Pittsgrove 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 8,777, a decrease of 616 (−6.6%) from the 2010 census count of 9,393, which in turn reflected an increase of 500 (+5.6%) from the 8,893 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.

Pittsgrove Township was formed by Royal charter on December 6, 1769 and was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of the initial group of 104 townships established in New Jersey. Portions of the township were taken on March 4, 1822, to form Centreville Township (which was restored in 1829 when the township was dissolved), on March 10, 1846, to form Upper Pittsgrove Township and on January 28, 1893, to form Elmer borough.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 217. Accessed May 30, 2024. The township was named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, a supporter of the colonial cause.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 19, 2015.Town and County Names, Visit Salem County. Accessed September 19, 2015. "Set off from Piles Grove and named in honor of Sir William Pitt the famous English statesman and orator, before he accepted the Earldom of Chatham."

History The Alliance Colony was a Jewish agricultural community that was founded on May 10, 1882, in Pittsgrove Township. It was named after the Alliance Israélite Universelle of Paris and was funded by the Hebrew Emigrant Aid Society of New York and Philadelphia and the Baron De Hirsch Fund.Reis, J. C. Alliance, New Jersey, Jewish Encyclopedia. Accessed February 18, 2025. "An agricultural colony situated in the southeastern part of Salem county, New Jersey, four miles from Vineland, ten from Bridgeton, ten from Millville, and about forty-three miles from Philadelphia. It was named in honor of the Alliance Israélite Universelle of Paris, and was founded May 10, 1882, by the Hebrew Emigrant Aid Society of New York and Philadelphia." The Moshe Bayuk House is the last remaining structure at the site of the colony.Moshe Bayuk House, New Jersey Historic Trust.Accessed February 18, 2025. "The Moshe Bayuk House is associated with the late 19th and early 20th century Alliance Colony. The Alliance Colony was established in 1882, an important Jewish agricultural community founded by Jews fleeing persecution in Russia and Eastern Europe during the 19th century. While many of the original buildings have been lost, the Bayuk House is the last in situ residence associated with the Alliance Colony."

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 45.75 square miles (118.50 km2), including 44.90 square miles (116.29 km2) of land and 0.85 square miles (2.21 km2) of water (1.87%).

Olivet (with a 2020 Census population of 1,297) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Pittsgrove Township.GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 19, 2013.2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 19, 2013.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed January 19, 2013.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Alliance, Brotmanville, Centerton, Daretown, Greenville, Norma, Norma Station, Palatine, Parvin Lake, Rainbow Lake, Six Points, Union Grove, Upper Neck and Willow Grove.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The township borders the municipalities of Elmer Borough and Upper Pittsgrove Township in Salem County; Deerfield Township, Upper Deerfield Township and Vineland in Cumberland County and Franklin Township in 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.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 9,393 people, 3,307 households, and 2,576 families in the township. The population density was . There were 3,445 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 88.17% (8,282) White, 6.97% (655) Black or African American, 0.42% (39) Native American, 0.94% (88) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.39% (131) from other races, and 2.10% (197) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.80% (451) of the population.

Of the 3,307 households, 31.8% had children under the age of 18; 60.1% were married couples living together; 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 22.1% were non-families. Of all households, 17.8% were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.15.

23.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 32.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $74,348 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,547) and the median family income was $83,564 (+/− $7,149). Males had a median income of $56,300 (+/− $5,678) versus $38,056 (+/− $6,727) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,606 (+/− $1,671). About 2.4% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Pittsgrove township, Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 19, 2013.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 8,893 people, 3,020 households, and 2,422 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 3,155 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 88.14% White, 8.04% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.41% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Pittsgrove 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 Pittsgrove township, Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 19, 2013.

There were 3,020 households, out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $56,687, and the median income for a family was $63,266. Males had a median income of $42,653 versus $27,173 for females. The per capita income for the township was $21,624. About 3.5% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Pittsgrove Township 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 is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats 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 Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

, members of the Pittsgrove Township Committee are Mayor Fiore Copare (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2023; term as mayor ends 2022), Deputy Mayor Francesca I. Spinelli (R, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2022), Eric Harz (R, 2022), William A. Schmidt (R, 2023) and Kevin Yeagle (R, 2024).Township Committee, Pittsgrove Township. Accessed July 31, 2022.2021 Municipal Data Sheet, Pittsgrove Township. Accessed July 31, 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.

Public safety Pittsgrove Township is protected by the New Jersey State Police.Facts About Pittsgrove, Pittsgrove Township. Accessed February 18, 2025. American Legion Ambulance Corps (who purchased the Elmer Ambulance Corps in 2018) and Norma/Alliance Rescue provide EMS services to the township. Centerton Fire Company, Willow Grove Fire Company, and Norma/Alliance Fire Rescue provide fire protection services for the township.Fire Districts, Pittsgrove Township. Accessed February 18, 2025.

Federal, state and county representation Pittsgrove Township is located in the 2nd Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.

Politics