Burlington County, New Jersey

19th Century

Increasing industrialization led to improvements in transportation which increased to profitability of agriculture in the county. Population increases in the coastal communities due to successful international trade and ship repair led to road improvements throughout the county.

Climate and weather

Average temperatures in the county seat of Mount Holly have ranged from a low of 22 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in February 1934 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.92 inches (74 mm) in February to 4.87 inches (124 mm) in August. Burlington County has a humid-subtropical / humid continental transition climate, with relatively cold winters and hot summers. Severe weather is common in the warm months. Hurricanes have been known to strike Burlington County on occasion. Tornadoes are uncommon in the county. Severe thunderstorms, however, are quite common during the warm season. Snowfall is typical in the winter, with the snowfall averages in the county ranging from about 18 to 22 inches. The climate and weather of Burlington county is moderated by the nearby Atlantic Ocean, and rain is common year-round. The county seat receives about 41 inches of rain per year.

Another interesting weather phenomena that occurs in Burlington County is radiative cooling in the Pine Barrens, a large pine forest and reserve that takes up a good portion of Southern and Eastern Burlington County. Due to sandy soil, on clear and dry nights these areas might be 10 to 15 °F (−12 to −9 °C) colder than the surrounding areas, and there is a shorter frost-free season in these places. The sandy soil of the Pinelands loses heat much faster than the other soils or urban surfaces (concrete, asphalt) in the region, and so achieves a much lower temperature at night than the rest of the county. This effect is far less pronounced on moist, cloudy, or windy nights, as these three factors greatly reduce the radiative cooling of the sandy soil.^[19]

Census 2010

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 448,734 people, 166,318 households, and 117,254 families residing in the county. The population density was 561.9 per square mile (217.0/km²). There were 175,615 housing units at an average density of 219.9 per square mile (84.9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.84% (331,342) White, 16.60% (74,505) Black or African American, 0.22% (985) Native American, 4.32% (19,395) Asian, 0.05% (219) Pacific Islander, 2.05% (9,193) from other races, and 2.92% (13,095) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.42% (28,831) of the population.^[2]

There were 166,318 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 12% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.14.^[2]

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.4 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.6 males.^[2]

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census^[24] there were 423,394 people, 154,371 households, and 111,610 families residing in the county. The population density was 526 people per square mile (203/km²). There were 161,311 housing units at an average density of 200 per square mile (77/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.39% White, 15.13% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.69% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.48% from other races, and 2.07% from two or more races. 4.16% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[23][25] Among those residents listing their ancestry, 21.2% of residents were of Irish, 19.1% German, 16.3% Italian, 10.8% English and 7.1% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.^[25][26]

There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.^[23]

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.^[23]

The median income for a household in the county was $58,608, and the median income for a family was $67,481. Males had a median income of $46,381 versus $32,228 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,339. About 3.2% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.^[25][27]

Politics

A moderate and swing county in New Jersey politics, Burlington County has become an important area for the Republican Party, especially in more affluent communities that have developed new residential areas, such as Medford, Mount Laurel, Moorestown, and Evesham Township (as opposed to areas along the Delaware River occupied by minority and working class households). It does however, tend to lean and vote Democratic particularly in federal elections.

As of October 31, 2014, there were a total of 292,538 registered voters in Burlington County, of whom 94,520 (32.3%) were registered as Democrats, 67,733 (23.2%) were registered as Republicans and 130,003 (44.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 282 voters registered to other parties.^[56] Among the county's 2010 Census population, 65.2% were registered to vote, including 76.8% of those ages 18 and over.^[56][57]

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 126,377 votes countywide, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 87,401 votes (40.2%) and other candidates with 2,158 votes (1.0%), among the 217,428 ballots cast by the county's 291,760 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.5%.^[58][59] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 131,219 votes in the county, ahead of Republican John McCain with 89,626 votes (39.9%) and other candidates with 2,329 votes (1.0%), among the 224,740 ballots cast by the county's 280,836 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.0%.^[60] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 110,411 votes in the county (52.9%), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 95,936 votes (46.0%) and other candidates with 1,609 votes (0.8%), among the 208,540 ballots cast by the county's 264,532 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.8% .^[61]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 79,220 votes countywide, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 46,161 votes (35.8%) and other candidates with 1,512 votes (1.2%), among the 129,060 ballots cast by the county's 289,900 registered voters, yielding a 44.5% turnout.^[62][63] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66,723 votes in Burlington County (48.0%), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 63,114 votes (45.4%), Independent Chris Daggett with 6,333 votes (4.6%) and other candidates with 1,661 votes (1.2%), among the 139,030 ballots cast by the county's 282,209 registered voters, yielding a 49.3% turnout rate.^[64]

In the 2012 General Election, Democrats Aimee Belgard and Joanne Schwartz won election as Freeholders over Republican incumbents Bruce Garganio and Mary Ann O'Brien, despite being outspent by a six-to-one margin.^[65] However, in 2014, both Garganio and O'Brien were successful in winning back seats on the Freeholder board, while Aimee Belgard lost her bid for U.S. Congress, losing the popular vote in both Ocean and Burlington counties.^[66][67]

In 2015, Republican newcomers Kate Gibbs and Ryan Peters ousted Belgard and Schwartz, again giving the Republican Party full control on the Freeholder Board.^[68]

