As of 2020, Lindenwold had the 10th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey with an equalized rate of 4.810% compared to 3.470% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.[23] The borough is part of the South Jersey region of the state.
History
Lindenwold was created on April 23, 1929, from Clementon Township, one of seven municipalities created from the now-defunct township, and one of five new municipalities created on that same date: Hi-Nella, Pine Hill, Pine Valley (since merged with Pine Hill), and Somerdale.[24] The borough's first official meeting was held on the following May 31 in the old Fire Hall at Linden Avenue and Berlin Road. The name "Lindenwold" (German for "linden forest") was suggested by Wimer Bedford, a local resident who had been reading a German book that included the word. Bedford sought to have linden trees planted along the borough's streets, but local officials chose cheaper trees as an alternative.[25][26]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 3.94 square miles (10.21 km2), including 3.90 square miles (10.11 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.11 km2) of water (1.07%).[1][2]Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Kirkwood and Lucastown.[27]
The 2010 United States census counted 17,613 people, 7,426 households, and 4,211 families in the borough. The population density was 4,525.1 per square mile (1,747.2/km2). There were 8,251 housing units at an average density of 2,119.8 per square mile (818.5/km2). The racial makeup was 48.08% (8,469) White, 34.66% (6,104) Black or African American, 0.44% (78) Native American, 2.80% (493) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander, 10.34% (1,822) from other races, and 3.65% (643) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.85% (3,673) of the population.[20]
Of the 7,426 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18; 30.9% were married couples living together; 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 43.3% were non-families. Of all households, 33.8% were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.04.[20]
22.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.9 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $47,462 (with a margin of error of +/− $2,694) and the median family income was $55,906 (+/− $3,257). Males had a median income of $34,580 (+/− $5,293) versus $35,523 (+/− $3,099) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,793 (+/− $1,111). About 9.8% of families and 11.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.[36]
2000 census
As of the 2000 census,[17] there were 17,414 people, 7,465 households, and 4,299 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,415.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,704.8/km2). There were 8,244 housing units at an average density of 2,090.3 per square mile (807.1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 61.42% White, 28.22% African American, 0.48% Native American, 3.53% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.24% from other races, and 3.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.56% of the population.[34][35]
There were 7,465 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.00.[34][35]
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 36.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.[34][35]
The median income for a household in the borough was $36,080, and the median income for a family was $40,931. Males had a median income of $34,990 versus $26,514 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,659. About 11.3% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.[34][35]
Government
Local government
Lindenwold 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.[37] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the 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 has 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 Lindenwold 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.[38][39]
In the November 2021 general election, Walter F. Lenkowski was elected to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Joseph C. Strippoli until he resigned from office in July 2021.[40][41]
As of 2023[update], the mayor of Lindenwold Borough is Democrat Richard E. Roach Jr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Lindenwold Borough Council are Linda M. Hess (D, 2023), Walter F. Lenkowski (D, 2025), Raymond D. Morrisey (D, 2025), Odessa Patton (2024), Cheryle Randolph-Sharpe (D, 2024), Sandra Sinon (D, 2023).[3][42][43][41][44]
The borough of Lindenwold is serviced by Ambulnz (formally Jefferson Health) EMS 24/7. EMS is staffed with two NJ State Certified EMTs who operate as BLS 63 daily. EMS also covers the neighboring borough Clementon.
