Northfield, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total area of 3.444 square miles (8.918 km²), including 3.404 square miles (8.816 km²) of land and 0.040 square miles (0.102 km²) of water (1.15%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the city include Bakersville and Dolphin.

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 8,624 people, 3,152 households, and 2,301 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,533.7 per square mile (978.3/km²). The city contained 3,260 housing units at an average density of 957.8 per square mile (369.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.14% (7,515) White, 3.24% (279) Black or African American, 0.19% (16) Native American, 4.50% (388) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 2.89% (249) from other races, and 2.04% (176) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.00% (690) of the population.

Out of a total of 3,152 households, 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% 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 3.15.

In the city, 24.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females the census counted 91.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 87.0 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $70,980 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,377) and the median family income was $78,727 (+/- $5,763). Males had a median income of $57,027 (+/- $4,611) versus $45,757 (+/- $6,595) for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,675 (+/- $2,461). About 2.5% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 7,725 people, 2,824 households, and 2,109 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,254.9 people per square mile (869.6/km²). There were 2,922 housing units at an average density of 852.9 per square mile (328.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.52% White, 2.65% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.50% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.38% of the population.

There were 2,824 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the city the age distribution of the population shows 25.5% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $56,875, and the median income for a family was $62,896. Males had a median income of $43,227 versus $30,227 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,059. About 4.4% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

Northfield is home to Birch Grove Park, which covers 271 acres (110 ha) of heavily wooded land dotted with stocked fresh water fishing lakes. Birch Grove Park features over 50 campsites, exercise and nature trails, a bandstand and an extensive children's playground.

Northfield features a large bird sanctuary, dedicated to remaining open space in perpetuity.

Local government

Northfield operates under the City form of New Jersey municipal government, led by a Mayor and a seven-member City Council, who are chosen in partisan elections held each year in the November general election. A Mayoral election is held every four years. The City Council consists of six members elected from wards to three-year terms on a staggered basis with two seats up for election each year, and one member elected at-large to a four-year term in office.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Northfield is Republican Erland Chau, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the City Council are Council President James Travagline (R, 2nd Ward, 2018), President Pro Tempore Greg Dewees (R, 2nd Ward, 2016), Jeffrey Lischin (R, 1st Ward, 2017; elected to an unexpired term), Cliff Murray Jr. (R, 1st Ward, 2018), Jim T. O'Neill (R, 1st Ward, 2017), Frank Perri Jr. (D, At Large, 2017) and Nick Piergiovanni (R, 1st Ward, 2017).

In the November 2014 general election, Republican Erland Chau was chosen to fill the balance of the mayoral seat expiring December 31, 2015. Jerry McGee had been appointed by the council in February 2014 to fill the seat on an interim basis after Democrat Vince Mazzeo had resigned to take a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly. The city council chose Jeff Lischin in December 2014 to fill the vacant council seat of Erland Chau expiring in December 2016. Lischin will serve on an interim basis until the November 2015 general election, at which time the voters will select a candidate to serve the balance of the unexpired term. In November 2015, Lischin was elected to serve the balance of the term.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 5,610 registered voters in Northfield Township, of which 1,331 (23.7% vs. 30.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,801 (32.1% vs. 25.2%) were registered as Republicans and 2,473 (44.1% vs. 44.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 65.1% (vs. 58.8% in Atlantic County) were registered to vote, including 85.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 76.6% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,077 votes (49.3% vs. 57.9% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 2,059 votes (48.9% vs. 41.1%) and other candidates with 40 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,214 ballots cast by the township's 5,923 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.1% (vs. 65.8% in Atlantic County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,244 votes (49.7% vs. 41.6% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,187 votes (48.5% vs. 56.5%) and other candidates with 44 votes (1.0% vs. 1.1%), among the 4,512 ballots cast by the township's 5,879 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.7% (vs. 68.1% in Atlantic County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,239 votes (52.6% vs. 46.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,940 votes (45.6% vs. 52.0%) and other candidates with 40 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 4,253 ballots cast by the township's 5,296 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.3% (vs. 69.8% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,877 votes (63.2% vs. 60.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 950 votes (32.0% vs. 34.9%) and other candidates with 39 votes (1.3% vs. 1.3%), among the 2,971 ballots cast by the township's 5,981 registered voters, yielding a 49.7% turnout (vs. 41.5% in the county). In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,662 votes (50.7% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,352 votes (41.2% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 183 votes (5.6% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 36 votes (1.1% vs. 1.2%), among the 3,281 ballots cast by the township's 5,742 registered voters, yielding a 57.1% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).

Federal, state and county representation

Northfield is located in the 2nd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 2nd 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 2nd Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Jim Whelan (D, Atlantic City) and in the General Assembly by Chris A. Brown (R, Ventnor City) and Vince Mazzeo (D, Northfield). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Atlantic County is governed by a directly elected executive and a nine-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, responsible for legislation. The executive serves a four-year term and the freeholders are elected to staggered three-year terms, of which four are elected from the county on an at-large basis and five of the freeholders represent equally populated districts. As of 2015, Atlantic County's Executive is Republican Dennis Levinson, whose term of office ends December 31, 2015. Members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders are Chairman Frank D. Formica, Freeholder District 2, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part), Linwood, Longport, Margate, Northfield, Somers Point and Ventnor (R, 2015), Vice Chairman James A. Bertino, Freeholder District 5, including Buena Borough, Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hamilton Township (part), Hammonton, Mullica Township and Weymouth (R, 2015), Colin G. Bell, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2015), John Carman, Freeholder District 3, including Egg Harbor Township (part) and Hamilton Township (part) (R, 2017), Ernest D. Coursey, Freeholder District 1, including Atlantic City (part), Egg Harbor Township (part) and Pleasantville (R, 2016), Richard Dase, Freeholder District 4, including Absecon, Brigantine, Galloway Township and Port Republic (D, 2016), Alexander C. Marino, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2017), Will Pauls, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2016) and John W. Risley, Freeholder At-Large (R, 2017). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Edward P. McGettigan (2016), Sheriff Frank X. Balles (R, 2017) and Surrogate James Curcio (2015).

Education

Students in public school for kindergarten through eighth grade are served by the Northfield Community Schools. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's two schools had an enrollment of 1,042 students and 82.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.68:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Northfield Community Elementary School (K-4; 556 students) and Northfield Community Middle School (5-8; 486 students).

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grade attend the Mainland Regional High School, which also serves students from Linwood and Somers Point. The high school is located in Linwood. For the 1997-98 school year, Mainland Regional High School was recognized by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,356 students and 119.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.

Students from Northfield, and all of Atlantic County, have the option to attend the career technical programs and full-time career academies offered by the Atlantic County Institute of Technology located in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point. Students may also attend Holy Spirit High School, a Christian high school located in Abescon, New Jersey.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the city had a total of 46.41 miles (74.69 km) of roadways, of which 36.07 miles (58.05 km) were maintained by the municipality, 8.43 miles (13.57 km) by Atlantic County and 1.91 miles (3.07 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Public transportation

NJ Transit offers bus transportation in the city between Ocean City and Atlantic City on the 507 and 509 routes.

Notable people

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