Berlin Township, New Jersey
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Berlin Township is a township in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 5,867,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 510 (+9.5%) from the 2010 census count of 5,357,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 67 (+1.3%) from the 5,290 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>
History
[edit]Berlin was incorporated as a township on April 11, 1910, from portions of Waterford Township. Portions of the township were taken on March 29, 1927, to form Berlin Borough, based on the results of a referendum held on April 26, 1927.<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. 103. Accessed October 4, 2012.</ref> The township was named for the city of Berlin, Germany.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.</ref>
After a majority of residents supported the change, the township voted to assign all Berlin Township residents the common ZIP code of 08091 for West Berlin starting in February 1995, ending a system in which some township residents had been served by post offices in Atco and Berlin.<ref>Weis, Lillian. "Ordinance to deliver a single zip code to residents of Berlin Twp.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 15, 1995. Accessed September 19, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The key change will come Feb. 1, when all township residents will have a single zip code and their mail delivered through one post office, known as West Berlin 08091. West Berlin, Atco and Berlin Borough's post offices service the area. But over the years, there was some confusion among residents in Atco and Berlin Borough zip codes over which police or fire department serves them. During the summer, a majority of residents responding to a U.S. Postal Service survey voted in favor of having one zip code and one post office serve Berlin Township."</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 3.35 square miles (8.67 km2), including 3.34 square miles (8.66 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.18%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
The township borders the municipalities of Berlin Borough, Lindenwold, Voorhees Township, and Waterford Township in Camden County; and Evesham Township in Burlington County.<ref>Areas touching Berlin Township, MapIt. Accessed March 19, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 19, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
Crow Foot, Reed Crossing and West Berlin are unincorporated communities located within the township.<ref>New Jersey Local Names, State of New Jersey. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref>
The township is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering Template:Convert, that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.<ref>The Pinelands National Reserve, New Jersey Pinelands Commission. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref> Part of the borough is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Camden County, along with areas in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.<ref>Pinelands Municipalities, New Jersey Pinelands Commission, April 2003. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref>
Demographics
[edit]2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 5,357 people, 1,975 households, and 1,363 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,069 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 77.19% (4,135) White, 11.57% (620) Black or African American, 0.19% (10) Native American, 5.13% (275) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.79% (203) from other races, and 2.13% (114) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.29% (444) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 1,975 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18; 50.3% were married couples living together; 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.0% were non-families. Of all households, 25.1% were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.25.<ref name=Census2010/>
22.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.4 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $61,029 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,347) and the median family income was $70,777 (+/− $6,678). Males had a median income of $50,286 (+/− $4,262) versus $41,250 (+/− $8,550) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,184 (+/− $2,541). About 4.6% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref>Template:Usurped, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 4, 2012.</ref>
2000 census 2000
[edit]As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 5,290 people, 1,893 households, and 1,368 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,009 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 82.46% White, 11.87% African American, 0.17% Native American, 2.70% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.80% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Berlin township, Camden County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 4, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>Template:Usurped, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 4, 2012.</ref>
There were 1,893 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% 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 3.28.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
In the township the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median income for a household in the township was $54,448, and the median income for a family was $61,042. Males had a median income of $37,240 versus $28,703 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,178. About 4.8% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Government
[edit]Local government
[edit]In 1973, Berlin Township changed its form of government from the Township form to a Faulkner Act Small Municipality form, and now operates under plan 3 of the Small Municipality form, as implemented on January 1, 1988, by direct petition.<ref>"The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed October 7, 2013.</ref> The township is one of 18 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government, which is available only to municipalities with fewer than 12,000 residents at the time of adoption.<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 four Council members and the Mayor, all elected at-large. The mayor serves a four-year term of office and the councilmembers serve a three-year term, with two council seats coming up for election each year for two years and no council seats up for vote in the third year of the cycle. The candidates run in partisan elections at regular primary and are elected at the November general election. Independent candidates, having declared their intentions at primary time, run only in the general election.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 33.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 14. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>Township Code Article II: Governing Body, Berlin Township. Accessed December 12, 2014. "§ 3-11 Composition. The governing body of the Township of Berlin shall be composed of the Mayor and four members of Council. § 3-12 Term of Mayor. The term of the Mayor of the Township shall be set at four years, beginning with the election of November 2005. § 3-13 Term of Council members. Each Council member shall continue to be elected for a term of three years."</ref>
This type of government is a strong mayor form in which the Mayor, as chief executive, is responsible for all administrative functions. The Mayor presides at Council meetings, voting and participating as a member of Council. The Mayor appoints, with Council's approval, the following: Tax Assessor, Tax Collector, Clerk, Treasurer, Zoning Officer, Construction Official, Court Administrator, Attorney and Engineer. The Mayor is responsible for the budget; enforcing the charter (State law) and all ordinances (local laws), and the preparation of an annual report for the Council and residents. The Council has legislative and policy-making power. It elects a Council President annually to preside in the Mayor's absence. The Mayor appoints Council members to serve as liaisons to the Recreation Committee, Finance Committee, Athletic Association, Public Works, Special Events, School Board, Public Safety and Senior Citizens. The Mayor and one council member are members of the Planning and Zoning Board.<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 December 12, 2014.</ref>
Template:As of, the Mayor of Berlin Township is Democrat Phyllis A. Jeffries Magazzu, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025. Members of the Township Council are Council President Marion Bodanza (D, 2025), Frank Epifanio (D, 2024), Francis McHenry (D, 2025) and Mark Reid (D, 2024).<ref name=MayorandCouncil>Mayor and Council, Berlin Township. Accessed April 20, 2024.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Berlin Township. Accessed April 20, 2024.</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>
In February 2022, the Township Council selected Francis McHenry from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Christopher Morris until he resigned from office earlier that month.<ref>Township Council Meeting Minutes for February 14, 2022, Township of Berlin. Accessed May 24, 2022. "Letter of Resignation from Council President Christopher Morris. As required by N.J.S.A.40A:16-5 that the appropriate political party of the member vacancy will nominate three candidates to the governing body. As such the Democratic Committee of Berlin Township has conferred and is hereby submitting the following names for consideration by the Governing Body to replace Council President Christopher Morris. 1-Jeanne Rodriguez 2- Lou DeMarco 3- Frank McHenry. Motion by Mayor Magazzu second by Councilwoman Bodanza to appoint Frank McHenry as Councilman for the Township of Berlin."</ref>
In November 2019, Samuel D. Sykes was elected to fill a vacant seat on the Township Council expiring In December 2021. that had been held by Jerome McIntosh until his death in July 2019.<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><ref>Obituary of Jerome McIntosh, Covington Funeral Home. Accessed March 19, 2020. "He was later appointed by the Mayor to the Berlin Township Council in 2003. This was followed by his first elected position in 2004, where he remained until his passing."</ref>
Federal, state and county representation
[edit]Berlin Township 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>
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Template:NJ Camden County Freeholders
Politics
[edit]As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,449 registered voters in Berlin Township, of which 1,552 (45.0% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 370 (10.7% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 1,524 (44.2% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Camden, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 64.4% (vs. 57.1% in Camden County) were registered to vote, including 82.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref>
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,502 votes (63.9% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 814 votes (34.6% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 19 votes (0.8% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,351 ballots cast by the township's 3,686 registered voters, for a turnout of 63.8% (vs. 70.4% in Camden County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Camden County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Camden County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,519 votes (62.4% vs. 66.2% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 829 votes (34.1% vs. 30.7%) and other candidates with 32 votes (1.3% vs. 1.1%), among the 2,434 ballots cast by the township's 3,478 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.0% (vs. 71.4% in Camden County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Camden County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,305 votes (56.6% vs. 61.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 876 votes (38.0% vs. 36.4%) and other candidates with 23 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,304 ballots cast by the township's 3,123 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.8% (vs. 71.3% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Camden County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref>
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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 60.0% of the vote (848 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 39.2% (554 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (12 votes), among the 1,515 ballots cast by the township's 3,752 registered voters (101 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.4%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 857 ballots cast (51.0% vs. 53.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 650 votes (38.7% vs. 38.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 73 votes (4.3% vs. 4.5%) and other candidates with 29 votes (1.7% vs. 1.1%), among the 1,681 ballots cast by the township's 3,428 registered voters, yielding a 49.0% turnout (vs. 40.8% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Camden County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref>
Education
[edit]The Berlin Township Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 609 students and 55.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Berlin Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Berlin Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>) are John F. Kennedy Elementary School<ref>John F. Kennedy Elementary School, Berlin Township Public Schools. Accessed March 21, 2022.</ref> with 279 students in Pre-K through 3rd grade and Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School<ref>Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School, Berlin Township Public Schools. Accessed March 21, 2022.</ref> with 325 students in grades 4–8.<ref>School Performance Reports for the Berlin Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Berlin Township Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> The Huster Building, formerly used as a kindergarten and now used for administration, is named after Robert R. Huster, a Berlin Township resident who was killed in action on April 8, 1967, during the Vietnam War.<ref>Robert R. Huster Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Accessed December 30, 2013. "Robert R. Huster was born on May 27, 1946, to Mr. and Mrs. Roy Huster. His home of record is West Berlin, NJ."</ref>
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades from Berlin Township and Clementon attend Overbrook High School in Pine Hill as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Pine Hill Schools.<ref>School Choice program Template:Webarchive, Pine Hill Schools. Accessed December 12, 2014. "Pine Hill School District is composed of four schools which include Dr. Albert Bean Elementary School, John Glenn Elementary School, Pine Hill Middle School, and Overbrook High School. Students from both Clementon and Berlin Township School Districts join those residing in Pine Hill to attend Overbrook High School."</ref> A representative from Berlin Township serves on the board of education of the Pine Hill Schools.<ref>Board of Education Members, Pine Hill Schools. Accessed January 11, 2017.</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 657 students and 61.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.7:1.<ref>School data for Overbrook Senior High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>
Students from Berlin Township, and from all of Camden County, are eligible to attend the Camden County Technical Schools, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at the Gloucester Township Campus in the Sicklerville section of Gloucester Township or the Pennsauken Campus in Pennsauken Township. Students are accepted based on district admission standards and costs of attendance and transportation are covered by the home district of each student.<ref>About Camden County Technical Schools, Camden County Technical Schools. Accessed October 31, 2016.</ref>
Transportation
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Roads and highways
[edit]Template:As of, the township 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 December 30, 2013.</ref>
Route 73 is the main highway serving Berlin Township. County Route 534 and County Route 561 also pass through the township. Berlin Township formerly contained the Berlin Circle.
Public transportation
[edit]NJ Transit bus service is available in the borough on the 406 route, which operates between Berlin Township and Philadelphia.<ref>Template:Usurped, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 28, 2010. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref><ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref>
Notable people
[edit]People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Berlin Township include: Template:Category see also
- Damien Covington (1972–2002), linebacker who played for three seasons in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills<ref>"N.J. Nets honor Covington, Gomez", Daily Record, June 6, 1991. Accessed December 24, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Damien Covington of Overbrook Regional High School in Pine Hill and Audrey Gomez of St. John Vianney High School in Holmdel have been named the male and female 'Athletes of the Year' by First Fidelity Bank and the New Jersey Nets. Covington, a senior wrestler, was the 'Athlete of March' when he captured his first-ever state title in the 189-pound weight class. The Berlin Township resident wrestled his final campaign at Overbrook after competing at Edgewood High School his first three seasons."</ref><ref>Template:Usurped, Database Football. Accessed February 9, 2009.</ref>
- Sarah Dawson (born 1992), field hockey forward / midfielder who represented the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics in Beijing<ref>O'Reilly, David. Template:Usurped, The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 23, 2012. Accessed December 30, 2013. "Dawson, 27, who lives in Berlin Township and played for Eastern High School in Voorhees before competing at the Beijing and London Olympics, was there to light a fire."</ref>
- Ron Dayne (born 1978), running back for the Houston Texans<ref>Stenzler, Jon. "A Big Body, A Bigger Heart. Ron Dayne; Teddy Bear" Template:Webarchive, The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 13, 1999. Accessed December 30, 2013. "Dayne, who grew up in Berlin Township and carried the football for Overbrook Regional Senior High School in Pine Hill and for the University of Wisconsin, is known for a bruising running style."</ref>
- Steven Ferrari (born 1962), retired United States Army major general<ref>DMAVA Highlights, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, October 16, 2008. Accessed December 24, 2024. "'It is a clear sign of your loyalty to defend freedom and your duty to fulfill your military obligation. It is a symbol of respect for Soldiers who have served in a hostile environment and it proves your commitment to face courage and danger,' said Col. Steven Ferrari, brigade and JASG-C commander.... Ferrari, of Berlin Township, N.J., said the organization already has a common bond of wearing the left shoulder patch, but Soldiers standing in the formation are among 3,000 Soldiers now eligible to wear the brigade patch on the right sleeve."</ref><ref>Santana, Rebecca via Associated Press "A man with a very big mission", The Record, December 2, 2007. Accessed December 24, 2024, via Newspapers.com. Spotlight Name: Steven Ferrari; Age: 45; born Jan. 25, 1962, in Camden; Hometown: Berlin Township""</ref>