Burlington County, New Jersey

WHERE IT IS

Burlington County, the largest in the state in area, is located in Southern New Jersey. It is thirty minutes from downtown Philadelphia, and one and a half hours from New York City. Burlington County encompasses an area that covers some 529,351 acres. Of that acreage, 524,140 acres are land area and 5,191 are water. Extending from the Delaware River to Great Bay on the Atlantic Ocean are some 827 square miles. The county is bordered on the north by Mercer County, on the northeast by Monmouth County, on the east by Ocean County, on the west by Camden County, and on the south by Atlantic County.
 

ITS PROFILE

Burlington County is literally the "heart of the Delaware Valley." Located within the Philadelphia Metropolitan area, Burlington County has become one of the most diversified counties in the state, boasting numerous farm lands, expanding business and industrial centers, and the beauty of Pinelands. Burlington County offers many opportunities to its residents and visitors alike.
 

TRANSPORTATION

The county has excellent transportation services including NJ Transit, Trialways and Greyhound to Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore and Washington. The county is also served by Conrail. The Delaware River's 40-foot channel and the railroads provide alternatives for bulk cargo shipping The New Jersey Turnpike cuts through the center of Burlington County. This vital segment of the Northeast Corridor has four exits providing access to all areas of the county. The connection of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Turnpikes is located in Florence Township. Major connectors to the Turnpike include: U.S. Highways 130 and 206; Interstate 295, with eight interchanges; State Highways 38,70,72 and 73. Many fine county roads serve this network, as well.
 

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

The county is served by numerous public and parochial schools and a wealth of educational facilities. Burlington County College (BCC), a publicly supported, two year institution, has a 225-acre campus and an enrollment of 6,981 full- and part-time day and evening students. The New Jersey Institute of Technology along with the BCC and the county plan to build a high technology campus in Mt. Laurel. There are also four County Vocational Schools with orthopedically handicapped, the multiple handicapped, and the autistic, as well as elementary school students who posses severe emotional and social problems. There are also facilities for the trainable mentally retarded.
 

HEALTH CARE

Burlington County has seven outstanding medical facilities. These include the world famous Deborah Heart and Lung Hospital, Memorial Hospital of Burlington County, Garden State Hospital, the Riverside and Rancocas Valley Divisions of Zurbrugg Memorial Hospital, Hampton Hospital, and Walson Army Hospital. Recent expansion has increased the total number of beds to over 1,700 with state-of-the-art patient care available in every facility.
 

RECREATIONAL

Burlington County provides a wealth of recreational opportunities including: 15 public and private golf courses; several marinas; areas set aside for gunning, fishing and hiking; and displays of historical interest. All, or part, are located in Burlington County. The Wharton Mansion and Village of Batsto have been restored to their original colonial appearance. The county has acquired the Smithville Estate, a 200-acre tract located in the southeast corner of Eastampton Township, for permanent dedication to outdoor recreation. Included in the acquisition was the historic H.B. Smith Mansion, which has been restored. It houses many fine cultural and heritage activities. Smithville Lake has also been developed into a multifaceted, water-related recreational center.
 

FARMING

Burlington County has more acres devoted to farming than any other county in the state. It produces much of the sweet corn and fruit raised in New Jersey. Dairy farms are numerous. Barclay, apples, strawberries, soybeans and peaches are other prevalent crops that the county produces. With other 23% of its land area in farmland (124,811), the County has been deeply involved in berry production. The largest blueberries in the world were developed and are raised in Burlington County. Burlington County is the second-largest cranberry producing area in the United States. In 1980, over seven million blueberries, valued in excess of 2.5 million, and 2.25 million pounds of cranberries, valued at approximately $3 million, were marketed. A continuing effort to expand the foreign market has resulted in substantial sales of fresh and frozen blueberries in England. Efforts are being made to establish similar markets in the major countries of Europe. Total farm sales in 1983 amounted to $50.5 million.
 

INDUSTRIAL PARKS

Burlington County has 40 active industrial/office parks located throughout the area. The five largest parks are: East Gate Center, located in Moorestown and Mt. Laurel; the Crossroads Business Park, situated in Burlington Township; the Millside Industrial Park, located in Delran Township; the Greentree Office/Industrial Campus, in Evesham Township; and the Moorestown Industrial Park, in Moorestown. All of these parks are adjacent to major transportation arteries. Their tenants are representative of the major U.S. and international industries. All offer a prestigious, accessible location and a campus setting for business. Industrial park land costs ranged from $65,000 to $225,000 per acre in 1984. Speculative and built-to-suit construction share equally in the office park market.
 

PINELAND PRESERVATION

Burlington County has instituted two real estate easement purchase programs to assist in preserving an uncongested and environmentally sound quality of life. Over the past four years, easements have been purchased for more than $2,400 acres of Pineland forest.
 

POPULATION

In Burlington county there are 40 municipalities. The 1990 population of the County was 395,066 residents. The population for the county is projected to increase 30% by the year 2000.