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 incorporation are unknown. The township was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's original group of 104 townships.[19] The township was named for Fort Nya Elfsborg.[20]
History
At the time of European colonization in the 17th century the Delaware River was known as the South River and the Salem River was known as Varkens Kill, or Hogg Creek.[21] In 1641, without having a patent, a group of 60 settlers (20 families) from the New Haven Colony (in today's Connecticut) purchased land along the kill from indigenous Lenape.[22][23][24]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 13.34 square miles (34.56 km2), including 11.93 square miles (30.90 km2) of land and 1.41 square miles (3.66 km2) of water (10.58%).[1][2]
The Salem River flows along a portion of the township's northern boundary, and Alloway Creek flows along its southern boundary.[27] Elsinboro Township contains the site of former Fort Elfsborg. Money Island is located in the southwestern corner of the township.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Elsinboro Neck, Elsinboro Point, Hagerville, Mill Creek Cove, Moores Corner, Oakwood Beach and Sinnickson Landing.[citation needed][29]
The 2010 United States census counted 1,036 people, 455 households, and 293 families in the township. The population density was 86.9 inhabitants per square mile (33.6/km2). There were 524 housing units at an average density of 44.0 per square mile (17.0/km2). The racial makeup was 93.05% (964) White, 3.47% (36) Black or African American, 0.10% (1) Native American, 0.39% (4) Asian, 0.10% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.06% (11) from other races, and 1.83% (19) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.22% (23) of the population.[16]
Of the 455 households, 20.0% had children under the age of 18; 53.8% were married couples living together; 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.6% were non-families. Of all households, 27.5% were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.76.[16]
18.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.1 males.[16]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $64,107 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,891) and the median family income was $73,333 (+/− $14,834). Males had a median income of $59,904 (+/− $5,192) versus $42,188 (+/− $14,368) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,008 (+/− $2,997). About 1.5% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[42]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[13] there were 1,092 people, 468 households, and 324 families residing in the township. The population density was 89.0 inhabitants per square mile (34.4/km2). There were 530 housing units at an average density of 43.2 per square mile (16.7/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 95.05% White, 3.57% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.[40][41]
There were 468 households, out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.80.[40][41]
In the township the population was spread out, with 21.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.[40][41]
The median income for a household in the township was $50,972, and the median income for a family was $59,688. Males had a median income of $42,232 versus $30,357 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,415. About 2.1% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.[40][41]
Government
Local government
Elsinboro 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.[43] The governing body is comprised of the Township Committee, whose three members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office 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.[6][44] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.
As of 2022[update], members of the Elsinboro Township Committee are Mayor Sean M. Elwell (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends December 31, 2022), Deputy Mayor Joseph McAllister (R, term on committee ends 2023 and term as deputy mayor ends 2022) and Douglas L. Hogate (D, 2022).[3][45][46][47][48]
Federal, state and county representation
Elsinboro Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District[49] and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.[50][51][52]
Salem County is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners who are elected at-large to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Director and a Deputy Director from among its members.[57] As of 2025[update], Salem County's Commissioners (with party, residence, and term-end year listed in parentheses) are:
Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Dale A. Cross (R, Pennsville Township, 2029),[59][60]
Sheriff Charles M. Miller (R, Salem, 2027)[61][62] and
Surrogate Nicki A. Burke (D, Woodstown, 2025).[63][64]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 849 registered voters in Elsinboro Township, of which 234 (27.6% vs. 30.6% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 221 (26.0% vs. 21.0%) were registered as Republicans and 392 (46.2% vs. 48.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as Libertarians.[65] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 81.9% (vs. 64.6% in Salem County) were registered to vote, including 99.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 84.4% countywide).[65][66]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 59.2% of the vote (374 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 38.3% (242 votes), and other candidates with 2.5% (16 votes), among the 636 ballots cast by the township's 872 registered voters (4 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 72.9%.[67][68] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 386 votes (58.3% vs. 46.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 248 votes (37.5% vs. 50.4%) and other candidates with 16 votes (2.4% vs. 1.6%), among the 662 ballots cast by the township's 870 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.1% (vs. 71.8% in Salem County).[69] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 421 votes (61.2% vs. 52.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 262 votes (38.1% vs. 45.9%) and other candidates with 4 votes (0.6% vs. 1.0%), among the 688 ballots cast by the township's 875 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.6% (vs. 71.0% in the whole county).[70]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 71.1% of the vote (356 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.9% (135 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (10 votes), among the 504 ballots cast by the township's 861 registered voters (3 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 58.5%.[71][72] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 266 votes (50.9% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 178 votes (34.0% vs. 39.9%), Independent Chris Daggett with 69 votes (13.2% vs. 9.7%) and other candidates with 7 votes (1.3% vs. 2.0%), among the 523 ballots cast by the township's 877 registered voters, yielding a 59.6% turnout (vs. 47.3% in the county).[73]
Education
The Elsinboro Township School District public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Elsinboro Township School.[74] As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 119 students and 15.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.6:1.[75] In the 2016–17 school year, Elsinboro was tied as the 18th-smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 129 students.[76]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 24.13 miles (38.83 km) of roadways, of which 7.67 miles (12.34 km) were maintained by the municipality and 16.46 miles (26.49 km) by Salem County.[81]
No Interstate, U.S., state or major county highways serve Elsinboro Township. The only numbered roads are minor county routes, such as County Route 624.
