Clementon, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Clementon 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 5,338,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 338 (+6.8%) from the 2010 census count of 5,000,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 14 (+0.3%) from the 4,986 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 had the 27th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.179% in 2020, compared to 3.470% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.<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.... 27. Clementon Equalized tax rate in Clementon Borough, Camden County, was 4.179 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Camden County: 3.470"</ref>

History

Around 1800, Jonathon Haines built a glass factory in what is now Clementon, situated on a large hill across the street from the modern day Clementon Park. Large amounts of dirt, gravel and marl from the large hill the glass works were situated on were removed for use at a planned new post office in 1961. Sometime around 1811, Samuel Clement of Haddonfield purchased the glass works and named them the Gloucester Glass works, and named the small settlement around the plant as Clementon village.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015. Source shows name as "Samuel Clements".</ref> Haines remained as a superintendent and at some point repurchased the works from Clement.

The Borough of Clementon was created on February 13, 1925, from Clementon Township, one of nine municipalities created from the now-defunct township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 17, 1925.<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. 104. Accessed October 4, 2012.</ref><ref>Burrows, Danielle L. Clementon, p. 5. Arcadia Publishing. Accessed January 15, 2020. "On February 13, 1925, 'an Act to incorporate the Borough of Clementon in the County of Camden, and to fix the boundaries thereof,' was passed by the legislature, establishing Clementon as a borough comprised of just less than two square miles."</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.95 square miles (5.05 km²), including 1.89 square miles (4.90 km²) of land and 0.06 square miles (0.15 km²) of water (2.97%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The borough is located on Clementon Lake, which is the site of the Clementon Amusement Park. The amusement park was home to the Jack Rabbit, a wooden roller coaster constructed in 1919 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Though quite tame in comparison to modern steel coasters, it remained popular with park visitors. It was one of the oldest remaining coasters in the country when it was taken out of service in 2002<ref>Staff. "High on Tsunami", Courier-Post, May 31, 2004. Accessed July 19, 2011. "Meanwhile, the park's original wooden coaster, the Jack Rabbit, one of the oldest wooden coasters in the country, is mothballed with no plans for its return.... Jack Rabbit, built in 1919, last ran in 2002. The old coaster eventually will be torn down."</ref> and ultimately demolished in 2007.

Rowands Pond Wildlife Management Area, covering Template:Convert, is located in Clementon.<ref>Rowands Pond Wildlife Management Area, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife. Accessed March 27, 2017.</ref>

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Brownsville and Gordon Lake.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

Clementon borders Berlin Borough, Lindenwold, Pine Hill and Pine Valley.<ref>Areas touching Clementon, MapIt. Accessed March 24, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 24, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 5,000 people, 2,064 households, and 1,226 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,235 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 71.28% (3,564) White, 19.12% (956) Black or African American, 0.56% (28) Native American, 2.10% (105) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.90% (195) from other races, and 3.04% (152) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.30% (515) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 2,064 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18; 36.5% were married couples living together; 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 40.6% were non-families. Of all households, 33.2% were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.10.<ref name=Census2010/>

22.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.3 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 $40,185 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,676) and the median family income was $57,184 (+/− $7,155). Males had a median income of $40,987 (+/− $7,918) versus $34,063 (+/− $3,762) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,597 (+/− $2,393). About 7.8% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Clementon borough, Camden County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 4, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 4,986 people, 1,978 households, and 1,246 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,206 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 82.23% White, 11.57% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 2.35% from other races, and 2.53% from two or more races. 4.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Clementon borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 4, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Clementon borough, Camden County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 4, 2012.</ref>

There were 1,978 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.13.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $42,207, and the median income for a family was $50,963. Males had a median income of $33,879 versus $29,777 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,510. 11.4% of the population and 9.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.6% of those under the age of 18 and 14.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Economy

Clementon is home to Giambri's Quality Sweets, a long-established candy and chocolate maker that was founded in South Philadelphia in 1942 and moved to New Jersey in the early 1970s.<ref>Giordano, Rita. "N.J. candy-maker Giambri's wins business award, The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 27, 2014, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 11, 2016. Accessed October 26, 2016. "Their Giambri's Quality Sweets in Clementon was just named a New Jersey Family Business of the Year, an award now in its 22d year that is sponsored by the Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship at Fairleigh Dickinson University, PNC Bank, and New Jersey Monthly."</ref>

Government

Local government

Clementon 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. 24.</ref> The borough form of government used by Clementon 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> A council president is selected annually from among their own members by the council and presides in the absence of the mayor. The council has all executive responsibilities not specifically assigned to the mayor.

