Penns Grove is a borough in northwest Salem County with a total area of 0.89 square miles which is bordered by Carneys Point Twp. and the Delaware River to the west. The municipality was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 8, 1894, from portions of Upper Penns Neck Township.
Once a bustling resort town and steamboat hub, Penns Grove is a densely populated, vibrant borough situated directly on the shores of the Delaware River. Packing a diverse community of over 4,830 residents into under a square mile of purely land-based territory. Today, it is defined by its deep-seated neighborhood pride and ongoing efforts to revitalize its historic waterfront.
In its golden era, Penns Grove served as a vital transit and resort destination, with steamboat ferries seamlessly connecting New Jersey to Wilmington, Delaware. That bustling, welcoming energy still echoes through the borough’s historic streetscapes and tight-knit blocks.
The borough’s waterfront promenade offers sweeping, unobstructed views of the Delaware River and the neighboring skyline. With a renewed focus on local businesses and community events, residents are proudly championing a new era for their historic downtown area.