Oaklyn, New Jersey
| Oaklyn, New Jersey | |
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| — Borough — | |
| Motto: Catch the Hometown Spirit | |
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| Coordinates: 39°54′05″N 75°04′47″W / 39.901291°N 75.079827°WCoordinates: 39°54′05″N 75°04′47″W / 39.901291°N 75.079827°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Camden |
| Incorporated | March 13, 1905 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Robert Forbes (term ends 2015)[1] |
| Area[2] | |
| • Total | 0.694 sq mi (1.796 km2) |
| • Land | 0.628 sq mi (1.626 km2) |
| • Water | 0.066 sq mi (0.170 km2) 9.48% |
| Elevation[3] | 30 ft (9 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[4] | |
| • Total | 4,038 |
| • Density | 5,800/sq mi (2,200/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08107[5] |
| Area code(s) | 856 |
| FIPS code | 34-53880[6][7] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885331[8] |
| Website | http://www.oaklyn-nj.com |
Oaklyn is a Borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 4,038.[4]
Oaklyn was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 13, 1905, from portions of Haddon Township.[9]
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[edit] Geography
Oaklyn is located at 39°54′05″N 75°04′47″W / 39.901291°N 75.079827°W (39.901291,-75.079827). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.694 square miles (1.796 km2), of which, 0.628 square miles (1.626 km2) of it is land and 0.066 square miles (0.170 km2) of it (9.48%) is water.[10][2]
[edit] History
Oaklyn was once dense forest land which was inhabited by Lenape Native Americans. In 1681, a group of Quakers seeking religious freedom sailed from Ireland to Fenwick's Colony at Salem, New Jersey where they spent the winter.[11] In 1682, they sailed up the Delaware River and settled on Newton Creek.[11] William Bates, their leader, purchased 250 acres (1.0 km2) on the south side of Newton Creek from the local Native Americans. The original Quaker settlement, known as Newton Colony, was located in The Manor section of today's Oaklyn.[12]
The Colony began to grow rapidly and the land was cleared for farming. Eventually two highways were laid out. One, from the Delaware River to Egg Harbor, followed an old Native American trail, which is today the Black Horse Pike. The other was known as the Long-a-coming trail, which extended from Atlantic City to Berlin and then from Berlin to Camden. This trail is now known as the White Horse Pike.
After the American Revolutionary War, a group of Virginia sportsmen built a racetrack on the east side of the White Horse Pike. President Ulysses S. Grant visited this track as a young man before it closed in 1846. Samuel Bettle bought the land which was formerly the racetrack and eventually, the land was deeded to Haddon Township.[12]
As the years passed, the farms along Newton Creek were divided into lots and the development called "Oakland the Beautiful." The name was changed to Oaklyn in 1894 to avoid confusion with another Oakland in North Jersey.[12] Finally, in 1905, Oaklyn broke away from Haddon Township and became an independent borough governed by a mayor and six councilmen.
Oaklyn borders Audubon, Audubon Park, Collingswood, and Haddon Township.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 653 |
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| 1920 | 1,148 | 75.8% | |
| 1930 | 3,843 | 234.8% | |
| 1940 | 3,869 | 0.7% | |
| 1950 | 4,889 | 26.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,778 | −2.3% | |
| 1970 | 4,626 | −3.2% | |
| 1980 | 4,223 | −8.7% | |
| 1990 | 4,430 | 4.9% | |
| 2000 | 4,188 | −5.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,038 | −3.6% | |
| Population sources:1910-1930[13] 1930-1990[14] 2000[15] 2010[4][16] |
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As of the 2010 Census, Oaklyn had a population of 4,038. The median age was 39.4. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 92.4% White, 2.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 1.5% some other race and 1.6% reporting two or more races. 5.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[4]
As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 4,188 people, 1,791 households, and 1,067 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,824.2 people per square mile (2,650.8/km2). There were 1,893 housing units at an average density of 3,084.6 per square mile (1,198.2/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.92% White, 1.15% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.84% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.32% of the population.[15]
There were 1,791 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.9% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 3.07.[15]
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.[15]
The median income for a household in the borough was $44,364, and the median income for a family was $55,434. Males had a median income of $37,474 versus $30,243 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,157. About 5.2% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.[15]
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Oaklyn is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[17]
As of 2012[update], Oaklyn Borough's Mayor is Bob Forbes. Members of the Oaklyn Borough Council are Council President Jim Rafferty, Greg Brandley, Ron Aron, Dawn Dezii, and Jennifer DiMarco.[18]
[edit] Emergency services
The Oaklyn Fire Department (Station 18-3) is responsible for fire protection in the Borough of Oaklyn and until December 2007 was responsible for Haddon Township Fire District 3, which paid the Borough of Oaklyn for fire protection through tax money it collected from its residents. Fire District 3 covers the Bettlewood, Heather Glen, and Heather Woods sections of Haddon Township. This was a long standing agreement that existed since 1905. From 1902 when the Oaklyn fire service was established until 1905, Oaklyn and the Bettlewood section were both in Haddon Twp. Subsequently the Oaklyn Fire Company No. 1 of the Oaklyn section of Haddon Township provided fire protection to the whole area, as it was and still is a continuous land mass. When Oaklyn seceded from the Township in 1905 there was an agreement made between Oaklyn Borough and Haddon Township that Oaklyn would still protect the District 3 section since they were much closer and the fire apparatus was horse drawn at the time. This relationship continued for another 102 years until January 2008. Currently, Fire District 3 is protected by Westmont Fire Co. # 1 pursuant to three consecutive one-year agreements.
