Salem County, New Jersey


Salem County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its western boundary is formed by the Delaware River and it has the eastern terminus of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, connecting to New Castle, Delaware. Its county seat is Salem. The county is part of the Delaware Valley area. As of the 2019 Census estimate, the county's population was 62,385, making it the state's least populous county, representing a 5.6% decrease from the 66,083 enumerated at the 2010 Census, in turn increasing by 1,798 from the 64,285 counted in the 2000 Census, retaining its position as the state's least populous county. The most populous place was Pennsville Township, with 13,409 residents at the time of the 2010 Census. Lower Alloways Creek Township covers, the largest total area of any municipality.

History

European settlement began with English colonists in the seventeenth century, who were settling both sides of the Delaware River. They established a colonial court in the area in 1681, but Salem County was first formally organized within West Jersey on May 17, 1694, from the Salem Tenth. Pittsgrove Township was transferred to Cumberland County in April 1867, but was restored to Salem County in February 1868. The area was initially settled by Quakers.
The Old Salem County Courthouse, situated on the same block as the Salem County Courthouse, serves as the court for Salem City in the 21st century. It is the oldest active courthouse in New Jersey and is the second oldest courthouse in continuous use in the United States, the oldest being King William County Courthouse in Virginia. The courthouse was built in 1735 during the reign of King George II using locally manufactured bricks. The building was enlarged in 1817 and additionally enlarged and remodeled in 1908. Its distinctive bell tower is essentially unchanged and the original bell sits in the courtroom.
Judge William Hancock of the King's Court presided at the courthouse. He was later killed by the British in the American Revolutionary War during the massacre at Hancock House committed by the British against local militia during the Salem Raid in 1778. Afterward the courthouse was the site of the "treason trials," wherein suspected Loyalists were put on trial for having allegedly aided the British during the Salem Raid. Four men were convicted and sentenced to death for treason; however, they were pardoned by Governor William Livingston and exiled from New Jersey. The courthouse is also the site of the legend of Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson's proving the edibility of the tomato. Before 1820, Americans often assumed tomatoes were poisonous. In 1820, Colonel Johnson, according to legend, stood upon the courthouse steps and ate tomatoes in front of a large crowd assembled to watch him do so.
Salem County is notable for its distinctive Quaker-inspired architecture and masonry styles of the 18th century. It had a rural and agricultural economy. In the early 20th century, its towns received numerous immigrants from eastern and southern Europe, who markedly added to the population. In the period following World War II, the county's population increased due to suburban development. To accommodate increasing traffic, the Delaware Memorial Bridge was built from Salem County to New Castle, Delaware.

Geography

According to the 2010 Census, the county had a total area of, including of land and of water. The county is bordered on the west by the Delaware River, and drained by Salem River, Alloway, and other creeks.
The terrain is almost uniformly flat coastal plain, with minimal relief. The highest elevation in the county has never been determined with any specificity, but is likely one of seven low rises in Upper Pittsgrove Township that reach approximately in elevation. Sea level is the lowest point.
The county has a humid subtropical climate and monthly temperatures in Salem city average from 33.2 °F in January to 77.2 °F in July, while in Elmer they average from 33.1 °F in January to 76.8 °F in July.

Adjacent counties

The county adjoins the following areas:
1across Delaware Bay; no land border

National protected area

2010 census

2000 census

As of the 2000 census there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile. There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 81.19% White, 14.77% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. 3.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among those residents listing their ancestry, 20.0% were of German, 17.1% Irish, 13.9% English, 12.2% Italian and 6.1% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 24,295 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples living together, 13.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% 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 3.08.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,573, and the median income for a family was $54,890. Males had a median income of $41,860 versus $27,209 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,874. About 7.2% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Salem County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders who are elected at-large to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Director and a Deputy Director from among its members. The appointed position professional county administrator was abolished by a unanimous vote of the freeholders in January 2014. In 2016, freeholders were paid $25,410 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $26,410.
In the 2016 general election, Salem County voters approved a binding referendum to cut the number of freeholders from seven to five as well as a non-binding referendum to cut freeholder salaries by 20%; both initiatives, which had been placed on the ballot as the result of grassroots campaigns opposed to a proposed outsourcing deal, passed by a 3-1 margin. In the wake of the referendum results, Freeholder Director Julie Acton resigned in December 2016 and was replaced by Scott Griscom. In April 2017, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that the reduction in seats will be accomplished through attrition, with the seats expiring at the end of 2017 being eliminated; in the November 2017 general election there will be one new three-year seat up for vote as well as a two-year unexpired term, so that on January 1, 2018, there will be a five-member freeholder board.
, Salem County's Freeholders are:
Scott Griscom was sworn into office in January 2017 to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that was vacated by Julie Acton following her resignation in December 2016 and served on an interim basis until the November 2017 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate and the County Sheriff. Salem County's constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis are:
The Salem County Prosecutor is John T. Lenahan of Pilesgrove Township, who was nominated by Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie in June 2014.
Salem County is a part of Vicinage 15 of the New Jersey Superior Court, seated in Woodbury in Gloucester County; the Assignment Judge for the vicinage is Benjamin C. Telsey. The Salem County Courthouse is in Salem.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 42,672 registered voters in Salem, of which 13,052 were registered as Democrats, 8,945 were registered as Republicans and 20,652 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 23 voters registered to other parties. Among the county's 2010 Census population, 64.6% were registered to vote, including 84.4% of those ages 18 and over.
Salem County generally and historically leaned towards the Republican Party, but not as much so as the Northwest or Shore regions of the state. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama carried the county by a 4% margin over Republican John McCain, with Obama receiving 57.27% statewide. Obama received 16,044 votes here, ahead of McCain with 14,816 votes and other candidates with 503 votes, among the 31,812 ballots cast by the county's 44,324 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.8%. In the 2004 presidential election,
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 42,672 registered voters in Salem, of which 13,052 were registered as Democrats, 8,945 were registered as Republicans and 20,652 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 23 voters registered to other parties. In the 2012 U.S. presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney tied, with both candidates receiving 14,719 votes each; the state voted for Obama. Among the county's 2010 Census population, 64.6% were registered to vote, including 84.4% of those ages 18 and over. In 2004 Bush received 15,721 votes here, ahead of Kerry with 13,749 votes and other candidates with 311 votes, among the 29,950 ballots cast by the county's 42,210 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.0%.
In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 9,599 votes here, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 8,323 votes, Independent Chris Daggett with 2,011 votes and other candidates with 411 votes, among the 20,838 ballots cast by the county's 44,037 registered voters, yielding a 47.3% turnout.
Salem County falls entirely within the 2nd congressional district and the 3rd state legislative district.

