Bellmawr ( Melisurgo, Len. "Here's the right way to pronounce 25 N.J. town names everyone botches", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 23, 2017. Accessed June 22, 2023. "Does it sound like Belmar, the beachfront town in Monmouth County? Or is the correct way to say this place BELL-more? The locals say BELL-mar, just like the Shore town.") is a borough in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 11,707, an increase of 124 (+1.1%) from the 2010 census count of 11,583, which in turn had reflected an increase of 321 (+2.9%) from the 11,262 counted at 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.

Bellmawr is home to the main post office for the area, one of the largest in the state of New Jersey, handling an average of 4.5 million pieces of mail daily.Chiappardi, Matt. , Burlington County Times, February 26, 2012. Accessed December 29, 2013. "The Bellmawr operation handles about 4.5 million letters and packages per day, and Pleasantville deals with about 500,000 pieces of mail daily, Daiutolo said."

History Bellmawr was authorized to incorporate as a borough on March 23, 1926, from portions of the now-defunct Centre Township, and was made independent based on the results of a referendum held on April 21, 1926. The boroughs of Mount Ephraim, Runnemede and Lawnside were also created in the same two-day period.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 103. Accessed May 1, 2026. The borough was named for Ernest C. Bell, who owned a farm in the area.History & Information, Borough of Bellmawr. Accessed May 10, 2022. "The borough was named for Ernest C. Bell, who owned and operated Bell Farm."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.

In 1966, the Bellmawr Police Department investigated several officers for ticket fixing. The officers were ordered to cooperate with internal investigators and give statements and told that they would be fired if they refused to do so; upon answering the investigators' questions, the officers were criminally charged. In 1967, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the officers' self-incriminating statements violated the Fifth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment, and that it was therefore unconstitutional to use their statements in a prosecution; the officers' convictions were overturned. The case, Garrity v. New Jersey, led to the creation of the Garrity warning, which advises government employees of their rights during internal investigations.Bruner, Bethany. "City issues order to force Columbus police officers to give evidence in protest probe", The Columbus Dispatch, March 25, 2021. Accessed March 25, 2022. "The protections are named Garrity rights after Edward Garrity, police chief of Bellmawr Township, New Jersey, who along with five other employees was told they must answer questions in a 1961 state attorney general's investigation into whether they were involved in fixing traffic tickets in Bellmawr and Barrington Township or lose their jobs. Their statements were later used to prosecute and convict them. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned their convictions in 1967, ruling in Garrity v. New Jersey that the statements of Garrity and the other employees, made under threat of termination, were unconstitutional because they were compelled by the state in violation of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments."

In late October 2001, the Bellmawr post office was closed due to possible anthrax contamination in the wake of the 2001 anthrax attacks. The office was re-opened several days later, in early November, after testing negative for anthrax.Hinnant, Lori. "Another regional N.J. post office is closed after employee develops possible skin anthrax", copy of article from Newsday, October 31, 2001. Accessed May 22, 2012. "BELLMAWR, N.J. -- A mail handler at one of New Jersey's largest postal facilities appears to have skin anthrax, raising more fears that tainted letters have contaminated the postal system and spread the infection."

In 2017, Bellmawr joined Cranbury, Egg Harbor Township, Montclair and Woodbridge Township as one of the first five municipalities in the state that have authorized dispensaries to sell medical cannabis.Guion, Payton. "Marijuana legalization would force tough choice for N.J. towns", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, November 15, 2017. Accessed November 15, 2017. "NJ Advance Media reached out to mayors in all five towns that have medical dispensaries: Bellmawr, Cranbury, Egg Harbor, Montclair and Woodbridge."

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 3.11 square miles (8.05 km2), including 2.98 square miles (7.73 km2) of land and 0.12 square miles (0.32 km2) of water (3.92%).2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.

The borough borders the municipalities of Barrington, Brooklawn, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Mount Ephraim, and Runnemede in Camden County; and Deptford and Westville, both in Gloucester County.Areas touching Bellmawr, MapIt. Accessed March 19, 2020.Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 19, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Bellmawr had a population of 11,707. The median age was 41.9 years. 19.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.2 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 4,779 households in Bellmawr, of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.2% were married-couple households, 20.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,962 housing units, of which 3.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.1%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 8,811 75.3% Black or African American 533 4.6% American Indian and Alaska Native 43 0.4% Asian 898 7.7% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 614 5.2% Two or more races 808 6.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,223 10.4%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 11,583 people, 4,670 households, and 3,068 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 4,883 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 86.44% (10,012) White, 2.46% (285) Black or African American, 0.15% (17) Native American, 5.86% (679) Asian, 0.06% (7) Pacific Islander, 3.38% (392) from other races, and 1.65% (191) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.68% (890) of the population.

Of the 4,670 households, 26.3% had children under the age of 18; 47.5% were married couples living together; 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.3% were non-families. Of all households, 29.4% were made up of individuals and 12.8% 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 3.06.

20.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $56,182 (with a margin of error of ± $3,809) and the median family income was $66,947 (± $3,353). Males had a median income of $47,251 (± $3,082) versus $39,932 (± $4,677) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,961 (± $1,460). About 7.3% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.9% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 22, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States censusU.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014. there were 11,262 people, 4,446 households, and 3,134 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 4,561 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 92.79% White, 1.18% African American, 0.06% Native American, 3.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.54% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.50% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Bellmawr borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 3, 2012., United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 3, 2012.

There were 4,446 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $44,653, and the median income for a family was $53,839. Males had a median income of $38,646 versus $27,050 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,863. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over. Government

Local government