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 Philadelphia metropolitan area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 5,546, a decrease of 749 (−11.9%) from the 2010 census count of 6,295, which in turn reflected an increase of 12 (+0.2%) from the 6,283 counted in the 2000 census.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.
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).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.
The name Fairfield refers to its original settlers, who were émigrés from Fairfield, Connecticut who settled in the area in 1697.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."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 30, 2015. 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.Laurie, Maxine N.; and Mappen, Marc; "Fairfield", Encyclopedia of New Jersey, p. 264. Rutgers University Press; 2004/2005. . Accessed September 8, 2013. 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.
Geography According to the U.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%).
Fairton (with a 2020 census population of 1,060)Fairton CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 25, 2025. and Gouldtown (1,601)Gouldtown CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 25, 2025. are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Fairfield Township.State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 25, 2025.
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.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The township has three primary population centers: Sea Breeze, Fairton (originally named Bumbridge) and Gouldtown, an old African American community from the segregation period.O'Brien, Gina. "Fairfield Residents Set to Celebrate Township's Rich History", The Press of Atlantic City, September 28, 1997. Accessed October 22, 2012.
Fairfield Township borders the Cumberland County municipalities of Bridgeton, Deerfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Millville and Upper Deerfield Township, along with the Delaware Bay.Map of Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed October 28, 2019.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 6,295 people, 1,882 households, and 1,357 families in the township. The population density was . There were 2,058 housing units at an average density of . 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) from other races, and 4.83% (304) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 12.84% (808) of the population.
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.
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.
Fairfield Township had the highest percentage of Native Americans in any municipality in New Jersey, at 5.10% in the 2010 census.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-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. The per capita income for the borough was $20,619 (+/− $1,444). About 6.7% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Fairfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 6,283 people, 1,751 households, and 1,322 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 1,915 housing units at an average density of . 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% from other races, and 3.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 8.87% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Fairfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Fairfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2012.
There were 1,751 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married 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.
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.
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. The per capita income for the township was $17,547. About 6.9% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government Local government Fairfield 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.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 19."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025. 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.
, members of the Fairfield Township Committee are Mayor 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).Township Committee, Fairfield Township. Accessed July 25, 2025.2025 Municipal Data Sheet, Fairfield Township. Accessed July 25, 2025.2024 Directory of Cumberland County, New Jersey, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed July 1, 2025.General Election Results November 5, 2024, Official Results, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.November 7, 2023 General Election Results, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.Election Summary Report General Election Cumberland County November 8, 2022, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
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.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."Woods, Don E. "Fairfield Township committeeman steps down for health reasons", South Jersey Times, June 13, 2012. Accessed June 23, 2014. "Dennis Pierce officially submitted his resignation on Monday, June 11. Pierce, who took the oath of office on Jan. 5, resigned only six months into his three year term."
Federal, state, and county representation