National Park is a borough in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 3,026, a decrease of 10 (−0.3%) from the 2010 census count of 3,036, which in turn reflected a decline of 169 (−5.3%) from the 3,205 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. Despite its name, National Park is neither a national park nor associated with one. It was developed in 1895 as a religious retreat called National Park on the Delaware by the Methodist Episcopal Church.

National Park had the 18th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey in 2020, with an equalized rate of 4.446% compared to 3.212% 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.... 18. National Park Equalized tax rate in National Park Borough, Gloucester County, was 4.446 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Gloucester County: 3.212"

History The community was historically known as Red Bank, for the color of the soil. It was established by the Whitall family and others. The county court met here in 1686.

American Revolutionary War

In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, the Continental Army under command of George Washington constructed two forts on the Delaware River to block the approach to Philadelphia: Fort Mifflin on the Pennsylvania side and Fort Mercer on the New Jersey side. The fort was named in honor of Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, who died earlier that year in the Battle of Princeton. A park, monument, and museum commemorate Fort Mifflin on its original site.

On October 22, 1777, in the Battle of Red Bank, an attack by 900 Hessian troops, serving under British Major General William Howe, who then occupied Philadelphia, was repelled, with heavy losses on the Hessian side, including the death of their commander, Colonel Carl Emil Kurt von Donop, by the 600 Continental Army defenders under Colonel Christopher Greene. After the loss of Fort Mifflin, Fort Mercer was abandoned without a fight when Lord Charles Cornwallis landed 2,000 British troops nearby on November 18.About National Park, Borough of National Park. Accessed November 10, 2019.Red Bank Battlefield Park , Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed November 10, 2019.

19th century The area was first developed in 1895 as National Park on the Delaware by James E. Lake, who also fostered the development of Ocean City, as a religious retreat for members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.About, Borough of National Park. Accessed June 29, 2026. "Beginning in 1895, the area was commercially developed as National Park on the Delaware, a religious resort/retreat for members of the Methodist Episcopal Church." The founder, the Rev. James E. Lake, also created Ocean City, New Jersey.Shamlin, Wilford S. , Courier-Post, July 1, 2005. Accessed November 7, 2012. "Originally named National Park on the Delaware River, National Park was incorporated on April 15, 1902. But it was several years earlier, in 1895, that the Rev. James E. Lake, who also founded Ocean City, and others incorporated The National Park Association."

20th century National Park was formally established as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 15, 1902, from portions of West Deptford Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 140. Accessed May 30, 2024. The town's name likely originated as a reference to the county park at Red Bank Battlefield.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 9, 2015.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.44 square miles (3.73 km2), including 1.01 square miles (2.61 km2) of land and 0.43 square miles (1.12 km2) of water (30.14%). The borough borders West Deptford Township and the Delaware River. The Delaware River shore faces the southern end of Philadelphia, across from the mouth of the Schuylkill River and Fort Mifflin.Municipalities within Gloucester County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed November 7, 2019.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 7, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, National Park had a population of 3,026. The median age was 40.5 years. 21.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.4 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 1,127 households in National Park, of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.3% were married-couple households, 17.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,192 housing units, of which 5.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,609 86.2% Black or African American 125 4.1% American Indian and Alaska Native 13 0.4% Asian 18 0.6% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 48 1.6% Two or more races 213 7.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 152 5.0%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 3,036 people, 1,092 households, and 816 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,153 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 96.28% (2,923) White, 1.35% (41) Black or African American, 0.16% (5) Native American, 0.59% (18) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.13% (4) from other races, and 1.48% (45) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.04% (62) of the population.

Of the 1,092 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18; 52.5% were married couples living together; 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.3% were non-families. Of all households, 20.2% were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.18.

23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 30.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $65,852 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,987) and the median family income was $70,341 (+/− $8,049). Males had a median income of $51,886 (+/− $2,493) versus $32,788 (+/− $5,594) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,699 (+/− $2,574). About 4.1% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for National Park borough, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 3,205 people, 1,111 households, and 865 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,165 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 98.35% White, 0.09% Black, 0.25% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for National Park borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for National Park borough, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 7, 2012.

There were 1,111 households, out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $48,534, and the median income for a family was $51,535. Males had a median income of $35,102 versus $27,398 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,048. About 6.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over. Government Local government National Park 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 the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The 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. 19. The borough form of government used by National Park 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, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.