Stratford, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Stratford 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 6,981,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 59 (−0.8%) from the 2010 census count of 7,040,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 231 (−3.2%) from the 7,271 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>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.</ref> Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine is located in Stratford.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.57 square miles (4.07 km²), all of which was land.<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The borough borders Gloucester Township (north and east), Hi-Nella (north), Laurel Springs (south), Lindenwold (south and west), and Somerdale (west).<ref>Home page, Borough of Stratford. Accessed October 12, 2012. "The Borough is bordered by the Borough of Hi-Nella on the north and Gloucester Township on the north and east, the Borough of Somerdale and the Borough of Lindenwold is to the west, and the Borough of Laurel Springs and the Borough of Lindenwold to the south."</ref><ref>Areas touching Stratford, MapIt. Accessed March 13, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 13, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

History

The earliest colonial settlers concentrated around the White Horse Tavern in the 1740s, around which the small village of White Horse emerged.<ref name="Cathrall">Template:Cite book</ref> The only remaining building of this early village is the Stratford Quaker Store.

In the 1880s, the Rural Land Improvement Company began developing the area known as "Old Stratford" and renamed the village after Stratford-upon-Avon, England.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 10, 2015.</ref><ref>Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, Borough of Stratford. Accessed October 10, 2015. "In 1888 or 1889, Charles S. King saw the possibility of creating a pleasant and ideal He, along with Zimmerman, Twitchell, Smith and Rogers, formed the Rural Land Improvement Company. The development was roughly triangular in shape. The name they chose for this new community was Stratford--after Stratford-on-Avon in England."</ref>

The Borough of Stratford was officially formed on February 13, 1925, from portions of Clementon Township, one of seven municipalities carved from the township.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 108. Accessed May 30,2024.</ref>

In the 1960s, Hunt's farm was sold to developers and the Laurel Mill Farms housing development was formed adjacent to the North Branch of Big Timber Creek.<ref name="Cathrall" />

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 7,040 people, 2,641 households, and 1,822 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,761 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 82.37% (5,799) White, 8.24% (580) Black or African American, 0.18% (13) Native American, 4.22% (297) Asian, 0.07% (5) Pacific Islander, 2.77% (195) from other races, and 2.14% (151) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.49% (457) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 2,641 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18; 51.8% were married couples living together; 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.0% were non-families. Of all households, 25.6% were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.19.<ref name=Census2010/>

23.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.9 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $64,297 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,575) and the median family income was $86,375 (+/− $11,140). Males had a median income of $63,879 (+/− $4,823) versus $40,243 (+/− $1,924) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,383 (+/− $3,556). About 4.3% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Stratford borough, Camden County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 12, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 U.S. census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 7,271 people, 2,736 households, and 1,906 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,849 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 88.56% White, 6.60% African American, 0.12% Native American, 2.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.87% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.81% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Stratford borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 12, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Stratford borough, Camden County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 12, 2012.</ref>

There were 2,736 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.18.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $50,977, and the median income for a family was $57,500. Males had a median income of $42,246 versus $29,153 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,748. About 2.5% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Stratford 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.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 28.</ref> The borough form of government used by Stratford 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.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Stratford is Democrat Linda Hall.<ref name=Mayor>Mayor's Desk, Borough of Stratford. Accessed November 21, 2022.</ref> Members of the Stratford Borough Council are Council President Stephen C. Gandy (D, 2024), Patrick Gilligan (D, 2023), Linda Hall (D, 2025), James Kelly (D, 2024), Tina Lomanno (D, 2025) and Michael G. Tolomeo (D, 2023).<ref>Council Members, Borough of Stratford. Accessed June 8, 2023. "The Borough of Stratford is governed under a Mayor-Council form of government. The Council consists of six (6) members elected at large for three year terms. The Mayor is elected to a four year term."</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Stratford. Accessed June 8, 2023.</ref><ref name=Camden2022>Official Election Results 2022 General Election November 8, 2022, Camden County, New Jersey, as of November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Camden2021>2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Election Results, Camden County, New Jersey, update November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Camden2020>2020 General Election November 3, 2020 Official Election Results, Camden County, New Jersey, update November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Camden2019>Official Election Results 2019 General Election November 5, 2019, Camden County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Stratford is located in the 1st Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 6th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,606 registered voters in Stratford, of which 1,743 (37.8%) were registered as Democrats, 849 (18.4%) were registered as Republicans and 2,013 (43.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Camden, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 15, 2012.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 59.0% of the vote (1,911 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 39.6% (1,282 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (48 votes), among the 3,271 ballots cast by the borough's 4,925 registered voters (30 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.4%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 56.8% of the vote (2,006 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 39.9% (1,409 votes), with 3,534 ballots cast among the borough's 4,639 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.2%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Camden County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed October 15, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 54.0% of the vote (1,886 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 44.3% (1,547 votes), with 3,492 ballots cast among the borough's 4,629 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.4.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Camden County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 15, 2012.</ref>

