Salem County

A Profile of Salem County

New Jersey

ALLOWAY TOWNSHIP • CARNEYS POINT TOWNSHIP • BOROUGH OF

ELMER • ELSINBORO TOWNSHIP • LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TOWNSHIP

• MANNINGTON TOWNSHIP • OLDMANS TOWNSHIP • BOROUGH OF

PENNS GROVE • PENNSVILLE TOWNSHIP • PILESGROVE TOWNSHIP •

PITTSGROVE TOWNSHIP • QUINTON TOWNSHIP • CITY OF SALEM •

UPPER PITTSGROVE TOWNSHIP • BOROUGH OF WOODSTOWN

2 Salem County, NJ

Table of Contents

Overview and Geographical Background ..................................................................................................... 3

Housing Density........................................................................................................................................ 4

Transportation ........................................................................................................................................... 5

Public Transportation ............................................................................................................................ 5

County Road Mileage ........................................................................................................................... 6

Commute: Travel Time to Work ........................................................................................................... 7

Demographics ............................................................................................................................................... 8

Population ................................................................................................................................................ 8

Race (2010) ............................................................................................................................................... 9

Municipalities (Population) .................................................................................................................... 10

Population Density .................................................................................................................................. 11

Population Under the Age of 18 ............................................................................................................. 12

Political and Government Background ....................................................................................................... 13

Voter Registration .................................................................................................................................. 14

Voter Turnout ......................................................................................................................................... 15

Family Structure.......................................................................................................................................... 16

Households .............................................................................................................................................. 16

Education .................................................................................................................................................... 17

Adults ...................................................................................................................................................... 17

School Districts ....................................................................................................................................... 17

Youth Education Achievement ............................................................................................................... 18

HSPA Language Arts/Mathematics 2011-2012 ...................................................................................... 19

Dropout Rates ......................................................................................................................................... 19

Kids Count .................................................................................................................................................. 20

Housing and Income ................................................................................................................................... 21

Local Economy/ Job Sector ........................................................................................................................ 21

Unemployment ........................................................................................................................................ 21

Main Industrials ...................................................................................................................................... 22

Largest Employers .................................................................................................................................. 22

Crime and Substance Abuse ....................................................................................................................... 23

3 Salem County, NJ

Overview and Geographical Background1

Area: 373 sq. miles (10th in state) Population: 66,083 (last in state)

Salem County is the least populated of the 21 counties in the State of New Jersey

but the tenth largest county in square miles. The county has been successful in

maintaining its cultural history of agriculture and open space that as long defined

much of South Jersey. Today, 42.6 percent of the land is under active farm

cultivation. The county has six rivers, more than 34,000 acres of meadow and

marshland, and 40 lakes and ponds.

1 2010 U.S. Census

4 Salem County, NJ

Housing Density2

Housing Density

Place Housing Units per square mile (2010)

% Change 2000-10

Salem County 82.6 6.7

SJ 7 County Avg.* 329.1 7.8

New Jersey 483.2 7.3 * The South Jersey Region includes Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties.

Salem County has less housing units per square mile than the State of New Jersey,

and falls well below the region’s average. Moreover, its housing density has

increased at a rate lower than the state and region between 2000 and 2010.

