Burlington Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a suburb of Philadelphia and is part of the South Jersey region of the state. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 23,983, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 1,389 (+6.1%) from the 2010 census count of 22,594, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,300 (+11.3%) from the 20,294 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. The township, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.
History Burlington was formed as a towne by the West Jersey proprietors and was interrelated to Burlington City during its early days. It was incorporated on February 21, 1798 by the Township Act of 1798, enacted by the New Jersey Legislature, as one of the initial group of 104 townships incorporated in New Jersey. Burlington City was reincorporated within the township as of March 14, 1851, at which time a portion of the township was annexed to the city.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026. The township's name is a corruption of the English town of Bridlington.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 61. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 28, 2015.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Burlington township had a total area of 14.02 square miles (36.32 km2), including 13.45 square miles (34.83 km2) of land and 0.58 square miles (1.49 km2) of water (4.10%). Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Deacons, Fountain Woods, Springside and Stevens.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The township borders Burlington City, Edgewater Park, Florence Township, Springfield Township, Westampton Township and Willingboro Township in Burlington County; and both Bristol and Bristol Township across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.Areas touching Burlington Township, MapIt. Accessed March 22, 2020.Municipalities within Burlington County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 22, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 22,594 people, 7,797 households, and 5,746 families in the township. The population density was . There were 8,105 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 59.00% (13,331) White, 27.98% (6,322) Black or African American, 0.15% (35) Native American, 7.04% (1,590) Asian, 0.04% (9) Pacific Islander, 2.41% (544) from other races, and 3.38% (763) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.05% (1,593) of the population.
Of the 7,797 households, 39.1% had children under the age of 18; 57.2% were married couples living together; 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.3% were non-families. Of all households, 21.6% were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.32.
26.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $83,291 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,419) and the median family income was $101,967 (+/− $6,626). Males had a median income of $60,587 (+/− $3,161) versus $50,078 (+/− $3,792) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,122 (+/− $1,352). About 3.0% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 18, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 20,294 people, 7,112 households, and 5,277 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 7,348 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 67.71% White, 24.49% African American, 0.16% Native American, 3.73% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.46% from other races, and 2.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.01% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Burlington township, Burlington County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 8, 2013., United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 8, 2013.
There were 7,112 households, out of which 40.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $61,663, and the median income for a family was $70,958. Males had a median income of $49,290 versus $35,510 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,754. About 3.4% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
Economy Burlington Coat Factory has its headquarters in the township,Corporate Addresses , Burlington Coat Factory. Accessed July 1, 2011. having relocated from Burlington City in 1988.Weintraub, Karen. "Burlington Coat Factory To Add Offices, Workers", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 1990, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 26, 2014. Accessed October 23, 2017. "Burlington Coat Factory moved its corporate offices two years ago to Burlington Township from Burlington City, where it had headquarters since the company was founded in 1972."
The Marketplace at Burlington, formerly an indoor mall known as the Burlington Center Mall, offered a gross leasable area of , with plans to convert to an open-air format with of leasable space.Available Space Details , International Council of Shopping Centers. Accessed July 28, 2014. "GLA: 670,000 sq ft (Including Anchors)... We are delighted to announce the redevelopment of The New Marketplace at Burlington (previously Burlington Center Mall). With up to 1.5 million of leasable square feet of space, the Marketplace can accommodate almost any Tenant's requirements."Clerkin, Bridget. "Developers unveil plans for new Marketplace at Burlington", The Times, March 13, 2014. Accessed July 28, 2014. The mall closed its doors on January 8, 2018, though Sears remained while the rest of the mall was closed because it owned a section of mall property.DeSisto, Danielle. "Burlington Center Mall closed after water pipes burst; Sears still open" , Burlington County Times, January 9, 2018. Accessed October 16, 2019. "The Burlington Center Mall is currently closed after several water pipes burst Monday night, causing damage to the mall's fire suppression, heating and electrical system.... Sears, the mall's sole remaining anchor, remains open because the company owns its section of mall property." Sears closed on September 2, 2018."Sears store in Burlington Township to close", Courier-Post, May 31, 2018. Accessed September 11, 2019. "And then there were none. The Sears store at the former Burlington Center Mall site is closing, the company announced Thursday.... The Sears Auto Center will close in late June and the rest of the department store will shut its doors in early September, the company said." It has since been torn down and distribution warehouses have replaced it.
The township's businesses and shopping destinations cause the daytime population to rise to as much as 35,000, a jump of 50% from the resident population of almost 23,000.History, Burlington Township. Accessed November 10, 2019. "Burlington Township is 14.23 square miles and is one of the most rapidly growing communities within New Jersey. Our town's population according to the 2010 Census was 22,594. Our daytime population swells to approximately 35,000 people due to the large business community that consists of several shopping centers, a shopping mall, a 20-screen movie theater, dining establishments, along with business and industrial parks."
Government Local government Burlington Township is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Mayor-Council (Plan E) form of municipal government, implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1975."The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed November 21, 2013. The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the seven-member Township Council, all of whom are elected at-large in partisan elections to four-year terms in office on a staggered basis as part of the November general election. Either three or four council seats are up for vote in even-numbered years, with the mayoral seat up for vote during the same election where three council seats are on the ballot.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 38."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
, the Mayor of Burlington Township is Democrat E.L. "Pete" Green, who was appointed to serve an unexpired term of office ending December 31, 2026. Members of the Burlington Township Council are Council President Robert W. Jung (D, 2024), President Pro Tem Prabhdeep "Pavi" Pandher (D, 2024; elected to fill an unexpired term), Daniel Carducci (D, 2026), Joyce R. Howell (D, 2026), George M. Kozub (D, 2026), Carl M. Schoenborn (D, 2024) and Patricia "Trish" Siboczy (D, 2024).Mayor and Council, Township of Burlington. Accessed May 3, 2024.2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of Burlington. Accessed May 3, 2024.November 8, 2022 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 29, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.November 3, 2020 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results , Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 23, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.