GLASSBORO, NJ

Glassboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 18,579, reflecting a decline of 489 (−2.6%) from the 19,068 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 3,454 (+22.1%) over the 15,614 counted in the 1990 Census.

What is now Glassboro was originally formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 11, 1878, from portions of Clayton Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Elk Township (April 17, 1891) and Pitman (May 24, 1905). Glassboro was incorporated as a borough on March 18, 1920, replacing Glassboro Township. The borough was named for its glass industry.

Glassboro is home to Rowan University, founded in 1923 and formerly known as Glassboro State College, which was the site of the Glassboro Summit Conference in 1967 between U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson and Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin.

History

Glassboro's early history was built on the manufacturing of glass. The town was first established in 1779 by Solomon Stanger as "Glass Works in the Woods"; glass manufacturers over the years since include Heston-Carpenter Glass Works, Olive Glass Works, Harmony Glass Works, Temperanceville Glass Works, Whitney Brothers Glass Works, Owens Bottle Company, Owens Illinois Glass Company, and Anchor Hocking.

In 1958, an epidemic of typhoid fever broke out in the predominantly African American neighborhoods of Elsmere and Lawns, which was attributed to 20 years of municipal neglect of the sanitary infrastructure.

The Glassboro Summit Conference between U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson and Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin took place in Glassboro. Johnson and Kosygin met for three days from June 23 to June 25, 1967, at Glassboro State College (later renamed Rowan University). The location was chosen as a compromise. Kosygin, having agreed to address the United Nations in New York City, wanted to meet in New York. Johnson, wary of encountering protests against the Vietnam War, preferred to meet in Washington, D.C. They agreed on Glassboro because it was equidistant between the two cities. The generally amicable atmosphere of the summit was referred to as the "Spirit of Glassboro," although the leaders failed to reach agreement on limiting anti-ballistic missile systems.

On June 19, 1986, Ronald Reagan became the first sitting president to speak at a high school graduation when he spoke at the Glassboro High School commencement ceremonies.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 9.36 square miles (24.24 km²), including 9.32 square miles (24.14 km²) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) of water (0.41%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Elsemere.

Glassboro borders the Gloucester County municipalities of Clayton Borough, Elk Township, Harrison Township, Mantua Township, Monroe Township, Pitman and Washington Township.

Climate

The climate in the area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Glassboro has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $54,795 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,793) and the median family income was $67,171 (+/- $9,496). Males had a median income of $49,695 (+/- $4,361) versus $43,489 (+/- $2,608) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,108 (+/- $1,421). About 9.3% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 19,068 people, 6,225 households, and 4,046 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,071.3 people per square mile (799.4/km²). There were 6,555 housing units at an average density of 712.0 per square mile (274.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 74.5% White, 19.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population.

There were 6,225 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 25.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $44,992, and the median income for a family was $55,246. Males had a median income of $40,139 versus $30,358 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,113. About 8.5% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

The Glassboro Wildlife Management Area covers almost in portions of Glassboro, Clayton and Monroe Township.

Government

Local government

Glassboro is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 565) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. 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 is comprised of 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. The Borough form of government used by Glassboro 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.

, the Mayor of Glassboro is Democrat John E. Wallace, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022. Members of the Borough Council are Council President George P. Cossabone Sr. (D, 2022), Joseph M. D'Alessandro (D, 2020), Anthony J. Fiola (D, 2020; elected to serve an unexpired term), Andrew Halter (D, 2021), Anna Miller (D, 2021) and Daniele Brida Spence (D, 2022).

In March 2019, Danielle Spence was selected to fill the seat on the Borough Council expiring in December 2019 that had been held by Edward A. Malandro. Spence served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office and won a full three-year term, while Anthony J. Fiola was elected to serve an unexpired term.

Anna Miller was appointed by the borough council in March 2013 from among three candidates offered by the municipal Democratic committee to fill the vacant seat of George Cossabone.

