Riverton, New Jersey
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Riverton is a borough located in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 2,764,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 15 (−.5%) from the 2010 census count of 2,779,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 20 (+0.7%) from the 2,759 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, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.<ref>New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.</ref>
Riverton was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 18, 1893, from portions of Cinnaminson Township, based on the results of a referendum held six days earlier. Portions of the borough were taken to form Palmyra Township on April 19, 1894.<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. 99. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The borough's name is derived from The Riverton Improvement Company, which was established after a group of ten purchased a Template:Convert that would be the site of a planned community with homes erected for many of the founders along the riverfront.<ref name=History>Hahle, Betty. "Riverton Borough History", Borough of Riverton. Accessed September 24, 2015.</ref>
It is a dry town, where alcohol cannot be sold legally.<ref>New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)</ref><ref>Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014.</ref> The borough's dry status was an early character of the borough, with a clause inserted starting in 1952 by the Riverton Improvement Company into deeds for all properties in the community that prohibited the sale or manufacture of alcoholic beverages.<ref name=History/><ref>Laufer, Joseph M. "Riverton", Burlington County Historian, October 22, 2006. Accessed September 24, 2015. "Riverton was a deed restricted community. Permanent structures on the waterfront were prohibited. Deeds had a liquor clause, prohibiting the sale or manufacture of liquors on any property in the village."</ref>
The borough is located on the Delaware River and is pedestrian-friendly, with sidewalks, gas lamps, and Victorian architecture. Riverton is home to the Riverton Yacht Club, one of the oldest active yacht clubs in the country.<ref>Americas's Oldest Yacht Clubs In Order of Year, YachtClub.com. Accessed August 9, 2013.</ref> Many residents' sailboats make their home at this landmark.
History
[edit]
Riverton was established in 1851, along the Delaware River, having been laid out by Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan. According to architectural historian Henry Russell Hitchcock, Riverton was one of the first totally planned residential subdivisions in the United States.<ref>Pearsall, Richard. "Riverton: From a summer retreat to year-round town", Courier-Post, October 8, 2006. Accessed August 9, 2013. "Thus emerged, on farmland purchased from Joseph Lippincott, one of the first planned, suburban towns in the country."</ref>
The Japanese beetle, now a widespread invasive insect pest in the United States, were first discovered in a nursery near Riverton in 1916.<ref>Emergency and Domestic Programs: Japanese Beetle, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Accessed December 7, 2006.</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.50 km2), including 0.66 square miles (1.71 km2) of land and 0.30 square miles (0.78 km2) of water (31.46%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
The borough borders Cinnaminson Township and Palmyra in Burlington County; and Philadelphia, across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.<ref>Areas touching Riverton, MapIt. Accessed March 4, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities within Burlington County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 4, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
Demographics
[edit]2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 2,779 people, 1,057 households, and 755 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,112 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 93.41% (2,596) White, 3.31% (92) Black or African American, 0.11% (3) Native American, 0.76% (21) Asian, 0.07% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.47% (13) from other races, and 1.87% (52) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.02% (56) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 1,057 households, 29.6% had children under the age of 18; 56.6% were married couples living together; 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.6% were non-families. Of all households, 23.8% were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.<ref name=Census2010/>
21.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.7 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $94,762 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,688) and the median family income was $112,721 (+/− $9,113). Males had a median income of $81,078 (+/− $9,544) versus $50,517 (+/− $6,553) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $47,945 (+/− $4,715). About 3.4% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Riverton borough, Burlington County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,759 people, 1,066 households, and 746 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,113 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.83% White, 1.78% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 1.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Riverton borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Riverton borough, Burlington County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.</ref>
There were 1,066 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. Another 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median income for a household in the borough was $58,977, and the median income for a family was $68,125. Males had a median income of $50,950 versus $36,042 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,223. 3.1% of the population and 2.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.5% of those under the age of 18 and 2.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Government
[edit]Local government
