Clementon is a borough in Camden County, in the southern portion of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 5,338, its highest decennial census count ever and an increase of 338 (+6.8%) from the 2010 census count of 5,000, which in turn had reflected an increase of 14 (+0.3%) from the 4,986 counted at 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.

The borough had the 27th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.179% in 2020, compared to 3.470% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%."Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 27. Clementon Equalized tax rate in Clementon Borough, Camden County, was 4.179 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Camden County: 3.470"

History Around 1800, Jonathon Haines built a glass factory in what is now Clementon, situated on a large hill across the street from the modern day Clementon Park. Large amounts of dirt, gravel and marl from the large hill the glass works were situated on were removed for use at a planned new post office in 1961. Sometime around 1811, Samuel Clement of Haddonfield purchased the glass works and named them the Gloucester Glass works, and named the small settlement around the plant as Clementon village.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015. Source shows name as "Samuel Clements". Haines remained as a superintendent and at some point repurchased the works from Clement.

The Borough of Clementon was created on February 13, 1925, from Clementon Township, one of nine municipalities created from the now-defunct township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 17, 1925.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026.Burrows, Danielle L. Clementon, p. 5. Arcadia Publishing. Accessed January 15, 2020. "On February 13, 1925, 'an Act to incorporate the Borough of Clementon in the County of Camden, and to fix the boundaries thereof,' was passed by the legislature, establishing Clementon as a borough comprised of just less than two square miles."

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.95 square miles (5.05 km2), including 1.89 square miles (4.90 km2) of land and 0.06 square miles (0.15 km2) of water (2.97%).

The borough is located on Clementon Lake, which is the site of the Clementon Amusement Park. The amusement park was home to the Jack Rabbit, a wooden roller coaster constructed in 1919 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Though quite tame in comparison to modern steel coasters, it remained popular with park visitors. It was one of the oldest remaining coasters in the country when it was taken out of service in 2002Staff. "High on Tsunami", Courier-Post, May 31, 2004. Accessed July 19, 2011. "Meanwhile, the park's original wooden coaster, the Jack Rabbit, one of the oldest wooden coasters in the country, is mothballed with no plans for its return.... Jack Rabbit, built in 1919, last ran in 2002. The old coaster eventually will be torn down." and ultimately demolished in 2007.

Rowands Pond Wildlife Management Area, covering , is located in Clementon.Rowands Pond Wildlife Management Area, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife. Accessed March 27, 2017.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Brownsville and Gordon Lake.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Clementon borders Berlin Borough, Lindenwold, Pine Hill and Pine Valley.Areas touching Clementon, MapIt. Accessed March 24, 2020.Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 24, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Clementon had a population of 5,338. The median age was 38.0 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.0 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 2,207 households in Clementon, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 31.5% were married-couple households, 24.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,394 housing units, of which 7.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,900 54.3% Black or African American 1,252 23.5% American Indian and Alaska Native 29 0.5% Asian 144 2.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 538 10.1% Two or more races 475 8.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 944 17.7%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 5,000 people, 2,064 households, and 1,226 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,235 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 71.28% (3,564) White, 19.12% (956) Black or African American, 0.56% (28) Native American, 2.10% (105) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.90% (195) from other races, and 3.04% (152) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.30% (515) of the population.

Of the 2,064 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18; 36.5% were married couples living together; 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 40.6% were non-families. Of all households, 33.2% were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.10.

22.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $40,185 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,676) and the median family income was $57,184 (+/− $7,155). Males had a median income of $40,987 (+/− $7,918) versus $34,063 (+/− $3,762) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,597 (+/− $2,393). About 7.8% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Clementon borough, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 4, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 4,986 people, 1,978 households, and 1,246 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,206 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 82.23% White, 11.57% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 2.35% from other races, and 2.53% from two or more races. 4.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Clementon borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 4, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Clementon borough, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 4, 2012.

There were 1,978 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $42,207, and the median income for a family was $50,963. Males had a median income of $33,879 versus $29,777 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,510. 11.4% of the population and 9.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.6% of those under the age of 18 and 14.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. Economy Clementon is home to Giambri's Quality Sweets, a long-established candy and chocolate maker that was founded in South Philadelphia in 1942 and moved to New Jersey in the early 1970s.Giordano, Rita. "N.J. candy-maker Giambri's wins business award, The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 27, 2014, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 11, 2016. Accessed October 26, 2016. "Their Giambri's Quality Sweets in Clementon was just named a New Jersey Family Business of the Year, an award now in its 22d year that is sponsored by the Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship at Fairleigh Dickinson University, PNC Bank, and New Jersey Monthly."

Government

Local government