It is a
dry town, where alcohol is not permitted to be sold by law, though alcohol is available at the winery in the borough.[24][25]
History
The settlement of Shiloh was founded in 1705 by Robert Ayars, who brought over 2,000
Seventh Day Baptists from
Rhode Island to be free of religious persecution.[26][27][28] Known as Cohansey Crossing when a church was formed in the area in 1737, the name Shiloh was adopted in 1771,[29] though there is one source that states that the borough was named for the
Civil WarBattle of Shiloh.[30]
When
Cumberland County, New Jersey, was formed in 1748, the community of Shiloh was divided between Hopewell Township and Stow Creek Township.[31]
As part of a political battle over the site of the county seat for Cumberland County,
Columbia Township was formed on March 12, 1844, from portions of Hopewell and Stow Creek Townships; the short-lived municipality included all of present-day Shiloh, in addition to extensive additional land, but all was returned to its original home when Columbia Township was dissolved on March 11, 1845, surviving as an independent municipality for a day short of one year.[22][31]
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.20 square miles (3.12 km2), including 1.20 square miles (3.12 km2) of land and <0.01 square miles (<0.01 km2) of water (0.08%).[1][2]
Of the 198 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18; 51.0% were married couples living together; 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 30.3% were non-families. Of all households, 24.7% were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.[19]
21.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 85.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.3 males.[19]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010
American Community Survey showed that (in 2010
inflation-adjusted dollars)
median household income was $61,000 (with a margin of error of +/− $18,454) and the median family income was $63,594 (+/− $11,716). Males had a median income of $44,375 (+/− $18,670) versus $32,105 (+/− $13,923) for females. The
per capita income for the borough was $23,003 (+/− $4,509). About 7.0% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.[40]
2000 census
As of the
2000 United States census[15] there were 534 people, 194 households, and 152 families residing in the borough. The population density was 446.7 inhabitants per square mile (172.5/km2). There were 204 housing units at an average density of 170.6 per square mile (65.9/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.13%
White, 2.62%
African American, 0.56%
Native American, 0.00% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 3.00% of the population.[38][39]
There were 194 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were
married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.09.[38][39]
In the borough the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.[38][39]
The median income for a household in the borough was $49,191, and the median income for a family was $54,219. Males had a median income of $34,643 versus $20,000 for females. The
per capita income for the borough was $16,880. 5.8% of the population and 4.1% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 4.5% are under the age of 18 and 0.0% are 65 or older.[38][39]
Government
Local government
Shiloh is governed under the
borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[41] The governing body is comprised of a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected
at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A 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.[6] The borough form of government used by Shiloh 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.[42][43]
As of 2023[update], the
mayor of Shiloh is
Republican Brad Campbell, whose term of office ends December 31, 2024. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Dallas Bruso (R, 2024), Hillary Barile (R, 2025), Carman Daddario (R, 2024), Matthew Hunzer (R, 2025), Jeffrey E. Knerr (R, 2023) and Medeia D. Willis (R, 2023).[3][44][45][46][47][48]
Brad Campbell was appointed to fill the vacant mayoral seat of Harold Davis, following his death in February 2014. The council seat expiring in 2017 held by Carman Daddario became vacant following his being sworn in to serve on the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders.[49]
Federal, state and county representation
Shiloh is located in the 2nd Congressional District[50] and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.[51][52]
Cumberland County is governed by a
Board of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at large by the citizens of Cumberland County in partisan elections and serve staggered three-year terms in office, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. Annually, the seven board members select a Director and Deputy Director for one-year terms.[58] As of 2024[update], members of the Cumberland County Board of County Commissioners (with party affiliation, residence and term-end year listed in parentheses) are:
The county's constitutional officers are:
Clerk
Celeste Riley (D,
Bridgeton, 2024),[71][72]
Sheriff Michael Donato (R, Bridgeton, 2026)[73][74] and
Surrogate Rudolph Luisi (R, Vineland, 2028).[75][76][66]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 374 registered voters in Shiloh, of which 80 (21.4%) were registered as
Democrats, 117 (31.3%) were registered as
Republicans and 176 (47.1%) were registered as
Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[77]
In the
2012 presidential election, Republican
Mitt Romney received 64.1% of the vote (159 cast), ahead of Democrat
Barack Obama with 35.5% (88 votes), and other candidates with 0.4% (1 vote), among the 248 ballots cast by the borough's 365 registered voters for a turnout of 67.9%.[78][79] In the
2008 presidential election, Republican
John McCain received 57.1% of the vote (160 cast), ahead of Democrat
Barack Obama, who received 40.4% (113 votes), with 280 ballots cast among the borough's 371 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.5%.[80] In the
2004 presidential election, Republican
George W. Bush received 66.8% of the vote (183 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat
John Kerry, who received around 33.6% (92 votes), with 274 ballots cast among the borough's 352 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 77.8.[81]
In the
2013 gubernatorial election, Republican
Chris Christie received 77.8% of the vote (130 cast), ahead of Democrat
Barbara Buono with 19.2% (32 votes), and other candidates with 3.0% (5 votes), among the 170 ballots cast by the borough's 342 registered voters (3 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.7%.[82][83] In the
2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 56.5% of the vote (109 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat
Jon Corzine with 32.6% (63 votes) and Independent
Chris Daggett with 6.7% (13 votes), with 193 ballots cast among the borough's 378 registered voters, yielding a 51.1% turnout.[84]
Students are also eligible to attend
Cumberland County Technical Education Center in Vineland, serving students from the entire county in its full-time technical training programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.[92]
Transportation
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 5.84 miles (9.40 km) of roadways, of which 1.54 miles (2.48 km) were maintained by the municipality, 3.17 miles (5.10 km) by Cumberland County and 1.13 miles (1.82 km) by the
New Jersey Department of Transportation.[93]
^About Shiloh, Borough of Shiloh. Accessed October 2, 2015. "In 1929, finally, the Borough of Shiloh was incorporated as an independent municipality in Cumberland County, recognizing its historical boundaries and village center."
^New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)
^Sanford, Don A. (1992). A Choosing People: The History of Seventh Day Baptists. Nashville: Broadman Press. pp. 127–286.
ISBN0-8054-6055-1.
^Shiloh Borough,
Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed November 1, 2019. "A church was established in 1737 when the community was originally called Cohansey Crossing. The name was changed to Shiloh in 1771."
^
abAbout Shiloh, Borough of Shiloh. Accessed November 1, 2019. "Originally known as Cohansey Corners, this village was divided and became part of two townships when the New Jersey General Assembly created Cumberland County in 1748. Half was in Stow Creek and half in Hopewell."
^Woods, Don E.
"Deerfield Township swears in deployed committeeman over telephone", South Jersey Times, January 14, 2015. Accessed March 8, 2015. "Shiloh Borough: Republicans Medeia Willis and Brad Campbell were sworn in after winning re-election. Campbell serves as mayor but was sworn in last month, replacing Harold Davis — who died last February. Shiloh must also find someone to replace Councilman Carman Daddario, who was elected to the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders last election."
^Symons, Michael.
"What’s Your New NJ Legislative District? 20% Moved on New Map",
WPGG, February 25, 2022. Accessed April 20, 2023. "3rd Legislative District... ADDS: Greenwich (Cumberland), Harrison, Hopewell, Mantua, Pitman, Shiloh, Stow Creek, Wenonah, Westville (22% of the district) LOSES: Bridgeton, Franklin, Newfield, Woodbury Heights"
^Biography of Bob Menendez,
United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^
abBoard of County Commissioners, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023. "By law, Cumberland County is allowed 7 County Commissioners, who serve staggered, overlapping three-year terms. Two are elected in two successive years, three in the third year, elected from the county at-large, for three-year, overlapping terms. A Director of the Board is selected by their colleagues for a one-year term. Each County Commissioner is charged with responsibility for one or more of the county's seven departments."
^Schools, Borough of Shiloh. Accessed July 1, 2016.
^Walsh, Daniel.
"Shiloh School to close for good", Press of Atlantic City, November 30, 2006. Accessed June 8, 2008. "Shiloh's school board voted to send all of the borough's students to Hopewell Township next year as part of a one-year interlocal agreement."
^Cumberland Regional School District 2015 Report Card Narrative,
New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 5, 2016. "The Cumberland Regional School District, located in Western Cumberland County, provides students with a comprehensive learning environment in a nurturing and personalized setting. The district serves students in grades 9-12 who reside in the municipalities of Deerfield, Fairfield, Greenwich & Stow Creek, Hopewell & Shiloh, and Upper Deerfield."
^Shott, Meghan.
"Cumberland Regional High School", South Jersey magazine. Accessed June 5, 2016. "Cumberland Regional High School, located in the northwest part of Cumberland County, serves students from Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough, Stow Creek Township and Upper Deerfield Township."