Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey

Springfield Township, New Jersey
First Congregation of the Presbyterian Church at Springfield
Official seal of Springfield Township, New Jersey
Map of Springfield Township in Union County. Inset: location of Union County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Map of Springfield Township in Union County. Inset: location of Union County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey
Springfield Township is located in Union County, New Jersey
Springfield Township
Springfield Township
Location in Union County
Springfield Township is located in New Jersey
Springfield Township
Springfield Township
Location in New Jersey
Springfield Township is located in the United States
Springfield Township
Springfield Township
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°41′53″N 74°20′04″W / 40.697966°N 74.334436°W / 40.697966; -74.334436[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountyUnion
FormedApril 14, 1794
IncorporatedFebruary 21, 1798
Government
 • TypeTownship
 • BodyTownship Committee
 • MayorChristopher Weber (D, term ends December 31, 2024)[3][4]
 • AdministratorJohn Bussiculo[5]
 • Municipal clerkLinda Donnelly[6]
Area
 • Total
5.17 sq mi (13.40 km2)
 • Land5.16 sq mi (13.36 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2)  0.31%
 • Rank272nd of 565 in state
9th of 21 in county[1]
Elevation138 ft (42 m)
Population
 • Total
17,178
 • Estimate 
(2023)[9][11]
16,846
 • Rank155th of 565 in state
12th of 21 in county[12]
 • Density3,331.0/sq mi (1,286.1/km2)
  • Rank204th of 565 in state
18th of 21 in county[12]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
Area code(s)908 and 973[15]
FIPS code3403970020[1][16][17]
GNIS feature ID0882213[1][18]
Websitespringfield-nj.us

Springfield Township is a township in Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is located on a ridge in northern-central New Jersey, within the Raritan Valley and Rahway Valley regions in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 17,178, the highest recorded at any decennial census,[9][10] an increase of 1,361 (+8.6%) from the 2010 census count of 15,817,[19][20] which in turn reflected an increase of 1,388 (+9.6%) from the 14,429 counted in the 2000 census.[21]

Springfield was formed as a township on April 14, 1794, from portions of Elizabeth Township and Newark Township, while the area was still part of Essex County, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's first 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. It became part of the newly formed Union County on March 19, 1857, with portions remaining in Essex County used to create Millburn. Other portions of the township have been taken to form New Providence Township (November 8, 1809, now known as Berkeley Heights), Livingston (February 5, 1813), Summit (March 23, 1869) and Cranford (March 14, 1871).[22] The township's name derives from springs and brooks in the area.[23]

The Battle of Springfield was fought here, the last of many battles of the American Revolutionary War to be fought in New Jersey.

Springfield is the home of the Baltusrol Golf Club, which was the host to the 2016 PGA Championship. It has also hosted other golf major championships, including the U.S. Open, held on seven occasions at Baltusrol, most recently in 1993. Golfweek magazine ranked Baltusrol as the 36th best in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Classic Courses" in the country.[24]

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Springfield as the 85th best place to live in New Jersey in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[25]

  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.
  5. ^ Directory, Township of Springfield. Accessed February 7, 2024.
  6. ^ Township Clerk, Township of Springfield. Accessed February 7, 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference DataBook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Springfield, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 14, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Census2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference LWD2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference PopEst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Springfield, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed August 30, 2011.
  14. ^ ZIP Codes, State of New Jersey. Accessed October 20, 2013.
  15. ^ Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Springfield, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed October 20, 2013.
  16. ^ U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  17. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  18. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  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. 240. Accessed May 30, 2024.
  23. ^ Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 9, 2015.
  24. ^ "2010 Golfweek's Best Classic Courses", Golfweek Magazine, March 11, 2010. Accessed March 16, 2010.
  25. ^ "Best Places to Live 2010", New Jersey Monthly, February 11, 2010. Accessed March 16, 2010.