Penns Grove was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 8, 1894, from portions of Upper Penns Neck Township (now Carneys Point Township), based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.

[25][26] In the early 20th century, many Italian immigrants from Valle San Giovanni and the surrounding southern province of Teramo came to work at the local E.I.

In 1925, the Italian community arranged to commission a copy of the statue of the Madonna and Child from the Chiesa della Madonna delle Grazie in Teramo, and had it installed in the Saint James Roman Catholic Church in Penns Grove.

[27] Other immigrants from eastern Europe also settled in the county, markedly increasing the population.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Penns Grove borough had a total area of 0.89 square miles (2.31 km2), all of which was land.

The 2010 United States census counted 5,147 people, 1,801 households, and 1,235 families in the borough.

[37] As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 4,886 people, 1,827 households, and 1,231 families residing in the borough.

[8] The borough form of government used by Penns Grove 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.

[41][42][43][44][45] After losing his re-election campaign in November 2019, Carl J. Washington Jr. resigned from office from his seat that was about to expire and was then appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Rafael Leon until he resigned from office.

[46] In February 2014, the borough council selected Ulpiano Padilla and Deborah Scott from lists of names nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the vacant seats of Darwin Coleman and Stephanie Stewart.

[49][50][51] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).

[53] For the 2024-2025 session, the 3rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by John Burzichelli (D, Paulsboro) and in the General Assembly by David Bailey (D, Woodstown) and Heather Simmons (D, Glassboro).

[54] Salem County is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners who are elected at-large to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year.

Cross (R, Pennsville Township, 2029),[57][58] Sheriff Charles M. Miller (R, Salem, 2027)[59][60] and Surrogate Nicki A. Burke (D, Woodstown, 2025).

[63] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 52.4% (vs. 64.6% in Salem County) were registered to vote, including 77.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 84.4% countywide).

[77] Students in public school for kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the Penns Grove-Carneys Point Regional School District, together with students from Carneys Point Township.