Newfield, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.706 square miles (4.418 km²), including 1.703 square miles (4.410 km²) of land and 0.003 square miles (0.008 km²) of water (0.18%).

The borough borders Franklin Township and Cumberland County.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 1,553 people, 579 households, and 452.8 families residing in the borough. The population density was 912.0 per square mile (352.1/km²). The borough contained 626 housing units at an average density of 367.6 per square mile (141.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.66% (1,470) White, 2.19% (34) Black or African American, 0.26% (4) Native American, 0.32% (5) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.97% (15) from other races, and 1.61% (25) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.57% (102) of the population.

Out of a total of 579 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.8% were non-families. 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the borough, 23.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females the census counted 93.2 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 $60,350 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,077) and the median family income was $67,045 (+/- $11,678). Males had a median income of $45,000 (+/- $6,268) versus $47,000 (+/- $8,386) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $25,924 (+/- $1,886). About 7.8% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 1,616 people, 596 households, and 470 families residing in the borough. The population density was 951.1 people per square mile (367.0/km²). There were 620 housing units at an average density of 364.7 per square mile (140.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 95.11% White, 1.30% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 1.05% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.84% of the population.

There were 596 households out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $51,875, and the median income for a family was $59,934. Males had a median income of $39,926 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $21,063. About 5.5% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Newfield is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. 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 in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by Newfield, the most common system used in the state, 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. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Newfield Borough is Republican Donald J. Sullivan, whose term of office ends December 31, 2018. Members of the Newfield Borough Council are Council President Michael Carrow (R, 2017), Stephen Boyle (R, 2016; elected to serve an unexpired term), Beverly Johnson-Davis (R, 2016), Scott C. Miller (D, 2018), Patricia M. Purdy (D, 2018) and Rachel S. Zaccaria (D, 2017).

In January 2015, the Borough Council selected Stephen Boyle from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant council seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Donald Sullivan until he took office as mayor. In the November 2015 general election, Boyle was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

Resident committees were formed in September 2013, which announced that they would mount a petition drive to recall council members Michael Carrow and Everett Marshall, III, in the wake of a conflict between the borough council and the volunteer fire department, in which the council passed an ordinance giving the borough control over the fire department and in response the fire company threatened to close in October if the ordinance wasn't overturned.

Federal, state and county representation

Newfield is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Newfield had been in the 4th 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).

Gloucester County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose seven members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis in partisan elections, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. At a reorganization meeting held each January, the Board selects a Freeholder Director and a Deputy Freeholder Director from among its members. As of 2016, Gloucester County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Robert M. Damminger (D, West Deptford Township; term ends December 31, 2018), Deputy Freeholder Director Giuseppe "Joe" Chila (D, Woolwich Township; 2018), Lyman J. Barnes (D, Logan Township; 2017), Daniel Christy (D, Washington Township; 2016), Frank J. DiMarco (D, Deptford Township; 2016), Heather Simmons (D, Glassboro; 2017) and Jim Jefferson (D, Woodbury; 2017). Constitutional officers elected countywide are County Clerk James N. Hogan, Surrogate Helene M. Reed (Monroe Township) and Sheriff Carmel Morina (Greenwich Township).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 1,139 registered voters in Newfield, of which 514 (45.1%) were registered as Democrats, 245 (21.5%) were registered as Republicans and 380 (33.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 49.9% of the vote (405 votes), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 47.8% (388 votes), and other candidates with 2.2% (18 votes), among the 811 ballots cast by the boro's 1,154 registered voters (9 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 70.3%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 48.9% of the vote (434 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 48.0% (426 votes) and other candidates with 1.9% (17 votes), among the 887 ballots cast by the borough's 1,185 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.9%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 50.5% of the vote (442 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 47.8% (418 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (8 votes), among the 875 ballots cast by the borough's 1,214 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.1.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.8% of the vote (362 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 32.3% (175 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (5 votes), among the 562 ballots cast by the borough's 1,141 registered voters (20 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 44.4% of the vote (283 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 40.8% (260 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 10.2% (65 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (7 votes), among the 637 ballots cast by the borough's 1,176 registered voters, yielding a 54.2% turnout.

Education

Newfield is a non-operating school district. In June 2009, the New Jersey Department of Education ruled that Newfield could end its relationship with the Buena Regional School District and as of the 2011-12 school year could start sending incoming high school students in grades 7-9 to Delsea Regional High School.

Students in public school for kindergarten through sixth grade attend the Franklin Township Public Schools, as part of a sending/receiving relationship in which Newfield accounts for about 100 of the more than 1,400 students in the district. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its three schools had an enrollment of 2,632 students and 109.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 23.9:1. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Mary F. Janvier Elementary School (596 students in grades K-2), Main Road School (429; 3-4) and Caroline L. Reutter School (364; 5-6).

For seventh through twelfth grades, students attend the Delsea Regional School District, which serves students from both Elk Township and Franklin Township. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Delsea Regional Middle School with 537 students in grades 7 and 8, and Delsea Regional High School with 1,164 students in grades 9 - 12.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 12.06 miles (19.41 km) of roadways, of which 9.67 miles (15.56 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.27 miles (3.65 km) by Gloucester County and 0.12 miles (0.19 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Public transportation

NJ Transit bus service is available between Millville and Philadelphia on the 408 route.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Newfield include: