Pleasantville, New Jersey

File:Studebaker Dealership Atlantic Co NJ HABS.jpg

Studebaker car dealership in Pleasantville

Pleasantville is a city in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 20,629,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 380 (+1.9%) from the 2010 census count of 20,249,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 1,237 (+6.5%) from the 19,012 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

Geographically, the city, and all of Atlantic County, is part of the South Jersey region of the state and of the Atlantic City-Hammonton metropolitan statistical area, which in turn is included in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.<ref>New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.</ref>

Pleasantville was originally incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 10, 1889, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, based on the results of a referendum held on December 15, 1888. Pleasantville was incorporated as a city on April 14, 1914, replacing Pleasantville borough, based on the results of a referendum held that same day.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 70. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> the city was named by David Ingersoll for its surroundings.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 20, 2015.</ref>

The city had the eighth-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.903% in 2020, compared to 2.560% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.<ref>"Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 8. Pleasantville Equalized tax rate in Pleasantville City, Atlantic County, was 4.903 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Atlantic County: 2.560"</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 7.28 square miles (18.86 km²), including 5.72 square miles (14.82 km²) of land and 1.56 square miles (4.05 km²) of water (21.46%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 /> Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Mount Pleasant, Risleyville and Smiths Landing.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

The city borders the Atlantic County municipalities of Absecon, Atlantic City, Egg Harbor Township, Northfield, and Ventnor City.<ref>Areas touching Pleasantville, MapIt. Accessed March 3, 2020.</ref><ref>Atlantic County District Map, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed July 9, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

2020 census

Pleasantville city, New Jersey – racial and ethnic composition
Template:Nobold

Race / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	3,402	2,332	2,075	17.89%	11.52%	10.06%
Black or African American alone (NH)	10,572	8,615	7,186	55.61%	42.55%	34.83%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	25	48	29	0.13%	0.24%	0.14%
Asian alone (NH)	357	480	433	1.88%	2.37%	2.10%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	3	2	4	0.02%	0.01%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	34	74	102	0.18%	0.37%	0.49%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH)	461	384	484	2.42%	1.90%	2.35%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	4,158	8,314	10,316	21.87%	41.06%	50.01%
Total	19,012	20,249	20,629	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 20,249 people, 6,661 households, and 4,569 families in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,219 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 24.33% (4,926) White, 45.94% (9,303) Black or African American, 0.83% (168) Native American, 2.42% (490) Asian, 0.03% (6) Pacific Islander, 22.00% (4,454) from other races, and 4.45% (902) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 41.06% (8,314) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 6,661 households, 34.3% had children under the age of 18; 33.3% were married couples living together; 26.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.4% were non-families. Of all households, 25.0% were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.53.<ref name=Census2010/>

27.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.2 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $39,560 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,092) and the median family income was $48,873 (+/− $5,405). Males had a median income of $32,494 (+/− $4,209) versus $29,961 (+/− $2,187) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,527 (+/− $1,356). About 12.2% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 32.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Pleasantville city, Atlantic County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2012.</ref>

Economy

Portions of the city are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. Pleasantville was selected in 1994 as one of a group of 10 zones added to participate in the program and one of four of those chosen based on a competition.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Questions and Answers, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, May 2009. Accessed October 28, 2019. "In 1994 the legislation was amended and ten more zones were added to this successful economic development program. Of the ten new zones, six were predetermined: Paterson, Passaic, Perth Amboy, Phillipsburg, Lakewood, Asbury Park/Long Branch (joint zone). The four remaining zones were selected on a competitive basis. They are Carteret, Pleasantville, Union City and Mount Holly."</ref> In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the UEZ, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the Template:Frac% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zone Program, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Businesses participating in the UEZ Program can charge half the standard sales tax rate on certain purchases, currently 3.3125% effective 1/1/2018"</ref> Established in March 1995, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in March 2026.<ref>Urban Enterprise Zones Effective and Expiration Dates, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed January 8, 2018.</ref> By 2019, there had been 169 businesses that had been certified to participate in the city's UEZ program.<ref>Economic & Industrial Development, City of Pleasantville. Accessed November 19, 2019. "We have 169 Urban Enterprise Zone Certified Businesses Members"</ref>

Sports

In 1945, the Boston Red Sox held their spring training at Ansley Field in Pleasantville, rather than in Florida, due to travel restrictions related to World War II. The New York Yankees were based at Bader Field in Atlantic City and the two clubs played a series of eight exhibition games against each other with wartime restrictions in intercity travel in place.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>LeConey, Bill. "War games: When the Yankees, Red Sox trained in AC, Pleasantville", The Press of Atlantic City, March 23, 2017. Accessed November 19, 2019. "A year later, he worked out with both the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, who held spring training just down the road at Ansley Field in Pleasantville, next to the high school.... The two bitter rivals, brought so close together by the war, saw a lot of each other in the spring of 1945.... The Red Sox had settled on Pleasantville partly through the efforts of Larned, who was chairman of the property committee in charge of renovations at Ansley Field."</ref>

Laoma Byrd's Gym, formally known as the South Jersey Athletic Club, operated professionally from the mid-1940s to 1960s. This gym, which was located on West Wright Street, became a tourist destination after it was adapted as a boxing gym by top amateurs and pro fighters. Many noted boxers had trained there, including Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Sonny Liston, Johnny Bratton, Johnny Saxton, Ike Williams, Ernie Terrell, and numerous professional fighters from the local area.<ref>Weinberg, David. "A Pleasantville woman ran one of the top boxing gyms on the East Coast", The Press of Atlantic City, March 18, 2019. Accessed November 19, 2019. "Byrd, who died at 98 in 2002, hosted some of the best boxers in the world while running the gym, officially called the South Jersey Athletic Club, on Wright Street in Pleasantville from the 1940s to the '60s. International Boxing Hall of Fame members Ezzard Charles, Joe Frazier, Joe Louis, Bob Montgomery and Jersey Joe Walcott trained there, along with other top fighters such as Wesley Mouzon, Ernie Terrell and Gil Turner."</ref>

Parks and recreation

Portions of the right-of-way of the Atlantic City and Shore Railroad, running for Template:Convert between Pleasantville and Somers Point have been repurposed as the Somers Point Bike Path.<ref name=ShoreLocal>Klenk, Steffen. "On The Move: History of South Jersey Railroads", Shore Local, March 29, 2018. Accessed March 21, 2023. "The six-mile long Somers Point Bike Path, a six-mile long trail that stretches between Somers Point and Pleasantville, runs along the former Atlantic City and Shore Railroad. This railroad, also known as the Shore Fast Line, operated from 1907 until 1948 and provided service between Atlantic City and Ocean City."</ref>

Government

Local government

Pleasantville operates under the city form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 15 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this traditional form of government.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the seven-member city council, all of whom are elected in partisan elections as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected to a four-year term of office. The city council includes one member elected at-large and six members elected from each of two wards to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 4. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Augustus Harmon was appointed in November 2011 to fill the seat of his brother, Johnson Harmon, who died before the election in which he had won a fifth term of office.<ref>Stetser, Laura. "Augustus Harmon takes over brother's council seat", Shore News Today, November 8, 2011. Accessed November 19, 2013. "City Council appointed Augustus Harmon Monday, Nov. 7 to fill the unexpired term of his late brother Johnson Harmon, who died amid a re-election campaign for a fifth term and won the election by 96 percent of the vote."</ref>

In September 2016, the City Council appointed Nolan Q. Allen to fill the Ward 1 seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Lincoln Green Sr. until his death the previous month.<ref>Staff. "Councilman sworn in to fill Lincoln Green's term", The Current of Pleasantville & Absecon, September 23, 2016. Accessed May 15, 2017. "Nolan Allen was sworn in Sept. 7 to City Council to fill the seat of 1st ward City Councilman Lincoln Green, who died Aug. 25 after a long illness.Allen, 26, of Pleasantville filled the unexpired three-year-term that began in January."</ref> Allen served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when he was chosen to serve the balance of the term.<ref name=Atlantic2016>General Election Results - November 8, 2016, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2017.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of the City of Pleasantville is Democrat Judy Ward, whose term of office ends December 31, 2024. Members of the city council are Council President Ricky Cistrunk (D, 2023; Ward 1), James D. Barclay (D, 2025; Ward 1), Victor M. Carmona (D, 2025; Ward 2), Bertilio "Bert" Correa (D, 2024; Ward 2), Lawrence "Tony" Davenport (D, 2024; Ward 1), Joanne Famularo (D, 2023; Ward 2) and Carla Thomas (D, 2023; at-large).<ref name=Officials>Mayor and Council, City of Pleasantville. Accessed June 6, 2023.</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, City of Pleasantville. Accessed June 6, 2023.</ref><ref name=Govt>Municipal Government, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2023.</ref><ref name=Atlantic2022>2022 General Election Results - Amended, Atlantic County Clerk, updated December 5, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Atlantic2021>General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results - Excluding Write-In's/Handcount,[sic] Atlantic County, New Jersey, updated January 4, 2022. Accessed January 16, 2022.</ref><ref name=Atlantic2020>Including Vote by Mail/Provisionals (Excluding Write-In's) [sic Official Results - PDF (Including Write-Ins) [sic] November 3, 2020], Atlantic County, New Jersey, updated January 4, 2021. Accessed January 16, 2022.</ref><ref name=Atlantic2019>General Election Results - November 5, 2019, Atlantic County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Pleasantville is located in the 2nd Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 2nd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 9,193 registered voters in Pleasantville City, of which 4,693 (51.0% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 534 (5.8% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans and 3,965 (43.1% vs. 44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Atlantic, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref> Among the city's 2010 Census population, 45.4% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 62.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 5,675 votes (92.4% vs. 57.9% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 450 votes (7.3% vs. 41.1%) and other candidates with 23 votes (0.4% vs. 0.9%), among the 6,139 ballots cast by the city's 10,019 registered voters, for a turnout of 61.3% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Atlantic County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Atlantic County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 5,945 votes (89.7% vs. 56.5% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 597 votes (9.0% vs. 41.6%) and other candidates with 22 votes (0.3% vs. 1.1%), among the 6,628 ballots cast by the city's 10,572 registered voters, for a turnout of 62.7% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 4,301 votes (80.9% vs. 52.0% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 900 votes (16.9% vs. 46.2%) and other candidates with 31 votes (0.6% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,316 ballots cast by the city's 8,942 registered voters, for a turnout of 59.4% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref>

Presidential election results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2024<ref name="2024Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|22.1% 1,273	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|75.8% 4,372	2.1% 97
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2020<ref name="2020Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|14.8% 1,024	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|84.6% 5,872	0.6% 39
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2016<ref name="2016Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|9.5% 499	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|88.7% 5,634	1.8% 94
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2012<ref name="2012Elections">Template:Cite web</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|7.3% 450	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|92.4% 5,675	0.4% 23
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2008<ref name="state.nj.us">[1], New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|9.0% 597	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|89.7% 5,945	0.3% 22
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2004<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">[2], New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref>	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|16.9% 900	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|80.9% 4,301	0.6% 31

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 1,951 ballots cast (69.1% vs. 34.9% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 675 votes (23.9% vs. 60.0%) and other candidates with 32 votes (1.1% vs. 1.3%), among the 2,824 ballots cast by the city's 10,324 registered voters, yielding a 27.4% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county).<ref>2013 Governor: Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 5, 2013 General Election Results : Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 2,146 ballots cast (82.0% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 370 votes (14.1% vs. 47.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 45 votes (1.7% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 19 votes (0.7% vs. 1.2%), among the 2,617 ballots cast by the city's 9,844 registered voters, yielding a 26.6% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Atlantic County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 24, 2014.</ref>

Education

Students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade are educated by the Pleasantville Public Schools.<ref>Pleasantville Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Pleasantville Public Schools. Accessed June 11, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Pleasantville School District. Composition: The Pleasantville School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Pleasantville."</ref> The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide that were established pursuant to the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court in Abbott v. Burke<ref>What We Do: History, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022. "In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in the Abbott v. Burke case that the State must provide 100 percent funding for all school renovation and construction projects in special-needs school districts. According to the Court, aging, unsafe and overcrowded buildings prevented children from receiving the "thorough and efficient" education required under the New Jersey Constitution.... Full funding for approved projects was authorized for the 31 special-needs districts, known as 'Abbott Districts'."</ref> which are now referred to as "SDA Districts" based on the requirement for the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.<ref>What We Do, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref><ref>SDA Districts, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref>

As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 3,743 students and 316.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Pleasantville Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Pleasantville Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>) are Decatur Avenue Early Childhood Center<ref>Decatur Avenue Early childhood Center, Pleasantville Public Schools. Accessed September 7, 2023.</ref> with NA students in grade PreK, Leeds Avenue School<ref>Leeds Avenue School, Pleasantville Public Schools. Accessed September 7, 2023.</ref> with 567 students in grades PreK-5, North Main Street School<ref>North Main Street School, Pleasantville Public Schools. Accessed September 7, 2023.</ref> with 308 students in grades PreK-5, South Main Street School<ref>South Main Street School, Pleasantville Public Schools. Accessed September 7, 2023.</ref> with 478 students in grades PreK-5, Washington Avenue School<ref>Washington Avenue School, Pleasantville Public Schools. Accessed September 7, 2023.</ref> with 407 students in grades K-5, Pleasantville Middle School<ref>Pleasantville Middle School, Pleasantville Public Schools. Accessed September 7, 2023.</ref> with 847 students in grades 6-8 and Pleasantville High School<ref>Pleasantville High School, Pleasantville Public Schools. Accessed September 7, 2023.</ref> with 893 students in grades 9-12.<ref>Schools, Pleasantville Public Schools. Accessed September 7, 2023.</ref><ref>2022-2023 Public School Directory, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed September 7, 2023.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Pleasantville Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Pleasantville Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Students from Absecon attend the district's high school for ninth through twelfth grades as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Absecon Public School District.<ref>Bogdan, Jennifer. "For the first time in decades, Absecon's students are choosing public schools over private schools", The Press of Atlantic City, April 5, 2011. Accessed June 11, 2020. "For the first time in at least 30 years, more than half of the school district's eighth-graders are choosing public high schools over private ones. In past years, as many as 90 percent of the district's students opted for private school. But about 55 percent of the district's 93 eighth-graders have plans to go on to publicly funded schools in September, including Pleasantville High School, Atlantic County Institute of Technology and Charter Tech High School for the Performing Arts."</ref> Absecon has sought to end its agreement with Pleasantville and send its students to Absegami High School under a new sending/receiving relationship with the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District that Absecon argues would give its students a better education at a lower cost, without negatively impacting the demographics in Pleasantville High School. About 10% of Absecon's graduating students have been choosing to attend Pleasantville High School, for which the Absecon district has been paying $18,000 per student each year.<ref>Lowe, Claire. "Judge to hear Absecon schools request to leave Pleasantville, attorney says", The Press of Atlantic City, February 25, 2020. Accessed June 11, 2020 . "The Absecon School District will appear before a judge in July to argue why it should be allowed to leave its sending and receiving relationship with the Pleasantville School District.... The K-8 district submitted its request to the state Department of Education in August to sever its decades-old agreement with Pleasantville, citing the cost and quality of education there. The petition calls for students from Absecon to instead attend Absegami High School in neighboring Galloway Township."</ref>

City public school students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township<ref>Frequently Asked Questions, Atlantic County Institute of Technology. Accessed May 17, 2017. "What does it cost to attend ACIT? As a public school, there is no cost to Atlantic County residents of high school age. New Jersey Title 18A:54-20.1 entitles students the right to choose ACIT for their high school education."</ref> or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point.<ref>Profile, Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts. Accessed May 18, 2017.</ref>

On September 6, 2007, the FBI arrested five members of the Pleasantville school board as part of a federal corruption case that included several state lawmakers and other public officials. Included in the arrest sweep were Assemblymen Mims Hackett and Alfred E. Steele, and Passaic Mayor Samuel Rivera.<ref>Baldwin, Tom. "11 arrested in N.J. corruption probe", USA Today, September 6, 2007. Accessed September 6, 2007. "Among the arrested were state Assemblymen Mims Hackett Jr. and Rev. Alfred Steele aides in their legislative offices acknowledged. Also reportedly arrested was Samuel Rivera, the mayor of Passaic, and Keith Reid, the chief of staff to Newark City Council President Mildred Crump."</ref> Indictments were filed against four sitting members of the Board of Education, charging that they had accepted bribes to steer insurance or roofing business from the district. Charged were Jayson Adams (accused of accepting $15,000 in bribes), James McCormick ($3,500), James Pressley ($32,200) and Rafael Velez ($4,000). Former board member Maurice 'Pete' Callaway, a member of the Pleasantville City Council, was accused of accepting $13,000 in bribes as part of the scheme.<ref>Staff. "Who's who: Overview of the politicians charged in bribery scandal", The Record, September 7, 2007, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 30, 2007. Accessed March 5, 2015.</ref><ref>Chen, David W. "11 Arrested in New Jersey Corruption Inquiry", The New York Times, September 7, 2007. Accessed March 5, 2015.</ref>

Transportation

File:2021-05-31 12 46 53 View west along New Jersey State Route 446 (Atlantic City Expressway) from the overpass for Linden Avenue in Pleasantville, Atlantic County, New Jersey.jpg

Atlantic City Expressway heading west in Pleasantville

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the city had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Atlantic County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Template:Convert by the South Jersey Transportation Authority.<ref>Atlantic County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed November 19, 2013.</ref>

Highways that pass through Pleasantville include U.S. Route 9,<ref>U.S. Route 9 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated July 2013. Accessed November 6, 2022.</ref> U.S. Route 40,<ref>U.S. Route 40 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2017. Accessed November 6, 2022.</ref> U.S. Route 322, and the Atlantic City Expressway.<ref>Atlantic City Expressway Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated August 2014. Accessed November 6, 2022.</ref>

Public transportation

File:Scene along Atlantic City and Shore Railroad, between Atlantic City and Ocean City - Pleasantville.jpg

Pleasantville railroad stop on Atlantic City and Shore Railroad in 1912–1913

NJ Transit offers bus service to Atlantic City, New Jersey and other intermediate stations on routes 502 (from Atlantic Cape Community College), 507 (from Ocean City), 508 (from Hamilton Mall), 509 (from Ocean City), 553 (limited; from Upper Deerfield Township), 554 (from Lindenwold station), and 559 (from Lakewood Township).<ref>Atlantic County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 26, 2010. Accessed November 19, 2013.</ref><ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed November 19, 2013.</ref>

Beginning in 1907, the Atlantic City and Shore Railroad provided electric interurban service to Pleasantville on its Atlantic City–Ocean City line. The railroad discontinued operation in 1948.<ref name=ShoreLocal/>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Pleasantville include:

