Woodlynne, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Woodlynne is a borough in Camden County, within the U.S. state of New Jersey, and a suburb located Template:Convert southeast of Philadelphia. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 2,902,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 76 (−2.6%) from the 2,978 recorded at the 2010 census,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 182 (+6.5%) from the 2,796 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> The borough is the state's eighth-smallest municipality.<ref name=LWD2020/> Established on the site of a defunct amusement park, the entire borough of Woodlynne is less than one-third the size of Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari.<ref>Astudillo, Carla. "The 10 tiniest towns in New Jersey (they're really small)", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 1, 2016, updated May 16, 2019. Accessed March 5, 2020. "We used square mile data from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to rank the ten municipalities with the smallest area size.... 8. Woodlynne Boro... Woodlynne Borough (141.72 acres) may have once been an amusement park, but today, the whole borough can fit inside Six Flags Great Adventure and Safari (519 acres) about 3.6 times."</ref>

Woodlynne was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 19, 1901, from portions of Haddon 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. 109. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref><ref>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Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 315. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed November 5, 2015.</ref> In 1906, the City of Camden made an unsuccessful attempt to annex Woodlynne.<ref>Staff. Compiled Statutes of New Jersey, P. 601. State of New Jersey, Soney & Sage, 1911. Accessed October 13, 2012.</ref>

Woodlynne had the highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 7.384% in 2020, compared to a statewide average of 2.279% and 3.470% in Camden County.<ref>"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.... 1. Woodlynne Borough Equalized tax rate in Woodlynne Borough, Camden County, was: 7.384 in 2020; Average equalized tax rate in Camden County: 3.470"</ref> As of the 2010 census, Woodlynne was also home to the highest percentage of Vietnamese residents in New Jersey, at 6.9%.<ref name=HighestVietnamesePercentageNewJersey>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

First settled by Europeans in 1681, a property owned by Mark Newbie was called Lynnewood,<ref>Margulis, Marlyn Irvin. "An Old Borough Pumps In New Life Woodlynne Aims To Preserve Its History And Its Aging Stock Of Homes. So Far, 13 Houses Have Been Rehabbed.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 1, 1995. Accessed November 5, 2015. "In 1681, area settlers acquired 1,600 acres along Newton Creek, including the land that today makes up the borough. The original 110 acres, formerly called Lynnewood, were owned by Mark Newbie. The land remained in the Newbie family until 1784, when Isaac Cooper obtained title. The borough of Woodlynne was incorporated in 1901."</ref> named for the linden trees in the area.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed November 5, 2015.</ref> The name was changed from Lynnewood to Woodlynne in 1892, due to conflicts with the name of another municipality.<ref>Staff. "Woodlynne: A growing community of immigrants", Courier-Post, October 19, 2006. Accessed November 5, 2015. "In 1892, Woodlynne was known as Lynnewood, but town officials reversed the elements after discovering that the name was already in use elsewhere.... Some of the Linden trees that helped give the town earn its name still stand behind 167 Evergreen Ave."</ref>

File:Woodlynnerollercoaster.jpg

The old scenic railway in Woodlynne Amusement Park.

Woodlynne Amusement Park, which encompassed Woodlynne Lake (no longer in existence), operated between the years 1895 and 1914 in the area that now comprises the town of Woodlynne. The New Camden Land Improvement Company commissioned the creation of Woodlynne Amusement Park on the estate of Charles M. Cooper in 1892. Homes built over the old lake tend to flood in the basements during heavy rainstorms.

The Camden and Suburban Railway Company, formed in 1896, established a housing development in a section of Woodlynne Amusement Park, which contributed to its incorporation as Woodlynne Borough in 1901.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Geography

File:Woodlynnewater.jpg

Woodlynne Lake

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.23 square miles (0.58 km²), including 0.22 square miles (0.56 km²) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km²) of water (3.04%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Woodlynne borders the Borough of Collingswood and the City of Camden.<ref>Areas touching Woodlynne, MapIt. Accessed March 14, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 14, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Woodlynne has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>Climate Summary for Woodlynne, New Jersey</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 2,978 people, 917 households, and 700 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,016 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 28.17% (839) White, 33.55% (999) Black or African American, 0.71% (21) Native American, 9.70% (289) Asian, 0.03% (1) Pacific Islander, 23.10% (688) from other races, and 4.73% (141) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.28% (1,140) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 917 households, 42.5% had children under the age of 18; 37.6% were married couples living together; 31.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.7% were non-families. Of all households, 18.6% were made up of individuals and 4.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.25 and the average family size was 3.67.<ref name=Census2010/>

30.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.6 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $41,516 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,233) and the median family income was $45,313 (+/− $17,965). Males had a median income of $39,020 (+/− $7,398) versus $32,688 (+/− $8,474) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,210 (+/− $2,557). About 14.8% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Woodlynne borough, Camden County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 13, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR1" /> there were 2,796 people, 912 households, and 684 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,012 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 48.43% White, 22.71% African American, 0.57% Native American, 12.27% Asian, 11.59% from other races, and 4.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.60% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Woodlynne borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 13, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Woodlynne borough, Camden County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 13, 2012.</ref>

