Pine Valley, New Jersey Explained

Pine Valley, New Jersey
Settlement Type:Borough
Mapsize:250x200px
Image Map1:Census_Bureau_map_of_Pine_Valley,_New_Jersey.png
Mapsize1:250x200px
Map Caption1:Census Bureau map of Pine Valley, New Jersey
Pushpin Map:USA New Jersey Camden County#USA New Jersey#USA
Pushpin Label:Pine Valley
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Camden County##Location in New Jersey##Location in the United States
Pushpin Relief:yes
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Camden
Government Type:Walsh Act
Governing Body:Board of Commissioners
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Michael B. Kennedy (term ended December 31, 2021)[1]
Leader Title1:Administrator
Leader Name1:Robert W. Mather[2]
Leader Title2:Municipal clerk
Leader Name2:Dawn T. Amadio
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:April 23, 1929
Established Title2:Disestablished
Established Date2:January 1, 2022
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[3]
Area Total Km2:2.51
Area Land Km2:2.47
Area Water Km2:0.04
Area Total Sq Mi:0.97
Area Land Sq Mi:0.96
Area Water Sq Mi:0.02
Area Water Percent:1.55
Area Rank:505th of 565 in state
28th of 37 in county
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:21
Population Rank:563rd of 565 in state
36th of 37 in county[4]
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Density Sq Mi:22.0
Population Density Rank:561st of 565 in state
37th of 37 in county
Population Est:13
Pop Est As Of:2021
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:−05:00
Timezone Dst:Eastern (EDT)
Utc Offset Dst:−04:00
Elevation Footnotes:[5]
Elevation Ft:157
Coordinates Footnotes:[6]
Coordinates:39.7883°N -74.9749°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:08021[7]
Area Code:856[8]
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:3400758920[9] [10]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0885353[11]

Pine Valley was a borough in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 21, an increase of 9 (+75.0%) from the 2010 census count of 12, which in turn reflected a decline of 8 (-40.0%) from the 20 counted in the 2000 census.[12] As of the 2020 Census, Pine Valley was the third-smallest municipality by population in New Jersey, with 12 more residents than the nine residing in Tavistock (also in Camden County) and 14 more than the seven in Walpack Township (in Sussex County).[4]

Pine Valley encompassed Pine Valley Golf Club, which regularly ranks highly on Golf Digest's list of America's 100 greatest courses.

The Borough of Pine Valley was created on April 23, 1929, from Clementon Township, one of seven municipalities created from the now-defunct township, and one of five new municipalities (including Hi-Nella Borough, Lindenwold Borough, Pine Hill Borough and Somerdale Borough) created on that same date.[13]

In 2021, the Borough finalized plans to merge with the adjacent Borough of Pine Hill, dissolving the Pine Valley borough government completely by the end of 2021. Pine Hill gained $20 million in taxable property and the famed golf club.[14] The merger took effect on January 1, 2022; the merger of the two municipalities was the first in the state since Princeton was formed in 2013 from the former Princeton Borough and Princeton Township, New Jersey.[15]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.97 square miles (2.51 km2), including 0.96 square miles (2.47 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.04 km2) of water (1.55%).[3]

The borough bordered the Camden County municipalities of Clementon Borough and Pine Hill.[16] [17] [18]

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 12 people, 4 households, and 4 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 22 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 83.33% (10) White, 0.00% (0) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.00% (0) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 16.67% (2) from other races, and 0.00% (0) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.67% (2) of the population.

Of the 4 households, 50.0% had children under the age of 18; 75.0% were married couples living together; 0.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 0.0% were non-families. Of all households, 0.0% were made up of individuals and 0.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.00.

16.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 16.7% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 0.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 300.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 233.3 males.

