New Jersey's 6th state legislative district.[10][72][73]

For the 117th United States Congress, New Jersey's First Congressional District is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden).[74][75] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027)[76] and Bob Menendez (Harrison, term ends 2025).[77][78]

For the 2022–2023 session, the 6th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by James Beach (D, Voorhees Township) and in the General Assembly by Louis Greenwald (D, Voorhees Township) and Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D, Cherry Hill).[79]

Camden County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised 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 of its members to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director.[80] As of 2022[update], Camden County's Commissioners are Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. (D, Collingswood, term as Commissioner ends December 31, 2023; term as Director ends 2022),[81] Commissioner Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell (D, Pennsauken Township, term as Commissioner and as Deputy Director ends 2022),[82] Almar Dyer (D, Pennsauken Township, 2024),[83] Melinda Kane (D, Cherry Hill, 2024),[84] Jeffrey L. Nash (D, Winslow Township, 2024),[85] Carmen G. Rodriguez (D, Merchantville, 2022)[86] and Jonathan L. Young Sr. (D, Berlin Township, 2023)[87][80][88][89][90]

Camden County's constitutional officers, all elected directly by voters, are County Clerk Joseph Ripa (D, Voorhees Township, 2024),[91][92] Sheriff Gilbert "Whip" Wilson (D, Camden, 2024)[93][94] and Surrogate Michelle Gentek-Mayer (D, Gloucester Township, 2025).[95][96][97] The County Prosecutor is Grace C. MacAulay, who was sworn in on January 6, 2022.[98]

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 9,081 registered voters in Haddonfield, of which 3,268 (36.0%) were registered as Democrats, 2,232 (24.6%) were registered as Republicans and 3,575 (39.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 6 voters registered to other parties.[99]

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 55.3% of the vote (3,849 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 43.9% (3,054 votes), and other candidates with 0.7% (51 votes), among the 6,985 ballots cast by the borough's 10,054 registered voters (31 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 69.5%.[100][101] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 59.4% of the vote (4,346 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 38.2% (2,793 votes), with 7,311 ballots cast among the borough's 8,970 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.5%.[102] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 54.1% of the vote (3,946 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 44.7% (3,264 votes), with 7,300 ballots cast among the borough's 8,912 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 81.9.[103]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.1% of the vote (2,519 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.6% (1,483 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (52 votes), among the 4,147 ballots cast by the borough's 9,791 registered voters (93 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.4%.[104][105] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 46.9% of the vote (2,208 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 46.6% (2,195 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 5.3% (249 votes), with 4,712 ballots cast among the borough's 9,138 registered voters, yielding a 51.6% turnout.[106]

The Haddonfield Public Schools is a comprehensive public school district serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.[107] The district serves students from Haddonfield, along with those from Pine Valley and Tavistock who attend the district's schools as part of sending/receiving relationships.[108][109][110] As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 2,749 students and 215.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1.[111] Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[112]) are Central Elementary School[113] with 419 students in grades K-5, Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School[114] with 367 students in grades K-5, J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School[115] with 422 students in grades PreK-5, Haddonfield Middle School[116] with 659 students in grades 6-8 and Haddonfield Memorial High School[117] with 869 students in grades 9-12.[118][119]

In 2015, Elizabeth Haddon School was one of 15 schools in New Jersey, and one of nine public schools, recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in the exemplary high performing category by the United States Department of Education.[120][121]

During the 2004-05 school year, Haddonfield Memorial High School was awarded the National Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.[122] The school was the 33rd-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 328 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2012 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 11th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[123]

Haddonfield Friends School, a Quaker school that dates back to 1786, served 167 students in Pre-K through eighth grade.[124][125]

Kingsway Learning Center provides special education for students from ages birth to 14 at the Haddonfield campus, which is home to the school's Early Intervention Program and its Elementary Program.[126]

Christ the King Regional School, founded in 1940, serves students in PreK3 through eighth grade and operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.[127][128] Additionally, some Haddonfield students attend Resurrection Regional Catholic Schools in Cherry Hill.[129]

Bancroft School, founded in Haddonfield in 1883 and located there until 2017, is special education school and neurobehavioral stabilization program. In July 2005, Bancroft began soliciting requests for proposals to purchase its 20-acre (81,000 m2) property, as a precursor to moving from Haddonfield.[130] Bancroft is now located in neighboring Mount Laurel, but during the late 2010s, redevelopment of the Bancroft property in Haddonfield became a locally contentious issue.[131]

There are events such as the community sidewalk sale in the summer, and the fall festival in October. The fall festival is an event where community organizations may have booths along Kings Highway and there is scarecrow-making for kids. Haddonfield hosts a weekly farmers' market on Saturdays from May to November. There is also the Haddonfield Crafts & Fine Arts Festival, where a large variety of vendors line the main street. Another event is First Night, a New Year's Eve celebration of the arts, with a variety of performances was held in town until 2016.[132] There is also a yearly car show that takes place during the second Saturday of September. There are also events such as historic house tours and designer show houses.

Haddonfield prides itself on being very walkable; most streets have sidewalks, and due to the small size of the town — 2 miles (3.2 km) or less from any point in Haddonfield to any other as the crow flies — it is possible to walk to any part of the community. The Borough presently has a traffic campaign using the slogan "Haddonfield Drives 25" promoting the borough's speed limit as 25 mph (40 km/h) for all streets and roadways.

As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 46.74 miles (75.22 km) of roadways, of which 37.67 miles (60.62 km) were maintained by the municipality, 8.85 miles (14.24 km) by Camden County, 0.09 miles (0.14 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, and 0.13 miles (0.21 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[133]

Route 41 (Kings Highway) passes through the center of the borough and intersects CR 561 (Haddon Avenue) at Haddonfield's main business district. I-295 is adjacent to the southern tip with Exit 31 straddling the border. The New Jersey Turnpike also touches the town boundary, but the closest exit is Interchange 3 in Bellmawr/Runnemede.

The PATCO Speedline Haddonfield station links it to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the west and to the eastern terminus in Lindenwold, New Jersey, where it is possible to transfer to NJ Transit's bus and rail routes connecting Philadelphia to Atlantic City.

NJ Transit provides local bus service; its 451, 455, and 457 routes all stop at the PATCO station.[134][135]

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