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 (+4.2%) from the 2010 census count of 4,016, which in turn reflected an increase of 93 (+2.4%) from the 3,923 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.

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.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. The township was named for Thomas Pyle.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 16, 2015.Town and County Names , Visit Salem County. Accessed September 17, 2015. "Pilesgrove: In one record it is written that the name came from Thomas Pile (or Pyle) another James Pile who purchased 10,000 acres in 1682."

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."DePalma, Anthony. "Right-to-Farm Gains Backing", The New York Times, November 16, 1980. Accessed March 2, 2020. "Last April, the Pilesgrove Township Council passed New Jersey's first right-to-farm ordinance. It recognizes the farmers' right to go about their daily business as a 'natural right hereby ordained to exist as a permitted use everywhere in the Township of Pilesgrove.'"

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 35.17 square miles (91.09 km2), including 34.94 square miles (90.48 km2) of land and 0.23 square miles (0.61 km2) of water (0.67%). The Salem River flows through the township.DeLorme (2005). New Jersey Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. .

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.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 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.DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain. Woodstown serves as the more densely settled commercial core of the paired communities, while Pilesgrove is more agricultural.Environmental Resource Inventory for the Borough of Woodstown and the Township of Pilesgrove, Salem County, New Jersey, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, September 2005. Accessed November 8, 2015. "Woodstown is representative of a 19th century commercial center, which supported its agricultural hinterlands and linked to other commercial centers of varying size from Salem City in the south to Camden City in the north.... Since Woodstown is surrounded by Pilesgrove and is considerably denser, the borough's population has remained stable over the last decade."

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.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed November 26, 2014. 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.Dunn, Phil. "Ground broken in Pilesgrove for what may be largest solar farm in the Northeast", Today's Sunbeam, October 20, 2010. Accessed June 3, 2015. "A groundbreaking ceremony was held here near Robbins Road Wednesday morning to mark the beginning construction phase of the largest solar farm in the Northeast.The 20-megawatt solar electric generating station is expected to house 71,000 panels and produce enough electricity to power 5,100 homes with clean, renewable energy."

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% (3,647) White, 5.93% (238) Black or African American, 0.12% (5) Native American, 0.92% (37) Asian, 0.12% (5) Pacific Islander, 0.72% (29) from other races, and 1.37% (55) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.59% (104) 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 (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $87,083 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,552) and the median family income was $102,870 (+/− $13,121). Males had a median income of $63,352 (+/− $12,197) versus $59,700 (+/− $6,558) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,966 (+/− $3,754). 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.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Pilesgrove township, Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 18, 2013.

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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Pilesgrove township, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 31, 2016.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Pilesgrove township, Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 18, 2013.

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 (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 19."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. 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 (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Deputy Mayor David R. Bonowski (R, term on committee ends 2023; term as deputy mayor ends 2022) and Joseph Crevino (R, 2022).Township Committee, Pilesgrove Township. Accessed August 14, 2022.2021 Municipal Data Sheet, Pilesgrove Township. Accessed August 14, 2022.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.November 5, 2019 Summary Report Salem County, NJ Official Results, Salem County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 18, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.

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.Kent, Spencer. "Pilesgrove fills vacant seat on committee; appoints deputy mayor", South Jersey Times, August 14, 2014. Accessed August 17, 2015. "Republican Joseph Crevino was sworn in to fill the vacant township committee seat of former committeeman Jesse Smith, who resigned late last month.... Just seven months into his term, Smith, who served as the township's deputy mayor, resigned from office on July 31 saying that due to health and personal reasons, he would be unable to continue his position."