Evesham Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a suburb of Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-most populous city. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 46,826, an increase of 1,288 (+2.8%) from the 2010 census count of 45,538, which in turn reflected an increase of 3,263 (+7.7%) from the 42,275 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023. Colloquially, the area is referred to as Marlton, the name of a community within the township."Evesham: A tale of two cities", Courier-Post, October 19, 2006. Accessed March 29, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "The township was named either for a borough in England by the same name or to honor Thomas Eves, a settler from Evesham, England."
The township is part of the South Jersey region of the state and, along with all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.
History The area now known as Evesham Township was originally settled by Quakers in 1672. The township's name may have been inspired by the town of Evesham in EnglandHutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 26, 2015. or possibly by a prominent English settler, Thomas Eves.
On November 6, 1688, Evesham Township was established as 'Eversham' in the Province of West Jersey, preceding the formation of the county itself.Laufer, Joseph M. "Evesham Township - Marlton", Burlington County Historian. Accessed January 14, 2015. "One of Burlington County's original eight townships, established in 1866, Eversham, was named after a Borough in England, near Stratford on Avon."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 20, 2015. The extra "R" in the name was later dropped. It was officially incorporated as part of New Jersey's first 104 townships through the Township Act of 1798, enacted by the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798.
Over time, portions of the township were sectioned off to form separate townships: Washington Township was formed on November 19, 1802, Medford Township on March 1, 1847, and Mount Laurel Township on March 7, 1872.Snyder, John P. "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", p. 95-96. Bureau of Geology and Topography, 1969. Accessed January 14, 2015. The township was considerably larger than its present-day borders, initially encompassing what are now known as Mount Laurel, Medford, Lumberton, Hainesport, Shamong, and Washington Townships. Geographically, the South Branch of the Rancocas on the east and Cropwell Creek on the west originally bounded this area.
The township was incorporated in 1692, becoming one of the initial thirteen townships in Burlington County. Following subsequent separations, Evesham Township was divided for the final time in 1872, when the northern part of the township was designated as Mount Laurel Township.
Evesham Township is often referred to as Marlton, a name that is used interchangeably, originating from the census-designated place within the township. The moniker 'Marlton' traces its origins to the early 19th century and is derived from "marl," a naturally occurring mixture of green clay with shell remnants, which was used as a fertilizer. The extraction of marl, a significant economic activity, catalyzed the first "building boom" in the 1830s and 1840s. Local marl mining continued until 1930.
Recognized as a village in 1758, Marlton was officially named in 1845. That same year, both the "Evesham" Post Office and the "Evesham" Baptist Church adopted the "Marlton" name. To this day, most maps and directional signs use 'Marlton' rather than 'Evesham'. The historical village, Olde Marlton, largely remains intact and is recognized as a locally regulated Historic District.Brief History of Evesham Township and its Village of Olde Marlton , Evesham Township. Accessed December 27, 2016. "Until 1969, the Township was governed under a Township Committee form of government. In 1969, the voters approved by Referendum the Council-Manager Form of Government. This form of government, which consists of a Mayor, directly elected by the voters, and four Council Members elected at large, is still in effect today." The township instituted full-time police services in 1966.History , Evesham Police Department. Accessed December 27, 2016. "At a public meeting in May of 1966 the ordinance known as 'The Police Ordinance' was successfully passed by the Evesham Township Committee. The Police Ordinance allowed for the creation of Evesham's first full time police department."
During the mid 19th century, the township was also home to the Milford Settlement, a community of free and fugitive Black populations that served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, being officially added to the New Jersey Black Heritage in 2025.
Until the 1950s, Evesham Township retained much of its original character. However, developers began purchasing farms and creating the township's first housing developments, eliminating significant farmland by the present day.
In 1955, the United States Army opened the PH-32 Nike Ajax facility on a on Tomlinson Mill Road. This facility served as one of twelve defense installations protecting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from potential aerial attacks during the Cold War.Bewley, Joel. "Missile-base remnants recall hair-trigger days of Cold War", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 19, 2005. Accessed December 13, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Evesham Township played a potentially crucial role in trying to protect the region from a Soviet nuclear attack during the early years of the Cold War. A half-century ago, a military base was built and armed with Nike surface-to-air missiles.... Flack became interested in the site in the 1970s while a student at Marlton Middle School, which was across the street. He maintains a Web site about the base at http://members.aol.com jf02133964page2.html The base went online in July 1955. It was built on 38 acres at a cost of $1.25 million. It contained 15 concrete buildings, two bunkers, and water and sewage facilities." The base was decommissioned in the mid-1960s and subsequently served various purposes, including acting as a civil defense center. By the mid-1990s, the site had been repurposed into a housing development.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 29.59 square miles (76.62 km2), including 29.16 square miles (75.51 km2) of land and 0.43 square miles (1.11 km2) of water (1.45%).
Marlton is an historic community, census-designated place (CDP) and unincorporated area within Evesham Township with 10,594 residents (as of Census 2020) that covers of the township. "Marlton" is often used in place of the township's name, often referring to locations beyond the CDP's boundaries.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names partially or completely within the township include Berlin Heights, Cambridge Park, Cropwell, Crowfoot, Donlontown, Elmwood Road, Evans Corner, Evesboro, Gibbs Mill, Milford, Pine Grove and Tomlinsons Mill.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The township borders the municipalities of Mount Laurel and Medford in Burlington County; and Berlin Township, Cherry Hill, Voorhees Township and Waterford Township in Camden County.Areas touching Evesham Township, MapIt. Accessed March 30, 2020.Municipalities within Burlington County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 30, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
The township is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities included within the Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering , that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.The Pinelands National Reserve, New Jersey Pinelands Commission. Accessed November 25, 2013. Part of the township is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes parts of Burlington County, along with areas in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.Pinelands Municipalities, New Jersey Pinelands Commission, April 2003. Accessed November 25, 2013.
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 45,538 people, 17,620 households, and 12,316 families in the township. The population density was . There were 18,303 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 86.98% (39,609) White, 4.19% (1,910) Black or African American, 0.12% (54) Native American, 6.16% (2,804) Asian, 0.02% (9) Pacific Islander, 0.78% (357) from other races, and 1.75% (795) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.39% (1,542) of the population.
Of the 17,620 households, 32.8% had children under the age of 18; 57.1% were married couples living together; 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.1% were non-families. Of all households, 25.4% were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.12.
23.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.9 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $88,980 (with a margin of error of +/− $2,687) and the median family income was $104,784 (+/− $3,519). Males had a median income of $73,801 (+/− $3,907) versus $50,667 (+/− $3,039) for females. The township's per capita income was $39,910 (+/− $1,464). About 1.5% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Evesham township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed April 25, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census,U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014. there were 42,275 people, 15,712 households, and 11,344 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 16,324 housing units at an average density of . The township's racial makeup was 91.26% White, 3.11% African American, 0.07% Native American, 4.07% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.96% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Evesham township, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Evesham township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.