2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 27,912 people, 9,997 households, and 7,078 families in the township. The population density was 455.5 per square mile (175.9/km²). There were 10,749 housing units at an average density of 175.4 per square mile (67.7/km²). The racial makeup was 67.53% (18,848) White, 20.49% (5,719) Black or African American, 0.37% (104) Native American, 2.89% (806) Asian, 0.13% (37) Pacific Islander, 3.00% (837) from other races, and 5.59% (1,561) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.92% (3,326) of the population.^[22]

Of the 9,997 households, 30.6% had children under the age of 18; 48.8% were married couples living together; 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.2% were non-families. Of all households, 23.2% were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.22.^[22]

24.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.1 males.^[22]

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $63,309 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,246) and the median family income was $73,757 (+/− $4,726). Males had a median income of $49,446 (+/− $2,760) versus $38,713 (+/− $3,404) for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,240 (+/− $1,523). About 7.9% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.^[52]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census,^[19] there were 28,691 people, 10,050 households, and 7,487 families residing in the township. The population density was 465.2 inhabitants per square mile (179.6/km²). There were 10,778 housing units at an average density of 174.8 per square mile (67.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 66.03% White, 23.12% African American, 0.46% Native American, 3.18% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.89% from other races, and 4.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.63% of the population.^[50][51]

There were 10,050 households, out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.22.^[50][51]

In the township, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.^[50][51]

The median income for a household in the township was $47,394, and the median income for a family was $52,860. Males had a median income of $36,572 versus $26,689 for females. The per capita income for the township was $19,238. About 6.2% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.^[50][51]

Local government

Pemberton Township is governed within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Mayor-Council form of municipal government (Plan 1), implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1991, changing from a five-member Township Committee form based on the results of a referendum passed by voters in 1989.^[57][58][59] The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under the Mayor-Council form.^[60] The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member Township Council, all of whom are elected at-large in partisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two seats (and the mayoral seat) or three seats up for election during even-numbered years as part of the November general election.^[58][4][61]

Voters approved a November 2006 referendum to change from having all five council seats up for vote simultaneously to a system in which the elections are staggered every two years. Under the terms of the change, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the November 2010 election would serve full four-year terms, with the three other winners serving two-year terms.^[62] As the three winners with the lowest number of votes in the 2010 election, the terms of Rick Prickett, Sherry Scull and Diane Stinney ended in December 2012.^[63]

Sherry Scull resigned from office in August 2015 due to issues related to her state pension.^[64] In September, the Township Council selected Thomas J. Cathers Sr., from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat on an interim basis. In the November general election, Republican Jack Tompkins was elected to fill the balance of the term through December 2016.^[65]

In March 2016, the Township Council appointed former councilmember Kenneth Cartier to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that became vacant following the death of Diane Stinney.^[66]

In March 2018, Elisabeth McCartney was appointed to fill the seat expiring December 2020 that became vacant following the resignation of Kenneth Cartier, who announced that he was moving out of the township.^[67] McCartney served on an interim basis until the November 2018 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.^[68]

As of 2023^[update], the Mayor of Pemberton Township is Republican Jack K. Tompkins, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.^[5] Members of the Pemberton Township Council are Paul C. Detrick (D, 2024), Daniel Dewey Sr. (R, 2026), Donovan Gardner (D, 2024), Elisabeth McCartney (D, 2024) and Joshua Ward (R, 2026).^{[69][70][71][72]}

The police department consists of 57 officers and is headed by Chief David Jantas.^[73]

Federal, state, and county representation

Pemberton Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District^[74] and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.^[75][76][77]

For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 3rd congressional district is represented by Andy Kim (D, Moorestown).^[78] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027)^[79] and Bob Menendez (Englewood Cliffs, term ends 2025).^[80][81]

For the 2024-2025 session, the 8th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Latham Tiver (R, Southampton Township) and in the General Assembly by Andrea Katz (D, Chesterfield Township) and Michael Torrissi (R, Hammonton).^[82]

Burlington County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of five members who are chosen at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year; at an annual reorganization meeting, the board selects a director and deputy director from among its members to serve a one-year term.^[83] As of 2024^[update], Burlington County's Commissioners are: Director Felicia Hopson (D, Willingboro Township, 2024),^[84] Tom Pullion (D, Edgewater Park, 2026),^[85] Allison Eckel (D, Medford, 2025),^[86] Deputy Director Daniel J. O'Connell (D, Delran Township, 2024)^[87] and Balvir Singh (D, Burlington Township, 2026).^{[88][83][89][90][91][92]}

Burlington County's Constitutional Officers are: Clerk Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2028)^[93][94] Sheriff James H. Kostoplis (D, Bordentown, 2025)^[95][96] and Surrogate Brian J. Carlin (D, Burlington Township, 2026).^[97][98]

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 13,972 registered voters in Pemberton Township, of which 4,639 (33.2% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 2,433 (17.4% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 6,893 (49.3% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 7 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.^[99] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 50.1% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 66.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).^[99][100]

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 6,304 votes here (65.3% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 3,157 votes (32.7% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 105 votes (1.1% vs. 1.0%), among the 9,657 ballots cast by the township's 14,741 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.5% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).^[101][102] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 6,680 votes here (63.9% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 3,566 votes (34.1% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 143 votes (1.4% vs. 1.0%), among the 10,461 ballots cast by the township's 14,378 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.8% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).^[103] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 5,223 votes here (55.7% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 4,025 votes (42.9% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 93 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 9,379 ballots cast by the township's 13,510 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.4% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).^[104]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 3,060 votes here (57.9% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 2,092 votes (39.6% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 69 votes (1.3% vs. 1.2%), among the 5,284 ballots cast by the township's 14,549 registered voters, yielding a 36.3% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).^[105][106] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 2,879 ballots cast (49.8% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 2,536 votes (43.9% vs. 47.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 235 votes (4.1% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 99 votes (1.7% vs. 1.2%), among the 5,782 ballots cast by the township's 14,409 registered voters, yielding a 40.1% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).^[107]

Roads and highways

As of May 2010^[update], the township had a total of 222.55 miles (358.16 km) of roadways, of which 168.39 miles (271.00 km) were maintained by the municipality, 47.41 miles (76.30 km) by Burlington County and 6.75 miles (10.86 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.^[136]

The major roads that pass through are County Route 530,^[137] Route 70 in the south^[138] and U.S. Route 206 along the western border.^[139] Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike are outside in neighboring Springfield Township, but the closest interchanges are two towns away.^[140]

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service in the township on the 317 route between Asbury Park and Philadelphia.^[141][142]