Paulsboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough’s population was 6,097, reflecting a decline of 63 (-1.0%) from the 6,160 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 417 (-6.3%) from the 6,577 counted in the 1990 Census.
Paulsboro was formed as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 2, 1904, from portions of Greenwich Township. It was named for Samuel Phillip Paul, son of a settler.
Paulsboro is the home of Fort Billingsport, the first land purchase made by the United States, acquired the day after the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Paulsboro is the location of the Tinicum Island Rear Range Lighthouse, first lit on the night of December 31, 1880. In 1997 a local citizen’s group was established with the purpose of providing tours and public access to the structure. The lighthouse is one of New Jersey’s few publicly accessible aids to navigation and is the centerpiece of Paulsboro’s cultural revitalization.
The East Jefferson Street railroad bridge over Mantua Creek was built in 1917 and rebuilt in 1940 for the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL). It is now part of Conrail’s Penns Grove Secondary. On November 30, 2012 it buckled, causing seven cars of a freight train to derail. One of the four tanker cars that fell into the creek was punctured, leaking thousands of gallons of vinyl chloride. Homes in the borough had to be evacuated and dozens of people went to hospitals as a precautionary measure due to exposure to the chemicals. Some residents in the area have filed suit against Conrail and CSX in Pennsylvania State Court having “complained about respiratory and bronchial related illnesses, headaches, eye and skin irritations and multiple other symptoms.” In March 2013, Conrail announced that the bridge would be replaced with an expected September 2014 operational date. Normally, between March 1 and November 30 the bridge is left in the open position for maritime traffic and closed when trains approach. It will remain locked in the closed position until the bridge is replaced. In September 2013, another less serious derailment took place along the Paulsboro Gibbstown border, with one car leaving the tracks on a train consisting mostly of empty tanker cars.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.605 square miles (6.745 km2), including 1.896 square miles (4.910 km2) of land and 0.709 square miles (1.836 km2) of water (27.21%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Billingsport.
The borough borders the Gloucester County municipalities of East Greenwich Township, Greenwich Township, West Deptford Township and the Delaware River.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 6,097 people, 2,286 households, and 1,591 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,216.4 per square mile (1,241.9/km2). There were 2,533 housing units at an average density of 1,336.2 per square mile (515.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 54.49% (3,322) White, 36.72% (2,239) Black or African American, 0.34% (21) Native American, 0.71% (43) Asian, 0.07% (4) Pacific Islander, 2.35% (143) from other races, and 5.33% (325) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.89% (542) of the population.
Source: Wikipedia
