Folsom, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 8.438 square miles (21.855 km²), including 8.202 square miles (21.243 km²) of land and 0.236 square miles (0.612 km²) of water (2.80%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Penny Pot.

The borough is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering 1,100,000 acres (450,000 ha), that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve. All of the borough is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Atlantic County, along with areas in Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 1,885 people, 688 households, and 526.3 families residing in the borough. The population density was 229.8 per square mile (88.7/km²). The borough contained 717 housing units at an average density of 87.4 per square mile (33.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 90.93% (1,714) White, 4.19% (79) Black or African American, 0.16% (3) Native American, 0.85% (16) Asian, 0.16% (3) Pacific Islander, 1.86% (35) from other races, and 1.86% (35) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.74% (127) of the population.

Out of a total of 688 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the borough, 22.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 33.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females the census counted 98.8 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 96.7 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $65,795 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,755) and the median family income was $67,778 (+/- $7,595). Males had a median income of $50,192 (+/- $6,784) versus $36,471 (+/- $4,204) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,446 (+/- $2,979). About 3.2% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there are 1,972 people, 671 households, and 552 families residing in the borough. The population density is 238.5 people per square mile (92.1/km²). There are 702 housing units at an average density of 84.9 per square mile (32.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough is 91.73% White, 4.41% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 3.45% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 671 households out of which 37.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% are married couples living together, 14.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% are non-families. 13.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.93 and the average family size is 3.18.

In the borough the population is spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough is $56,406, and the median income for a family is $59,231. Males have a median income of $39,659 versus $30,000 for females. The per capita income for the borough is $20,617. 5.7% of the population and 4.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.3% of those under the age of 18 and 4.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Local government

Folsom 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 Folsom, 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 Folsom is Republican Louis "Skip" DeStefano, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Borough Council are Charles J. Arena (R, 2017), Byron B. Gummoe, III (R, 2018), Kenneth Jantz (R, 2017), Bennett Pagano (R, 2016; elected to serve an unexpired term), Kyle N. Smith (R, 2018) and Margaret "Mimi" Veneziani (R, 2016).

The Borough Council selected Louis DeStefano in August 2014 from among three names offered by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Mayor Thomas N. Ballistreri, who had resigned earlier that month. In September 2014, Bennett Pagano was selected by the Borough Council from among the three candidates recommended by the local Republican Committee to fill Louis DeStefano's vacant council seat. Pagano was elected in November 2014 to serve the balance of the term.

Federal, state and county representation

Folsom is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 2nd state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Folsom had been in the 9th 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 2nd Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jim Whelan (D, Atlantic City) and in the General Assembly by Chris A. Brown (R, Ventnor City) and Vince Mazzeo (D, Northfield). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Atlantic County is governed by a directly elected executive and a nine-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, responsible for legislation. The executive serves a four-year term and the freeholders are elected to staggered three-year terms, of which four are elected from the county on an at-large basis and five of the freeholders represent equally populated districts. As of 2015, Atlantic County's Executive is Republican Dennis Levinson, whose term of office ends December 31, 2015. Members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders are Chairman Frank D. Formica, Freeholder District 2, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part), Linwood, Longport, Margate, Northfield, Somers Point and Ventnor (R, 2015), Vice Chairman James A. Bertino, Freeholder District 5, including Buena Borough, Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hamilton Township (part), Hammonton, Mullica Township and Weymouth (R, 2015), Colin G. Bell, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2015), John Carman, Freeholder District 3, including Egg Harbor Township (part) and Hamilton Township (part) (R, 2017), Ernest D. Coursey, Freeholder District 1, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part) and Pleasantville (R, 2016), Richard Dase, Freeholder District 4, including Absecon, Brigantine, Galloway Township and Port Republic (D, 2016), Alexander C. Marino, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2017), Will Pauls, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2016) and John W. Risley, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2017). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Edward P. McGettigan (2016), Sheriff Frank X. Balles (R, 2017) and Surrogate James Curcio (2015).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 1,229 registered voters in Folsom, of which 252 (20.5% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 355 (28.9% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans and 622 (50.6% vs. 44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 65.2% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 83.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 442 votes (49.9% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 427 votes (48.2% vs. 57.9%) and other candidates with 10 votes (1.1% vs. 0.9%), among the 886 ballots cast by the borough's 1,257 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.5% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 457 votes (50.2% vs. 41.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 441 votes (48.4% vs. 56.5%) and other candidates with 5 votes (0.5% vs. 1.1%), among the 911 ballots cast by the borough's 1,282 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.1% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 482 votes (52.2% vs. 46.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 425 votes (46.0% vs. 52.0%) and other candidates with 6 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 923 ballots cast by the borough's 1,267 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.8% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 392 votes (68.1% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 168 votes (29.2% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with 6 votes (1.0% vs. 1.3%), among the 576 ballots cast by the borough's 1,265 registered voters, yielding a 45.5% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 329 votes (57.7% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 198 votes (34.7% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 27 votes (4.7% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 6 votes (1.1% vs. 1.2%), among the 570 ballots cast by the borough's 1,246 registered voters, yielding a 45.7% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Education

The Folsom Borough School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Folsom School. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 522 students and 37.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Hammonton High School, in Hammonton as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Hammonton Public Schools, alongside students from Waterford Township, who attend for grades 7-12 as part of an agreement with the Waterford Township School District. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,384 students and 100.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.7:1.

Borough public school students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 27.69 miles (44.56 km) of roadways, of which 17.32 miles (27.87 km) were maintained by the municipality, 4.00 miles (6.44 km) by Atlantic County and 6.37 miles (10.25 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service on the 315 route that runs between Cape May and Philadelphia.

Notable people

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