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Pitman, New Jersey
Borough
Broadway Theater in Pitman, September 2010
Broadway Theater in Pitman, September 2010
Official seal of Pitman, New Jersey
Seal
Motto(s): 
"The Small Town With A Big Heart"
"Everybody Likes Pitman"
Map of Pitman highlighted within Gloucester County. Inset: Location of Gloucester County in New Jersey.
Map of Pitman highlighted within Gloucester County. Inset: Location of Gloucester County in New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Pitman, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Pitman, New Jersey
Pitman, New Jersey is located in Gloucester County, New Jersey
Pitman, New Jersey
Pitman, New Jersey
Location in Gloucester County, New Jersey
Pitman, New Jersey is located in New Jersey
Pitman, New Jersey
Pitman, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Pitman, New Jersey is located in the United States
Pitman, New Jersey
Pitman, New Jersey
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Gloucester
Incorporated May 24, 1905
Government
 • Type Borough
 • Body Borough Council
Area
 • Total 2.26 sq mi (5.85 km2)
 • Land 2.22 sq mi (5.75 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2)  1.81%
Area rank 390th of 565 in state
17th of 24 in county
Elevation
125 ft (38 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 8,780
 • Estimate 
(2023)
8,880
 • Rank 271st of 565 in state
13th of 24 in county
 • Density 3,958.5/sq mi (1,528.4/km2)
 • Density rank 159th of 565 in state
3rd of 24 in county
Time zone UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08071
Area code(s) 856
FIPS code 3401559070
GNIS feature ID 0885354

Pitman is a small town, also known as a borough, located in Gloucester County, New Jersey. In 2020, about 8,780 people lived there. The town is named after Rev. Charles Pitman, who was a Methodist minister.

History of Pitman

Pitman started as a special place for summer church meetings. In 1871, land was chosen in Glassboro and Mantua Township for a Methodist summer camp.

The Pitman Grove Begins

In 1872, a group called the New Jersey Conference Camp Meeting Association was formed. They started planning the campground. The main meeting area had an auditorium, and twelve roads spread out from it like spokes on a wheel. This area became known as the Pitman Grove.

At first, people stayed in tents along these roads for the meetings. But slowly, small cottages replaced the tents. These cottages became the first homes in what is now Pitman.

From Camp to Town

By the 1880s, there were about 400 cottages, and people started living there all year. This led to the first public school opening in 1884. More businesses began to appear north of the Grove.

The leaders of the Grove wanted to keep it as a religious retreat. However, in 1904, the people living in the Grove voted to become their own independent town. On May 24, 1905, the Governor of New Jersey, Edward C. Stokes, signed a law making Pitman an official borough.

The historic Pitman Grove was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Changes in Local Rules

For many years, Pitman was known as a "dry town." This meant that selling alcoholic drinks was not allowed. In 2014, the rules began to change.

In 2015, the town council allowed special permits for selling drinks. This led to two local breweries opening in Pitman's business area in 2016. In November 2016, most voters agreed to allow more permits for selling drinks.

Geography of Pitman

Pitman covers about 2.26 square miles (5.85 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Pitman shares its borders with other towns in Gloucester County. These include Glassboro, Mantua Township, and Washington Township.

Population and People

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 1,950
1920 3,385 73.6%
1930 5,411 59.9%
1940 5,507 1.8%
1950 6,960 26.4%
1960 8,644 24.2%
1970 10,257 18.7%
1980 9,744 −5.0%
1990 9,365 −3.9%
2000 9,331 −0.4%
2010 9,011 −3.4%
2020 8,780 −2.6%
2023 (est.) 8,880 −1.5%
Population sources:
1910–2000 1910–1920 1910
1910–1930 1940–2000
2000 2010 2020

The population of Pitman has changed over the years. In 2010, there were 9,011 people living in the borough. By 2020, the population had slightly decreased to 8,780.

Most people in Pitman are White. There are also smaller groups of Black or African American, Asian, and Native American residents. About 2.5% of the population is of Hispanic or Latino background.

In 2010, about 22.4% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in Pitman was about 41.2 years.

Education in Pitman

The Pitman School District provides public education for students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district has five schools.

Schools in Pitman

As of the 2022–23 school year, about 1,147 students were enrolled in Pitman schools. There were 122.4 teachers, meaning there were about 9.4 students for every teacher.

The schools in the district are:

  • Memorial Elementary School: For students in PreK–1st grade (228 students).
  • Pitman Elementary School: For students in 2nd–6th grade (413 students).
  • Pitman Junior / Senior High School: For students in 7th–12th grade (487 students).

Other Schools

Guardian Angels Regional School is a private school for grades K–8. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Students from Pitman can attend this school.

Transportation

Pitman has several roads and highways that help people get around.

Roads and Highways

Route 47 is the main highway that runs along the eastern edge of Pitman. Other important roads include County Route 553 and County Route 553 Alternate. Route 55 is also nearby, just west of Pitman.

Public Transportation

NJ Transit offers bus services from Pitman to Philadelphia. These are on the 313, 408, and 412 bus routes.

Pitman is also planned to be a stop on the Glassboro–Camden Line. This will be a new light rail system, about 18 miles long. It is expected to be finished around 2025.

Notable People from Pitman

Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Pitman:

  • George Anastasia (born 1947): A well-known author and journalist.
  • Madeline Brewer (born 1992): An actress famous for her roles in TV shows like "Orange is the New Black" and "The Handmaid's Tale".
  • Joe Crispin (born 1979): A talented basketball player who scored the most points in Gloucester County high school history. He also played in the NBA for the Lakers and Suns.
  • Jon Crispin (born 1981): Joe's brother, also a great high school basketball player. He played college basketball for Penn State and the UCLA Bruins.
  • Preston Foster (1900–1970): A famous actor.
  • Harry Gamble (1930–2014): A football coach and executive.
  • Erica Scanlon Harr (born 1982): She was crowned Miss New Jersey in 2004.
  • John E. Hunt (1908–1989): He represented New Jersey in the United States House of Representatives from 1967 to 1975.
  • C. Austin Miles (1868–1946): A writer of thousands of hymns and gospel songs. He is best known for his hymn "In the Garden".
  • Jane Moffet (1930–2018): A baseball player who played for four seasons in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
  • Patti Smith (born 1946): A famous singer-songwriter, poet, and artist.
  • John E. Wallace Jr. (born 1942): A former Associate Justice on the New Jersey Supreme Court.
  • Don Wildman (born 1961): An actor and television host.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pitman (Nueva Jersey) para niños

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