By MICHAEL T. BURKHART
Courier-Post Staff
MEDFORD LAKES

Medford Lakes' white population declined in the last decade, but the number of minority residents increased, according to U.S. Census figures.

Even so, the small borough's population remains nearly all white. And although there were still few minority residents of Medford Lakes, their number rose nearly 70 percent between 1990 and 2000.

"We suffer from a lack of ethnic diversity," said Gary F. Woodend, borough mayor. "I suppose the children live in a microcosm and maybe don't get the full feel of what the rest of the world is like," Woodend said.

But the borough does provide cultural diversity through the elementary school curriculum, Woodend said.

Among the events included on a school activities list were a celebration of Black History Month in February, Hispanic music focusing on Caribbean rhythms and a pen pal program.

Medford Lakes white population

1990: 4,400 2000: 4,068 Change: -7.55% Source: U.S. Census Bureau

In Burlington County, the 2000 Census showed a 1.59 percent gain in the number of white residents, compared to Medford Lake's 7.55 percent decline.

In the decade past, the number of minorities here rose to 105 in 2000, up from 62. Of them, the Census counted 18 blacks in the community in 2000 where only one had been counted a decade earlier. The number of residents of Cuban descent climbed significantly, rising from six to 18 residents, according to U.S. Census data.

Woodend attributed the white population drop to the children of the Baby Boom generation heading off to college or moving away. But he has no doubt that the borough's total population will rise in years to come as the children move back as young adults and start raising their own families here.

"It's going to continue to cycle like that," Woodend said.

Roosevelt Nesmith, president of the Burlington County chapter of the NAACP, said the rise in the minority population in Medford Lakes could mean minorities are getting a fair crack at buying homes here.

Tim Casey, councilman and former mayor, said Medford Lakes started as a summer colony. Today, people drawn here come for the back-to-nature setting of the woods.

In the early 1900s, Medford, with its abundant lakes and natural setting, also was known as a vacation spot for people throughout the Delaware Valley. The Medford Lakes Company was formed in 1927 and, 12 years later, Medford Lakes became a municipality.

Woodend has heard rumors of deed restrictions back in the 1930s involving race. He has never come across one personally, even though as an attorney he deals with land use issues.

Nesmith said the Burlington County NAACP has had no race complaints about Medford Lakes.

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Reach Michael T. Burkhart at (856) 486-2474 or mburkhart@courierpostonline.com

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