Housing Units Per Square

Mile

2 2010 U.S. Census

16.1 - 93.3 177.9 - 240.3 435.4 - 777.6 964.9 - 1448.7 2196.0 - 2210.9

5 Salem County, NJ

Transportation

Public Transportation

Municipalities Square miles of

Bus Routes Bus

Routes Rail

Service Total per Square

Mile

Alloway Twp. 33.4 0 0 0

Carneys Point Twp. 16.9 3 0 0.17

Elmer Boro 0.87 0 0 0

Elsinboro Twp. 11.92 0 0 0

Lower Alloways Creek 45.23 0 0 0

Mannington Twp. 33.7 2 0 0.1

Oldmans Twp. 19.46 1 0 0.1

Penns Grove Boro 0.91 3 0 3.23

Pennsville Twp. 21.28 3 0 0.14

Pilesgrove Twp. 34.84 1 0 0.03

Pittsgrove Twp. 45.08 1 0 0.02

Quinton Twp. 24.09 1 0 0.04

Salem City 2.34 2 0 0.77

Upper Pittsgrove Twp. 40.33 1 0 0.03

Woodstown Boro 1.59 2 0 1.25

6 Salem County, NJ

County Road Mileage3

Municipality Miles of Roads

County Municipal Total Mileage Alloway Twp. 43.20 36.66 79.86

Carneys Point Twp. 20.50 35.61 78.17

Elmer Boro 3.67 5.18 9.54 Elsinboro Twp. 16.46 7.67 24.13

Lower Alloways Creek Twp. 22.60 27.18 49.78

Mannington Twp. 32.36 30.42 69.40 Oldmans Twp. 24.32 7.12 40.89

Penns Grove Boro 4.14 13.76 19.19 Pennsville Twp. 7.33 73.02 90.71

Pilesgrove Twp. 29.94 43.86 85.39 Pittsgrove Twp. 64.99 57.54 125.38

Quinton Twp. 23.67 20.24 52.58

Salem City 5.95 16.57 24.79

Upper Pittsgrove Twp. 51.38 43.02 111.44

Woodstown Boro 4.66 11.51 18.28

County Total 355.17 429.36 879.53

3 New Jersey Department of Transportation

7 Salem County, NJ

Commute: Travel Time to Work4

Place 2012 Mean Travel Time

(Minutes) % Change 2000-12

Salem County 24.8 0.8

SJ 7 County Avg. 25.4 1.6

New Jersey 30.7 .3

The average commute for Salem County workers is shorter than the region’s

average and state’s workers mean travel time to work. Salem County commuters

have the fourth longest commute in the region.

Mean Travel Time to

Work (Mins.)

4 U.S. Census American Community Survey 2012 and 2000 Census

19.6 - 21.6 23.5 - 24.7 25.4 - 26.7 27.6 - 29.1 29.6 - 32.0

8 Salem County, NJ

Demographics

Population 5

Place 2010 Population % change 2000-10 Salem County 66,083 2.8

SJ 7 County Avg. 1,845,474 5.1

New Jersey 8,791,894 4.5

Place % Persons under

the age of 18 % Persons 65

years and older % Females

Salem County 23.5 15.0 51.3

SJ 7 County Avg. 23.6 13.7 51.1

New Jersey 23.5 13.5 51.3

5 2010 U.S. Census

4%

96%

Salem County Population

Salem County SJ Region

9 Salem County, NJ

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

White Black Hispanic or LatinoOrigin

Asian

Percentage of Population By Race

Salem County

SJ Region

New Jersey

Race (2010)

Percentage of Population by Race6

Place White Black Hispanic or Latino

Origin Asian

Salem County 79.8% 14.1% 6.8% 0.8%

SJ 7 County Avg. 71.8% 15.7% 11.7% 4.1% New Jersey 68.6% 13.7% 17.7% 8.3%

6 U.S Census 2010

10 Salem County, NJ

Municipalities (Population)7

7 2010 U.S. Census

Municipality Population Municipality Population Alloway Twp 3,467 Pennsville Twp 13,409

Carneys Point Twp 8,049 Pilesgrove Twp 4,016

Elmer 1,395 Pittsgrove Twp 9,393

Elsinboro Twp 1,036 Quinton Twp 2,666

Lower Alloways Creek Twp 1,770 Salem 5,146

Mannington Twp 1,806 Upper Pittsgrove Twp 3,055

Oldsman Twp 1,773 Woodstown 5,325

Penns Grove 5,147 Woodbine Boro 3,505

11 Salem County, NJ

Population Density8

Population Density

Place Persons per square mile (2010) % change 2000-10

Salem County 199.1 4.6

SJ 7 County Avg. 740.5 4.9

New Jersey 1195.5 5.4

Salem County is the least densely populate county in the region and state.

Persons Per Square mile

8 Ibid

39.1 - 249.0

375.7 - 583.2

965.3 - 1612.3

2211.8 - 2913.5

5562.1 - 5789.4

12 Salem County, NJ

Population Under the Age of 189

Persons under the age of 18 Per Square Mile

9 2010 U.S. Census

0 - 186 318 - 466 549 - 708 784 - 1041 1147 - 1397

13 Salem County, NJ

Political and Government Background

County Seat: Salem, NJ Board of Chosen Freeholders Director Julie A. Acton

Deputy Director Dale A. Cross

Freeholder Ben H. Laury

Freeholder Bruce L. Bobbitt

Freeholder Beth E. Timberman

Freeholder Robert J.Vanderslice

Freeholder Lee R. Ware

Salem County is governed by a seven member Board of Chosen Freeholders. The

freeholders are elected in partisan elections and serve staggered three-year-

terms.

At the federal level, Salem County falls within the 2nd Congressional District, and is

currently represented in House of Legislators by Frank LoBiondo (R). At the state

level, Salem County falls in the 3rd legislative district, along with portions of

Cumberland and Gloucester Counties. The 3rd district is represented by three

Democratic legislatures: Stephen M. Sweeney in the State Senate and John J.

Burzichelli and Celeste M. Riley in the State Assembly.

Salem County tends to vote Democratic, although in recent years it has leaned

Republican in a number of elections. In 2011, Republicans gained control on the

Board of Chosen Freeholders for the first time in a decade. In the 2009

Gubernatorial Election, Chris Christie (R) received 47% of the votes, six

percentage points more than John Corzine (D) and in the 2013 election Governor

Christie beat State Senator Barbara Buono by more than a 2 to 1 margin. In the

2012 presidential election, Barack Obama (D) received 49.6% of the vote, only

about one percentage point higher than Mitt Romney (R).

14 Salem County, NJ

Un-affiliated 49%

Democrat 30%

Republican 21%

Salem County's Registered Voters

Voter Registration 10

Comparable to the state, the largest percentage of registered voters in Salem

County are non-affiliated, and Democrats outpace the number of registered

Republican voters.

10

New Jersey Division of Elections

2013 General Election Voter Registration (as of 10/28/13)

Party

Salem County New Jersey

Number of Voters Percentage Number of Voters Percentage

Un-affiliated 21,593 49.18% 2,588,104 46.96%

Democratic 13,036 29.69% 1,825,594 33.13%

Republican 9,246 21.06% 1,092,888 19.83%

Green 7 0.02% 1,269 0.02%

Libertarian 23 0.05% 2,300 0.04%

Reform 0 0.00% 69 0.00%

U.S. Constitution 0 0.00% 167 0.00%

Natural Law 0 0.00% 37 0.00%

Conservative 2 0.00% 620 0.01%

Total 43,907 100.00% 5,511,048 100.00%

15 Salem County, NJ

Voter Turnout 11

General Election Voter Turnout (as of 11/6/12)

Election Year County

Registered Voters

County Ballots Cast

Salem County New Jersey

2008 44,324 31,812 72% 73%

2010 41,006 20,329 50% 42%

2012 44,509 29,934 67% 67%

The significant drop in voter turnout from 2008 to 2010 can be attributed to the fact that 2008 was a presidential election year and generally turnout across the country is higher than in non-presidential election years. Nevertheless, in 2008 and 2012, voter turnout in Salem County was virtually identical to the states turnout, but 8% points higher in 2010.

