Collingswood, New Jersey

Collingswood is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 13,926, reflecting a decline of 400 (-2.8%) from the 14,326 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 963 (-6.3%) from the 15,289 counted in the 1990 Census. Owing in part to its Quaker history, Collingswood is a dry town where alcohol cannot be sold, however restaurant patrons are permitted to bring their own wine and beer to consume.

History

Quakers settled along Newton Creek and Cooper River in the late 17th Century, establishing what was known as the Newton Colony and eventually Newton Township. Much of what is now Collingswood was a farm owned by members of the Collings family during the 18th and 19th Centuries. Later a section of Haddon Township, Collingswood was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 22, 1888, based on the results of a referendum held that same day. That same year, town resident Edward Collings Knight, a wealthy philanthropist, donated the land that became Knight Park. Knight was a descendant of the Collings family for whom the borough is named.

Collingswood has several historic homes including the 1820s-era house of the Collings family, known as the Collings-Knight homestead, which stands at the corner of Browning Road and Collings Avenue, shadowed by the Heights of Collingswood apartments. The Stokes-Lees mansion located in the 600 block of Lees Avenue dates back to 1707, making it one of the oldest houses in Camden County. Sections of Harleigh Cemetery, the location of poet Walt Whitman's tomb are in Collingswood, as is the mailing address for the Camden County Historical Society.

Geography

Collingswood is located in the Delaware Valley, 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Philadelphia and 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Trenton, New Jersey's capital.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Collingswood had a total area of 1.923 square miles (4.980 km²), of which, 1.823 square miles (4.721 km²) of it was land and 0.100 square miles (0.259 km²) of it (5.19%) was water.

Collingswood shares land borders with Camden, Haddon Township, Oaklyn, Pennsauken Township and Woodlynne.

The Cooper River serves as the northern border of Collingswood.

Demographics

Census 2010

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 13,926 people, 6,299 households, and 3,345 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,639.4 per square mile (2,949.6/km²). There were 6,822 housing units at an average density of 3,742.3 per square mile (1,444.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 81.78% (11,388) White, 9.11% (1,268) Black or African American, 0.32% (45) Native American, 2.20% (307) Asian, 0.01% (2) Pacific Islander, 4.01% (559) from other races, and 2.56% (357) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 9.67% (1,347) of the population.

There were 6,299 households, of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.8% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.9% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the borough, 19.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.0 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $58,769 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,635) and the median family income was $74,236 (+/- $8,567). Males had a median income of $54,088 (+/- $5,121) versus $48,816 (+/- $4,244) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,126 (+/- $2,577). About 10.7% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.5% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 14,326 people, 6,263 households, and 3,463 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,835.2 people per square mile (3,022.6/km²). There were 6,866 housing units at an average density of 3,755.2 per square mile (1,448.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 86.47% White, 6.67% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.76% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.42% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.67% of the population.

There were 6,263 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.2% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the borough the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $43,175, and the median income for a family was $57,987. Males had a median income of $40,423 versus $30,877 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,358. About 3.8% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Collingswood operates under the Walsh Act commission form of New Jersey municipal government. Three non-partisan commissioners are elected at-large on a concurrent basis in elections held as part of the May municipal election to serve four-year terms of office. Each commissioner is assigned a specific department to head in addition to their legislative functions. The commissioners select one of their members to serve as mayor. The Borough of Collingswood has operated under the Walsh Act since 1917.

As of 2015, Collingswood's commissioners are Mayor Jim Maley (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety), Michael A. Hall (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance) and Joan Leonard (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property), all of whom are serving terms of office ending May 2017.

In September 2011, the borough experienced a "super downgrade" of its credit rating by Moody's, from A1 to Ba1, as a result of an outstanding multi-million dollar loan guarantee to a property developer. Moody’s Investors Service issued a report in late May 2012 that restored the Borough of Collingswood’s credit rating to an investment grade rating of Baa3.

Federal, state and county representation

Collingswood is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 6th state legislative district.

