Haddon Township is a township in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 15,407, an increase of 700 (+4.8%) from the 2010 census count of 14,707, which in turn reflected an increase of 56 (+0.4%) from the 14,651 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.
Under the terms of an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1865, Haddon Township was incorporated from portions of Newton Township. The following communities were subsequently created from the Haddon Township: Haddonfield (April 6, 1875), Collingswood (May 22, 1888), Woodlynne (March 19, 1901), Haddon Heights (March 2, 1904), Audubon (March 13, 1905) and Oaklyn (also March 13, 1905).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 106. Accessed September 20, 2012. The township was named for early settler Elizabeth Haddon.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.
Haddon Township allows the sale of alcohol, and has several bars and restaurants which serve alcoholic beverages, unlike the neighboring boroughs of Collingswood, Haddonfield and Haddon Heights which prohibit the sale of alcohol.Ticker, Bruce S. "Liquor Issue Is Debated In Haddon", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 17, 1988. Accessed March 18, 2015. "Haddon Township - Bordered by a number of dry towns - is the host of more liquor-license holders than state law allows, a township resident argued last night."
History The township's first European settlers settled in the area of Newton Creek in 1681. In 1701, Elizabeth Haddon Estaugh, the daughter of John Haddon, arrived in the American colonies to oversee his large landholdings, which included areas that are now Collingswood, Haddon Township, and Haddonfield. Contemporary Newton Township included land that later became part of Audubon, Audubon Park, Camden, Collingswood, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Haddonfield, Oaklyn, and Woodlynne.History, Haddon Township. Accessed March 31, 2020.
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. Saddler worked for Cy Evans, a local Quaker farmer, from whom he bought five acres to farm.History, Saddler's Woods Conservation Association. Accessed October 17, 2007. Saddler willed the property to his wife and nine surviving children. The area where Saddler settled became a predominantly black community known as Saddlertown, a stop on the Underground Railroad. Today, Saddlertown is racially diverse.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, Haddon Township had a total area of 2.82 square miles (7.30 km2), including 2.69 square miles (6.97 km2) of land and 0.13 square miles (0.33 km2) of water (4.54%).
Haddon Township has two exclaves, West Collingswood Heights and West Collingswood Extension. The downtown portion of the township is known as Westmont, a name probably derived from a noted harness racing horse.Brahms, William B."The Name 'Westmont'" , Haddon Township Historical Society Web Site. Accessed August 30, 2008. Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Crystal Lake, Cuthbert and Oakdale.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed March 18, 2015.
Haddon Township borders the Camden County municipalities of Audubon, Audubon Park, Camden, Cherry Hill (water border), Collingswood, Gloucester City, Haddonfield, Mount Ephraim, and Oaklyn.Areas touching Haddon Township, MapIt. Accessed March 31, 2020.Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 31, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2020 Census Based on 2020 Census data, Haddon Township has a population of approximately 15,407, characterized by a predominantly White population (86%) with a median age of 41.2 years. The median household income is $115,298. The community is mostly suburban, with a 5.9% poverty rate and roughly 6,989 households.
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 14,707 people, 6,226 households, and 3,860 families in the township. The population density was . There were 6,477 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 93.16% (13,701) White, 1.50% (220) Black or African American, 0.16% (23) Native American, 2.71% (398) Asian, 0.01% (2) Pacific Islander, 1.11% (163) from other races, and 1.36% (200) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.95% (581) of the population.
Of the 6,226 households, 26.7% had children under the age of 18; 48.5% were married couples living together; 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.0% were non-families. Of all households, 32.3% were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.04.
21.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.3 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $70,392 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,948) and the median family income was $90,156 (+/− $6,251). Males had a median income of $60,221 (+/− $5,315) versus $52,179 (+/− $4,167) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,506 (+/− $2,687). About 3.6% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Haddon township, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 20, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census, there were 14,651 people, 6,207 households, and 3,891 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 6,423 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Haddon township, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 20, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Haddon township, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 20, 2012.
There were 6,207 households, out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the township, the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $51,076, and the median income for a family was $65,269. Males had a median income of $44,943 versus $32,967 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,610. About 1.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government Local government Since 1950, Haddon Township has been governed under the Walsh Act with a governing body comprised of a three-member commission. The Township is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under the commission form of government.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. Commission members are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis as part of the May municipal election to serve four-year concurrent terms of office. At a reorganization meeting held after the election, each commissioner is assigned responsibility for supervising a specific department. The commissioners select one of their members to serve as a part-time mayor, who presides over meetings but has no independent executive function.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 33."The Commission Form of Municipal Government", p. 53. Accessed June 3, 2015."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 8. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. Haddon Township has had only three mayors in its history: William Rohrer, William J. Park. Jr., (1997 New Jersey State League of Municipalities Mayors Hall of Fame),1997 Mayors Hall of Fame , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed October 14, 2013. and Randall Teague.
, members of the Haddon Township Commission are Mayor Randall W. "Randy" Teague (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property), Ryan Linhart (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance) and Jim Mulroy (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety); all serving terms of office that end May 16, 2027.Government, Haddon Township. Accessed June 7, 2023. "Under the Walsh Act, Haddon Township has been governed by a three-member commission since 1950. Commission members are elected at-large in nonpartisan elections to serve four-year concurrent terms. Each commissioner is responsible for surveying an assigned department. The three commissioners vote among themselves to choose a part-time mayor, who presides over meetings but has no independent executive function."2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Haddon Township. Accessed June 7, 2023.Summary Results Report May 9, 2023 Municipal Election Unofficial Results, Camden County, New Jersey, updated May 9, 2023. Accessed June 7, 2023. Linhart, Mulroy and Teague ran unopposed in the May 2023 municipal election, the fourth consecutive time that township candidates won election to four-year terms, without facing any challengers.Fox, Joey. "Candidates win local races uncontested in six towns", New Jersey Globe, May 9, 2023. Accessed June 7, 2023. "In Haddon Township, Mayor Randy Teague and Councilmen James Mulroy and Ryan Linhart have won the town’s fourth consecutive uncontested election."
In November 2018, Ryan Linhart was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Paul Dougherty, who resigned the previous month before he pleaded guilty to a criminal charge.Walsh, Jim. "Haddon Township names Linhart to fill commissioner's seat", Courier-Post, November 13, 2008. Accessed September 16, 2019. "A financial analyst for the University of Pennsylvania has been appointed to a vacant seat on the township commission. Ryan Linhart succeeds Paul Dougherty, who left the governing body shortly before pleading guilty to a criminal charge last month."