Town guide · Burlington County
Living in Riverside, NJ
Riverside is a compact river town of about 1.6 square miles where the Rancocas Creek meets the Delaware River. It began as a river resort, grew into a factory town known for watchcases and hosiery, and today is mainly residential, with a River Line light rail station in the middle of town.
- County
- Burlington
- Population
- About 8,000 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 1.6 square miles
- Setting
- Compact river town on the Delaware River and Rancocas Creek
- Main roads
- County Route 543, with the River Line light rail through town
History
From river resort to factory town
In 1850 this was farmland. Philadelphia land broker Samuel Bechtold bought farms, built a wharf and a hotel, and named his river resort Progress. The name changed to Riverside, for its spot on the Delaware, and Riverside Township was incorporated in 1895 from part of Delran Township.
When summer visitors shifted to the ocean, Riverside turned to manufacturing. Hosiery knitting mills became the largest employers by the late 1880s, and in 1892 Theophilus Zurbrugg moved his watchcase business here, converting the old Pavilion Hotel into a factory. Those industries faded in the twentieth century, and the town is now mainly residential.
Riverside borders Delanco Township and Delran Township, with Rancocas Creek and the Delaware River along its edges.
Homes
What you will find
- Older homes in a compact town: Most of the housing is in a small, walkable town that grew up around the river resort and later the factories.
- Homes near the River Line: Many streets are a short walk from Riverside station.
- Redevelopment areas: The township focuses redevelopment on four areas: the downtown business district, the Golden Triangle watchcase site, the former Zurbrugg Hospital site and the Taubels Mill site. The old Taubel hosiery mill has been torn down, and as of mid 2024 the long vacant watchcase building was still awaiting a planned apartment conversion.
Worth knowing: Riverside sits on the Delaware River and the Rancocas Creek, so some properties near the water may fall in a mapped flood zone, which can affect flood insurance and lending. Many homes date from the town's resort and factory years, so a careful inspection matters. We check the FEMA flood map on every listing.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Riverside
- 2.567%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $6,2532025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $250,000 on today's market would pay roughly $6,418 a year at Riverside's 2025 effective rate. Your actual bill depends on your assessment, so we pull the real tax record for any home you are considering.
Source: New Jersey Division of Taxation, 2025 general and effective tax rates. Rates are set each year.
Getting around
Roads and commuting
Riverside station on NJ Transit's River Line light rail sits in the center of town, with service south to Camden and north to the Trenton Rail Station. NJ Transit bus route 419 runs between Camden and Burlington through the township. No interstate, U.S. or state highway runs through Riverside. County Route 543 is the main road, connecting to neighboring Delanco and Delran.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Philadelphia Watch Case Company Building: The landmark factory with a clock tower at Pavilion and Lafayette avenues, on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. Its oldest part was the 1852 Pavilion Hotel. It has stood largely vacant for years, and a redeveloper chosen by the township in 2021 plans apartments there.
- Spring Garden Park: A township park on Spring Garden Street.
- A.A. Field Playground: A township playground at the corner of Rancocas Avenue and Fifth Street.
- Rancocas Creek and the Delaware River: Riverside sits where the Rancocas Creek flows into the Delaware, the water that first drew summer visitors to the Progress resort.
- Delaware River Heritage Trail: Riverside is one of the river towns featured on the Delaware River Heritage Trail, which tells the story of its resort and factory past.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Riverside
What are property taxes in Riverside, NJ?
Riverside Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.567 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $6,253, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is there a train station in Riverside, NJ?
Yes. Riverside station is on NJ Transit's River Line light rail, with service south to Camden and north to the Trenton Rail Station. At Camden riders can transfer to the PATCO Speedline, and at Trenton to NJ Transit, SEPTA and Amtrak trains.
What was Riverside originally called?
Progress. Samuel Bechtold gave that name to the river resort he built here in the mid 1800s. It was later renamed Riverside because of its location on the Delaware River.
What is the big clock tower building in Riverside?
It is the Philadelphia Watch Case Company Building, owned by Theophilus Zurbrugg after 1892 and later known as the Keystone Watch Case headquarters. The facade and clock tower date to about 1908, and the building is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been largely vacant for years, and as of 2024 a redeveloper chosen by the township was working toward converting it to apartments.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Riverside
Buying or selling in Riverside?
A river town with a long story
Riverside homes range from streets near the station to blocks by the creek, and age and condition vary from house to house. We look at each one on its own merits.
Call or text either of us directly.