Hainesport Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 6,035, a decline of 75 (-1.2%) from the 2010 census enumeration of 6,110, in turn reflecting an increase of 1,984 (+48.1%) from the 4,126 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 township, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.

History The Lenape Native Americans who settled on the banks of the Rancocas Creek in what is present-day Hainesport called the area Sandhickney. The first European settlers were Quakers who arrived in 1677.

The town was known as Long Bridge around the time of the American Revolutionary War. The name came from the long, wooden bridge that spanned the Rancocas Creek. In 1778, the township was the site of a skirmish in which American rebels fired upon Hessian soldiers after they were halted by the dismantling of this bridge.Harbach, Lousie. "A New Plaque Recalls An Old Indian Village", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 28, 1995. Accessed July 14, 2016. "There, local residents skirmished with 7,000 Hessians who had come marching up the old Philadelphia Road on their way to the Battle of Fort Monmouth on June 20, 1778. The local militia burned Long Bridge, which the Hessians promptly rebuilt, but not before killing three Hainesport citizens who opposed them."

The settlement became known as Haines' Port when Barclay Haines bought property in the area and established a pier near his home on the Rancocas CreekHistory, Township of Hainesport. Accessed October 28, 2017. "In 1847, Barclay Haines, a sixth generation Haines, bought 311 acres from John Creek. Barclay Haines was a prominent landowner from Lumberton who established and maintained a wharf or port in 1848 just below his new home on the south branch of the Rancocas. From his port, sidewheeler steamboats carried freight and passengers to and from Philadelphia. In 1848, the name of the little town became Haines' Port, and in 1850 was condensed to Hainesport."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015. in 1848. By 1850, the name was shortened to Hainesport. Hainesport Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 12, 1924, from portions of Lumberton.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 97. Accessed June 19, 2012.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 6.79 square miles (17.59 km2), including 6.47 square miles (16.76 km2) of land and 0.32 square miles (0.83 km2) of water (4.71%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Clermont, Creekview, Franklin Estates, The Glen at Mason's Creek, Hainesport Chase, Lakeside at Creekview, Mason's Woods, Oakdale, Rancocas Heights, Sage Run and Union Mills.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.Community Overview , Township of Hainesport. Accessed October 19, 2015. "Hainesport Township has several communities, old and new, within the area of the township such as Clermont, Creekview, Franklin Estates, The Glen at Mason's Creek, Hainesport Chase, Lakeside at Creekview, Mason's Woods, Oakdale, Rancocas Heights, and Sage Run."

The township borders Lumberton, Mount Laurel, Mount Holly and Westampton (across the Rancocas Creek north branch).Areas touching Hainesport Township, MapIt. Accessed March 30, 2020.Municipalities within Burlington County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 30, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 6,110 people, 2,239 households, and 1,726 families in the township. The population density was . There were 2,305 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 84.78% (5,180) White, 7.50% (458) Black or African American, 0.10% (6) Native American, 4.08% (249) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.42% (87) from other races, and 2.13% (130) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.07% (310) of the population.

Of the 2,239 households, 34.8% had children under the age of 18; 65.0% were married couples living together; 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 22.9% were non-families. Of all households, 18.9% were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.11.

25.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $87,047 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,609) and the median family income was $95,054 (+/− $7,689). Males had a median income of $64,477 (+/− $9,344) versus $40,658 (+/− $8,999) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,813 (+/− $2,708). No families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 1.1% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Hainesport township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 19, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 4,126 people, 1,477 households, and 1,150 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 1,555 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 94.09% White, 2.67% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.70% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.13% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Hainesport township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 10, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Hainesport township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 10, 2013.

There were 1,477 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $66,417, and the median income for a family was $72,005. Males had a median income of $49,015 versus $33,932 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,091. About 2.0% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

In 2023, Danish artist Thomas Dambo constructed "Big Rusty," a freestanding artwork standing high that was made with pieces of discarded material found by the artist. It is the first of 10 giant recycled trash troll sculptures in Dambo's "The Way of the Bird King" series.Bhasin, Punya, "There’s now a giant troll made of trash in South Jersey; A new 20-foot troll sculpture will be installed in Burlington County, created by Denmark artist Thomas Dambo.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 29, 2023. Accessed September 12, 2023. "Named 'Big Rusty,' the troll is made entirely of trash, or 'treasures' as recycled art activist Thomas Dambo calls it. Hikers and art enthusiasts got to meet the trash-adorned troll in Hainesport on Wednesday."

Parks and recreation A portion of Rancocas State Park is located in Hainesport Township. There are hiking/biking trails, equestrian trails, and canoe and fishing access to the Rancocas Creek. This part of Rancocas State Park is jointly managed by Burlington County Parks and the State Department of Parks and Forestry.Rancocas State Park - Hainesport, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed October 17, 2019. Long Bridge Park, a Burlington County Park, is located between Deacon Road and the Mount Holly By-Pass and has entrances from both roadways. Besides fishing and hiking and biking trails, there are children's play areas, drinking fountains, and restrooms. Groups can reserve picnic pavilions with charcoal grills.Long Bridge Park, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed October 17, 2019. A township park surrounds the municipal building. There is a play ground and the walking trails connect the park to the Hainesport Public School play ground. There are tennis and pickleball courts and soccer, soft ball, and baseball fields. Local businesses and families sponsor a summer concert series.Recreation, Township of Hainesport, New Jersey. Accessed October 17, 2019.

Government

Local government

Hainesport 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.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.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. 103."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as mayor and another as deputy mayor.Form of Government, Township of Hainesport. Accessed September 27, 2026. "Hainesport is governed by the Township Committee form of government. This is comprised of five officials elected by the residents to serve three year staggered terms. The elected members will select a chairperson who will be known as the 'Mayor of the Township'."