[edit]Riverton 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. 38.</ref> The borough form of government used by Riverton 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 Riverton is Democrat James Quinn, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.<ref name=Mayor>[1]</ref> Members of the Riverton Borough Council are Council President William Corbi (R, 2024), Kirk Fullerton (R, 2025), James Quinn (D, 2023), Nicole Rafter (R, 2025), Julie Scott (R, 2024) and Edgar Wilburn (D, 2023).<ref name=Government>Elected Officials, Riverton Borough. Accessed April 25, 2023.</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Riverton Borough. Accessed April 25, 2023.</ref><ref name=Burlington2022>November 8, 2022 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 29, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Burlington2021>November 2, 2021 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Burlington2020>November 3, 2020 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 23, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Burlington2019>November 5, 2019 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 16, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>
In January 2016, the borough council selected Kirk Fullerton from three names nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that was vacated by Susan Cairns Wells when she took office as mayor.<ref>January 28, 2016 7:30 PM Borough of Riverton Special meeting, Borough of Riverton. Accessed June 22, 2016. "Mayor Cairns Wells read the resolution by title only stating the three names that were submitted to fill the municipal vacancy were 1. Joe Threston, 2. Kirk Fullerton 3. Fred DeVece further stating that after a conversation with Mr. DeVece he did not desire to be considered Mr. Corbi motioned that Kirk Fullerton is nominated for the vacancy.... With no further discussion Mayor Cairns Wells asked for a roll call on the motion of Mr. Fullerton."</ref>
Federal, state and county representation
[edit]Riverton is located in the 3rd 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 7th 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>
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Politics
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As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,893 registered voters in Riverton, of which 571 (30.2% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 724 (38.2% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 597 (31.5% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Burlington, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 28, 2014.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 68.1% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 86.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 28, 2014.</ref>
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 838 votes (55.5% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 638 votes (42.3% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 23 votes (1.5% vs. 1.0%), among the 1,509 ballots cast by the borough's 1,951 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.3% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Burlington County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 28, 2014.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Burlington County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 28, 2014.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 912 votes (57.2% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 659 votes (41.3% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 16 votes (1.0% vs. 1.0%), among the 1,594 ballots cast by the borough's 1,919 registered voters, for a turnout of 83.1% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Burlington County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 28, 2014.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 858 votes (54.4% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 693 votes (43.9% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 14 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 1,578 ballots cast by the borough's 1,877 registered voters, for a turnout of 84.1% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Burlington County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 28, 2014.</ref>
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 591 votes (62.3% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 328 votes (34.6% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 13 votes (1.4% vs. 1.2%), among the 949 ballots cast by the borough's 1,930 registered voters, yielding a 49.2% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).<ref>2013 Governor: Burlington County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 28, 2014.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 5, 2013 General Election Results : Burlington County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 28, 2014.</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 502 votes (46.1% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 482 votes (44.3% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 85 votes (7.8% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.8% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,089 ballots cast by the borough's 1,902 registered voters, yielding a 57.3% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Burlington County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 28, 2014.</ref>
Historic district
[edit]The Riverton Historic District is an Template:Convert historic district encompassing the borough. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1999, for its significance in architecture, community planning and development. The district has 371 contributing buildings, including the Riverton Yacht Club.<ref name="nrhpdoc">Template:Cite web With Template:NRHP url</ref>
The Victorian house at 503 Bank Avenue was designed by architect Samuel Sloan and built in 1851. The Riverton Yacht Club was built in 1880 with Stick style.<ref name="nrhpdoc"/>
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Victorian house at 503 Bank Avenue
Education
