Jump to content

Pilesgrove Township, New Jersey: Difference between revisions

From Niidae Wiki
imported>GigachadGigachad
Politics: updated to most recent elections
 
(No difference)

Latest revision as of 20:20, 16 January 2025

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement

Pilesgrove Township is a township in Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 4,183,<ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 167 (+4.2%) from the 2010 census count of 4,016,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 93 (+2.4%) from the 3,923 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>

Pile's Grove was first mentioned in a deed dated April 15, 1701, through the date of the township's original corporation is unknown. Pilesgrove was incorporated as one of New Jersey's original group of 104 townships that were established on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken on December 6, 1769, to form Pittsgrove Township and on July 26, 1882, to create Woodstown.<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. 216. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The township was named for Thomas Pyle.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 16, 2015.</ref><ref>Town and County Names, Visit Salem County. Accessed September 17, 2015. "Pilesgrove: In one record it is written that the name came from Thomas Pile (or Pyle) another James Pile who purchased 10,000 acres in 1682."</ref>

In 1979, Pilesgrove Township enacted the state's first right-to-farm law, protecting farming as a "natural right hereby ordained to exist as a permitted use everywhere in the Township of Pilesgrove."<ref>DePalma, Anthony. "Right-to-Farm Gains Backing", The New York Times, November 16, 1980. Accessed March 2, 2020. "Last April, the Pilesgrove Township Council passed New Jersey's first right-to-farm ordinance. It recognizes the farmers' right to go about their daily business as a 'natural right hereby ordained to exist as a permitted use everywhere in the Township of Pilesgrove.'"</ref>

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 35.17 square miles (91.09 km2), including 34.94 square miles (90.48 km2) of land and 0.23 square miles (0.61 km2) of water (0.67%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 /> The Salem River flows through the township.<ref>DeLorme (2005). New Jersey Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. Template:ISBN.</ref>

The township borders the Salem County municipalities of Alloway Township, Carneys Point Township, Mannington Township, Oldmans Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township. Pilesgrove Township also borders Gloucester County.<ref>Salem County Map, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 2, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref> The Borough of Woodstown is an independent municipality completely surrounded by Pilesgrove Township, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.<ref>DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.</ref> Woodstown serves as the more densely settled commercial core of the paired communities, while Pilesgrove is more agricultural.<ref>Environmental Resource Inventory for the Borough of Woodstown and the Township of Pilesgrove, Salem County, New Jersey, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, September 2005. Accessed November 8, 2015. "Woodstown is representative of a 19th century commercial center, which supported its agricultural hinterlands and linked to other commercial centers of varying size from Salem City in the south to Camden City in the north.... Since Woodstown is surrounded by Pilesgrove and is considerably denser, the borough's population has remained stable over the last decade."</ref>

Unincorporated communities in the township include Avis Mills, Courees Landing, East Lake, Eldridges Hill, Fenwick, Friendship, Milltown, Paulding, Point Airy, Richmanville, Sharptown, Union Grove and Yorktown.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed November 26, 2014.</ref> The census-designated place of Auburn is in the northwest part of the township, extending into Oldmans Township.

The Pilesgrove Solar Farm is one of the largest in the state, covering Template:Convert with 71,000 solar panels that generate 20 megawatts of electricity, enough to provide power for more than 5,000 homes.<ref>Dunn, Phil. "Ground broken in Pilesgrove for what may be largest solar farm in the Northeast", Today's Sunbeam, October 20, 2010. Accessed June 3, 2015. "A groundbreaking ceremony was held here near Robbins Road Wednesday morning to mark the beginning construction phase of the largest solar farm in the Northeast.The 20-megawatt solar electric generating station is expected to house 71,000 panels and produce enough electricity to power 5,100 homes with clean, renewable energy."</ref>

Demographics

[edit]

Template:US Census population

2010 census

[edit]

The 2010 United States census counted 4,016 people, 1,488 households, and 1,091 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,594 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 90.81% (3,647) White, 5.93% (238) Black or African American, 0.12% (5) Native American, 0.92% (37) Asian, 0.12% (5) Pacific Islander, 0.72% (29) from other races, and 1.37% (55) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.59% (104) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 1,488 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18; 63.9% were married couples living together; 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.7% were non-families. Of all households, 21.5% were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.08.<ref name=Census2010/>

20.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.5 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $87,083 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,552) and the median family income was $102,870 (+/− $13,121). Males had a median income of $63,352 (+/− $12,197) versus $59,700 (+/− $6,558) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,966 (+/− $3,754). About 0.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Pilesgrove township, Salem County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 18, 2013.</ref>

