Map of Pitman including theGroveThe intersection at Broadway leads to Uptown Pitman, lined with shops, restaurants, and bakeries
In 1871, land was chosen in bothGlassboro andMantua Township to be set aside for aMethodist summercamp meeting.[25] The New Jersey Conference Camp Meeting Association was officially chartered and given authority over the land grant in 1872, and began planning the campground and organizing meetings. The land had an auditorium located on a central meeting ground, and twelve roads originated from the central area as spokes on a wheel.
This area became known as thePitman Grove, and while worshipers' tents originally lined each of the twelve roads, cottages slowly replaced the tents and formed the foundation of the town of Pitman. By the 1880s, the number of cottages had climbed to 400 and residents had begun staying year-round, both of which led to the establishment of the first public school in 1884. By 1887, businesses had cropped up north of the Grove in an area then-named Arbutus Hill, and in 1892, Alcyon Park was established.[25] The Grove directors resisted the secularization of the Methodist retreat,[25] but in 1904, Grove residents voted 122 to 35 for incorporation as an autonomous borough. On May 24, 1905,Governor of New JerseyEdward C. Stokes signed a law granting the incorporation.[26][27][28]
Until August 2014, Pitman was adry town. In 2015, the borough council authorized an ordinance permitting liquor licenses and a pair of local breweries opened in Pitman's Uptown business district in 2016 under the terms of a state law that allows the sale of beer by the glass in tasting rooms.[30][31] In November 2016, nearly 65% of voters approved a non-binding referendum allowing the issuance of liquor licenses.[32]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.26 square miles (5.85 km2), including 2.22 square miles (5.75 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.11 km2) of water (1.81%).[3][4] The borough borders the Gloucester County municipalities ofGlassboro,Mantua Township, andWashington Township.[33][34]
The2010 United States census counted 9,011 people, 3,489 households, and 2,327 families in the borough. The population density was 3,976.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,535.2/km2). There were 3,705 housing units at an average density of 1,634.8 per square mile (631.2/km2). The racial makeup was 96.08% (8,658)White, 1.14% (103)Black or African American, 0.09% (8)Native American, 0.62% (56)Asian, 0.03% (3)Pacific Islander, 0.64% (58) fromother races, and 1.39% (125) from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.46% (222) of the population.[20]
Of the 3,489 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18; 51.1% were married couples living together; 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.3% were non-families. Of all households, 28.6% were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.11.[20]
22.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 86.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 83.0 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010American Community Survey showed that (in 2010inflation-adjusted dollars)median household income was $67,234 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,656) and the median family income was $92,120 (+/− $9,726). Males had a median income of $50,119 (+/− $5,616) versus $46,806 (+/− $6,937) for females. Theper capita income for the borough was $30,777 (+/− $2,034). About 4.4% of families and 6.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.[42]
As of the2000 United States census,[17] there were 9,331 people, 3,473 households, and 2,431 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,068.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,570.8/km2). There were 3,653 housing units at an average density of 1,592.7 per square mile (614.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.16%White, 0.91%African American, 0.12%Native American, 0.62%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.23% fromother races, and 0.95% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.41% of the population.[40][41]
There were 3,473 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% weremarried couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. Of all households 26.0% were made up of individuals, and 11.1% 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 3.15.[40][41]
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.[40][41]
The median income for a household in the borough was $49,743, and the median income for a family was $59,419. Males had a median income of $40,894 versus $30,889 for females. Theper capita income for the borough was $22,133. About 2.8% of families and 5.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 5.0% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.[40][41]
Pitman is governed under theborough form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 218 of 564 municipalities statewide that use this form of government, the most common in the state.[43] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions electedat-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.[7] The borough form of government used by Pitman 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 canveto ordinances subject to anoverride 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.[44][45][46]
As of 2025[update], themayor of Pitman Borough isRepublican Michael L. Razze, Jr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Pitman Borough Council are Council President Vanessa James (D, 2025), John Fitzpatrick (R, 2025), Debra Guarni (D, 2027), Adam Mazzola (D, 2026), Sarah Musto (R, 2027) and Robert Uyehara (D, 2026).[5][47][48][49][50][51]
Gloucester County is governed by aboard of county commissioners, whose seven members are electedat-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis in partisan elections, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year. At a reorganization meeting held each January, the Board selects a Director and a Deputy Director from among its members. As of 2025[update], Gloucester County's Commissioners are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 6,118 registered voters in Pitman, of which 1,840 (30.1%) were registered asDemocrats, 1,446 (23.6%) were registered asRepublicans and 2,824 (46.2%) were registered asUnaffiliated. There were 8 voters registered asLibertarians orGreens.[79]
United States Gubernatorial election results for Pitman[80]
In the2012 presidential election, DemocratBarack Obama received 52.5% of the vote (2,340 cast), ahead of RepublicanMitt Romney with 45.7% (2,036 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (82 votes), among the 4,508 ballots cast by the borough's 6,297 registered voters (50 ballots werespoiled), for a turnout of 71.6%.[81][82] In the2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 52.4% of the vote (2,529 cast), ahead of RepublicanJohn McCain with 44.8% (2,164 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (80 votes), among the 4,828 ballots cast by the borough's 6,486 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.4%.[83] In the2004 presidential election, RepublicanGeorge W. Bush received 49.3% of the vote (2,369 ballots cast), outpolling DemocratJohn Kerry with 48.8% (2,345 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (64 votes), among the 4,804 ballots cast by the borough's 6,350 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.7.[84]
In the2013 gubernatorial election, RepublicanChris Christie received 61.0% of the vote (1,842 cast), ahead of DemocratBarbara Buono with 36.2% (1,095 votes), and other candidates with 2.8% (85 votes), among the 3,090 ballots cast by the borough's 6,157 registered voters (68 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 50.2%.[85][86] In the2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 46.4% of the vote (1,498 ballots cast), ahead of DemocratJon Corzine with 42.5% (1,373 votes), IndependentChris Daggett with 8.4% (270 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (34 votes), among the 3,231 ballots cast by the borough's 6,255 registered voters, yielding a 51.7% turnout.[87]
United States Senate election results for Pitman1[80]
Guardian Angels Regional School is aK–8 school that operates under the auspices of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Camden and accepts students from Clayton.[98] Its PreK-3 campus is inGibbstown while its 4-8 campus is inPaulsboro.[99] Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Pitman is one of the sending parishes.[100]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 37.20 miles (59.87 km) of roadways, of which 29.77 miles (47.91 km) were maintained by the municipality and 7.43 miles (11.96 km) by Gloucester County.[101]
Joe Crispin (born 1979), Gloucester County's all-time leading scorer for boys' high school basketball (2,651 career points) who played in the NBA for theLakers andSuns[113][114]
Jon Crispin (born 1981), Gloucester County's fourth all-time leading boys' scorer (2,319 career points) in high school. Played collegiately for two seasons atPenn State with brother Joe, then transferred and spent last two seasons with theUCLA Bruins[115]
^Worden, Nat."Sony to Close N.J. CD Plant",The Wall Street Journal, January 18, 2011. Accessed July 19, 2012. "Pitman Mayor Michael Batten, a Republican, said the plant closing would deal a painful blow to the small borough with the motto: 'The Small Town With A Big Heart'."
^Kuperinsky, Amy."'The Jewel of the Meadowlands'?: N.J.'s best, worst and weirdest town slogans", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, January 22, 2015. Accessed July 12, 2016. "Rising above one Gloucester County town about 20 miles from Philadelphia is a large blue water tower. 'Everybody Loves Pitman,' it proclaims. The slogan, submitted by Mary Dilks in a 1913 contest, may be memorable for its quirkiness, but Pitman local Holly Mummert, 39, isn't taking the bait. 'They don't love it. They don't hate it. They just like it. It's mediocre. OK. Not bad.'"
^Weisenfeld, Bernie."Grove's unique history still evident",Courier-Post, February 27, 2003. Accessed September 19, 2015. "One of numerous camp meetings held throughout South Jersey in the late 19th century, the Grove was named for Rev. Charles Pitman, a noted Methodist evangelist who died in 1854. The town took the same name when it incorporated in 1905."
^abcParker, Charles A. (1984).Pitman Grove Through a Tiffany Window, 1870-1900.Woodbury, New Jersey: Gloucester County Historical Society.
^Sixpack, Joe."New state regs let craft breweries tap into dry N.J. towns like Pitman",The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 5, 2016. Accessed January 9, 2017. "There are no saloons in Pitman, N.J. No bottle shops or restaurants with liquor licenses, either. This is a dry town, a vestige of its founding as a Methodist retreat. Yet on Saturday afternoon, with a ceremonial tapping of the first keg, a brewery will open on Broadway, the Gloucester County town's main drag.... Though liquor licenses still are banned in Pitman, Kelly Green is opening under a new state law that allows so-called limited breweries to produce beer and sell it by the glass in a tasting room."
