Elmer, New Jersey

History

Elmer was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 28, 1893, from portions of Pittsgrove Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township, based on the results of a referendum held four days earlier. The borough was named for Lucius Elmer a former judge who helped obtain a post office for the community during his service as Congressman.

Elmer is a dry town where alcohol cannot be sold.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.877 square miles (2.273 km²), including 0.865 square miles (2.241 km²) of land and 0.012 square miles (0.032 km²) of water (1.40%).

The borough borders Pittsgrove Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 1,395 people, 536 households, and 390.7 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,612.3 per square mile (622.5/km²). The borough contained 577 housing units at an average density of 666.9 per square mile (257.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.05% (1,312) White, 2.15% (30) Black or African American, 0.57% (8) Native American, 0.79% (11) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.29% (18) from other races, and 1.15% (16) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.15% (44) of the population.

Out of a total of 536 households, 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the borough, 22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.1 years. For every 100 females the census counted 95.7 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 96.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $65,417 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,616) and the median family income was $78,661 (+/- $5,812). Males had a median income of $51,685 (+/- $7,458) versus $41,042 (+/- $9,148) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,065 (+/- $2,585). About 7.8% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 1,384 people, 524 households, and 385 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,599.5 people per square mile (614.2/km²). There were 557 housing units at an average density of 643.7 per square mile (247.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.25% White, 0.65% African American, 0.51% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.

There were 524 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $46,172, and the median income for a family was $58,438. Males had a median income of $39,896 versus $27,583 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,356. About 4.6% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Elmer is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by Elmer, the most common system used in the state, 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. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Elmer Borough is Democrat Joseph P. Stemberger, whose term of office expires on December 31, 2019. Members of the Elmer Borough Council are Council President Lewis M. Schneider (R, 2018), Lynda Davis (R, 2016), Cynthia L. Nolan (R, 2017), R. Matthew Richards (R, 2017), Steven A. Schalick (R, 2016) and James W. Zee, III (R, 2018).

Federal, state and county representation

Elmer is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.

New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 3rd Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Stephen M. Sweeney (D, West Deptford Township) and in the General Assembly by John J. Burzichelli (D, Paulsboro) and Adam Taliaferro (D, Woolwich Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Salem County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders who are elected at-large to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Director and a Deputy Director from among its members. As of 2014, Salem County's Freeholders (with party, residence, term-end year and committee chairmanship listed in parentheses) are Director Julie A. Acton (R, Pennsville Township, 2016; Administration), Deputy Director Dale A. Cross (R, Pennsville Township, 2014; Public Safety), Bruce L. Bobbitt (D, Pilesgrove Township, 2014; Public Services), Ben Laury (R, Elmer, 2015; Public Works) Beth E. Timberman (D, Woodstown, 2015; Social Services), Robert J. Vanderslice (R, Pennsville Township, 2014; Health and Human Services) Lee R. Ware (D, Elsinboro Township, 2016; Transportation, Agriculture and Cultural Affairs). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Gilda T. Gill (2014), Sheriff Charles M. Miller (2015) and Surrogate Nicki A. Burke (2015).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 852 registered voters in Elmer, of whom 201 (23.6% vs. 30.6% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 253 (29.7% vs. 21.0%) were registered as Republicans and 397 (46.6% vs. 48.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 61.1% (vs. 64.6% in Salem County) were registered to vote, including 79.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 84.4% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 60.4% of the vote (356 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 38.0% (224 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (9 votes), among the 593 ballots cast by the borough's 875 registered voters (4 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 67.8%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 375 votes (56.4% vs. 46.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 261 votes (39.2% vs. 50.4%) and other candidates with 15 votes (2.3% vs. 1.6%), among the 665 ballots cast by the borough's 892 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.6% (vs. 71.8% in Salem County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 414 votes (62.4% vs. 52.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 242 votes (36.5% vs. 45.9%) and other candidates with 5 votes (0.8% vs. 1.0%), among the 663 ballots cast by the borough's 904 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.3% (vs. 71.0% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.5% of the vote (329 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 21.8% (95 votes), and other candidates with 2.8% (12 votes), among the 440 ballots cast by the borough's 897 registered voters (4 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.1%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 234 votes (53.8% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 155 votes (35.6% vs. 39.9%), Independent Chris Daggett with 38 votes (8.7% vs. 9.7%) and other candidates with 5 votes (1.1% vs. 2.0%), among the 435 ballots cast by the borough's 876 registered voters, yielding a 49.7% turnout (vs. 47.3% in the county).

Education

As of May 2010, Elmer students attend the schools of the Pittsgrove Township School District as part of a full sending/receiving relationship in which the former Elmer School is integrated into the district and Elmer and Pittsgrove Township students attend school together throughout their education.

Schools in the district (with 2012-13 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Norma Elementary School for Preschool-K (167 students), Elmer Elementary School for grades 1-2 (212), Olivet Elementary School for grades 3-5 (373), Pittsgrove Township Middle School for grades 6-8 (467) and A.P. Schalick High School for grades 9-12 (577).

Transportation

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 9.54 miles (15.35 km) of roadways, of which 5.18 miles (8.34 km) were maintained by the municipality, 3.67 miles (5.91 km) by Salem County and 0.69 miles (1.11 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Elmer include: