Location of Fairfield Township inCumberland County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Cumberland County inNew Jersey highlighted in red (left).
Census Bureau map of Fairfield Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey
Fairfield Township was formed byroyal charter on May 12, 1697, from portions of theCohansey Township area, while still part ofSalem County, and was formed as a precinct in the newly created Cumberland County on January 19, 1748. It was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of the initial group of 104 townships in the state by an act of theNew Jersey Legislature. Portions of the township were taken to formDowne Township (September 26, 1772),Millville Township (February 24, 1801) andLawrence Township (February 17, 1885).[22]
The name Fairfield refers to its original settlers, who were émigrés fromFairfield,Connecticut who settled in the area in 1697.[23][24] The oldest Presbyterian church in South Jersey is said to date to June 1697. There is a plaque and an old cemetery which indicates the original log building.[25] When it was first created as one of Cumberland County's original six townships, it included land that would later becomeCommercial Township,Downe Township,Lawrence Township andMillville.[23]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 43.82 square miles (113.50 km2), including 41.12 square miles (106.50 km2) of land and 2.70 square miles (7.00 km2) of water (6.17%).[1][2]
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Back Neck, Ben Davis Point, Clarks Pond, Fordville, Lanings Wharf, Mulfords Landing, New England Crossroads,Sea Breeze and Tindells Landing.[29]
The township has three primary population centers: Sea Breeze, Fairton (originally named Bumbridge) and Gouldtown, an old African American community from the segregation period.[25][30]
The2010 United States census counted 6,295 people, 1,882 households, and 1,357 families in the township. The population density was 152.6 inhabitants per square mile (58.9/km2). There were 2,058 housing units at an average density of 49.9 per square mile (19.3/km2). The racial makeup was 37.49% (2,360)White, 47.53% (2,992)Black or African American, 5.10% (321)Native American, 0.44% (28)Asian, 0.03% (2)Pacific Islander, 4.58% (288) fromother races, and 4.83% (304) from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 12.84% (808) of the population.[19]
Of the 1,882 households, 24.6% had children under the age of 18; 43.6% were married couples living together; 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.9% were non-families. Of all households, 24.1% were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.[19]
17.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 139.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 148.8 males.[19]
Fairfield Township had the highest percentage of Native Americans in any municipality in New Jersey, at 5.10% in the 2010 census.[citation needed]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010American Community Survey showed that (in 2010inflation-adjusted dollars)median household income was $46,895 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,014) and the median family income was $55,286 (+/− $4,900). Males had a median income of $45,333 (+/− $4,287) versus $32,763 (+/− $2,703) for females. Theper capita income for the borough was $20,619 (+/− $1,444). About 6.7% of families and 10.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.[45]
As of the2000 census,[15] there were 6,283 people, 1,751 households, and 1,322 families residing in the township. The population density was 148.6 inhabitants per square mile (57.4/km2). There were 1,915 housing units at an average density of 45.3 per square mile (17.5/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 41.41%White, 47.43%African American, 5.08%Native American, 0.56%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 2.39% fromother races, and 3.10% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 8.87% of the population.[43][44]
There were 1,751 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% weremarried couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.19.[43][44]
In the township the population was spread out, with 19.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 36.4% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 146.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 161.7 males.[43][44]
The median income for a household in the township was $37,891, and the median income for a family was $41,326. Males had a median income of $31,858 versus $23,931 for females. Theper capita income for the township was $17,547. About 6.9% of families and 11.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.[43][44]
Fairfield Township is governed under thetownship form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.[46] The township committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the votersat-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.[6][47][48] At an annual reorganization meeting, the committee selects one of its members to serve as mayor and another as deputy mayor, each serving a one-year term.