Esther "Hetty" Saunders (1793–1862), poet of African American descent, born into slavery, who escaped to freedom with her family and lived most of her life in Elsinboro[84]
^Howe, Henry; Barber, John W. (1844), Salem, NJ, New York: S. Tuttle, In 1641, some English families, (probably emigrants from New Haven, Conn.,) embracing about 60 persons, settled on Ferken's creek, (now Salem.) About this period, the Swedes bought of the Indians the whole district from Cape May to Raccoon creek; and, in order to unite these English with the Swedes, the Swedish governor, Printz, who arrived from Sweden the year after (1642), was to "act kindly and faithfully toward them; and as these English expected soon, by further arrivals, to increase their numbers to several hundreds, and seemed also willing to be subjects of the Swedish government, he was to receive them under allegiance, though not without endeavoring to effect their removal."
^Raum, John O. The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 254, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed January 17, 2013. "Elisinboro' is the smallest township in the county, containing only seven hundred inhabitants.... The population is less than it was ten years ago, for in 1850 it was 655; in 1860, 749; and in 1870 but 700."
^Guion, Payton. "These 43 N.J. school districts have fewer than 200 students", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 2017. Accessed January 30, 2020. "Based on data from the state Department of Education from the last school year and the Census Bureau, NJ Advance Media made a list of the smallest of the small school districts in the state, excluding charter schools and specialty institutions.... 18. Elsinboro Township (tie) - Enrollment: 129; Grades: K-8; County: Salem"
^Our Sending Districts, Salem City School District. Accessed January 24, 2017. "Salem High School welcomes students from: Elsinboro Township School; Lower Alloways Creek School; Mannington Township School; Quinton Township School"
^Shott, Meghan. "Salem High School", SouthJersey.com. Accessed January 24, 2017. "Students from Elsinboro, Lower Alloways Creek Township, Mannington Township and Quinton Township attend the high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship, according to the school's 2010 Report Card from the NJ Department of Education."
^Bumpus, Robert L. Salem County Report on Consolidation and Regionalization, Salem County, New Jersey Executive County Superintendent, March 15, 2010. "In this area of Salem County four P-8 districts, Lower Alloway Creek, Quinton, Elsinboro, and Mannington Townships have a send/receive agreement with neighboring Salem City to send their students to Salem High School."
^Nathanson, Marsha. Biographical Sketch of Pauline Waddington Holme, Alexander Street. Accessed May 23, 2022. "Pauline Waddington Holme was the eldest of seven children born to Joshua and Ann Waddington of Salem County, New Jersey. The Waddingtons were a prominent New Jersey family dating back several generations. Joshua Waddington owned a 140-acre farmstead in the Elsinboro Township of Salem County, and 500 acres along the Rappahannock River in Richmond, Virginia."
^The Little Wanderer, New Jersey Women's History. Accessed May 23, 2022. "This poem is one of fifteen extant poems by Esther Saunders, a free African American woman living in Salem County in the first half of the 19th century. Known as 'Hetty,' Saunders was the daughter of an escaped slave from Delaware who had sought shelter for his small daughter among Salem County Quakers. Hetty was raised in the Hall family of Elsinboro and worked as a servant in their household and later in other Salem County households."