As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,811,[9] a decrease of 74 (−3.9%) from the 2010 census count of 1,885,[19][20] which in turn reflected a decline of 87 (−4.4%) from the 1,972 counted in the 2000 census.[21]
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Folsom as its 19th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[24]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 8.51 square miles (22.04 km2), including 8.26 square miles (21.40 km2) of land and 0.25 square miles (0.63 km2) of water (2.88%).[1][2]
The borough is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering 1,100,000 acres (450,000 ha), that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.[29] All of the borough is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Atlantic County, along with areas in Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.[30]
Of the 688 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18; 60.5% were married couples living together; 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.5% were non-families. Of all households, 17.4% were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.08.[19]
22.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 33.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.7 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $65,795 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,755) and the median family income was $67,778 (+/− $7,595). Males had a median income of $50,192 (+/− $6,784) versus $36,471 (+/− $4,204) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,446 (+/− $2,979). About 3.2% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.[38]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 1,972 people, 671 households, and 552 families residing in the borough. The population density was 238.5 inhabitants per square mile (92.1/km2). There were 702 housing units at an average density of 84.9 per square mile (32.8/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.73% White, 4.41% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.86% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 3.45% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[36][37]
There were 671 households, out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.18.[36][37]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.6 males.[36][37]
The median income for a household in the borough was $56,406, and the median income for a family was $59,231. Males had a median income of $39,659 versus $30,000 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,617. 5.7% of the population and 4.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.3% of those under the age of 18 and 4.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.[36][37]
Government
Local government
Folsom 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.[39] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The 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.[6] The borough form of government used by Folsom 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.[40][41]
As of 2024[update], the mayor of Folsom is Republican Glenn Smith, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Gregory Conway (R, 2024), Jacob Blazer (R, 2023), James Hoffman (R, 2025), Albert W. Norman Jr. (R, 2024), Michael Porretta (R, 2025) and James C. Whittaker Jr. (R, 2023).[3][42][43][44][45][46][47]
In January 2020, the borough council appointed Jake Blazer to fill the balance of the term expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Greg Schenker until he resigned from office.[48]
In September 2016, the borough council selected Lisa O'Toole from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that had been vacated by Bryan Gummoe, who resigned the previous month.[49] In the November 2016 general election, Independent Greg Schenker defeated O'Toole to win the balance of the term of office.[50]
The borough council selected Louis DeStefano in August 2014 from among three names offered by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Mayor Thomas N. Ballistreri, who had resigned earlier that month.[51] In September 2014, Bennett Pagano was selected by the borough council from among the three candidates recommended by the local Republican Committee to fill Louis DeStefano's vacant council seat.[52] Pagano was elected in November 2014 to serve the balance of the term.[53]
Federal, state and county representation
Folsom is located in the 2nd Congressional District[54] and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.[55]
Atlantic County is governed by a directly elected county executive and a nine-member Board of County Commissioners, responsible for legislation. The executive serves a four-year term and the commissioners are elected to staggered three-year terms, of which four are elected from the county on an at-large basis and five of the commissioners represent equally populated districts.[61][62] As of 2024[update], Atlantic County's Executive is Dennis Levinson (R, Northfield), whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.[63] Members of the Board of County Commissioners are:
Atlantic County's constitutional officers are:
Clerk Joesph J. Giralo (R, 2026, Hammonton),[74][75]
Sheriff Joe O'Donoghue (R, 2026, Egg Harbor Township)[76][77] and
Surrogate James Curcio (R, 2025, Hammonton).[78][79][80]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,229 registered voters in Folsom, of which 252 (20.5% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 355 (28.9% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans and 622 (50.6% vs. 44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[81] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 65.2% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 83.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).[81][82]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 442 votes (49.9% vs. 41.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 427 votes (48.2% vs. 57.9%) and other candidates with 10 votes (1.1% vs. 0.9%), among the 886 ballots cast by the borough's 1,257 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.5% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County).[83][84] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 457 votes (50.2% vs. 41.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 441 votes (48.4% vs. 56.5%) and other candidates with 5 votes (0.5% vs. 1.1%), among the 911 ballots cast by the borough's 1,282 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.1% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County).[85] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 482 votes (52.2% vs. 46.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 425 votes (46.0% vs. 52.0%) and other candidates with 6 votes (0.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 923 ballots cast by the borough's 1,267 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.8% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county).[86]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 392 votes (68.1% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 168 votes (29.2% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with 6 votes (1.0% vs. 1.3%), among the 576 ballots cast by the borough's 1,265 registered voters, yielding a 45.5% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county).[87][88] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 329 votes (57.7% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 198 votes (34.7% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 27 votes (4.7% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 6 votes (1.1% vs. 1.2%), among the 570 ballots cast by the borough's 1,246 registered voters, yielding a 45.7% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).[89]
Education
The Folsom Borough School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Folsom School.[90][91] As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 384 students and 41.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.4:1.[92]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 27.69 miles (44.56 km) of roadways, of which 17.32 miles (27.87 km) were maintained by the municipality, 4.00 miles (6.44 km) by Atlantic County and 6.37 miles (10.25 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[99]
Three significant highways directly serve Folsom. U.S. Route 322 follows the Black Horse Pike across the borough from northwest to southeast, connecting Folsom to Monroe Township and Hamilton Township. New Jersey Route 54 is oriented northeast to southwest across the borough, linking Folsom with Hammonton and Buena Vista Township. New Jersey Route 73 heads north from U.S. Route 322, briefly clipping Hammonton before entering Winslow Township.
