Paulsboro, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paulsboro, New Jersey
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Borough
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Downtown Paulsboro along Route 44 (Broad Street)
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Location of Paulsboro in Gloucester County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Gloucester County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
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Census Bureau map of Paulsboro, New Jersey
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 Paulsboro, New Jersey
Location in Gloucester County, New Jersey
Paulsboro, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Paulsboro, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County |  Gloucester |
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| Incorporated | March 2, 1904 | |
| Named for | Samuel Phillip Paul | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough | |
| • Body | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 2.63 sq mi (6.81 km2) | |
| • Land | 1.92 sq mi (4.98 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.70 sq mi (1.83 km2) 26.81% | |
| Area rank | 367th of 565 in state 16th of 24 in county |
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| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,196 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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6,267 | |
| • Rank | 338th of 565 in state 14th of 24 in county |
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| • Density | 3,220.4/sq mi (1,243.4/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 207th of 565 in state 5th of 24 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08066
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| Area code(s) | 856 exchanges: 224, 423, 467, 599 | |
| FIPS code | 3401557150 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885344 | |
Paulsboro is a small town, also called a borough, located in Gloucester County, New Jersey. It sits right on the Delaware River, which is a big river that flows into the ocean. Paulsboro is part of the larger Philadelphia metropolitan area, a busy region around the city of Philadelphia.
The town was officially created on March 2, 1904. It was named after Samuel Phillip Paul, whose family were early settlers in the area. In 2020, about 6,196 people lived in Paulsboro.
Contents
Discover Paulsboro's Past
Paulsboro has a rich history with some very important events.
18th Century History
Paulsboro is home to Fort Billingsport. This fort was the very first piece of land bought by the United States government. This happened on July 5, 1776, just one day after the Declaration of Independence was signed!
19th Century Landmarks
The Tinicum Island Rear Range Light house is another important landmark in Paulsboro. This lighthouse first shone its light on December 31, 1880. Lighthouses help guide ships safely.
20th Century Developments
In 1997, a group of local citizens started giving tours of the lighthouse. This made it one of the few lighthouses in New Jersey that people can visit. It's now a key part of Paulsboro's efforts to celebrate its history.
The East Jefferson Street Railroad Bridge, which crosses Mantua Creek, was built in 1917. It was rebuilt in 1940 and is still used by trains today.
21st Century Events
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On November 30, 2012, a part of the East Jefferson Street Railroad Bridge broke. This caused seven train cars to go off the tracks. One of these cars was carrying a chemical called vinyl chloride. Some of this chemical leaked into the air.
Because of the leak, homes in Paulsboro had to be evacuated. Many people went to hospitals to be checked. The bridge was later replaced to prevent future problems.
Paulsboro's Location and Surroundings
Paulsboro covers about 2.63 square miles (6.81 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but a good portion is water, including parts of the Delaware River.
Paulsboro shares its borders with a few other towns in Gloucester County. These include East Greenwich Township, Greenwich Township, and West Deptford Township. Of course, it also borders the large Delaware River.
Who Lives in Paulsboro?
Paulsboro is home to a diverse group of people. In 2010, there were 6,097 people living in the borough.
About 54% of the people identified as White, and about 36% identified as Black or African American. Other groups included Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and people of two or more races. About 9% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Paulsboro in 2010 was around 33.7 years old. About 28% of the population was under 18 years old.
Learning in Paulsboro
Paulsboro has its own public school system called the Paulsboro Public Schools. This district serves students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade.
Paulsboro Public Schools
The district has four schools:
- Billingsport Early Childhood Center (PreK-2)
- Loudenslager Elementary School (grades 3-6)
- Paulsboro Junior High School (grades 7-8)
- Paulsboro High School (grades 9-12)
Students from Greenwich Township also attend Paulsboro High School. This is part of a special agreement between the two school districts.
Other School Options
Students in Gloucester County can also apply to attend the Gloucester County Institute of Technology. This high school in Deptford Township offers special programs in technical and vocational subjects. It's a public school, so students don't pay tuition.
For those who prefer a Catholic school, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden oversees Guardian Angels Regional School. This school has two campuses: one in Gibbstown for younger students (PreK-3) and one in Paulsboro for older students (grades 4-8).
Getting Around Paulsboro
Paulsboro has several roads that help people travel in and out of the town.
Major Roads and Highways
Important highways like Interstate 295 and U.S. Route 130 pass through the southern part of Paulsboro. Route 44 also goes through the borough.
Public Transportation Options
NJ Transit offers bus services in Paulsboro. You can take the 402 bus route to travel between Pennsville Township and Philadelphia. The 455 route offers local service between Cherry Hill Mall and Woodbury. The borough also has its own shuttle bus service during the day.
The Port of Paulsboro
The Port of Paulsboro is a very important part of the town. It's located on the Delaware River and Mantua Creek.
Historically, this port was very busy with ships carrying petroleum products like oil. The train derailment in 2012, which involved a chemical leak, happened near the port.
Today, the port is being updated to handle many different types of cargo. It's becoming an "omniport," which means it can handle bulk cargo (like grains or minerals), break bulk cargo (like large machinery), and shipping containers. There are also plans for the port to become a center for making and transporting wind turbines. These turbines are used to create clean energy from wind.
Famous People from Paulsboro
Many talented people have come from Paulsboro! Here are a few:
- Flipper Anderson (born 1965): A wide receiver who played professional football in the NFL for nine seasons.
- John J. Burzichelli (born 1954): He was a long-time mayor of Paulsboro and also served in the New Jersey government.
- Russell Carter (born 1985): A talented basketball player who played for the University of Notre Dame.
- Julién Davenport (born 1995): An offensive tackle who plays professional football in the NFL.
- Gerald Hodges (born 1991): A linebacker who has played professional football in the NFL.
- Seth Lundy (born 2000): An NBA basketball player.
- Tony Montanaro (1927–2002): A famous mime artist.
- Isaac Redman (born 1984): A running back who played professional football for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Kevin Ross (born 1962): He played professional football in the NFL for 14 seasons.
- Larry Sharpe (born 1951): A former professional wrestler who now runs a wrestling training school in Paulsboro.
- Alex Silvestro (born 1988): A tight end who played professional football in the NFL.
- Joan Weber (1935–1981): A singer who had a hit song called "Let Me Go, Lover!" in 1954.
- Chazz Witherspoon (born 1981): A professional boxer.
Images for kids
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Downtown Paulsboro along Route 44 (Broad Street)
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The official seal of Paulsboro
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Location of Paulsboro in Gloucester County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Gloucester County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
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Census Bureau map of Paulsboro, New Jersey
See also
In Spanish: Paulsboro para niños
