Country United States County Cumberland Incorporated February 21, 1798 Area 43.5 km² Local time Sunday 9:17 AM | State New Jersey Formed January 19, 1748 Elevation 29 m Population 2,927 (2000) | |
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Named for Deerfield, Massachusetts Weather -6°C, Wind N at 21 km/h, 39% Humidity | ||
Deerfield Township is a township in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 3,119, reflecting an increase of 192 (+6.6%) from the 2,927 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 6 (-0.2%) from the 2,933 counted in the 1990 Census.
Contents
- Map of Deerfield NJ USA
- Geography
- Census 2010
- Census 2000
- Local government
- Federal state and county representation
- Politics
- Education
- Transportation
- Points of interest
- Notable people
- References
Map of Deerfield, NJ, USA
Deerfield Township was formed as a precinct on January 19, 1748, and was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to form Bridgeton Township (March 3, 1845) and Upper Deerfield Township (February 23, 1922). The township was named for Deerfield, Massachusetts.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 16.796 square miles (43.501 km2), including 16.761 square miles (43.411 km2) of land and 0.035 square miles (0.089 km2) of water (0.21%).
Rosenhayn (2010 population of 1,098) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Deerfield Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Carmel and Garton.
Deerfield Township borders Upper Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Millville, Vineland, and Salem County.
Census 2010
The 2010 United States Census counted 3,119 people, 1,089 households, and 810.2 families residing in the township. The population density was 186.1 per square mile (71.9/km2). The township contained 1,143 housing units at an average density of 68.2 per square mile (26.3/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 73.23% (2,284) White, 12.06% (376) Black or African American, 2.12% (66) Native American, 1.35% (42) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 7.41% (231) from other races, and 3.85% (120) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 14.08% (439) of the population.
Out of a total of 1,089 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.6% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the township, 24.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females the census counted 95.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 91.9 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $68,571 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,904) and the median family income was $73,566 (+/- $9,367). Males had a median income of $46,309 (+/- $5,147) versus $31,574 (+/- $6,302) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,799 (+/- $3,131). About 3.1% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,927 people, 1,013 households, and 785 families residing in the township. The population density was 173.8 people per square mile (67.1/km²). There were 1,065 housing units at an average density of 63.2 per square mile (24.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 78.20% White, 13.05% African American, 1.54% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 3.04% from other races, and 3.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.94% of the population.
There were 1,013 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $45,365, and the median income for a family was $47,225. Males had a median income of $34,196 versus $25,147 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,468. About 6.3% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Deerfield Township is governed under the Township form of government. The five-member Township Committee is elected directly by the voters 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 as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting held in January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2016, members of the Deerfield Township Committee are Mayor Rudolph "Rudy" Danna Jr. (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2016), Deputy Mayor Frank R. Spatola Jr. (D, term on committee ends 2017; term as deputy mayor ends 2016), Cosmo J. Laurella (R, 2016), Abigail Perlstein O'Brien (R, 2018) and Joseph V. Sparacio (R, 2017).
After being tied at the November 2014 general election on election day with 362 votes, Democratic incumbent Frank Spatola Jr. was reelected with 366 votes, edging Republican challenger Jason P. Scythes by three votes once provisional ballots were counted. At the township's January 2015 reorganization meeting, Sparacio was sworn in using a conference call as he was stationed outside the country as part of his service with the Air National Guard.
Federal, state and county representation
Deerfield Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.
New Jersey's Second Congressional District is represented by Frank LoBiondo (R, Ventnor City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).
For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 3rd Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Stephen M. Sweeney (D, West Deptford Township) and in the General Assembly by John J. Burzichelli (D, Paulsboro) and Adam Taliaferro (D, Woolwich Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).
Cumberland County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at-large in partisan elections to serve staggered three-year terms in office, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the freeholders select one member to serve as Freeholder Director and another as Deputy Director. As of 2014, Cumberland County's Freeholders (with committee liaison assignments, political party, residence and term-end dates listed in parentheses) are Freeholder Director Joseph Derella (Administration / Public Safety; D, Millville, term ends December 31, 2015), Freeholder Deputy Director Douglas M. Long (NA; D, Upper Deerfield Township, 2015), Darlene Barber (Education; D, 2016, Upper Deerfield Township), Carol Musso (Community Services; D, Deerfield Township, 2014), James Sauro (Agriculture; R, Vineland, 2014), Thomas Sheppard (Health; R, Lawrence Township, 2016) and Tony Surace (Public Works; D, Millville, 2014). The county's constitutional officers are County Clerk Gloria Noto (Vineland, 2014), Sheriff Robert A. Austino (Vineland, 2014) and Surrogate Douglas M. Rainear (Bridgeton, 2018).
Politics
As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 2,087 registered voters in Deerfield Township, of which 552 (26.4%) were registered as Democrats, 522 (25.0%) were registered as Republicans and 1,013 (48.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.4% of the vote (698 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 45.7% (597 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (12 votes), among the 1,325 ballots cast by the township's 2,125 registered voters (18 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 62.4%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 52.0% of the vote (744 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received 46.1% (659 votes), with 1,431 ballots cast among the township's 2,066 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.3%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 51.0% of the vote (665 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 47.5% (619 votes), with 1,303 ballots cast among the township's 1,847 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 70.5.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.4% of the vote (532 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 33.7% (274 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (8 votes), among the 831 ballots cast by the township's 2,015 registered voters (17 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 45.8% of the vote (445 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 42.8% (416 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 6.9% (67 votes), with 971 ballots cast among the township's 2,070 registered voters, yielding a 46.9% turnout.
Education
The Deerfield Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Deerfield Township School. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 356 students and 29.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.07:1.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Cumberland Regional High School, which also serves students from Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough, Stow Creek Township and Upper Deerfield Township. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,354 students and 87.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.4:1.
Transportation
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 51.26 miles (82.49 km) of roadways, of which 10.45 miles (16.82 km) were maintained by the municipality, 38.21 miles (61.49 km) by Cumberland County and 2.60 miles (4.18 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Points of interest
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Deerfield Township include: