Elmer, New Jersey
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement
Elmer is a borough in Salem County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,347,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 48 (−3.4%) from the 2010 census count of 1,395,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 11 (+0.8%) from the 1,384 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> It is the home of the annual Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival, which celebrated its 23rd year in 2012.<ref>LaGorce, Tammy. "A Trio of Events With Music in Many Moods", The New York Times, May 25, 2012. Accessed January 17, 2013. "The Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival, to be held June 2 in Elmer from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., draws more famous names, most of them closely aligned with the adult-alternative genre.... Now in its 23rd year, the festival delivers fans by the thousands to the 60-acre grassy site in Salem County; its artistic director, Sean Timmons, is expecting close to 5,000 this year."</ref>
History
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Elmer was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 28, 1893, from portions of Pittsgrove Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township, based on the results of a referendum held four days earlier.<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. 215. Accessed October 25, 2012.</ref> The borough was named for Lucius Elmer a former judge who helped obtain a post office for the community during his service as Congressman.<ref>History, Elmer Borough. Accessed July 29, 2016. "The town was named after Judge Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Elmer, a jurist respected state-wide, who had presided over Salem County's then-famous Treadway murder case and also produced the first compendium of New Jersey state statutes. As a Congressman, Elmer was largely responsible for securing a post office for the town."</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 30, 2015.</ref>
Elmer is a dry town where alcohol is not permitted to be sold legally.<ref>New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)</ref><ref>Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014.</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.91 square miles (2.37 km2), including 0.89 square miles (2.31 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (2.20%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
The borough borders Pittsgrove Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township.<ref>Salem County Map Template:Webarchive, Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 5, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
The borough is located on U.S. Route 40.
Demographics
[edit]2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 1,395 people, 536 households, and 391 families in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 577 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 94.05% (1,312) White, 2.15% (30) Black or African American, 0.57% (8) Native American, 0.79% (11) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.29% (18) from other races, and 1.15% (16) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.15% (44) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 536 households, 31.3% had children under the age of 18; 51.5% were married couples living together; 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.1% were non-families. Of all households, 22.2% were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.00.<ref name=Census2010/>
22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.5 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $65,417 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,616) and the median family income was $78,661 (+/− $5,812). Males had a median income of $51,685 (+/− $7,458) versus $41,042 (+/− $9,148) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,065 (+/− $2,585). About 7.8% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Elmer borough, Salem County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 1,384 people, 524 households, and 385 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 557 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 97.25% White, 0.65% African American, 0.51% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Elmer borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Elmer borough, Salem County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref>
There were 524 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.06.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median income for a household in the borough was $46,172, and the median income for a family was $58,438. Males had a median income of $39,896 versus $27,583 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,356. About 4.6% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Government
[edit]Local government
[edit]Elmer is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<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 borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<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> The borough form of government used by Elmer is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>
Template:As of, the mayor of Elmer Borough is Democrat Joseph P. Stemberger, whose term of office expires on December 31, 2023. Members of the Elmer Borough Council are Council President Lewis M. Schneider (R, 2024), Lynda Davis (R, 2022), Bruce Foster (R, 2023), Cynthia L. Nolan (R, 2023), Steven A. Schalick (R, 2022) and James W. Zee, III (R, 2024).<ref name=Officials>Elected Officials, Borough of Elmer. Accessed August 1, 2022. "Elmer is governed by a Mayor and six Borough Council members. The Mayor serves a four year term and Council serves three-year terms."</ref><ref>2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Elmer. Accessed August 1, 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 February 2019, the borough council selected Bruce Foster from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that became vacant following the resignation of R. Matthew Richards the previous month.<ref>Meeting Minutes for February 13, 2019, Borough of Elmer. Accessed February 20, 2020. "Council Vacancy: Motion Davis second Zee to accept the resignation of Councilman R. Matthew Richards with regret effective January 31, 2019. Councilman Zee discussed three candidates recommended by the Republican Committee.... Swearing in and Oath of Office: Bruce Foster was administered the oath of office for Borough Council Member by the Clerk, Sarah Walker. Foster took the seat of Richards for the rest of the meeting."</ref> Foster served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Salem2019/>
Federal, state and county representation
[edit]Elmer 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>
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Politics
[edit]As of March 2011, there were a total of 852 registered voters in Elmer, of whom 201 (23.6% vs. 30.6% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 253 (29.7% vs. 21.0%) were registered as Republicans and 397 (46.6% vs. 48.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Salem, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed January 17, 2013.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 61.1% (vs. 64.6% in Salem County) were registered to vote, including 79.1% 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 17, 2013.</ref>
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 60.4% of the vote (356 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 38.0% (224 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (9 votes), among the 593 ballots cast by the borough's 875 registered voters (4 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 67.8%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 375 votes (56.4% vs. 46.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 261 votes (39.2% vs. 50.4%) and other candidates with 15 votes (2.3% vs. 1.6%), among the 665 ballots cast by the borough's 892 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.6% (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 17, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 414 votes (62.4% vs. 52.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 242 votes (36.5% vs. 45.9%) and other candidates with 5 votes (0.8% vs. 1.0%), among the 663 ballots cast by the borough's 904 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.3% (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 17, 2013.</ref>
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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.5% of the vote (329 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 21.8% (95 votes), and other candidates with 2.8% (12 votes), among the 440 ballots cast by the borough's 897 registered voters (4 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.1%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 234 votes (53.8% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 155 votes (35.6% vs. 39.9%), Independent Chris Daggett with 38 votes (8.7% vs. 9.7%) and other candidates with 5 votes (1.1% vs. 2.0%), among the 435 ballots cast by the borough's 876 registered voters, yielding a 49.7% 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 17, 2013.</ref>
Education
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Public school students from Elmer and Pittsgrove Township attend the Pittsgrove Township School District for kindergarten through twelfth grade as part of a full sending/receiving relationship in which the former Elmer School was integrated into the district as of 2011 and students from both Elmer and Pittsgrove Township attend school together throughout their education.<ref>2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Salem County, NJ, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 9, 2024.</ref>
Previously the municipality was served by the Elmer School District, an elementary school district.<ref>School District Reference Map (2010 Census): Salem County, NJ, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 9, 2024.</ref> As of May 2010, Elmer students began attending the schools of the Pittsgrove Township School District at all elementary levels as part of a full sending/receiving relationship in which the former Elmer School became integrated into the district and Elmer and Pittsgrove Township students began to attend school together throughout their education.<ref name=Dailey>Dailey, Jennifer. "Elmer and Pittsgrove school districts to merge through send and receive agreement", Today's Sunbeam, June 17, 2009. Accessed February 18, 2025. "The Elmer Board of Education voted unanimously during its school board meeting here Tuesday night to merge with Pittsgrove through a full send and receive agreement. The agreement could have Elmer and Pittsgrove students attending school together."</ref><ref>Dunn, Phil. "Pittsgrove Township Board of Education weighing how many choice students it will accept into district", Today's Sunbeam, December 19, 2011. Accessed February 18, 2025. "Brodzik said the 2011 number includes the influx of students they gained from Elmer since the school became part of the Pittsgrove district."