Port Norris, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Port Norris is a census-designated place
and unincorporated area located within Commercial Township
, in Cumberland County
, New Jersey
. It is part of the Vineland
-Millville
- Bridgeton
Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 1,507.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 17.8 km2 (6.9 mi2). 16.5 km2 (6.4 mi2) of it is land and 1.3 km2 (0.5 mi2) of it (7.28%) is water
of 2000, there were 1,507 people, 514 households, and 380 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 91.3/km2 (236.5/mi2). There were 596 housing units at an average density of 36.1/km2 (93.5/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 58.26% White, 37.09% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 1.73% from other races
, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.64% of the population.
There were 514 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples
living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,194, and the median income for a family was $42,813. Males had a median income of $36,513 versus $22,176 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $16,195. About 14.0% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
The oystering industry reached its peak in 1955, declining by 1957 due to oyster pathogen Haplosporidium nelsoni
(MSX) which killed 90 percent of the oysters. Bivalve and Shell Pile are now mostly ghost towns, with a combined population of less than 50.
issue was commenced, and up to 62 people were caught participating in a major drag race gathering. About 208 summonses were issued and several cars were impounded.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
and unincorporated area located within Commercial Township
Commercial Township, New Jersey
Commercial Township is a township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Vineland-Millville- Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes...
, in Cumberland County
Cumberland County, New Jersey
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population is 156,898. Its county seat is Bridgeton. Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. It is part of the Vineland
Vineland, New Jersey
Vineland is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 60,724...
-Millville
Millville, New Jersey
Millville is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city population was 26,847. Millville, Bridgeton and Vineland are the three principal New Jersey cities of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
- Bridgeton
Bridgeton, New Jersey
Bridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States, in the south part of the state, on the Cohansey River, near Delaware Bay. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 25,349. It is the county seat of Cumberland County...
Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 1,507.
Geography
Port Norris is located at 39.246257°N 75.034465°W (39.246257, -75.034465), near the mouth of the Maurice RiverMaurice River
The Maurice River is a river that empties into the Delaware Bay in southern New Jersey in the United States.The Maurice River, pronounced "Morris", is approximately long and is the second longest and largest tributary to Delaware Bay. Its watershed includes an extensive southern portion of the...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 17.8 km2 (6.9 mi2). 16.5 km2 (6.4 mi2) of it is land and 1.3 km2 (0.5 mi2) of it (7.28%) is water
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,507 people, 514 households, and 380 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 91.3/km2 (236.5/mi2). There were 596 housing units at an average density of 36.1/km2 (93.5/mi2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 58.26% White, 37.09% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 1.73% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.64% of the population.
There were 514 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.36.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,194, and the median income for a family was $42,813. Males had a median income of $36,513 versus $22,176 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $16,195. About 14.0% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Bivalve and Shell Pile
In the Port Norris area are the towns of Bivalve and Shell Pile. They were both centers of the oystering industry, as their names imply. Shell Pile is described in 1939 excerpt of a WPA Guidebook to New Jersey:"Shell Pile is named for the great heaps of oyster shells stacked outside the packing sheds. This is a community of about 1,000 Negroes living in wooden barracks erected on stilts over the salt marshes. Negroes here live their own lives in their own way, and present a united and rather hostile front from the rest of the world. Strange whites are not welcomed in Shell Pile."
The oystering industry reached its peak in 1955, declining by 1957 due to oyster pathogen Haplosporidium nelsoni
Haplosporidium nelsoni
Haplosporidium nelsoni is a pathogen of oysters, that originally caused oyster populations to experience high mortality rates in the 1950s, and still is quite prevalent today. The disease caused by H. nelsoni is also known as MSX...
(MSX) which killed 90 percent of the oysters. Bivalve and Shell Pile are now mostly ghost towns, with a combined population of less than 50.
Drag racing
On a late night in September 2007, an undercover operation to put a halt to the drag racingDrag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
issue was commenced, and up to 62 people were caught participating in a major drag race gathering. About 208 summonses were issued and several cars were impounded.