What's it like in Browns Mills?

An outsider looking in wrote:

I have been in New Jersey for a total of two weeks and I'm conducting an area study for the Pemberton Township and the Pemberton Borough. It seems to be that if you grew up in this area you love it and if you didn't it's a crime and drug infested area. I find it hard to consider this area any good for anyone for the simple fact that approximately 85% of these posts are negative towards the area. I have lived in small communities all of my life and I know that the police department can't possibly take care of everything themselves. It takes a strong community to keep it clean. It appears that all of you that are negative just keep bringing the area down. In conclusion I see the main reason for corruption in your area is related to negativity throughout the community. If you want to clean up your township and make it a better place you need to come together as a community. Stop relying and blaming the police department for all the problems in your area.

I don't blame the police at all. Although they do have a rep (even with other depts) of being selective. I do blame the people who live here who have no respect for themselves or others. They raise their children to be the same way so you have a whirlpool effect. My children have known way too many pregnant teens in this area, thank God they haven't fallen into it. I can't wait to leave and get back to an area where people are proud of themselves and their surroundings. And I only learned recently that the Pemberton school system has an awful reputation that spreads quite wide! I personally know this to be true through my interactions with the high school principal, vice principal and have yet (in years) to get a return call from the superintendant who makes 6 figures/year to hide!!

In My opinion, stay away from Browns Mills, but Mullica Hill, Woodstown, and Harrisonville is nice. Mullica Hill has a website mullicahill.com

If you must stay in central NJ, check out the coastal side near Tuckerton or Smithville. Just avoid Galloway. Another area you might like is Winslow Twp Cedarbrook side. We saw a sign there new homes starting in the 200's

all the small towns like brownsmills and cookstown and new egypt to clean up and gangs and drug dealers out and those towns will be nice to live in again except for the high taxes.

ex resident. Good points!

An outsider looking in wrote:

I have been in New Jersey for a total of two weeks and I'm conducting an area study for the Pemberton Township and the Pemberton Borough. It seems to be that if you grew up in this area you love it and if you didn't it's a crime and drug infested area. I find it hard to consider this area any good for anyone for the simple fact that approximately 85% of these posts are negative towards the area.

If you're conducting an area study of Pemberton Township and making a reference to Browns Mills, my advice would be to not make all of your assumptions and conclusions based on these postings. There is definitely alot of negative comments here and alot of people are feeding off the negative comments of others. There are alot of townspeople/folks here who could give their perspectives on things -- folks of different ages, gender, occupations, and ethnicities.

South Jersey Styx wrote:

<quoted text>
If you're conducting an area study of Pemberton Township and making a reference to Browns Mills, my advice would be to not make all of your assumptions and conclusions based on these postings. There is definitely alot of negative comments here and alot of people are feeding off the negative comments of others. There are alot of townspeople/folks here who could give their perspectives on things -- folks of different ages, gender, occupations, and ethnicities.

Let's be realistic here. The blogger is looking for the general feeling of the place. We all know there may be small pockets of normalcy on some quiet streets, but in general the area is not good. Let's be honest. ok?

JohnDavis wrote:

<quoted text>
Let's be realistic here. The blogger is looking for the general feeling of the place. We all know there may be small pockets of normalcy on some quiet streets, but in general the area is not good. Let's be honest. ok?

The blogger says that he/she is "conducting an area study" not looking for a general feeling of the place. As far as being "good": the term is subjective. People on this blog have already commented on what's "good", i.e., taxes, schools, environment, shops, neighbors, etc. Things are not necessary "good" or "bad" -- there are alot of spaces between good and bad.

Those that area stating that Browns Mills is not the best place to raise young children have got it right. If you are looking into this area - look into the North Hanover, Jacobstown, Cookstown, or New Egypt areas as far as schooling and safety goes. They are all very friendly communities with good educational opportunites. Both communities are MUCH safer. I personally do not feel safe here, but have no choice for the next couple years until my youngest graduates. I had both my children in private high schools due to the poor educational system, and my fears for their safety.

There are some nice areas, like the Presidential Lakes and Country Lakes divisions, but those are few and far between and the children still go into the same school system.

No matter where you are in Jersey, it is a haul to go to decent shopping.

Military Transplant wrote:

Those that area stating that Browns Mills is not the best place to raise young children have got it right. If you are looking into this area - look into the North Hanover, Jacobstown, Cookstown, or New Egypt areas as far as schooling and safety goes. They are all very friendly communities with good educational opportunites. Both communities are MUCH safer. I personally do not feel safe here, but have no choice for the next couple years until my youngest graduates. I had both my children in private high schools due to the poor educational system, and my fears for their safety.
There are some nice areas, like the Presidential Lakes and Country Lakes divisions, but those are few and far between and the children still go into the same school system.
No matter where you are in Jersey, it is a haul to go to decent shopping.

Your answer was the most honest

Hi Michelle I have lived in browns mills for 9 years and ever since I moved to Lumberton I never felt at home but I love browns mills. Every time I visit there I feel right at home.

It is true that our schools are not safe as they should and what's worse is that the POLITICS in this town are awful. A Mayor and Council who just find ways to chase away new business that will bring jobs into this area. Looking to move in afew years, just stuck in this area for now.
The new moto for this Twp is POLITICS AT IT"S WORSE!!
Buy somewhere away from Pemberton Twp you will be better off in the long run for sure.

