Hi-Nella is a borough in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough’s population was 870, reflecting a decline of 159 (-15.5%) from the 1,029 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 16 (-1.5%) from the 1,045 counted in the 1990 Census.

The Borough of Hi-Nella was created on April 23, 1929, from Clementon Township, one of seven municipalities created from the now-defunct township, and one of five new municipalities (joining Lindenwold, Pine Hill, Pine Valley and Somerdale) created on that same date. The borough’s name is traditionally said to derive from a Native American term meaning “high rolling knoll” or “high ground”, though it may have been named for Nella, the wife of Lucious Parker, who developed Hi-Nella Estates in the late 1920s.

The Star-Ledger included Hi-Nella in its 2010 series of articles covering “Towns that Shouldn’t Exist”, citing the borough’s small area, population and staff, along with its use of a double-wide trailer as a municipal building. Mayor Meredith Dobbs told The Star-Ledger that efforts to force the borough to consolidate with its neighbors would be “declared dead on arrival”.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Hi-Nella borough had a total area of 0.231 square miles (0.597 km²), all of which was land.

Hi-Nella borders the Camden County municipalities of Gloucester Township, Somerdale and Stratford.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 870 people, 377 households, and 216 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,773.3 per square mile (1,456.9/km²). There were 420 housing units at an average density of 1,821.6 per square mile (703.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 71.72% (624) White, 15.06% (131) Black or African American, 0.69% (6) Native American, 4.02% (35) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 5.63% (49) from other races, and 2.87% (25) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.57% (92) of the population.

There were 377 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.6% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.7% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 20.2% under the age of 18, 13.9% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.2 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.6 males.

The Census Bureau’s 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $45,469 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,794) and the median family income was $53,750 (+/- $15,403). Males had a median income of $37,222 (+/- $14,117) versus $38,804 (+/- $7,870) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,678 (+/- $3,470). About 13.5% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.0% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Source: Wikipedia