Berlin Township is a township in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 5,867, an increase of 510 (+9.5%) from the 2010 census count of 5,357, which in turn reflected an increase of 67 (+1.3%) from the 5,290 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.

History Berlin was incorporated as a township on April 11, 1910, from portions of Waterford Township. Portions of the township were taken on March 29, 1927, to form Berlin Borough, based on the results of a referendum held on April 26, 1927.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 103. Accessed October 4, 2012. The township was named for the city of Berlin, Germany.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed May 1, 2026.

After a majority of residents supported the change, the township voted to assign all Berlin Township residents the common ZIP code of 08091 for West Berlin starting in February 1995, ending a system in which some township residents had been served by post offices in Atco and Berlin.Weis, Lillian. "Ordinance to deliver a single zip code to residents of Berlin Twp.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 15, 1995. Accessed September 19, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The key change will come Feb. 1, when all township residents will have a single zip code and their mail delivered through one post office, known as West Berlin 08091. West Berlin, Atco and Berlin Borough's post offices service the area. But over the years, there was some confusion among residents in Atco and Berlin Borough zip codes over which police or fire department serves them. During the summer, a majority of residents responding to a U.S. Postal Service survey voted in favor of having one zip code and one post office serve Berlin Township."

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 3.35 square miles (8.67 km2), including 3.34 square miles (8.66 km2) of land and 0.01 square miles (0.02 km2) of water (0.18%).

The township borders the municipalities of Berlin Borough, Lindenwold, Voorhees Township, and Waterford Township in Camden County; and Evesham Township in Burlington County.Areas touching Berlin Township, MapIt. Accessed March 19, 2020.Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 19, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Crow Foot, Reed Crossing and West Berlin are unincorporated communities located within the township.New Jersey Local Names, State of New Jersey. Accessed December 30, 2013.

The township is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey 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 December 30, 2013. Part of the borough is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Camden County, along with areas in Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.Pinelands Municipalities, New Jersey Pinelands Commission, April 2003. Accessed December 30, 2013.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 5,357 people, 1,975 households, and 1,363 families in the township. The population density was . There were 2,069 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 77.19% (4,135) White, 11.57% (620) Black or African American, 0.19% (10) Native American, 5.13% (275) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.79% (203) from other races, and 2.13% (114) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.29% (444) of the population.

Of the 1,975 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18; 50.3% were married couples living together; 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.0% were non-families. Of all households, 25.1% were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.25.

22.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $61,029 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,347) and the median family income was $70,777 (+/− $6,678). Males had a median income of $50,286 (+/− $4,262) versus $41,250 (+/− $8,550) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,184 (+/− $2,541). About 4.6% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 4, 2012.

2000 census 2000 As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,290 people, 1,893 households, and 1,368 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 2,009 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 82.46% White, 11.87% African American, 0.17% Native American, 2.70% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.80% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Berlin township, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 4, 2012., United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 4, 2012.

There were 1,893 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $54,448, and the median income for a family was $61,042. Males had a median income of $37,240 versus $28,703 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,178. About 4.8% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government In 1973, Berlin Township changed its form of government from the Township form to a Faulkner Act Small Municipality form, and now operates under plan 3 of the Small Municipality form, as implemented on January 1, 1988, by direct petition."The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities, July 2007. Accessed October 7, 2013. The township is one of 18 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government, which is available only to municipalities with fewer than 12,000 residents at the time of adoption.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of four Council members and the Mayor, all elected at-large. The mayor serves a four-year term of office and the councilmembers serve a three-year term, with two council seats coming up for election each year for two years and no council seats up for vote in the third year of the cycle. The candidates run in partisan elections at regular primary and are elected at the November general election. Independent candidates, having declared their intentions at primary time, run only in the general election.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 33."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 14. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.Township Code Article II: Governing Body, Berlin Township. Accessed December 12, 2014. "§ 3-11 Composition. The governing body of the Township of Berlin shall be composed of the Mayor and four members of Council. § 3-12 Term of Mayor. The term of the Mayor of the Township shall be set at four years, beginning with the election of November 2005. § 3-13 Term of Council members. Each Council member shall continue to be elected for a term of three years."

This type of government is a strong mayor form in which the Mayor, as chief executive, is responsible for all administrative functions. The Mayor presides at Council meetings, voting and participating as a member of Council. The Mayor appoints, with Council's approval, the following: Tax Assessor, Tax Collector, Clerk, Treasurer, Zoning Officer, Construction Official, Court Administrator, Attorney and Engineer. The Mayor is responsible for the budget; enforcing the charter (State law) and all ordinances (local laws), and the preparation of an annual report for the Council and residents. The Council has legislative and policy-making power. It elects a Council President annually to preside in the Mayor's absence. The Mayor appoints Council members to serve as liaisons to the Recreation Committee, Finance Committee, Athletic Association, Public Works, Special Events, School Board, Public Safety and Senior Citizens. The Mayor and one council member are members of the Planning and Zoning Board.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.

, the Mayor of Berlin Township is Democrat Phyllis A. Jeffries Magazzu, whose term of office ends December 31, 2029. Members of the Township Council are Frank Epifanio (D, 2027), Francis A. McHenry (D, 2028), Kimberly E. Reed (R, 2028) and Mark Reid (D, 2027).Mayor and Council, Berlin Township. Accessed January 26, 2026.2025 Municipal Data Sheet, Berlin Township. Accessed January 26, 2026.Official Election Results 2025 General Election November 4, 2025, Camden County, New Jersey, as of November 18, 2025. Accessed January 1, 2026.Official Election Results 2024 General Election November 5, 2024, Camden County, New Jersey, update November 19, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.Official Election Results 2023 General Election November 7, 2023, Camden County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.