Salem County, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 190 people per square mile (73/km²). There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile (30/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.19% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 14.77% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.35% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.62% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.57% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.46% from two or more races. 3.89% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 16.0% were of German, 13.2% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 12.8% Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
, 11.1% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 7.7% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 24,295 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.80% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 24.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,573, and the median income for a family was $54,890. Males had a median income of $41,860 versus $27,209 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $20,874. About 7.20% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Salem County is governed by a Board of Chosen FreeholdersBoard of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
consisting of seven members. Freeholders are elected at large by the voters of Salem County in partisan elections and serve staggered three-year terms. As of 2010, Salem County's Freeholders are:
- Lee R. Ware - Freeholder Director (D-2011)
- Bruce L. Bobbitt - Freeholder Deputy Director (D-2011)
- Julie Acton (R-2013)
- Dale Cross (R-2011)
- Ben Laury (R-2012)
- David Lindenmuth (D-2011)
- Beth Timberman (D-2012)
Politics
In the 2004 U.S. Presidential electionUnited States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
, Republican George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
carried the county by a 6.6% margin over Democrat John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
, with Kerry carrying the state by 6.7% over Bush.
However, in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, Democrat Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
carried the county by a 4% margin over Republican John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
, with Obama receiving 57.27% statewide.
Salem County falls entirely within New Jersey's 2nd congressional district
New Jersey's 2nd congressional district
New Jersey's Second Congressional District is currently represented by Republican Frank LoBiondo.-Counties and municipalities in the district:...
, which is currently represented by a Republican in Congress, Frank LoBiondo
Frank LoBiondo
Frank A. LoBiondo is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is at the southern end of New Jersey, and by far the biggest Congressional District in the state...
. However, it also falls entirely with in New Jersey's 3rd legislative district, which is represented in the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
by three Democrats.
2011 General Election: As a result of the 2011 general election, which was held on November 8, Republicans will take control of county government in January 2012 with a 4-3 majority of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. For a decade prior to 2011, Salem County voters had consistently chosen the county's Democratic candidates to control the county government. The unofficial results of the general election, as reported the day after the election, were as follows :
- Dale A. Cross (R) - 8,395
- Bruce L. Bobbitt (D) - 8,073
- Robert Vanderslice (R) - 7,143
- Gwyn Parris-Atwell (R) - 7,090
- Michael D. Burke (D) - 6,527
- John F. Hall (D) - 6,257
- Ken James (I) - 1,002
- Ed Spinelli (I) - 990
- Kasey Carmer (I) - 548
Transportation
Salem is served by many different roads. Major county routes include CR 540County Route 540 (New Jersey)
County Route 540, abbreviated CR 540, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from the intersection of U.S. Route 130 and Route 140 in Carneys Point Township to Harding Highway County Route 540, abbreviated CR 540, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New...
, CR 551
County Route 551 (New Jersey)
County Route 551, abbreviated CR 551, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Pennsville-Salem Road in Pennsville Township to Penn Street in Camden.-Salem County:...
, CR 553
County Route 553 (New Jersey)
County Route 553, abbreviated CR 553, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Hands Landing Road/Ogden Avenue in Commercial Township to Broadway in Deptford Township.-Cumberland County:...
(only in Pittsgrove
Pittsgrove Township, New Jersey
Pittsgrove Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 9,393....
) and CR 581
County Route 581 (New Jersey)
County Route 581, abbreviated CR 581, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Main Street in Quinton Township to Bridgeton Pike in Harrison Township.-Route description:...
. State highways include Route 45, Route 47, Route 48 (only in Carney's Point
Carneys Point Township, New Jersey
Carneys Point Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 8,049....
), Route 56 (only in Pittsgrove), Route 77 and Route 140 (only in Carney's Point). The U.S. routes are U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 in New Jersey
U.S. Route 40 is a U.S. highway running from Park City, Utah east to Atlantic City, New Jersey. The easternmost segment of the route runs through the southern part of New Jersey between the Delaware Memorial Bridge over the Delaware River in Pennsville Township, Salem County, where it continues...
and the southern end of U.S. Route 130
U.S. Route 130
U.S. Route 130 is a north–south U.S. Highway completely within the state of New Jersey. It runs from Interstate 295 and US 40 at Deepwater in Pennsville Township, Salem County, where the road continues east as Route 49, north to US 1 in North Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, where...
