Pitman is a borough in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 8,780, a decrease of 231 (−2.6%) from the 2010 census count of 9,011, which in turn reflected a decline of 320 (−3.4%) from the 9,331 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 was named for Rev. Charles Pitman, a Methodist minister.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 19, 2015.Weisenfeld, Bernie. "Grove's unique history still evident", Courier-Post, February 27, 2003. Accessed September 19, 2015. "One of numerous camp meetings held throughout South Jersey in the late 19th century, the Grove was named for Rev. Charles Pitman, a noted Methodist evangelist who died in 1854. The town took the same name when it incorporated in 1905."

History

In 1871, land was chosen in both Glassboro and Mantua Township to be set aside for a Methodist summer camp meeting. The New Jersey Conference Camp Meeting Association was officially chartered and given authority over the land grant in 1872, and began planning the campground and organizing meetings. The land had an auditorium located on a central meeting ground, and twelve roads originated from the central area as spokes on a wheel.

This area became known as the Pitman Grove, and while worshipers' tents originally lined each of the twelve roads, cottages slowly replaced the tents and formed the foundation of the town of Pitman. By the 1880s, the number of cottages had climbed to 400 and residents had begun staying year-round, both of which led to the establishment of the first public school in 1884. By 1887, businesses had cropped up north of the Grove in an area then-named Arbutus Hill, and in 1892, Alcyon Park was established. The Grove directors resisted the secularization of the Methodist retreat, but in 1904, Grove residents voted 122 to 35 for incorporation as an autonomous borough. On May 24, 1905, Governor of New Jersey Edward C. Stokes signed a law granting the incorporation.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 140. Accessed May 30, 2024.Honeyman, Abraham Van Doren. Index-analysis of the Statutes of New Jersey, 1896-1909: Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 210. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed September 19, 2015.About Us, Borough of Pitman. Accessed January 25, 2025.

The Pitman Grove was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.New Jersey, Gloucester County - Historic Districts, National Register of Historic Places. Accessed December 9, 2006.

Until August 2014, Pitman was a dry town. In 2015, the borough council authorized an ordinance permitting liquor licenses and a pair of local breweries opened in Pitman's Uptown business district in 2016 under the terms of a state law that allows the sale of beer by the glass in tasting rooms.Sixpack, Joe. "New state regs let craft breweries tap into dry N.J. towns like Pitman", The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 5, 2016. Accessed January 9, 2017. "There are no saloons in Pitman, N.J. No bottle shops or restaurants with liquor licenses, either. This is a dry town, a vestige of its founding as a Methodist retreat. Yet on Saturday afternoon, with a ceremonial tapping of the first keg, a brewery will open on Broadway, the Gloucester County town's main drag.... Though liquor licenses still are banned in Pitman, Kelly Green is opening under a new state law that allows so-called limited breweries to produce beer and sell it by the glass in a tasting room."Kuhl, Jackson. "A Dry Town Goes Wet After More Than a Century Pitman, New Jersey, got a taste of booze this month.", Atlas Obscura, May 23, 2016. Accessed March 12, 2023. "And no wonder: Kelly Green is the first place to serve beer in the borough of Pitman, New Jersey, since 1871. The historically dry town of 9,000 citizens has gone wet. Drinking alcohol was never really illegal in Pitman–you just had to cross the town line to get it.... But after more than a century of being a dry town, last December Pitman’s council voted 4-2 in favor of the town solicitor drafting language for an ordinance to finally issue liquor licenses." In November 2016, nearly 65% of voters approved a non-binding referendum allowing the issuance of liquor licenses."Pitman voters approved alcohol sales, but final decision rest with council", WHYY-FM, November 14, 2016. Accessed March 12, 2023. "That was the verdict when voters approved a non-binding referendum that would end the South Jersey town’s dry spell. Pitman residents approved issuing alcohol licenses by a 2-to-1 margin (2935 to 1604 votes), which would allow alcoholic beverages to be sold by the glass or other open container in restaurants."

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.26 square miles (5.85 km2), including 2.22 square miles (5.75 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.11 km2) of water (1.81%). The borough borders the Gloucester County municipalities of Glassboro, Mantua Township, and Washington Township.Municipalities within Gloucester County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed November 7, 2019.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 7, 2019.

Demographics

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Pitman had a population of 8,780. The median age was 41.5 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.6 males age 18 and over.

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

There were 3,410 households in Pitman, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 49.7% were married-couple households, 16.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 3,693 housing units, of which 7.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 13.4%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 8,019 91.3% Black or African American 122 1.4% American Indian and Alaska Native 5 0.1% Asian 73 0.8% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0 0.0% Some other race 75 0.9% Two or more races 486 5.5% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 346 3.9%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 9,011 people, 3,489 households, and 2,327 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,705 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 96.08% (8,658) White, 1.14% (103) Black or African American, 0.09% (8) Native American, 0.62% (56) Asian, 0.03% (3) Pacific Islander, 0.64% (58) from other races, and 1.39% (125) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.46% (222) of the population.

Of the 3,489 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18; 51.1% were married couples living together; 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.3% were non-families. Of all households, 28.6% 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 2.51 and the average family size was 3.11.

22.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 86.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 83.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $67,234 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,656) and the median family income was $92,120 (+/− $9,726). Males had a median income of $50,119 (+/− $5,616) versus $46,806 (+/− $6,937) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,777 (+/− $2,034). About 4.4% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Pitman borough, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 19, 2012.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 9,331 people, 3,473 households, and 2,431 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,653 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 97.16% White, 0.91% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Pitman borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 19, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Pitman borough, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 19, 2012.

There were 3,473 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. Of all households 26.0% were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $49,743, and the median income for a family was $59,419. Males had a median income of $40,894 versus $30,889 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,133. About 2.8% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government