Arneys Mount, the highest point in Burlington County, in Springfield Township
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Location of Springfield Township in Burlington County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Burlington County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
Census Bureau map of Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey
Springfield was originally formed on November 6, 1688, and reformed by Royal charter on January 13, 1713. Springfield Township was incorporated by the Township Act of 1798 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 on December 2, 1723, to form New Hanover Township.[22] The township's name derives from springs and brooks in the area.[23]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 29.57 square miles (76.58 km2), including 29.51 square miles (76.44 km2) of land and 0.06 square miles (0.15 km2) of water (0.19%).[1][2]
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Arneys Mount, Chambers Corner, Ellis, Folwell, Jacksonville, Jobstown, Pine Lane and Powell.[27]
The township is one of 56 South Jersey municipalities that are included within the New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, a protected natural area of unique ecology covering 1,100,000 acres (450,000 ha), that has been classified as a United States Biosphere Reserve and established by Congress in 1978 as the nation's first National Reserve.[31] Part of the township is included in the state-designated Pinelands Area, which includes portions of Burlington County, along with areas in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Ocean counties.[32]
Of the 1,162 households, 33.7% had children under the age of 18; 69.4% were married couples living together; 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.0% were non-families. Of all households, 13.3% were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.24.[18]
23.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 35.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 102.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 103.0 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $85,417 (with a margin of error of +/− $13,463) and the median family income was $102,337 (+/− $14,017). Males had a median income of $62,813 (+/− $16,928) versus $47,361 (+/− $11,194) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,901 (+/− $4,219). About 2.6% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.[44]
As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 3,227 people, 1,098 households, and 906 families residing in the township. The population density was 107.4 inhabitants per square mile (41.5/km2). There were 1,138 housing units at an average density of 37.9 per square mile (14.6/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 91.94% White, 3.22% African American, 0.31% Native American, 2.63% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population.[42][43]
There were 1,098 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 13.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.22.[42][43]
In the township the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.[42][43]
The median income for a household in the township was $69,268, and the median income for a family was $72,292. Males had a median income of $49,044 versus $31,392 for females. The per capita income for the township was $29,322. About 2.8% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.[42][43]
Springfield Township operates within the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) under the Council-Manager form of municipal government, implemented by direct petition as of January 1, 2001, having been approved by voters in a November 1999 referendum.[46][47] The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.[48] The Township Council is comprised of five members elected at-large in a partisan vote to four-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election in even-numbered years as part of the November general election.[7][49] At a reorganization meeting held during the first week of January following each election, the council selects a mayor and deputy mayor from among its members to serve two-year terms of office.[50]
As of 2023[update], members of the Springfield Township Council are Mayor David Frank (R, term on council ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Andrew Eaton (R, term on council ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Patrick Hermesmann (R, 2026), Denis McDaniel (R, 2026) and Peter Sobotka (R, 2026).[3][51][52][53]
Springfield Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District[54] and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.[55][56][57] Prior to the 2010 Census, Springfield Township had been part of the 4th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.[58]
Burlington County's Constitutional Officers are:
Clerk Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2028)[74][75]
Sheriff James H. Kostoplis (D, Bordentown, 2025)[76][77] and
Surrogate Brian J. Carlin (D, Burlington Township, 2026).[78][79]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,380 registered voters in Springfield Township, of which 403 (16.9% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,268 (53.3% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 707 (29.7% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens.[80] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 69.7% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 90.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).[80][81]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,071 votes here (57.5% vs. 40.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 743 votes (39.9% vs. 58.1%) and other candidates with 35 votes (1.9% vs. 1.0%), among the 1,864 ballots cast by the township's 2,453 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.0% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).[82][83] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,086 votes here (56.7% vs. 39.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 773 votes (40.4% vs. 58.4%) and other candidates with 33 votes (1.7% vs. 1.0%), among the 1,914 ballots cast by the township's 2,371 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.7% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).[84] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,083 votes here (60.5% vs. 46.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 656 votes (36.6% vs. 52.9%) and other candidates with 30 votes (1.7% vs. 0.8%), among the 1,791 ballots cast by the township's 2,199 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.4% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).[85]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 932 votes here (72.9% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 299 votes (23.4% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 23 votes (1.8% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,279 ballots cast by the township's 2,408 registered voters, yielding a 53.1% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).[86][87] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 960 votes here (63.1% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 422 votes (27.7% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 80 votes (5.3% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 25 votes (1.6% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,522 ballots cast by the township's 2,412 registered voters, yielding a 63.1% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).[88]
Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades attend the schools of the Northern Burlington County Regional School District, which also serves students from Chesterfield Township, Mansfield Township, North Hanover Township, along with children of military personnel based at Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst.[91][92] As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 2,190 students and 163.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.4:1.[93] The schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[94]) are
Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School[95] with 811 students in grades 7–8 and
Northern Burlington County Regional High School[96] with 1,348 students in grades 9–12.[97] Both schools are in the Columbus section of Mansfield Township. Using a formula that reflects the population and the value of the assessed property in each of the constituent municipalities, taxpayers in Springfield Township pay 17.7% of the district's tax levy, with the district's 2013–2014 budget including $35.6 million in spending.[98] The 7–12 district's board of education has nine members, who are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year.[99] The nine seats on the regional district's board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with one seat assigned to Springfield Township.[100][101]
Students from Springfield Township, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton.[102]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 72.72 miles (117.03 km) of roadways, of which 34.05 miles (54.80 km) were maintained by the municipality, 29.29 miles (47.14 km) by Burlington County and 7.01 miles (11.28 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 2.37 miles (3.81 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[103]
The major limited access roads that traverse are the New Jersey Turnpike[104] and Interstate 295,[105] both in the western part of the township. No interchanges along these highways are located in the township, with the closest interchanges that are accessible are Exit 47 (along I-295) in neighboring Burlington Township and Exits 5, 6A and 6 (along the Turnpike) in neighboring Westampton, Florence and Mansfield townships, respectively.[106]
Columbus Farmers Market, on Route 206, is a regional commercial center.
