Pilesgrove Township is a township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 4,016, reflecting an increase of 93 (+2.4%) from the 3,923 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 673 (+20.7%) from the 3,250 counted in the 1990 Census.
Pile’s Grove was first mentioned in a deed dated April 15, 1701, through the date of the township’s original corporation is unknown. Pilesgrove was incorporated as one of New Jersey’s original group of 104 townships that were established on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken on December 6, 1769, to form Pittsgrove Township and on July 26, 1882, to create Woodstown. The township was named for Thomas Pyle.
In 1979, Pilesgrove Township enacted the state’s first right-to-farm law, protecting farming as a “natural right hereby ordained to exist as a permitted use everywhere in the Township of Pilesgrove.”
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 35.073 square miles (90.840 km2), including 34.843 square miles (90.243 km2) of land and 0.230 square miles (0.596 km2) of water (0.66%). The Salem River flows through the township.
The township borders the Salem County municipalities of Alloway Township, Carneys Point Township, Mannington Township, Oldmans Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township. Pilesgrove Township also borders Gloucester County. The Borough of Woodstown is an independent municipality completely surrounded by Pilesgrove Township, making it part of 21 pairs of “doughnut towns” in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. Woodstown serves as the more densely settled commercial core of the paired communities, while Pilesgrove is more agricultural.
Unincorporated communities in the township include Avis Mills, Courees Landing, East Lake, Eldridges Hill, Fenwick, Friendship, Milltown, Paulding, Point Airy, Richmanville, Sharptown, Union Grove and Yorktown.
The Pilesgrove Solar Farm is one of the largest in the state, covering 100 acres (40 ha) with 71,000 solar panels that generate 20 megawatts of electricity, enough to provide power for more than 5,000 homes.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,016 people, 1,488 households, and 1,091 families residing in the township. The population density was 115.3 per square mile (44.5/km2). There were 1,594 housing units at an average density of 45.7 per square mile (17.6/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 90.81% (3,647) White, 5.93% (238) Black or African American, 0.12% (5) Native American, 0.92% (37) Asian, 0.12% (5) Pacific Islander, 0.72% (29) from other races, and 1.37% (55) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.59% (104) of the population.
Source: Wikipedia
