[21] The borough's name is traditionally said to derive from a Native American term meaning "high rolling knoll"[22] 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.

[23] 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".

[25] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.22 square miles (0.58 km2), all of which was land.

[1][2] Hi-Nella borders the Camden County municipalities of Gloucester Township, Somerdale and Stratford.

[26][27][28] The 2010 United States census counted 870 people, 377 households, and 216 families in the borough.

[6] The borough form of government used by Hi-Nella is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie.

The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council.

[36][37] As of 2023[update], the mayor of Hi-Nella is Democrat Michael J. Segeren, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.

Class (R, 2024), Cindy McCoy (D, 2023), Kris Muska (I, 2024), Harry Uber (R, 2023) and Robert Wise (D, 2025).

[42][43][44] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 1st congressional district is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden).

[47] For the 2024-2025 session, the 6th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by James Beach (D, Voorhees Township) and in the General Assembly by Louis Greenwald (D, Voorhees Township) and Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D, Cherry Hill).

[56][49][57][58][59] Camden County's constitutional officers are: Clerk Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D, Cherry Hill, 2029)[60][61] Sheriff Chuck Billingham (D, Gloucester City, 2027)[62][63] and Surrogate Michelle Gentek-Mayer (D, Gloucester Township, 2025).

[68][69] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 67.5% of the vote (249 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received around 29.3% (108 votes), with 369 ballots cast among the borough's 529 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.8%.

[70] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 61.9% of the vote (216 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 37.5% (131 votes), with 349 ballots cast among the borough's 497 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 70.2.

[82][83] Prior to the 2012–13 changeover, Hi-Nella students in K–8 had attended the Oaklyn Public School District.