[edit]The Riverton School District serves students in public school in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Riverton Elementary School.<ref>Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Riverton School District, New Jersey Department of Education, year ending June 30, 2022. Accessed July 28, 2023. "The purpose of the School District is to provide educational services for resident students in grades K through 8. Student in grades 9 through 12 attend the Palmyra School District, on a tuition basis."</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Riverton School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 301 students and 29.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.4:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Riverton School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Palmyra High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Palmyra Public Schools, along with students from Beverly.<ref>Hefler, Jan. "Riverton Considers Breaking Ties With Palmyra Schools", The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 17, 1990, backed up by the Internet Archive as of April 2, 2015. Accessed January 12, 2017. "Riverton voters will be asked to decide in an April referendum whether they want to spend money on a study that could be the first step in breaking ties between the Riverton and Palmyra School Districts.... Riverton, which has only an elementary school program, sends 51 children to neighboring Palmyra High School, which has 350 students."</ref><ref>Administration Template:Webarchive, Palmyra Public Schools. Accessed January 11, 20174. "Palmyra Public Schools offers a wide range of educational programs for the residents of Palmyra, Beverly City, and Riverton, New Jersey. These programs include a preschool handicapped program at Delaware Avenue Elementary School, a K-6 elementary program at Charles Street Elementary School, and a 7-12 program at Palmyra High School."</ref><ref>High School Sending Districts, Burlington County Library System, backed up by the Internet Archive as of September 27, 2009. Accessed January 11, 2017.</ref> As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 729 students and 3.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 243.0:1.<ref>School data for Palisades Park Jr-Sr High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>
Students from Riverton, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton.<ref>Why Choose BCIT?, Burlington County Institute of Technology. Accessed December 1, 2013.</ref>
Transportation
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Roads and highways
[edit]Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality and Template:Convert by Burlington County.<ref>Burlington County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed December 1, 2013.</ref>
No Interstate, U.S. or state highways directly serve Riverton. The most prominent road crossing the borough is County Route 543.<ref>County Route 543 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated August 2006. Accessed February 7, 2023.</ref><ref>Burlington County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 7, 2023.</ref>
Public transportation
[edit]The Riverton station located on Main Street<ref>Riverton station, NJ Transit. Accessed December 1, 2013.</ref> provides service on the River Line light rail system, offering southbound service to Camden and the Walter Rand Transportation Center with connections to PATCO Speedline trains to Philadelphia and the Camden County suburbs and northbound service to the Trenton Rail Station with connections to NJ Transit trains to New York City, SEPTA trains to Philadelphia, and Amtrak trains.<ref>River LINE System Map, NJ Transit. Accessed July 30, 2023.</ref>
NJ Transit provides bus service in the borough on the 419 route that runs between Camden and Burlington.<ref>Burlington County Bus/Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 28, 2010. Accessed November 30, 2013.</ref><ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed December 1, 2013.</ref>
BurLink bus service is offered on the B8 route between the Riverside station and Hartford Crossing / Delran Township.<ref>BurLINK Bus System, Cross County Connection. Accessed October 23, 2019.</ref>
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Riverton include:
- John Fraser (1825–1906), architect who served as acting supervisory architect for the United States Department of the Treasury, created a master plan for the United States Capitol grounds and served on the commission to complete the Washington Monument<ref>Template:Philadelphia Architects and Buildings</ref>
- Nat Gertler (born 1965), writer best known for his comics and his books about comic books<ref>Biography, Nat Gertler - Freelance Writer - Comics Guy. Accessed December 1, 2013. "His earlier years were spent in Cinnaminson, NJ; Simsbury, CT; and Riverton, NJ, where he stayed long enough to consider it his hometown."</ref>
- Lloyd Carpenter Griscom (1872–1959), American diplomat<ref>"Lloyd C. Griscom Under the Knife; Condition Very Grave Last Night in Philadelphia After an Operation", The New York Times, April 2, 1912. Accessed December 14, 2007. "Lloyd Carpenter Griscom was born in Riverton, N. J., on Nov. 4, 1872."</ref>
- William Levis James (1833–1903), Union Army quartermaster and brevet brigadier general<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref>
- Charles Wellford Leavitt (1871–1928), landscape architect, urban planner and civil engineer<ref>Template:Philadelphia Architects and Buildings. "Born in Riverton, NJ, Charles Wellford Leavitt Jr., received his early education at the Gunnery in Washington, CT, and at Cheltenham Academy in Cheltenham, PA."</ref>
- Frank A. Mathews Jr. (1904–1964), represented Template:Ushr in the United States House of Representatives from 1945 to 1949<ref>Frank Asbury Mathews Jr., Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 10, 2007.</ref>
- Philip Slater (1927–2013), sociologist who wrote the 1970 work The Pursuit of Loneliness<ref>Vitello, Paul. "Philip E. Slater, Social Critic Who Renounced Academia, Dies at 86", The New York Times, June 29, 2013. Accessed December 1, 2013. "Philip Elliot Slater was born on May 15, 1927, in Riverton, N.J., the youngest of three children of Pauline Holman Slater and John Elliot Slater, a shipping executive."</ref>
- F. Trowbridge vom Baur (1908–2000), lawyer who was General Counsel of the Navy from 1953 to 1960<ref>Saxon, Wolfgang. "F. Trowbridge vom Baur, 91, General Counsel of Navy Dept.", The New York Times, June 23, 2000. Accessed September 24, 2015. "Francis Trowbridge vom Baur was born in Riverton, N.J., and received a bachelor's degree from Amherst College in 1929 and a law degree from Harvard in 1932."</ref>
References
[edit]External links
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