Palmyra, New Jersey

Palmyra is a borough in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,438, an increase of 40 (+0.5%) from the 2010 census count of 7,398, which in turn reflected an increase of 307 (+4.3%) from the 7,091 counted in the 2000 census. The borough, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.

Palmyra was originally incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 19, 1894, from portions of Cinnaminson Township and Riverton. On February 20, 1923, Palmyra was reincorporated as a borough.

History
The area that is now Palmyra was settled in the late 17th century by Swedes, marking the northernmost border of New Sweden. A farmhouse built in 1761 by the third generation settlers still remains as the oldest house in Palmyra. Farming was the primary use of land in Palmyra and the surrounding area until after the construction of the Camden and Amboy Railroad in 1834 with a station in the area, after which railroad workers built homes on lots they purchased along the railroad right of way. The community was originally known as Texas, but a local landowner, Isaiah Toy, a descendant of the original Swedish settlers and a stockholder in the Camden and Amboy Railroad, who wanted to have a post office established in the community, convinced the railroad to change the name of the station in 1849 to Palmyra, which came from his love of ancient history. Palmyra was the name of an ancient trading center located in central Syria. The post office was established in 1851. Palmyra, along with Bordentown, Burlington, Moorestown Township, and Mount Holly Township, established its high school in the late 1890s, making it one of the oldest high schools in Burlington County and in New Jersey.

The community was laid out in 1850, when Joseph Souder's land was broken up into building lots to pay his debts, with the street names matching those of Center City, Philadelphia—Market, Arch, Race, and Vine (from south to north), and Front Street and numbered streets from the Delaware River. What is now Palmyra was part of Chester Township (now Maple Shade Township), which was created in 1694 and was one of the original 104 townships in New Jersey incorporated in 1798. Palmyra became a part of Cinnaminson Township when that township was set off from Chester in 1860. Palmyra Township was set off from Cinnaminson in 1894, and Palmyra was incorporated as a borough in 1923.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.54 square miles (6.58 km2), including 1.85 square miles (4.79 km2) of land and 0.69 square miles (1.79 km2) of water (27.28%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include West Palmyra.

The borough borders Cinnaminson Township and Riverton in Burlington County; Pennsauken Township in Camden County; and Philadelphia, across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.

The city is connected to the Tacony section of Philadelphia via Route 73 by the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, which is named for the two communities connected by the bridge. The bridge was completed in 1929 at a cost of $4 million.

In 1999, a  nature park, Palmyra Nature Cove, was opened along the banks of the Delaware which borders Palmyra on the west; in addition to serving as a bird sanctuary, the park offers educational programs for schools and hiking trails for walkers. The park is open from dawn to dusk; no pets or bicycles are allowed.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 7,398 people, 3,156 households, and 1,938 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,392 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 78.75% (5,826) White, 14.54% (1,076) Black or African American, 0.31% (23) Native American, 1.84% (136) Asian, 0.08% (6) Pacific Islander, 1.95% (144) from other races, and 2.53% (187) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 5.37% (397) of the population.

Of the 3,156 households, 23.5% had children under the age of 18; 43.1% were married couples living together; 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 38.6% were non-families. Of all households, 31.5% were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.97.

19.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $61,990 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,744) and the median family income was $74,265 (+/− $6,025). Males had a median income of $53,295 (+/− $6,313) versus $48,417 (+/− $6,580) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,361 (+/− $2,319). About 6.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,091 people, 3,004 households, and 1,853 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 3,219 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 80.99% White, 14.34% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.41% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.23% of the population.

There were 3,004 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 32.0% 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 2.36 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $51,150, and the median income for a family was $57,192. Males had a median income of $42,910 versus $31,445 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,454. About 2.2% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government
Palmyra 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. 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 is comprised of 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. The borough form of government used by Palmyra 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.

, the mayor of Palmyra Borough is Democrat Gina Ragomo Tait, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Timothy S. Howard (D, 2024), Laura Craig Cloud (D, 2023), Natashia Latimore (D, 2025), John Liebe (D, 2025), Michelle McCann (D, 2024) and Jessica O'Connor (D, 2023; appointed to serve an unexpired term).

In February 2023, the borough council appointed Jessica O'Connor to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Brandon Allmond.

In April 2022, the borough council selected Natashia Latimore from a list of three names nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Farrah Jenkins until she resigned from office the precious month.

In February 2020, Laura Craig Cloud was sworn in to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that was vacated by Gina Tait when she resigned her seat to take office as mayor the previous month.
In February 2016, the borough council selected Edward Kearney from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the council seat expiring in December 2016 that became vacant when Michelle Arnold took office as mayor.

In October 2015, the borough council selected Bryan Norcross to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2016 of Adam Nowicki, who had resigned from office the previous month.

Gina Ragomo Tait was appointed in February 2013 to serve until the November general election, filling the seat of Council President Kenneth Brahl, who had resigned during the previous month due to work and education obligations.

Federal, state and county representation
Palmyra is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 7th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,736 registered voters in Palmyra, of which 1,864 (39.4% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 972 (20.5% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 1,892 (39.9% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 8 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 64.0% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 79.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,308 votes here (62.7% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,287 votes (35.0% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 55 votes (1.5% vs. 1.0%), among the 3,679 ballots cast by the borough's 4,939 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.5% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,429 votes here (62.5% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,358 votes (35.0% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 64 votes (1.6% vs. 1.0%), among the 3,884 ballots cast by the borough's 4,790 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.1% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 2,138 votes here (58.3% vs. 52.9% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 1,448 votes (39.5% vs. 46.0%) and other candidates with 36 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 3,667 ballots cast by the borough's 4,770 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.9% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,327 votes here (57.6% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 879 votes (38.2% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 41 votes (1.8% vs. 1.2%), among the 2,304 ballots cast by the borough's 4,902 registered voters, yielding a 47.0% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 1,166 ballots cast (50.2% vs. 44.5% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 969 votes (41.7% vs. 47.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 132 votes (5.7% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 32 votes (1.4% vs. 1.2%), among the 2,321 ballots cast by the borough's 4,859 registered voters, yielding a 47.8% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Education
The Palmyra Public Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Palmyra, along with those from Beverly and Riverton who attend the district's high school as part of sending/receiving relationships. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 953 students and 79.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics) are:
Charles Street Elementary School with 457 students in grades Pre-K–6 and 
Palmyra Middle School / Palmyra High School with 468 students in grades 7–12.

Students from Palmyra, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of  of roadways, of which  were maintained by the municipality,  by Burlington County,  by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and  by the Burlington County Bridge Commission.

Route 73 traverses the borough, connecting to the Burlington County Bridge Commission-operated Tacony-Palmyra Bridge at the roadway's northern terminus and interchanging with County Route 543, most of which is called Broad Street within Palmyra.

Public transportation

The Palmyra station on NJ Transit's River Line light rail system is located on East Broad Street. The station opened on March 15, 2004. Southbound service from the station is available to Camden, including a transfer to the PATCO Speedline available at the Walter Rand Transportation Center. Northbound service is available to the Trenton Rail Station with connections to NJ Transit trains to New York City, SEPTA trains to Philadelphia, and Amtrak trains.

NJ Transit provides bus service in the borough on the 419 route that runs between Camden and Burlington.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Palmyra include:
 Jim Bailey (born 1949), singer, film, television and stage actor, and female impersonator
 Lena Blackburne (1886–1968), major league baseball player and manager best known for his discovery of a mud in a tributary of the Delaware River near Palmyra which is still used to rub down baseballs, allowing pitchers to gain better control over the ball
 Jack Casey (1935–2019), member of the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly, who also served as mayor of Palmyra
 Robert K. Crane (1919–2010), biochemist best known for his discovery of sodium-glucose cotransport
 Calvin T. Durgin (1893–1965), Vice Admiral who served in the U.S. Navy from 1916 until 1951, and was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air in 1949
 Kelvin Harmon (born 1997), wide receiver for the Washington Commanders of the NFL
 Clarence B. Jones (born 1931), lawyer and former personal counsel, advisor, draft speech writer and close friend of Martin Luther King Jr.
 Frank A. Mathews Jr. (1904–1964), represented  in the United States House of Representatives from 1945 to 1949
 Quron Pratt (born 1991), Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver since 2014
 A. Raymond Randolph (born 1943), federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit who was appointed to the court in 1990 
 Troy Singleton (born 1973), member of the New Jersey General Assembly since 2011

References

External links

 
1894 establishments in New Jersey
Borough form of New Jersey government
Boroughs in Burlington County, New Jersey
Populated places established in 1894
New Jersey populated places on the Delaware River