New Jersey's First Congressional District is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2014-2015 Session, the 6th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by James Beach (D, Voorhees Township) and in the General Assembly by Louis Greenwald (D, Voorhees Township) and Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D, Cherry Hill). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Camden County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, its seven members chosen at-large in partisan elections to three-year terms office on a staggered basis, with wither two or three seats coming up for election each year. As of 2014, Camden County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. (Collingswood, term ends December 31, 2014), Freeholder Deputy Director Edward McDonnell (Pennsauken Township, 2016), Michelle Gentek (Gloucester Township, 2015), Ian K. Leonard (Camden, 2015), Scot N. McCray (Camden, 2014), Jeffrey L. Nash (Cherry Hill, 2015) and Carmen Rodriguez (Merchantville, 2016). Constitutional officers elected countywide are County Clerk Joseph Ripa, Sheriff Charles H. Billingham and Surrogate Patricia Egan "Pat" Jones.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 9,825 registered voters in Collingswood, of which 4,269 (43.5%) were registered as Democrats, 1,345 (13.7%) were registered as Republicans and 4,193 (42.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 18 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 70.8% of the vote (4,927 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 27.2% (1,892 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (139 votes), among the 7,006 ballots cast by the borough's 10,585 registered voters (48 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.2%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 69.4% of the vote (5,192 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 27.3% (2,038 votes), with 7,478 ballots cast among the borough's 10,305 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.6%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 63.6% of the vote (4,629 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 33.9% (2,467 votes), with 7,277 ballots cast among the borough's 9,527 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.4.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 48.8% of the vote (1,822 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 48.7% (1,819 votes), and other candidates with 2.5% (95 votes), among the 3,809 ballots cast by the borough's 10,702 registered voters (73 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 35.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 56.6% of the vote (2,482 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 33.8% (1,483 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 6.5% (285 votes), with 4,382 ballots cast among the borough's 9,831 registered voters, yielding a 44.6% turnout.

Education

The Collingswood Public Schools serve students in pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's seven schools had an enrollment of 1,875 students and 165.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentâ€"teacher ratio of 11.34:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are five elementary schools â€" James A. Garfield Elementary School (1-5; 115 students), Mark Newbie Elementary School (K-5; 142), Thomas Sharp Elementary School (PreK-5; 159), William P. Tatem Elementary School (K-5; 182) and Zane North Elementary School (PreK-5; 160) â€" Collingswood Middle School for grades 6-8 (371) and Collingswood High School for grades 9-12 (746).

Students in ninth through twelfth grades from Woodlynne attend Collingswood High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Woodlynne School District. Students in grades 10-12 from Oaklyn attend the high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Oaklyn Public School District.

Good Shepherd Regional Catholic School is an elementary school that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden.

Community

Collingswood's retail district is anchored by Haddon Avenue, a section of County Route 561 which runs from Camden to Haddonfield. Collingswood's downtown is known primarily for its restaurants, which span a variety of cuisines including American, Italian, Indian, French, Chinese, Mexican, Brazilian, Japanese, Ecuadorian, and Thai. The American Planning Association designated Haddon Avenue as one of its 10 Great Streets for 2009. The group chose the street "for the way it melds the past with the present", making Collingswood the first New Jersey community to be cited under the association's Great Places in America program.

Knight Park is the home to daytime recreation of the town. It is located across the street from Collingswood High School and it hosts the home games of the high school's sports teams, such as women's field hockey, lacrosse, baseball and softball. During the summer months, the borough offers outdoor movies and classical concerts in the park.

On Saturdays from May to November, the borough hosts a Farmers' market under the PATCO line, featuring local produce, baked goods, and crafts.

Collingswood sponsors a bike share program, a community greenhouse, as well as a composting program. Beginning in 2009, Collingswood hosts a Green Festival to raise awareness of environmental responsibility.

Monthly "2nd Saturdays" have the borough's art galleries, stores and restaurants hosting new exhibitions by local, national, and international painters, sculptors, and photographers. In 2002, the Moorestown based Perkins Center for the Arts opened a second location in Collingswood.

The borough is also home to two theater companies, the Collingswood Community Theatre and the Collingswood Shakespeare Company which perform throughout the year. The Ballroom and Theater at Collingswood hosts local theatrical productions as well as national recording artists such as Ben Folds and The Beach Boys.

The Rutgers-Camden based Symphony in C orchestra's administrative and box offices are located on Haddon Avenue.

The annual Collingswood Book Festival hosts various authors including Camille Paglia and Matthew Quick, whose novel The Silver Linings Playbook took place in the borough (with scenes in Oaklyn, Voorhees and the city of Philadelphia), though David O. Russell's film adaptation was set in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania.

Art Within Reach is a program that offers affordable handmade items produced by local artists, with all profits going to the artists. With the 2014 season, the shows are held twice each year at The Factory.

Collingswood has a large LGBTQ community and Mayor Jim Maley was one of a handful of New Jersey mayors to perform midnight civil union ceremonies the day New Jersey's Civil Union law took effect in 2006; in 2013 Mayor Maley performed a number of same sex marriages at the Scottish Rite ballroom after same-sex marriage was recognized in New Jersey. In 2004, The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote about the borough's "fast growing gay and lesbian community," and the marriage equality organization Garden State Equality's main Southern New Jersey office is in Collingswood.

In 2006, Philadelphia Magazine ranked Collingswood number one in the region for price growth of homes and property. Values were up about 100% over five years.

Transportation

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 41.33 miles (66.51 km) of roadways, of which 31.06 miles (49.99 km) were maintained by the municipality, 8.29 miles (13.34 km) by Camden County and 1.98 miles (3.19 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Public transportation

The Collingswood PATCO Speedline Park and Ride station links the town to Camden and Philadelphia by elevated rail.

Collingswood is also served by New Jersey Transit bus route 403 to Philadelphia and local routes 450 and 451.

Media

The Retrospect, a weekly newspaper with an online component covering local news in Collingswood and surrounding communities, is headquartered on Haddon Avenue. In addition, Patch Media has a Collingswood hyperlocal website. Collingswood is in the Philadelphia media market.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Collingswood include:

• Richard V. Allen (born 1936), National Security Advisor during the Reagan Administration, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution.
• B. J. Averell (born 1979), actor and winner of The Amazing Race 9.
• Ted Brown (1924â€"2005), New York City radio personality.
• Victoria Budinger (born 1952), best known as "Miss Vicki", wife of Tiny Tim.
• William T. Cahill (1912â€"1996), Governor of New Jersey from 1970-74.
• Kimberly Camp, former president of the Barnes Foundation.
• Michael Corbett (born 1956), author and actor.
• Jacqueline R. Crahalla (born 1940), former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
• Marguerite de Angeli (1889â€"1987), children's author.
• William K. Dickey (1920-2008), former Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly.
• Cathy Engelbert (born 1965), CEO of Deloitte, first female CEO of a major U.S. accounting firm.
• Bartholomew J. Eustace (1887-1956), Bishop of Camden from 1938 to 1956.
• Stink Fisher (born 1970), actor and restaurateur.
• James Hoch (born 1967), poet, college professor.
• Barbara Ware Holmes (born 1947), children's author.
• Michael Landon (1936â€"1991), television actor, director.
• Bob Lassiter (1945â€"2006), talk radio personality.
• Thomas M. Madden (1907â€"1976), judge who served on the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
• Kelly McGillis (born 1957), film actress.
• Carl McIntire (1906â€"2002), founder of and minister in the Bible Presbyterian Church.
• Edwin Mills (born 1928), economist, professor emeritus at Northwestern University.
• Elmer Myers (1894-1976), professional baseball player.
• Ray Narleski (1928-2012), relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Cleveland Indians (1954â€"58) and Detroit Tigers (1959).
• Delia Parr (born 1947), author of historical fiction.
• Matthew Quick (born 1976), author of the novel The Silver Linings Playbook.
• Bobby Ryan (born 1987), professional hockey player.
• Richard Sterban (born 1943), bass singer for The Oak Ridge Boys and former vocalist with Elvis Presley.
• Ben Vaughn (born 1956), musician, producer, radio host.
• Gary Williams (born 1945), former head coach of the Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team.
• Helen Van Pelt Wilson (1901-2003), gardener and author.

References

External links

• Collingswood Borough municipal website
• Collingwood Mix: Collingswood's Premier Social Center
• Collingswood Public Schools
• Collingswood Public Schools's 2012â€"13 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Collingswood Food Blog
• School Data for the Collingswood Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
• Championship Collingswood Panther Marching Band
• Collingswood Gay and Lesbian Social Network
• Collingswood Book Festival
• Collingswood Community Theater
• Collingswood Shakespeare Company
• Collingswood Fire Department
• Collingswood - South Jersey Tourism Commission
• Collingswood InJersey, community blog

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