Palmyra is a borough in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,438, an increase of 40 (+0.5%) from the 2010 census count of 7,398, which in turn reflected an increase of 307 (+4.3%) from the 7,091 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. The borough, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 1, 2023.

Palmyra was originally incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 19, 1894, from portions of Cinnaminson Township and Riverton. On February 20, 1923, Palmyra was reincorporated as a borough.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 98. Accessed May 1, 2024.

History The area that is now Palmyra was settled in the late 17th century by Swedes, marking the northernmost border of New Sweden. A farmhouse built in 1761 by the third generation of settlers still remains as the oldest house in Palmyra.Bergbauer, Thomas A. "Society's cruises shed light on communities' past", Courier-Post, October 12, 2008. Accessed October 19, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "The Toy Morgan House in Palmyra: The house is perhaps Palmyra's most revered historical treasure. Elias Toy, replacing an older house his grandfather built, built the house in 1761." Farming was the primary use of land in Palmyra and the surrounding area until after the construction of the Camden and Amboy Railroad in 1834 with a station in the area, after which railroad workers built homes on lots they purchased along the railroad right of way. The community was originally known as Texas, but a local landowner, Isaiah Toy, a descendant of the original Swedish settlers and a stockholder in the Camden and Amboy Railroad, who wanted to have a post office established in the community, convinced the railroad to change the name of the station in 1849 to Palmyra, which came from his love of ancient history.Staff. "Palmyra" , Burlington County Times, March 12, 2012. Accessed June 27, 2012. Palmyra was the name of an ancient trading center located in central Syria.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 16, 2015. The post office was established in 1851. Palmyra, along with the city of Burlington and the townships of Bordentown, Moorestown, and Mount Holly, established its high school in the late 1890s, making it one of the oldest high schools in Burlington County and in New Jersey.Siokalo, Zoriana E.; Solmssen, Clarissa; and Trimarco, Vito. Before Penn : Swedish Colonists in the land of the Lenape, (Philadelphia, PA: American Swedish Historical Museum. 1988).

The community was laid out in 1850, when Joseph Souder's land was broken up into building lots to pay his debts, with the street names matching those of Center City, Philadelphia—Market, Arch, Race, and Vine (from south to north), and Front Street and numbered streets from the Delaware River.Smith, Eileen. "A quaint river community", Courier-Post, October 19, 2006. Accessed October 19, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "1850: Joseph Souder's land is divided into lots to pay his debts and the first streets are laid out." What is now Palmyra was part of Chester Township (now Maple Shade Township), which was created in 1694 and was one of the original 104 townships in New Jersey incorporated in 1798.Borough of Palmyra, Delaware River Heritage Trail. Accessed June 27, 2012. Palmyra became a part of Cinnaminson Township when that township was set off from Chester in 1860. Palmyra Township was set off from Cinnaminson in 1894, and Palmyra was incorporated as a borough in 1923.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.54 square miles (6.58 km2), including 1.85 square miles (4.79 km2) of land and 0.69 square miles (1.79 km2) of water (27.28%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include West Palmyra.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The borough borders Cinnaminson Township and Riverton in Burlington County; Pennsauken Township in Camden County; and Philadelphia, across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.Areas touching Palmyra, MapIt. Accessed March 2, 2020.Burlington County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed March 2, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

The borough is connected to the Tacony section of Philadelphia via Route 73 by the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, which is named for the two communities connected by the bridge. The bridge was completed in 1929 at a cost of $4 million.Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, Delaware River Heritage Trail. Accessed June 27, 2012. "Construction began in February 1928 and the new bridge opened to traffic in August 1929, a mere 18 months and $4 million dollars later. "

In 1999, a nature park, Palmyra Nature Cove, was opened along the banks of the Delaware which borders Palmyra on the west; in addition to serving as a bird sanctuary, the park offers educational programs for schools and hiking trails for walkers. The park is open from dawn to dusk; no pets or bicycles are allowed.Home Page, Palmyra Nature Cove. Accessed April 28, 2015.

Demographics

2020 census Palmyra is a borough located in Burlington County, New Jersey. Palmyra has a 2026 population of 7,708. Palmyra is currently growing at a rate of 0.57% annually and its population has increased by 3.59% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 7,441 in 2020. The median age was 42.4 years. 17.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.3 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 3,271 households in Palmyra, of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 35.9% were married-couple households, 20.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 34.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,458 housing units, of which 5.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 5,214 70.1% Black or African American 1,050 14.1% American Indian and Alaska Native 21 0.3% Asian 167 2.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 8 0.1% Some other race 286 3.8% Two or more races 692 9.3% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 710 9.5%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 7,398 people, 3,156 households, and 1,938 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,392 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 78.75% (5,826) White, 14.54% (1,076) Black or African American, 0.31% (23) Native American, 1.84% (136) Asian, 0.08% (6) Pacific Islander, 1.95% (144) from other races, and 2.53% (187) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.37% (397) of the population.

Of the 3,156 households, 23.5% had children under the age of 18; 43.1% were married couples living together; 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.6% were non-families. Of all households, 31.5% were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.97.

19.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $61,990 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,744) and the median family income was $74,265 (+/− $6,025). Males had a median income of $53,295 (+/− $6,313) versus $48,417 (+/− $6,580) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,361 (+/− $2,319). About 6.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Palmyra borough, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 27, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,091 people, 3,004 households, and 1,853 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,219 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 80.99% White, 14.34% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.41% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.23% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Palmyra borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 17, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 – Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Palmyra borough, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 17, 2013.

There were 3,004 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $51,150, and the median income for a family was $57,192. Males had a median income of $42,910 versus $31,445 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,454. About 2.2% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government