Peg wrote:

I lived as a summer resident of Browns Mills for many years and always loved this little lake town. Unfortunately, the beautiful lake area known as Catalano's is no longer open to the public.(The lake is there, Catalano's is not.) I remember swimming, rowing a boat, paddling a canoe, dancing under the stars. Just a lot of wonderful memories that I would love to share with anyone who once danced in the pavilion. My sister lives in the Country Lakes section and it is a very diverse area of the town. I live in West Deptford, NJ now but still love visiting Browns Mills.

I currently live where Catalanos once was...I would love to hear your stories and/or as much historical information as possible. I am finding so many old artifacts around the property.

Browns MIll is a very nice place to raise your littles ones in. It all depends on you if you dont think that you cant raise your kids to be stand up and always have manners, and common sense then i would not worry at all. But it is a long distance for supplies for home but it's not that bad. You should worry much on people there cause no matter where you go there going to be drugs and violence every where whether we like it or not. We just have to know better and DONT SURROUND OURSELVES THE WRONG CROWD. BUT WHAT EVER YOU DO DONT MOVE INTO SUN BERRY VILLAGE. That's all!!!!

It's a hole in a wall.Everyone I went to school with is doing the same thing now that they were doing back then pretty sad- Kids are following the same paths of their parents. Its a dead end town the people that aren't afraid of change get out the weak always end up back there.
Nothing to do in that Town for kids.
a bunch of churches and bars.-
I don't even waste my time going back to visit people.
You have to be strong minded person and not a follower in that town or you can get sucked into the Browns Millionaire status of drugs.(there aren't that many)
Everyone goes to Pemberton elementary schools then go to the same middle school then most go to PTHS or BCIT then to BCC (which I like to call PTHS #2)
Just a hole in a wall town with no opportunity for advancement.
Most people when they leave highschool don't see people as much not in the Mills its a highschool reunion at work (everyone works at the same places) or even at the community college and at the Bars its the same people and same crowd hense no changes then they have kids and all their kids hang out together.

I have heard that the town has been cleaning up and that the amount of thugs and druggies is a lot lower than it was a few years back.
Is it true?

Cleaning up BM wrote:

I have heard that the town has been cleaning up and that the amount of thugs and druggies is a lot lower than it was a few years back.
Is it true?

I can't speak for Browns Mills before 2007, that's when we moved into town...
But in the 2+ years that we have been here, I have nothing but good things to say about the town. Sure, the town "center" is weak and has a few shady characters, but I have never once felt threatened while in town, even at night. Browns Mills has a good number of festivals/parades/etc that are a lot of fun and bring the whole town together for the event. The Pemberton police are great and have a presence at all of these, ensuring the safety of the attendees.
The town has been designated as an urban enterprise zone, which provides some pretty lucrative tax breaks to the business owners and shoppers alike. A few new businesses have moved or are moving into town... I'm not saying that we're turning into a bustling metropolis, but we're making progress.
As far as the residents, I have the best neighhbors in the world. Very friendly and helpful, but not to the point that it's wierd. Neighbors are more than happy to stop and talk while you or they are out walking the dog or working in the yard.
Overall, I'd rate Browns Mills a 7 on a 1-10 scale. It has some work to do, but as far as a good place to raise a family, I couldn't be much happier.

Brownsmills....
lets start by saying that brownsmills isn't all its crack up to be sometimes because of the hit run on a 12 old lil boy just while a ago and its a shame that they can't walk in this town out getting eighter rap,shot,hit,stolin... I have live in this town for 14yrs and I wacth things happen and and called 911 a few times.
I dont think its fair that we who have kids that we have to trap them in the house because you can't trust your town it is really a shane.
I will give the town this,yes there is good shopping sometimes and and sometimes have good events but other times you can forget trying to make it a good.
I really wish that the old brownsmills was back ...
Where you could let your kids go to the store and not worrie at all but I guess its long gone..the schools and their buses are a differnt story they need help a child was flown out of the car when a bus hit the back end of the famliys car. The 3 yr old twin died. I wish that the twp could do a better job......

I like Browns Mills, I have lived here all my life, I will say the crime and drug numbers have fallen recently and the town is trying to clean up. I have never ad any problems living here I love my small hometown.

take it from me im 17 about 2 b 18 browns mills is the definition of the streetlife. been doin alot out there i love brownsmills but ill admit if i had kids i would neva let them grow up in a town like this maybe a small town, u drive by say thats a nice place 2 live but no.. turn back now.. ur kids will grow up just like i did hanging around the Bel aire trailer park group breaking in2 houses smokeing weed popin pills drinking at a young age.. most of my friends there started smokeing at the age of 5.. infact a few nights ago 3 ppl were murdered 1 of them was my friend half his face got blown off.. i know u prob think cuz im still a kid i dont know what im talikin about take it from me a kid from the street protect ur kids dont look in2 this small town dont let em grow up like i did. the 1 good thing from all of this is the streets tought me alot... but i want betta 4 my kids i aint raising them here gonna give them betta... raise ur kids somewere else this aint just a small town its the hood and u wont c it unless u live here..

Thomas: I have live in this town for a long time> Just a few days ago a 15 yr old was killed at the fashion bug over not bong in a gang I think that this town has gotten worst.My oldest daugther goes to pth and sshe was very upset that one of her classmates was killed, we went to his viewing and talked to his mother it is very said that now the boy that she loved very much is dead and the 18yr old boy who killed him is only on 150.000 dollar bail which I think he should be put on dead row. mind you he has done thai in 3 diffrent states and now that hes in jail.Pemberton has gone to hell in a hand basket.