There were 912 households, out of which 42.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 25.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.07 and the average family size was 3.52.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough the population was spread out, with 32.4% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $39,138, and the median income for a family was $39,669. Males had a median income of $33,520 versus $26,885 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $14,757. About 11.7% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Woodlynne 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. 27.</ref> The borough form of government used by Woodlynne 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 Woodlynne Borough is Democrat Joseph Chukwueke, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.<ref name=Mayor>Mayor's Office, Borough of Woodlynne. Accessed June 8, 2023.</ref> Members of the Woodlynne Borough Council are Council President Sharon Earley (D, 2024), Lavar Edwards (D, 2023), Shana K. Feliciano (D, 2025), Edwin Fontanez (D, 2025), Pablo Fuentes (D, 2023) and Wilfredo Rodriguez (D, 2024).<ref>Council Members, Borough of Woodlynne. Accessed June 8, 2023.</ref><ref name=Budget>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Woodlynne. 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>

After a four-year period in which police officers from Collingswood patrolled the borough's streets, Woodlynne re-established its police department in September 2010.<ref>Staff. "After Four Years, Woodlynne Police Back On Duty", KYW-TV, September 27, 2010. Accessed October 13, 2012. "At the stroke of midnight, October 3rd Woodlynne Borough will take back its streets, the 0.2 square mile Camden County Borough is re-instating the police department it abolished four years ago.... As part of the reconstruction of the police force, Collingswood will end its four year contract to patrol Woodlynne."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Woodlynne 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 5th 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 1,553 registered voters in Woodlynne, of which 661 (42.6%) were registered as Democrats, 85 (5.5%) were registered as Republicans and 804 (51.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<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 86.8% of the vote (826 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 12.6% (120 votes), and other candidates with 0.6% (6 votes), among the 959 ballots cast by the borough's 1,714 registered voters (7 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 56.0%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 79.4% of the vote (786 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 16.6% (164 votes), with 990 ballots cast among the borough's 1,531 registered voters, for a turnout of 64.7%.<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 71.5% of the vote (639 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 27.2% (243 votes), with 894 ballots cast among the borough's 1,465 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 61.0.<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, Democrat Barbara Buono received 62.8% of the vote (240 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 36.6% (140 votes), and other candidates with 0.5% (2 votes), among the 394 ballots cast by the borough's 1,697 registered voters (12 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 23.2%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 68.1% of the vote (305 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 23.4% (105 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 3.1% (14 votes), with 448 ballots cast among the borough's 1,530 registered voters, yielding a 29.3% 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 Woodlynne School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Woodlynne Elementary School.<ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Woodlynne School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 403 students and 33.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.2:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Woodlynne School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2021.</ref>

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Collingswood High School in neighboring Collingswood as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Collingswood Public Schools, together with students from Oaklyn, New Jersey.<ref>Staff. "Collingswood High School", South Jersey magazine. Accessed November 18, 2014. "Collingswood High School serves about 850 students in grades nine through twelve from the Collingswood, Oaklyn, and Woodlynne school districts."</ref><ref>Giordano, Rita. "N.J. puts pressure on schools to share Collingswood, Oaklyn, and Woodlynne are just three districts being pushed to combine services - or more.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 11, 2009. Accessed November 18, 2014. "Collingswood, Oaklyn, and Woodlynne, she said, are reasonable candidates for administrative sharing. Oaklyn Superintendent Tommy Stringer is due to retire in December, and Woodlynne has an interim superintendent, Walter Rudder. Collingswood Superintendent Scott Oswald is established and well-regarded. Oaklyn and Woodlynne students attend Collingswood High School."</ref> As of the 2019–20 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 718 students and 64.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1.<ref>School data for Collingswood High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2021.</ref>

Transportation

File:2018-10-02 12 58 22 View north along New Jersey State Route 168 (Mount Ephraim Avenue) between Fairview Street and Woodlynne Avenue along the border of Camden and Woodlynne in Camden County, New Jersey.jpg

Route 168 northbound on the west edge of Woodlynne

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 July 18, 2014.</ref>

New Jersey Route 168<ref>Route 168 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Education, updated May 2017. Accessed November 21, 2022.</ref> and U.S. Route 130 are the main highways serving Woodlynne. Route 168 skims the western border of Woodlynne, while US 130 brushes the eastern edge of the borough.

Public transportation

The Ferry Avenue station, located in Woodlynne and Camden, provides PATCO Speedline service between the 15–16th & Locust station in Philadelphia and the Lindenwold station.<ref>Ferry Avenue Station, PATCO Speedline. Accessed November 18, 2014.</ref>

NJ Transit bus service is available on routes 400 (between Sicklerville and Philadelphia), 403 (between Turnersville and Camden via Lindenwold PATCO station), 450 (between Cherry Hill and Camden via Audubon) and 453 (between Ferry Avenue PATCO station and Camden).<ref>Camden County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed October 13, 2012.</ref><ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed November 18, 2014.</ref>

Points of interest

• The Woodlynne war memorial, commemorating residents of Woodlynne who lost their lives in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, is located on Woodlynne Avenue.<ref>Woodlynne War Memorial. Accessed December 3, 2007.</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website
• Woodlynne School District
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the Woodlynne School District, National Center for Education Statistics