Mount Ephraim, New Jersey

Mount Ephraim is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States.  As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 4,676, reflecting an increase of 181 (+4.0%) from the 4,495 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 22 (-0.5%) from the 4,517 counted in the 1990 Census. 

Mount Ephraim was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 23, 1926, from portions of the now-defunct Centre Township.  The boroughs of Bellmawr, Runnemede and Lawnside were simultaneously created during the same two-day period.  The borough was named for Ephraim Albertson, who owned a tavern in the area in the early 1800s. 

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.900 square miles (2.332 km2), including 0.881 square miles (2.282 km2) of land and 0.019 square miles (0.050 km2) of water (2.16%). 

Mount Ephraim borders Audubon, Bellmawr, Brooklawn, Gloucester City and Haddon Heights. 

Weather
On September 4, 2012, at 6:31 p.m., a tornado touched down in Mount Ephraim, causing damage to trees and homes in the immediate vicinity.  It was categorized as F-0 by the National Weather Service, with winds topping out at 70 mph, making it the first tornado recorded in the state in more than a year. 

Census results

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $61,331 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,103) and the median family income was $73,955 (+/- $4,630).  Males had a median income of $51,049 (+/- $3,914) versus $41,087 (+/- $3,242) for females.  The per capita income for the borough was $29,885 (+/- $5,190).  About 5.6% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over. 

Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 4,495 people,  and 1,174 families residing in the borough.  The population density was 5,100.1 people per square mile (1,972.2/km2).  There were 1,881 housing units at an average density of 2,134.2 per square mile (825.3/km2).  The racial makeup of the borough was 97.51% White, 0.40% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races.  Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98% of the population. 

There were 1,818 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families.  30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.13. 

In the borough the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 40 years.  For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males. 

The median income for a household in the borough was $44,824, and the median income for a family was $59,468.  Males had a median income of $41,455 versus $30,359 for females.  The per capita income for the borough was $21,150.  About 2.0% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over. 

Government

Local government
Mount Ephraim has been governed under the Walsh Act by a three-member commission, since 1935.  Three commissioners are elected at-large in nonpartisan elections held as part of the May municipal election to serve concurrent terms of office.  Each commissioner is assigned a department to oversee as part of their elected service. 

, Mount Ephraim's commissioners are 
Mayor Joseph Wolk (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance), 
George Gies (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety) and 
Michael "Traz" Tovinsky (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property), all of whom are serving concurrent terms of office that end May 15, 2023. 

Federal, state and county representation
Mount Ephraim is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 5th state legislative district. 

Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,110 registered voters in Mount Ephraim, of which 1,402 (45.1%) were registered as Democrats, 403 (13.0%) were registered as Republicans and 1,305 (42.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated.  There were no voters registered to other parties. 

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 60.7% of the vote (1,278 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 37.7% (793 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (35 votes), among the 2,131 ballots cast by the borough's 3,320 registered voters (25 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 64.2%.  In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 58.6% of the vote (1,334 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 37.6% (855 votes), with 2,275 ballots cast among the borough's 3,086 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.7%.  In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 58.8% of the vote (1,309 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 39.9% (888 votes), with 2,228 ballots cast among the borough's 2,982 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.7. 

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.9% of the vote (753 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.9% (430 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (15 votes), among the 1,222 ballots cast by the borough's 3,353 registered voters (24 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.4%.  In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 47.3% of the vote (621 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 42.7% (560 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 6.2% (81 votes), with 1,312 ballots cast among the borough's 3,127 registered voters, yielding a 42.0% turnout. 

Municipal merger proposal
In January 2014, New Jersey State Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney put forward a proposal which would lower real estate taxes in the state and cut state expenses by merging many of the states 566 municipalities.  Mount Ephraim is the 29th largest town in Camden County, so it is very likely that the town will be merged with neighboring municipalities to cut costs, share expenses, reduce bureaucracy, share resources, and reduce the burden in the taxpayers and the state itself.  Mount Ephraim was formerly part of Centre Township, which included all of the neighboring communities, and it is possible that the name may be used again in the future if the merger proposal goes forward. 

Education
The Mount Ephraim Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.  As of the 2014–15 school year, the district and its two schools had an enrollment of 631 students and 34.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 18.2:1.  Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are 
Mary Bray Elementary School (244 students in grades PreK-4) and 
Raymond W. Kershaw Middle School (181 students; grades 5-8). 

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Audubon High School, in Audubon, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Audubon School District.  As of the 2016–17 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 856 students and 71.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.0:1. 

Transportation

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of  of roadways, of which  were maintained by the municipality,  by Camden County and  by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. 

Interstate 76 and Interstate 295 both pass through Mount Ephraim, with part of their interchange located within the borough.  U.S. Route 30 also passes through Mount Ephraim. 

Public transportation
Mount Ephraim is served by two NJ Transit bus lines.  Service between the borough and Philadelphia is available on the 400 route, with local service on the 457 route between the Moorestown Mall and Camden. 

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Mount Ephraim include:
 Dan Baker (born 1946), Philadelphia Phillies PA Announcer and former Philadelphia Eagles PA Announcer

References

External links

 Mount Ephraim Borough website
 Mount Ephraim Public Schools
 
 School Data for the Mount Ephraim Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics

 
Category:1926 establishments in New Jersey
Category:Boroughs in Camden County, New Jersey
Category:Populated places established in 1926
Category:Walsh Act