Pittsgrove Township, New Jersey


Pittsgrove Township is a township in Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 9,393, reflecting an increase of 500 from the 8,893 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 772 from the 8,121 counted in the 1990 Census.
Pittsgrove Township was formed by Royal charter on December 6, 1769 and was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of the initial group of 104 townships established in New Jersey. Portions of the township were taken on March 4, 1822, to form Centreville Township, on March 10, 1846, to form Upper Pittsgrove Township and on January 28, 1893, to form Elmer borough. The township was named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, a supporter of the colonial cause.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 45.915 square miles, including 45.083 square miles of land and 0.832 square miles of water.
Olivet is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within Pittsgrove Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Alliance, Brotmanville, Centerton, Daretown, Greenville, Norma, Norma Station, Palatine, Parvin Lake, Rainbow Lake, Six Points, Union Grove, Upper Neck and Willow Grove.
The township borders the municipalities of Elmer Borough and Upper Pittsgrove Township in Salem County; Deerfield Township, Upper Deerfield Township and Vineland in Cumberland County and Franklin Township in Gloucester County.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $74,348 and the median family income was $83,564. Males had a median income of $56,300 versus $38,056 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,606. About 2.4% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 8,893 people, 3,020 households, and 2,422 families residing in the township. The population density was 196.8 people per square mile. There were 3,155 housing units at an average density of 69.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 88.14% White, 8.04% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.41% of the population.
There were 3,020 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $56,687, and the median income for a family was $63,266. Males had a median income of $42,653 versus $27,173 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,624. About 3.5% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Pittsgrove Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 of 565 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Pittsgrove Township Committee are Mayor Dr. Fiore Copare, Deputy Mayor Francesca I. Spinelli, Jakob Botticello, Edward Girsham and Eric Harz.

Federal, state and county representation

Pittsgrove Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 5,928 registered voters in Pittsgrove Township, of which 1,618 were registered as Democrats, 1,223 were registered as Republicans and 3,085 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 63.1% were registered to vote, including 82.3% of those ages 18 and over.
In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 58% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 38.3%, and other candidates with 3.6%, among the 4,318 ballots cast in total. In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 50.2% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 48.6%, and other candidates with 1.1%, among the 4,229 ballots cast by the township's 6,130 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.0%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,279 votes, ahead of Republican John McCain with 2,162 votes and other candidates with 71 votes, among the 4,554 ballots cast by the township's 6,225 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,233 votes, ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,077 votes and other candidates with 50 votes, among the 4,380 ballots cast by the township's 6,022 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.7%.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 64.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 33.6%, and other candidates with 2.4%, among the 2,908 ballots cast by the township's 6,077 registered voters, for a turnout of 47.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,422 votes, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,198 votes, Independent Chris Daggett with 243 votes and other candidates with 43 votes, among the 3,035 ballots cast by the township's 6,164 registered voters, yielding a 49.2% turnout.

Education

Public school students from Pittsgrove Township and Elmer borough 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.
As of the 2012–13 school year, the district, comprising five schools, had an enrollment of 1,796 students and 132.9 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.51:1. Schools in the district are
Norma Elementary School for Preschool-K,
Elmer Elementary School for grades 1-2,
Olivet Elementary School for grades 3-5,
Pittsgrove Township Middle School for grades 6-8 and
A.P. Schalick High School for grades 9-12.

Transportation

, the township had a total of of roadways, the highest in the county, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Salem County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
U.S. Route 40 is the most prominent highway serving Pittsgrove Township, crossing east–west along the northern edge of the township. Other significant roads within the township include Route 56, which passes through the southern part of the township, while a small portion of Route 55 passes through the eastern part of the township County highways include County Route 540, which passes east / west through the township, intersecting and briefly overlapping with County Route 553, which crosses in a north / south direction.

Public Safety

Pittsgrove Township is protected by the New Jersey State Police. Elmer Ambulance Corp. and Norma/Alliance Rescue provide EMS services to the township. Centerton Fire Company, Willow Grove Fire Company, and Norma/Alliance Fire Rescue provide fire protection services for the township.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Pittsgrove Township include: