Elmer 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 1,347, a decrease of 48 (−3.4%) from the 2010 census count of 1,395, which in turn reflected an increase of 11 (+0.8%) from the 1,384 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. It was the home of the annual Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival, which celebrated its 23rd and final year in 2012.LaGorce, Tammy. "A Trio of Events With Music in Many Moods", The New York Times, May 25, 2012. Accessed January 17, 2013. "The Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival, to be held June 2 in Elmer from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., draws more famous names, most of them closely aligned with the adult-alternative genre.... Now in its 23rd year, the festival delivers fans by the thousands to the 60-acre grassy site in Salem County; its artistic director, Sean Timmons, is expecting close to 5,000 this year."
History
Elmer was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 28, 1893, from portions of Pittsgrove Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township, based on the results of a referendum held four days earlier.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026.} The borough was named for Lucius Elmer a former judge who helped obtain a post office for the community during his service as Congressman.History, Elmer Borough. Accessed July 29, 2016. "The town was named after Judge Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Elmer, a jurist respected state-wide, who had presided over Salem County's then-famous Treadway murder case and also produced the first compendium of New Jersey state statutes. As a Congressman, Elmer was largely responsible for securing a post office for the town."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed Accessed May 1, 2026.
Elmer is a dry town where alcohol is not permitted to be sold legally.New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.91 square miles (2.37 km2), including 0.89 square miles (2.31 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (2.20%).
The borough borders Pittsgrove Township and Upper Pittsgrove 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.
The borough is located on U.S. Route 40.
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 1,395 people, 536 households, and 391 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 577 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 94.05% (1,312) White, 2.15% (30) Black or African American, 0.57% (8) Native American, 0.79% (11) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.29% (18) from other races, and 1.15% (16) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.15% (44) of the population.
Of the 536 households, 31.3% had children under the age of 18; 51.5% were married couples living together; 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.1% were non-families. Of all households, 22.2% were made up of individuals and 9.3% 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 3.00.
22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.5 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $65,417 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,616) and the median family income was $78,661 (+/− $5,812). Males had a median income of $51,685 (+/− $7,458) versus $41,042 (+/− $9,148) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,065 (+/− $2,585). About 7.8% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Elmer borough, Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2013.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,384 people, 524 households, and 385 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 557 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 97.25% White, 0.65% African American, 0.51% Asian, 0.72% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Elmer borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Elmer borough, Salem County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2013.
There were 524 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.3% 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 2.61 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $46,172, and the median income for a family was $58,438. Males had a median income of $39,896 versus $27,583 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,356. About 4.6% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government Elmer 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 Elmer 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 Elmer Borough is Democrat Joseph P. Stemberger, whose term of office expires on December 31, 2023. Members of the Elmer Borough Council are Council President Lewis M. Schneider (R, 2024), Lynda Davis (R, 2022), Bruce Foster (R, 2023), Cynthia L. Nolan (R, 2023), Steven A. Schalick (R, 2022) and James W. Zee, III (R, 2024).Elected Officials, Borough of Elmer. Accessed August 1, 2022. "Elmer is governed by a Mayor and six Borough Council members. The Mayor serves a four year term and Council serves three-year terms."2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Elmer. Accessed August 1, 2022.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.Election Summary Report Salem County NJ General Election November 3, 2020 Official Report, Salem County, New Jersey, updated November 25, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.November 5, 2019 Summary Report Salem County, NJ Official Results, Salem County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 18, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.
In February 2019, the borough council selected Bruce Foster from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that became vacant following the resignation of R. Matthew Richards the previous month.Meeting Minutes for February 13, 2019, Borough of Elmer. Accessed February 20, 2020. "Council Vacancy: Motion Davis second Zee to accept the resignation of Councilman R. Matthew Richards with regret effective January 31, 2019. Councilman Zee discussed three candidates recommended by the Republican Committee.... Swearing in and Oath of Office: Bruce Foster was administered the oath of office for Borough Council Member by the Clerk, Sarah Walker. Foster took the seat of Richards for the rest of the meeting." Foster served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
Federal, state and county representation Elmer is located in the 2nd Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.
Politics As of March 2011, there were a total of 852 registered voters in Elmer, of whom 201 (23.6% vs. 30.6% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 253 (29.7% vs. 21.0%) were registered as Republicans and 397 (46.6% vs. 48.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.Voter Registration Summary - Salem, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed January 17, 2013. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 61.1% (vs. 64.6% in Salem County) were registered to vote, including 79.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 84.4% countywide).GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 17, 2013.