VOORHEES, NJ

Voorhees Township is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 29,131, reflecting an increase of 1,005 (+3.6%) from the 28,126 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 3,567 (+14.5%) from the 24,559 counted in the 1990 Census. Voorhees is a New Jersey suburb in the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area.

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.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 11.64 square miles (30.15 km²), including 11.47 square miles (29.71 km²) of land and 0.17 square miles (0.44 km²) of water (1.44%).

Echelon (with a 2010 population of 10,743) 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 place names located partially or completely within the township include Ashland, Brighton Heights, 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 (Köppen Classification) with mild to very cold winters and hot, humid summers. Temperatures have ranged from 104 °F to -7 °F.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $82,146 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,405) and the median family income was $107,000 (+/- $4,910). Males had a median income of $72,430 (+/- $6,605) versus $51,322 (+/- $2,170) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $44,169 (+/- $2,717). 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.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 28,126 people, 10,489 households, and 7,069 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,424.0 people per square mile (936.2/km²). There were 11,084 housing units at an average density of 955.2 per square mile (368.9/km²). 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, 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.

Sports

Voorhees is the home of the Skate Zone, a training facility for the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL. 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 Arena Football League practiced at the Coliseum in Voorhees.

Government

Local government

The Township of Voorhees is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 565) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee is composed 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 (D, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2020), Deputy Mayor Deputy Mayor Jason A. Ravitz (D, term on committee ends 2021; term as deputy mayor ends 2019), Jacklyn Fetbroyt (D, 2022), Michelle M. Nocito (D, 2021) and Harry A. Platt (D, 2020).

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 23, 2011, there were a total of 19,762 registered voters in Voorhees Township, of which 7,392 (37.4%) were registered as Democrats, 3,129 (15.8%) were registered as Republicans and 9,229 (46.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 12 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 60.3% of the vote (8,479 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 38.7% (5,450 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (137 votes), among the 14,160 ballots cast by the township's 21,493 registered voters (94 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 65.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 61.1% of the vote (9,028 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 35.3% (5,216 votes), 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 (7,835 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 40.2% (5,475 votes), with 13,628 ballots cast among the township's 18,325 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.4.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.4% of the vote (4,679 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 37.4% (2,851 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (95 votes), among the 7,845 ballots cast by the township's 21,636 registered voters (220 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 50.% of the vote (4,126 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 44.2% (3,645 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 3.8% (315 votes), with 8,248 ballots cast among the township's 19,611 registered voters, yielding a 42.1% turnout.

In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 60.8% of the vote (9,037 cast), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 34% (5050 votes), and other candidates with 3.0% (447 votes), among the 14,862 ballots cast by the township's 21,393 registered, for a turnout of 69.5%.

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 (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1. Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) 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 PreK-5 and

Voorhees Middle School with 1,018 students in grades 6-8. For the 2003-04 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 2019–20 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,928 students and 140.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.7:1. The district's board of education has 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 also the home of 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 120 students as of the 2017–18 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.

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 (Berlin-Kresson Road), 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 Township. Exit 32 of Interstate 295 is partially signed for Voorhees, though motorists can also use exits 29A (U.S. Route 30/Berlin), 31 (Woodcrest Station) or 36 (Route 73) to access parts of the township.

County Route 544 (Evesham Road) runs along the border with Cherry Hill on the north side of the township and County Route 561 (Haddonfield-Berlin Road) 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.

Notable people

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