Town guide · Burlington County
Living in Shamong, NJ
Shamong is a Pine Barrens township of about 45 square miles in southern Burlington County, and every acre of it sits inside the state Pinelands Area. The names you will hear most are Indian Mills, the site of New Jersey's Brotherton reservation, and Atsion, an old iron village at the edge of Wharton State Forest.
- County
- Burlington
- Population
- About 6,500 (2020 census)
- Size
- About 45 square miles
- Setting
- Pine Barrens woodland, entirely within the state Pinelands Area
- Main roads
- U.S. Route 206, County Route 534 and County Route 541
Neighborhoods
Old Pinelands place names
Shamong was formed in 1852 from parts of Medford, Southampton and Washington townships. It has no single downtown. Instead it is a large stretch of Pine Barrens with a handful of old place names that people still use.
The name is said to come from Native American words meaning place of the big horn.
- Indian Mills: By the mid 1700s this was the Brotherton Indian Reservation, the area set aside for the Lenape. The name comes from the mills the Brotherton people built and ran here.
- Atsion: A historic iron village beside Atsion Lake, inside Wharton State Forest. An iron forge was set up here in 1765 and 1766, and Samuel Richards later ran the works and built his mansion here.
- Other named places: Older place names in the township include Dellette, Flyat, Hampton Furnace, High Crossing and Smalls.
Homes
What you will find
- Single family homes in the pines: Most homes sit along wooded roads and in small subdivisions spread across a large, lightly built township.
- Rural properties: Homes on larger wooded lots, shaped by Pinelands land use rules that limit how densely land can be built.
- Protected land next door: Large parts of the area around Atsion are state forest, so some homes back up to land that will not be built on.
Worth knowing: All of Shamong lies within the state designated Pinelands Area, so new homes, additions, land clearing and subdivisions must meet the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan as well as township zoning. Ask about water and sewer early too. Many homes in the pines use private wells and septic systems, and New Jersey requires the well water to be tested before a home with a private well is sold. We confirm the water, septic and Pinelands situation on every listing from day one.
Property taxes
What taxes look like in Shamong
- 2.052%2025 effective tax rate, as a share of market value
- $10,2742025 average residential tax bill
A home worth $500,000 on today's market would pay roughly $10,260 a year at Shamong'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
U.S. Route 206 is the main highway through Shamong, running north and south through the township toward Red Lion to the north and Hammonton to the south. County Route 534 and County Route 541 also serve the township. There is no train station in Shamong, and most daily shopping is in neighboring towns.
Places worth knowing
Parks, landmarks and open space
- Wharton State Forest at Atsion: The state forest has an office, parking area and information kiosk at Atsion, a gateway to miles of Pine Barrens woods and waterways.
- Atsion Lake: The lake beside the historic village of Atsion, inside Wharton State Forest.
- Atsion Mansion: The Greek Revival country house that ironmaster Samuel Richards completed in 1826.
- Atsion Village: A historic district on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974, recognized for its architecture and its iron industry past.
Common questions
Questions people ask us about Shamong
What are property taxes in Shamong, NJ?
Shamong Township's 2025 effective tax rate is 2.052 percent of market value, and the average residential tax bill is $10,274, according to the New Jersey Division of Taxation. Actual bills depend on each home's assessment.
Is Shamong in the Pinelands?
Yes. Shamong is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities in the Pinelands National Reserve, and all of the township lies within the state designated Pinelands Area. That means Pinelands rules apply to building and land use across the whole township.
Is Indian Mills a separate town?
No. Indian Mills is an unincorporated community inside Shamong Township. Homes there are in Shamong and pay Shamong property taxes.
Why is it called Indian Mills?
In the mid 1700s the area was the Brotherton Indian Reservation, and the name refers to mills the Brotherton people built and operated. After the American Revolution they moved to New York, and they sold their last New Jersey land in 1818.
Is Atsion in Shamong?
Yes. Atsion is an unincorporated community in Shamong Township, inside Wharton State Forest. The Atsion Village historic district and the Atsion Mansion are there.
Nearby towns
Towns that border Shamong
Buying or selling in Shamong?
Every acre is in the Pinelands
In Shamong, the lot, the well and septic and the Pinelands rules matter as much as the house. We look at all of it, so your price reflects the whole property.
Call or text either of us directly.