Laurel Springs is a borough in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,978, an increase of 70 (+3.7%) from the 2010 census count of 1,908, which in turn reflected a decline of 62 (−3.1%) from the 1,970 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.

Laurel Springs was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1913, from portions of Clementon Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 1, 1913.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 107. Accessed May 29, 2024. The borough was named for its therapeutic springs situated in laurel groves.Heavens, Alan J. "Town By Town: A big year for a small Camden County town", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 1, 2013. Accessed September 2, 2015.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 2, 2015.

In 2021, the borough had the 11th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.803% 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.... 11. Laurel Springs Equalized tax rate in Laurel Springs Borough, Camden County, was 4.803 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Camden County: 3.470"

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.46 square miles (1.19 km2), including 0.45 square miles (1.17 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (2.17%).

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

Laurel Springs borders the Camden County municipalities of Lindenwold and Stratford.Areas touching Laurel Springs, MapIt. Accessed February 25, 2020.Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed February 25, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 1,908 people, 727 households, and 506 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 771 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 92.87% (1,772) White, 3.46% (66) Black or African American, 0.10% (2) Native American, 1.00% (19) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.31% (25) from other races, and 1.26% (24) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.88% (74) of the population.

Of the 727 households, 29.6% had children under the age of 18; 51.3% were married couples living together; 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.4% were non-families. Of all households, 25.7% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.15.

22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $69,405 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,221) and the median family income was $83,750 (+/− $12,497). Males had a median income of $57,900 (+/− $10,860) versus $49,028 (+/− $11,130) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,139 (+/− $3,021). About 11.4% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.5% 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 Laurel Springs borough, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 6, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,970 people, 762 households, and 534 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 806 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 94.37% White, 2.74% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.71% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.62% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Laurel Springs borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 6, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Laurel Springs borough, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 6, 2012.

There were 762 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $52,500, and the median income for a family was $58,854. Males had a median income of $41,349 versus $30,893 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,254. About 1.9% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Laurel Springs is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 24. The borough form of government used by Laurel Springs is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.

, the mayor of Laurel Springs Borough is Democrat Thomas A. "Tom" Barbera, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Laurel Springs Borough Council are Council President James W. "Jim" Redstreake (R, 2024), Joseph Cruz (D, 2023), Samuel V. Del Pidio (R, 2023), Susan DiGregorio (D, 2024), Sarah Bolam DiMarco (D, 2025) and Marc A. Riondino (D, 2025).Mayor and Borough Council, Borough of Laurel Springs. Accessed June 7, 2023.2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Laurel Springs. Accessed June 7, 2023.Official Election Results 2022 General Election November 8, 2022, Camden County, New Jersey, as of November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Election Results, Camden County, New Jersey, update November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.2020 General Election November 3, 2020 Official Election Results, Camden County, New Jersey, update November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.Official Election Results 2019 General Election November 5, 2019, Camden County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.

Federal, state and county representation Laurel Springs is located in the 1st Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 6th state legislative district.Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.

Politics As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,339 registered voters in Laurel Springs, of which 500 (37.3%) were registered as Democrats, 293 (21.9%) were registered as Republicans and 545 (40.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.Voter Registration Summary - Camden, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 15, 2012.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 58.9% of the vote (558 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 39.5% (374 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (15 votes), among the 962 ballots cast by the borough's 1,422 registered voters (15 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 67.7%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 55.7% of the vote (583 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 40.3% (422 votes), with 1,047 ballots cast among the borough's 1,346 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.8%.2008 Presidential General Election Results: Camden County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed October 15, 2012. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 55.6% of the vote (583 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 42.9% (450 votes), with 1,048 ballots cast among the borough's 1,328 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 78.9.2004 Presidential Election: Camden County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 15, 2012.