Maple Shade is one of those South Jersey towns people drive through and then wish they'd stopped in. It's a small Burlington County township of under four square miles, tucked between Moorestown, Cinnaminson, Mount Laurel, Cherry Hill and Pennsauken. After 23 years of helping families buy and sell around here, I can tell you it has a down-to-earth, neighborly feel that's hard to find.

A little history

The Roberts family settled this area back in 1682, and for a long time it was farm country. The area became part of Chester Township in 1688. In 1794 a Main Street was built to link the old Kings Highway with a ferry on the Cooper River. A little one-room brick schoolhouse, later called the Little Red Schoolhouse, opened around 1811 and taught local kids for nearly a century.

The railroad station that arrived in 1867 brought commuters and new industry, including brick making and, later, clothing manufacturing. In 1922 the community separated from its neighbor Moorestown and elected its own Township Committee, and the name officially became Maple Shade in 1945. After World War II, farms and orchards gave way to the neighborhoods you see today.

The town also has a piece of civil rights history. In 1950, Martin Luther King Jr. and three friends staged a sit-in at a local tavern that had refused to serve Black customers.

Main Street

Main Street is still the heart of town, with a mix of mostly locally owned shops, restaurants and service businesses. Longtime residents will tell you it's changed a lot over the decades, but the sense of community has stayed.

Schools

Maple Shade has its own school district, and the setup is simple:

  • Howard R. Yocum Elementary: pre-K through grade 1
  • Maude M. Wilkins Elementary: grades 2 to 4
  • Ralph J. Steinhauer Elementary: grades 5 and 6
  • Maple Shade High School: grades 7 through 12

Students can also apply to the Burlington County Institute of Technology, with campuses in Medford and Westampton. I always tell families to visit the schools and talk with the district themselves for the most current details.

Parks and things to do

The township keeps a busy calendar. Summer movies at Woodlawn Field, concerts in the park, the Easter egg hunt at Aces Field, a Halloween parade, Fourth of July events and an early-October Touch-A-Truck all show up in recent township newsletters. Collins Lane Park hosts community events too, and the Maple Shade Library runs storytimes, a book club and other programs for kids and adults.

Getting around

Routes 38, 41 and 73 run through town, and the New Jersey Turnpike and I-295 are close by via Route 73. That makes Philadelphia, Cherry Hill and the rest of South Jersey an easy trip. NJ Transit buses 317, 407 and 413 serve the area, so check njtransit.com for current schedules.

Thinking about Maple Shade?

If you're curious about buying here, start with my Maple Shade buyer's guide. Whether you're buying your first home or selling the one you've loved for years, I'd be glad to talk it through. Call or text Jerry Mac at 856-220-1874 or visit www.southjerseyrealty.com.