The area became known as "Barrington" in the 1880s, when William Simpson, one of the partners that developed the area, chose the name from his home in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.[22]
Barrington was incorporated as a borough on March 27, 1917, from portions of the now-defunct Centre Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 17, 1917. Portions of the borough were taken on March 24, 1926, to form Lawnside.[23]
The borough had the 30th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.069% in 2020, compared to 3.470% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.[24]
Of the 2,988 households, 25.8% had children under the age of 18; 44.2% were married couples living together; 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 39.6% were non-families. Of all households, 33.3% were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 3.01.[19]
20.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.7 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $56,681 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,097) and the median family income was $81,398 (+/− $9,410). Males had a median income of $48,028 (+/− $7,016) versus $41,534 (+/− $5,225) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,987 (+/− $2,091). About 2.0% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.[34]
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 7,084 people, 3,028 households, and 1,831 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,411.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,703.3/km2). There were 3,164 housing units at an average density of 1,970.3 per square mile (760.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.61% White, 4.16% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.44% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.84% of the population.[32][33]
There were 3,028 households, out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 3.04.[32][33]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.[32][33]
The median income for a household in the borough was $45,148, and the median income for a family was $59,706. Males had a median income of $41,211 versus $31,927 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,434. About 0.4% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.[32][33]
Barrington 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.[37] The governing body is comprised 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.[6] The borough form of government used by Barrington 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.[38][39]
As of 2024[update], the mayor of the Borough of Barrington is Democrat Kyle Hanson, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Michael L. Beach (D, 2025), Vincent Cerrito (D, 2026), Michael Drumm (D, 2024), Shawn Ludwig (D, 2024), Melanie Mercado-Miller (D, 2026) and Wayne Robenolt (D, 2025).[3][40][41][42][43]
Wayne Robenolt was elected to fill the vacant seat of Harry Vincent, who died in January 2012.[44]
Camden County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members chosen at-large in partisan elections for three-year terms on a staggered basis by the residents of the county, with either two or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At a reorganization meeting held in January after each election, the newly constituted Board of Commissioners selects one member to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director, each serving a one-year term in that role.[53] As of 2025[update], Camden County's Commissioners are:
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. (D, Collingswood, 2026),[54]
Commissioner Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell (D, Pennsauken Township, 2025),[55]
Virginia Ruiz Betteridge (D, Runnemede, 2025),[56]
Almar Dyer (D, Pennsauken Township, 2027),[57]
Melinda Kane (D, Cherry Hill, 2027),[58]
Jeffrey L. Nash (D, Winslow Township, 2027),[59] and
Jonathan L. Young Sr. (D, Berlin Township, 2026).[60][53][61][62][63]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,823 registered voters in Barrington, of which 1,826 (37.9% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 860 (17.8% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 2,132 (44.2% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[71] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 69.1% (vs. 57.1% in Camden County) were registered to vote, including 87.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).[71][72]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,015 votes (59.3% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,310 votes (38.6% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 42 votes (1.2% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,398 ballots cast by the borough's 5,155 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.9% (vs. 70.4% in Camden County).[73][74] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,079 votes (57.8% vs. 66.2% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,396 votes (38.8% vs. 30.7%) and other candidates with 60 votes (1.7% vs. 1.1%), among the 3,599 ballots cast by the borough's 4,936 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.9% (vs. 71.4% in Camden County).[75] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 2,036 votes (56.8% vs. 61.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,503 votes (42.0% vs. 36.4%) and other candidates with 27 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,582 ballots cast by the borough's 4,679 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.6% (vs. 71.3% in the whole county).[76]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.2% of the vote (1,147 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.4% (653 votes), and other candidates with 2.4% (45 votes), among the 1,904 ballots cast by the borough's 5,094 registered voters (59 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 37.4%.[77][78] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 998 votes (47.1% vs. 38.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 929 votes (43.8% vs. 53.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 130 votes (6.1% vs. 4.5%) and other candidates with 35 votes (1.7% vs. 1.1%), among the 2,119 ballots cast by the borough's 4,703 registered voters, yielding a 45.1% turnout (vs. 40.8% in the county).[79]
St. Francis De Sales Regional School was an elementary school that operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. The school closed after the 2008–2009 school year in the face of declining enrollment and rising costs.[93] Annunciation School in Bellmawr had been closed by the diocese at the end of the 2007–2008 school year and merged into the Barrington school.[94]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 25.57 miles (41.15 km) of roadways, of which 17.95 miles (28.89 km) were maintained by the municipality, 5.22 miles (8.40 km) by Camden County, 1.39 miles (2.24 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 1.01 miles (1.63 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[95]
The New Jersey Turnpike is the most prominent highway traversing Barrington. It passes through for 1.0 mile (1.6 km), connecting Bellmawr on the west with Lawnside in the east.[96] The closest exit is Interchange 3 in neighboring Bellmawr / Runnemede.[97]
Other major roads that pass through the borough include Interstate 295, which passes through briefly, with Exit 29 connecting the expressway with U.S. Route 30 and Route 41.
Charlie Manuel (born 1944), baseball executive for the Philadelphia Phillies, and a former professional baseball outfielder, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball[106]
^History, Borough of Barrington. Accessed December 11, 2014. "Shortly after 1880, residents could tell their friends they lived in Barrington. In 1880, Burr Haines acquired a large tract of land on Clements Bridge Road and sold part of it to a syndicate. The name 'Burrwood' was proposed for the sold portion. William Simpson, however, a member of the syndicate impressed with the beauty of Great Barrington, his former home in Massachusetts, won over his colleagues, naming the tract 'Barrington.'"
^"Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 30. Barrington Equalized tax rate in Barrington Borough, Camden County, was 4.069 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Camden County: 3.470"
^Full Biography, Congressman Donald Norcross. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Donald and his wife Andrea live in Camden City and are the proud parents of three grown children and grandparents of two."
^Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Barrington School District, New Jersey Department of Education, year ending June 30, 2019. Accessed August 17, 2020. "The Barrington School District ('School District') is a Type II district located in the County of Camden, State of New Jersey. As a Type II district, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education. The Board of Education is comprised of nine members elected to three-year terms. These terms are staggered so that three member's terms expire each year. The purpose of the School District is to provide educational services for resident students in grades K through 8. Students in grades 9 through 12, attend, on a tuition basis, the Haddon Heights High School District."
^Barrington Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Barrington Public Schools. Accessed September 13, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Barrington School District. Composition: The Barrington School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Barrington."
^Haddon Heights High School 2015-2016 Profile, Haddon Heights School District. Accessed December 8, 2017. "The rich fabric of our student body is enhanced by a diverse population, coming to us from the neighboring communities of Barrington, Lawnside and Merchantville (starting with the Class of 2019)"
^Correa, Mark. "Haddon Heights board OKs plan to bring Merchantville students to high school", Barrington Bulletin, September 16, 2013. Accessed December 11, 2014. "The Haddon Heights School District Board of Education approved a contract with the Merchantville School District this month that would add Merchantville to Barrington and Lawnside as communities that send students to Haddon Heights High School, the district confirmed.... Barrington is projected in coming years to send about 263 students per year to Haddon Heights High School, the study said."
^Staff. "Catholic school in Barrington is shut down", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 18, 2009. Accessed August 25, 2013. "Just one month after saying that Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Regional School in Barrington would reopen next year, the Diocese of Camden announced yesterday that it was closing the school for good. Bishop Joseph Galante explained in a letter that the school - in operation for just one year - had suffered an enrollment decline so steep that five pastors whose parishes sent children to Sacred Heart had urged him to close it."
^Staff. "In the fall, different schools will open", Catholic Star Herald, June 19, 2008. Accessed August 25, 2013. "Annunciation, Bellmawr, will merge with St. Francis de Sales, Barrington, for a new school, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, at the Barrington site."
^Walsh, Jim. "Cruz-Perez in line for Senate seat", Courier-Post, December 10, 2014. Accessed December 8, 2017. "Former Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez of Barrington is in line for appointment to a state Senate seat, South Jersey's Democratic organization said Wednesday."
^Arnold, Peter. "State Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth Discusses Environmental Issues Facing State Legislature", Baltimore Jewish Living, December 9, 2019. Accessed January 14, 2021. "Jmore recently spoke to Elfreth about her views on environmental change. The youngest woman to ever be elected to the State Senate, Elfreth, 31, a native of Barrington, N.J., serves a district that includes Annapolis and southern Anne Arundel County."
^Strauss, Robert. "Welcome to Jocktown: How Haddonfield became Mecca for pro athletes", Philadelphia Daily News, October 19, 2012. Accessed August 12, 2019. "Manuel, who during the season actually lives two houses across the town line in Barrington, often hangs out at Caravelli Brothers barber shop on Kings Highway, right near the PATCO train station, according to shop owner Anthony Fiore."
^Staff. "Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey: 1979 edition", p. 221. Fitzgerald's, 1979. Accessed September 30, 2016. "Ereest F. Shuck (Dem., Barrington) - Assemblyman Schuck was born in Bridgeboro, March 1, 1929. He was graduated at Palmyra High School and attended Rutgers University College."