Fairfield Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey

For other places with similar names, see Fairfield, New Jersey.

Fairfield Township, New Jersey
Township
Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church
Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church
Official seal of Fairfield Township, New Jersey
Seal
Location of Fairfield Township in Cumberland County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Cumberland County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
Location of Fairfield 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 Fairfield Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Fairfield Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey
Fairfield Township is located in Cumberland County, New Jersey
Fairfield Township
Fairfield Township
Location in Cumberland County
Fairfield Township is located in New Jersey
Fairfield Township
Fairfield Township
Location in New Jersey
Fairfield Township is located in the United States
Fairfield Township
Fairfield Township
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 39°22′20″N 75°14′19″W / 39.372316°N 75.238721°W / 39.372316; -75.238721[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountyCumberland
FormedMay 12, 1697
IncorporatedFebruary 21, 1798
Named forFairfield, Connecticut
Government
[6]
 • TypeTownship
 • BodyTownship Committee
 • MayorMarvin Pierce Jr. (D, term ends December 31, 2023)[3][4]
 • AdministratorMike Burden[5]
 • Municipal clerkLinda M. Gonzales[5]
Area
[1]
 • Total
43.82 sq mi (113.50 km2)
 • Land41.12 sq mi (106.50 km2)
 • Water2.70 sq mi (7.00 km2)  6.17%
 • Rank45th of 565 in state
5th of 14 in county[1]
Elevation
[7]
16 ft (5 m)
Population
 (2020)[8][9]
 • Total
5,546
 • Estimate 
(2023)[8][10]
5,340
 • Rank363rd of 565 in state
6th of 14 in county[11]
 • Density134.9/sq mi (52.1/km2)
  • Rank528th of 565 in state
9th of 14 in county[11]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08320 – Fairton[12][13]
Area code856 exchange: 575[14]
FIPS code3401122350[1][15][16]
GNIS feature ID0882059[1][17]
Websitewww.fairfieldtownshipnj.org

Fairfield Township is a township in Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Vineland-Bridgeton metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses all of Cumberland County for statistical purposes and which constitutes a part of the Delaware Valley.[18] As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 5,546,[8][9] a decrease of 749 (−11.9%) from the 2010 census count of 6,295,[19][20] which in turn reflected an increase of 12 (+0.2%) from the 6,283 counted in the 2000 census.[21]

Fairfield Township was formed by Royal charter on May 12, 1697, from portions of the Cohansey Township area, while still part of Salem 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 the New Jersey Legislature. Portions of the township were taken to form Downe Township (September 26, 1772), Millville Township (February 24, 1801) and Lawrence Township (February 17, 1885).[22]

The name Fairfield refers to its original settlers, who were émigrés from Fairfield, 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 become Commercial Township, Downe Township, Lawrence Township and Millville.[23]

  1. ^ a b c d e 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.
  2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Committee was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ 2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023. As of date accessed, William Galese is incorrectly listed as mayor. The entries for the two Fairfields in Cumberland and Essex counties appear to be reversed.
  5. ^ a b Township Directory, Fairfield Township. Accessed August 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference DataBook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Fairfield, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 5, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Census2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference LWD2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference PopEst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed March 1, 2023.
  12. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Fairton, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed October 22, 2012.
  13. ^ Zip Codes, State of New Jersey. Accessed September 8, 2013.
  14. ^ Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Fairton, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed September 8, 2013.
  15. ^ U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  16. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  17. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  18. ^ New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022.
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference LWD2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  22. ^ Snyder, 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.
  23. ^ a b About 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."
  24. ^ Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 30, 2015.
  25. ^ Laurie, Maxine N.; and Mappen, Marc; "Fairfield", Encyclopedia of New Jersey, p. 264. Rutgers University Press; 2004/2005. ISBN 9780813533254. Accessed September 8, 2013.