Pandora Diner (original location, and formerly the Esquire Diner) at the intersection of Route 206 and County Route 537. The diner opened in 2017, and now has locations in Cinnaminson Township and Williamstown.
^Raum, John O. The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 265, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed September 23, 2013. "Springfield township was settled between 1682 and 1685. Jobstown derived its name from Job Lippincott, who owned considerable land there about the year 1798. Juliustown, the principal village in the township, received its name from Julius Evans. The population of the township in 1850 was 1,827; in 1860, 1,810; and in 1870 1,761."
^Township Code, Township of Springfield, NJ - Burlington County. Accessed December 1, 2013. "The citizens of Springfield Township adopted the Council-Manager form of government by referendum held in November 1999. The first Council members under the Council-Manager form of government were elected at the General Election held in November 2000, and the new form of government took effect as of 12:00 noon on January 1, 2001."
^Township Government, Springfield Township. Accessed April 25, 2023. "Springfield Township has a Council - Manager form of government. There are five elected Council Members who serve a four year term. The Council appoints the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The Manager is hired by and serves at the pleasure of the Council and manages the day to day affairs of the Municipal Government."
^Springfield Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Springfield Township School District. Accessed March 9, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through six in the Springfield Township School District. Composition The Springfield Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Springfield Township."
^Zimmaro, Mark. "Sharp tax increase included in Northern Burlington budget", Burlington County Times, April 8, 2013. Accessed December 1, 2013. "The $35.6 million budget represents a 2.7 percent increase from last year’s spending plan.... Tax rates in sending districts are determined using a state equalization formula that takes into account factors such as population and assessed values. Based on the formula, Chesterfield taxpayers fund 21.6 percent of Northern Burlington’s tax levy, Mansfield 46.5 percent, North Hanover 14.2 percent and Springfield 17.7 percent."
^Reading Wood Black, Handbook of Texas. Accessed August 31, 2012. "Reading Wood Black, merchant, county commissioner, Indian commissioner, and legislator, was born on September 23, 1830, in Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, the son of Thomas and Mary Grey (Wood) Black."
^Symons, Michael. "Christie nominating Sen. Phil Haines to Superior Court", Asbury Park Press, September 30, 2010. Accessed December 1, 2013. "Gov. Chris Christie today notified the state Senate he intends to nominate first-term Sen. Philip Haines of Burlington County as a Superior Court judge. Haines, 59, a resident of the Juliustown section of Springfield Township, has represented the 8th District in the Senate since 2008."
^Castrodale Golovin, Anne (1970). "Daniel Trotter: Eighteenth-Century Philadelphia Cabinetmaker". Winterthur Portfolio. 6. The University of Chicago Press: 151–184. doi:10.1086/495801. JSTOR1180528. S2CID161129153.
^"Death List of a Day: Barclay White",The New York Times, November 24, 1906. Accessed August 28, 2022. "Mount Holly, N. J., Nov. 23- Barclay White, 85 years old, of this city, a descendant of one of the oldest families in this part of New Jersey and one of the oldest settlers in Mount Holly," "Mr. White attained prominence in National public life when in 1871 to 1878 he was United States Superintendent of Indian Affairs, having charge of seven tribes and six agencies."
^New Jersey Mirror, December 18, 1907: "The subscribers, executors of the estate of Barclay White, deceased, will offer at public sale, on the premises, on Tuesday, December 24, the farm known as Pine Land farm, midway between Jobstown and Juliustown, Springfield township, Burlington county, N. J.,"
^"Obituary" Former President Dies At Lincoln University", The News Journal, January 17, 1946. Accessed August 28, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Dr. Walter 'Livingston Wright, 73, retired president of Lincoln University, Lincoln, Pa., died suddenly of a heart attack this morning at his home on the campus of the university.... Born at Juliustown, N. J., Feb. 3, 1872, Dr. Wright was a son of the late Walter L. and Elizabeth Gaskiil Wright."