ZIP Code 08054

As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 41,864, reflecting an increase of 1,643 (+4.1%) from the 40,221 counted in the 2000 census. In 2020, Mount Laurel was ranked 16th in Money magazine's list of the 50 best places to live in America, citing a kid-friendly environment, affordable housing, and easy access to Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore. The township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1872, from portions of Evesham Township. In 1970, at a meeting about a proposal for taxpayer subsidized housing held at an all-black church in Mount Laurel, Mayor Bill Haines summed up the NIMBYist perspective by saying: "If you people can't afford to living in our town, then you'll just have to leave" The township is part of the South Jersey region. It is drained by the Delaware River and Parkers Creek (a tributary of Rancocas Creek) and the South Branch Pennsauken Creek. Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Birchfield, Bougher, Centerton, Colemantown, Coxs Corner, Fellowship, Hartford, Heulings Hill, Masonville, Petersburg, Pine Grove and RancOCas Woods. It borders the municipalities of Maple Shade, Moorestown Township, Lainesport Township, Medton Township, and Willingboro.

History

The Mount Laurel Decision is a judicial interpretation of the New Jersey State Constitution. It requires municipalities to use their zoning powers in an affirmative manner to provide a realistic opportunity for the production of housing affordable to low and moderate-income households. The decision was a result of a lawsuit brought against the town by the N.A.C.P. that was decided in 1975 and reaffirmed in a subsequent decision in 1983. Mount Laurel was a small, rural farming community until it was hit with massive suburban growth from Philadelphia in the later 1960s. The new suburban influx thought otherwise, and significantly delayed the creation of tax-payer subsidized housing areas, citing concerns of gang activity and an influx of inner-city criminals. Although the court ruled in favor of creating taxpayer subsidized housing, residents did manage to delay the process for decades. The history behind this, and the story leading to the decision was highlighted in Our Town, a book by David L. Kirp. The town was incorporated as a township on March 7, 1872, from portions of Evesham Township. The township was named for a hill covered with laurel trees. Several historical landmarks include General Clinton's headquarters, Paulsdale, Evesam Friends Meeting House, Jacob's Chapel, Hattie Britt School and Farmer's Hall. In 1970, at a meeting about a proposal for taxpayers subsidized housing held at an all-black church in Mount Laurel, Mayor Bill Haines summed up the NIMBYist perspective by saying: "If you people can't afford to live in our town, then you'll just have to leave.".

Geography

Ramblewood (with a 2010 Census population of 5,907) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Mount Laurel. The township borders the municipalities of Evesham Township, Hainesport Township, Lumberton Township, Maple Shade Township, Medford, Moorestown and Willingboro Township in Burlington County; and Cherry Hill in Camden County. Mount Laurel has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and average monthly temperatures range from 33.0°F in January to 76.9 °F in July. It is drained by the Delaware River and Parkers Creek (a tributary of Rancocas Creek) and the South Branch Pennsauken Creek flow through its eastern and western portions respectively. It has a total area of 21.99 square miles (56.95 km²) according to the U.S. Census Bureau, including 21.72 square miles of land and 0.27 sq mi of water (1.21 km²). The local hardiness zone is 7a. The town has a population of 4,816. It was named after Mount Laurel, a 17th-century town in New Jersey, which was once the site of the town's first post office. The current town of Mount Laurel was founded in 1803. It became the first town in the state to be named after a town, Mount Laurel in 1805. The name was later changed to Mount Laurel and the current town was named in honor of the township.

Demographics

The 2010 U.S. census counted 41,864 people, 17,538 households, and 11,294 families in the township. The racial makeup of the township was 87.10% White, 6.92% African American, 0.09% Native American, 3.80% Asian,0.03% Pacific Islander, and 1.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.24% of the population. The median household income was $84,632 (with a margin of error of +/ $5,366) in 2010. The per capita income for the borough was $41,573 (+/ $1,416). About 3.0% of families and 3.6% of those under age 18 were below the poverty line. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 83.5 males. In the township the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1%. The median age was 41.8 years. ForEvery 100 females, the population had 87.4 males. The. median income for a township in the 2000 United States census was $750,750, and $76,288 for a family.

Arts and culture

Man Overboard is a pop punk band with multiple members from Mount Laurel. The band is currently on tour in the U.S. and Europe. Man Overboard was formed in 2007 and has been in the band since 2008. The group has been on tour since 2008 and is currently in the middle of a tour in Europe and North America. They have been on the road since 2010 and are on tour until the end of the year.

Parks and recreation

Laurel Acres Park is known for its Veterans Memorial, fishing lake, playground, and huge grassy hill used for concerts and sledding in the winter. The Mount Laurel Baseball League and the Mount Laurel United Soccer Club play in the park's sports fields. Mount Laurel also includes two dog parks. The park is located between Church Street and Union Mill Road in New York City's Upper East Side.

Government

Mount Laurel voted to change its form of government in 1970 from a Township Committee form to a Faulkner Act system using the Council-Manager (Plan E) The governing body is comprised of the Township Council, which is made up of five members elected at-large in partisan elections to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis. As of 2022, members of the Mount Laurel Township Council are Mayor Kareem Pritchett (D, term on council ends December 31, 2022; term as mayor ends 2022) and Deputy Mayor Stephen Steglik (D), each for a one-year term. Burlington County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners comprised of fiveMembers who are chosen at- Large inpartisan elections. At an annual reorganization meeting, the board selects a director and deputy director from among its members. For the 117th United States Congress, New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District is represented by Andy Kim. New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Bob Menendez (Harrison,term ends 2025). For the 2022-2023 session, the 7th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature isrepresented in the State Senate by Troy Singleton (D, Palmyra) and in the General Assembly by Herb Conaway (D., Moorestown) and Carol A. Murphy (D, Mount Laurel) As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 28,317 registered voters in Mount Laurel township, of which 9,089 (32.1% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats. There were 20 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 67.6% (vs. 61.7%) were registered to vote.

Education

The Mount Laurel Schools serve public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 201819 school year, the district, comprised of eight schools, had an enrollment of 4,214 students and 350.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a studentteacher ratio of 12.0:1. Public school students from Mount Laurel in ninth through twelfth grades attend Lenape High School, located in Medford Township. Students 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. The district is part of the Lenape Regional High School District, a regional secondary school district in Burlington County that also serves the eight municipalities of Evesham Township, Medford Lakes,Medford Township, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle Township and Woodland Township at its four high schools. Schools in the district (with 201819 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Countryside Elementary School (with 309 students; in grades Pre-K4),Fleetwood Elementary school (372; K4), Hillside elementary School (348; Pre-k4), Larchmont Elementary School and Parkway Elementary School. Students are assigned on a geographic basis to one of the six K4 schools; Countryside serves the township's northwest; Fleetwood, the northeast; Hillside covers the north central portion of the township.

Transportation

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 170.19 miles (273.89 km) of roadways. The New Jersey Turnpike is the most prominent highway passing through Mount Laurel. The Greyhound Lines bus station on Fellowship Road provides service to Philadelphia, New York City, Atlantic City and other points.NJ Transit provides bus service to and from Philadelphia on routes 317 (from Asbury Park) and 413 (from Camden). The township is home to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, which maintains 115.86 miles (186.46km) of roads. It is also the home of Burlington County, which has 33.26 miles (53.53 km), 13.55 miles (21.81 km) and 7.52 miles (12.10 km) maintained by the turnpike authority. The only exit within Mount Laurel is Exit 4, which provides access to Route 73. The township has a population of 2,816. It was named after Mount Laurel, New Jersey, which is located in the southern part of the state and was once known as the "birthplace of the American Indian" The name comes from the Mount Laurel Indian tribe, which lived in the area until the mid-1600s. The current name is derived from the name of Mount Laurel High School, which was founded in the 18th century. The name Mount Laurel means "mount" or "hill" in English, and "laure" means "the place" in French.