Pleasantville is a city in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 20,629, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 380 (+1.9%) from the 2010 census count of 20,249, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,237 (+6.5%) from the 19,012 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

Geographically, the city, and all of Atlantic County, is part of the South Jersey region of the state and of the Atlantic City-Hammonton metropolitan statistical area, which in turn is included in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.

Pleasantville was originally incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 10, 1889, from portions of Egg Harbor Township, based on the results of a referendum held on December 15, 1888. Pleasantville was incorporated as a city on April 14, 1914, replacing Pleasantville borough, based on the results of a referendum held that same day.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 70. Accessed May 30, 2024. the city was named by David Ingersoll for its surroundings.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 20, 2015.

The city had the eighth-highest property tax rate in New Jersey, with an equalized rate of 4.903% in 2020, compared to 2.560% in the county as a whole and a statewide average of 2.279%."Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the highest property tax rates", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 15, 2021. Accessed January 19, 2022. "The average equalized tax rate in New Jersey was 2.279 in 2020, according to data from the Department of Community Affairs. Here is the list of 30 New Jersey towns with the highest property tax rates.... 8. Pleasantville Equalized tax rate in Pleasantville City, Atlantic County, was 4.903 in 2020 Average equalized tax rate in Atlantic County: 2.560"

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 7.28 square miles (18.86 km2), including 5.72 square miles (14.82 km2) of land and 1.56 square miles (4.05 km2) of water (21.46%). Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Mount Pleasant, Risleyville and Smiths Landing.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

The city borders the Atlantic County municipalities of Absecon, Atlantic City, Egg Harbor Township, Northfield and Ventnor City.Areas touching Pleasantville, MapIt. Accessed March 3, 2020.Atlantic County District Map, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed July 9, 2024.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition +Pleasantville city, New Jersey – racial and ethnic compositionRace / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop. 2000Pop. 2010% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)3,4022,3322,07517.89%11.52%10.06%Black or African American alone (NH)10,5728,6157,18655.61%42.55%34.83%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)2548290.13%0.24%0.14%Asian alone (NH)3574804331.88%2.37%2.10%Pacific Islander alone (NH)3240.02%0.01%0.02%Other race alone (NH)34741020.18%0.37%0.49%Mixed race or multiracial (NH)4613844842.42%1.90%2.35%Hispanic or Latino (any race)4,1588,31410,31621.87%41.06%50.01%Total19,01220,24920,629100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Pleasantville had a population of 20,629. The median age was 36.2 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.4 males age 18 and over.

99.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.3% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,252 households in Pleasantville, of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 30.8% were married-couple households, 21.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 37.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 7,856 housing units, of which 7.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 3,063 14.8% Black or African American 7,633 37.0% American Indian and Alaska Native 247 1.2% Asian 449 2.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 13 0.1% Some other race 6,431 31.2% Two or more races 2,793 13.5% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 10,316 50.0%

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 20,249 people, 6,661 households and 4,569 families in the city. The population density was . There were 7,219 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 24.33% (4,926) White, 45.94% (9,303) Black or African American, 0.83% (168) Native American, 2.42% (490) Asian, 0.03% (6) Pacific Islander, 22.00% (4,454) from other races and 4.45% (902) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 41.06% (8,314) of the population.

Of the 6,661 households, 34.3% had children under the age of 18; 33.3% were married couples living together; 26.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.4% were non-families. Of all households, 25.0% 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 2.99 and the average family size was 3.53.

27.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64 and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $39,560 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,092) and the median family income was $48,873 (+/− $5,405). Males had a median income of $32,494 (+/− $4,209) versus $29,961 (+/− $2,187) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,527 (+/− $1,356). About 12.2% of families and 18.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 32.3% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Pleasantville city, Atlantic County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2012.

Economy Portions of the city are part of an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ), one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. Pleasantville was selected in 1994 as one of a group of 10 zones added to participate in the program and one of four of those chosen based on a competition.Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Questions and Answers, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, May 2009. Accessed October 28, 2019. "In 1994 the legislation was amended and ten more zones were added to this successful economic development program. Of the ten new zones, six were predetermined: Paterson, Passaic, Perth Amboy, Phillipsburg, Lakewood, Asbury Park/Long Branch (joint zone). The four remaining zones were selected on a competitive basis. They are Carteret, Pleasantville, Union City and Mount Holly." In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the UEZ, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% sales tax rate (half of the % rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.Urban Enterprise Zone Program, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Businesses participating in the UEZ Program can charge half the standard sales tax rate on certain purchases, currently 3.3125% effective 1/1/2018" Established in March 1995, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in March 2026.Urban Enterprise Zones Effective and Expiration Dates, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed January 8, 2018. By 2019, there had been 169 businesses that had been certified to participate in the city's UEZ program.Economic & Industrial Development, City of Pleasantville. Accessed November 19, 2019. "We have 169 Urban Enterprise Zone Certified Businesses Members"

Sports In 1945, the Boston Red Sox held their spring training at Ansley Field in Pleasantville, rather than in Florida, due to travel restrictions related to World War II. The New York Yankees were based at Bader Field in Atlantic City and the two clubs played a series of eight exhibition games against each other with wartime restrictions in intercity travel in place.LeConey, Bill. "War games: When the Yankees, Red Sox trained in AC, Pleasantville", The Press of Atlantic City, March 23, 2017. Accessed November 19, 2019. "A year later, he worked out with both the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, who held spring training just down the road at Ansley Field in Pleasantville, next to the high school.... The two bitter rivals, brought so close together by the war, saw a lot of each other in the spring of 1945.... The Red Sox had settled on Pleasantville partly through the efforts of Larned, who was chairman of the property committee in charge of renovations at Ansley Field."

Laoma Byrd's Gym, formally known as the South Jersey Athletic Club, operated professionally from the mid-1940s to 1960s. This gym, which was located on West Wright Street, became a tourist destination after it was adapted as a boxing gym by top amateurs and pro fighters. Many noted boxers had trained there, including Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Sonny Liston, Johnny Bratton, Johnny Saxton, Ike Williams, Ernie Terrell and numerous professional fighters from the local area.Weinberg, David. "A Pleasantville woman ran one of the top boxing gyms on the East Coast", The Press of Atlantic City, March 18, 2019. Accessed November 19, 2019. "Byrd, who died at 98 in 2002, hosted some of the best boxers in the world while running the gym, officially called the South Jersey Athletic Club, on Wright Street in Pleasantville from the 1940s to the '60s. International Boxing Hall of Fame members Ezzard Charles, Joe Frazier, Joe Louis, Bob Montgomery and Jersey Joe Walcott trained there, along with other top fighters such as Wesley Mouzon, Ernie Terrell and Gil Turner."

Parks and recreation Portions of the right-of-way of the Atlantic City and Shore Railroad, running for between Pleasantville and Somers Point have been repurposed as the Somers Point Bike Path.Klenk, Steffen. "On The Move: History of South Jersey Railroads", Shore Local, March 29, 2018. Accessed March 21, 2023. "The six-mile long Somers Point Bike Path, a six-mile long trail that stretches between Somers Point and Pleasantville, runs along the former Atlantic City and Shore Railroad. This railroad, also known as the Shore Fast Line, operated from 1907 until 1948 and provided service between Atlantic City and Ocean City."

Government Local government