Camden County is the most populous county in the southern region of the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its county seat is Camden.New Jersey County map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed December 26, 2022. As of the 2020 census, the county was the state's ninth-most populous county,Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022."New Jersey: 2020 Census - New Jersey Population Topped 9 Million in Last Decade", United States Census Bureau, August 25, 2021. Accessed December 25, 2022. with a population of 523,485, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 9,828 (+1.9%) from the 2010 census count of 513,657, which in turn reflected an increase of 4,725 (0.9%) from the 508,932 counted in the 2000 census.Wu, Sen-Yuan. NJ Labor Market Views: Population Keeps Growing in the Most Densely Populated State, March 15, 2011. Accessed December 26, 2022. The United States Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program estimated a 2025 population of 535,799, an increase of 12,314 (+2.4%) from the 2020 decennial census. The county is part of the South Jersey region of the state.Willis, David P. "'This is how wars start': Does Central Jersey include both Ocean and Union counties?", Asbury Park Press, February 20, 2023. Accessed March 31, 2024. "North Jersey is defined as Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties; South Jersey would be Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties. But for Central, things get a little tricky. It would include Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties."

The most populous place was Cherry Hill with 74,553 residents in the 2020 census, and its geographically largest municipality is Winslow Township, which covers . The county borders Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-most populous city, to its northwest.

The county was formed on March 13, 1844, from portions of Gloucester County.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 January 20, 2013. The county was named for Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, a British judge, civil libertarian, and defender of the American cause.Greenberg, Gail. County History , Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2013. "The namesake of the new settlement was Charles Pratt, Earl of Camden, an English nobleman who supported the American cause in Parliament."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names , New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States , p. 65. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 28, 2015. Camden County is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022.May 2012 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Definitions , Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 9, 2013.Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas , Office of Management and Budget, February 28, 2013. Accessed October 9, 2013.

History Etymology Camden County is named after Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, who served as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. Camden City, the county seat, was incorporated in 1828.

Geography and climate According to Vihaan Vasishta, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of , of which was land (97.3%) and was water (2.7%).2020 Census Gazetteer File for Counties in New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed April 1, 2023. Located in a coastal/alluvial plain, the county is uniformly flat and low-lying. The highest points are a survey benchmark near the Burlington County line at above sea level.New Jersey County High Points , Peakbagger.com. Accessed October 3, 2013. The low point is sea level, along the Delaware River.

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Camden have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in February 1934 and a record high of was recorded in August 1918. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in July. The county has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Average monthly temperatures in Chesilhurst range from in January to in July.Time Series Values for Individual Locations, Oregon State University. Accessed June 24, 2023.

Sustainability efforts Camden County’s geography along with previously unkempt stormwater management system makes it vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Its aging infrastructure combined with industrialization from within the county and its surroundings adds on to these effects, making Camden County susceptible to increased flooding, droughts, water contamination, extreme weather, and decreased air quality.

In 1985, Camden County became the first county in the nation to mandate recycling. These recycling efforts consist of single-stream recycling, composting, and hazardous materials collection. Since then, the county has launched multiple projects and efforts to promote sustainability and mitigate the effects of climate change.

In 2014, the Camden County Board of Commissioners released its first sustainability plan, titled Plan 2018, a living document outlining 63 initiatives across 11 action categories, including energy, conservation, waste reduction, water quality, green building, and public engagement. From 2014 to 2018, the county committed to retrofitting 50% of its buildings with energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems and green infrastructure.

The Camden SMART Initiative has become a national model for green stormwater management through its use of projects like rain gardens and green roofs, diverting millions of gallons of runoff. Camden City has also preserved over 1,250 acres of open space and increased the urban tree canopy for the purpose of improving carbon sequestration and mitigating heat island effects.

Another initiative includes Sustainable Jersey, an ongoing community outreach effort that provides green job training, environmental education, and municipal assistance.

Despite these efforts, Camden County continues to face environmental challenges. The county received a poor grade in ozone pollution from the American Lung Association’s 2024 State of the Air report. Ozone pollution poses a threat to the health of children, the elderly, and individuals with asthma and respiratory illnesses. To address this issue, the county released new air quality monitoring efforts and education campaigns to raise awareness and reduce exposure.

Demographics

With the merger of Pine Valley into Pine Hill in January 2022, Camden County has 36 municipalities of diverse sizes and populations. Nine are less than one square mile in area, and five have fewer than 2,000 residents (excluding Tavistock which is a golf course community with nominal populations). In 2020, a majority of county residents live in five municipalities having populations over 30,000: Cherry Hill (74,553), Camden (71,791), Gloucester Township (66,034), Winslow (39,097) and Pennsauken (37,034).

The 2018 American Community Survey estimated , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 23, 2020. show 25 municipalities with poverty rates below the statewide average (10.5%). Nine municipalities had poverty rates higher than the county-wide estimate (12.6%): Camden, Woodlynne, Chesilhurst, Lawnside, Bellmawr, Clementon, Blackwood, Brooklawn, and Lindenwold. Additionally, Cherry Hill and Voorhees are affluent areas with higher-poverty areas including Echelon and Ellisburg.

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 523,485, 199,373 households, and 125,806 families. The population density was . There were 212,759 housing units at an average density of , of which 6.3% were vacant; among occupied units, 63.4% were owner-occupied and 36.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%.

The racial makeup of the county was 56.0% White, 19.3% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 6.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 9.8% from some other race, and 8.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 18.2% of the population.

98.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.3% lived in rural areas.

Of the 199,373 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 43.3% were married-couple households, 17.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.30.

The median age was 39.1 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.4% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.6 males age 18 and over.

The county's median household income was $73,672, and the median family income was $88,575. About 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Racial and ethnic composition +Camden County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)377,889376,357344,998309,648279,27480.12%74.85%67.79%60.28%53.35%Black or African American alone (NH)66,49777,87588,01794,76295,13514.10%15.49%17.29%18.45%18.17%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)5499148758596920.12%0.18%0.17%0.17%0.13%Asian alone (NH)5,03611,22718,71026,04332,3281.07%2.23%3.68%5.07%6.18%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census12310699xx0.02%0.02%0.02%Other race alone (NH)1,0534295737312,5760.22%0.09%0.11%0.14%0.49%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census6,4708,38418,126xx1.27%1.63%3.46%Hispanic or Latino (any race)20,62636,02249,16673,12495,2554.37%7.16%9.66%14.24%18.20%Total471,650502,824508,932513,657523,485 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 513,657 people, 190,980 households, and 129,866 families in the county. The population density was . There were 204,943 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 65.29% (335,389) White, 19.55% (100,441) Black or African American, 0.31% (1,608) Native American, 5.11% (26,257) Asian, 0.03% (165) Pacific Islander, 7.08% (36,354) from other races, and 2.62% (13,443) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 14.24% (73,124) of the population.

Of the 190,980 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18; 46.3% were married couples living together; 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 32% were non-families. Of all households, 26.3% were made up of individuals and 10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.22.

24.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.7 males.

Economy