^Kuhl, Jackson."A Dry Town Goes Wet After More Than a Century Pitman, New Jersey, got a taste of booze this month.",Atlas Obscura, May 23, 2016. Accessed March 12, 2023. "And no wonder: Kelly Green is the first place to serve beer in the borough of Pitman, New Jersey, since 1871. The historically dry town of 9,000 citizens has gone wet. Drinking alcohol was never really illegal in Pitman–you just had to cross the town line to get it.... But after more than a century of being a dry town, last December Pitman’s council voted 4-2 in favor of the town solicitor drafting language for an ordinance to finally issue liquor licenses."
^"Pitman voters approved alcohol sales, but final decision rest with council",WHYY-FM, November 14, 2016. Accessed March 12, 2023. "That was the verdict when voters approved a non-binding referendum that would end the South Jersey town’s dry spell. Pitman residents approved issuing alcohol licenses by a 2-to-1 margin (2935 to 1604 votes), which would allow alcoholic beverages to be sold by the glass or other open container in restaurants."
^About Us, Borough of Pitman. Accessed July 31, 2022. "Pitman is governed by an elected Mayor and Council. The Mayor is elected at-large for a four-year term and Council is at-large, three-year terms."
^Full Biography, Congressman Donald Norcross. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Donald and his wife Andrea live in Camden City and are the proud parents of three grown children and grandparents of two."
^Pitman Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Pitman School District, adopted January 20, 2010. Accessed September 17, 2025. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Pitman School District. Composition: The Pitman School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Pitman."
^Schools, South Jersey Catholic Schools. Accessed February 27, 2023.
^Contact Information, Guardian Angels Regional School. Accessed February 27, 2023.
^Giordano, Rita."After much work, newly merged school opens in Clayton",The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 6, 2008. Accessed February 27, 2023. "St. Michael's is about people pulling together and getting it done - the families of the two former schools and others from their other sending parishes, Our Lady of Lourdes in Glassboro, Our Lady Queen of Peace in Pitman, and Nativity in Franklinville."
^Duhart, Bill."18-mile light rail in South Jersey is coming, but not for another 6 years, at least", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, February 17, 2019. Accessed November 10, 2019. "The 18-mile commute time by light rail from Glassboro to Camden looks like it’s coming in now at just under six more years. That’s because a long-planned commuter rail project connecting a growing population hub in South Jersey with mass transit into Philadelphia still appears to be a few more years away, despite an old timeline that still says it’d be up and running in 2019."
^Rearick, Cristie."Former Miss NJ Erica Scanlon Harr takes stage inA Chorus Line",South Jersey Times, January 29, 2013. accessed June 1, 2018. "Harr is no stranger to the spotlight. In 2004, the Pitman native was crowned Miss New Jersey. She went on to represent the state at the last Miss America pageant held in Atlantic City."
^Micko, Lillian."Real 'League Of Their Own' Players Are Honored Fans Inspired By The Movie Came. So Did Two Women Who Played And Their Coach.",The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 13, 1994. Accessed October 31, 2013. "Among about 500 women who played in the league and whose stories the movie portrayed were Gertie Dunn, 60, and Jane Moffet, 64, who busily autographed baseballs, programs, photographs, ticket stubs and T-shirts, among other things, for a steady stream of fans before and during the game.... Moffet, who now lives in Toms River but grew up in Pitman, retired just last month after 42 years in education."
^DeLuca, Dan."Patti Smith Still Enthralls In Tla Show",The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 27, 1995. Accessed February 18, 2014. "Is she ever. For the Pitman-bred Smith, this weekend's shows at the TLA - two on Friday, one on Saturday - were the first Philadelphia performances since she retreated from public life in 1979 to raise a family in Detroit with her husband, Fred 'Sonic' Smith, who died in 1994."
^Riordan, Kevin."A Hollywood boost for Pitman's downtown",The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 22, 2015. Accessed April 29, 2015. "Wildman moved to Pitman as a 4-year-old in 1965 and recalls seeingThe Poseidon Adventure and other hits on the Broadway's big screen. He lived in the borough until 1977."
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