11

New Jersey Division of Elections

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

2008 2010 2012

2008, 2010, 2012 Voter Turnout

Salem County

New Jersey

16 Salem County, NJ

Family Structure12

Households

12

2010 U.S. Census

Households

Place Total Household

Units %Family

Households % Nonfamily Households

Average Household Size

Salem County 25,290 69.4 30.6 2.56

SJ 7 County Avg. 97,493 68.8 31.2 2.61

New Jersey 3,214,360 69.3 30.7 2.68

Families

Place Families %Husband—wife Families

%Female Householder No Husband

Avg. Family Size

Salem County 17,557 71.9 20.7 3.07

SJ 7 County Avg. 67,413 71.7 20.8 3.13

New Jersey 2,226,606 73.8 19.3 3.22

Family Households with related Children under the Age of 18

Place %Husband—Wife

Households %Female Householder No

Husband

Salem County 41.2 65.3

SJ 7 County Avg. 43.2 62.2

New Jersey 47.9 59.1

17 Salem County, NJ

Education

Adults13

Education Attainment: Population 25 years of age and older

Place % High School (or

Equivalent) or higher % Bachelor Degree

or higher % of Population 25

years of age and older

Salem County 85.4 19.6 68

SJ 7 County Avg. 86.1 26 68.5

New Jersey 88.3 36.2 68.2

School Districts

School District # of schools High Schools Alloway Township 1 -

Elmer Borough 1 -

Elsinboro Township 1 -

Lower Alloways Creek 1 -

Mannington Township School 1 -

Oldmans Township 1 -

Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional 5 1

Pennsville Public School 5 1

Pittsgrove Township 5 1

Quinton Township 1 -

Salem City 3 1

Salem County Special Services District 2 2

Salem County Vocational Technical School 2 2

Upper Pittsgrove Township School District 1 -

Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional Schools 3 1

Considering the population sizes of the municipalities in Salem County, it is no

surprise that more than half of the school districts do not have a high school.

13

American Community Survey 2012

18 Salem County, NJ

Youth Education Achievement14

Percentage of Students Scoring Proficient/Advance Proficiency on NJASK15

2011-2012

Salem County

Grade Lang Math

3rd 63% 54%

4th 59% 80%

5th 57% 79%

6th 62% 79%

7th 56% 60%

8th 82% 73%

South Jersey Average

Grade Lang Math

3rd 63% 76%

4th 52% 74%

5th 58% 80%

6th 59% 75%

7th 78% 59%

8th 83% 68%

New Jersey Average

Grade Lang Math

3rd 68% 79%

4th 60% 77%

5th 63% 83%

6th 63% 78%

7th 59% 62%

8th 81% 70%

14

New Jersey Department of Education

15 Average across Salem County Schools

19 Salem County, NJ

HSPA Language Arts/Mathematics 2011-201216

High School Name Proficient or Higher

in Language Arts State Rank

Proficient or Higher in Math

State Rank

Penns Grove High 85.6% 15.0% 61.3% 13.0%

Pennsville Memorial 92.9% 35.0% 80.0% 30.0%

Arthur P. Shalick 92.8% 35.0% 90.0% 61.0%

Salem 90.4% 23.0% 57.8% 12.0%

Salem County Career & Technical

98.3% 84.0% 91.3% 68.0%

Woodstown High 96.2% 58.0% 85.3% 42.0%

The statewide percentile rank indicates how the school’s proficiency compares with

other schools across the state. For example, in Language Arts, Penns Grove High School

has a proficiency rate higher than 15% of all schools across the state.

Dropout Rates

16

New Jersey Department of Education

2012-2013

High School %

Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional 2.9

Pennsville Public School 2.5

Arthur P. Schalick 1.4

Salem City 9

Salem County Vocational Technical School .2

Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional Schools .3

State Target 2

20 Salem County, NJ

Kids Count17

Salem County Kids Count Data

2013 County Rank: 19

Year County NJ 2012 Rank

2013 Rank

Child Population 2011 15,242 2,042,810 21 21

Percent of Children in Poverty 2011 22% 15% 13 17

Median Income of Families with Children

2011 $63,007 $81,983 15 16

Percent of Eligible Children Receiving Free /Reduced Lunch

2011-12 26% 31% 9 10

Percent of Women Receiving Early Prenatal Care

2009 67% 77% 17 20

Percent of Births to Girls 10-19 2009 10% 6% 20 20

Infant Mortality (rate per 1,000 under 18)

