Talk about English roots: Originally known as "Evesham," Marlton is one of the oldest communities in the New World and was named after an Old World English village just outside of Shakespeare's home, Stratford-upon-Avon, back in 1688.
Marlton may be an unofficial town in New Jersey, but it has a lot of character as its own community
Talk about English roots: Originally known as "Evesham," Marlton is one of the oldest communities in the New World and was named after an Old World English village just outside of Shakespeare's home, Stratford-upon-Avon, back in 1688.
Marlton may be an unofficial town in New Jersey, but it has a lot of character as its own community. Marlton has a rich history that has its own tale to tell and legacy to carry. Currently home to a little over 10,000 people, this town is a part of the Evesham Township of New Jersey in Burlington County, one of the largest counties in the state. As one of the original 13 townships of Burlington, Marlton is actually a community in southeastern New Jersey that has not yet been incorporated by the state. Living under the radar for the win, Marlton style! This little hidden gem was founded by a couple of young poor immigrant farmers in 1676. Now if that isn't old school, what is?
This place is definitely a sought after community, meaning those on the hunt should allow themselves at least 30 days to scout out decent places to live in Marlton. When you begin that journey, which could involve delving into the apartment complexes, rental homes, one-bedroom apartments for rent or whatever other wonderful options you desire, you will need to embrace the search process. The best way to get started is to plan a trip to look around for yourself and see what properties please you the most. Another option for getting the process going is to look online at websites that list current vacancies.
All of Marlton feels like one big neighborhood, with plenty of green space and historic buildings scattered throughout every community.
Willow Bend Road: This area is located very close by a beautiful park just east of Elmwood Road. Trees line the streets here, and there are many serviced apartments to stroll from. The Willow Bend Road neighborhood is the perfect place to settle down in a relaxed atmosphere. It is also a good place to take long walks and enjoy the great outdoors.
Taunton Lake Road: Made up of medium and small homes and townhouses, this area contains primarily newer homes built from 1970 to the present.
Town Center: This section of Marlton is the most walkable and oldest part of town, with some historic structures mixed in with homes built between 1940 and 1999. You'll find both small and medium homes alongside apartment complexes of all sizes here. The residents are a solid mix of owners and renters.
Woodstream: Like every other part of town, you'll find plenty of green space nearby in this spacious suburban community. Homes were built primarily between 1940 and 1999, with many properties on the newer side.
What's in a name? Marlton was not really called such until the beginning of the 1800's. That means that for several hundred years, this place was still called Evesham, after that quaint village in England. The name Marlton came about because of a type of material called "marl clay." This special multiple-use clay is found in the soil all over the Marlton area.
The discovery of this marl-rich soil assisted many local farmers and early business owners to prosper and expand the town. This little marl-related boom put Marlton on the semi-modern-day map. The famous marl clay of Marlton was excavated heavily for about four decades, and continued to be mined in underground digging operations until the 1930's. Around the time of the Great Depression, the mines were closed. Marl was sold all over the place locally and shipped by rail and horse-drawn wagon far and wide across the nation. It was particularly popular in the north Atlantic region around Marlton itself. But what was marl actually used for, you ask? It was thought of as a great alternative to green manure and a filler for damp ground. It was also used in waste and water treatment for a number of years, before other methods were developed.
All that history is well and good, but what is Marlton like today? Marl pits are just a memory, but there are several key landmarks worth mentioning. PH-32, a projectile missile of Project Nike from the Cold War, can be found in town. This missile makes a popular tourist attraction and picture-taking site, for all those who wish to be closer to weapons. The Nike missile is one of several in the country.
As far as geography goes, Marlton is pretty flat and dry. There are very few hills or valleys in this part of the state. On the other hand, there are many small ponds in Burlington County, very close to the area of Marlton, that provide a little cool refreshment on a hot summer day or a nice fishing spot when the season is right. Marlton is just a short drive from a refreshing dip in a pleasant pond.
Don't feel like diving in? Another famous attraction is the old Marlton Circle, a historic traffic circle area at the intersection of Route 70 and Route 73, two major routes of transit in this part of southern New Jersey. The circle itself was taken down brick by brick in 2010. It was recently replaced with a grade-separated passage where Route 73 crosses paths with its twin sister, Route 70. The entire roadway at that intersection was overhauled in 2011 to improve public safety and aid with rush-hour traffic congestion. The spot where Marlton Circle used to be, however, is still a beloved landmark. You can ride rings around it.
There's plenty of history in the buildings around town, too. One popular spot is the historic Marlton Tavern, a Victorian-era house built in 1898 as the private residence of Clayton Brick, son of Henry Brick, one of Marlton Village's most well-known citizens and the owner of merchandise stores, a cranberry bog and a piggery. It's located on the original Main Street, once known as the Great Road. If a tavern isn't your thing, check out some of the delicious Italian food in town.
In case you were wondering how to get around Marlton -- with or without a historic traffic circle, on roads Great or Main, you don't even have to drive. Public transportation is pretty impressive for such a small community. It is even possible to take the bus into Philadelphia directly from Marlton station. Yes, Philadelphia is only 25 minutes away, so you can be standing in Ben Franklin's Science Institute or running through the streets like Rocky Balboa in no time at all. You're also less than an hour away from the famous New Jersey seaside. Put on a little Bruce Springsteen and make the drive to the coast and white sandy beaches.
Or, you might want to consider just hanging out in one of the pleasant, grassy parks right in Marlton. Greenlane Farms, Eisenhower Park -- both offer plenty of space for a picnic, a stroll, or the space to participate in some recreational sports. The community is big on Little League, and of course, you can always enjoy tossing a Frisbee around.
Got a family in the mood for a little discovery? Try the Garden State Discovery Museum, just about 15 minutes away to stimulate tykes up to age 10 with plenty of hands-on exhibits.
