Waterford 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 10,421, a decrease of 228 (−2.1%) from the 2010 census count of 10,649, which in turn reflected an increase of 155 (+1.5%) from the 10,494 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.

Waterford Township was originally created by Royal charter on June 1, 1695, while the area was still part of Gloucester County. The township was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. On March 13, 1844, Waterford Township became one of the original townships in the newly created Camden County. The settlement of Long-a-Coming (now the borough of Berlin) along the White Horse Pike (U.S. Route 30) in Waterford was the new county's first seat, but lost that designation in 1848 when the seat moved to the city of Camden.Snyder, 1969. p. 261. Portions of the township were taken over the years to form Delaware Township (on February 28, 1844, now Cherry Hill), Chesilhurst (November 26, 1887), Voorhees Township (March 1, 1899) and Berlin Township (March 11, 1910).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 109. Accessed May 30, 2024.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 312. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed October 22, 2015. The township was named for Waterford, Ireland.Prowell, George Reeser. The History of Camden County, New Jersey, p. 656. Richards, 1886. Accessed October 22, 2015. "On the 1st of June, 1695, the grand jury of Gloucester County made return to the court in which it was declared that, 'Whereas there was a law made by ye last assembly for dividing ye county into particular townships, therefore they (the jury) agree and order that from Pensaukin or Cropwell River to the lowermost branch of Coopers Creek shall be one constabulary or township,' which received the name of Waterford, it is supposed from a resemblance of the lower part of the territory to a fishing town on the Barrow in Ireland."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 22, 2015. Listed as "Waterford, England".

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 36.22 square miles (93.81 km2), including 36.00 square miles (93.25 km2) of land and 0.22 square miles (0.56 km2) of water (0.60%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Atco, Atco Lake, Bishops, Dunbarton, Fisher, Jackson, Louden and Pestletown.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed October 22, 2015.

The township borders the municipalities of Berlin, Berlin Township, Chesilhurst and Winslow Township in Camden County; Hammonton in Atlantic County; and Evesham Township, Medford Township and Shamong Township in Burlington County.Areas touching Waterford Township, MapIt. Accessed March 14, 2020.Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 14, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 10,649 people, 3,692 households, and 2,824 families in the township. The population density was . There were 3,839 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 90.59% (9,647) White, 4.83% (514) Black or African American, 0.10% (11) Native American, 1.16% (124) Asian, 0.03% (3) Pacific Islander, 1.56% (166) from other races, and 1.73% (184) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.39% (467) of the population.

Of the 3,692 households, 32.9% had children under the age of 18; 60.4% were married couples living together; 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.5% were non-families. Of all households, 17.9% were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.22.

22.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 101.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $76,786 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,237) and the median family income was $87,774 (+/− $9,978). Males had a median income of $54,714 (+/− $3,576) versus $42,896 (+/− $4,994) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,193 (+/− $2,094). About 2.6% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Waterford township, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 12, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 10,494 people, 3,542 households, and 2,791 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 3,671 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 92.75% White, 4.18% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.07% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Waterford township, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 12, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Waterford township, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 12, 2012.

There were 3,542 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.5% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $59,075, and the median income for a family was $63,693. Males had a median income of $41,561 versus $28,763 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,676. About 3.6% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government Waterford Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-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 Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election 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. 33."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are chosen by the Township Committee from among its members during a reorganization meeting held each January.

, members of the Waterford Township Committee are Mayor Thomas Giangiulio Jr. (R, term on committee and as mayor ends 2023), Depuy Mayor Andrew L. Wade (I, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Stephanie Jones-Freitag (R, 2025), Joel Thompson (R, 2025) and Richard T. Yeatman Sr. (D, 2023).Committee Members, Waterford Township. Accessed June 8, 2023.2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Waterford Township. 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.

Federal, state, and county representation Waterford Township is located in the 1st Congressional District2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022. and is part of New Jersey's 4th 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 7,364 registered voters in Waterford Township, of which 2,438 (33.1%) were registered as Democrats, 1,386 (18.8%) were registered as Republicans and 3,536 (48.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.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 50.4% of the vote (2,501 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 48.5% (2,406 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (58 votes), among the 5,012 ballots cast by the township's 7,783 registered voters (47 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 64.4%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 50.0% of the vote (2,708 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 46.5% (2,517 votes), with 5,411 ballots cast among the township's 7,323 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.9%.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, Republican George W. Bush received 49.3% of the vote (2,582 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry, who received around 47.1% (2,468 votes), with 5,242 ballots cast among the township's 7,107 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 73.8.2004 Presidential Election: Camden County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 15, 2012.