Editing Port Norris, New Jersey

{{Short description|Populated place in Cumberland County, New Jersey, US}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Port Norris, New Jersey
| settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]

<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = 2018-08-08 12 42 26 View south at the south end of Cumberland County Route 553 (Main Street) at Hands Landing Road and Ogden Avenue in Commercial Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey.jpg
| image_caption            = Along Main Street near Ogden Avenue
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    =

<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = Cumberland County New Jersey Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Port Norris Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Map Location of Port Norris in [[Cumberland County, New Jersey|Cumberland County]] highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Cumberland County in [[New Jersey]] highlighted in orange (right).

<!-- Location -->
| coordinates              = {{coord|39.250469|-75.042457|region:US-NJ|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States}}}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|New Jersey}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New Jersey|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Cumberland County, New Jersey|Cumberland]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Township (New Jersey)|Township]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Commercial Township, New Jersey|Commercial]]
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
| government_type          = 
| government_footnotes     = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              =

<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer/5/query?where=STATE='34'&outFields=NAME,STATE,PLACE,AREALAND,AREAWATER,LSADC,CENTLAT,CENTLON&orderByFields=PLACE&returnGeometry=false&returnTrueCurves=false&f=json|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 11, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 17.93
| area_total_sq_mi         =  6.92
| area_land_km2            = 16.52
| area_land_sq_mi          =  6.38
| area_water_km2           =  1.42
| area_water_sq_mi         =  0.55
| area_water_percent       =  7.23
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Gnis|2389697|Port Norris Census Designated Place}}, [[Geographic Names Information System]]. Accessed November 2, 2012.</ref>
| elevation_m              = 3
| elevation_ft             = 10

<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes     = <ref name=Census2020>[https://data.census.gov/profile?g=160XX00US3460510 Census Data Explorer: Port Norris CDP, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed June 15, 2023.</ref>
| population_total         = 1111
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_km2   = 67.26
| population_density_sq_mi = 174.19
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           =

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset               = −05:00
| timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|Eastern (EDT)]]
| utc_offset_DST           = −04:00

<!-- Area/postal codes & others -->
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code              = 08349<ref>[http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=port%20norris&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code for Port Norris, NJ], [[United States Postal Service]]. Accessed November 2, 2012.</ref>
| area_code                = [[Area code 856|856]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = {{FIPS|34|60510}}<ref name=CensusArea>[http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2010_place_list_34.txt Gazetteer of New Jersey Places], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 21, 2016.</ref><ref name="GR2">[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey], Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed June 9, 2023.</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 02389697<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR3">[http://geonames.usgs.gov US Board on Geographic Names], [[United States Geological Survey]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref>
| website                  = 
| footnotes                =  
}}

'''Port Norris''' is an [[Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP)<ref>[https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/tigerwebmain/Files/tab20/tigerweb_tab20_cdp_2020_nj.html State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> located within [[Commercial Township, New Jersey|Commercial Township]], in [[Cumberland County, New Jersey|Cumberland County]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]].<ref>[https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-32.pdf New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32)], [[United States Census Bureau]], August 2012. Accessed November 2, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Locality Search], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed April 19, 2015.</ref> It is part of the [[Vineland, New Jersey|Vineland]]-[[Millville, New Jersey|Millville]]- [[Bridgeton, New Jersey|Bridgeton]] [[Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area]] for statistical purposes. As of the [[2000 United States Census]], the CDP's population was 1,377.<ref name=Census2010>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3460510 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Port Norris CDP, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed November 2, 2012.</ref> Legislation was passed in 1911 allowing voters to choose to incorporate Port Norris as a borough, independent from Commercial Township, but it was defeated in a referendum.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. [https://www.state.nj.us/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf ''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''], Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 259. Accessed November 17, 2015.</ref>

