Medford Lakes, New Jersey

Medford Lakes, New Jersey
Medford Lakes is a borough in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 4,264, an increase of 118 (+2.8%) from the 2010 census count of 4,146, which in turn reflected a decline of 27 (−0.6%) from the 4,173 counted in the 2000 census. The township, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.
Medford Lakes was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 17, 1939, from portions of Medford Township. The borough was named for Medford Township, which was named by a developer for Medford, Massachusetts.
The borough's 22 lakes and surrounding lake communities are within the boundaries of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission. The Medford Lakes Colony, a homeowner association, manages the lakes and other recreational facilities. More than 10% of the borough's homes are log cabins.
History
Before European colonization, the area now known as Medford Lakes was primarily inhabited by the Lenni-Lenape tribe. They used the area's abundant natural resources, including its bodies of water and forests, for survival and shelter.
European influence over the region began in the 17th century when the English gained control from the Dutch. However, 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 lightly populated and primarily used for farming and lumbering.
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. 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.
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. 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.
In 1931, St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church, a single-story log cabin structure, was built and later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
Medford Lakes was officially incorporated as a borough on May 17, 1939, from portions of Medford Township. 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.
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.
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%). The borough is an independent municipality surrounded entirely by Medford Township, making it part one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.
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 , that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve. 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.
Climate
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 4,146 people, 1,483 households, and 1,186 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,543 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 97.32% (4,035) White, 0.46% (19) Black or African American, 0.17% (7) Native American, 0.96% (40) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.39% (16) from other races, and 0.70% (29) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% (70) of the population.
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.
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.
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.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 4,173 people, 1,527 households, and 1,238 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,555 housing units at an average density of . 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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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. 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.
, the borough council is comprised of 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).
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.
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.
Federal, state and county representation
Medford Lakes is located in the 3rd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.
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. 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).
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). 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). 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).
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). 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).
Education
Students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade are educated by the Medford Lakes School District. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 514 students and 43.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1. Schools in the district (with 2018–2019 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are
Nokomis School with 151 students in Pre-K to 2nd grade and
Neeta School with 363 students in grades 3–8.
Public school students from Medford Lakes in ninth through twelfth grades attend Shawnee High School, located in Medford Township. Shawnee is part of the Lenape Regional High School District, a regional high school district in Burlington County, New Jersey that serves the eight municipalities of Evesham Township, Medford Lakes, Medford Township, Mount Laurel Township, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle Township and Woodland Township. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,597 students and 127.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.6:1.
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.
Transportation
, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by Burlington County.
The main roads serving Medford Lakes are County Route 532 and County Route 541. CR 541 travels north–south, while CR 532 head east from its western terminus at CR 541 within the borough.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Medford Lakes include:
Brian Earl, former professional basketball player who is the head coach for the Cornell Big Red men's basketball team
Dan Earl (born 1974), head men's basketball coach for the VMI Keydets
George Makris (1920–2005), 18th head coach of the Temple Owls football team
Gregg Rakoczy (born 1965), NFL football player for the Cleveland Browns
Liz Tchou (born 1966), former field hockey defender who played on the US women's team that finished fifth at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta
References
External links
Medford Lakes website
Burlington County webpage for Medford Lakes borough
1923 Municipal Manager Law
1939 establishments in New Jersey
Boroughs in Burlington County, New Jersey
Populated places established in 1939
Populated places in the Pine Barrens (New Jersey)