Penns Grove is a borough in Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 4,837, a decrease of 310 (−6.0%) from the 2010 census count of 5,147, which in turn reflected an increase of 261 (+5.3%) from the 4,886 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

Penns Grove had the fourth-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 5.556% in 2020, compared to 3.476% in Salem County and a statewide average of 2.279%."Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 4. Penns Grove Equalized tax rate in Penns Grove Borough, Salem County, was 5.556 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Salem County: 3.476"

History The area was long primarily agricultural. Penns Grove was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 8, 1894, from portions of Upper Penns Neck Township (now Carneys Point Township), based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 216. Accessed May 30, 2024. It began to industrialize around this time. The borough's name comes from William Penn.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 16, 2015.Penns Grove, NJ, DiscoverSalemCounty.com. Accessed September 17, 2015. "ohn Fenwick and William Penn later owned this land, the town was later named in honor of William Penn."

In the early 20th century, many Italian immigrants from Valle San Giovanni and the surrounding southern province of Teramo came to work at the local E.I. DuPont de Nemours plant in Carneys Point. Many settled on Pitman Street in Penns Grove. In 1925, the Italian community arranged to commission a copy of the statue of the Madonna and Child from the Chiesa della Madonna delle Grazie in Teramo, and had it installed in the Saint James Roman Catholic Church in Penns Grove.Relationship of Valle San Giovanni & Penns Grove, NJ, Valle San Giovanni. Accessed October 31, 2013. Other immigrants from eastern Europe also settled in the county, markedly increasing the population.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, Penns Grove borough had a total area of 0.89 square miles (2.31 km2), all of which was land.

The borough borders Carneys Point Township and the Delaware River.Salem County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 2, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019. The borough is located across the Delaware River from Wilmington, which is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area, and is south of the city of Philadelphia.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Penns Grove had a population of 4,837. The median age was 32.4 years. 32.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 80.6 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,684 households in Penns Grove, of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 30.3% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 43.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 2,010 housing units, of which 16.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 5.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.6%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 1,376 28.4% Black or African American 2,003 41.4% American Indian and Alaska Native 66 1.4% Asian 12 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 908 18.8% Two or more races 472 9.8% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,693 35.0%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 5,147 people, 1,801 households, and 1,235 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,004 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 41.83% (2,153) White, 39.77% (2,047) Black or African American, 0.66% (34) Native American, 0.49% (25) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 12.40% (638) from other races, and 4.86% (250) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.27% (1,455) of the population.

Of the 1,801 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18; 29.9% were married couples living together; 31.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.4% were non-families. Of all households, 25.3% were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.38.

32.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 89.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 82.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $30,104 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,093) and the median family income was $37,663 (+/− $9,442). Males had a median income of $42,908 (+/− $8,706) versus $30,353 (+/− $5,538) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $15,785 (+/− $2,169). About 28.1% of families and 28.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.2% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Penns Grove borough, Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 12, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 4,886 people, 1,827 households, and 1,231 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 2,075 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 48.85% White, 39.75% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 8.13% from other races, and 2.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.29% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Penns Grove borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 12, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Penns Grove borough, Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 12, 2012.

There were 1,827 households, out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.6% were married couples living together, 27.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 33.0% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $26,227, and the median income for a family was $34,076. Males had a median income of $30,871 versus $20,983 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $13,330. About 18.1% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.1% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government Penns Grove is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 19. The borough form of government used by Penns Grove 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.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.

, the mayor of Penns Grove is Independent LaDaena D. Thomas, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023; Thomas is the borough's first woman to serve as mayor and the county's first African-American woman to serve as a mayor.The Mayor, Borough of Penns Grove. Accessed February 22, 2023. "LaDaena is in her second year of her first term as Mayor of Penns Grove, NJ. She was elected in November of 2019 (defeating a 20-year incumbent) as the first female mayor of Penns Grove and the first African American woman to be elected mayor in Salem County." Members of the Borough Council are Council President Charlyn Martin (D, 2023), Jonathan Carter (D, 2023), Tracy Marinaro (D, 2025), John C. Rambo (R, 2024), Anjanette Scott (D, 2025) and Sonya Worley (D, 2024).Borough Council, Borough of Penns Grove. Accessed February 22, 2023.2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Penns Grove. Accessed August 23, 2022.November 8, 2022 Summary Report Salem County, NJ Official Results, Salem County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed January 1, 2023.Election Summary Report General Election Salem County November 2, 2021 Official Results Report, Salem County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.Election Summary Report Salem County NJ General Election November 3, 2020 Official Report, Salem County, New Jersey, updated November 25, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.