[22] The borough, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden combined statistical area and the Delaware Valley.

[24] The area that is now Palmyra was settled in the late 17th century by Swedes, marking the northernmost border of New Sweden.

The community was originally known as Texas, but a local landowner, Isaiah Toy, a descendant of the original Swedish settlers and a stockholder in the Camden and Amboy Railroad, who wanted to have a post office established in the community, convinced the railroad to change the name of the station in 1849 to Palmyra, which came from his love of ancient history.

[1][2] Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include West Palmyra.

[35] In 1999, a 250-acre (100 ha) nature park, Palmyra Nature Cove, was opened along the banks of the Delaware which borders Palmyra on the west; in addition to serving as a bird sanctuary, the park offers educational programs for schools and hiking trails for walkers.

The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council.

[47][48] As of 2023[update], the mayor of Palmyra Borough is Democrat Gina Ragomo Tait, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2023.

[3][49][50][51][52][53] In February 2023, the borough council appointed Jessica O'Connor to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Brandon Allmond.

[54] In April 2022, the borough council selected Natashia Latimore from a list of three names nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Farrah Jenkins until she resigned from office the precious month.

[57] In October 2015, the borough council selected Bryan Norcross to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2016 of Adam Nowicki, who had resigned from office the previous month.

[58][59] Gina Ragomo Tait was appointed in February 2013 to serve until the November general election, filling the seat of Council President Kenneth Brahl, who had resigned during the previous month due to work and education obligations.

[62][63][64] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 1st congressional district is represented by Donald Norcross (D, Camden).

[67] For the 2024-2025 session, the 7th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Troy Singleton (D, Palmyra) and in the General Assembly by Carol A. Murphy (D, Mount Laurel).

[68] Burlington County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of five members who are chosen at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year; at an annual reorganization meeting, the board selects a director and deputy director from among its members to serve a one-year term.

[91] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 64.0% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 79.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).

[109][110][111] Students from Palmyra, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton.

[115][116] The Palmyra station on NJ Transit's River Line light rail system is located on East Broad Street.

Southbound service from the station is available to Camden, including a transfer to the PATCO Speedline available at the Walter Rand Transportation Center.

[118] NJ Transit provides bus service in the borough on the 419 route that runs between Camden and Burlington.