Location of Upper 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 Upper Deerfield Township, New Jersey
Upper Deerfield Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1922, from portions of Deerfield Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 3, 1922.[21][22] The township was named for Deerfield Township, which in turn was named for Deerfield, Massachusetts.[23]
It is a dry town, where alcohol cannot be sold, as affirmed by a referendum passed in 1972.[24][25] Upper Deerfield does not have its own police force and is protected by the New Jersey State Police.[26]
Geographyedit
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 31.39 square miles (81.31 km2), including 31.24 square miles (80.92 km2) of land and 0.15 square miles (0.39 km2) of water (0.48%).[1][2]
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Beals Mills, Delaby, Finley, Friendship, Grammel Mills, Husted Station, Pleasant Grove, Seabrook, Seeley, Sunset, Watsons Corner and Woodruff.[29]
Of the 2,866 households, 28.4% had children under the age of 18; 53.9% were married couples living together; 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.6% were non-families. Of all households, 22.1% were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.08.[18]
23.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.6 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $53,646 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,771) and the median family income was $61,974 (+/− $9,964). Males had a median income of $45,532 (+/− $5,633) versus $36,741 (+/− $10,855) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,033 (+/− $2,581). About 8.9% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.[38]
2000 censusedit
As of the 2000 United States census[14] there were 7,556 people, 2,757 households, and 2,125 families residing in the township. The population density was 242.9 inhabitants per square mile (93.8/km2). There were 2,881 housing units at an average density of 92.6 per square mile (35.8/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 75.77% White, 16.41% African American, 0.81% Native American, 3.06% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.83% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.54% of the population.[36][37]
There were 2,757 households, out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.12.[36][37]
In the township the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.[36][37]
The median income for a household in the township was $47,861, and the median income for a family was $51,472. Males had a median income of $37,064 versus $23,719 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,884. About 10.1% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.[36][37]
Parks and recreationedit
Sunset Lake is a reservoir located primarily in Hopewell Township and Upper Deerfield Township that was created by damming a stream that feeds to the area from Seeley Lake.[39]
Governmentedit
Local governmentedit
Upper 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.[40] The governing body is comprised of the five-member Township Committee, whose members are elected at-large directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election.[41][6] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2023[update], members of the Upper Deerfield Township Committee are Mayor James P. Crilley (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2023), Deputy Mayor John L. Daddario (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Scott R. Smith (R, 2024), Thomas R. Speranza (R, 2024) and Joseph L. Spoltore (R, 2025).[3][42][43][44][45][46]
Federal, state and county representationedit
Upper Deerfield Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District[47] and is part of New Jersey's 3rd state legislative district.[48][49][50]
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.[56] 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),[69][70]
Sheriff Michael Donato (R, Bridgeton, 2026)[71][72] and
Surrogate Rudolph Luisi (R, Vineland, 2028).[73][74][64]
Politicsedit
As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,179 registered voters in Upper Deerfield Township, of which 1,296 (25.0%) were registered as Democrats, 1,189 (23.0%) were registered as Republicans and 2,693 (52.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[75]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 52.7% of the vote (1,839 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 46.2% (1,614 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (37 votes), among the 3,513 ballots cast by the township's 5,361 registered voters (23 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 65.5%.[76][77] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 51.2% of the vote (1,864 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama, who received 46.5% (1,694 votes), with 3,640 ballots cast among the township's 5,150 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.7%.[78] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 54.5% of the vote (1,842 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry, who received around 43.2% (1,460 votes), with 3,377 ballots cast among the township's 4,734 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 71.3.[79]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.0% of the vote (1,397 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 32.5% (687 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (33 votes), among the 2,147 ballots cast by the township's 5,158 registered voters (30 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.6%.[80][81] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 50.3% of the vote (1,213 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat Jon Corzine with 39.8% (959 votes) and Independent Chris Daggett with 7.0% (169 votes), with 2,411 ballots cast among the township's 5,064 registered voters, yielding a 47.6% turnout.[82]
Educationedit
The Upper Deerfield Township Schools serve public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 820 students and 83.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.9:1.[83] Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[84]) are
