In 2021, the borough had the 25th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.213% in 2020, compared to 3.470% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.[22]
History
Lawnside school c. 1940A tavern in Lawnside c. 1940
Lawnside has been home to African Americans since the late 18th century. Methodist gatherings were established by 1797, and in 1811, Bishop Richard Allen of Philadelphia founded the local African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), which eventually became the Mount Pisgah AME Church today.[23] AME churches were premised on abolition and civil rights, primarily serving former slaves and their descendants. Additionally, freedmen often sought safety and support by concentrating near Quaker allies, which in the case of Lawnside was the Haddonfield Quaker Society of Friends, with support from the Gloucester County Abolition Society and Vigilant Association of Philadelphia.[23] In 1840, these latter abolitionists further advanced the settlement by purchasing land to convert into inexpensive lots for sale to African Americans. The original name of this community, Free Haven, was due to its crucial role as a stop along several routes of the Underground Railroad. Indeed, the home of Peter Mott, now a nationally recognized refuge of the underground railroad, was saved by the Lawnside Historical Society from demolition in 1992 specifically to preserve this important legacy of the town.[24][25]
The early village was later known as "Snow Hill" after the Civil War and eventually "Lawnton." After a train station was constructed by Reading along the Atlantic City Railroad in 1907, the town became known as Lawnside, either from the presence of a spacious lawn at the station or as a shortened description of the stop's exit on the "Lawnton side" of the tracks.[23][26][27]
In 1919, John Lawson, a prominent Philadelphian and recipient of the Medal of Honor for his service during the Civil War, was laid to rest at Mount Peace Cemetery in Lawnside. The exact reasons behind this location remain uncertain, with possibilities including family connections to Lawnside or the restrictions on burying black veterans in certain Pennsylvania cemeteries at the time.[28]
Despite historic discrimination from banks against African Americans, the incorporation of the town as a Black community allowed residents to achieve home ownership with minimal bureaucratic obstacles. This was also facilitated by local mortgage lenders like the Home Mutual Investment Company, established in 1909, and the Lawnside Mutual Building and Loan Association in 1915.[23]
Lawnside's existence and reputation as a distinctive community was supported in the 1930s through the presence of a thriving jazz and barbecue scene in the wake of prohibition, with venues named the Cotton Club, The Hi-Hat Club, Dreamland Café, and Club Harlem. These establishments attracted visitors from across the northeast, offering the opportunity to enjoy performances by influential African American artists and celebrities who were not allowed to play at white establishments, including such superstars as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, LaWanda Page, Billy Eckstine, Arthur Prysock, and even champion boxers Joe Louis and Jersey Joe Walcott.[23][31]
During the 1960s, Lawnside's young people, influenced by the Civil rights and Black power movements, rebelled against the discrimination they faced at the regional Haddon Heights High School, leading sit-ins, protest marches, and media campaigns, which resulted in changes in school administration, increased representation in student life, the introduction of Black studies courses, and the formation of the Afro-American Cultural Society. On April 9, 1968, Lawnside civic leaders became the first governmental entity in the United States to declare the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. to be a holiday, just days after King's assassination.[23]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.43 square miles (3.70 km2), all of which was land.[1][2]
Lawnside borough, Camden County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Of the 1,103 households, 25.7% had children under the age of 18; 37.4% were married couples living together; 24.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.9% were non-families. Of all households, 26.7% were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.23.[19]
23.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 84.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 78.1 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $56,006 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,232) and the median family income was $58,790 (+/− $6,229). Males had a median income of $46,705 (+/− $9,519) versus $43,239 (+/− $9,333) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,086 (+/− $3,210). About 12.3% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.[43]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 2,692 people, 1,026 households, and 700 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,919.7 inhabitants per square mile (741.2/km2). There were 1,110 housing units at an average density of 791.6 per square mile (305.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.61% African American, 1.75% White, 1.00% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 2.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.38% of the population.[38][39]
There were 1,026 households, out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 22.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.23.[1][39]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.4 males.[1][39]
The median income for a household in the borough was $45,192, and the median income for a family was $55,197. Males had a median income of $34,881 versus $31,331 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,831. About 10.3% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.[1][39]
As part of the 2000 Census, 93.61% of Lawnside's residents identified themselves as being African American. This was the 30th highest percentage of African American people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry and the highest in the Northeastern United States.[44]
Government
Local government
Lawnside is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[45] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[7] The borough form of government used by Lawnside is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[46][47]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of Lawnside Borough is Democrat Mary Ann Wardlow, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Lawnside Borough Council are Council President Steven T. Pollard (D, 2023), Ronald DeAbreu (D, 2024), Robert Lee (D, 2025), Rhonda Wardlow-Hurley (D, 2023), Eric J. Wilcox Sr. (D, 2023) and Dawn Wright-McLeod (D, 2024).[3][48][49][50][51]
Eric Wilcox was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Clifford L. Still. In the November 2018 general election, Wilcox was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[52]