In 2017, Democratic newcomers Tom Pullion and Balvir Singh defeated Republican incumbents Bruce Garganio and Linda Hughes, winning the county election for Democrats for the first time in a non-presidential election year in decades.^{[69] [70]}

Libraries

The Burlington County Library became the first county library in New Jersey when it was established in 1921 in Mount Holly. Library service grew in popularity and several moves ensued as more space became a necessity. By 1971, a new headquarters facility had been constructed, Cinnaminson Township and Bordentown had joined the system as branches, and a bookmobile visited areas without local facilities. Medford and Evesham Township had joined the system by 1975. The Pemberton Township Branch joined the system in 1987. Maple Shade Township became a branch in April 2001 while Riverton, the newest branch, joined in December 2003. With a larger network of nine additional member libraries, the system provides a range of services to its residents.^[74]

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the county had a total of 2,609.74 miles (4,199.97 km) of roadways, of which 1,913.83 miles (3,080.01 km) were maintained by the local municipality, 504.18 miles (811.40 km) by Burlington County, 154.01 miles (247.86 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 37.72 miles (60.70 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.^[75]

A variety of major routes were constructed through Burlington County. Major county roads include County Route 528, County Route 530, County Route 532, County Route 534 (only in Shamong Township), County Route 537, County Route 541, County Route 542, County Route 543, County Route 544, County Route 545 and County Route 563. State Routes that pass through are Route 38, Route 68, Route 70, Route 72, Route 73, Route 90 (only in Cinnaminson Township), and Route 413 (only in Burlington). U.S. Routes that traverse are U.S. Route 9 (only in Bass River Township), U.S. Route 130 and U.S. Route 206. Limited access roads include the Garden State Parkway (a 7.4 miles (11.9 km) stretch in Bass River Township^[76]), Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike (a portion of Interstate 95).

The Turnpike extends through the county for approximately 30.1 miles (48.4 km) from Cherry Hill in Camden County to Hamilton Township in Mercer County (including the 6.5 mile (10.5 km) Turnpike Extension from the turnpike bridge over the Delaware River to the mainline at Exit 6).^[77][78]

Five Turnpike interchanges are located in the county: Exit 4 in Mount Laurel, Exit 5 in Westampton Township, Exit 6A in Florence Township, Exit 6 in Mansfield Township and Exit 7 in Bordentown Township.^[79]

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority plans to widen the Parkway to three lanes in each direction from exit 80 in South Toms River, Ocean County to exit 30 in Somers Point, Atlantic County, including widening of bridges at several river crossings.^[80] The Authority extended the 'dual-dual' configuration (inner car lanes and outer car / truck / bus lanes) south to Exit 6 from its former end at Exit 8A in Monroe Township, Middlesex County. This was finished in early November 2014.^[81][82]

Bridges

View from the roadway of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, across the upper Delaware River from Palmyra, New Jersey to Tacony section of Philadelphia with drawbridge signs

The Burlington County Bridge Commission is responsible for maintaining the Tacony–Palmyra Bridge and the Burlington–Bristol Bridge, both of which cross the Delaware River. In addition, the agency maintains several bridges along CR 543 including the Riverside–Delanco Bridge over the Rancocas Creek.^[83]

The Tacony–Palmyra Bridge is a combination steel tied arch and double-leaf bascule bridge across the Delaware River that connects New Jersey Route 73 in Palmyra with Pennsylvania Route 73 in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. The bridge, designed by architect Ralph Modjeski, has a total length of 3,659 feet (1,115 m) and spans 2,324 feet (708 m). After 18 months of construction, the bridge opened in 1929, replacing ferry service that had operated between the two places since 1922.^[84]

The Burlington–Bristol Bridge is a truss bridge with a lift span crossing the Delaware River from Burlington to Bristol Township, Pennsylvania. Construction of the bridge started on April 1, 1930, and the bridge opened to traffic on May 2, 1931. The two-lane bridge has a total length of 2,301 feet (701 m); The lift span is 540 feet (164.6 m) long.^[85]

With tolls per car of $4 (reduced to $3 with E-ZPass) for cars heading into Pennsylvania, a total of $51 million in revenue was generated from the 13.5 million toll-paying trips in 2016 on the Burlington–Bristol and Tacony–Palmyra bridges.^[86]

The Riverside–Delanco Bridge is a truss bridge with a central swing span that carries County Route 543 across the Rancocas Creek, between Riverside Township and Delanco Township. The current bridge was built in 1934-1935 to replace the 1901 bridge, which itself replaced an 1870 structure.^[87]

Public transportation

The River Line is a diesel light-rail system operated for NJ Transit by the Southern New Jersey Rail Group on a former Pennsylvania Railroad line between the Trenton Transit Center in Trenton and the Walter Rand Transportation Center and other stations in Camden, with 11 stations in the county.^[88]

NJ Transit operates bus service into Philadelphia on the following routes; 317, 406, 409 414, and 417 routes, and into Camden only on the following routes; 407, 413, 418, 419 and 457; and to Atlantic City on the 559 route.^[89][90]

Academy Bus Lines operates buses from Mount Holly, Mount Laurel, Westampton Township and Willingboro Township to New York City's Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan as well as the Wall Street area of Lower Manhattan.^[91]

The BurLink bus service provides three routes, under service funded by the county and operated by Stout's Transportation, providing connections to NJ Transit's bus and rail service.^[92]