Charles F. Seabrook School[85] with 325 students in grades PreK-3,
Elizabeth E. Moore School[86] with 228 students in grades 4-5 and
Woodruff School[87] with 260 students in grades 6-8.[88][89]
Students are also eligible to attend Cumberland 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.[97]
Transportationedit
Roads and highwaysedit
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 103.73 miles (166.94 km) of roadways, of which 29.56 miles (47.57 km) were maintained by the municipality, 64.38 miles (103.61 km) by Cumberland County and 9.79 miles (15.76 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[98]
Route 77 enters from Bridgeton on the township's southern border and heads north through the center of the township for 7.6 miles (12.2 km) to Upper Pittsgrove Township at the northern tip of Upper Deerfield Township.[99]Route 56 (Landis Avenue) branches off from Route 77 near the township's border with Bridgeton and heads northeast for 4.8 miles (7.7 km) towards Pittsgrove Township.[100]
County Route 540 (Deerfield Road) traverses the northern quarter of the township for 4.6 miles (7.4 km) from Hopewell Township in the west towards Pittsgrove Township on the east.[101]County Route 553 (South Woodruff Road / East Finley Road / Centerton Road) runs along the eastern side of the township for 6.6 miles (10.6 km) from Fairfield Township in the south towards Pittsgrove Township in the northeast corner.[102]County Route 552 (Irving Avenue) follows the southern border of the township for 2.3 miles (3.7 km) from Bridgeton in the west towards Fairfield Township in the southeast corner of the township.[103]
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Upper Deerfield Township include:
Charles F. Seabrook (1881–1964), business man and owner of Seabrook Farms, a family-owned frozen vegetable packing plant that at one point was the largest irrigated truck farm in the world, who was the namesake of Seabrook community and the Charles F. Seabrook School[106]
^U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Upper Deerfield, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 14, 2013.
^ abcdeQuickFacts Upper Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 14, 2023.
^ 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 Upper Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 24, 2012.
^Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 122. Accessed October 25, 2012.
^Staff. Acts of the One Hundred and Forty-Sixth Legislature of the State of New Jersey, pp. 47-49. New Jersey Secretary of State, 1922. Accessed October 16, 2015. "An Act to incorporate the township of Upper Deerfield, in the county of Cumberland."
^Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 16, 2015.
^New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)
^Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014.
^Gallo Jr., Bill. "Shooting of 76-year-old man by State Police a 'tragic mistake,' family friend says", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 30, 2016. Accessed June 26, 2017. "Police, in most cases, go to the scene of a 911 hang-up call just to be sure there is nothing wrong. Upper Deerfield does not have its own police force and relies on State Police to patrol the township."
^DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Seabrook Farms CDP, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 24, 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 24, 2012.
^Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 14, 2017.
^Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I, United States Census Bureau, p. 715. Accessed October 24, 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 Upper Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Archived January 16, 2004, at the Wayback Machine, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 24, 2012.
^ abcdeDP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Upper Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 24, 2012.
^DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Upper Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey Archived February 12, 2020, at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 24, 2012.
^Barlas, Thomas. "Cumberland's Sunset Lake to go from lawn to lake again", The Press of Atlantic City, May 28, 2015. Accessed November 2, 2019.
^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.
^2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Upper Deerfield Township. Accessed September 7, 2023.
^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.
^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 24, 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 24, 2012.
^2004 Presidential Election: Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 24, 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 March 6, 2020. "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, Cumberland Regional High School. Accessed September 4, 2022.
^New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed March 6, 2020.
^Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the Cumberland Regional High School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2021. Accessed September 4, 2022. "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 March 6, 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."
^Admissions Booklet, Cumberland County Technical Education Center. Accessed December 20, 2022. "Who Can Apply? Applicants must be enrolled in 8th grade and live in Cumberland County."
^South Jersey Transit Guide Archived September 29, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed December 15, 2014.
^Transportation Plan Cumberland County, NJ, Cumberland County Planning Board, March 2013. Accessed October 31, 2019.
^"Our People of the Century - Charles F. Seabrook: A Head for Business, A Heart for People", Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed December 22, 2014. "Charles F. Seabrook, often called 'The Henry Ford of Agriculture,' headed Seabrook Frams, which became one of the largest producers of frozen vegetables in the world.... He's credited for bringing refugees from many 20th century upheavals, to work at Seabrook Farms in Upper Deerfield."
External linksedit
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