2000 census

[edit]

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 3,923 people, 1,216 households, and 994 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,261 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 84.63% White, 12.18% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.07% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.98% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Pilesgrove township, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 31, 2016.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Pilesgrove township, Salem County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 18, 2013.</ref>

There were 1,216 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.1% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 14.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.24.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.9 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $66,042, and the median income for a family was $71,629. Males had a median income of $50,833 versus $31,806 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,400. About 2.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Culture

[edit]

Cowtown Rodeo is the only professional weekly rodeo in the state of New Jersey. It is known as the oldest weekly professional rodeo in the United States alongside being one of the oldest overall. The season typically spans from late May on Memorial Day Weekend to late September.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Government

[edit]

Local government

[edit]

Pilesgrove is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.<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 Township Committee consists of three members elected at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 19.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> At an annual reorganization meeting, the council selects one of its members to serves as mayor and another as deputy mayor.

Template:As of, members of the Pilesgrove Township Committee are Mayor Kevin Eachus (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Deputy Mayor David R. Bonowski (R, term on committee ends 2023; term as deputy mayor ends 2022) and Joseph Crevino (R, 2022).<ref name=Committee>Township Committee, Pilesgrove Township. Accessed August 14, 2022.</ref><ref>2021 Municipal Data Sheet, Pilesgrove Township. Accessed August 14, 2022.</ref><ref name=Salem2021>Election Summary Report General Election Salem County November 2, 2021 Official Results Report, Salem County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Salem2020>Election Summary Report Salem County NJ General Election November 3, 2020 Official Report, Salem County, New Jersey, updated November 25, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Salem2019>November 5, 2019 Summary Report Salem County, NJ Official Results, Salem County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 18, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

In August 2014, the Township Council selected Joseph Crevino to fill the vacant seat of Jessie B. Smith, who had resigned the previous month from a term expiring in December 2016.<ref>Kent, Spencer. "Pilesgrove fills vacant seat on committee; appoints deputy mayor", South Jersey Times, August 14, 2014. Accessed August 17, 2015. "Republican Joseph Crevino was sworn in to fill the vacant township committee seat of former committeeman Jesse Smith, who resigned late last month.... Just seven months into his term, Smith, who served as the township's deputy mayor, resigned from office on July 31 saying that due to health and personal reasons, he would be unable to continue his position."</ref>

In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $8,387, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.<ref>Marcus, Samantha. "These are the towns with the highest property taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 22, 2019. Accessed November 5, 2019. "The average property tax bill in New Jersey was $8,767 last year. But there can be big swings from town to town and county to county.... The average property tax bill in Pilesgrove Township was $8,387 in 2018, the highest in Salem County."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

[edit]

Pilesgrove Township 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 3rd 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>

Template:NJ Congress 02 Template:NJ Senate

Template:NJ Legislative 03

Template:NJ Salem County Commissioners

Politics

[edit]

As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,908 registered voters in Pilesgrove Township, of which 678 (23.3% vs. 30.6% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 873 (30.0% vs. 21.0%) were registered as Republicans and 1,354 (46.6% vs. 48.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Salem, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed January 18, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 72.4% (vs. 64.6% in Salem County) were registered to vote, including 90.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 84.4% 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 January 18, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 56.5% of the vote (1,273 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.1% (950 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (31 votes), among the 2,278 ballots cast by the township's 2,990 registered voters (24 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 76.2%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,255 votes (53.2% vs. 46.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,051 votes (44.6% vs. 50.4%) and other candidates with 26 votes (1.1% vs. 1.6%), among the 2,358 ballots cast by the township's 2,911 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.0% (vs. 71.8% in Salem County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Salem County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 18, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,246 votes (58.8% vs. 52.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 845 votes (39.9% vs. 45.9%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.0% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,120 ballots cast by the township's 2,695 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.7% (vs. 71.0% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Salem County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 18, 2013.</ref>

Template:PresHead

Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |}

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 70.8% of the vote (1,035 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.7% (390 votes), and other candidates with 2.5% (36 votes), among the 1,478 ballots cast by the township's 3,003 registered voters (17 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.2%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 869 votes (50.4% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 629 votes (36.5% vs. 39.9%), Independent Chris Daggett with 187 votes (10.8% vs. 9.7%) and other candidates with 18 votes (1.0% vs. 2.0%), among the 1,724 ballots cast by the township's 2,919 registered voters, yielding a 59.1% turnout (vs. 47.3% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Salem County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed January 18, 2013.</ref>

Education

[edit]

The Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Woodstown and Pilesgrove Township.<ref>Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District. Accessed February 11, 2021. "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 Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District. Composition The Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the Borough of Woodstown, Township of Pilesgrove, Alloway Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township."</ref> As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,425 students and 126.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.</ref>) are William Roper Early Childhood Learning Center<ref>William Roper Early Childhood Learning Center, Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District. Accessed August 14, 2022.</ref> with 83 students in grades PreK-K, Mary S. Shoemaker Elementary School<ref>Mary S. Shoemaker Elementary School, Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District. Accessed August 14, 2022.</ref> with 470 students in grades 1-5, Woodstown Middle School<ref>Woodstown Middle School, Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District. Accessed August 14, 2022.</ref> with 278 students in grades 6-8 and Woodstown High School<ref>Woodstown High School, Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District. Accessed August 14, 2022.</ref> with 579 students in grades 9-12.<ref>About Us, Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District. Accessed August 14, 2022. "Located in Salem County, the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District consists of four schools: Early Childhood Learning Center (grades Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten), Mary S. Shoemaker Elementary School (grades 1 through 5), Woodstown Middle School (grades 6 through 8), and Woodstown High School (grades 9 through 12). All four schools serve the residents of the Borough of Woodstown and Township of Pilesgrove. In addition, the high school receives students from Alloway and Upper Pittsgrove Townships as well as a portion of Oldmans Township."</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Students from neighboring Alloway Township, Oldmans Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township attend the high school as part of sending/receiving relationships.<ref>Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 12, 2020. "It is my pleasure to present to you the 2015-2016 New Jersey School Report Card for the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District. This School Report Card provides the school district’s constituents with information concerning the district’s programs, including test scores, attendance data of students and staff, financial details, and other specifics which together form a comprehensive review of our school district’s offerings to the Woodstown-Pilesgrove community as well as the high school sending districts of Alloway, Oldmans, and Upper Pittsgrove. Leadership and oversight of the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District begins with the Board of Education."</ref><ref>About Us, Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District. Accessed March 12, 2020. "All four schools serve the residents of the Borough of Woodstown and Township of Pilesgrove. In addition, the high school receives students from Alloway and Upper Pittsgrove Townships as well as a portion of Oldmans Township."</ref> A majority of public school students in grades 9–12 from Oldmans Township attend Penns Grove High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District, with the balance attending Woodstown High School.<ref>Bumpus, Robert L. "Salem County Report on Consolidation and Regionalization", Office of the Executive County Superintendent of Salem County, March 15, 2010, available at the website of the Asbury Park Press. Accessed July 5, 2011. "A contiguous elementary district, Oldmans Township, sends its students primarily to Penns Grove High School and a smaller number of students to Woodstown High School."</ref>

Transportation

[edit]
File:2018-08-15 17 50 13 View north along New Jersey State Route 700 (New Jersey Turnpike) between the John Fenwick Service Area and Exit 2 in Pilesgrove Township, Salem County, New Jersey.jpg
The northbound New Jersey Turnpike in Pilesgrove Township

Roads and highways

[edit]

Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Salem County, Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.<ref>Salem County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed October 31, 2013.</ref>

The New Jersey Turnpike crosses the northwest corner of Pilesgrove Township.<ref>New Jersey Turnpike Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, January 1997. Accessed October 31, 2013.</ref> U.S. Route 40 traverses the township roughly east to west<ref>U.S. Route 40 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2009. Accessed October 31, 2013.</ref> and Route 45 crosses the township roughly south to north,<ref>Route 45 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, January 2010. Accessed October 31, 2013.</ref> with the two roadways meeting in Woodstown, the donut hole at the center. County Route 581 cuts through the southeast corner.<ref>County Route 581 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, October 2006. Accessed October 31, 2013.</ref>

Public transportation

[edit]

NJ Transit provides bus service between Salem and Philadelphia on the 401 route.<ref>Salem County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of January 28, 2010. Accessed January 16, 2013.</ref><ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed September 21, 2014.</ref>

The Template:Convert southern portion of the freight rail Salem Branch, operated under contract by Southern Railroad of New Jersey, runs through the township.<ref>Young, Alex. "Salem County awards contract to replace Oldman's Trestle railroad bridge", NJ.com, April 3, 2015. Accessed October 31, 2016. "The work is all part of the long-term plan to upgrade the Salem County short line railroad in order to bring the dated track back up to standard and benefit local industry. The rail line starts at the port of Salem and travels north through Mannington, Woodstown and Pilesgrove before crossing the Gloucester County line and going on to Swedesboro."</ref>

Wineries

[edit]

Notable people

[edit]

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

References

[edit]

Template:Reflist

[edit]

Template:Commons category

Template:Salem County, New Jersey