Tabernacle Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 6,776, a decrease of 173 (−2.5%) from the 2010 census count of 6,949, which in turn reflected a decline of 221 (−3.1%) from the 7,170 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 township, 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.

Tabernacle was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1901, from portions of Shamong Township, Southampton Township and Woodland Township.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.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 274. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed October 11, 2015. The township was named for a tabernacle constructed by missionaries David and John Brainerd.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 11, 2015.

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Tabernacle Township as its 23rd best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey."Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100" , New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008. New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Tabernacle Township as its sixth-best place to live in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey."Best Places To Live 2010", New Jersey Monthly, June 22, 2010. Accessed June 22, 2010. In 2009, it was rated the #1 small town by South Jersey Magazine.Tabernacle: Tops in Small Towns, Copy of article from South Jersey magazine at the Tabernacle Township website Accessed April 2, 2012.

History The area now known as Tabernacle was originally inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans. In 1778, John Brainerd established a Christian church called "Tabernacle in the Wilderness," with the aim of converting the local Native American population to Christianity.Darrow, Chuck. "Tabernacle: Community has roots in religion", Courier-Post, October 18, 2006. Accessed June 19, 2015. In 1803, William Wilkins sold land to 28 individuals for the creation of Tabernacle Cemetery, which was located adjacent to the church.Home page, Tabernacle Township. Accessed January 22, 2012.

The church also served as a schoolhouse, but as the community expanded, a one-room schoolhouse was built in 1856 at the future location of Tabernacle Town Hall. A sawmill was constructed in the Friendship area in the early 1700s, and around 1860, Gilbert Knight built the Knight-Pepper House near the Town Hall. The property subsequently passed to the Scott and Pepper families, and upon the death of Clara Pepper in 1987, it was donated to the Tabernacle Historic Society. In the 1880s, the Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal Church was constructed on the original site, where it still stands today.Tabernacle Methodist Episcopal Church, The New Jersey Churchscape. Accessed January 22, 2012.

Tabernacle became an incorporated township on March 22, 1901, through an act of the New Jersey Legislature, incorporating portions of Shamong Township, Southampton Township, and Woodland Township.

On July 13, 1928, Emilio Carranza, known as the "Lindbergh of Mexico," tragically crashed in Tabernacle during a storm while flying from New York City to Mexico. The Carranza Memorial was erected in his memory, funded by Mexican schoolchildren, and Hampton Gates Road was subsequently renamed Carranza Road in his honor.

In 1909, the one-room schoolhouse was demolished and replaced by a two-room schoolhouse; it was relocated down the road in 1936, and two additional rooms were added. In the 1950s, the Tabernacle Elementary School was constructed on New Road, and Olson Middle School (previously Tabernacle Middle School) was built across the road in 1968. Following the death of Kenneth R. Olson in 1990, the Tabernacle School District renamed the school in his honor. In 2003, Seneca High School was established to serve high school students from Tabernacle, Shamong, Southampton, and Woodland Townships.

In 1970, the population of Tabernacle was 2,103. By 1980, the population had nearly tripled to 6,236, reflecting the rapid suburbanization of the Philadelphia metropolitan area in South Jersey. The population peaked at 7,362 in 1990, but has been gradually decreasing since then, with 7,170 residents recorded in 2000, and 6,949 in the 2010 census.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 49.63 square miles (128.54 km2), including 49.20 square miles (127.43 km2) of land and 0.43 square miles (1.11 km2) of water (0.86%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Apple Pie Hill, Bozuretown, Carranza Memorial, Eagle, Fairview, Fox Chase, Friendship, Hampton Gate, Harris, Oriental, Paisley, Pine Crest, Sandy Ridge, Sooy Place, South Park, Speedwell and White Horse Station.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The township borders the Burlington County municipalities of Medford Township, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Washington Township and Woodland Township.Areas touching Tabernacle Township, MapIt. Accessed March 9, 2020.Municipalities within Burlington County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 9, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

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 2, 2013. All of the township is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Burlington County, along with areas in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.Pinelands Municipalities, New Jersey Pinelands Commission, April 2003. Accessed December 2, 2013.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 6,949 people, 2,375 households, and 1,978 families in the township. The population density was . There were 2,445 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 95.80% (6,657) White, 1.38% (96) Black or African American, 0.07% (5) Native American, 0.69% (48) Asian, 0.06% (4) Pacific Islander, 0.94% (65) from other races, and 1.06% (74) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.76% (192) of the population.

Of the 2,375 households, 34.7% had children under the age of 18; 72.1% were married couples living together; 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 16.7% were non-families. Of all households, 13.4% were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.20.

24.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 35.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 101.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $101,053 (with a margin of error of +/– $15,205) and the median family income was $107,179 (+/– $7,238). Males had a median income of $47,947 (+/– $13,091) versus $40,231 (+/– $18,026) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,726 (+/– $3,161). About 1.1% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Tabernacle township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed April 2, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,170 people, 2,346 households, and 2,010 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 2,385 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 96.29% White, 2.09% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Tabernacle Township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 21, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Tabernacle township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 21, 2013.

There were 2,346 households, out of which 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.6% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.3% were non-families. 11.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the township the population was spread out, with 27.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $76,432, and the median income for a family was $86,729. Males had a median income of $58,148 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,874. About 1.1% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the Poverty threshold, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

Carranza Memorial – A memorial in the Wharton State Forest that marks the site of the July 13, 1928, crash of Emilio Carranza, known as "The Lindbergh of Mexico". The memorial, installed with funds donated by Mexican schoolchildren, depicts a falling eagle of Aztec design. Every July on the Saturday nearest the anniversary of his crash (second Saturday in July) at 1:00 p.m., he is honored at the memorial site by local residents and representatives from the Mexican consulates in New York City and Philadelphia.Emilio Carranza Crash Monument, RoadsideAmerica.com, undated. Accessed July 24, 2008. Delanco Camp – An inter-denominational Christian camp meeting and summer camp along Lake Agape, located here since 1964, preaching under the Wesleyan doctrine.History, Delanco Camp. Accessed April 2, 2012. The Batona Trail – A hiking trail that extends for , with significant portions running through Tabernacle Township.Batona Trail, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed August 31, 2012.