Pine Valley, New Jersey

Pine Valley, New Jersey
Borough
Sign for the Pine Valley Golf Club located in the former borough
Pine Valley highlighted in Camden County. Inset: Location of Camden County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Pine Valley, New Jersey
Pine Valley Location in Camden County Show map of Camden County, New Jersey Pine Valley Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Pine Valley Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 39°47′18″N74°58′30″W / 39.788284°N 74.974882°W / 39.788284; -74.974882 [1] [2]
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Camden
Incorporated	April 23, 1929
Disestablished	January 1, 2022
Government [3]
• Type	Walsh Act
• Body	Board of Commissioners
•  Mayor	Michael B. Kennedy (term ended December 31, 2021) [4] [5]
•  Administrator	Robert W. Mather [4]
•  Municipal clerk	Dawn T. Amadio [4]
Area [1]
• Total	0.97 sq mi (2.51 km2)
• Land	0.96 sq mi (2.47 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)  1.55%
• Rank	505th of 565 in state 28th of 37 in county [1]
Elevation [6]	157 ft (48 m)
Population  (2020) [7]
• Total	21
• Estimate  (2021) [8]	13
• Rank	563rd of 565 in state 36th of 37 in county [9]
• Density	22.0/sq mi (8.5/km2)
• Rank	561st of 565 in state 37th of 37 in county [9]
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	08021 [10]
Area code	856 [11]
FIPS code	3400758920 [1] [12] [13]
GNIS feature ID	0885353 [1] [14]

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, ^[7] an increase of 9 (+75.0%) from the 2010 census count of 12, ^{[15] [16]} which in turn reflected a decline of 8 (-40.0%) from the 20 counted in the 2000 census. ^[17] Before its merger with the adjacent Borough of Pine Hill, 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). ^[9]

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. ^[18]

In 2021, the Borough finalized plans to merge with the adjacent Borough of Pine Hill, dissolving the Pine Valley borough government completely when the merger took effect on January 1, 2022. Pine Hill gained $20 million in taxable property and the famed golf club. ^[19] 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. ^[20]

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%). ^{[1] [2]}

The borough bordered the Camden County municipalities of Clementon Borough and Pine Hill. ^{[21] [22] [23]}

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1930	40		—
1940	27		−32.5%
1950	39		44.4%
1960	20		−48.7%
1970	23		15.0%
1980	23		0.0%
1990	19		−17.4%
2000	20		5.3%
2010	12		−40.0%
2020	21		75.0%
2021 (est.)	20	[8]	−4.8%
Population sources: 1930-2000 [24] 1930 [25] 1940–2000 [26] 2000 [27] [28] 2010 [15] [16] 2020 [7]

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 12 people, 4 households, and 4 families in the borough. The population density was 12.2 per square mile (4.7/km²). There were 22 housing units at an average density of 22.4 per square mile (8.6/km²). 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. ^[15]

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. ^[15]

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. ^[15]

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. ^[29]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census ^[12] there were 20 people, 8 households, and 7 families residing in the borough. The population density was 21.0 inhabitants per square mile (8.1/km²). There were 21 housing units at an average density of 22.1 per square mile (8.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 100.00% White. ^{[27] [28]}

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. ^[30]

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. ^{[27] [28]}

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. ^{[27] [28]}

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. ^{[27] [28]}

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. ^[31] 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. ^[3] Pine Valley has been governed under the Walsh Act, by a three-member commission, since 1942. ^{[32] [33]}

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. ^[34] The three commissioners had run unopposed in the 2018 May municipal election. ^{[35] [36]}

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. ^[37]

Federal, state and county representation

Pine Valley was located in the 1st Congressional District ^[38] and was part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district. ^{[39] [40] [41]} Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 census, Pine Valley had been in the 6th state legislative district. ^[42]

For the 119th United States Congress , New Jersey's 1st congressional district is represented by Donald Norcross ( D , Camden ). ^{[43] [44]} New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker ( Newark , term ends 2027) and Andy Kim ( Moorestown , term ends 2031). ^[45]

For the 2024-2025 session , the 8th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Latham Tiver ( R , Southampton Township ) and in the General Assembly by Andrea Katz ( D , Chesterfield Township ) and Michael Torrissi (R, Hammonton ). ^[46]

Camden County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members chosen at-large in partisan elections for three-year terms on a staggered basis by the residents of the county, with either two or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At a reorganization meeting held in January after each election, the newly constituted Board of Commissioners selects one member to serve as Director and another as Deputy Director, each serving a one-year term in that role. ^[47] As of 2025 ^[update] , Camden County's Commissioners are: Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. (D, Collingswood, 2026), ^[48] Commissioner Deputy Director Edward T. McDonnell (D, Pennsauken Township, 2025), ^[49] Virginia Ruiz Betteridge (D, Runnemede, 2025), ^[50] Almar Dyer (D, Pennsauken Township, 2027), ^[51] Melinda Kane (D, Cherry Hill, 2027), ^[52] Jeffrey L. Nash (D, Winslow Township, 2027), ^[53] and Jonathan L. Young Sr. (D, Berlin Township, 2026). ^{[54] [47] [55] [56] [57]}

