Burlington County is a county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The county is the largest by land area in New Jersey and ranks second behind neighboring Ocean County in total area. Its county seat is Mount Holly.New Jersey County Map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed December 1, 2022. As of the 2020 census, the county was the state's 11th-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. with a population of 461,860, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 13,126 (+2.9%) from the 448,734 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn had reflected an increase of 25,340 (6.0%) from the 423,394 enumerated at the 2000 census.NJ Labor Market Views , New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, March 15, 2011. Accessed October 3, 2013. The United States Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program estimated a 2025 population of 481,439, an increase of 19,579 (+4.2%) from the 2020 decennial census. The most populous place in the county was Evesham Township with 46,826 residents as of the 2020 census. Washington Township covered , the largest area of any municipality in the county. 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."

Burlington County is located east of the Delaware River and borders Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-largest city. It is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022. However, the county stretches across the state, and its southeast corner reaches tidal estuaries leading to New Jersey's Great Bay, which separates the county from the Atlantic Ocean.

Etymology Anglo-European records of Burlington County date to 1681, when its court was established in the Province of West Jersey. The county was formed on May 17, 1694, "by the union of the first and second Tenths."Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 93. Accessed September 30, 2013. The county was named for Bridlington, a town in England.Map and history of How New Jersey's counties were created, New Jersey Genealogy Solutions. Accessed October 9, 2013.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. 61. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed August 28, 2015.

History Burlington County, originally the seat of government for the Province of West Jersey, merged with East Jersey in 1702 to form the Province of New Jersey. At its inception, Burlington County was considerably larger but was subsequently partitioned to form additional counties in response to population growth. Specifically, in 1714, a partition to the north led to the creation of Hunterdon County. Hunterdon County itself was further divided over time, resulting in the formation of three additional counties: Morris, Sussex and Warren.

Initially, the county seat was in Burlington. However, as the population began to increase and spread toward the interior of the province, away from the Delaware River, a more central location became necessary. Consequently, the seat of government was relocated to Mount Holly in 1793.Heavens, Alan J. "Town By Town: Mount Holly keeps people coming back", The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 21, 2013. Accessed September 30, 2013. "Mount Holly, is, of course, the Burlington County seat. It has been since 1793, and many historic buildings lining the streets near the county offices are occupied by law firms, bail-bond providers, and title companies."

The period of industrialization saw significant improvements in transportation within Burlington County, which in turn enhanced the profitability of its agricultural sector. Concurrently, a population surge in the coastal communities, fueled by flourishing international trade and ship repair industries, necessitated extensive road improvements throughout the county.

Geography and climate

According to the United States Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of , of which was land (97.5%) and was water (2.5%).2020 Census Gazetteer File for Counties in New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed April 1, 2023.

Most of the county's land is coastal and alluvial plain, with little topographic relief. There are a few anomalous hills, such as Apple Pie Hill and Arney's Mount, the highest of the county and among the highest in South Jersey at approximately above sea level.New Jersey County High Points, Peakbagger.com. Accessed October 3, 2013. The low point is sea level along the Delaware and Mullica rivers.

Most of the land is dotted with rivers, streams, and wetlands. Some of the largest and most important rivers in Burlington County include Rancocas Creek, Assiscunk Creek, Pennsauken Creek, Mullica River, Batsto River, and Wading River.

Average temperatures in the county seat of Mount Holly 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 July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in August. According to the Köppen climate classification, Burlington County has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa), with relatively cool to cold winters and hot summers.

Severe weather is common in the warm months. Hurricanes have struck Burlington County on occasion, but tornadoes are uncommon. Severe thunderstorms, however, are common during the warm season. Snowfall is typical in the winter, with the snowfall averages in the county ranging from about 18 to 22 inches. The nearby Atlantic Ocean moderates Burlington County's climate, and rain is common year-round. The county seat receives about 41 inches of rain per year.

Another weather phenomenon that occurs in Burlington County is radiative cooling in the Pine Barrens, a large pine forest and reserve that takes up a good portion of Southern and Eastern Burlington County. Due to sandy soil, on clear and dry nights these areas might be colder than the surrounding areas, and there is a shorter frost-free season in these places. The sandy soil of the Pinelands loses heat much faster than the other soils or urban surfaces (concrete, asphalt) in the region, and so achieves a much lower temperature at night than the rest of the county. This effect is far less pronounced on moist, cloudy, or windy nights, as these three factors greatly reduce the radiative cooling of the sandy soil.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 461,860. The median age was 41.6 years. About 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.9 males age 18 and over. Additionally, 90.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 9.8% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 65.6% White, 16.8% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.5% from some other race, and 8.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 8.7% of the population.

There were 174,560 households in the county, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.08.

There were 184,775 housing units, of which 5.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.8% were owner-occupied and 26.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.

The county's median household income was $88,797, and the median family income was $105,488. About 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Racial and ethnic composition +Burlington 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)302,486318,109323,171317,021294,51083.43%80.52%76.33%70.65%63.77%Black or African American alone (NH)44,75855,06362,47671,24774,80712.35%13.94%14.76%15.88%16.20%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)5168667396566090.14%0.22%0.17%0.15%0.13%Asian alone (NH)4,5137,82411,28119,19325,9801.24%1.98%2.66%4.28%5.63%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 Census110193265xx0.03%0.04%0.06%Other race alone (NH)1,6113857911,4713,2350.44%0.10%0.19%0.33%0.70%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census7,19410,12222,067xx1.70%2.26%4.78%Hispanic or Latino (any race)8,65812,81917,63228,83140,3872.39%3.24%4.16%6.42%8.74%Total362,542395,066423,394448,734461,860 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 448,734 people, 166,318 households, and 117,254 families in the county. The population density was . There were 175,615 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 73.84% (331,342) White, 16.60% (74,505) Black or African American, 0.22% (985) Native American, 4.32% (19,395) Asian, 0.05% (219) Pacific Islander, 2.05% (9,193) from other races, and 2.92% (13,095) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.42% (28,831) of the population.

Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the county's gross domestic product was $27.4 billion in 2021, which was ranked 10th in the state and was a 5.9% increase from the prior year.Gross Domestic Product by County, 2021, Bureau of Economic Analysis, released December 8, 2022. Accessed July 17, 2023.

In 2015, the county had a per capita personal income of $55,227, the tenth-highest in New Jersey and ranked 228th of 3,113 counties in the United States.250 Highest Per Capita Personal Incomes available for 3113 counties in the United States: 2015 , New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed October 24, 2017.Local Area Personal Income: 2015 , Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 24, 2017. The Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked the county as having the 158th-highest per capita income of all 3,113 counties in the United States (and the 11th-highest in New Jersey) as of 2009.250 Highest Per Capita Personal Incomes of the 3113 Counties in the United States, 2009, Bureau of Economic Analysis, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 12, 2011. Accessed November 25, 2015.

Government County government