[20] The township, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.

The area now known as Medford first saw European settlement when Samuel Coles purchased 900 acres (360 ha) of land in 1670.

Shortly thereafter, families such as the Braddock, Prickett, Stratton, Branin, and Wilkins relocated to the area, many of whom have descendants residing in Medford today.

Initially known as Upper Evesham, the area gradually developed from scattered homesteads into a small village.

Several structures and roads built between the initial land sale and the American Revolutionary War, including Oliphant's Mill, Christopher's Mill, and the Shamong Trail (now Stokes Road), still exist today.

In 1820, the area officially adopted the name Medford of Upper Evesham with the establishment of a post office.

This name was proposed by Mark Reeve, a developer who had recently visited Medford, Massachusetts.

[22] By 1825, a thriving glass-making industry had emerged in Medford, beginning with a furnace that produced window panes.

[25] Dr. James Still (1812–1882), a self-taught African-American physician known as "the Black Doctor of the Pines," lived and practiced in Medford.

Although his home was demolished in 1932, his office building was preserved when the State of New Jersey acquired it in 2006.

[26] Medford's location along the Camden and Atlantic Railroad facilitated trade and contributed to rapid growth in the years following the American Civil War.

Despite these changes, Medford continued to grow, largely due to its proximity to Philadelphia and Camden County, attracting families seeking a more rural lifestyle away from urban areas.

[34] The 2010 United States census counted 23,033 people, 8,277 households, and 6,456 families in the township.

[44][45] Brothers Charlie and Richie Ingui founded and sing with the R&B group Soul Survivors.

[50] Medford Township operates within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Council-Manager (Plan E) form of municipal government, implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of January 1, 1980.

[6][3][59] Mayor Chris Myers resigned from the Township Council in December 2011, after it was disclosed that he had hired a male escort.

[60][61] The township council selected Brad Denn in October 2014 from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of James "Randy" Pace, who resigned from office after he moved out of state.

[63] In March 2019, Lauren Kochan was selected from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the unexpired term of office ending in December 2019 that had been vacated the previous month by Chris Buoni, who announced that he was moving out of the township.

[69][70][71] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 3rd congressional district is currently represented Herb Conaway (D, Delran Township).

[73] For the 2024-2025 session, the 8th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Latham Tiver (R, Southampton Township) and in the General Assembly by Andrea Katz (D, Chesterfield Township) and Michael Torrissi (R, Hammonton).

[74] Burlington County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of five members who are chosen at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year; at an annual reorganization meeting, the board selects a director and deputy director from among its members to serve a one-year term.

[97] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 72.2% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 97.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).