Pennsville Township consists of 24.6 square miles of which local rivers and wetlands account for 12.6% of the area. It is located along the western edge of Salem County along the Delaware River and, with nearly 13,000 residents, it is Salem County’s most populated municipality. Some local place names and long-time communities include Churchtown, Central Park, Deepwater, Fort Mott, Harrisonville, Penn Beach, and Valley Park.
Serving as a major gateway to the region via the Delaware Memorial Bridge, Pennsville Township is a proud riverfront community defined by its scenic shores and strong local culture. It remains a deeply engaged community renowned for its historic coastal defenses, beautiful river sunsets, and treasured historical significance.
Long before the forts, the area known as “Churchtown” was established by early Swedish and Finnish settlers, whose legacy is still felt heavily today. Unaware of these settlements, John Fenwick claimed the area West Fenwick. This included Pennsville, Penns Grove, Carneys Point and Oldmans. After declining health and hard times, Fenwick sold West Fenwick to William Penn. It soon was known as Penns Neck and was established in 1701.
On July 10, 1721, Penns Neck was split into Upper Penns Neck (Penns Grove, Carneys Point Twp., and Oldmans Twp.) and Lower Penns Neck which included Pennsville. The Township was incorporated in 1798 as one of the first 104 original townships of New Jersey. In November of 1965, a referendum was held and the township became known as Pennsville.
Riverview Beach Park stands as the recreational jewel of the township, offering walking paths, breathtaking sunsets, and a gathering space for beloved local festivals. One of the communities largest and most popular events is the annual Septemberfest.
The township is a focal point of regional history, anchored by the post-Civil War coastal defense systems of Fort Mott State Park. It is also bolstered by a passionate local sports culture, and Pennsville thrives on community involvement and waterfront recreation.
Pennsville News and Articles
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March 2026 Pennsville Crime Totals
The Pennsville Police Department has recently released their monthly crime statistics and totals for March of 2026. March 2026 Pennsville Crime Statistics Description Totals Calls for Service 1,380 Motor Vehicle Stops 223 Motor Vehicle Tickets 217 Motor Vehicle Crashes 35 Driving While Intoxicated 7 Drug Offenses 3 Domestic Violence Complaints 16 Shoplifting Complaints 13 Burglaries
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This Week’s LIVE MUSIC 4/5/2026 in Salem County
Here is the list of Live Music Acts this week throughout a plethora of different venues brought to you by The Gig Machine and Woodstown Music Tuesday, April 7 Wednesday, April 8 Thursday, April 9 Friday, April 10 Saturday, April 11 Sunday, April 12 Subject to change. Confirm details with venue. Made possible with support
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History of Riverview Beach Park of Pennsville
From Farm to Hotel and First Gatherings Originally, in 1845, the land where Riverview Beach Park in Pennsville was a farm with a tavern and a ferry. In 1851, a building called the Silver Grove Hotel opened on the property. The hotel was named for the 16 silver maple trees planted between it and the