Berlin is a
borough in
Camden County,
New Jersey, United States. As of the
2010 United States census
The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servin ...
, the borough's population was 7,588,
[DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Berlin borough, Camden County, New Jersey]
United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 3, 2012.[Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Berlin borough]
, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed October 3, 2012. reflecting an increase of 1,439 (+23.4%) from the 6,149 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 477 (+8.4%) from the 5,672 counted in the 1990 Census.
Berlin was incorporated as a borough on March 29, 1927, from portions of Berlin Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 26, 1927.[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 3, 2012.
History
What is now Berlin was known in earlier times as "Longacoming." Local Native Americans used Lonaconing Trail to describe the travel route that ran through the area, connecting the Jersey Shore to the Delaware River. Another tradition cites early European visitors who found a stream at the head of the Great Egg Harbor River and appreciated the respite as being "long a coming".[Berlin Borough History]
Long-A-Coming Historical Society. Accessed July 8, 2013.
Long-a-Coming became a stopping point for stagecoaches located at the halfway point between Philadelphia and Atlantic City
Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...
. Upon the creation of Camden County in 1844, it was briefly named the county seat (while the area was still a part of Waterford Township), until 1848 when the seat moved to the city of Camden. A rail line was laid in 1853. Three years later, the Long-a-Coming railroad station was built. In February 1867, the station was renamed "Magnolia". This caused confusion because there was a community called Magnolia nearby. Three months later, the station's name changed to Berlin. The name "Berlin" may have been chosen as a reference to the city of Berlin in Germany, though the derivation is uncertain.[
]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 3.61 square miles (9.34 km2), including 3.59 square miles (9.31 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.04 km2) of water (0.39%).
The borough borders the Camden County municipalities of Berlin Township, Clementon, Lindenwold, Pine Hill, Waterford Township and Winslow Township.
The borough 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 , that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve. 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
Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...
, Gloucester and Ocean counties.
Demographics
Census 2010
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey
The American Community Survey (ACS) is a demographics survey program conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the decennial census, such as ancestry, citizenship, educati ...
showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted
In economics, nominal value is measured in terms of money, whereas real value is measured against goods or services. A real value is one which has been adjusted for inflation, enabling comparison of quantities as if the prices of goods had not c ...
dollars) median household income was $65,771 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,475) and the median family income was $79,347 (+/− $13,820). Males had a median income of $53,102 (+/− $7,153) versus $47,292 (+/− $13,458) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,672 (+/− $5,917). About 4.4% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States census
The United States census of 2000, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2 percent over the 248,709,873 people enumerated during the 1990 ce ...
there were 6,149 people, 2,205 households, and 1,660 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,275 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 94.06% White, 2.18% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.69% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.11% of the population.[Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Berlin borough, New Jersey]
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 3, 2012.[DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Berlin borough, Camden County, New Jersey]
United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 3, 2012.
There were 2,205 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.19.[
In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.][
The median income for a household in the borough was $60,286, and the median income for a family was $68,704. Males had a median income of $44,211 versus $31,980 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,675. About 1.9% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.][
]
Government
Local government
Berlin is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 (of the 565) municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a Mayor and a Borough Council, with all positions elected at-large
At large (''before a noun'': at-large) is a description for members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent a whole membership or population (notably a city, county, state, province, nation, club or association), rather than ...
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 is comprised of 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.[''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 33.] The Borough form of government used by Berlin 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.
, the Mayor of Berlin Borough is Independent Rick Miller, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.[Mayor's Column]
Borough of Berlin. Accessed April 21, 2022. Members of the Borough Council are Council President James Pearce (I, 2022), Leonard Badolato (I, 2023), Patricia Cummings (R, 2024), Keith Hohing (R, 2023), Jacob "Jake" Miller (R, 2024) and Andy Simone (I, 2022).[2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Election Results]
Camden County, New Jersey, update November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.[2020 General Election November 3, 2020 Official Election Results]
Camden County, New Jersey, update November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.[Official Election Results 2019 General Election November 5, 2019]
Camden County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.
In January 2020, the Borough Council appointed Patricia Cummings to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Ron Rocco until he resigned from office and also appointed Jake Miller to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Rick Miller until he stepped down to take office as a mayor.
In September 2019, Keith Hohing was appointed to serve the term expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Mike Buchanan until he resigned after purchasing a home outside of Berlin Borough.
In May 2019, the Borough Council selected Andy Simone to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that had been vacated by Daniel MacDonell until he resigned from office the previous month.
Federal, state and county representation
Berlin Borough is located in the 1st Congressional District[Plan Components Report]
New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.[Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District]
New Jersey Department of State
The secretary of state of New Jersey oversees the Department of State, which is one of the original state offices. The Secretary is responsible for overseeing artistic, cultural, and historical programs within the U.S. state of New Jersey, as we ...
. Accessed February 1, 2020.[''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government'']
New Jersey League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters (LWV or the League) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization in the United States. Founded in 1920, its ongoing major activities include registering voters, providing voter information, and advocating for vot ...
. Accessed October 30, 2019. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Berlin Borough had been in the 6th state legislative district.[''2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government'']
, p. 55, New Jersey League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters (LWV or the League) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization in the United States. Founded in 1920, its ongoing major activities include registering voters, providing voter information, and advocating for vot ...
. Accessed May 22, 2015.
Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 5,225 registered voters in Berlin, of which 1,731 (33.1% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,044 (20.0% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
and 2,450 (46.9% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[Voter Registration Summary - Camden]
New Jersey Department of State
The secretary of state of New Jersey oversees the Department of State, which is one of the original state offices. The Secretary is responsible for overseeing artistic, cultural, and historical programs within the U.S. state of New Jersey, as we ...
Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 30, 2013. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 68.9% (vs. 57.1% in Camden County) were registered to vote, including 89.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[
In the ]2012 presidential election
This national electoral calendar for 2012 lists the national/federal elections held in 2012 in all sovereign states and their dependent territories. By-elections are excluded, though national referendums are included.
January
*3–4 January: E ...
, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,851 votes (50.9% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) is an American politician, businessman, and lawyer serving as the junior United States senator from Utah since January 2019, succeeding Orrin Hatch. He served as the 70th governor of Massachusetts f ...
with 1,720 votes (47.3% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 44 votes (1.2% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,635 ballots cast by the borough's 5,478 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.4% (vs. 70.4% in Camden County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,993 votes (52.2% vs. 66.2% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain
John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American politician and United States Navy officer who served as a United States senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. He previously served two terms ...
with 1,724 votes (45.2% vs. 30.7%) and other candidates with 45 votes (1.2% vs. 1.1%), among the 3,817 ballots cast by the borough's 5,281 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.3% (vs. 71.4% in Camden County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 1,842 votes (50.2% vs. 61.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,766 votes (48.2% vs. 36.4%) and other candidates with 38 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,667 ballots cast by the borough's 4,790 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.6% (vs. 71.3% in the whole county).
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.1% of the vote (1,255 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 33.4% (645 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (29 votes), among the 1,975 ballots cast by the borough's 5,487 registered voters (46 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.0%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,261 votes (52.0% vs. 38.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 989 votes (40.8% vs. 53.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 120 votes (5.0% vs. 4.5%) and other candidates with 16 votes (0.7% vs. 1.1%), among the 2,423 ballots cast by the borough's 5,126 registered voters, yielding a 47.3% turnout (vs. 40.8% in the county).
Historic district
The Berlin Historic District is a national historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...
along Washington, East Taunton, and Haines avenues and parts of South White Horse Pike, Jackson Road, and Jefferson Avenue in the community. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 14, 1995 for its significance in architecture and community development. The district includes 65 contributing buildings
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing property or contributing resource is any building, object, or structure which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic distric ...
.[ With ]
The Victorian-style John Westcott House on Washington Avenue was built in the 1860s and features a cupola. The Dr. William C. Raughley House was built 1888–1889 with Queen Anne style and is a key contributing property. The Victorian house at 18 Washington Avenue was built in 1865. The Victorian Joseph N. Ross House was built in 1870 and features a scalloped vergeboard and spindlework.
File:18 Washington Berlin NJ HD CamdenCo.JPG, 18 Washington Avenue
File:10 Taunton Berlin NJ HD CamdenCo.JPG, Joseph N. Ross House
File:Hindu Temple Taunton Berlin NJ HD CamdenCo.JPG, Hindu temple on Taunton Street
Education
The Berlin Borough School District
The Berlin Borough School District is a community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade from Berlin Borough, in Camden County, New Jersey, United States.