Template:As of, the mayor of the Borough of Clementon is Democrat Thomas J. Weaver, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Clementon Borough Council are Gwendolyn Cantwell (D, 2025), Robert L. Dorsey (D, 2024), Jonathan M. Fisher (D, 2026), Christopher McKelvey (D, 2024; elected to an unexpired term), Christine A. Nucera (D, 2026) and Thomas Shaw (D, 2025).<ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor and Council, Borough of Clementon. Accessed June 2, 2024.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal User Friendly Budget, Borough of Clementon. Accessed June 2, 2024.</ref><ref name=Camden2023>Official Election Results 2023 General Election November 7, 2023, Camden County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 1, 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>

Federal, state and county representation

Clementon 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>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,945 registered voters in Clementon, of which 1,063 (36.1%) were registered as Democrats, 407 (13.8%) were registered as Republicans and 1,472 (50.0%) 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 67.6% of the vote (1,316 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 31.2% (607 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (25 votes), among the 1,970 ballots cast by the borough's 3,289 registered voters (22 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 59.9%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 61.9% of the vote (1,276 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 33.9% (700 votes), with 2,063 ballots cast among the borough's 3,049 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.7%.<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 60.7% of the vote (1,183 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 37.0% (721 votes), with 1,949 ballots cast among the borough's 2,780 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 70.1.<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 58.3% of the vote (638 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 39.3% (430 votes), and other candidates with 2.4% (26 votes), among the 1,141 ballots cast by the borough's 3,379 registered voters (47 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 33.8%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 48.3% of the vote (529 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 42.7% (468 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 5.8% (63 votes), with 1,095 ballots cast among the borough's 2,950 registered voters, yielding a 37.1% 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 Clementon School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Clementon Elementary School.<ref>Clementon Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Clementon School District. Accessed February 8, 2023. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Clementon School District. Composition: The Clementon School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Clementon."</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Clementon Elementary School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 12, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Clementon School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 589 students and 58.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.1:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Clementon Elementary School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Overbrook High School in Pine Hill as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Pine Hill Schools.<ref>Clementon School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed January 11, 2017. "The Clementon School District serves approximately 435 students in grades preschool through eight. These students all attend Clementon Elementary School. Clementon students in grades nine through twelve attend Overbrook High School in the Pine Hill School District."</ref><ref>High School Information, Clementon School District. Accessed March 12, 2024. "CES 8th grade graduates and high school students living in the town of Clementon may attend high school at Overbrook High School located in the Pine Hill School District."</ref> The high school also serves the community of Berlin Township as part of a sending/receiving relationship.<ref>Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Pine Hill School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed March 12, 2024. "The Pine Hill School District provides a full range of educational services appropriate to grade levels preschool through 12. We are in a send/receive relationship with Berlin Township and Clementon for their students in grades 9 to 12."</ref><ref>Pine Hill Public Schools Choice District Profile 2020-21, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 12, 2024. "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> As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 792 students and 60.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1.<ref>School data for Overbrook Senior High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Transportation

File:2018-10-01 17 34 44 View east along U.S. Route 30 (White Horse Pike) just east of Camden County Route 686 (Gibbsboro Road) in Clementon, Camden County, New Jersey.jpg

U.S. Route 30 eastbound in Clementon

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>

U.S. Route 30 (White Horse Pike) is the main highway serving Clementon.<ref>U.S. Route 30 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2018. Accessed February 8, 2023.</ref><ref>Camden County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 8, 2023.</ref>

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service is provided on the 403 route between Turnersville and Camden, as well as between the Lindenwold station and Atlantic City on the 554 route.<ref>Camden County Bus/Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed July 19, 2011.</ref><ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed December 13, 2014.</ref>

Notable people

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

• Arthur Rose Eldred (1895–1951), agricultural and railroad industry executive, civic leader, and the first Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America<ref>Staff. "Obituaries", The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, January 7, 1951. Accessed April 28, 2015. "Arthur R. Eldred, former Brooklynite, end the first Eagle Scout in America, died Thursday at his home in Clementon."</ref><ref>Staff. "First Eagle Scout Dies; A.R. Eldred of Clementon, N.J., Attained Top Rank in 1912", The New York Times, January 6, 1951. Accessed April 28, 2015.</ref>
• Arnie Fisher (born 1938), professional bridge player, bridge author, university instructor and businessman<ref>Gambardello, Joseph A. "Clementon man an old hand at making a career of bridge A rare pro, he will play in Phila. for a national title.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 3, 2003, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 13, 2016. Accessed October 26, 2016. "Rarer still are those who can make a living from bridge - people such as Arnie Fisher, who calls Clementon home."</ref>
• Walter E. Pedersen (1911–1998), politician and businessman who served as mayor of Clementon and in the New Jersey General Assembly<ref>Staff. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, 1969, p. 402. J.A. Fitzgerald, 1969. Accessed March 27, 2017. "He has served as former Mayor, President of Board of Education and Borough Clerk, Borough of Clementon."</ref>

External links

• Clementon Borough municipal website
• Clementon School District
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the Clementon School District, National Center for Education Statistics