</ref><ref>Elmer Elementary School 2014 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 8, 2015. "The Elmer School has been part of the Pittsgrove Township School District for 4 years. Previously the Borough of Elmer's Kindergarten through fourth grade children attended school at the Elmer School while the rest of their students participated in a send/receive agreement with Pittsgrove Township Schools for grades five through twelve. A full send/receive agreement with the Elmer Borough Board of Education was reached for the 2010-2011 school year. All students from both Pittsgrove and Elmer attend school together from preschool through twelfth grade. Elmer Elementary School now houses 200 Pittsgrove and Elmer students in grades one and two."</ref> Initially this was done as part of a full sending/receiving relationship from Elmer to Pittsgrove Township.<ref name=Dailey/> The Elmer School District fully dissolved after the 2016–17 school year<ref>Education, Elmer Borough. Accessed February 18, 2025. "As of July 31, 2017, there is no longer an Elmer Board of Education."</ref> and was absorbed by the Pittsgrove Township district, which paid $620,000 to acquire the Elmer School facility. The state forgave the remaining $2.8 million that was owed by the Elmer district.<ref>Gallo, Bill Jr. "Merger means N.J. has one less school district and $2.8M debt was 'forgiven'", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 3, 2017. Accessed February 18, 2025. "As part of the consolidation, Pittsgrove purchased the Elmer School building for $620,000, officials said.... As part of the consolidation approval, it was agreed that the $2.8 million that Elmer schools owed to the state would be forgiven."</ref>
As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 1,680 students and 142.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Pittsgrove Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Pittsgrove Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>) are Norma Elementary School<ref>Norma Elementary School, Pittsgrove Township School District. Accessed February 18, 2025.</ref> with 131 students in grades PreK–K, Elmer Elementary School<ref>Elmer Elementary School, Pittsgrove Township School District. Accessed February 18, 2025.</ref> with 197 students in grades 1–2, Olivet Elementary School<ref>Olivet Elementary School, Pittsgrove Township School District. Accessed February 18, 2025.</ref> with 351 students in grades 3–5, Pittsgrove Township Middle School<ref>Pittsgrove Township Middle School, Pittsgrove Township School District. Accessed February 18, 2025.</ref> with 483 students in grades 6–8 and A.P. Schalick High School<ref>A.P. Schalick High School, Pittsgrove Township School District. Accessed February 18, 2025.</ref> with 478 students in grades 9–12.<ref>Schools, Pittsgrove Township School District. Accessed February 18, 2025. "Pittsgrove Township School District is comprised of five schools and is located in Salem County in Southern New Jersey. Our student body consists of approximately 2000 students in grades Pre-K through 12."</ref><ref>Pittsgrove Township School District 2021-22 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 18, 2025. "The Pittsgrove Township educational community is comprised of five schools: Norma Elementary School, Elmer Elementary School, Olivet Elementary School, Pittsgrove Township Middle School, and A.P. Schalick High School."</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Pittsgrove Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Pittsgrove Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>
Transportation
[edit]_just_east_of_Oak_Street_in_Elmer,_Salem_County,_New_Jersey.jpg){kind=link}
Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Salem County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Salem County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>
U.S. Route 40 is the main highway serving Elmer.<ref>US Route 40 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2017. Accessed March 5, 2023.</ref><ref>Salem County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed March 5, 2023.</ref>
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Elmer include:
- Todd Barranger (born 1968), professional golfer<ref>Todd Barranger, Fox Sports. Accessed April 28, 2015.</ref>
- King Brady (1881–1947), MLB pitcher<ref>King Brady, MLB.com. Accessed April 28, 2015.</ref>
- Mulford B. Foster (1888–1978), botanist known as the "Father of the Bromeliad"<ref>Dickinson, Joy Wallace. "From snakes to seeds to paintings, creativity bloomed at Tropical Arts", The Orlando Sentinel, April 20, 2014. Accessed August 1, 2022. "Born in 1888 in Elmer, N.J., to a newspaper-editor father and artistic mother, Mulford Foster loved nature, and art, from boyhood."</ref>
- David Mixner (1946–2024), civil rights activist and author<ref>Mixner, David. "Turkey Hollow Almanac: My Birthday" Template:Webarchive, DavidMixner.com, August 17, 2008. Accessed April 28, 2015. "Growing up in Elmer, New Jersey, birthdays were never a big deal."</ref>
- Tiernny Wiltshire (born 1998), soccer forward for the Jamaica women's national team<ref>Tiernny Wiltshire, Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's soccer. Accessed February 20, 2020. "Hometown: Elmer, N.J."</ref>
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Elmer Borough website
- Pittsgrove Township School District
- Template:NJReportCard
- School Data for the Elmer School, National Center for Education Statistics