Pitman, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pitman, New Jersey
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Borough
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Broadway Theater in Pitman, September 2010
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| Motto(s):
"The Small Town With A Big Heart"
"Everybody Likes Pitman" |
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Map of Pitman highlighted within Gloucester County. Inset: Location of Gloucester County in New Jersey.
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Census Bureau map of Pitman, New Jersey
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 Pitman, New Jersey
Location in Gloucester County, New Jersey
Pitman, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Pitman, 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 | 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 |
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| Elevation | 125 ft (38 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,780 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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8,880 | |
| • Rank | 271st of 565 in state 13th of 24 in county |
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| • Density | 3,958.5/sq mi (1,528.4/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 159th of 565 in state 3rd of 24 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08071
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| 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.
Contents
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 | |||
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| 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 |
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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
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Map of Pitman including the Grove
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The intersection at Broadway leads to Uptown Pitman, lined with shops, restaurants, and bakeries
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Route 47 northbound on the east edge of Pitman
_at_Pitman_Avenue_along_the_border_of_Pitman_and_Glassboro_in_Gloucester_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Pitman (Nueva Jersey) para niños
