Bellmawr, New Jersey

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 11,583 people, 4,670 households, and 3,068 families in the borough. The population density was 3,887.7 per square mile (1,501.0/km²). There were 4,883 housing units at an average density of 1,638.9 per square mile (632.8/km²). The racial makeup was 86.44% (10,012) White, 2.46% (285) Black or African American, 0.15% (17) Native American, 5.86% (679) Asian, 0.06% (7) Pacific Islander, 3.38% (392) from other races, and 1.65% (191) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.68% (890) of the population.^[21]

Of the 4,670 households, 26.3% had children under the age of 18; 47.5% were married couples living together; 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.3% were non-families. Of all households, 29.4% were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.06.^[21]

20.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.8 males.^[21]

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $56,182 (with a margin of error of ± $3,809) and the median family income was $66,947 (± $3,353). Males had a median income of $47,251 (± $3,082) versus $39,932 (± $4,677) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,961 (± $1,460). About 7.3% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.^[39]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census^[17] there were 11,262 people, 4,446 households, and 3,134 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,715.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,434.6/km²). There were 4,561 housing units at an average density of 1,504.7 per square mile (581.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.79% White, 1.18% African American, 0.06% Native American, 3.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.54% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.50% of the population.^[37][38]

There were 4,446 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.^[37][38]

In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.^[37][38]

The median income for a household in the borough was $44,653, and the median income for a family was $53,839. Males had a median income of $38,646 versus $27,050 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,863. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.^[37][38]

Local government

Bellmawr 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.^[40] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a six-member 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.^[4] The borough form of government used by Bellmawr 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.^[41][42]

As of 2024^[update], the mayor of the Borough of Bellmawr is Democrat Charles J. "Chuck" Sauter III, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.^[43] The members of the Bellmawr Borough Council are Raymond Bider (D, 2025), James P. "Jamie" Casey (D, 2025), James F. D'Angelo (D, 2026), Bill Evans (D, 2024; elected to fill an unexpired term), Johann Fina (D, 2026) and Craig R. Wilhelm (D, 2024).^{[5][44][45][46][47]}

In December 2021, the borough council selected Bill Evans to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Steven Hagerty until he resigned from office.^[48] In November 2022, Evans was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.^[46]

In January 2016, Ray Bider was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that became vacant following the resignation the previous month of Joshua Tregear,^[49] who was appointed to serve as Borough Administrator.^[50]

In October 2015, David Spector was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by David M. Duncan until his death the previous month.^[51]

In November 2012, the council selected Joshua Tregear, from among a list of three candidates recommended by the Camden County Democratic Committee, to fill the vacant seat of Regina Piontkowski, who had resigned two months earlier after serving nearly 20 years in office.^[52]

Federal, state and county representation

Bellmawr is located in the 1st Congressional District^[53] and is part of New Jersey's 5th state legislative district.^[54][55][56]

For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 1st congressional district is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden).^[57][58] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Andy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).^[59][60]

For the 2024-2025 session, the 5th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D, Barrington) and in the General Assembly by Bill Moen (D, Camden) and William Spearman (D, Camden).^[61]

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.^[62] As of 2025^[update], Camden County's Commissioners are: Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. (D, Collingswood, 2026),^[63] Commissioner Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell (D, Pennsauken Township, 2025),^[64] Virginia Ruiz Betteridge (D, Runnemede, 2025),^[65] Almar Dyer (D, Pennsauken Township, 2027),^[66] Melinda Kane (D, Cherry Hill, 2027),^[67] Jeffrey L. Nash (D, Winslow Township, 2027),^[68] and Jonathan L. Young Sr. (D, Berlin Township, 2026).^{[69][62][70][71][72]}

Camden County's constitutional officers are: Clerk Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D, Cherry Hill, 2029)^[73][74] Sheriff Chuck Billingham (D, Gloucester City, 2027)^[75][76] and Surrogate Michelle Gentek-Mayer (D, Gloucester Township, 2025).^[77][78][79]

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 7,368 registered voters in Bellmawr, of which 3,416 (46.4% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 839 (11.4% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 3,110 (42.2% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.^[80] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 63.6% (vs. 57.1% in Camden County) were registered to vote, including 79.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).^[80][81]

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 3,064 votes (61.5% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,788 votes (35.9% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 63 votes (1.3% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,983 ballots cast by the borough's 7,875 registered voters, for a turnout of 63.3% (vs. 70.4% in Camden County).^[82][83] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 3,124 votes (59.2% vs. 66.2% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,985 votes (37.6% vs. 30.7%) and other candidates with 62 votes (1.2% vs. 1.1%), among the 5,275 ballots cast by the borough's 7,654 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.9% (vs. 71.4% in Camden County).^[84] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 3,277 votes (60.8% vs. 61.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 2,034 votes (37.7% vs. 36.4%) and other candidates with 36 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,389 ballots cast by the borough's 7,307 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.8% (vs. 71.3% in the whole county).^[85]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.0% of the vote (1,678 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.3% (939 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (45 votes), among the 2,759 ballots cast by the borough's 7,921 registered voters (97 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 34.8%.^[86][87] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 1,422 ballots cast (46.4% vs. 53.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,348 votes (44.0% vs. 38.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 170 votes (5.5% vs. 4.5%) and other candidates with 57 votes (1.9% vs. 1.1%), among the 3,066 ballots cast by the borough's 7,349 registered voters, yielding a 41.7% turnout (vs. 40.8% in the county).^[88]

Roads and highways

As of May 2010^[update], the borough had a total of 45.98 miles (74.00 km) of roadways, of which 34.87 miles (56.12 km) were maintained by the municipality, 5.62 miles (9.04 km) by Camden County, 4.57 miles (7.35 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.92 miles (1.48 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.^[105]

The New Jersey Turnpike is the most prominent highway passing through Bellmawr.^[106] It crosses the southern part of the borough, and part of interchange 3 is located within Bellmawr. Both the interchange and the toll gate (which features six lanes at the gate) runs along the border with Runnemede.^[107] Bellmawr also hosts the interchange between the "North-South Freeway" (Route 42^[108] / Interstate 76^[109]) and Interstate 295.^[110][111] Additional significant roads that pass through Bellmawr include Route 168^[112] and a very small portion of U.S. Route 130. The only major county road that passes through Bellmawr is County Route 551 Spur in the western part of the borough.^[113][114]

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service is available in the borough on the 400 route between Sicklerville and Philadelphia.^[115][116]