• Nia Ali (born 1988), track and field athlete, who specializes in the 100 m hurdles, heptathlon and other events<ref>McGarry, Michael. "Pleasantville grad Nia Ali overcame adversity to make Olympic team", The Press of Atlantic City, July 30, 2016. Accessed August 10, 2016. "The 2006 Pleasantville High School graduate will compete in the 100-meter hurdles when the Olympics begin in Rio de Janeiro on Friday.... Ali moved to Pleasantville for her senior year of high school."</ref>
• Ellen Bass (born 1947), poet and author<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Sonora Webster Carver (1904–2003), first female horse diver<ref>Sims, Gayle Ronan. "Horse-diver Sonora Webster Carver, 99", The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 24, 2003. Accessed December 3, 2007. "Sonora Webster Carver, 99, the first woman to dive off Atlantic City's Steel Pier while riding a horse - a stunt she continued for 11 years after she was blinded during a performance - died Sunday at Our Lady's Residence in Pleasantville, N.J."</ref>
• Walter Evans Edge (1873–1956), politician who served as a United States senator representing New Jersey from 1919 to 1929 and as governor of New Jersey, from 1917 to 1919 and again from 1944 to 1947<ref>New Jersey Governor Walter Evans Edge, National Governors Association. Accessed December 24, 2017. "Walter E. Edge, the forty-seventh and sixtieth governor to serve New Jersey, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 20, 1873. His education was limited and attained in the common schools of Pleasantville, New Jersey, where his family moved to in 1877."</ref>
• Dino Hall (born 1955), former American football running back and return specialist who played in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns<ref>Kuntz, John. "Josh Cribbs consistently keeps Browns in position - to win", The Plain Dealer, November 20, 2007, updated March 28, 2019. Accessed June 11, 2020. "'How else are they using him,' Dino Hall asked about Josh Cribbs.... 'He was phenomenal,' Hall said Monday from his home in Pleasantville, N.J."</ref>
• Gene Hart (1931–1999), sports announcer for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League and the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League<ref>Panaccio, Tim. "Gene Hart, Longtime Voice Of Flyers, Dies", The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 15, 1999. Accessed November 19, 2013. "Mr. Hart went to Pleasantville High School in South Jersey, where he was all-state in baseball and also lettered in football."</ref>
• Ty Helfrich (1890–1955), former major league baseball player<ref>Ty Helfrich, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed May 6, 2008.</ref>
• Rodney Jerkins (born 1977), Grammy Award-winning songwriter, record producer, and musician<ref>Norment, Lynn. "Rodney Jerkins: music maestro on a mission.", Ebony, June 1, 2002. Accessed December 19, 2007. "Jerkins is pop music's newest and youngest hit-making wiz. At age 24, the Pleasantville, N.J., native is a fascinating coming-of-age success story and stands out among hundreds of rags-to-riches tales."</ref>
• Amy Kennedy (born 1978), educator, mental health advocate and politician who is the Democratic Party nominee in the 2020 elections seeking to represent New Jersey's 2nd congressional district<ref>Kassel, Matthew. "A Kennedy takes on a Trump convert in South Jersey congressional race; Former public school teacher Amy Kennedy hopes to unseat Rep. Jeff Van Drew in a swing district", Jewish Insider, April 27, 2020. Accessed July 10, 2020. "Amy Kennedy grew up a stone’s throw away from Atlantic City, in the South Jersey shore towns of Pleasantville and Absecon."</ref>
• Simon Lake (1866–1945), mechanical engineer and naval architect<ref>Famous People in Atlantic County History, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed March 31, 2008.</ref>
• Max Manning (1918–2003), pitcher in Negro league baseball who played for the Newark Eagles between 1938 and 1949<ref>Overmyer, James. Queen of the Negro Leagues: Effa Manley and the Newark Eagles, p. 53. Rowman & Littlefield, 2020. Template:ISBN. Accessed June 11, 2020. "Max Manning was also a New Jersey boy, from Pleasantville, near Atlantic City. Manning was a tall, thin, bespectacled righthanded pitcher who became a regular pitcher the year after joining the team, winning nine and losing four in his second season."</ref>
• Bette Nash (Template:Circa–2024), flight attendant who worked for American Airlines for 67 years and was the longest-serving flight attendant in the world at the time of her death<ref>"Students Take Part In Belmont Festival", The Gastonia Gazette, May 16, 1957. Accessed May 26, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "Leading off the May Day procession were the marshals, Miss Alice Dorts, a college sophomore from Augusta, Ga.; Miss Bette Burke of Pleasantville, N. J.; and Miss Mary Naylor of Cherryville."</ref>
• Osun Osunniyi (born 1998), college basketball player for the St. Bonaventure Bonnies of the Atlantic 10 Conference<ref>McGarry, Mike. "Osun Osunniyi's next chapter is first round of the NCAA Tournament: Must Win", The Press of Atlantic City, March 18, 2021. Accessed March 18, 2021. "Osunniyi didn’t event start playing basketball until he moved from Pleasantville to Somers Point in eighth grade."</ref>
• Ralph Peterson Jr. (born 1962), jazz drummer and bandleader<ref>Schwachter, Jeff. "A Musical Homecoming for Ralph Peterson; From Pleasantville to Blakey to Berklee and beyond, Ralph Peterson's life in jazz comes full circle with new album and Father's Day concert in Atlantic City.", Atlantic City Weekly, June 13, 2012. Accessed November 19, 2013. "Peterson grew up in Pleasantville and graduated from Pleasantville High School. He then went to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, graduating in 1984, and 'studying with a lot of big [music] people there,' including Kenny Barron and Michael Carvin."</ref>
• Blue Raspberry (born 1972 as Candi Lindsey), singer affiliated with Wu-Tang Clan<ref>Omowale, J. Nadir. "Uniquely Blue Raspberry; This New Jersey native moved to Detroit to launch her solo career", BLAC Detroit, September 23, 2011. Accessed November 19, 2013. "Born to a musical family in Pleasantville, N.J., near Atlantic City, she came of age listening to the sounds of Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Terrell."</ref>
• Monique Samuels (born 1983), television personality best known as a cast member of the reality television series The Real Housewives of Potomac<ref>Ockershausen, Janice Iacona. "Monique Samuels – Real Housewives of Potomac and Not for Lazy Moms", Our Town with Andy Ockershausen, May 7, 2019. Accessed May 11, 2022. "Andy Ockershausen: Monique you’re so unique and I use that word and you’re not from Washington D.C. I found out in your resume you’re from Pleasantville New Jersey. M Samuels: Yeah."</ref>
• Jay Versace (born 1998), Grammy Award-winning record producer and former internet personality/comedian<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Dave Vonner (born 1972), toy designer<ref>Post, Michelle Brunetti. "Comic book fan and Pleasantville High School graduate helps make action figures at Hasbro", The Press of Atlantic City, January 29, 2011. Accessed September 21, 2015. "David Vonner, 38, grew up in Atlantic City's Pitney Village and graduated in 1990 from Pleasantville High School, where he was a talented artist, comic book fan and a bit of a class clown."</ref><ref>Tyler, Raymond. "Song of Thanks(giving); Plus Eliana Torres, the Jersey Rhythm Devils, Mental Projections and more.", Atlantic City Weekly, October 5, 2011. Accessed June 2, 2017. "There's a special presentation to the Greater Atlantic City Comic Con! guest of honor David Vonner. Vonner is a Pleasantville native who is a toy designer for Marvel's Hasbro Line."</ref>

External links

• Official Pleasantville website