Medford Lakes-in-the-pines, the year round summer playground
Location of Medford Lakes in Burlington County highlighted in red with arrow (right). Inset map: Location of Burlington County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
The borough's 22 lakes and surrounding lake communities are within the boundaries of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission. The Medford Lakes Colony, a community association, manages the lakes and other recreational facilities. More than 10% of the borough's homes are log cabins.[26]
History
Before European colonization, the area now known as Medford Lakes was primarily inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape tribe, who utilized the region's abundant natural resources, including its water bodies and forests, for survival and shelter.[27]
European influence began in the 17th century when the English took control from the Dutch, but the first permanent European settlement was not established until the 18th century. At that time, the region, characterized by fertile soil and vast forests, was sparsely populated and primarily used for farming and lumbering.[28]
During the American Revolutionary War, Charles Read's Aetna Furnace played a significant role, utilizing local bog iron to manufacture cannonballs for the Continental Army.[29] Additionally, John Haines erected a saw and grist mill, contributing to the early industrial life of what would later become Medford Lakes.
The 19th century saw the area's natural resources fueling the Industrial Revolution, turning Medford Lakes into an industrial center. Extraction of iron ore continued, and forges were established along the waterways. The population increased substantially during this period.[30]
The Medford Lakes Development Company was founded in 1927, and the following year, the Vaughn and Sons Lumber Company built the Colony Club Pavilion on land donated by the Development Company.[31] The company began importing large quantities of cedar logs, which were fashioned into log cabins. These cabins, with their excellent insulation properties, became the architectural hallmark of the community. Paired with sizeable stone fireplaces for the colder months, these cabins expanded the resort season, turning Medford Lakes into a sought-after retreat for Philadelphians and New Yorkers.
Medford Lakes was officially incorporated as a borough on May 17, 1939, from portions of Medford Township.[23] Since incorporation, the borough has worked to maintain the community's unique log cabin character, even as it has expanded and modernized.
Throughout the second half of the 20th century, Medford Lakes' population surged, transitioning from a summer resort to a year-round residential community.
On July 12, 2004, the borough suffered substantial damage due to flooding, caused by 7.26 inches of rainfall over 14 hours. This led to the breaking of several dams, including the Quogue Dam and the Lower and Upper Aetna Lake Dams, causing water levels to rise beyond 500-year flood elevations on portions of Ballinger Run.[33]
Since 1931, the Canoe Carnival, an event featuring hand-crafted floats each supported by a maximum of two canoes, has taken place on Lower Aetna Lake during the first week of August. Spectators gather along the lake to view this aquatic spectacle, after which a winner, as well as a king, queen, and court, are announced.[34]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.293 square miles (3.348 km2), including 1.162 square miles (3.008 km2) of which is land and 0.131 square miles (0.340 km2) of which is water (10.15%).[1][2] The borough is an independent municipality surrounded entirely by Medford Township,[35][36][37] making it part one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.[38]
Medford Lakes 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 1,100,000 acres (450,000 ha), that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.[39] All of the borough is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Burlington County, along with areas in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.[40]
Of the 1,483 households, 36.0% had children under the age of 18; 68.8% were married couples living together; 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.0% were non-families. Of all households, 16.3% were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.13.[19]
26.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.9 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006−2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $101,086 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,928) and the median family income was $105,563 (+/− $9,949). Males had a median income of $85,139 (+/− $26,197) versus $66,379 (+/− $13,826) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $48,789 (+/− $6,097). About 5.0% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[46]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 4,173 people, 1,527 households, and 1,238 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,463.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,337.1/km2). There were 1,555 housing units at an average density of 1,290.5 per square mile (498.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.32% White, 0.43% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.[44][45]
There were 1,527 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.8% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 15.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.04.[44][45]
In the borough the age distribution of the population shows 25.6% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 29.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.[44][45]
The median income for a household in the borough was $77,536, and the median income for a family was $83,695. Males had a median income of $58,854 versus $36,831 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,382. About 1.1% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.[44][45]
Government
Local government
The Borough of Medford Lakes is governed under the 1923 Municipal Manager Law form of New Jersey municipal government, one of seven municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form.[47] The governing body is comprised of five members, who are elected at-large in non-partisan elections to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for vote in even-numbered years as part of the May municipal election.[7][3][48] The borough council was expanded from three to five seats, with the two additional council seats added as part of the May 2010 election in which there were two seats up for a four-year term and two others for a two-year term.[49]
As of 2023[update], members of the borough council are Mayor Gary Miller (term of office on council ends June 30, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor William R. Fields (2024), Gail Caputo (2024), Thomas J. Cranston (2026) and Dennis O'Neill (2026).[3][50][51][52]
In February 2021, the borough council appointed Dennis P. O'Neill to fill the seat expiring in June 2022 that had been held by Robert D. Hanold Sr. until his death the previous month. O'Neill served on an interim basis until the May 2021 municipal election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[53]
In March 2015, the borough council selected Kathy Merkh to fill the vacant seat of Deputy Mayor Jeff Fitzpatrick, who had submitted his resignation from office the previous month. Gary Miller was chosen to fill the vacant position of deputy mayor.[54]
Federal, state and county representation
Medford Lakes is located in the 3rd Congressional District[55] and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.[56][57][58]
Burlington County's Constitutional Officers are:
Clerk Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2028)[74][75]
Sheriff James H. Kostoplis (D, Bordentown, 2025)[76][77] and
Surrogate Brian J. Carlin (D, Burlington Township, 2026).[78][79]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,033 registered voters in Medford Lakes, of which 749 (24.7% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,009 (33.3% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 1,275 (42.0% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[80] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 73.2% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 99.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).[80][81]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,197 votes here (49.3% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,194 votes (49.2% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 24 votes (1.0% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,429 ballots cast by the borough's 3,142 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.3% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).[82][83] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,223 votes here (49.3% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,208 votes (48.7% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 34 votes (1.4% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,482 ballots cast by the borough's 3,007 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.5% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).[84] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,302 votes here (52.0% vs. 46.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,168 votes (46.6% vs. 52.9%) and other candidates with 24 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,505 ballots cast by the borough's 3,014 registered voters, for a turnout of 83.1% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).[85]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 941 votes here (66.9% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 425 votes (30.2% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 24 votes (1.7% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,406 ballots cast by the borough's 3,107 registered voters, yielding a 45.3% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).[86][87] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 956 votes here (55.8% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 650 votes (37.9% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 74 votes (4.3% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 17 votes (1.0% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,713 ballots cast by the borough's 3,061 registered voters, yielding a 56.0% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).[88]
Students from Medford Lakes, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton.[98]
Transportation
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 27.42 miles (44.13 km) of roadways, of which 25.13 miles (40.44 km) were maintained by the municipality and 2.29 miles (3.69 km) by Burlington County.[99]
The main roads serving Medford Lakes are County Route 532[100] and County Route 541.[101] CR 541 travels north–south, while CR 532 head east from its western terminus at CR 541 within the borough.[102]
^ abcBorough Council, Borough of Medford Lakes. Accessed April 24, 2023. "The Borough operates under the New Jersey Municipal Manager Law of 1923. This form of government separates policy making (the work of the Borough Council) from the execution of policy (the work of the Borough Manager). This maintains professional management and a Borough-wide perspective through: nonpartisan election, at large representation, concentration of executive responsibility in the hands of a professional manager accountable to the Borough Council, concentration of policy making power in one body - a five-person Mayor and Council."
^DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.
^Tait III, Adam. "Mayor ousted in Medford Lakes election", Medford Central Record, May 14, 2010. Accessed November 27, 2013. "Thomas Cranston and Gary Miller led all candidates Tuesday in an election expanding Medford Lakes Council from three seats to five. At the same time, Mayor Paul Weiss, badly battered last year by a disputed proposal to merge the borough's police force with Medford's, placed third in a four-candidate race, and will leave council when his term expires June 30."
^Milone, Andy. "Medford Lakes Leadership Reshuffled, New Borough Council Member Seated", Pine Barrens Tribune. Accessed August 25, 2020. "Council unanimously appointed, via a written ballot, Councilmen Bob Hanold and Tom Cranston – both of whom are in the middle of their third terms – to serve as mayor and deputy mayor, respectively, for the next two years during an in-person reorganization meeting on July 1.... At the same meeting, Fields and Miller, who both were re-elected in May to serve for another four years on the council, recited their oaths of office, along with newcomer Dr. Gail Caputo, who was elected to her first four-year term. Fields, Miller and Caputo ran as a campaign team, 'Medford Lakes First,' and swept the three available seats included on a ballot. May’s non-partisan election had featured six candidates in all."
^Woolston, George. "Bordentown City, Medford Lakes voters turn out for May municipal elections", Burlington County Times, May 12, 2021. Accessed July 25, 2022. "Incumbent Dennis P. O'Neill beat out Joseph Aromando 418 votes, or 70% of the total vote, to 170 votes, or 28% of the total vote, according to unofficial results. O'Neill was appointed to the seat on the five-member council in February after the January death of borough mayor Robert D. Hanold Sr."
^Lucas, Jenn. "Second woman ever appointed to Medford Lakes Council", The Central Record, March 10, 2015. Accessed June 12, 2015. "Kathy Merkh was chosen by council to fill the seat of Jeff Fitzpatrick, who announced his resignation from council during the previous meeting. Since Fitzpatrick was also the deputy mayor, council voted Gary Miller to fill that position. Both were sworn-in during the last meeting."
^Lenape Regional High School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 5, 2017. "The Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) serves the eight municipalities of Evesham, Medford, Mount Laurel, Shamong, Southampton, Tabernacle and Woodland Townships and Medford Lakes Borough. Encompassing an area of 350 square miles the Lenape District is the largest school district in Burlington County."
^Brian Earl, Princeton Tigers men's basketball. Accessed August 31, 2016. "In addition to his team-record 281 three-pointers, the Medford Lakes native graduated ranking fifth all-time at Princeton with 1,428 career points."