Transportation

, the county had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the local municipality, by Salem County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Salem is served by many different roads. Major county routes include CR 540, CR 551, CR 553 and CR 581. State highways include Route 45, Route 47, Route 48, Route 56, Route 77 and Route 140. The U.S. routes are U.S. Route 40 and the southern end of U.S. Route 130.
Limited access roads include Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike. Both highways pass through the northern part of the county. Only one turnpike interchange is located in Salem: Exit 1 in Carneys Point. There are a pair of service areas on the Turnpike, both located between exits 1 and 2 in Oldmans Township: The John Fenwick Service Area on the northbound side and the Clara Barton Service Area in the southbound direction.
The Delaware Memorial Bridge is a set of twin suspension bridges crossing the Delaware River. Connecting New Castle, Delaware and Pennsville Township, the original span was opened in 1951 and the second span in 1968.
NJ Transit operates three routes through Salem County: the 401, which stops in Salem, Woodstown, Swedesboro, and Woodbury en route to and from Philadelphia; the 402, which stops in Penns Grove and has two stops in Salem en route to and from Philadelphia; and the 468, which has local stops throughout Salem County.

Municipalities

Municipalities in Salem County are: Other, unincorporated communities in the county are listed next to their parent municipality. Some of these areas are census-designated places that have been created by the United States Census Bureau for enumeration purposes within a Township. Other communities and enclaves that exist within a municipality are also listed next to the name.
Municipality
Municipal
type		PopulationHousing
units		Total
area		Water
area		Land
area		Pop.
density		Housing
density		Unincorporated
communities / notes
Alloway Township township3,4671,26833.830.4333.40103.838.0Aldine
Alloway CDP
Alloway Junction
Friesburg
Mower
Oakland
Penton
Remsterville
Riddleton
Carneys Point Township township8,0493,50217.740.8716.86477.3207.7Biddles Landing
Carneys Point CDP
Helms Cove
Laytons Lake
Elmer borough1,3955770.880.010.871,612.3666.9
Elsinboro Township township1,03652413.321.4111.9286.944.0Hagerville
Moores Corner
Oakwood Beach
Sinnickson Landing
Lower Alloways Creek Township township1,77072772.4627.2345.2339.116.1Canton
Hancock's Bridge CDP
Mannington Township township1,80659237.734.0233.7053.617.6Acton
Halltown
Marshalltown
Pointers
Portertown
Slapes Corner
Welchville
Oldmans Township township1,77369920.380.9319.4591.135.9Auburn
Pedricktown CDP
Penns Grove borough5,1472,0040.910.000.915,656.02,202.2
Pennsville Township township13,4095,91424.593.3121.28630.2278.0Deepwater
Pennsville CDP
Pilesgrove Township township4,0161,59435.070.2334.84115.345.7
Pittsgrove Township township9,3933,44545.920.8345.08208.376.4Brotmanville
Centerton
Norma
Olivet CDP
Quinton Township township2,6661,09924.580.4924.09110.745.6Harmony
Pecks Corner
Quinton CDP
Salem city5,1462,6332.820.472.342,195.91,123.6
Upper Pittsgrove Township township3,5051,31040.490.1640.3386.932.5Daretown
Friendship
Monroeville
Whig Lane
Woodstown borough3,5051,5291.630.041.582,211.8964.9
SalemCounty66,08327,417372.3340.43331.90199.182.6

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Salem have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of was recorded in August 1918. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in July.

Wineries