Beverly was originally incorporated as a borough on March 5, 1850, within Willingboro Township. Beverly was incorporated as a city by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 13, 1857, replacing Beverly borough, based on the results of a referendum held that day.[23] Beverly Township, formed in 1859, co-existed alongside Beverly City and was renamed as Delanco Township in 1926.[23] The borough was named for Beverley, England.[24]
The city had the 15th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.550% in 2020, compared to 2.676% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.[25]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 0.76 square miles (1.96 km2), including 0.54 square miles (1.40 km2) of land and 0.21 square miles (0.56 km2) of water (28.16%).[1][2]
Of the 1,002 households, 28.4% had children under the age of 18; 38.3% were married couples living together; 23.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.0% were non-families. Of all households, 26.4% were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.10.[19]
23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.5 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $51,964 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,191) and the median family income was $61,058 (+/− $8,725). Males had a median income of $47,738 (+/− $9,129) and females $40,833 (+/− $13,858). The per capita income was $30,364 (+/− $4,953). About 14.1% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.[38]
2000 census
At the 2000 United States census,[16] there were 2,661 people, 960 households and 694 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,608.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,779.2/km2). There were 1,042 housing units at an average density of 1,804.5 per square mile (696.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 64.67% White, 28.75% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 1.43% from other races, and 4.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.58% of the population.[36][37]
There were 960 households, of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 22.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.23.[36][37]
28.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.[36][37]
The median household income was $45,054 and the median family income was $49,519. Males had a median income of $35,954 and females $23,836. The per capita income was $17,760. About 8.5% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.[36][37]
Government
Local government
Beverly is governed under the City form of New Jersey municipal government. The city is one of 15 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this traditional form of government.[39] The governing body is comprised of an elected mayor and a five-member elected city council who are chosen at-large on a partisan basis to serve four-year terms of office as part of the November general election, with either two or three seats coming up for election in odd-numbered years. Responsibilities of the governing body include all executive and legislative functions.[7][40]
As of 2024[update], the Mayor of the City of Beverly is Democrat Randy H. Miller Sr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Beverly Common Council are Council President Robert H. Bancroft (D, 2025), Council President Pro-Tem Bernardine Williams (D, 2027), Riccardo D. Dale (D, 2025), Robert E. Lowden Jr. (D, 2025) and Kelsey Snively (D, 2027).[3][41][42][43]
Luis Crespo was appointed by the council in December 2012 to fill the vacant seat of Scott Perkins.[44] In the November 2013 general election, Republican Mark Schwedes defeated Crespo to win the remaining two years of the unexpired term.[45]
Federal, state and county representation
Beverly is located in the 3rd Congressional District[46] and is part of New Jersey's 7th state legislative district.[47][48][49]
Burlington County's Constitutional Officers are:
Clerk Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2028)[65][66]
Sheriff James H. Kostoplis (D, Bordentown, 2025)[67][68] and
Surrogate Brian J. Carlin (D, Burlington Township, 2026).[69][70]
Politics
On March 2011, there were 1,543 registered voters in Beverly City, of whom 608 (39.4% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 262 (17.0% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 673 (43.6% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[71] Among the city's 2010 Census population, 59.9% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 77.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).[71][72]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 797 votes here (68.6% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 330 votes (28.4% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 14 votes (1.2% vs. 1.0%), among the 1,161 ballots cast by the city's 1,642 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.7% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).[73][74] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 850 votes here (68.6% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 365 votes (29.5% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 13 votes (1.0% vs. 1.0%), among the 1,239 ballots cast by the city's 1,559 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.5% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).[75] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 655 votes here (60.0% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 398 votes (36.4% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 24 votes (2.2% vs. 0.8%), among the 1,092 ballots cast by the city's 1,442 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.7% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).[76]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 395 votes here (54.6% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 300 votes (41.5% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.7% vs. 1.2%), among the 723 ballots cast by the city's 1,625 registered voters, yielding a 44.5% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).[77][78] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 422 ballots cast (52.7% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 306 votes (38.2% vs. 47.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 47 votes (5.9% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.5% vs. 1.2%), among the 801 ballots cast by the city's 1,590 registered voters, yielding a 50.4% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).[79]
Students from Beverly, 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.[86]
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the city had a total of 12.53 miles (20.17 km) of roadways, of which 10.84 miles (17.45 km) were maintained by the municipality and 1.69 miles (2.72 km) by Burlington County.[87]
^"Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 15. Beverly Equalized tax rate in Beverly City, Burlington County, was 4.550 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Burlington County: 2.676"
^O'Sullivan, Jeannie. "City Council appointment draws controversy in Beverly", Burlington County Times, December 27, 2012. Accessed June 16, 2017. "A City Council member who lost his next term in the contested Democratic primary election in June will still be on dais in January. Council President Luis Crespo was appointed Thursday night to fill the seat vacated by Brian Perkins, who has resigned with three years left on his term."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^Beverly City Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Beverly City Schools. Accessed February 26, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Beverly City School District. Composition: The Beverly City School District comprises all the area within the municipal boundaries of the City of Beverly."
^AdministrationArchived November 18, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Palmyra Public Schools. Accessed January 11, 20174. "Palmyra Public Schools offers a wide range of educational programs for the residents of Palmyra, Beverly City, and Riverton, New Jersey. These programs include a preschool handicapped program at Delaware Avenue Elementary School, a K-6 elementary program at Charles Street Elementary School, and a 7–12 program at Palmyra High School."
^Mason, Joe. "Calderone more than just a hero to family, neighbors", Burlington County Times, December 1, 2006. Accessed June 13, 2012. "Born in Beverly and a lifelong area resident, Sam Calderone was an accomplished golfer and football player during his days at Burlington City High School, but his passion was baseball."
^Staff. Who's who in the Midwest, p. 477. A.N. Marquis, 1960. Accessed June 13, 2012. "Knight, John Lowden, clergyman; b. Beverly, NJ, Nov. 2, 1915"
^Merritt, Abraham; Levy, Michael M. The Moon Pool, p. 303. Wesleyan University Press, 2004. ISBN0819567078. "Abraham Grace Merritt was born on January 20, 1884, in Beverly, New Jersey, a small town outside of Philadelphia."