Riverton is a borough located in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 2,764, a decrease of 15 (−.5%) from the 2010 census count of 2,779, which in turn reflected an increase of 20 (+0.7%) from the 2,759 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. The borough, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.

Riverton was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 18, 1893, from portions of Cinnaminson Township, based on the results of a referendum held six days earlier. Portions of the borough were taken to form Palmyra Township on April 19, 1894.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 99. Accessed May 30, 2024. The borough's name is derived from The Riverton Improvement Company, which was established after a group of ten purchased a that would be the site of a planned community with homes erected for many of the founders along the riverfront.Hahle, Betty. "Riverton Borough History", Borough of Riverton. Accessed September 24, 2015.

It is a dry town, where alcohol cannot be sold legally.New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014. The borough's dry status was an early character of the borough, with a clause inserted starting in 1952 by the Riverton Improvement Company into deeds for all properties in the community that prohibited the sale or manufacture of alcoholic beverages.Laufer, Joseph M. "Riverton", Burlington County Historian, October 22, 2006. Accessed September 24, 2015. "Riverton was a deed restricted community. Permanent structures on the waterfront were prohibited. Deeds had a liquor clause, prohibiting the sale or manufacture of liquors on any property in the village."

The borough is located on the Delaware River and is pedestrian-friendly, with sidewalks, gas lamps, and Victorian architecture. Riverton is home to the Riverton Yacht Club, one of the oldest active yacht clubs in the country.Americas's Oldest Yacht Clubs In Order of Year, YachtClub.com. Accessed August 9, 2013. Many residents' sailboats make their home at this landmark.

History

Riverton was established in 1851, along the Delaware River, having been laid out by Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan. According to architectural historian Henry Russell Hitchcock, Riverton was one of the first totally planned residential subdivisions in the United States.Pearsall, Richard. "Riverton: From a summer retreat to year-round town", Courier-Post, October 8, 2006. Accessed August 9, 2013. "Thus emerged, on farmland purchased from Joseph Lippincott, one of the first planned, suburban towns in the country."

The Japanese beetle, now a widespread invasive insect pest in the United States, were first discovered in a nursery near Riverton in 1916.Emergency and Domestic Programs: Japanese Beetle, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Accessed December 7, 2006.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.50 km2), including 0.66 square miles (1.71 km2) of land and 0.30 square miles (0.78 km2) of water (31.46%).

The borough borders Cinnaminson Township and Palmyra in Burlington County; and Philadelphia, across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.Areas touching Riverton, MapIt. Accessed March 4, 2020.Municipalities within Burlington County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 4, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Riverton had a population of 2,764. The median age was 45.3 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.6 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,040 households in Riverton, of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.5% were married-couple households, 17.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,109 housing units, of which 6.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,396 86.7% Black or African American 98 3.5% American Indian and Alaska Native 4 0.1% Asian 29 1.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 48 1.7% Two or more races 189 6.8% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 139 5.0%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 2,779 people, 1,057 households, and 755 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,112 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 93.41% (2,596) White, 3.31% (92) Black or African American, 0.11% (3) Native American, 0.76% (21) Asian, 0.07% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.47% (13) from other races, and 1.87% (52) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.02% (56) of the population.

Of the 1,057 households, 29.6% had children under the age of 18; 56.6% were married couples living together; 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.6% were non-families. Of all households, 23.8% were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.

21.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.7 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $94,762 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,688) and the median family income was $112,721 (+/− $9,113). Males had a median income of $81,078 (+/− $9,544) versus $50,517 (+/− $6,553) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $47,945 (+/− $4,715). About 3.4% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Riverton borough, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,759 people, 1,066 households, and 746 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,113 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 95.83% White, 1.78% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. 1.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Riverton borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Riverton borough, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.

There were 1,066 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. Another 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% 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 3.00.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $58,977, and the median income for a family was $68,125. Males had a median income of $50,950 versus $36,042 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,223. 3.1% of the population and 2.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.5% of those under the age of 18 and 2.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government

Local government Riverton 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.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 composed of a mayor and a 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 38. The borough form of government used by Riverton 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.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.