As of the 2010 Census, the borough had the second smallest population in the state, ahead of only Tavistock, which had a population of five.[19]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 20 people, 8 households, and 7 families residing in the borough. The population density was 21sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 21 housing units at an average density of 22.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the borough was 100.00% White.[20] [21]

As of the 2000 Census, the borough was one of four municipalities with fewer than 50 residents among the 566 in the state, and its population of 20 was behind only Teterboro, where census officials counted 18 residents.[22]

There were eight households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of eighteen living with them, 87.5% were married couples living together, and 12.5% were non-families. 12.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.71.[20] [21]

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 40.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females, there were 150.0 males. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 114.3 men.[20] [21]

The median income for a household in the borough was $31,875, and the median income for a family was $65,625. Men had a median income of $36,250 versus $52,500 for women. The per capita income for the borough was $23,981. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.[20] [21]

Government

Local government

Pine Valley operated under the Walsh Act form of New Jersey municipal government. The borough was one of 30 municipalities (of the then-565) statewide that used the commission form of government.[23] The governing body consisted of three commissioners, who are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis to four-year terms of office in elections held as part of the May municipal elections. Each commissioner was assigned a specific department to head in addition to their legislative functions and one of the three commissioners was chosen to serve as mayor.[24] Pine Valley has been governed under the Walsh Act, by a three-member commission, since 1942.[25] [26]

At the time of the borough's dissolution in 2022, the members of the Pine Valley Board of Commissioners were Mayor Michael B. Kennedy, Kendra L. Clark and Debra M. Kennedy all serving terms of office ending May 17, 2022.[27] The three commissioners had run unopposed in the 2018 May municipal election.[28] [29]

The three incumbents—Jane Bromley and husband-and-wife Michael B. Kennedy and Deborah Kennedy—were re-elected in May 2014 to four-year terms of office in an election held entirely by mail to minimize the costs associated with establishing a polling place for the borough's 14 voters.[30]

Federal, state and county representation

Pine Valley was located in the 1st Congressional District[31] and was part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.[32] [33] [34] Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 census, Pine Valley had been in the 6th state legislative district.[35]

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of fifteen registered voters in Pine Valley, of which three (20.0%) were registered as Democrats, ten (66.7%) as Republicans and two (13.3%) as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[36]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 100.0% of the vote (nine cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono and other candidates who received no votes, among the nine ballots cast by the borough's thirteen registered voters, for a turnout of 69.2%.[37] [38] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.7% of the vote (8 ballots cast), ahead of both Independent Chris Daggett with 18.2% (two votes) and Democrat Jon Corzine with no votes, with eleven ballots cast among the borough's fourteen registered voters, yielding a 78.6% turnout.[39]

Education

Pine Hill is in the Pine Hill Schools, which operates Overbrook High School.

As an independent municipality, Pine Valley had a non-operating school district.[40] At that tme, public school students from Pine Valley attended the Haddonfield Public Schools for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade as part of a sending/receiving relationship, together with students from Haddonfield and Tavistock.[24] As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 2,749 students and 215.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1.[41] Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[42]) are Central Elementary School[43] with 419 students in grades K-5, Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School[44] with 367 students in grades K-5,J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School[45] with 422 students in grades PreK-5, Haddonfield Middle School[46] with 659 students in grades 6-8 and Haddonfield Memorial High School[47] with 869 students in grades 9–12.[48] [49]

