Merchantville 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 3,820, a decrease of one person from the 2010 census count of 3,821, which in turn reflected an increase of 20 (+0.5%) from the 3,801 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.

The borough had the 22nd-highest property tax rate in New Jersey in 2020, with an equalized rate of 4.367% 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.... 22. Merchantville Equalized tax rate in Merchantville Borough, Camden County, was 4.367 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Camden County: 3.470

History Merchantville was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 3, 1874, from portions of Delaware Township (now Cherry Hill) and the now-defunct Stockton Township.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 30, 2024.

While one source attributes the borough's name to a family named Merchant,Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 20. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 5, 2015. Francis F. Eastlack, in his History of Merchantville, tells the story of the four developers of Merchantville—Matthias Homer, John Louty, Samuel McFadden and Frederick Gerker—meeting and discussing names, when it was suggested "Gentlemen, as you are all merchants, why not call it Merchantville?"Eastlack, Francis F. History of Merchantville, Camden County, N.J, self published, 1899. Accessed September 5, 2015. "Matthias Homer, John Louty, Samuel McFadden and Frederick Gerker (four Philadelphia merchants) were the pioneers of Merchantville.... At a social meeting at the house of John Louty, the question of naming the new settlement was under discussion; when, after a number of striking names had been suggested to no purpose, Mrs. Louty entered and said. 'Gentlemen, as you are all merchants, why not call it Merchantville?'"

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, Merchantville borough had a total area of 0.59 square miles (1.54 km2), all of which was land.

The borough borders the Camden County municipalities of Cherry Hill and Pennsauken Township.Areas touching Merchantville, MapIt. Accessed February 27, 2020.Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed February 27, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Merchantville had a population of 3,820. The median age was 39.9 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.0 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 1,562 households in Merchantville, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.9% were married-couple households, 17.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,699 housing units, of which 8.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.8%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,482 65.0% Black or African American 450 11.8% American Indian and Alaska Native 22 0.6% Asian 121 3.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1 0.0% Some other race 374 9.8% Two or more races 370 9.7% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 724 19.0%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 3,821 people, 1,574 households, and 966 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,688 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 76.58% (2,926) White, 13.01% (497) Black or African American, 0.37% (14) Native American, 2.28% (87) Asian, 0.05% (2) Pacific Islander, 4.42% (169) from other races, and 3.30% (126) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.62% (444) of the population.

Of the 1,574 households, 28.5% had children under the age of 18; 41.7% were married couples living together; 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.6% were non-families. Of all households, 32.0% were made up of individuals and 12.5% 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 3.09.

22.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,358 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,850) and the median family income was $85,909 (+/− $16,985). Males had a median income of $49,926 (+/− $36,924) versus $41,369 (+/− $15,495) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,308 (+/− $4,408). About 11.7% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Merchantville borough, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 11, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 3,801 people, 1,524 households, and 946 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,607 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 85.90% White, 7.42% African American, 0.29% Native American, 2.10% Asian, 2.84% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.47% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Merchantville borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 11, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Merchantville borough, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 11, 2012.

There were 1,524 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the borough the age distribution of the population shows 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $49,392, and the median income for a family was $60,652. Males had a median income of $43,375 versus $30,771 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,589. About 5.8% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over. Government

Local government

Merchantville is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the most commonly used form of government in the state.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, pg. 38.

The borough form of government used by Merchantville 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 Merchantville Borough is Democrat Edward F. "Ted" Brennan, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Sean H. Fitzgerald (D, 2023), Andrew O. McLoone (D, 2023), Cindy Morales (D, 2024), Anthony J. Perno III (D, 2025), Daniel J. Sperrazza (D, 2024) and Raymond H. Woods III (D, 2025).Mayor and Council, Borough of Merchantville. Accessed June 8, 2023.2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Merchantville. Accessed June 8, 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.

In May 2018, the borough council appointed Sean Fitzgerald to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Katherine Swann until she resigned from office."Fitzgerald Appointed to Vacancy", Merchantville Online, May 14, 2018. Accessed September 18, 2019. "Sean Fitzgerald, center, was sworn in this evening (5/14) by Mayor Ted Brennan, left, as a member of the Merchantville Borough Council. He fills the seat left vacant by the resignation of Katherine Erhard Swann." Fitzgerald served on an interim basis until the November 2018 general election when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.Official Election Results 2018 General Election November 6, 2018, Camden County, New Jersey, amended December 4, 2018. Accessed January 1, 2019.

Federal, state and county representation