2009 9 5 7 19

Abuse/Neglect Investigations (rate per 1,000 under 18)

2011 92 45 20 21

Children in Out-of-Home Placement (rate per 1,000)

2011 6 3 19 20

Juvenile Arrest (rate per 1,000 under 18)

2011 31 17 17 20

Licensed Center-Based Child Care Supply (slots per 1,000 0-4)

2012 378 650 18 18

17

http://www.aecf.org/MajorInitiatives/KIDSCOUNT.aspx

21 Salem County, NJ

Housing and Income18

People Salem County New Jersey Owner-occupied Housing 70.8% 65.1%

Renter-occupied Housing 29.2% 34.9%

Median Value of Owner-Occupied Housing Units $185,800 $311,600

Per Capita Income in Past 12 Months (2012 dollars) $27,801 $34,885

Median Household Income $60,360 $69,677

Persons Below Poverty 10.7% 10.8%

Local Economy/ Job Sector19

Unemployment

Salem County 2013 Unemployment Estimates

Preliminary Rate December 2013: 7.2 (9th Highest in State)

Salem County, NJ JUN 13 JUL 13 AUG 13 SEP 13 OCT 13

Labor Force 30,700 31,100 30,900 30,500 30,300

Employment 28,100 28,400 28,300 28,000 28,100

Unemployment 2,600 2,800 2,600 2,500 2,200

Unemployment Rate (%) 8.5 8.8 8.4 8.2 7.3

New Jersey JUN 13 JUL 13 AUG 13 SEP 13 OCT 13

Labor Force 4,682,600 4,661,500 4,617,200 4,551,500 4,531,600

Employment 4,260,300 4,261,900 4,235,300 4,177,400 4,166,500

Unemployment 422,300 399,600 381,900 374,100 365,100

Unemployment Rate (%) 9.0 8.6 8.3 8.2 8.1

18

American Community Survey 2012 19

New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development

22 Salem County, NJ

Main Industrials

INDUSTRY Estimate % Civilian employed population 16 years and over 28,364

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 558 2.0%

Construction 2,085 7.4%

Manufacturing 3,609 12.7%

Wholesale trade 789 2.8%

Retail trade 2,794 9.9%

Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 2,792 9.8%

Information 580 2.0%

Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 1,429 5.0%

Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services

3,382 11.9%

Educational services, and health care and social assistance 6,258 22.1%

Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services

1,520 5.4%

Other services, except public administration 958 3.4%

Public administration 1,610 5.7%

Largest Employers

MAJOR EMPLOYERS Number

1 PSEG 1,300

2 E.I. DuPont 1,250

3 Mannington Mills 826

4 Memorial Hospital of Salem County 600

5 Atlantic City Electric 426

6 R.E. Pierson Construction 400

7 Anchor Glass 361

8 McLane NJ 352

9 Elmer Hospital 350

10 Wal-Mart 256

23 Salem County, NJ

Crime and Substance Abuse

Crime I20

Year Number of Offenses

Crime rate per 1000

Violent Crime rate per 1000

Nonviolent Crime rate per 1000

2010 1,817 27.5 2.6 24.9

2011 1,776 26.9 2.9 24

Crime II (Number of Offenses)21

Year Murder Rape Robbery Aggravated

Assault Burglary

Larceny-Theft

2010 4 9 57 102 461 1,118

2011 1 22 55 113 521 1,008

20

Uniform Crime Report 2010, State of New Jersey 21

Ibid 22

New Jersey Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse Overview 2010

Substance Abuse Admissions22

Alcohol Cocaine Heroin &

Opiates Marijuana Other TOTAL

N % N % N % N % N % N %

228 1.0 72 1.5 204 0.8 151 1.3 62 1.3 717 1.0