Fortescue is a community and census-designated place (CDP)State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022. in Downe Township, Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed June 9, 2016. The community is located on the state's southern coast, on the Delaware Bay, surrounded on three sides by marshland. The area was named for John Fortescue, a local property owner at the time of American independence."Ever hear of a town called Fortescue?", Asbury Park Press, December 30, 2015. Accessed July 2, 2019. "Named after John Fortescue, who owned the land before 1776, the little town is surrounded by protected wetlands." As of the 2020 United States census, the CDP's population was 189.
During the late 1970s and mid 1980s, Fortescue experienced the best fishing it had ever seen. Anglers were catching enormous numbers of weakfish every summer. Fortescue was the self-proclaimed "weakfish capital of the world".About, Downe Township. Accessed October 4, 2017. "Commercial and recreational fishing and boating are an important part of the way of life here, in fact, Downe and Fortescue are known as the 'weakfish capital' of the world." Overfishing led federal authorities to establish limits in the mid-1970s on the weakfish catch, though by 1990 the fish population had crashed, severely impacting the commercial fishing economy in the area.
Fortescue is part of the Fortescue State Wildlife Management Area which covers .Fortescue Wildlife Management Area, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlige. Accessed June 8, 2016.
Demographics
Fortescue first appeared as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. census.
+Fortescue CDP, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 20202020White alone (NH) 167 88.36%Black or African American alone (NH) 0 0.00%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)00.00%Asian alone (NH) 00.00%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)00.00%Other race alone (NH)0 0.00%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 15 7.94%Hispanic or Latino (any race)7 3.70%Total189 100.00%
As of 2020, the area had a population of 189.
Climate The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Fortescue has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.Climate Summary for Fortescue, New Jersey
Education It is in the Downe Township School District. - Text list
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