Brief History of Evesham Township and its Village of
Olde Marlton:
Welsh and English Quakers
in search of farmland settled Evesham Township in the mid-seventeen
century. They sailed to Philadelphia beginning in 1684, and moved
across the Delaware River in search of farmland and religious freedom.
Evesham, New Jersey was named for Evesham, England, a Borough in
England, near Stratford on River Avon. Although, the Township may
have taken its name in honor of Thomas Eves, one of the first settlers
who came from Evesham, England and in 1676 purchased land in the
area. Eves bought several tracts in the area north of Greentree
Road, an area now in the vicinity of the Evesham Corporate Center
on Stow Road.
The Township was originally
larger than it is today; it also included what today are Mount
Laurel, Medford, Lumberton, Hainesport, Shamong, and Washington
Townships. The South Branch of the Rancocas on the East Side and
Cropwell Creek on the West Side bound this area. Evesham Township
was eventually incorporated in 1692 as one of the thirteen Townships
in Burlington County. In 1802, a tract was cut off for Washington
Township; in 1847, the Township was then divided in half, with
the eastern half becoming Medford Township; and in 1872, Evesham
was divided again, for the last time, with the northern part becoming
Mount Laurel Township.
Evesham is also known
as Marlton. Marlton is a name commonly associated and interchangeable
with the name Evesham. The name Marlton came about in the early
19th century. Marlton stems from the name "Marl".
Marl is a naturally occurring mixture of green clay with remnants
of shells that was used as a fertilizer, like manure. Its discovery
helped local commerce and fueled the first "building boom",
which took place in the 1830s and 1840s. Marl continued to be mined
locally until 1930, when the pits were finally closed. No trace
of them remains today.
The Marlton area was
recognized as a village in 1758. The village was named Marlton
in 1845. The same year the "Evesham" Post Office and
the "Evesham" Baptist Church both had their names changed
to "Marlton" Post Office and the "Marlton" Baptist
Church. The names remain the same today. Most maps and directional
signs refer to Marlton instead of Evesham. The Historic Village,
Olde Marlton, remains mostly intact and the Township requires property
owners to preserve the historical integrity of buildings in the
village.
For more information
concerning the history of Evesham Township, click on Historic
Preservation. |
Evesham Guide at CourierPost Online
 
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Form of Government
Until 1969, the Township was governed
under a Township Committee form of government. In 1969, the voters
approved by Referendum the Council-Manager Form of Government.
This form of government, which consists of a Mayor, directly elected
by the voters, and four Council Members elected at large, is still
in effect today.
This non-partisan form of government
holds its elections the second Tuesday in May every other year.
The Mayor and Council run under a slogan rather than a political
party affiliation. Reorganization of the Council occurs on July
1st of each year at which time Council appoints a Deputy
Mayor and members of Boards and Committees.
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Duties of Mayor and Council
The Mayor represents the Township at
all officials functions, presides at all meetings, and votes at
these meetings, which are held the first and third Tuesday of each
month. He signs bonds, notes, deeds, contracts and written obligations
of the township.
The Mayor and Council adopt ordinances,
which are the official laws of the Township at their meetings.
They also approve Resolutions ratifying their actions on contracts,
bonds and official obligations. They pass Proclamations honoring
and recognizing individuals and groups.
The Mayor and Council appoint the Township
Manager, Township Clerk, Township Tax Assessor, Township Attorney,
Municipal Court Judge, Prosecutor, Public Defender, Township Auditor,
Bond Counsel and members of the various Boards and Committees created
by them.
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Duties of the Township Manager
The Township Manager is the Chief Executive
and Administrative Officer of the Township and is responsible for
the day-to-day operations. The Manager also ensures that all ordinances,
policy decisions of Council and laws promulgated by the State of
New Jersey subject to enforcement by the municipality, are enforced
and executed.
The Township Manager appoints all other
department heads not appointed by Council and is also responsible
for the direction and supervision of those departments of the Township. |
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