.
Limited access roads include Interstate 295
Interstate 295 (Delaware-New Jersey)
Interstate 295 in New Jersey and Delaware is an auxiliary Interstate Highway, designated as a bypass around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The route begins at a junction with Interstate 95 south of Wilmington, Delaware, and runs to another junction with I-95 north of Trenton, New Jersey...
, the Delaware Memorial Bridge
Delaware Memorial Bridge
The Delaware Memorial Bridge is a set of twin suspension bridges crossing the Delaware River. The toll bridges carry Interstate 295 and U.S. Route 40 between Delaware and New Jersey...
(which is signed as I-295/US 40) and the New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
. Both highways pass through the northern part of the county. Only one turnpike interchange is located in Salem: Exit 1 in Carneys Point (which is also where the turnpike ends).
Municipalities
The following municipalities are located in Salem County. The municipality type is listed in parentheses after the name, except where the type is included as part of the name. Other, unincorporated areas in the county are listed below their parent municipality (or municipalities, as the case may be). Most of these areas are census-designated placeCensus-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
s that have been created by the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
for enumeration purposes within a Township
Township (New Jersey)
A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village, collecting property taxes and providing...
. Other communities and enclaves that exist within a municipality are marked as non-CDP next to the name.
- Alloway TownshipAlloway Township, New JerseyAlloway Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 3,467....
- Alloway CDPAlloway CDP, New JerseyAlloway is a census-designated place in Alloway Township, Salem County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 1,128.-Geography:...
- Alloway CDP
- Carneys Point TownshipCarneys Point Township, New JerseyCarneys Point Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 8,049....
- Carneys Point CDPCarneys Point CDP, New JerseyCarneys Point is a census-designated place in Carneys Point Township, in Salem County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 6,914...
- Carneys Point CDP
- ElmerElmer, New JerseyElmer is a Borough in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 1,395, making it the 520th largest city in New Jersey....
(borough) - Elsinboro TownshipElsinboro Township, New JerseyElsinboro is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,092.Elsinboro's first mention dates back to May 12, 1701, though it was also mentioned in records on November 28, 1676. The details and date of its original...
- Lower Alloways Creek TownshipLower Alloways Creek Township, New JerseyLower Alloways Creek Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,851....
- Mannington TownshipMannington Township, New JerseyMannington Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,559....
- Oldmans TownshipOldmans Township, New JerseyOldmans Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 1,798....
- Penns GrovePenns Grove, New JerseyPenns Grove is a Borough in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 4,886.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 Penns Grove is a...
(borough) - Pennsville TownshipPennsville Township, New JerseyPennsville Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 13,194. The township is named for William Penn....
- Pennsville CDPPennsville CDP, New JerseyPennsville is a census-designated place in Pennsville Township, Salem County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 11,657.-Geography:Pennsville is located at ....
- Pennsville CDP
- Pilesgrove TownshipPilesgrove Township, New JerseyPilesgrove Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,923....
- Pittsgrove TownshipPittsgrove Township, New JerseyPittsgrove Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 9,393....
- OlivetOlivet, New JerseyOlivet is a census-designated place in Pittsgrove Township, in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. The population was 1,420 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Olivet is located at ....
- Olivet
- Quinton TownshipQuinton Township, New JerseyQuinton Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 2,786....
- SalemSalem, New JerseySalem is a city in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. It is the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace".The town and...
(city) - Upper Pittsgrove TownshipUpper Pittsgrove Township, New JerseyUpper Pittsgrove Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 3,468.Upper Pittsgrove Township was incorporated on March 10, 1846, from portions of Pittsgrove Township...
- WoodstownWoodstown, New JerseyWoodstown is a Borough in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 3,136.Woodstown was established on July 26, 1882, from portions of Pilesgrove Township based on the results of a referendum held that same day...
(borough)