As of the 2021–22 school year, the dist ...
serves public school students in pre-kindergarten
Pre-kindergarten (also called Pre-K or PK) is a voluntary classroom-based preschool program for children below the age of five in the United States, Canada, Turkey and Greece (when kindergarten starts). It may be delivered through a preschool ...
through eighth grade
Eighth grade (or grade eight in some regions) is the eighth post-kindergarten year of formal education in the US. The eighth grade is the ninth school year, the second, third, fourth, or final year of middle school, or the second and/or final ye ...
at Berlin Community School. As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 812 students and 72.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio
Student–teacher ratio or student–faculty ratio is the number of students who attend a school or university divided by the number of teachers in the institution. For example, a student–teacher ratio of 10:1 indicates that there are 10 students ...
of 11.1:1.[District information for Berlin Borough School District]
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance ...
. Accessed April 1, 2021. Many Community Education and Recreation (CER) programs are held at Berlin Community School, including preschool and after school programs.
Public school students in ninth
In music, a ninth is a compound interval consisting of an octave plus a second.
Like the second, the interval of a ninth is classified as a dissonance in common practice tonality. Since a ninth is an octave larger than a second, its ...
through twelfth grades attend the Eastern Camden County Regional High School District
The Eastern Camden County Regional High School District is a limited-purpose, regional public school district for students in ninth through twelfth grades from Berlin Borough, Gibbsboro and Voorhees Township, three communities in Camden Cou ...
, a limited-purpose, public regional school district that serves students at Eastern Regional High School from the constituent communities of Berlin Borough, Gibbsboro and Voorhees Township. As of the 2019–20 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,928 students and 140.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio
Student–teacher ratio or student–faculty ratio is the number of students who attend a school or university divided by the number of teachers in the institution. For example, a student–teacher ratio of 10:1 indicates that there are 10 students ...
of 13.7:1. Seats on the nine-member board of education are allocated based on population, with Berlin Borough assigned two seats on the board.
Students from Berlin Borough, and from all of Camden County, are eligible to attend the Camden County Technical Schools
The Camden County Technical Schools is a countywide public school district headquartered in the Sicklerville section of Gloucester Township that provides vocational and technical education to high school and adult students in Camden County, New ...
, 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 Camps in Pennsauken Township
Pennsauken Township is a township in Camden County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the township's population was 37,074, reflecting an increase of 1,189 (+3.3%) from the 35,885 count ...
. Students are accepted based on district admission standards and costs of attendance and transportation are covered by the home district of each student.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Regional School, founded in 1956, is an elementary school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.
Transportation
Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Camden County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
U.S. Route 30 is the main highway serving Berlin. New Jersey Route 73 also brushes the east side of the borough.
Public transportation
NJ Transit bus service is available in the borough on the 554
__NOTOC__
Year 554 ( DLIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 554 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era ...
route, which operates between the Lindenwold train station and Atlantic City
Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...
.
Camden County Airport
Camden County Airport is a privately owned, public use airport in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. It is located one nautical mile (2 km) southwest of the central business district of Berlin, New Jersey. The airport was est ...
is located one mile southwest of the central business district
A central business district (CBD) is the commercial and business centre of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides with the "city ...
.
Berlin was formerly served by the Berlin Railroad Station.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Berlin include:
* Rachel Dawson (born 1985), field hockey midfielder
* Sarah Dawson (born 1982), field hockey forward / midfielder
* Kyle Maack (born 1992), R&B and soul singer
* Walter E. Pedersen
Walter E. Pedersen (September 15, 1911 – November 18, 1998) was an American politician and businessman.
Born in Berlin, New Jersey, Pedersen moved to Clementon, New Jersey in 1920 with his family; he graduated from Haddon Heights High School ...
(1911–1998), union leader and politician who served as Mayor of Clementon and a two-year term in the New Jersey General Assembly
* Kelly Ripa (born 1970), host of '' Live with Kelly'' and soap opera actress
* Logan Ryan
Logan may refer to:
Places
* Mount Logan (disambiguation)
Australia
* Logan (Queensland electoral district), an electoral district in the Queensland Legislative Assembly
* Logan, Victoria, small locality near St. Arnaud
* Logan City, local gove ...
(born 1991), cornerback who plays in the NFL for the New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
Logan Ryan
, New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...
. Accessed November 25, 2013.
References
External links
Berlin Borough municipal website
Berlin Community School
*
School Data for the Berlin Community School
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance ...
Eastern Camden County Regional High School District
Our Town: Berlin Township
{{Authority control
1927 establishments in New Jersey
Borough form of New Jersey government
Boroughs in Camden County, New Jersey
Populated places established in 1927