Haddon Township, New Jersey

Haddon Township is a Walsh Act township located in Camden County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 census, the township had a total population of 14,651.

Haddon Township uniquely has two separate exclaves, namely, West Collingswood Heights and West Collingswood Extension. Haddon Township is a center for liquor stores, restaurants, and bars because neighboring boroughs of Haddonfield and Collingswood prohibit the sale of alcohol.

Haddon Township is governed by a non-partisan commission.

Westmont, a section of Haddon Township, has a PATCO Park and Ride station.

Contents

1 History 1.1 Saddlertown 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 External links

History

In the 1700s the daughter of John Haddon, Elizabeth Haddon Estaugh, came to the American colonies to oversee his large landholdings, which included areas now belonging to Haddon Township and Haddonfield.

The area known as Newton Township encompassed land that would later bcome part of the municipalities of Oaklyn, Audubon, Audubon Park, Collingswood, Gloucester City, Woodlynn, Camden, Haddon Heights and Haddonfield. Its first settlers, Irishmen who settled in the area of Newton Creek in 1681, survived the Revolutionary War and the incorporation of the City of Camden. In the 1860s, however, the area began to lose its cohesion. In 1865, the eastern portion the Newton Township eventually broke off and formed Haddon Township.

Saddlertown

In the late 1830s, a runaway slave 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. The man took a job with Cy Evans, a local Quaker farmer. After learning that he was opposed to slavery, the slave told his employer that he had fled slavery on a plantation. Evans gave the slave 50 acres to farm, and he was able to live there peacefully.

The area where Saddler settled became a predominantly black area known as Saddlertown, so named in honor of Saddler's generosity in inviting others to share in his gift; Saddlertown was a stop on the underground railroad. Today, the area has come to include members of other racial groups.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 7.3 km² (2.8 mi²). 7.0 km² (2.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.93% water.

Haddon Township borders Audubon, Audubon Park, Camden, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Gloucester City, Haddonfield, Mount Ephraim, and Oaklyn.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 14,651 people, 6,207 households, and 3,891 families residing in the township. The population density is 2,102.9/km² (5,443.4/mi²). There are 6,423 housing units at an average density of 921.9/km² (2,386.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the township is 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. 1.54% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 6,207 households out of which 27.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% are married couples living together, 9.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% are non-families. 33.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 17.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.36 and the average family size is 3.05.

In the township the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 83.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township is $51,076, and the median income for a family is $65,269. Males have a median income of $44,943 versus $32,967 for females. The per capita income for the township is $25,610. 4.1% of the population and 1.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.3% of those under the age of 18 and 5.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• Haddon Township municipal website (http://www.haddontwp.com/)
• Saddler's Woods Conservation Association (http://www.saddlerswoods.org/)
• Haddon Township Historical Society (http://www.haddontwphistoricalsociety.org/)