The most populous place was Cherry Hill with 74,553 residents in the 2020 census,[7] and its geographically largest municipality is Winslow Township, which covers 58.19 square miles (150.7 km2).[12] The county borders Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-most populous city, to its northwest.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of 227.42 square miles (589.0 km2), of which 221.36 square miles (573.3 km2) was land (97.3%) and 6.06 square miles (15.7 km2) was water (2.7%).[2] Located in a coastal/alluvial plain, the county is uniformly flat and low-lying. The highest points are a survey benchmark near the Burlington County line at 219 feet (67 m) above sea level.[21] The low point is sea level, along the Delaware River.
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Camden have ranged from a low of 26 °F (−3 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −11 °F (−24 °C) was recorded in February 1934 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in August 1918. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.75 inches (70 mm) in February to 4.35 inches (110 mm) in July.[22] The county has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Average monthly temperatures in Chesilhurst range from 33.1 °F (0.6 °C) in January to 76.4 °F (24.7 °C) in July.[23]
With the merger of Pine Valley into Pine Hill in January 2022, Camden County has 36 municipalities of diverse sizes and populations. Nine are less than one square mile in area, and five have fewer than 2,000 residents (excluding Tavistock which is a golf course community with nominal populations). In 2020, a majority of county residents live in five municipalities having populations over 30,000: Cherry Hill (74,553), Camden (71,791), Gloucester Township (66,034), Winslow (39,097) and Pennsauken (37,034).[7]
As of the 2020 U.S. census, the county had 523,485 people, 187,780 households, and 125,806 families. The population density was 2,365.9 inhabitants per square mile (913.5/km2). There were 212,759 housing units at an average density of 961.5 per square mile (371.2/km2). The county's racial makeup was 56.0% White, 19.3% African American, 0.47% Native American, 6.22% Asian, and 8.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.2% of the population.
There were 187,780 households, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 25.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 9.2% had a male householder with no wife present and 29.4% were non-families. 38.7% 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 2.66 and the average family size was 3.30.
About 22.5% of the county's population was under age 18, 8.1% was from age 18 to 24, 38.7% was from age 15 to 44, and 16.1% was age 65 or older. The median age was 38.7 years. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males.
The county's median household income was $73,672, and the median family income was $88,575. About 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.[26]
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 513,657 people, 190,980 households, and 129,866 families in the county. The population density was 2,321.5 inhabitants per square mile (896.3/km2). There were 204,943 housing units at an average density of 926.2 per square mile (357.6/km2). The racial makeup was 65.29% (335,389) White, 19.55% (100,441) Black or African American, 0.31% (1,608) Native American, 5.11% (26,257) Asian, 0.03% (165) Pacific Islander, 7.08% (36,354) from other races, and 2.62% (13,443) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.24% (73,124) of the population.[8]
Of the 190,980 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18; 46.3% were married couples living together; 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 32% were non-families. Of all households, 26.3% were made up of individuals and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.22.[8]
24.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.7 males.[8]
The county is governed by the Camden County 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 of its members to serve as director and another as deputy director.[28] In 2016, freeholders were paid $23,000 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $24,000.[29]
As of 2024[update], Camden County's Commissioners are (with terms for director and deputy director ending every December 31):[28][30][31][32]
Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).[40] Camden County's constitutional officers, all elected directly by voters, are:[41]
The County Prosecutor is Grace C. MacAulay, who was sworn into office in January 2022.[49] Camden County constitutes Vicinage 4 of the New Jersey Superior Court, which is seated at the Camden County Hall of Justice in Camden, with additional facilities at various locations in Cherry Hill. The Assignment Judge for the vicinage is Deborah Silverman Katz.[50] As with most counties in the state, the court system in Camden County also includes municipal courts for each township, borough and city to handle traffic and other minor items. Law enforcement at the county level, in addition to a sheriff, includes the Camden County Police Department and the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. The Camden Police Department and the Camden County Park Police were absorbed into the newly formed Camden County Police Department in 2013.[51]
In March 2019, Melinda Kane was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Bill Moen, who resigned from office to run for a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly.[52] Kane served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office. No Republican has been elected to countywide office since 1991.[53]
Camden County has long been a Democratic stronghold, and almost all of the county is in the 1st congressional district. The county usually votes overwhelmingly Democratic in national, state, and local elections. As of August 1, 2020, there were a total of 376,429 registered voters in Camden County, of whom 178,834 (47.5%) were registered as Democrats, 57,545 (15.3%) were registered as Republicans and 134,908 (35.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5,142 (1.4%) voters registered to other parties.[59] Among the county's 2010 Census population, 69.1% were registered to vote, including 75.6% of those ages 18 and over.[60][61]
The Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood, recognized on the American Institute of Architects's list of "150 Best Buildings and Places" in New Jersey, hosts national music and theater performances.[84]
Other limited access roads that pass through are the Atlantic City Expressway and the New Jersey Turnpike. There are five ACE interchanges that are within the county borders: Exits 44 (at NJ 42),[89] 41 (at Berlin-Cross Keys Road / CR 689),[90] 38 (at Williamstown-New Freedom Road / CR 536 Spur),[91] 33 (connecting to NJ 73)[91] and 31 (at NJ 73).[92][93] The only turnpike interchange that is in the county is Exit 3 at the border of Runnemede and Bellmawr.[94]
NJ Transit provides commuter and long-distance bus service from many locations in the county to Philadelphia, with additional service to Atlantic City. Extensive local service is offered within the county, including routes to Camden and area train and light rail stations.[98]
^Willis, David P. "'This is how wars start': Does Central Jersey include both Ocean and Union counties?", Asbury Park Press, February 20, 2023. Accessed March 31, 2024. "North Jersey is defined as Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties; South Jersey would be Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties. But for Central, things get a little tricky. It would include Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties."
^Greenberg, Gail. County HistoryArchived July 20, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2013. "The namesake of the new settlement was Charles Pratt, Earl of Camden, an English nobleman who supported the American cause in Parliament."
^Members List: Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Your Government, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Staff, Office of the Camden County Prosecutor. Accessed March 14, 2022. "Grace C. MacAulay was sworn in as Camden County Prosecutor on January 6, 2022, capping a nearly 30-year legal career dedicated to seeking justice for victims."
^Camden County, New Jersey Courts. Accessed June 22, 2022.
^Walsh, Jim. "Gold Star Mother Melinda Kane named to freeholder board"Archived November 10, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Courier-Post, March 29, 2019. Accessed January 30, 2020. "Melinda Kane, a two-term Cherry Hill councilwoman, replaced Bill Moen Jr. on the all-Democratic freeholder board. Moen resigned on March 22 to run for a 5th District Assembly seat.... Kane, who resigned from Cherry Hill’s council earlier Thursday, was named a freeholder at a meeting of Camden County’s Democratic Committee. An election will be held in November to fill Moen’s unexpired term."
^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."
^Symons, Michael. "NJ about to subtract one of its tiniest towns in rare merger", NJ 101.5, December 31, 2022. Accessed February 8, 2023. "For the first time in a decade, and the third time in a quarter-century, two New Jersey municipalities are about to merge. The borough of Pine Valley in Camden County voted to consolidate into Pine Hill. Read More: NJ about to subtract one of its tiniest towns in rare merger.... The merge takes effect on Jan. 1."
^About UsArchived October 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Camden County College. Accessed October 3, 2013. "Its three distinct campuses in Blackwood, Camden and Cherry Hill – along with its satellite locations in Lakeland, Sicklerville and elsewhere throughout the County – share the common mission of providing accessible, affordable higher education and occupational study to all who can benefit.... Camden County College's mission was launched when what had been the Mother of the Savior Seminary was purchased early in 1967. That fall, the first class of Camden County College students was taking courses on what had become the Blackwood Campus."
^AboutArchived January 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Symphony in C. Accessed October 26, 2017. "Founded in 1952 as The Haddonfield Symphony, Symphony in C began as a community orchestra allowing amateur musicians to pursue their love of music by performing for the Haddonfield and southern New Jersey communities. Its debut performance was in January 1954 under music director Guido Terranova."
^About UsArchived October 27, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Scottish Rite Auditorium. Accessed October 26, 2017. "The Scottish Rite is one of the largest auditoriums in South Jersey. It was voted one of the '150 Best Buildings and Places' by the American Institute of Architects in the 2011 AIA New Jersey Guidebook. "
