Lumberton Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 12,559, reflecting an increase of 2,098 (+20.1%) from the 10,461 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 3,756 (+56.0%) from the 6,705 counted in the 1990 Census.
Lumberton was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 14, 1860, from portions of Medford Township, Southampton Township and Eastampton Township. Portions of the township were taken on March 12, 1924, to form Hainesport. The township was named for its early lumber industry, with pine trees cut down to supply wood used in Philadelphia.
In March 2007, Lumberton was identified as having the most active community of eBay buyers and sellers on a per-capita basis in the United States, with 46,000 items posted on the site over a three-week period by members based in the Lumberton ZIP code 08048.
The original 17th century farms in the township’s southwest revolved around the unincorporated community of Fostertown. The farms had been formed following removal of forest. The village of Lumberton grew out of two bordering towns. Eayrestown, settled by Richard and Elizabeth Eayres in the late 1600s. Eayrestown was the first substantial settlement in this area and became the center for commerce because of its sawmill. The history of some of the homes in Lumberton date back to the times of slavery. Each generation of descendants removed from the first settlers differed in opinion about slavery. The spectrum changed from advocacy and tolerance, to passive and active resistance. Many locals began to advocate for its abolition in New Jersey then nationwide. One home, still located on Creek Road in the township, has been documented as having been a site on the underground railroad. The home was originally built in 1824 by D.B. Cole, a descendant of the founders of old Colestown, New Jersey. The deed to the land where the home sits dates back to 1806 when the Coles purchased the land from the Moores of Moorestown. The story goes, and has been documented Charles Blockson’s Hippocrene Guide to the Underground Railroad, that a fake well that once rested in the backyard of the house served as a chute for slaves to slide down in order to hide from their slavemasters as they fled to Canada. The town was also a site for Project Nike during the Cold War. In the event of a nuclear war, Nike Ajax and Hercules missiles were to be launched from bases in Lumberton and other neighboring bases in order to prevent the Soviet Union from bombing greater Philadelphia.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 13.056 square miles (33.817 km2), including 12.924 square miles (33.474 km2) of land and 0.132 square miles (0.343 km2) of water (1.01%).
The township borders Eastampton Township, Southampton Township, Medford Township, Mount Laurel Township, Hainesport Township, and Mount Holly Township.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Brown, Eayrestown, Fostertown and Newbolds Corner.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 12,559 people, 4,540 households, and 3,237.020 families residing in the township. The population density was 971.7 per square mile (375.2/km2). There were 4,719 housing units at an average density of 365.1 per square mile (141.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 70.99% (8,916) White, 18.93% (2,378) Black or African American, 0.24% (30) Native American, 4.71% (591) Asian, 0.04% (5) Pacific Islander, 1.55% (195) from other races, and 3.54% (444) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.86% (736) of the population.
Source: Wikipedia
