Pennsauken Township is a township in Camden County, in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and it is located outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which it borders directly on the Delaware River. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 37,074, an increase of 1,189 (+3.3%) from the 2010 census count of 35,885, which in turn increased by 148 (+0.4%) from the 35,737 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 township is part of the South Jersey region of the state.

History Pennsauken Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 18, 1892, from portions of the now-defunct Stockton Township.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 108. Accessed May 30, 2024.

The exact origin of the name Pennsauken is unclear, but it probably derives from the language of the Lenni Lenape Native Americans, who once occupied the area from "", the Lenape language term for tobacco pouch."Pennsauken: Centuries of growth" , Courier-Post, October 19, 2006. Accessed April 9, 2015. "Pindasenakun, the early version of the name Pennsauken, means tobacco pouch, according to the Lenape Indians." Alternatively, the "Penn" in the township's name refers to William Penn, while "sauk" is a water inlet or outlet.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 16, 2015.

Pennsauken was home to America's first drive-in movie theater, created in 1933 with the opening of the Camden Drive-In in Pennsauken.Strauss, Robert. "The Drive-In Theater Tries a Comeback; Looking for a Few Hundred Adventurous Moviegoers", The New York Times, July 23, 2004. Accessed July 24, 2012. "The nation's first drive-in theater was built by the Hollingshead family along the tawdry Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Pennsauken, N.J., in 1933." It featured the comedy Wives Beware, released in the theaters as Two White Arms.

For 50 years, the township was the home to the Pennsauken Mart, a large multi-vendor indoor market, which was closed in January 2006 to make way for a sports arena/conference complex, however, that did not materialize. Most of the vendors relocated to a marketplace in Willingboro Township.Strauss, Robert. "Final Days for the Pennsauken Mart", The New York Times, January 8, 2006. Accessed August 28, 2023. "But at the end of the month, Mr. Kramer will be moving his stool, along with the polyester and cotton, the jeans and the shirts, out of Pennsauken for good. The Mart, a downscale 50-year-old shopping barn -- a precursor and perhaps progenitor of the mall culture that came just after it -- is closing, the victim of redevelopment." A luxury apartment complex was completed on the site in 2018.

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 12.13 square miles (31.41 km2), including 10.48 square miles (27.14 km2) of land and 1.65 square miles (4.27 km2) of water (13.59%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Amon Heights, Bethel, Biedemon, Delair, Delair Station, Delaware Gardens, Dudley, East Pennsauken, Fish House, Hillcrest, Homesteadville, Jordantown, Merchantville Park, Morris, Morrisville, North Pennsville and Wellwood.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The township includes Petty's Island, a island in the Delaware River although most of the island actually sits across a narrow strait from neighboring Camden. Once an oil storage and distribution facility, the island is now the site of a container cargo shipping operation and nesting bald eagles. Petty's Island is currently in the process of being turned over to the State of New Jersey by Citgo to be transformed to a new state park and nature center .Ung, Elisa; and Ott, Dwight. "New plan for Petty's Island Pennsauken now is backing a proposal with less development.", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 22, 2007. Accessed July 24, 2012. "That, he said, is 12 percentage points less than the current, controversial footprint proposed by developer Cherokee Pennsauken L.L.C. for the island's 392 acres.... Petty's Island was home to a pair of nesting bald eagles when it became an environmental and political controversy after Citgo Petroleum offered to donate it to the state as open space in 2004. Pennsauken officials and state Democratic power brokers, however, wanted to develop it as part of a $1 billion makeover of formerly industrial waterfront."

Pennsauken borders Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The two municipalities are connected across the Delaware River by the Betsy Ross Bridge which is owned and operated by the Delaware River Port Authority. In New Jersey, Pennsauken borders Camden, Cherry Hill, Collingswood and Merchantville in Camden County, and Cinnaminson Township, Maple Shade Township and Palmyra in Burlington County.Areas touching Pennsauken Township, MapIt. Accessed March 1, 2020.Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 1, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Pennsauken has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Pennsauken was on July 16, 1995, while the coldest temperature recorded was on January 19–21, 1994.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 35,885 people, 12,633 households, and 8,995 families in the township. The population density was . There were 13,275 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 47.60% (17,081) White, 26.87% (9,644) Black or African American, 0.59% (210) Native American, 7.72% (2,770) Asian, 0.04% (15) Pacific Islander, 13.59% (4,877) from other races, and 3.59% (1,288) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 26.91% (9,657) of the population.

Of the 12,633 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18; 46.9% were married couples living together; 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.8% were non-families. Of all households, 23.8% 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 2.83 and the average family size was 3.36.

24.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $57,241 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,957) and the median family income was $65,910 (+/− $3,272). Males had a median income of $47,651 (+/− $3,101) versus $39,229 (+/− $2,035) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,048 (+/− $1,438). About 6.4% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Pennsauken township, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census, there were 35,737 people, 12,389 households, and 9,093 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 12,945 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 60.10% White, 24.18% African American, 0.35% Native American, 4.58% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.27% from other races, and 2.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 14.34% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Pennsauken township, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Pennsauken township, Camden County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2012.

There were 12,389 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.34.

In the township, the age distribution of the population shows 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $47,538, and the median income for a family was $52,760. Males had a median income of $37,652 versus $30,100 for females. The per capita income for the township was $19,004. About 6.1% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy Pennsauken is home to a large industrial park that includes a Pepsi bottling plant and J & J Snack Foods.South Jersey Freight Transportation & Economic Development Assessment: Technical Appendix, New Jersey Department of Transportation, December 2010. Accessed June 3, 2015.

Government

Local government Pennsauken 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.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election 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. 38."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor, each serving a one-year term.