^ a bGovernment, Borough of Folsom. Accessed June 6, 2023. "Folsom was incorporated as a Borough in 1906. The Borough is governed by a mayor-council form of government. The mayor is elected for a four-year term, six council members are elected for three-year terms on a staggered basis."
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^ a b c d eDP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Folsom borough, Atlantic County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 10, 2013.
^Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 69. Accessed October 25, 2012.
^Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 30, 2015.
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^ a b c d eCensus 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Folsom borough, New Jersey Archived 2015-05-27 at the Wayback Machine, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 10, 2013.
^ a b c d eDP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Folsom borough, Atlantic County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 10, 2013.
^DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Folsom borough, Atlantic County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 10, 2013.
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^2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Folsom. Accessed June 6, 2023. As of date accessed, this is the most recent budget available on the borough's web site.
^2022 General Election Results - Amended, Atlantic County Clerk, updated December 5, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
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^General Election Results - November 5, 2019, Atlantic County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.
^Reorganization Meeting Minutes for January 7, 2020, Borough of Folsom. Accessed March 30, 2020. "Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, by the Borough Council of the Borough of Folsom, County of Atlantic and State of New Jersey that the resignation from the Councilman position of Greg Schenker (copy attached) is hereby accepted.... Greg Conway made a motion to nominate Jake Blazer and Councilman Hoffman seconded that motion.... Judge Frank Raso gave the Oath of Office to Jake Blazer."
^Minutes-16.pdf Council Meeting Minutes September 14, 2016[permanent dead link], Borough of Folsom. Accessed May 18, 2017. "Whereas, Councilman Byron Gummoe has submitted to the Municipal Clerk a letter of resignation from said position effective August 29, 2016... Now, Therefore, It Is Hereby Resolved by the Governing Body this 14thday of September, 2016 that Lisa O'Toole shall be and hereby is appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Councilman Bryon Gummoe until the successor is qualified and certified after the next General Election."
^U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
^Tully, Tracey (August 23, 2024). "Menendez's Senate Replacement Has Been a Democrat for Just 5 Months". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
^ a bAtlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2018.
^District Map, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2018.
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^Ernest D. Coursey, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2018.
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^Ashley R. Bennett, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2018.
^Richard R. Dase, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2018.
^James A. Bertino, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2018.
^Caren L. Fitzpatrick, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2018.
^Frank D. Formica, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2018.
^Amy L. Gatto, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2018.
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^Members List: Clerks Archived October 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2018.
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^Constitutional Officers, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2018.
^ a bVoter Registration Summary - Atlantic, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 24, 2014.
^GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 24, 2014.
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^Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Atlantic County Archived December 25, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 24, 2014.
^2008 Presidential General Election Results: Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 24, 2014.
^2004 Presidential Election: Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 24, 2014.
^2013 Governor: Atlantic County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, January 29, 2014. Accessed December 24, 2014.
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^Folsom Board of Education District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Folsom Borough School District. Accessed March 7, 2024. "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 eight in the Folsom School District. Composition: The Folsom School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Folsom."
^Hammonton Public Schools 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 5, 2016. "The Hammonton Public School System serves children from Hammonton, Waterford, and Folsom – as well as over 140 NJ Department of Education Choice students."
^Schools, Town of Hammonton. Accessed March 7, 2024. "The public school district provides an excellent education in an environment that is conducive to learning. Residents from Waterford attend grades 7 through 12. Residents of Folsom and Collings Lakes attend the Hammonton High School in grades 9 through 12 at a brand-new high school on a 118-acre campus."
^Puko, Timothy. "Sending Towns Feeling Pinched by Hammonton", The Press of Atlantic City, March 13, 2007. Accessed March 7, 2024, via Newspapers.com. "The two school districts that send students to Hammonton are disputing tuition adjustments that would allow Hammonton School District to avoid a tax hike this year but cause large tax hikes in the sending districts. The school budgets for Hammonton and its sending districts Waterford and Folsom could hang in limbo well past next month's school board elections, and Waterford and Folsom could be left with budget fights and massive cuts, sending district superintendents said."
^Frequently Asked Questions Archived April 24, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Atlantic County Institute of Technology. Accessed May 17, 2017. "What does it cost to attend ACIT? As a public school, there is no cost to Atlantic County residents of high school age. New Jersey Title 18A:54-20.1 entitles students the right to choose ACIT for their high school education."
^Atlantic County Bus / Rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed November 18, 2013.
^South Jersey Transit Guide Archived 2018-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed November 18, 2013.
^Siano, Joseph. "Experience Is Lacking", The New York Times, February 18, 1990. Accessed January 15, 2011. "Last week, the race winner, Jimmy Horton of Folsom, N.J., said the accidents probably were a result of drivers' inexperience at Daytona."
^Adelson, Fred B. "Art; Children's Page Turners to Linger Over", The New York Times, January 9, 2000. Accessed November 18, 2013. "E. B. Lewis of Folsom likes to refer to himself as an 'artistrator.' His watercolors can very successfully stand on their own as delightful anecdotal images of rural Southern life without an accompanying passage from Little Cliff and the Porch People."
^Elizabeth E. May Papers, University of Connecticut. Accessed May 3, 2023. "Elizabeth Eckhardt May, a former University of Connecticut dean, was born on 18 February 1899 in Folsom, NJ."
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External links
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