The Oaklyn Fire Company No. 1 (Station 18-1) was established in 1902 (predating the borough's establishment) and was located on Newton Avenue near the Suburban Lumber Company, which ironically has been the site of several famous Camden County fires occurring in the 1950s, 1980s, and 1990s. The Oaklyn Fire Co. building still stands today as a private residence. The company was formed by Oaklyn residents who had been volunteering their services at the nearby Defender Fire Company (Station 1-2), which was located in the community of Orston (then another section of Haddon Township, now part of Audubon borough). Until the formation of the Oaklyn Fire Company, the Defender Fire Company handled firefighting duties in the Borough of Oaklyn (The Defender Fire Company was subsequently taken over by the Audubon Fire Department (Station 1-1) as of 1996).
The Welcome Fire Company (Station 18-2) was established in 1906 and was located at the corner of the White Horse Pike and West Clinton Avenue. Today, the building houses the Oaklyn Police Department and Borough Hall and stands next to the current fire station. The Welcome Fire Company was established when residents who wished to volunteer with the Oaklyn Fire Company found they had filled their roster and were not "welcoming" any new members, hence their name.
The current incarnation of the Oaklyn Fire Department was established in 1976 when Oaklyn Fire Company No. 1 and the Welcome Fire Company consolidated their services. David Aron was the first Chief following the merger, previously serving as Chief of the Welcome Fire Company. The current Fire Chief is Mark Quinter.
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Oaklyn is in the 1st Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 6th state legislative district.[16][19]
New Jersey's First Congressional District is represented by Rob Andrews (D, Haddon Heights). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 6th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by James Beach (D, Voorhees Township) and in the General Assembly by Louis Greenwald (D, Voorhees Township) and Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D, Cherry Hill).[20] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[21] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[22]
Camden County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, its seven members elected at-large to three-year terms office on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year.[23] As of 2012[update], Camden County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. (Collingswood, term ends December 31, 2014)[24], Freeholder Deputy Director Edward McDonnell (Pennsauken Township, 2013)[25], Rodney A. Greco (Gloucester Township, 2012)[26], Ian K. Leonard (Camden, 2012)[27], Scot N. McCray (Camden, 2014)[28], Jeffrey L. Nash (Cherry Hill, 2012)[29] and Carmen Rodriguez (Merchantville, 2013).[30][31][32]
[edit] Education
Oaklyn Public School District served 432 students in grades K-9 in the 2009-10 school year (based on enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[33]). Oaklyn Public School serves students from the Borough of Hi-Nella as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[34]
Public school students in tenth through twelfth grades attend Collingswood High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Collingswood Public Schools.[35] The relationships with Collingswood and Hi-Nella have been in place for over 40 years.
[edit] Transportation
New Jersey Transit bus service to Philadelphia is available on the 400 and 403 routes, with local service on the 450 route.[36]
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Oaklyn include:
- Mitch Albom (born 1958), author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster and musician.[37]
- William Bates (Quaker immigrant) (died 1700), the borough's first English settler.[38]
- Tom Deery (born 1960), inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[39]
[edit] References
- ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed November 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2012.
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Borough of Oaklyn, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b c d DP-1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 - 2010 Demographic Profile Data, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 22, 2011.
- ^ Look Up a ZIP Code, United States Postal Service. Accessed November 22, 2011.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 108.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ a b Clement, John (1877). Sketches of the first emigrant settlers of Newton Township. pp. 53-54
- ^ a b c Tulini, Bob. "Oaklyn: Small town reflects American image", Courier-Post, October 18, 2006. Accessed November 22, 2011.
- ^ "Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I", United States Census Bureau, p. 714. Accessed December 25, 2011.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 2, 2009. Accessed November 22, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Oaklyn borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Municipalities Grouped by 2011-2020 Legislative Districts, New Jersey Department of State, p. 4. Accessed January 23, 2012.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 33.
- ^ Contact Us, Borough of Oaklyn. Accessed January 23, 2012.
- ^ Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 23, 2012.
- ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ What is a Freeholder?, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 7, 2012.
- ^ Louis Cappelli, Jr., Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 7, 2012.
- ^ Edward McDonnell, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
- ^ Rodney A. Greco, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 7, 2012.
- ^ Ian K. Leonard, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 7, 2012.
- ^ Scot N. McCray, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 7, 2012.
- ^ Jeffrey L. Nash, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 7, 2012.
- ^ Carmen Rodriguez, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 7, 2012.
- ^ Board of Freeholders, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 7, 2012.
- ^ Camden County Reorganization Meeting: Freeholders Louis Cappelli, Jr. and Scot McCray Sworn in; Freeholder Cappelli re-elected Freeholder Director and Freeholder Edward T. McDonnell Re-Elected Deputy Director, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed January 7, 2012.
- ^ Data for the Oaklyn Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 22, 2011.
- ^ Board of Education, Oaklyn Public School. Accessed June 14, 2008. "The Board comprises nine residents of Oaklyn and one representative from Hi-Nella, our sending district."
- ^ Collingswood High School, South Jersey magazine. Accessed November 18, 2007. "Collingswood High School serves about 850 students in grades nine through twelve from the Collingswood, Oaklyn, and Woodlynne school districts"
- ^ Camden County Bus / Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed November 22, 2011.
- ^ Mulford, Kim. "A matter of faith: Mitch Albom's latest book has deep roots in Cherry Hill", Courier-Press, September 28, 2009. Accessed January 27, 2012. "After graduating from a private academy at age 16, Albom left his hometown of Oaklyn for good."
- ^ Lang, Carole Ann (October 16, 1975). "William Bates, a builder of freedom". Weekly Retrospect.
- ^ Tom Deery, College Football Hall of Fame. Accessed February 8, 2011.
[edit] External links
- Oaklyn Borough municipal website
- Oaklyn Public School
- Oaklyn Public Schools's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Oaklyn Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- Oaklyn Fire Department website
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