Westville 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 4,264, a decrease of 24 (−0.6%) from the 2010 census count of 4,288, which in turn reflected a decline of 212 (−4.7%) from the 4,500 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. Westville has been called "The Gateway to South Jersey!""Business Men Organize Westville Trust Company", Courier-Post, March 27, 1926. Accessed February 27, 2023. "The opening of the Philadelphia-Camden Bridge with a direct traffic arrtery over the Crescent Boulevard and with the Camden Relief road, all leading into Westville as the gateway to South Jersey, is another indication to us of the sure growth of our town and success of the trust company."Westville Borough History: Transportation, Borough of Westville. Accessed June 18, 2007.
Westville was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1914, from portions of Deptford Township and West Deptford Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 28, 1914. The borough was reincorporated on March 8, 1924.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.Boro Incorporated, Borough of Westville. Accessed June 18, 2007. Legislation had been passed in 1900 to create Westville, but it had to have a majority vote in favor of the new municipality in both Deptford and West Deptford.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Together with References to All Acts, and Parts of Acts, in the 'General Statutes' and Pamphlet Laws Expressly Repealed: and the Statutory Crimes of New Jersey During the Same Period, p. 314. New Jersey Law Journal Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed October 26, 2015. The borough was named for Thomas West, who built a home in the area in 1775 that still stands.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 26, 2015.The Thomas West Home, Gloucester County, New Jersey. Accessed October 26, 2015. "This old brick house was built ca. 1775 by Thomas West, for whom Westville is named."Early History, Westville, New Jersey. Accessed October 26, 2015. "Thomas West and his wife built the old 'West' house located on River Drive and raised a family of three children."
The borough had the 17th-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.502% in 2020, compared to 3.212% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%."Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 17. Westville Equalized tax rate in Westville Borough, Gloucester County, was 4.502 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Gloucester County: 3.212"
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.38 square miles (3.58 km2), including 1.02 square miles (2.65 km2) of land and 0.36 square miles (0.93 km2) of water (25.94%). Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Newbold, South Westville and Westville Manor.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The borough borders the municipalities of Deptford Township and West Deptford Township in Gloucester County, Bellmawr, Brooklawn, and Gloucester City in Camden County, and Philadelphia, located across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.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, Westville had a population of 4,264. The median age was 40.1 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.2 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 1,754 households in Westville, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 35.9% were married-couple households, 23.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 1,945 housing units, of which 9.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.3%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 3,143 73.7% Black or African American 399 9.4% American Indian and Alaska Native 15 0.4% Asian 142 3.3% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1 0.0% Some other race 185 4.3% Two or more races 379 8.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 480 11.3%
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 4,288 people, 1,755 households, and 1,095 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,912 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 89.53% (3,839) White, 4.90% (210) Black or African American, 0.16% (7) Native American, 1.49% (64) Asian, 0.05% (2) Pacific Islander, 2.31% (99) from other races, and 1.56% (67) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.02% (258) of the population.
Of the 1,755 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18; 40.9% were married couples living together; 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 37.6% were non-families. Of all households, 31.3% were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.06.
20.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $49,854 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,131) and the median family income was $65,089 (+/− $13,208). Males had a median income of $45,294 (+/− $5,957) versus $39,732 (+/− $7,921) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,908 (+/− $3,575). About 13.7% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 24.2% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Westville borough, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 4,500 people, 1,812 households, and 1,125 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 1,938 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 93.47% White, 2.71% Black, 0.13% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.29% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.96% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Westville borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Westville borough, Gloucester County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2012.
There were 1,812 households, out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the borough, the age distribution of the population shows 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $39,570, and the median income for a family was $49,005. Males had a median income of $35,909 versus $27,220 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,747. About 7.4% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over. Government Local government Westville 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 a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A 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. 28. The borough form of government used by Westville 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, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.