As of 2025[update], members of the Fairfield Township Committee areMayor Marvin Pierce (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2025), Deputy Mayor Michael L. Peterson (D, term on committee ends 2027; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), Stephen M. Bateman (D, 2027), Julia Burrus (D, 2026) and Benjamin Byrd Sr. (D, 2025).[3][49][50][51][52][53]
JoAnne Servais was appointed to serve the unexpired term, ending December 2014, of Dennis Pierce, who had resigned from office in June 2012, citing health issues.[54][55]
Cumberland County is governed by aBoard of County Commissioners composed of seven members who are elected at large by the citizens of Cumberland County in partisan elections and serve staggered three-year terms in office, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. Annually, the seven board members select a Director and Deputy Director for one-year terms.[63] As of 2025[update], members of the Cumberland County Board of County Commissioners (with party affiliation, residence and term-end year listed in parentheses) are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,639 registered voters in Fairfield Township, of which 1,603 (44.1%) were registered asDemocrats, 409 (11.2%) were registered asRepublicans and 1,627 (44.7%) were registered asUnaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.[82]
United States Gubernatorial election results for Fairfield Township[83]
In the2012 presidential election, DemocratBarack Obama received 76.9% of the vote (1,830 cast), ahead of RepublicanMitt Romney with 22.4% (534 votes), and other candidates with 0.6% (15 votes), among the 2,405 ballots cast by the township's 3,739 registered voters (26 ballots werespoiled), for a turnout of 64.3%.[84][85] In the2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 75.9% of the vote (1,860 cast), ahead of RepublicanJohn McCain, who received 22.3% (547 votes), with 2,451 ballots cast among the township's 3,707 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.1%.[86] In the2004 presidential election, DemocratJohn Kerry received 68.7% of the vote (1,476 ballots cast), outpolling RepublicanGeorge W. Bush, who received around 29.6% (636 votes), with 2,149 ballots cast among the township's 3,400 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 63.2.[87]
United States presidential election results for Fairfield Township 2024[88] 2020[89] 2016[90] 2012[84] 2008[91] 2004[92]
In the2013 gubernatorial election, DemocratBarbara Buono received 61.0% of the vote (774 cast), ahead of RepublicanChris Christie with 37.2% (472 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (22 votes), among the 1,315 ballots cast by the township's 3,584 registered voters (47 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.7%.[93][94] In the2009 gubernatorial election, DemocratJon Corzine received 65.% of the vote (925 ballots cast), ahead of both RepublicanChris Christie with 27.2% (387 votes) and IndependentChris Daggett with 3.9% (56 votes), with 1,424 ballots cast among the township's 3,586 registered voters, yielding a 39.7% turnout.[95]
United States Senate election results for Fairfield Township1[96]
TheFairfield Township School District serves public school students inpre-kindergarten througheighth grade.[100][101] As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 510 students and 35.0 classroom teachers (on anFTE basis), for astudent–teacher ratio of 14.6:1.[102] The district opened the new Fairfield Township School in September 2006, consolidating all grades into a single building located at 375 Gouldtown-Woodruff Road in the Gouldtown section of the township.[103]
Students are also eligible to attendCumberland County Technical Education Center in Vineland, serving students from the entire county in its full-time technical training programs, which are offered without charge to students who are county residents.[111]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 74.45 miles (119.82 km) of roadways, of which 30.89 miles (49.71 km) were maintained by the municipality, 39.90 miles (64.21 km) by Cumberland County and 3.66 miles (5.89 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation.[112]
^abAbout Fairfield, Fairfield Township. Accessed October 30, 2019. "In May of 1697, a group of potential settlers from Fairfield, Connecticut purchased a tract of land in Cohansey. The Provincial Assembly voted that the township be called Fairfield and empowered it with the privileges of other townships. It was one of the six original townships of Cumberland County. Originally, the area of Fairfield included what are now Fairfield, Lawrence, Downe, Commercial Townships, and a part Millville, west of the Maurice River."
^Raum, John O.The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 269, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed September 8, 2013. "Fairfield was settled principally by emigrants, from the town in Connecticut of the same name. Its population in 1850 was 2,133; in 1860, 2,448; and in 1870, 3,011. Cedarville, Gouldtown, and Fairton, are post towns in this township."
^Woods, Don E."Democrats win committee seats in Fairfield Township",South Jersey Times, November 6, 2012. Accessed June 23, 2014. "Results for Fairfield's highly contested committee seats are in, with Michael Morton and JoAnne Servais winning the three-year seats and Viola Thomas Hughes winning the unexpired seat.... Servais, who became incumbent after Dennis Pierce stepped down for health reasons."
^abBoard of County Commissioners, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023. "By law, Cumberland County is allowed 7 County Commissioners, who serve staggered, overlapping three-year terms. Two are elected in two successive years, three in the third year, elected from the county at-large, for three-year, overlapping terms. A Director of the Board is selected by their colleagues for a one-year term. Each County Commissioner is charged with responsibility for one or more of the county's seven departments."
^"SCC, Fairfield Educators Open New Elementary School"Archived September 10, 2014, at theWayback Machine,New Jersey Schools Development Authority, December 16, 2006. Accessed September 10, 2014. "Students, teachers and parents in this rural Cumberland County community turned out today for a ribbon-cutting for the new Fairfield Elementary School. The school, which replaces two overcrowded facilities, will enhance academic achievement and provide much-needed early childhood education programs for 600 students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade."
^Cumberland Regional School District 2015 Report Card Narrative,New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 5, 2016. "The Cumberland Regional School District, located in Western Cumberland County, provides students with a comprehensive learning environment in a nurturing and personalized setting. The district serves students in grades 9-12 who reside in the municipalities of Deerfield, Fairfield, Greenwich & Stow Creek, Hopewell & Shiloh, and Upper Deerfield."
^Shott, Meghan."Cumberland Regional High School",South Jersey magazine. Accessed June 5, 2016. "Cumberland Regional High School, located in the northwest part of Cumberland County, serves students from Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough, Stow Creek Township and Upper Deerfield Township."
^Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Cumberland Regional High School District,New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed April 10, 2024. "The Cumberland Regional Board of Education is a Type II district located in the County of Cumberland, State of New Jersey. As a Type II District, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education. The board is comprised of nine members elected to three-year terms. The purpose of the district is to educate students in grades 9-12."
^Board of Education, Cumberland Regional High School. Accessed May 2, 2024. "The Cumberland Regional School District is led by a nine-member Board of Education representing Cumberland Regional High School's constituent district municipalities: Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough, Stow Creek Township, and Upper Deerfield Township."
United States
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