Pilesgrove Township, New Jersey


Pilesgrove Township is a township in Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 4,183, an increase of 167 from the 2010 census count of 4,016, which in turn reflected an increase of 93 from the 3,923 counted in the 2000 census.
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 that were established on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken on December 6, 1769, to form Pittsgrove Township and on July 26, 1882, to create Woodstown. The township was named for Thomas Pyle.
In 1979, Pilesgrove Township enacted the state's first right-to-farm law, protecting farming as a "natural right hereby ordained to exist as a permitted use everywhere in the Township of Pilesgrove."
WWW pilesgrovenj.org

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 35.17 square miles, including 34.94 square miles of land and 0.23 square miles of water. The Salem River flows through the township.
The township borders the Salem County municipalities of Alloway Township, Carneys Point Township, Mannington Township, Oldmans Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township. Pilesgrove Township also borders Gloucester County. The Borough of Woodstown is an independent municipality completely surrounded by Pilesgrove Township, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. Woodstown serves as the more densely settled commercial core of the paired communities, while Pilesgrove is more agricultural.
Unincorporated communities in the township include Avis Mills, Courees Landing, East Lake, Eldridges Hill, Fenwick, Friendship, Milltown, Paulding, Point Airy, Richmanville, Sharptown, Union Grove and Yorktown. The census-designated place of Auburn is in the northwest part of the township, extending into Oldmans Township.
The Pilesgrove Solar Farm is one of the largest in the state, covering with 71,000 solar panels that generate 20 megawatts of electricity, enough to provide power for more than 5,000 homes.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 4,016 people, 1,488 households, and 1,091 families in the township. The population density was. There were 1,594 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 90.81% White, 5.93% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.59% of the population.
Of the 1,488 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18; 63.9% were married couples living together; 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.7% were non-families. Of all households, 21.5% were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.08.
20.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.5 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $87,083 and the median family income was $102,870. Males had a median income of $63,352 versus $59,700 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,966. About 0.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 3,923 people, 1,216 households, and 994 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 1,261 housing units at an average density of. 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.

Culture

Cowtown Rodeo is the only professional weekly rodeo in the state of New Jersey. It is known as the oldest weekly professional rodeo in the United States alongside being one of the oldest overall. The season typically spans from late May on Memorial Day Weekend to late September.

Government

Local government

Pilesgrove is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee 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 as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the council selects one of its members to serves as mayor and another as deputy mayor.
, members of the Pilesgrove Township Committee are Mayor Kevin Eachus, Deputy Mayor David R. Bonowski and Joseph Crevino.
In August 2014, the Township Council selected Joseph Crevino to fill the vacant seat of Jessie B. Smith, who had resigned the previous month from a term expiring in December 2016.
In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $8,387, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.

Federal, state and county representation

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

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,908 registered voters in Pilesgrove Township, of which 678 were registered as Democrats, 873 were registered as Republicans and 1,354 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 72.4% were registered to vote, including 90.9% of those ages 18 and over.

Education

The Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Woodstown and Pilesgrove Township. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,425 students and 126.5 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1. Schools in the district are
William Roper Early Childhood Learning Center with 83 students in grades PreK-K,
Mary S. Shoemaker Elementary School with 470 students in grades 1-5,
Woodstown Middle School with 278 students in grades 6-8 and
Woodstown High School with 579 students in grades 9-12. Students from neighboring Alloway Township, Oldmans Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township attend the high school as part of sending/receiving relationships. A majority of public school students in grades 9–12 from Oldmans Township attend Penns Grove High School as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District, with the balance attending Woodstown High School.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Salem County, by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
The New Jersey Turnpike crosses the northwest corner of Pilesgrove Township. U.S. Route 40 traverses the township roughly east to west and Route 45 crosses the township roughly south to north, with the two roadways meeting in Woodstown, the donut hole at the center. County Route 581 cuts through the southeast corner.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service between Salem and Philadelphia on the 401 route.
The southern portion of the freight rail Salem Branch, operated under contract by Southern Railroad of New Jersey, runs through the township.

Wineries

Notable people

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