How a New Jersey township became a hub for glass, camps, and history.
In short: Medford, New Jersey, evolved from a 1670 land purchase into a thriving industrial center for glass-making. Today, this Burlington County township balances its colonial roots and historic mill sites with a unique role as a regional destination for summer camps, nature preserves, and a protected ecological landscape within the Pinelands.
The area now known as Medford began with a 900-acre purchase by Samuel Coles in 1670. Initially called Upper Evesham, the settlement grew from scattered homesteads into a village, officially adopting the name Medford in 1820 after a developer visited Medford, Massachusetts. The township was formally incorporated by the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1847, following a referendum. Over the following century, its borders shifted as portions were carved out to create Shamong Township, Lumberton, and eventually Medford Lakes in 1939.
By 1825, Medford developed a robust glass-making industry. At its peak in the 1880s, the local factory employed approximately 250 workers and operated as a company town, providing housing and a store for its employees. Although glass production ceased around 1925, the legacy remains visible in the preserved workers' homes on Trimble and Mill Streets. The town also became home to Dr. James Still, a self-taught physician known as the Black Doctor of the Pines, whose office is now a state-acquired historic site.
Today, Medford is defined by its diverse land use and governance. It is part of the Pinelands National Reserve, the nation's first National Reserve established by Congress in 1978. The township is also a major center for youth activities, hosting the JCC Camps at Medford—the largest Jewish day camp in North America—and several YMCA camps that span over 800 acres. Governed by a five-member Council under the Faulkner Act since 1980, the township continues to serve as a residential hub, maintaining a population of 24,497 as of the 2020 census.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Medford, New Jersey
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