Cherry Hill Township, New Jersey

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Cherry Hill Township
Location of Cherry Hill Township in Camden County
Location of Cherry Hill Township in Camden County
Coordinates: 39°55′39″N 75°1′24″W / 39.9275, -75.02333
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Camden
Incorporated February 28, 1844, as Delaware Township
Renamed November 7, 1961, to Cherry Hill Township
Government
 - Type Faulkner Act Mayor-Council
 - Mayor Bernard A. Platt
Area
 - Total 24.4 sq mi (63.1 km²)
 - Land 24.2 sq mi (62.8 km²)
 - Water 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
Elevation [1] 82 ft (25 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 71,586
 - Density 2,884.9/sq mi (1,113.9/km²)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 08002, 08003, 08034, 08358
Area code(s) 856
FIPS code 34-12280[3]
GNIS feature ID 0882155[4]
Website: http://www.cherryhill-nj.com

Cherry Hill Township is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. In the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 69,965, making it the 13th-largest municipality in New Jersey. Cherry Hill is in the Delaware Valley coastal plain about five miles outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cherry Hill is considered an edge city of Philadelphia.[5]

Contents

[edit] History

The area now known as Cherry Hill was originally settled by the Lenni-Lenape Native Americans who coexisted peacefully with the first settlers from England, Quaker followers of William Penn who arrived in the late 1600s.[6] The first settlement was a small cluster of homes named Colestown, in the perimeters of what is now the Colestown Cemetery on the corner of Route 41 (King's Highway) and Church Road. The municipality was founded on February 25, 1844, in Gloucester County as Delaware Township from half of the area of Waterford Township, and became part of Camden County at its creation some two weeks later on March 13, 1844.[7]

The township underwent explosive growth in the post-World War II era, with continued population growth until the 1980s. Today, the municipality's population remains stable with new development generally occurring in small pockets of custom luxury homes or through the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of existing commercial and industrial areas.

[edit] Origin of the name Cherry Hill

The name Cherry Hill was chosen by the township's citizens in a non-binding referendum in 1961, and was officially adopted November 7, 1961.[7] Cherry Hill had been the name of Abraham Browning's farm on Route 38 opposite the site where the Cherry Hill Mall would be built. The farm property was approximately what became Eugene Mori's Cherry Hill Inn and is now an AMC-Loews movie theater complex.

Mori, the largest developer in the town from the 1940s to the '60s, used the Cherry Hill name on many of his properties, including the Cherry Hill Inn, Cherry Hill Lodge (now a nursing home), Cherry Hill Apartments (now renovated as the Cherry Hill Towers), and the Cherry Hill Estates housing development, where the streets are named after thoroughbred race courses. Thus, it has been suggested he (Mori) had a vested interest in getting the town named Cherry Hill.

Another motivation for the name change was a desire for the township to have its own post office. However, there were other places in New Jersey named Delaware, New Jersey. The postal service suggested a name change, and Mayors Christian Weber and John Gilmour, whose administrations came during the renaming decision, agreed.

While the municipality's naming chronologically followed the similar naming of numerous landmarks, it has not been shown conclusively that the town was directly named after any particular place.

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 24.4 square miles (63.1 km²), of which, 24.2 square miles (62.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.45%) is water.

Seven census-designated places or unincorporated areas are located within the township: Ashland, Barclay-Kingston, Cherry Hill Mall, Erlton-Ellisburg, Golden Triangle, Greentree and Springdale.

Cherry Hill's eastern border with Burlington County is defined by the Pennsauken Creek. The creek separates Cherry Hill from the communities of Maple Shade Township, Evesham Township (or colloquially, 'Marlton'), and Mount Laurel Township.

The Cooper River forms the western border with Haddon Township, Haddonfield Borough, and Lawnside Borough.

To the north, Cherry Hill borders Merchantville Borough and Pennsauken Township, while Voorhees Township shares its southern border along County Route 544-Evesham Road.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1930 5,734
—
1940 5,811 1.3%
1950 10,358 78.2%
1960 31,522 204.3%
1970 64,395 104.3%
1980 68,785 6.8%
1990 69,348 0.8%
2000 69,965 0.9%
Est. 2006 71,586 [2] 2.3%
Population 1930 - 1990[8]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 69,965 people, 26,227 households, and 19,407 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,884.9 people per square mile (1,114.0/km²). There were 27,074 housing units at an average density of 1,116.4/sq mi (431.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 84.67% White, 8.87% Asian, 4.46% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.54% of the population.

There were 26,227 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 22.5% 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 2.61 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the township the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

According to a 2006 estimate, the median income for a household in the township was $81,289, and the median income for a family was $95,559. Males had a median income of $62,577 versus $51,991 for females. The per capita income for the township was $38,284. About 2.6% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.[1]

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Created as Delaware Township in 1844, the community was first governed by a Township Committee. On May 19, 1951, the citizens adopted, in a special election, a Walsh Act Commission form of government, consisting of a three-member Board of Commissioners. In 1962, the Township's population passed the 30,000 mark and two additional Commissioners were elected. Following a study made by a Citizen's Advisory Committee, a special election was held in 1962.[9]

The Township voted to change its form of government to the Council-Manager Plan A under the Faulkner Act. Five Council members were elected at-large in a May election to serve concurrent four-year terms. The Council members elected one of their own as Mayor, but a Township Manager served as the Chief Administrator of the Township.[9]

By 1975, after a Charter Study Commission report, Cherry Hill was ready for another change. After a ballot referendum, the citizens adopted the Council-Manager Plan B form of government. Two features of the government were changed: council members were to be elected every two years for overlapping terms of four years and the number of Council members would increase from five to seven.[9]

After a 1981 referendum, the government changed yet again, this time to a Mayor-Council Plan B form of government. A full-time 'strong' mayor was elected directly by the people and seven Council members were elected at-large for staggered four-year terms.[9][10]

The most recent change, resulting from a ballot referendum in November of 1986, changed the elections from a non-partisan May election to a partisan November election.[9]

The current Mayor of Cherry Hill is Bernard A. Platt (D).[11] Members of the Township Council are (all Democrats) Council President Frank Falcone (term ends 2010), Council Vice President N. John Amato (term ends 2012), Shelley Adler (2010, married to New Jersey State Senator and Congressional candidate John H. Adler), Dennis Garbowski (2012), Marlyn Kalitan (2008), Joyce Kurzweil (2010) Steve Polansky (2010), and Councilwoman-elect Sara Lipsett (2012).[12]

Former mayors include Arthur Simons, Susan Bass Levin, Maria Barnaby Greenwald, Howard Gall, Bernard Platt, John Gilmour.

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Cherry Hill Township is in the Third Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 6th Legislative District.[13]

New Jersey's Third Congressional District, covering portions of Burlington County, Camden County and Ocean County, is represented by Jim Saxton (R, Mount Holly). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 6th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by John Adler (D, Cherry Hill Township) and in the Assembly by Louis Greenwald (D, Voorhees Township) and Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D, Cherry Hill Township).[14] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[15]

Camden County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, elected at-large for staggered three-year terms by the residents of the county.[16] As of 2008, Camden County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. (Collingswood, term ends December 31, 2008), Freeholder Deputy Director Edward McDonnell (Pennsauken Township, 2010), Riletta L. Cream (Camden, 2008), Rodney A. Greco (Gloucester Township, 2009), Jeffrey L. Nash (Cherry Hill Township, 2009), Joseph Ripa (Voorhees Township, 2009) and Carmen Rodriguez (Merchantville, 2010).[17]

[edit] Education

[edit] Public Schools

The Cherry Hill Public Schools system is made up of 19 schools: an early childhood center, twelve elementary schools, three middle schools, two traditional high schools, and an alternative high school program. It is the twelfth-largest school district in the state of New Jersey and one of the largest suburban districts. This year, the district will top 11,800 students and enrollments continue to grow. The district has grown by about 2,000 students in the last 12 years. The system has 1,400 employees, including 1,000+ teachers.

For the 2001-02 school year, Cherry Hill High School East received the Blue Ribbon Award from the U.S. Department of Education.[18] Three of the district's schools have been named as "Star Schools" by the New Jersey Department of Education: Cherry Hill High School East (1999-2000)[19], Thomas Paine Elementary School (2002-03)[20] and Clara Barton Elementary School (2003-04).[21] Also, Cherry Hill High School West began offering the International Baccalaureate Program in 2001. This program will remain in Cherry Hill High School West for the 2007-2008 school year for seniors and will be discontinued thereafter. The district has five Best Practices Award Winners. SAT scores far exceed state and national averages, with Cherry Hill High School East's average SAT score of 1668, ranking 41st in the state, and West's 1,529 average ranking 124th in New Jersey, out of 349 schools with students taking the test that year.[22] In 2005, the graduation rate approached 100% (99.0% for East, and 97.5% for West, in 2005-06) and approximately 95% of graduates are continuing their education at two- or four-year colleges (93.7% for East and 96.7% for West in 2005-06.[23][24]

Cherry Hill's school district offered the certificate and diploma program at Cherry Hill West which will end at the conclusion of the 2007-2008 school year. The IB Primary Years Programme is offered at Bret Harte, Joseph D. Sharp, James F. Cooper and Thomas Paine Elementary Schools. This program is also a part of the Middle Years Programme|Middle Years Program] (MYP) offered for grades 6-8 at Rosa International Middle School (RIMS).[25]

[edit] Private Schools

Camden Catholic High School is run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. St. Peter Celestine (Pre-K to 8) and Queen of Heaven School (K-8) are elementary schools run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.

The King's Christian School is a private Christian fully-accredited PreK-12 institution founded as the Christian Day School of Camden County in 1946.

Kellman Academy is a private Jewish day school serving children aged 3 through 8th grade. The school was founded in 1959 in association with Congregation Beth El at Parkside in Camden.

Politz Day School is a private Judaic school serving early childhood through middle school students. The school is co-located with and supported by Congregation Sons of Israel.

Baptist Regional School is a private Christian school on two campuses, grades K-6 in Cherry Hill, and grades 7-12 in Haddon Heights, New Jersey. The schools were founded and supported by Bethel Baptist Church (Cherry Hill) and Haddon Heights Baptist Church.

[edit] Colleges and universities

Camden County College operates one of its three campuses at the William G. Rohrer Center.

[edit] Public Library

The Cherry Hill Public Library is an agency of the Township's municipal government. Originally called The Cherry Hill Free Public Library, the word "Free" was dropped from the title in 2003. The current library building was completed in December 2004 to replace a 1966 structure at approximately the same location: 1100 Kings Highway North. At 72,000 square feet, Cherry Hill's library is among the largest municipal libraries in New Jersey.

[edit] Transportation

The New Jersey Turnpike passes through Cherry Hill Township. The Walt Whitman rest area (southbound at milepost 30.2) is located in the township. [26] However, there are no public entrances to the turnpike within the township.

NJ Transit bus service is available to Philadelphia on the 317, 318 (Seasonal), 404, 405, 406, 407 and 409 routes, with local service on the 450, 451, 455 and 457 routes.[27]

Interstate 295 has three exits in the township. Exit 34A/B is Route 70 (Marlton Pike); exit 32 is CR 561 (Haddonfield-Berlin Rd.); and exit 31 goes directly to the Woodcrest station of the PATCO high-speed commuter rail line, which travels from 15-16th & Locust Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Lindenwold.

Several New Jersey Transit bus routes also pass through or stop in the township. The NJT Atlantic City Line, traveling on the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Line route, stops at the Cherry Hill station, located on the west side of the tracks between the Garden State Pavilion shopping center and the newer development on the grounds of the former Garden State Racetrack.

[edit] Notable residents and natives

Main article: Notable residents and natives of Cherry Hill, New Jersey

[edit] Miscellaneous information

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

[edit] References

  1. ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Cherry Hill, Geographic Names Information System, accessed April 12, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Census data for Cherry Hill township, United States Census Bureau, accessed July 28, 2007.
  3. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ Cassell, Andrew. "Andrew Cassel column", The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 29, 2005. Accessed May 19, 2007. "A bunch of outlets cluster in Center City, with the rest scattered between the Main Line, Chestnut Hill and our "edge city" suburbs from King of Prussia to Cherry Hill."
  6. ^ About Cherry Hill Township - official site
  7. ^ a b "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 103 re Camden County, p. 104 re Cherry Hill Township, p. 105 re Delaware Township.
  8. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  9. ^ a b c d e About Us: Government Structure, Cherry Hill Township. Accessed January 6, 2007.
  10. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 32.
  11. ^ About Mayor Bernie Platt, accessed January 6, 2007.
  12. ^ Cherry Hill Township Council Members, Cherry Hill Township. Accessed March 13, 2007.
  13. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 55, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  14. ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  15. ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  16. ^ What is a Freeholder?, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed March 25, 2008.
  17. ^ Board of Freeholders, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed April 14, 2008.
  18. ^ Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), accessed May 11, 2006.
  19. ^ Star School Award recipient detail 1999-2000 school year, Cherry Hill High School East, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 30, 2006.
  20. ^ Star School Award recipient detail 2003-03 school year, Thomas Paine Elementary School, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 30, 2006.
  21. ^ Star School Award recipient detail 2003-04 school year, Clara Barton Elementary School, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 30, 2006.
  22. ^ 2005-06 School Test Score Rankings: SAT, The Star-Ledger. Accessed July 3, 2007.
  23. ^ Cherry Hill High School East School Report Card, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 3, 2007.
  24. ^ Cherry Hill High School West School Report Card, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 3, 2007.
  25. ^ Find an IB World School—results, International Baccalaureate Organization. Accessed July 3, 2007.
  26. ^ New Jersey Turnpike: Walt Whitman Service Area, New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Accessed May 30, 2006.
  27. ^ Camden County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed June 21, 2007.
  28. ^ Best Places to Live 2006, Money magazine, accessed July 17, 2006.
  29. ^ Best Places to Live 2006: cities with the lowest crime risk, Money magazine, accessed July 17, 2006.
  30. ^ Cahillane, Kevin. "Homegrown: A Stoner Comedy Straight Out of Randolph", The New York Times, August 15, 2004. Accessed February 21, 2008. "Some New Jersey moviegoers of sound mind may wonder whether Mr. Hurwitz and Mr. Schlossberg have been away too long, noting a few geographical discrepancies as the half-baked heroes drive all the way to Cherry Hill from Hoboken for their U.S.D.A.-approved meal. For one thing, there is no White Castle in Cherry Hill."
  31. ^ Straus, Robert. WORTH NOTING; So Ali Owned It. So What. How Many Bathrooms?, The New York Times, December 2, 2001.

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