Pilesgrove Township, New Jersey

Pilesgrove Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,923.

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 on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken on December 6, 1769 to form Pittsgrove Township and on July 26, 1882 to form Woodstown.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.0 square miles (90.8 km²), of which, 34.9 square miles (90.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.40%) is water. The Salem River flows through the township.

Pilesgrove Township borders Oldmans Township, Carneys Point Township, Mannington Township, Alloway Township, Upper Pittsgrove Township. The Borough of Woodstown is an independent municipality within the boundaries of Pilesgrove Township.

Pilesgrove Township also borders Gloucester County.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,923 people, 1,216 households, and 994 families residing in the township. The population density was 112.4 people per square mile (43.4/km²). There were 1,261 housing units at an average density of 36.1/sq mi (13.9/km²). 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.

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.

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.

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.

Government

Local government

Pilesgrove is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government. The government 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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the council selects one of its members to serves as mayor and another as deputy mayor.

Pilesgrove Township is governed by a three-member Township Committee. Members of the Pilesgrove Township Committee are Mayor Ernest A. Bickford, Deputy Mayor Edward J. Kille and William Miller.

Federal, state and county representation

Pilesgrove Township is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District.

Education

The Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District serves nearly 1,700 students public school students from Woodstown and Pilesgrove Township in three schools. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Mary S. Shoemaker Elementary School for grades preK-4 (514 students), Woodstown Middle School for grades 5-8 (447) and Woodstown High School for grades 9-12 (696). Students from neighboring Alloway Township, Oldmans Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township attend the high school as part of sending/receiving relationships.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Pilesgrove Township include:

• Nathan T. Stratton (1813-1887), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1851 to 1855.

References

External links

• Pilesgrove Township's website
• Pilesgrove Township page on Salem County website
• Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District
• Data for the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics