Paulsboro, New Jersey


Paulsboro is a borough situated on the banks of the Delaware River in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the Philadelphia metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 6,196, an increase of 99 from the 6,097 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn had reflected a decline of 63 from the 6,160 counted in the 2000 census. Paulsboro and surrounding Gloucester County constitute part of South Jersey.
Paulsboro was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 2, 1904, from portions of Greenwich Township. It was named for Samuel Phillip Paul, son of a settler.
WWW paulsboronj.org

History

18th century

Paulsboro is the home of Fort Billingsport, the first land purchase made by the United States, acquired on July 5, 1776, the day after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

19th century

Paulsboro is the location of the Tinicum Island Rear Range Light house, first lit on the night of December 31, 1880.

20th century

In 1997, a local citizens' group was established with the purpose of providing tours and public access to the structure. The lighthouse is one of New Jersey's few publicly accessible aids to navigation and is the centerpiece of Paulsboro's cultural revitalization.
The East Jefferson Street Railroad Bridge over Mantua Creek was built in 1917 and rebuilt in 1940 for the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. It is now part of Conrail's Penns Grove Secondary.

21st century

On November 30, 2012, the East Jefferson Street Railroad Bridge buckled, causing seven cars of a freight train to derail. One of the four tanker cars that fell into the creek was punctured, leaking thousands of gallons of vinyl chloride. Homes in the borough had to be evacuated and dozens of people went to hospitals as a precautionary measure due to exposure to the chemicals. Some residents in the area have filed suit against Conrail and CSX in Pennsylvania State Court having "complained about respiratory and bronchial related illnesses, headaches, eye and skin irritations and multiple other symptoms."
In March 2013, Conrail announced that the bridge would be replaced with an expected September 2014 operational date. Normally, between March 1 and November 30 the bridge is left in the open position for maritime traffic and closed when trains approach. It will remain locked in the closed position until the bridge is replaced. In September 2013, another less serious derailment took place along the border of Gibbstown and Paulsboro, with one car leaving the tracks on a train consisting mostly of empty tanker cars.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.63 square miles, including 1.92 square miles of land and 0.71 square miles of water.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely in the borough include Billingsport.
Paulsboro borders the Gloucester County municipalities of East Greenwich Township, Greenwich Township, and West Deptford Township. It also borders the Delaware River.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 6,097 people, 2,286 households, and 1,591 families in the borough. The population density was. There were 2,533 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 54.49% White, 36.72% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.35% from other races, and 5.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.89% of the population.
Of the 2,286 households, 33.9% had children under the age of 18; 33.7% were married couples living together; 28.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.4% were non-families. Of all households, 25.7% were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.16.
28.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 88.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 82.4 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $43,846 and the median family income was $61,147. Males had a median income of $51,923 versus $37,826 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,061. About 8.2% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 6,160 people, 2,353 households, and 1,614 families residing in the borough. The population density was. There were 2,628 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the borough was 63.56% White, 31.64% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.31% from other races, and 2.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.35% of the population.
There were 2,353 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.0% were married couples living together, 24.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% 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 3.15.
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,569, and the median income for a family was $41,359. Males had a median income of $32,313 versus $24,779 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,368. About 14.6% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Paulsboro is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A 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. The borough form of government used by Paulsboro 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.
, the mayor of the Borough of Paulsboro is Democrat John Giovannitti, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Paulsboro Borough Council are Council President Tahje Thomas, Karen Armistead, Kyana Evans, Theodore D. Holloway II, Eric Singleton and Jennifer Turner.
In October 2024, Kyana Evans was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2025 that was vacated by Eric DiTonno.
Gary Stevenson was chosen in January 2012 to fill the vacant council seat of W. Jeffery Hamilton expiring in 2013, who left his seat after being sworn in as mayor. Alfonso Giampola was appointed in May 2012 to fill the vacant seat of Paul Morina for a term ending in 2014.
In January 2016, the borough council selected Eric DiTonno to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that was vacated by Gary C. Stevenson when he took office as mayor.
In 2018, the borough had an average property tax bill of $3,997, the lowest in the county, compared to an average bill of $6,851 in Gloucester County and $8,767 statewide. The borough had the 21st-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.427% in 2020, compared to 3.212% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%.

Federal, state, and county representation

Paulsboro is located in the First Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.

Education

The Paulsboro Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,186 students and 101.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.7:1. Schools in the district are Billingsport Early Childhood Center with 304 students in grades PreK-2, Loudenslager Elementary School with 351 students in grades 3-6, Paulsboro Junior High School with 131 students in grades 7-8, and Paulsboro High School with 351 students in grades 9-12.
Students in ninth through twelfth grades from Greenwich Township attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Greenwich Township School District.
Students from across the county are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend the school.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden oversees Guardian Angels Regional School, which has a 4–8 campus in Paulsboro while its Pre-K–3 campus is in Gibbstown. Its PreK-3 campus is in Gibbstown while its 4-8 campus is in Paulsboro.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Gloucester County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Several major roadways pass through the borough. Interstate 295 and U.S. Route 130 pass through the southern tip of Paulsboro and Route 44 also traverses the borough.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service is available between Pennsville Township and Philadelphia on the 402 route, with local service offered on the 455 route between Cherry Hill Mall and Woodbury.
The borough operates shuttle bus service throughout the day.

Port of Paulsboro

The Port of Paulsboro is located on the Delaware River and Mantua Creek in and around Paulsboro. It is traditionally one of the nation's busiest for marine transfer operations of petroleum products. From 1998 to early 2011, the Valero Energy Corporation operated an oil refinery here, which it sold in a 2010 deal to PBF Energy for $360 million. The bridge over Mantua Creek was the site of the 2012 Paulsboro train derailment, resulting in a tank car leaking 23,000 gallons of vinyl chloride into the air.
The port is being redeveloped as an adaptable omniport able to handle a diversity of bulk, break bulk cargo and shipping containers. Studies completed in 2012 concluded that the port is well-suited to become a center for the manufacture, assembly, and transport of wind turbines and platforms for the development of Atlantic Wind Connection The port has also been home to America's largest asphalt refinery, scheduled to close in 2017.

Popular culture

The 2004 film Jersey Girl is set in the Jersey Shore community of Highlands but was filmed in Paulsboro.

Notable people

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