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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 67.0% of the vote (1,340 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 31.4% (628 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (32 votes), among the 2,056 ballots cast by the borough's 4,945 registered voters (56 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.6%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 45.9% of the vote (1,005 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 45.1% (988 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 5.3% (116 votes), with 2,191 ballots cast among the borough's 4,630 registered voters, yielding a 47.3% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Camden County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed October 15, 2012.</ref>

Education

The Stratford School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Students from Hi-Nella attend the district for Pre-K–8 as part of a sending/receiving relationship, under a five-year transition that started in 2012–13, bringing in an additional 100 students to the district.<ref>Borough of Stratford School District Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2016, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 5, 2017. "The addition of Hi-Nella students through a five-year phase-in send/receive agreement that began with the 2012-13 school year will increase total enrollment, at the end of the five years, by 100 students.... In addition, the School District provides educational services for students received on a tuition basis in grades 7 and 8 from the Laurel Springs School District and in grades Pre-K through 8 from the Hi-Nella School District."</ref> Students from Laurel Springs also attend the district's schools for grades 7 and 8 as part of a sending/receiving relationship.<ref>Samuel S. Yellin Elementary School 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed August 5, 2017. "The Yellin School houses approximately 515 students that are comprised of five grade levels ranging from 4th Grade to 8th Grade. The nearby Laurel Springs School District is a sending district starting in 7th Grade."</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 901 students and 78.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Stratford School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Stratford School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>) are Parkview Elementary School<ref>Parkview Elementary School, Stratford School District. Accessed May 4, 2020.</ref> with 384 students in pre-kindergarten through third grade and Samuel S. Yellin Elementary School<ref>Samuel S. Yellin Elementary School, Stratford School District. Accessed May 4, 2020.</ref> with 507 students in grades 4 through 8.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Stratford School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Stratford School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

For ninth grade through twelfth grade, public school students attend Sterling High School, a regional high school district that also serves students from Magnolia and Somerdale, along with the sending districts of Hi-Nella and Laurel Springs.<ref>Sterling High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 2, 2016. "Sterling High School District is a regional district serving Hi Nella, Laurel Springs, Magnolia, Somerdale and Stratford. Sterling is a suburban residential community, approximately 7 miles southeast of Camden, NJ and part of the Philadelphia, PA metropolitan area."</ref><ref>Annual Comprehensive Financial Report For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2011, Sterling High School District. Accessed December 8, 2014. "The purpose of the School District is to provide educational services for resident students in grades 9 through 12 that reside in the Borough's of Magnolia, Somerdale and Stratford. In addition, the School District provides educational services for students in grades 9 through 12 received, on a tuition basis, from the Laurel Springs School District and the Hi-Nella School District."</ref> The high school is located in Somerdale. As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 894 students and 70.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1.<ref>School data for Sterling High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> John Paul II Regional School is an elementary school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden, having opened for the 2008–09 school year as the result of the consolidation of Our Lady of Grace, St. Luke and St. Lawrence by the Camden diocese.<ref>Schools, South Jersey Catholic Schools. Accessed February 20, 2023.</ref><ref>About Us, John Paul II Regional School, Accessed February 20, 2023. "Beginning its ninth year, St. John Paul II Regional is a premier Catholic school serving students from Preschool Three to Eighth Grade. What was originally the product of three merged schools prior to 2008 (Our Lady of Grace, St. Luke and St. Lawrence), is now widely regarded and accepted as a community resource for academic excellence, high school preparedness and well-rounded young men and women that truly live the Christian values they are taught."</ref>

Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine has its campus on Laurel Road in Stratford Borough. It is made up of four buildings including the University Doctors' Pavilion and a Science Center.<ref>Fast Facts, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Accessed July 1, 2013.</ref>

Rutgers University's Biomedical and Health Sciences school has a campus in Stratford.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Stratford Classical Christian Academy, which occupied the site of the former Stratford Military Academy, served students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade until 2015, when it closed.<ref>"Stratford's History", Stratford Times, Fall 2017. Accessed November 17, 2023. "The Academy closed about 1974 and the buildings were abandoned until the early 80's, when the property was purchased by the YWCA. After the YWCA left in 2006, the Stratford Classical Christian Academy purchased the property and held classes from Preschool to 12th grade until it closed in 2015."</ref>

Transportation

File:2018-10-01 17 25 09 View east along U.S. Route 30 (White Horse Pike) just east of New Road in Stratford, Camden County, New Jersey.jpg

U.S. Route 30 eastbound in Stratford

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Camden County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Camden County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed November 6, 2013.</ref>

U.S. Route 30 (White Horse Pike) runs from Laurel Springs in the borough's southeast corner and heads towards the northern tip of the borough along the border between Stratford to the southwest and Somerdale to the northeast before heading into Somerdale.<ref>U.S. Route 30 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2018. Accessed February 9, 2023.</ref><ref>Camden County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 9, 2023.</ref>

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service between Turnersville and Camden is available on the 403 route, with local service available on the 459 route operatining between Voorhees Town Center and the Avandale Park and Ride in Winslow Township.<ref>Camden County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed October 12, 2012.</ref><ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed October 28, 2014.</ref>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Stratford include:

• Tamika Catchings (born 1979), professional basketball player who played in the WNBA for the Indiana Fever<ref>D'Alessandro, Dave. "D'Alessandro: Tamika Catchings becomes WNBA star by overcoming adversity", The Star-Ledger, September 17, 2011. Accessed November 6, 2013. "She didn't remember her first home — the tiny Jersey town of Stratford, outside Camden — but she was smart enough to know that this was home for as long as her parents said it was going to be, and that was that."</ref>
• Mike Daniels (born 1989), defensive end for the Green Bay Packers<ref>Mike Daniels, Green Bay Packers. Accessed November 17, 2014. "Given name Michael Wayne Daniels Jr. …Born in Stratford, N.J."</ref>
• Lee DeRamus (born 1972), wide receiver who played for two seasons in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints<ref>Lee DeRamus, National Football League. Accessed November 6, 2013.</ref>
• Steven Ferrari (born 1962), US Army major general, lived in Stratford<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="GOMO">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Juwan Johnson (born 1996), American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League<ref>Juwan Johnson, Penn State Nittany Lions football. Accessed October 25, 2020. "Hometown: Glassboro, N.J.; High School: Glassboro... Born September 13, 1996 in Stratford, New Jersey."</ref>
• Ken Kelley (born 1960), American football linebacker who played two seasons in the United States Football League with the Philadelphia Stars, Chicago Blitz and Birmingham Stallions<ref>"Getting a Grip", The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 12, 1983. Accessed September 22, 2019. "'We have a lot of Penn State players going Ito the Stars, and it would be nice to play close to home,' said Kelley, whose family lives in Stratford, N.J."</ref>
• Brett Laxton (born 1973), former MLB pitcher who played in parts of two seasons for the Oakland Athletics and the Kansas City Royals<ref>Brett Laxton, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed October 10, 2015.</ref>
• Kelly Ripa (born 1970), actress and talk show host of Live! with Kelly<ref>Staff. "Philly Birthday Girl: Kelly Ripa", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 26, 2011. Accessed November 6, 2013. "We already know there's nothing she can't do - host, mother, act, dance, sing (kinda), toss food miraculously into the right spots in her Electrolux kitchen - so we're hoping Stratford, N.J.-native and Eastern High School grad Kelly Ripa takes a breather on her birthday off-air on Sunday."</ref>
• Julian Talley (born 1989), NFL wide receiver for the New York Giants<ref>Julian Talley Template:Webarchive, New York Giants. Accessed October 10, 2015. "Hometown: Stratford, NJ"</ref>

External links

• Official Stratford website