Federal, state, and county representation
Lindenwold is located in the 1st Congressional District[45] and is part of New Jersey's 6th state legislative district.[46]
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.[53] As of 2024[update], Camden County's Commissioners are:
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. (D, Collingswood, 2026),[54]
Commissioner Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell (D, Pennsauken Township, 2025),[55]
Virginia Ruiz Betteridge (D, Runnemede, 2025),[56]
Almar Dyer (D, Pennsauken Township, 2024),[57]
Melinda Kane (D, Cherry Hill, 2024),[58]
Jeffrey L. Nash (D, Winslow Township, 2024),[59] and
Jonathan L. Young Sr. (D, Berlin Township, 2026).[60][53][61][62][63]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 9,970 registered voters in Lindenwood, of which 4,510 (45.2%) were registered as Democrats, 714 (7.2%) were registered as Republicans and 4,742 (47.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[71]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 80.2% of the vote (4,936 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 18.7% (1,152 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (67 votes), among the 6,206 ballots cast by the borough's 10,991 registered voters (51 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 56.5%.[72][73] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 76.4% of the vote (5,208 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 20.5% (1,400 votes), with 6,813 ballots cast among the borough's 9,556 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.3%.[74] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 71.1% of the vote (4,295 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 27.3% (1,650 votes), with 6,042 ballots cast among the borough's 9,306 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 64.9.[75]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 52.6% of the vote (1,406 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 45.7% (1,221 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (46 votes), among the 2,744 ballots cast by the borough's 11,121 registered voters (71 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 24.7%.[76][77] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 61.8% of the vote (1,871 ballots cast), ahead of both Republican Chris Christie with 30.6% (927 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 4.5% (135 votes), with 3,027 ballots cast among the borough's 9,848 registered voters, yielding a 30.7% turnout.[78]
At the end of the 2007–08 school year, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden closed Saint Lawrence Regional School and merged it together with schools in Somerdale and Stratford to create John Paul II Regional School.[89]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 44.90 miles (72.26 km) of roadways, of which 31.41 miles (50.55 km) were maintained by the municipality, 12.14 miles (19.54 km) by Camden County and 1.35 miles (2.17 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[90]
NJ Transit offers bus service between the borough and Camden on the 403 route, with local service on the 451 and 459 routes, and service to Atlantic City on the 554.[95][96]
^"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.... 10. Lindenwold Equalized tax rate in Lindenwold Borough, Camden County, was 4.810 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Camden County: 3.470"
^Laughlin, Jason. "Lindenwold: A tree by any name"[dead link], Courier-Post, October 18, 2006. Accessed September 3, 2015. "Wimer Bedford gave the town its name when it became a town in 1885. In German, Lindenwold means Linden Woods. He had hoped to plant linden trees throughout the community, but while he was away on business the town government found cheaper and more affordable trees and planted them instead."
^Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes for July 28, 2021, Borough of Lindenwold. Accessed July 11, 2022. "Mayor Roach updated that the numbers are rising for cases in Lindenwold. Mayor announced that he has received a letter of resignation for Councilman Strippoli. He thanked the former Mayor and Councilman for all his years of service to the Borough of Lindenwold."
^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."
^Lindenwold Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Lindenwold Public Schools. Accessed May 16, 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 twelve in the Lindenwold School District. Composition: The Lindenwold School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Lindenwold"
^Staff. "In the fall, different schools will open", Catholic Star Herald, June 19, 2008. Accessed October 19, 2013. "Our Lady of Grace/Holy Rosary, Somerdale, and St. Lawrence, Lindenwold, will merge in Stratford with St. Luke elementary school, and the three will become John Paul II Regional School."
^Staff. "Martin's investment pays off as Morehead claims title", The Advocate-Messenger, March 12, 1984. Accessed August 12, 2016. "Harrison, a 6-foot-7 senior from Lindenwold, N.J., grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds and hit nine of 11 free throws and three of seven from the field to lead the winners with 15 points."
^DeCastro, Lavinia. "Lindenwold recalls a hometown hero", Courier-Post, September 14, 2009. Accessed October 17, 2011. "In Lindenwold, Carlton Rouh is a household name. Rouh was once Lindenwold's mayor, but he is remembered for more than his years in public service."
^Keepnews, Peter. "Jimmy Woode, Ex-Ellington Bassist, Dies at 78", The New York Times, April 30, 2005. Accessed September 3, 2015. "Jimmy Woode, a bassist who spent five years with Duke Ellington but was best known as one of the leading figures on the European jazz scene, died on Saturday at his home in Lindenwold, N.J."
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