Woodstown is a borough in Salem County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 3,678, an increase of 173 (+4.9%) from the 2010 census count of 3,505, which in turn reflected an increase of 369 (+11.8%) from the 3,136 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.

Woodstown was established on July 26, 1882, from portions of Pilesgrove Township based on the results of a referendum held that same day. The borough's incorporation was confirmed on March 3, 1925.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 218. Accessed May 30, 2024. The borough was named for early settler Jackanias (or Jaconias) Wood.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed November 8, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 330. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed November 8, 2015.Raum, John O. The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 255, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed November 8, 2015. "Woodstown was early settled by Jackanias Wood, from whom its name is derived."Town and County Names , Visit Salem County. Accessed November 8, 2015. "Woodstown: Pilesgrove Township In 1797 called Woodsboro. The town was named, it is said, for Jaconias Wood, who built the first house there."

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.62 square miles (4.18 km2), including 1.58 square miles (4.08 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of water (2.47%).

The Borough of Woodstown is an independent municipality completely surrounded by Pilesgrove Township,Salem County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 5, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019. 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."

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Woodstown had a population of 3,678. The median age was 40.2 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.2 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,533 households in Woodstown, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.2% were married-couple households, 17.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,603 housing units, of which 4.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.9%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 2,889 78.5% Black or African American 408 11.1% American Indian and Alaska Native 18 0.5% Asian 57 1.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 67 1.8% Two or more races 239 6.5% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 247 6.7%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 3,505 people, 1,444 households, and 939 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,529 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 82.25% (2,883) White, 11.44% (401) Black or African American, 0.51% (18) Native American, 1.17% (41) Asian, 0.03% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.28% (45) from other races, and 3.31% (116) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.56% (195) of the population.

Of the 1,444 households, 31.6% had children under the age of 18; 45.7% were married couples living together; 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.0% were non-families. Of all households, 29.2% were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.99.

25.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 85.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,958 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,239) and the median family income was $74,479 (+/− $7,727). Males had a median income of $64,688 (+/− $16,960) versus $40,781 (+/− $8,241) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,074 (+/− $3,576). About 3.4% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Woodstown borough, Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 17, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 3,136 people, 1,304 households, and 839 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,389 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 85.04% White, 12.91% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Woodstown borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 2, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Woodstown borough, Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 2, 2012.

There were 1,304 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $44,533, and the median income for a family was $56,328. Males had a median income of $42,175 versus $31,169 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,182. About 3.5% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Woodstown is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year 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. The borough form of government used by Woodstown is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.

, the Mayor of the Borough of Woodstown is (D Joseph H. Hiles, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Woodstown Borough Council are Council President Glenn Merkle (R, 2027), Heather Bobbitt (R, 2026), Jim Hackett (R, 2026), Bertha Hyman (R, 2025), Jesse Stemberger (D, 2027) and Noah Tighe (R, 2025; elected to serve an unexpired term).Mayor and Council Members, Woodstown Borough. Accessed December 18, 2024.2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Woodstown Borough. Accessed December 18, 2024.Election Summary Report General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results, Salem County, New Jersey, updated November 21, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.November 8, 2022 Summary Report Salem County, NJ Official Results, Salem County, New Jersey Clerk. Accessed January 1, 2023.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.

In March 2015, the borough council selected Debbie Tierno from among three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Fran Grenier who had resigned the previous month.Wehner, Brittany M. "Woodstown officials appoint new councilwoman to fill vacant seat", NJ.com, March 11, 2015. Accessed June 20, 2015. "Woodstown Borough Council unanimously approved a new council member Tuesday night to fill the recently vacated seat. Republican Debbie Tierno was appointed councilwoman to take over a vacant seat after Councilman Fran Grenier resigned last month."