Transportation

All roads in Pine Valley are privately maintained by the golf course. There is only one public entrance, via Atlantic Avenue from neighboring Pine Hill.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.state.nj.us/dca/home/2020mayors.pdf 2020 New Jersey Mayors Directory
  2. http://www.pvnj.org/administration.php Administration
  3. https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_cousubs_34.txt 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places
  4. https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/dmograph/est/mcd/density.xlsx Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021
  5. , Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 11, 2013.
  6. https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990
  7. http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=pine%20valley&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code for Pine Valley, NJ
  8. http://www.area-codes.com/search.asp?frmNPA=&frmNXX=&frmState=NJ&frmCity=Pine%20Valley&frmCounty=Camden Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Pine Valley, NJ
  9. https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website
  10. https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey
  11. http://geonames.usgs.gov US Board on Geographic Names
  12. https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2010/2010data/table7cm.xls Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010
  13. Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 109. Accessed May 30, 2024.
  14. Riordan, Kevin. "Humble Pine Hill gets ready to welcome the posh Pine Valley Golf Club as two N.J. boroughs become one", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 3, 2021. Accessed November 16, 2021. "Kennedy said that Pine Valley had sought the consolidation after a nonbinding 2020 referendum voters there approved, 10-0, because it 'has been experiencing some budgetary challenges.' Becoming part of Pine Hill will provide his constituents with “a sustainable municipal government,” said the Pine Valley mayor.... So far, Pine Hill seems to be taking in stride the prospect of gaining a few well-heeled residents, a $20 million tax ratable, and bragging rights to one of the finest golf courses anywhere."
  15. Symons, Michael. "NJ about to subtract one of its tiniest towns in rare merger", WKXW, December 20, 2021. Accessed April 24, 2023. "Princeton borough and township voted to merge in 2011, after discussing the idea for a half-century."
  16. https://global.mapit.mysociety.org/area/83083/touches.html Areas touching Pine Valley
  17. https://www.dvrpc.org/Mapping/Maps/pdf/Camden_MCDs.pdf Municipalities within Camden County, NJ
  18. https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/polnoroads.pdf New Jersey Municipal Boundaries
  19. Staff. "N.J.'s population shifting to coast, south", USA Today. Accessed August 18, 2013.
  20. http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/1603458920.pdf Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Pine Valley borough, New Jersey
  21. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3400758920 DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Pine Valley borough, Camden County, New Jersey
  22. Strauss, Robert. "Communities; Municipal Madness or 'Creative Localism?'", The New York Times, January 4, 2004. Accessed August 18, 2013. "But for the 20 residents of Pine Valley, the borough that surrounds the golf course, the cute A-frame building is police headquarters, next door to Steiniger Hall, the borough office building, where you can often find Robert Mathers, the clerk of Pine Valley, one of New Jersey's least-populous towns.... Four of them have fewer than 50 souls: Walpack (41) in Sussex County, Teterboro (18) in Bergen County and Pine Valley and Tavistock (24) in Camden County."
  23. https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey
  24. 2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 42.
  25. http://www.njstatelib.org/slic_files/imported/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/MFMG/MFMGCH4.PDF "The Commission Form of Municipal Government"
  26. https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=8 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"
  27. http://www.pvnj.org/pdf/2019%20Municipal%20Budget%20-%20for%20website.pdf 2019 Municipal User Friendly Budget
  28. [David Wildstein|Wildstein, David]
  29. http://www.pvnj.org/pdf/minutes/Borough%20Meeting%20061918.pdf Meeting Minutes for June 19, 2018
  30. Comengo, Carol. "Medford Lakes, Pine Valley holding elections Tuesday", Courier-Post, May 12, 2014. Accessed October 23, 2014. "In Pine Valley in Camden County, three incumbent commissioners are seeking re-election to four-year terms without opposition — Mayor Michael B. Kennedy; his wife, Deborah Kennedy; and Jane Bromley. Pine Valley, one of the smallest municipalities in the state and best known for its exclusive golf course, does not have a polling place with a voting machine. Instead, voters receive a ballot in the mail and return it to the Camden County Board of Elections to save the expense of running an election for its 14 registered voters."
  31. https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report
  32. https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District
  33. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf 2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government
  34. https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#8 Districts by Number for 2011-2020
  35. http://www.lwvnj.org/images/cg_2011.pdf#page=63 2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government
  36. http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-camden-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Camden
  37. Web site: Governor - Camden County . January 29, 2014 . New Jersey Department of Elections . December 24, 2014.
  38. Web site: Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Camden County. January 29, 2014 . New Jersey Department of Elections . December 24, 2014.
  39. http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-camden.pdf 2009 Governor: Camden County
  40. http://www.state.nj.us/education/news/2009/0701nonops.htm 13 Non-Operating School Districts Eliminated
  41. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&details=1&ID2=3406390&DistrictID=3406390 District information for Haddonfield School District
  42. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3406390 School Data for the Haddonfield Public Schools
  43. https://central.haddonfieldschools.org/ Central Elementary School
  44. https://elizabeth.haddonfieldschools.org/ Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School
  45. https://tatem.haddonfieldschools.org/ J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School
  46. https://middle.haddonfieldschools.org/ Haddonfield Middle School
  47. https://high.haddonfieldschools.org/ Haddonfield Memorial High School
  48. https://www.haddonfield.k12.nj.us/directions.html Directions and Contacts
  49. https://homeroom6.doe.state.nj.us/directory/school/districtid/1900 New Jersey School Directory for the Haddonfield Public Schools