Audubon Park was incorporated as a borough on July 3, 1947, from portions of Audubon Borough, based upon the results of a referendum held on October 28, 1947, making it the newest municipality in Camden County.[23] Audubon Park is a dry town where alcohol is not permitted to be sold by law.[24][25]
Audubon Park had the third-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 6.311% in 2020, compared to 3.470% in Camden County and a statewide average of 2.279%.[26]
History
Audubon Park was established as a community within Audubon in 1941 with the construction of 500 housing units for employees of New York Shipbuilding in Camden, New Jersey. It is named for naturalist John James Audubon.[27] This was the first of eight projects undertaken by the Mutual Ownership Defense Housing Division of the Federal Works Agency under the leadership of Colonel Lawrence Westbrook. Residents of Audubon, seeking to rid itself of the development's Democratic voters and its public school students, pushed for and passed a referendum to form Audubon Park in 1947. The Audubon Mutual Housing Corporation owns and administers all property in the borough and in turn is responsible for renting homes to residents.[28][29][30]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.17 square miles (0.44 km2), including 0.15 square miles (0.39 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (10.59%).[2][3]
Of the 493 households, 15.2% had children under the age of 18; 35.3% were married couples living together; 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 42.8% were non-families. Of all households, 37.3% were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.70.[19]
13.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 26.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 77.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 75.0 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $41,726 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,661) and the median family income was $53,036 (+/− $8,477). Males had a median income of $46,176 (+/− $8,213) versus $38,036 (+/− $5,655) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,855 (+/− $2,141). About 5.7% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.[36]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 1,102 people, 496 households, and 302 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,561.7 inhabitants per square mile (2,919.6/km2). There were 499 housing units at an average density of 3,424.1 per square mile (1,322.1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.91% White, 0.36% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.09% from other races, and 0.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.[37][38]
There were 496 households, out of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.88.[37][38]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.2% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.9 males.[37][38]
The median income for a household in the borough was $34,643, and the median income for a family was $41,029. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $25,662 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,926. About 9.0% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.[37][38]
Government
Local government
Audubon Park 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.[39] 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.[7] The borough form of government used by Audubon Park 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.[40][41]
As of 2024[update], the mayor of Audubon Park is Republican Lawrence "Larry" Pennock, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.[4] Members of the Borough Council are Council President Thomas Geobel (D, 2025), Judith DiPasquale (D, 2026), Gloria Jones (D, 2025), Karen Lewis (D, 2026), Cathleen Lowe (D, 2027) and Amy Paratore (D, 2027).[42][43][44][45][46]
In January 2014, the borough council selected John Carpinelli from among three names nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the vacant seat that had been held by Frederick T. Passon until his death. Carpinelli served on an interim basis until the November 2014 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term expiring in December 2015.[47]
In May 2012, the borough council chose Judy DiPasquale from among a list of three names provided to fill the vacant seat of Charles Beeman.[48]
Federal, state and county representation
Audubon Park is located in the 1st Congressional district[49] and is part of New Jersey's 6th state legislative district.[50]
Camden County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members chosen at-large in partisan elections for three-year terms on a staggered basis by the residents of the county, with either two or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At a reorganization meeting held in January after each election, the newly constituted Board of Commissioners selects one member to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director, each serving a one-year term in that role.[56] As of 2025[update], Camden County's Commissioners are:
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. (D, Collingswood, 2026),[57]
Commissioner Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell (D, Pennsauken Township, 2025),[58]
Virginia Ruiz Betteridge (D, Runnemede, 2025),[59]
Almar Dyer (D, Pennsauken Township, 2027),[60]
Melinda Kane (D, Cherry Hill, 2027),[61]
Jeffrey L. Nash (D, Winslow Township, 2027),[62] and
Jonathan L. Young Sr. (D, Berlin Township, 2026).[63][56][64][65][66]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 800 registered voters in Audubon Park, of which 535 (66.9% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 55 (6.9% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 210 (26.3% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[74] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 78.2% (vs. 57.1% in Camden County) were registered to vote, including 90.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[74][75]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 368 votes (67.9% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 164 votes (30.3% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 7 votes (1.3% vs. 0.9%), among the 542 ballots cast by the borough's 832 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.1% (vs. 70.4% in Camden County).[76][77] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 374 votes (64.5% vs. 66.2% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 183 votes (31.6% vs. 30.7%) and other candidates with 17 votes (2.9% vs. 1.1%), among the 580 ballots cast by the borough's 814 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.3% (vs. 71.4% in Camden County).[78] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 425 votes (69.0% vs. 61.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 183 votes (29.7% vs. 36.4%) and other candidates with 2 votes (0.3% vs. 0.8%), among the 616 ballots cast by the borough's 810 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.0% (vs. 71.3% in the whole county).[79]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.5% of the vote (216 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.9% (93 votes), and other candidates with 0.6% (2 votes), among the 323 ballots cast by the borough's 831 registered voters (12 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 38.9%.[80][81] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 184 ballots cast (52.0% vs. 53.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 137 votes (38.7% vs. 38.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 18 votes (5.1% vs. 4.5%) and other candidates with 9 votes (2.5% vs. 1.1%), among the 354 ballots cast by the borough's 809 registered voters, yielding a 43.8% turnout (vs. 40.8% in the county).[82]
Education
Audubon Park is a non-operating school district, having closed its lone school in 1979, after which students were sent outside of the borough as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[28][83] Public school students from Audubon Park attend school in Audubon, having been consolidated into the Audubon School District.[84] The Audubon School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.[85] As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,463 students and 122.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1.[86] Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[87]) are
Haviland Avenue School[88] with 254 students in grades PreK-2,
Mansion Avenue School[89] with 372 students in grades 3-6 and
Audubon High School[90] with 818 students in grades 7-12.[91][92][93]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 3.07 miles (4.94 km) of roadways, of which 2.48 miles (3.99 km) were maintained by the municipality, 0.11 miles (0.18 km) by Camden County, 0.28 miles (0.45 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.20 miles (0.32 km) by the Delaware River Port Authority.[95]
^Astudillo, Carla. "The 10 tiniest towns in New Jersey (they're really small)", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 1, 2016, updated May 16, 2019. Accessed March 5, 2020. "We used square mile data from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to rank the ten municipalities with the smallest area size.... 5. Audubon Park Similar to Winfield Township, Audubon Park was also established as a World War II era housing project. The community was built in Audubon Borough as a 500 federal housing unit project for workers of the New York Shipbuilding Corporation in nearby Camden."
^"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.... 3. Audubon Park Equalized tax rate in Audubon Park Borough, Camden County, was 6.311 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Camden County: 3.470"
^ abAtkins, Lissa D. "Audubon Park: No home ownership here", Courier-Post, October 19, 2006. Accessed December 26, 2013. "Audubon Park's only school is built. The school closed in 1979 because of declining enrollment; Audubon Park school children now attend schools in the Audubon School District."
^History, Borough of Audubon Park. Accessed October 21, 2016.
^Minutes of the Working Session held January 20, 2014, Borough of Audubon Park. Accessed February 11, 2015. "Councilwoman Hook, Democrat Committee Chair presented three names to the Mayor and Borough Council to fill the seat vacated by Councilman Fred Passon due to his passing away.... Mayor Pennock swears in John Carpinelli while Chief Mark Cavallo holds the Bible."
^May 21, 2012, Meeting MinutesArchived December 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Borough of Audubon Park. Accessed December 26, 2013. "Denise Balderama, Camden County Committeewoman presented the Mayor and Borough Council with three names to fill the seat of Charles Beeman.... Councilwoman Lewis nominated Judy DiPasquale for Council. With no further nominations, Councilwoman Jones closed. All ayes."
^Full Biography, Congressman Donald Norcross. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Donald and his wife Andrea live in Camden City and are the proud parents of three grown children and grandparents of two."
^Audubon Board of Education District Policy - Identification, Audubon School District. Accessed December 16, 2022. "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 twelve in the Audubon School District. Composition: The Audubon School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Audubon."