Location of Deerfield Township in Cumberland County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Cumberland County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
Census Bureau map of Deerfield Township, New Jersey
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).[22] The township was named for Deerfield, Massachusetts.[23]
Geographyedit
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 16.88 square miles (43.72 km2), including 16.84 square miles (43.62 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of water (0.22%).[1][2]
The 2010 United States census counted 3,119 people, 1,089 households, and 810 families in the township. The population density was 186.1 inhabitants per square mile (71.9/km2). There were 1,143 housing units at an average density of 68.2 per square mile (26.3/km2). The racial makeup 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.08% (439) of the population.[19]
Of the 1,089 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18; 56.6% were married couples living together; 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.6% were non-families. Of all households, 20.2% 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.[19]
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 population had 95.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.9 males.[19]
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.[41]
2000 censusedit
As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 2,927 people, 1,013 households, and 785 families residing in the township. The population density was 173.8 inhabitants 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.[39][40]
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.[39][40]
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.[39][40]
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.[39][40]
Governmentedit
Local governmentedit
Deerfield Township is governed under the Township 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.[42] The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are 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.[7][43] 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 2023[update], members of the Deerfield Township Committee are Mayor Abigail Perlstein O'Brien (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends December 31, 2022), Deputy Mayor Brian L. Casper (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Anthony A. Brago (R, 2023), Anthony Lamanteer (R, 2025) and Dominick Patitucci (R, 2024).[3][44][45][46][47][48]
After being tied on election day at the November 2014 general election with 362 votes, Democratic incumbent Frank Spatola Jr. was re-elected with 366 votes, edging Republican challenger Jason P. Scythes by three votes once provisional ballots were counted.[49] 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.[50]
Federal, state and county representationedit
Deerfield Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District[51] and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.[52][53][54]
Cumberland County is governed by a Board 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.[60] As of 2024[update], members of the Cumberland County Board of County Commissioners (with party affiliation, residence and term-end year listed in parentheses) are:
The county's constitutional officers are:
Clerk Celeste Riley (D, Bridgeton, 2024),[73][74]
Sheriff Michael Donato (R, Bridgeton, 2026)[75][76] and
Surrogate Rudolph Luisi (R, Vineland, 2028).[77][78][68]
Politicsedit
As of March 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.[79]
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%.[80][81] 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%.[82] 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.[83]
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%.[84][85] 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.[86]
As of May 2010[update], 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.[97]
^ abAnnual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022, United States Census Bureau, released May 2023. Accessed May 18, 2023.
^New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022.
^ abcdeDP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^ abSnyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 120. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.
^DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Rosenhayn CDP, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
^Barnett, Bob. Population Data for Cumberland County Municipalities, 1810 - 2010, WestJersey.org. January 6, 2011. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^Compendium of censuses 1726-1905: together with the tabulated returns of 1905, New Jersey Department of State, 1906. Accessed September 3, 2013.
^Bowen, Francis. American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Year 1843, p. 231, David H. Williams, 1842. Accessed September 3, 2013.
^Raum, John O. The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 267, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed September 3, 2013. "Deerfield is in the northwestern part of the county seven miles from Bridgeton. The West Jersey Railroad runs through the centre of this township from north to south. The population in 1850 was 927; in 1860, 1,288; and in 1870, 1,518."
^Debow, James Dunwoody Brownson. The Seventh Census of the United States: 1850, p. 138. R. Armstrong, 1853. Accessed September 3, 2013.
^Staff. A compendium of the ninth census, 1870, p. 258. United States Census Bureau, 1872. Accessed September 3, 2013.
^Porter, Robert Percival. Preliminary Results as Contained in the Eleventh Census Bulletins: Volume III - 51 to 75, p. 97. United States Census Bureau, 1890. Accessed September 3, 2013.
^Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910: Population by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions, 1910, 1900, 1890, United States Census Bureau, p. 336. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I, United States Census Bureau, p. 715. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^Table 6: New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1940 - 2000, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, August 2001. Accessed May 1, 2023.
^ abcdeCensus 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Archived 2003-11-05 at the Wayback Machine, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^ abcdeDP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.
^"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
^2021 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of Deerfield. Accessed May 29, 2022.
^Election Summary Report General Election Cumberland County November 8, 2022, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
^Election Summary Report General Election Cumberland County November 2, 2021, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.
^General Election Results November 3, 2020, Official Results, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
^Woods, Done E. "Deerfield Township election result comes down to 3-vote difference", NJ.com, November 10, 2014. Accessed June 30, 2016. "According to Kelly Hoffman, election clerk for the Cumberland County Clerk's Office, Democratic incumbent Deputy Mayor Frank Spatola Jr. won re-election with 366 votes. Jason P. Scythes, the Republican challenger, received 363 votes.... After Election Day, Spatola and Scythes were originally tied with 362 votes each."
^Woods, Don E. "Deerfield Township swears in deployed committeeman over telephone", South Jersey Times, January 14, 2015. Accessed January 15, 2015. "Even though he was deployed overseas with the Air National Guard, Deerfield Township Committeeman Joseph V. Sparacio was sworn in over a conference call during the township's reorganization."
^U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^Home, sweet home: Bob Menendez back in Hudson County. nj.com. Accessed April 30, 2021. "Booker, Cory A. - (D - NJ) Class II; Menendez, Robert - (D - NJ) Class I"
^ 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."
^Commissioner Douglas Albrecht, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Commissioner Antonio Romero, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Commissioner John Capizola Jr., Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Commissioner Victoria Groetsch-Lods, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Commissioner Carol Musso, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Commissioner Donna M. Pearson, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Commissioner Joseph V. Sileo, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^ ab2022 Directory of Cumberland County, New Jersey, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^2022 County Data Sheet, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Election Summary Report Cumberland County General Election November 8, 2022 General Election Official Results, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
^Election Summary Report General Election November 2, 2021, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.
^General Election November 3, 2020 Official Results, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
^County Clerk: Celeste M. Riley, Cumberland County Clerk's Office. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Members List: Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Sheriff's Office, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Members List: Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Cumberland County Surrogate Office, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Members List: Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2023.
^Voter Registration Summary - Cumberland, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^"Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Cumberland County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. March 15, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^"Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Cumberland County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. March 15, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^2008 Presidential General Election Results: Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^2004 Presidential Election: Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 22, 2012.
^"Governor - Cumberland County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. January 29, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^"Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Cumberland County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. January 29, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^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."
^Constituent Districts[permanent dead link], Cumberland Regional High School. Accessed June 5, 2016.
^New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020.
^Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Cumberland Regional High School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2018. Accessed February 2, 2020. "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 February 2, 2020. "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."
^Woods, Don E. "Tour Cumberland County tech school's new $70M campus", NJ.com, August 16, 2016. Accessed October 15, 2017. "The former CCTEC building is located in Deerfield Township [...]"
^Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, Volume 202, Part 2, p. 239. J.A. Fitzgerald, 1987. Accessed October 30, 2019. "Joseph W. Chinnici, Rep., Bridgeton - Assemblyman Chinnici was born in Rosenhayn July 27, 1919."
^Old Woodward: A Memorial Relating to Woodward High School, 1831-1836, and Woodward College, 1836-1851, in the City of Cincinnati, p. 219. Old Woodward Club, 1884. Accessed July 13, 2017. "Joseph Bloomfield Leake: Born, April 1, 1828, in Deerfield, Cumberland Co., N. J."
^Tamari, Jonathan. "N.J.'s LoBiondo to retire, opening competitive House seat", The Philadelphia Inquirer, November 7, 2017. Accessed October 30, 2019. "'For a boy who grew up on a farm in Rosenhayn and looked to his father as a role model of how to do the right thing for the right reason, it has been a privilege to be South Jersey's voice in Congress,' LoBiondo said in his statement."
^Siegman, Joseph. "Jewish Sports Legends: The International Jewish Hall of Fame", via Google Books, p. 59. Brassey's, 2000. ISBN 9781574882841. Accessed December 29, 2007.
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