Camden County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members chosen at-large in partisan elections for three-year terms on a staggered basis by the residents of the county, with either two or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At a reorganization meeting held in January after each election, the newly constituted Board of Commissioners selects one member to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director, each serving a one-year term in that role.[61] As of 2024[update], Camden County's Commissioners are:
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. (D, Collingswood, 2026),[62]
Commissioner Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell (D, Pennsauken Township, 2025),[63]
Virginia Ruiz Betteridge (D, Runnemede, 2025),[64]
Almar Dyer (D, Pennsauken Township, 2024),[65]
Melinda Kane (D, Cherry Hill, 2024),[66]
Jeffrey L. Nash (D, Winslow Township, 2024),[67] and
Jonathan L. Young Sr. (D, Berlin Township, 2026).[68][61][69][70][71]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,276 registered voters in Lawnside, of which 1,481 (65.1%) were registered as Democrats, 99 (4.3%) were registered as Republicans and 696 (30.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[79]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 97.9% of the vote (1,671 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 2.0% (34 votes), and other candidates with 0.1% (2 votes), among the 1,722 ballots cast by the borough's 2,435 registered voters (15 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 70.7%.[80][81] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 96.2% of the vote (1,811 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 1.9% (35 votes), with 1,882 ballots cast among the borough's 2,178 registered voters, for a turnout of 86.4%.[82] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 92.6% of the vote (1,360 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 5.4% (79 votes), with 1,469 ballots cast among the borough's 1,989 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 73.9.[83]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 81.8% of the vote (691 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 17.3% (146 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (8 votes), among the 887 ballots cast by the borough's 2,423 registered voters (42 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.6%.[84][85] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 88.9% of the vote (984 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 5.3% (59 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 1.5% (17 votes), with 1,107 ballots cast among the borough's 2,332 registered voters, yielding a 47.5% turnout.[86]
Education
The Lawnside School District serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Lawnside Public School. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 321 students and 31.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.4:1.[87]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 17.95 miles (28.89 km) of roadways, of which 10.75 miles (17.30 km) were maintained by the municipality, 3.89 miles (6.26 km) by Camden County, 1.90 miles (3.06 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 1.41 miles (2.27 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[91]
The New Jersey Turnpike is the most prominent highway passing through Lawnside.[92] However, there are no exits within the borough, with the nearest ones being Exit 3 in Runnemede/Bellmawr and Exit 4 in Mount Laurel.[93]Interstate 295 also passes through Lawnside, with one partial interchange at Warwick Road.[94]U.S. Route 30 (White Horse Pike) runs through the borough.[95]
William Still (1821–1902), abolitionist, member of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society and chairman of its Vigilance Committee, moved here with his family, together with his brothers Peter Still and James Still, and their families[104]
^"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.... 25. Lawnside Equalized tax rate in Lawnside Borough, Camden County, was 4.213 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Camden County: 3.470"
^ abcdefRomisher, Jason (2019). "Lawnside, New Jersey". The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
^National Park Service. "Peter Mott House". Aboard the Underground Railroad. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
^Home Page, Borough of Lawnside. Accessed September 2, 2015. "The current name of Lawnside was coined in 1907 when the Pennsylvania and Reading Railroad built a station stop there."
^"Lawnside: Rich and deep progress", Courier-Post, October 19, 2006. Accessed July 9, 2008. "In 1926, Lawnside was incorporated as a borough and became the first independent, self-governing black municipality north of the Mason-Dixon Line."
^Walsh, Jim (August 13, 1996). "When Lawnside Jumped". Courier-Post. p. 19. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
^Full Biography, Congressman Donald Norcross. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Donald and his wife Andrea live in Camden City and are the proud parents of three grown children and grandparents of two."
^Livio, Susan K. "Former Sen. Wayne Bryant is found guilty in corruption case", NJ Adavance Media for NJ.com, November 19, 2008. Accessed September 25, 2016. "The jury also found Bryant, 61, of Lawnside, guilty of 11 counts of mail and wire fraud stemming from the scheme to land the $35,000-a-year "low-work" job at the school, run by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey."
^"No. 9 Irish Use Bye Week To Prepare For Rutgers", FightingIrish.com, November 12, 2002. Accessed November 2, 2023. "Six players on Notre Dame’s roster hail from the state of New Jersey: sophomore SS Lionel Bolen (Westhampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley HS), junior DE Kyle Budinscak (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater Raritan HS), freshman TE Anthony Fasano (Verona, N.J./Verona HS), sophomore ILB Brandon Hoyte (Parlin, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial HS), freshman QB Chris Olsen (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Hills HS) and senior DE Ryan Roberts (Lawnside, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial HS)."
^"South Jersey News in Brief", The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 28, 2003. Accessed October 7, 2012. "A Lawnside man who sued then-Gov. Christie Whitman after she frisked him during a 1996 ride-along with state police in Camden pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of drugs with intent to distribute in a school zone."
^William Still, Philadelphia abolitionist, African American Registry. Accessed September 17, 2019. "The three prominent Still brothers William, James, and Peter settled in Lawnside, New Jersey."
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