Camden County's constitutional officers are: Clerk Pamela Rosen Lampitt (D, Cherry Hill, 2029) ^{[58] [59]} Sheriff Chuck Billingham (D, Gloucester City, 2027) ^{[60] [61]} and Surrogate Michelle Gentek-Mayer (D, Gloucester Township, 2025). ^{[62] [63] [64]}

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. ^[65]

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%. ^{[66] [67]} 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. ^[68]

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, ^[69] Pine Valley Borough School District. ^[70] At that time, 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. ^[3] 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. ^[71] Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ^[72] ) are Central Elementary School ^[73] with 419 students in grades K-5, Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School ^[74] with 367 students in grades K-5, J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School ^[75] with 422 students in grades PreK-5, Haddonfield Middle School ^[76] with 659 students in grades 6-8 and Haddonfield Memorial High School ^[77] with 869 students in grades 9–12. ^{[78] [79]}

Transportation

Entrance to Pine Valley

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.

References

1. 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.
2. US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
3. 2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 42.
4. Administration, Borough of Pine Valley. Accessed September 22, 2019.
5. 2020 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed February 1, 2020.
6. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Borough of Pine Valley, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 11, 2013.
7. Total Population: Census 2010 - Census 2020 New Jersey Municipalities, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.
8. Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022.
9. Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed March 1, 2023.
10. Look Up a ZIP Code for Pine Valley, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed October 11, 2012.
11. Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Pine Valley, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed October 20, 2014.
12. U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
13. Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
14. US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
15. DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Pine Valley borough, Camden County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 11, 2012.
16. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Pine Valley borough Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine , New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed October 11, 2012.
17. Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
18. 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.
19. 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."
20. 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."
21. Areas touching Pine Valley, MapIt. Accessed March 3, 2020.
22. Municipalities within Camden County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 3, 2020.
23. New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
24. Barnett, Bob. Population Data for Camden County Municipalities, 1850 - 2000, WestJersey.org, January 6, 2011. Accessed October 11, 2012.
25. Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930 - Population Volume I, United States Census Bureau, p. 715. Accessed October 11, 2012.
26. Table 6: New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1940 - 2000, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, August 2001. Accessed May 1, 2023.
27. Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Pine Valley borough, New Jersey ^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 11, 2012.
28. 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 Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 11, 2012.
29. Staff. "N.J.'s population shifting to coast, south", USA Today . Accessed August 18, 2013.
30. 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."
31. Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.
32. "The Commission Form of Municipal Government" Archived 2015-06-05 at the Wayback Machine , p. 53. Accessed June 3, 2015.
33. "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 8. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
34. 2019 Municipal User Friendly Budget, Borough of Pine Valley. Accessed September 22, 2019.
35. Wildstein, David. "Incumbents run unopposed in tiny Pine Valley and Teterboro Teterboro mayor beats his son by 1 vote", New Jersey Globe, May 9, 2018. Accessed March 3, 2020. "Pine Valley in Camden County had a population of 10 after the 2010 census, but NJ.com reported that there are 15 voters. Incumbents Michael Kennedy and Debra Kennedy each won 12 votes. Newcomer Kendra Clark, who ran for a Commissioner seat vacated by Jane Bromley, received 13 votes."
36. Meeting Minutes for June 19, 2018, Borough of Pine Valley. Accessed March 3, 2020.
37. 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."
38. Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.
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53. Jeffrey L. Nash, Camden County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
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73. Central Elementary School, Haddonfield Public Schools. Accessed May 20, 2020.
74. Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School, Haddonfield Public Schools. Accessed May 20, 2020.
75. J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School, Haddonfield Public Schools. Accessed May 20, 2020.
76. Haddonfield Middle School, Haddonfield Public Schools. Accessed May 20, 2020.
77. Haddonfield Memorial High School, Haddonfield Public Schools. Accessed May 20, 2020.
78. Directions and Contacts, Haddonfield Public Schools. Accessed May 20, 2020.
79. New Jersey School Directory for the Haddonfield Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 27, 2016.

Further reading

• "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Pine Valley borough, NJ" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau.
• "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Pine Valley borough, NJ" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau.
• "CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: PINE VALLEY Borough" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau.
• 1990 U.S. Census: Index map of Camden County, with Pine Valley on pages 25, 26, 32, and 33

External links

• Media related to Pine Valley, New Jersey at Wikimedia Commons