Chesterfield Township is a township in Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 9,422, its highest decennial census count ever and an increase of 1,723 (+22.4%) from the 2010 census count of 7,699, which in turn had reflected an increase of 1,744 (+29.3%) from the 5,955 counted at 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. The township, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.

Chesterfield has permanently preserved more than of farmland through state and county programs and a township-wide transfer of development credits program that directs future growth to a designated "receiving area" known as Old York Village, which is a neo-traditional, New Urbanism community built on incorporating a variety of housing types, neighborhood commercial facilities, a new elementary school, civic uses, and active and passive open space areas with preserved agricultural land surrounding the planned village. Construction began in the early 2000s and a significant percentage of the community is now complete. As of 2024, the majority of the construction is complete, including Old York Village's mixed-use commercial, retail, and housing component. Old York Village was the winner of the American Planning Association's National Outstanding Planning Award in 2004."Old York Village, Chesterfield Wins an American Planning Association Award for an Outstanding Project/ Program/ Tool""Old York Village Implementing Smart Growth"

History

The land was first settled in 1677, when a group of primarily Quaker immigrants from England established the settlement of Crosswicks, the oldest of the three communities of the township. The village was named after the Crosswicks Creek that separates Burlington and Mercer counties.Staff. "Chesterfield: Fields of dreams", Courier-Post, October 18, 2006. Accessed June 18, 2012. The other two villages were Recklesstown (now Chesterfield) and Plattsburg (now Sykesville).Henry Charlton Beck: More Forgotten Towns of Southern New Jersey; Rutgers University Press, 1963, p. 199 Recklesstown was named in honor of one of its founders, Joseph Reckless, until the community's name was changed in 1888 at the urging of a Congressman and local resident in the face of public scorn.Chesterfield Township: Recklesstown Historic District , accessed April 26, 2007. "What is now the unincorporated village of Chesterfield was known as Recklesstown in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Its name derived not from the behavior of its inhabitants, but from one of its founders, Joseph Reckless. The name was changed in 1888, when the then Congressman for the district, himself a resident of the village, thought it an object of ridicule."

Chesterfield Township was originally formed on November 6, 1688. It was named after the 2nd Earl of Chesterfield whose seat of Chesterfield was in Derbyshire, where many of the township's earliest settlers had lived.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015. The township was reformed by royal charter on January 10, 1713, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by the Township Act of 1798 of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form New Hanover Township (December 2, 1723) and Bordentown borough (December 9, 1825).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026.

Crosswicks played a role during the American Revolutionary War. On June 23, 1778, British soldiers near the Crosswicks Creek shot the horse out from under Elias Dayton, a captain with the New Jersey militia. A cannonball from the period remains lodged in the side of the Friends Meeting House.Revolutionary War Sites, Burlington County, New Jersey. Accessed October 16, 2019.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 21.45 square miles (55.57 km2), including 21.31 square miles (55.20 km2) of land and 0.14 square miles (0.37 km2) of water (0.67%).

Municipalities bordering the township are Bordentown Township, Mansfield Township, North Hanover Township, Springfield Township in Burlington County; and Hamilton Township in Mercer County.Areas touching Chesterfield Township, MapIt. Accessed March 23, 2020.Municipalities within Burlington County, NJ, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed March 23, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Chesterfield, Crosswicks, Davisville and Extonville.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 7,699 people, 1,539 households, and 1,311 families in the township. The population density was . There were 1,601 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 53.98% (4,156) White, 29.12% (2,242) Black or African American, 0.51% (39) Native American, 8.35% (643) Asian, 0.03% (2) Pacific Islander, 5.01% (386) from other races, and 3.00% (231) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.08% (1,007) of the population.

Of the 1,539 households, 46.1% had children under the age of 18; 75.7% were married couples living together; 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 14.8% were non-families. Of all households, 10.6% were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.26.

17.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 36.2% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 220.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 268.5 males. The census statistics above include residents of a state youth detention center located at the northwest edge of Chesterfield Township, on the border with Hamilton Township.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $113,125 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,124) and the median family income was $120,288 (+/− $8,240). Males had a median income of $76,563 (+/− $13,303) versus $58,229 (+/− $12,489) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,655 (+/− $4,105). About none of families and 0.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 18, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,955 people, 899 households, and 744 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 924 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 49.71% White, 37.36% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 8.45% from other races, and 3.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 12.34% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Chesterfield township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 9, 2013., United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 9, 2013. The census statistics above included 3,341 residents of state correctional facilities located in the township.Bodnar, Jason. "State upholds Chesterfield's seat on school board", Burlington County Times, March 7, 2003. Accessed October 25, 2012. "It benefits Chesterfield, where 3,341 of 5,955 residents are in either Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility or Garden State Youth Correctional Facility."FISCAL NOTE ASSEMBLY, No. 3331 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 211th LEGISLATURE, New Jersey Legislature, December 13, 2004. Accessed May 27, 2025. "As of March 12, 2004, the Albert C. Wagner Youth Correctional Facility and the Garden State Youth Correctional Facility, located in Chesterfield Township housed a total of 3,000 inmates. The 2000 census indicates that the township population less the correctional population totaled 2,625 individuals."

There were 899 households, out of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.6% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.2% were non-families. 12.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the township the population was spread out, with 11.8% under the age of 18, 40.7% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 12.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 345.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 423.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $85,428, and the median income for a family was $91,267. Males had a median income of $50,305 versus $44,659 for females. The per capita income for the township was $17,193. (The per capita income figure is artificially low due to the above-mentioned youth detention center population.) About 0.4% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.

Real estate Chesterfield Township real estate prices were ranked second-highest in Burlington County by Philadelphia magazine in February 2010. Average real estate prices were listed at $411,000, behind Moorestown Township which was rated highest in the county with an average real estate price of $463,000.Staff. , Philadelphia (magazine), February 25, 2010. Accessed July 19, 2011.

Government

Local government