Federal, state and county representation

Glassboro is located in the 1st Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Glassboro had been in the 4th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 9,772 registered voters in Glassboro, of which 3,733 (38.2%) were registered as Democrats, 1,408 (14.4%) were registered as Republicans and 4,617 (47.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 14 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2020 presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden received 59.9% of the vote (5,162 cast), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 38.5% (3,320), and other candidates with 1.6% among the 8,798 ballots cast by the borough's 11,661 voters, for a turnout of 75.4%. In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 56.3% of the vote (4,135 cast), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 37.8% (2,779 votes), and other candidates with 5.9% among the 7,347 ballots cast by the borough's 11,512 registered voters, for a turnout of 63.8%. In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 63.7% of the vote (4,578 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 34.6% (2,485 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (128 votes), among the 7,252 ballots cast by the borough's 10,804 registered voters (61 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 67.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 62.8% of the vote (4,516 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 35.4% (2,547 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (62 votes), among the 7,195 ballots cast by the borough's 10,312 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.8%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 58.5% of the vote (3,930 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 40.1% (2,699 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (60 votes), among the 6,723 ballots cast by the borough's 9,801 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 68.6.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 53.0% of the vote (2,106 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 45.0% (1,786 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (80 votes), among the 4,074 ballots cast by the borough's 10,838 registered voters (102 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 37.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 51.7% of the vote (2,198 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 39.0% (1,659 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.7% (287 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (29 votes), among the 4,255 ballots cast by the borough's 9,958 registered voters, yielding a 42.7% turnout.

Education

The Glassboro Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 2,088 students and 179.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.7:1. Schools in the district (with 2017–18 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are

J. Harvey Rodgers School 291 students in grades PreK and kindergarten,

Dorothy L. Bullock School 462 students in grades 1–3,

Thomas E. Bowe Elementary School 463 students in grades 4–6,

Glassboro Intermediate School 287 students in grades 7-8 and

Glassboro High School 533 students in grades 9-12.

Students from across the county are eligible to apply to attend Gloucester County Institute of Technology, a four-year high school in Deptford Township that provides technical and vocational education. As a public school, students do not pay tuition to attend the school.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden operates St. Michael the Archangel School in Clayton; the former St. Bridget Regional School in Glassboro merged into St. Michael in 2008.

Rowan University is a public university with an enrollment of 19,500 undergraduate and graduate students in 2018–19. The university was founded in 1923 as Glassboro Normal School on a site donated by the borough. The school became New Jersey State Teachers College at Glassboro in 1937 and Glassboro State College in 1958. Starting in the 1970s, it expanded into a multi-purpose institution, adding programs in business, communications, and engineering. Rowan Boulevard is a mixed-use development intended to provide a vibrant downtown district for Glassboro, incorporating university student life into its design, as part of an effort to accommodate a student body that is projected to grow to about 25,000 in 2023.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Gloucester County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Glassboro is crisscrossed by a number of major roads. County Route 553, Route 47 and Route 55 (limited access) travel north–south, while U.S. Route 322 (much of which is also Mullica Hill Road) passes through east–west.

Public transportation

NJ Transit provides bus service to and from Philadelphia on the 313, 408 and 412 routes.

The Pureland East-West Community Shuttle connects the Pureland Industrial Complex and the Avandale Park and Ride.

Passenger train service to Glassboro existed from 1860 to 1971. The Glassboro station used by the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines is being renovated as a visitor center. A new station at Rowan University in the vicinity of the historic depot is the planned for the proposed Glassboro–Camden Line, an diesel multiple unit (DMU) light rail system. The terminal station would be one stop further at Main and High streets.

Walking and cycling

Walking is a popular form of transportation especially around the university where many underclassmen are not permitted to have cars.

The Glassboro - Williamstown Trail (also known as the Monroe Township Bikepath) runs for more than between Glassboro and the Williamstown section of Monroe Township. The trail traverses the Glassboro State Wildlife Refuge before terminating at Delsea Drive. Future work will extend this trail along former railroad right of way from Delsea Drive to Rowan U's Bunce Hall. Path links to Elmer and Pitman are also proposed.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Glassboro include: