Paulsboro, New Jersey

History

Paulsboro is the home of Fort Billingsport, the first land purchase made by the United States, acquired the day after the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.

Paulsboro is the location of the Tinicum Island Rear Range Lighthouse, first lit on the night of December 31, 1880. In 1997 a local citizen's group was established with the purpose of providing tours and public access to the structure. The lighthouse is one of New Jersey's few publicly accessible aids to navigation and is the centerpiece of Paulsboro's cultural revitalization.

The East Jefferson Street railroad bridge over Mantua Creek was built in 1917 and rebuilt in 1940 for the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL). It is now part of Conrail's Penns Grove Secondary. On November 30, 2012 it buckled, causing seven cars of a freight train to derail. One of the four tanker cars that fell into the creek was punctured, leaking thousands of gallons of vinyl chloride. Homes in the borough had to be evacuated and dozens of people went to hospitals as a precautionary measure due to exposure to the chemicals. Some residents in the area have filed suit against Conrail and CSX in Pennsylvania State Court having "complained about respiratory and bronchial related illnesses, headaches, eye and skin irritations and multiple other symptoms." In March 2013, Conrail announced that the bridge would be replaced with an expected September 2014 operational date. Normally, between March 1 and November 30 the bridge is left in the open position for maritime traffic and closed when trains approach. It will remain locked in the closed position until the bridge is replaced. In September 2013, another less serious derailment took place along the Paulsboro Gibbstown border, with one car leaving the tracks on a train consisting mostly of empty tanker cars.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.605 square miles (6.745 km²), including 1.896 square miles (4.910 km²) of land and 0.709 square miles (1.836 km²) of water (27.21%).

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

The borough borders the Gloucester County municipalities of East Greenwich Township, Greenwich Township, West Deptford Township and the Delaware River.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 6,097 people, 2,286 households, and 1,591 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,216.4 per square mile (1,241.9/km²). The borough contained 2,533 housing units at an average density of 1,336.2 per square mile (515.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 54.49% (3,322) White, 36.72% (2,239) Black or African American, 0.34% (21) Native American, 0.71% (43) Asian, 0.07% (4) Pacific Islander, 2.35% (143) from other races, and 5.33% (325) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.89% (542) of the population.

Out of a total of 2,286 households, 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.7% were married couples living together, 28.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the borough, 28.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.7 years. For every 100 females the census counted 88.4 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 82.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $43,846 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,449) and the median family income was $61,147 (+/- $5,392). Males had a median income of $51,923 (+/- $6,640) versus $37,826 (+/- $5,863) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,061 (+/- $2,252). About 8.2% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 6,160 people, 2,353 households, and 1,614 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,140.8 people per square mile (1,213.5/km²). There were 2,628 housing units at an average density of 1,339.9 per square mile (517.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 63.56% White, 31.64% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.31% from other races, and 2.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.35% of the population.

There were 2,353 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 24.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% 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 3.15.

In the borough the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $35,569, and the median income for a family was $41,359. Males had a median income of $32,313 versus $24,779 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,368. About 14.6% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Paulsboro 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 Paulsboro, 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 the Borough of Paulsboro is Democrat Gary C. Stevenson, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Paulsboro Borough Council are Council President John A. Giovannitti (D, 2016), Eric DiTonno (D, 2016; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Alfonso G. Giampola (D, 2018), Larry Haynes Sr. (D, 2018), Theodore D. Holloway, II (D, 2017) and Joe L. Kidd (D, 2017).

In January 2016, the Borough Council selected Eric Ditonno to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that was vacated by Gary C. Stevenson when he took office as mayor.

Gary Stevenson was chosen in January 2012 to fill the vacant council seat of W. Jeffery Hamilton expiring in 2013, who left his seat after being sworn in as mayor. Alfonso Giampola was appointed in May 2012 to fill the vacant seat of Paul Morina for a term ending in 2014.

Federal, state and county representation

Paulsboro is located in the First Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.

New Jersey's First Congressional District is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden). 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).

Gloucester County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose seven members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis in partisan elections, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. At a reorganization meeting held each January, the Board selects a Freeholder Director and a Deputy Freeholder Director from among its members. As of 2016, Gloucester County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger (D, West Deptford Township; term ends December 31, 2018), Deputy Freeholder Director Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D, Woolwich Township; 2018), Lyman J. Barnes (D, Logan Township; 2017), Daniel Christy (D, Washington Township; 2016), Frank J. DiMarco (D, Deptford Township; 2016), Heather Simmons (D, Glassboro; 2017) and Jim Jefferson (D, Woodbury; 2017). Constitutional officers elected countywide are County Clerk James N. Hogan, Surrogate Helene M. Reed (Monroe Township) and Sheriff Carmel Morina (Greenwich Township).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,635 registered voters in Paulsboro, of which 1,866 (51.3%) were registered as Democrats, 251 (6.9%) were registered as Republicans and 1,516 (41.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 78.8% of the vote (1,945 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 20.3% (501 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (21 votes), among the 2,489 ballots cast by the borough's 3,817 registered voters (22 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 65.2%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 76.0% of the vote (2,059 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 21.6% (586 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (33 votes), among the 2,708 ballots cast by the borough's 3,958 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 71.6% of the vote (1,806 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 27.4% (691 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (16 votes), among the 2,524 ballots cast by the borough's 3,796 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 66.5.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 55.0% of the vote (741 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 43.9% (592 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (14 votes), among the 1,467 ballots cast by the borough's 3,630 registered voters (120 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 63.2% of the vote (1,031 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 23.3% (381 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.3% (102 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (11 votes), among the 1,632 ballots cast by the borough's 3,814 registered voters, yielding a 42.8% turnout.

Education

The Paulsboro Public Schools serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's three schools had an enrollment of 1,219 students and 111.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.98:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Billingsport Early Childhood Center (grades K-2; 351 students), Loudenslager Elementary School (3-6; 321) and Paulsboro High School for grades 7-12 (547).

Students in ninth through twelfth grades from Greenwich Township attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Greenwich Township School District.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 26.02 miles (41.88 km) of roadways, of which 22.58 miles (36.34 km) were maintained by the municipality, 1.62 miles (2.61 km) by Gloucester County and 1.82 miles (2.93 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Interstate 295 passes through the southern tip of Paulsboro and Route 44 also traverses the borough.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service is available between Pennsville Township and Philadelphia on the 402 route, with local service offered on the 455 route between Cherry Hill Mall and Woodbury.

Port of Paulsboro

The Port of Paulsboro is located on the Delaware River and Mantua Creek in and around Paulsboro, and is traditionally one of the nation's busiest for marine transfer operations of petroleum products. From 1998 to early 2011, the Valero Energy Corporation operated an oil refinery here, which it sold in a 2010 deal to PBF Energy for $360 million. The port is being redeveloped as an adaptable omniport able to handle a diversity of bulk, break bulk cargo and shipping containers. Studies completed in 2012 concluded that the port is well-suited to become a center for the manufacture, assembly, and transport of wind turbines and platforms for the development of Atlantic Wind Connection The port has also been home to America's largest asphalt refinery, scheduled to close in 2017.

Notable people

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