Mount Laurel is a township in Burlington County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 44,633, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 2,769 (+6.6%) from the 2010 census count of 41,864, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,643 (+4.1%) from the 40,221 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. It is the home of NFL Films.

In 2020, Mount Laurel was ranked 16th in Money magazine's list of the 50 best places to live in the United States, citing a kid-friendly environment, affordable housing, and easy access to Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore.

History

Mount Laurel was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1872, from portions of Evesham Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 97. Accessed May 30, 2024. The township was named for a hill covered with laurel trees.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 8, 2015.

Several historical landmarks include General Clinton's headquarters, Paulsdale, Evesham Friends Meeting House, Jacob's Chapel, Hattie Britt School, and Farmer's Hall.New Jersey - Burlington County, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed July 17, 2012.

Mount Laurel Doctrine The Mount Laurel Doctrine is a final NJ Supreme Court’s interpretation of the New Jersey State Constitution that requires municipalities to use their zoning powers in an affirmative manner to provide a realistic opportunity for the production of housing affordable to low and moderate-income households. The decision was a result of a lawsuit brought against the town by the N.A.A.C.P. that was decided by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 1975 and reaffirmed in a subsequent decision in 1983.History of Mount Laurel Decisions , Accessed August 22, 2009.

The history behind this, and the story leading to the decision was highlighted in Our Town, a book by David L. Kirp.

Mount Laurel was a small, rural farming community until it was hit with massive suburban growth from Philadelphia in the later 1960s. In 1970, at a meeting about a proposal for taxpayer subsidized housing held at an all-black church in Mount Laurel, Mayor Bill Haines summed up the NIMBYist perspective by saying: "If you people can't afford to live in our town, then you'll just have to leave."

Even though the black families in Mount Laurel were not from urban ghettos and were not involved in gang activity, the new suburban influx thought otherwise, and significantly delayed the creation of tax-payer subsidized housing areas, citing concerns of gang activity and an influx of inner-city criminals. Example comments from town meetings against forced construction of housing projects included "...we need this like Custer needed more Indians..."; "...it's reverse discrimination..."; "...we lived in this in South Philly and Newark...", and that the housing would be a "...breeding ground for violent crime and drug abuse..."

Leading advocate in favor of taxpayer subsidized housing Ethel Lawrence, a black resident who lived her life in Mount Laurel, had her house repeatedly vandalized.Tribute to Ethel Robinson Lawrence "Ethel was the second of eight children born to Mary and Leslie Robinson. At the time, Mount Laurel, in Burlington County, was a rural enclave of farms. Most residents were white, but there was a small black population. Ethel Lawrence was among them. The family resided in Mount Laurel for over six generations." Accessed March 14, 2008.Kirp, David L. (2000), Almost Home: America's love-hate relationship with community, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, , p. 79: "Ethel Lawrence and Mary Robinson were sure that the township council would go along. After all, Mount Laurel was their town too and had been for generations." Although the court ruled in favor of creating taxpayer subsidized housing, residents did manage to delay the process for decades.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 21.99 square miles (56.95 km2), including 21.72 square miles (56.26 km2) of land and 0.27 square miles (0.69 km2) of water (1.21%). It is drained by the Delaware River and Parkers Creek (a tributary of Rancocas Creek) and the South Branch Pennsauken Creek flow through its eastern and western portions respectively. Mount Laurel has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and average monthly temperatures range from 33.0 °F in January to 76.9 °F in July. The local hardiness zone is 7a.

Ramblewood (with a 2020 Census population of 6,655) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Mount Laurel.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Birchfield, Bougher, Centerton, Colemantown, Coxs Corner, Fellowship, Hartford, Heulings Hill, Masonville, Petersburg, Pine Grove, and Rancocas Woods.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 23, 2015.

The township borders the municipalities of Evesham Township, Hainesport, Lumberton, Maple Shade, Medford, Moorestown, Westampton and Willingboro in Burlington County; and Cherry Hill in Camden County.Areas touching Mount Laurel Township, MapIt. Accessed March 1, 2020.Burlington County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 1, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 41,864 people, 17,538 households, and 11,294 families in the township. The population density was . There were 18,249 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 79.42% (33,249) White, 9.70% (4,061) Black or African American, 0.16% (67) Native American, 7.26% (3,040) Asian, 0.04% (17) Pacific Islander, 1.00% (418) from other races, and 2.42% (1,012) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.56% (1,907) of the population.

Of the 17,538 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18; 51.0% were married couples living together; 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.6% were non-families. Of all households, 30.4% were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.

22.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 87.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 83.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $84,632 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,366) and the median family income was $100,189 (+/− $4,065). Males had a median income of $75,870 (+/− $3,130) versus $54,215 (+/− $2,830) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $41,573 (+/− $1,416). About 3.0% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Mount Laurel township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 23, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 40,221 people, 16,570 households, and 11,068 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 17,163 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 87.10% White, 6.92% African American, 0.09% Native American, 3.80% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.24% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Mount Laurel township, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 6, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Mount Laurel township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 6, 2013.

There were 16,570 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the township the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $63,750, and the median income for a family was $76,288. Males had a median income of $55,597 versus $37,198 for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,245. About 2.5% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture Man Overboard is a pop punk band with multiple members from Mount Laurel.Amorosi, A.D. "Featured pop show: Lost Tape Collective Holiday Show", The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 20, 2014. Accessed January 26, 2016. "Man Overboard got their start in Mount Laurel, when neighbors Eisenstein (lead singer), Collier (guitarist), and Wayne Wildrick (the other guitarist) reached across the city limits into the wilds of Williamstown to find hard-line bassist Nik Bruzzese."

Parks and recreation Laurel Acres Park is known for its Veterans Memorial, fishing lake, playground, and grassy hill used for concerts and sledding in the winter when it snows. Laurel Acres Park is right between Church Street at Union Mill Road. The Mount Laurel Baseball League and the Mount Laurel United Soccer Club play in the park's sports fields, and since 2008, the Mount Laurel Premiership.Laurel Acres Park is true gem "The park welcomes athletes of all ages and sports from novice walkers to organized teams. The Mount Laurel Baseball League and the Mount Laurel United Soccer Club play here." Accessed July 30, 2008. Mount Laurel also includes two dog parks.

The southwestern portion of Rancocas State Park lies within Mount Laurel.

Government Local government