==History==
{{expand section |date=July 2021}}
On a late night in September 2007, an undercover operation to put a halt to the [[drag racing]] was commenced, and up to 62 people were caught participating in a major drag race gathering. About 208 summonses were issued and several cars were impounded.<ref>Marine, Jaime. [http://www.nj.com/south/index.ssf/2007/10/police_arrest_62_in_drag_racin.html "Police arrest 62 in drag racing bust"], [[NJ.com]], October 1, 2007. Accessed July 22, 2016.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP had a total area of {{convert|6.829|mi2|km2}}, including {{convert|6.335|mi2|km2}} of land and {{convert|0.494|mi2|km2}} of water (7.23%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR1">[https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref> Port Norris is located near the mouth of the [[Maurice River]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1990= 1701
|2000= 1507
|2010= 1377
|2020= 1111
|footnote=Population sources: 2000<ref name=Census2000/><br>2010<ref name=Census2010/> 2020<ref name=Census2020/>
}}

===2010 census===
The [[2010 United States census]] counted 1,377 people, 481 households, and 355 families in the CDP. The [[population density]] was {{convert|217.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 552 housing units at an average density of {{convert|87.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup was 66.23% (912) [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 26.22% (361) [[Black (U.S. census)|Black or African American]], 0.29% (4) [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 0.73% (10) [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.00% (0) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.89% (26) from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#Race|other races]], and 4.65% (64) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 6.32% (87) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 481 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18; 43.7% were married couples living together; 23.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.2% were non-families. Of all households, 20.4% were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18.<ref name=Census2010/>

24.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.4 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census]]<ref name="GR2" /> there were 1,507 people, 514 households, and 380 families residing in the CDP. The [[population density]] was {{convert|91.3|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|people|people|abbr=on}}. There were 596 housing units at an average density of {{convert|36.1|/km2|/mi2|disp=preunit|units|units|abbr=on}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 58.26% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 37.09% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.13% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.20% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.73% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.59% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.64% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/1600000US3460510 DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Port Norris CDP, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212094829/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/1600000US3460510 |date=2020-02-12 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed November 2, 2012.</ref>

There were 514 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.36.<ref name=Census2000/>

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.<ref name=Census2000/>

The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,194, and the median income for a family was $42,813. Males had a median income of $36,513 versus $22,176 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $16,195. About 14.0% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/>

==Education==
Students are zoned to [[Commercial Township School District]].

==Bivalve and Shell Pile==
[[File:Large pile of shells in Shell Pile, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|A massive pile of [[oyster]] shells in Shell Pile]]
In the Port Norris area are the communities of '''Bivalve''' and '''Shell Pile'''. They were both centers of the oystering industry, as their names imply. Shell Pile is described in a 1939 excerpt of a WPA Guidebook to New Jersey:

<blockquote>"Shell Pile is named for the great heaps of oyster shells stacked outside the packing sheds. This is a community of about 1,000 Negroes living in wooden barracks erected on stilts over the salt marshes. Negroes here live their own lives in their own way, and present a united and rather hostile front from the rest of the world. Strange whites are not welcomed in Shell Pile."</blockquote>

The oystering industry reached its peak in 1955, declining by 1957 due to oyster pathogen ''[[Haplosporidium nelsoni]]'' (MSX) which killed 90% of the oysters. Bivalve and Shell Pile are now mostly ghost towns, with a combined population of less than 50.

In ''Cruising the Chesapeake; a Gunkholer's Guide,'' William Shellenberger says:<ref>Shellenberger, William. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2AA3z7rFrzUC ''Cruising the Chesapeake; a Gunkholer's Guide''], p. 442. Third Edition, 2001, International Marine</ref>

<blockquote>As the name indicates this is an oystering port, probably the busiest on the Delaware. Don't look for typical pleasure-boat facilities - there aren't any. However, you may be able to find dock space on either shore where you can tie up.</blockquote>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Cumberland County, New Jersey}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Cumberland County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Commercial Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Ports and harbors of New Jersey]]