Country United States Zip code 08070 Population 13,194 (2000) | Incorporated February 21, 1798 Local time Sunday 5:45 AM Area code 856 | |
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Renamed November 2, 1965 as Pennsville Township Weather 7°C, Wind NE at 21 km/h, 82% Humidity | ||
Pennsville Township is a township in Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 13,409, reflecting an increase of 215 (+1.6%) from the 13,194 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 600 (-4.3%) from the 13,794 counted in the 1990 Census. The township is named for William Penn. The township includes the state's westernmost point.
Contents
- Map of Pennsville Township NJ USA
- Geography
- Census 2010
- Census 2000
- Local government
- Federal state and county representation
- Politics
- Education
- Roads and highways
- Public transportation
- Notable people
- References
Map of Pennsville Township, NJ, USA
Lower Penns Neck Township was formed on July 10, 1721, when Penn's Neck Township was subdivided and Upper Penns Neck Township (now Carneys Point Township) was also formed. The township was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's original group of 104 townships. The township was renamed Pennsville Township based on the results of a referendum held on November 2, 1965.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 24.588 square miles (63.683 km2), including 21.277 square miles (55.108 km2) of land and 3.311 square miles (8.575 km2) of water (13.47%).
Pennsville CDP (with a 2010 Census population of 11,888) is a unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) area located within Pennsville Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Cedar Point, Church Landing, Churchtown, Cobbs Island, Deepwater, Deepwater Point, Finns Point, Fort Mott, Goose Island Flats, Harrisonville, Kellys Point, Marsh Point, Penn Brick Beach, Salem Cove and Travis Cove.
The Salem River flows along the township's eastern and southern boundaries.
The township borders the Salem County municipalities of Carneys Point Township, Elsinboro Township, Mannington Township and Salem. Pennsville Township also borders a section of New Castle County, Delaware, which is one of only two points of land east of the Delaware River that are within the state of Delaware, the other being on Artificial Island in Lower Alloways Creek Township.
Census 2010
The 2010 United States Census counted 13,409 people, 5,491 households, and 3,706 families residing in the township. The population density was 630.2 per square mile (243.3/km2). The township contained 5,914 housing units at an average density of 278.0 per square mile (107.3/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 94.68% (12,696) White, 1.54% (206) Black or African American, 0.23% (31) Native American, 1.42% (190) Asian, 0.01% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.92% (124) from other races, and 1.19% (160) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.07% (411) of the population.
Out of a total of 5,491 households, 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 27.3% 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 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the township, 21.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females the census counted 95.1 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 92.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $58,153 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,425) and the median family income was $71,327 (+/- $6,934). Males had a median income of $53,166 (+/- $4,370) versus $42,054 (+/- $3,006) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,275 (+/- $1,740). About 7.0% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 13,194 people, 5,317 households, and 3,711 families residing in the township. The population density was 571.1 people per square mile (220.5/km2). There were 5,623 housing units at an average density of 243.4 per square mile (94.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 96.68% White, 0.96% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.60% of the population.
There were 5,317 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.0% 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 2.47 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $47,250, and the median income for a family was $57,340. Males had a median income of $45,523 versus $29,629 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,717. About 3.1% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Pennsville Township is governed under the Township form of government. The five-member Township Committee is elected directly by the voters 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 as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2017, the members of the Pennsville Township committee are Mayor Robert E. McDade (R, term on township committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2017), Deputy Mayor Marc S. Chastain (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2017), William J. Biebel (R, 2019), Jeffery B. Cook (R, 2019) and Richie G. Raine (D, 2018).
Federal, state and county representation
Pennsville Township 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 9,062 registered voters in Pennsville Township, of which 2,572 (28.4% vs. 30.6% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,797 (19.8% vs. 21.0%) were registered as Republicans and 4,686 (51.7% vs. 48.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 7 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 67.6% (vs. 64.6% in Salem County) were registered to vote, including 86.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 84.4% countywide).
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 53.4% of the vote (3,175 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 44.6% (2,651 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (116 votes), among the 5,999 ballots cast by the township's 9,285 registered voters (57 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 64.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 3,204 votes (48.7% vs. 46.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,129 votes (47.6% vs. 50.4%) and other candidates with 153 votes (2.3% vs. 1.6%), among the 6,576 ballots cast by the township's 9,291 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.8% (vs. 71.8% in Salem County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 3,547 votes (54.3% vs. 52.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,859 votes (43.8% vs. 45.9%) and other candidates with 81 votes (1.2% vs. 1.0%), among the 6,528 ballots cast by the township's 9,041 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.2% (vs. 71.0% in the whole county).
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.2% of the vote (2,848 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 25.5% (1,007 votes), and other candidates with 2.3% (89 votes), among the 3,979 ballots cast by the township's 9,134 registered voters (35 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,959 votes (46.9% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,688 votes (40.4% vs. 39.9%), Independent Chris Daggett with 424 votes (10.1% vs. 9.7%) and other candidates with 75 votes (1.8% vs. 2.0%), among the 4,181 ballots cast by the township's 9,259 registered voters, yielding a 45.2% turnout (vs. 47.3% in the county).
Education
Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the Pennsville School District. As of the 2012-13 school year, the district's five schools had an enrollment of 1,830 students and 165.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.05:1. Schools in the district (with 2012-13 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Valley Park Elementary School with 296 students in grades preK-1, Central Park Elementary School with 305 students in grades 2-3, Penn Beach Elementary School with 276 students in grades 4-5, Pennsville Middle School with 467 students in grades 6 - 8 and Pennsville Memorial High School with 486 students in grades 9 - 12.
Roads and highways
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 90.71 miles (145.98 km) of roadways, of which 73.02 miles (117.51 km) were maintained by the municipality, 7.33 miles (11.80 km) by Salem County, 8.99 miles (14.47 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 1.37 miles (2.20 km) by the Delaware River and Bay Authority or the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Pennsville houses county, state, U.S., Interstates and toll expressways which all converge at the northern part of the township near the hamlet of Deepwater. The southern terminus of U.S. Route 130 is in the township. Route 49 begins at the converging point and travels south for about 8.2 miles (13.2 km) through the center of town. Interstate 295 and U.S. Route 40 (multiplexed together) also pass through the north which houses Exit 1 along I-295 and which is also the Delaware Memorial Bridge that connects to the state of Delaware. In addition, the New Jersey Turnpike begins where Routes 49, 40, 130 and 295 all intersect with one another, with the creation of a roadway from Pennsville to Woodbridge Township being the initial goal when the New Jersey Turnpike Authority was created in 1948. Despite the Turnpike's southern end being in the township, Exit 1 is officially located in neighboring Carneys Point Township. The only major county road that travels through is County Road 551.
Public transportation
NJ Transit offers bus service to and from Philadelphia on the 402 route, and local service on the 468 routes.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Pennsville Township include: