BUENA, NEW JERSEY

'Buena' (pronounced by locals as "BYOO-na"^[1]) is a borough in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 3,873.
Buena was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on September 1, 1948, from portions of Buena Vista Township. The borough was reincorporated on May 18, 1949."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 67.
Landisville and Minotola are unincorporated areas located within Buena Borough.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Government

Local government

Federal, state and county representation

Education

References

External links

Geography

Buena is located at (39.523475, -74.945736).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 19.7 km² (7.6 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,873 people, 1,454 households, and 978 families residing in the borough. The population density was 196.5/km² (509.1/mi²). There were 1,553 housing units at an average density of 78.8/km² (204.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 77.28% White, 7.64% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 10.53% from other races, and 3.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.65% of the population.
As of the 2000 census, 33.5% of Buena residents were of Italian ancestry, the 22nd-highest percentage of any municipality in the United States, and ninth-highest in New Jersey, among all places with more than 1,000 residents identifying their ancestry.^[2]
There were 1,454 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.23.
In the borough the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $35,679, and the median income for a family was $44,352. Males had a median income of $37,985 versus $23,788 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $16,717. About 11.8% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.1% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Buena Borough is governed under the Borough system of municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
The Mayor of Buena Borough is Joseph Baruffi. Members of the Buena Borough Council are Joseph Santagata (Council President), Patricia Andaloro, Rosalie Baker, Edward Cugini, Jim DuBois and Gary Martinelli.^[3]

Federal, state and county representation

Buena Borough is in the Second Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 1st Legislative District.^[4]

Education

Public school students in grades K - 12 in Buena Borough attend the Buena Regional School District, together with children from Buena Vista Township. The Buena Regional School District comprises four elementary schools (K-5, except as noted) —
William B. Donini (156 students in K - 3),
J.C. Milanesi (463 students),
Edgarton (210 students, K-6) and
Collings Lakes (254 students in grades K - 5) —
Dr. J. P. Cleary Middle School (554 students in grades 6 - 8) and
Buena Regional High School (975 students in grades 9 - 12).^[5]

References

1. "Driving Mower, Bus or Car, 9-Year-Old Has Town Jumpy", ''The New York Times, ''July 25, 2003.
2. Italian Communities, Epodunk. Accessed June 9, 2007.
3. Officials, Boards, & Council, Buena Borough. Accessed March 2, 2007.
4. 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. Accessed August 30, 2006.
5. Data for the Buena Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 2, 2007.

External links

★ Buena Borough Official Website

★ Buena Regional School District

★

★ National Center for Education Statistics data for the Buena Regional School District