Commercial 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.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 10, 2023. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 4,669, a decrease of 509 (−9.8%) from the 2010 census count of 5,178, which in turn reflected a decline of 81 (−1.5%) from the 5,259 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.
Commercial Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 27, 1874, from portions of Downe Township.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. The township was named for its shellfish industry.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 34.41 square miles (89.13 km2), including 31.91 square miles (82.66 km2) of land and 2.50 square miles (6.47 km2) of water (7.26%).
Laurel Lake (2020 Census population of 2,861), Port Norris (1,111), and Mauricetown (403) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Commercial Township.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed October 22, 2012.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Baileytown, Bivalve, Buckshutem, Haleyville, Lores Mill, North Port Norris and Shell Pile.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
The township borders Downe Township, Maurice River Township, Millville and 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 5,178 people, 1,880 households, and 1,337 families in the township. The population density was . There were 2,115 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 83.72% (4,335) White, 10.24% (530) Black or African American, 0.35% (18) Native American, 0.52% (27) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.53% (79) from other races, and 3.65% (189) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.10% (316) of the population.
Of the 1,880 households, 30.6% had children under the age of 18; 42.9% were married couples living together; 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.9% were non-families. Of all households, 22.4% were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.14.
25.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $45,323 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,873) and the median family income was $46,790 (+/− $10,373). Males had a median income of $42,297 (+/− $6,069) versus $31,391 (+/− $5,851) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,242 (+/− $2,315). About 18.0% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.9% of those under age 18 and 21.2% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Commercial township, Cumberland County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 11, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,259 people, 1,873 households, and 1,367 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 2,171 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 82.98% White, 13.42% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.86% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Commercial township, Cumberland County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 11, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Commercial township, Cumberland County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 11, 2012.
There were 1,873 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the township the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $34,960, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $35,030 versus $21,610 for females. The per capita income for the township was $14,663. About 13.0% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government Commercial 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 governing body is comprised of a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat 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 Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor, each serving a one-year term.
, members of the Commercial Township Committee are Mayor Joseph Klaudi (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2027; term as mayor ends 2025), Deputy Mayor Warren "Mike" Vizzard (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2025) and Ronald L. Sutton Sr. (R, 2026).Mayor and Committee, Township of Commercial. Accessed August 27, 2023. "Commercial Township is under the 'Township' form of local government. As in all local governments, our Township is highly regulated by the State of New Jersey and falls under the laws of the State Legislature. Three people serve on the Township government for a three year term. A single position is open each year for someone from the public to run for office.... The Mayor is appointed by the three Township committee people and is not elected directly by the public."2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of Commercial. Accessed July 22, 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.
After Mayor Judson Moore resigned from office in March 2016, Ronald Sutton was named as mayor to replace Moore and Fletcher Jamison shifted to deputy mayor.Woods, Don E. Twp. mayor resigns with 9 months left in office", NJ.com, March 15, 2016. Accessed June 30, 2016. "Moore was two years into his three-year appointment on committee when he announced his resignation Monday night at a Commercial Township work session meeting.... According to township clerk Hannah Nichols, Ronald Sutton Sr. was made mayor during Monday's meeting and Fletcher Jamison was made deputy mayor."
In the November 2013 general election, Moore became the first candidate to win election running as an independent, while Ronald Sutton was elected to fill the vacant seat of Bill Riggin, who had resigned from office.Tomlinson, Philip. "Commercial Township reorganizes, Judson Moore appointed mayor", South Jersey Times, January 6, 2014. Accessed July 23, 2014. "In November, Judson Moore became the first Independent candidate elected to the township's three-person committee.... Democrat Ronald Sutton was also sworn in to serve the remainder of the term of former committeeman Bill Riggin, who resigned due to health concerns this past fall; Sutton, elected for the seat in November, had served in that capacity by appointment since shortly after Riggin's resignation. Longtime Democratic Committeeman Fletcher Jamison was tabbed as deputy mayor."
Federal, state and county representation Commercial Township is located in the 2nd Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.
Politics As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,183 registered voters in Commercial Township, of which 1,004 (31.5%) were registered as Democrats, 568 (17.8%) were registered as Republicans and 1,608 (50.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.Voter Registration Summary - Cumberland, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 22, 2012.