Upper Deerfield 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 those cities and 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 7,645, a decrease of 15 (−0.2%) from the 2010 census count of 7,660, which in turn reflected an increase of 104 (+1.4%) from the 7,556 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.
Upper Deerfield Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 23, 1922, from portions of Deerfield Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 3, 1922.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 122. Accessed May 30, 2024.Staff. Acts of the One Hundred and Forty-Sixth Legislature of the State of New Jersey, pp. 47-49. New Jersey Secretary of State, 1922. Accessed October 16, 2015. "An Act to incorporate the township of Upper Deerfield, in the county of Cumberland." The township was named for Deerfield Township, which in turn was named for Deerfield, Massachusetts.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 16, 2015.
It is a dry town, where alcohol cannot be sold, as affirmed by a referendum passed in 1972.New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. New Jersey ABC list of dry towns (May 1, 2013)Giordano, Rita. "More towns catching liquor-license buzz; Moorestown considers ending its dry spell", The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 24, 2007. Accessed February 16, 2014. Upper Deerfield does not have its own police force and is protected by the New Jersey State Police.Gallo Jr., Bill. "Shooting of 76-year-old man by State Police a 'tragic mistake,' family friend says", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 30, 2016. Accessed June 26, 2017. "Police, in most cases, go to the scene of a 911 hang-up call just to be sure there is nothing wrong. Upper Deerfield does not have its own police force and relies on State Police to patrol the township."
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 31.39 square miles (81.31 km2), including 31.24 square miles (80.92 km2) of land and 0.15 square miles (0.39 km2) of water (0.48%).
Carlls Corner (2020 population of 911), Deerfield Street (230), Laurel Heights (380), Seabrook Farms (1,580), Seeley (152), Silver Lake (1,435), and Sunset Lake (494) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) within Upper Deerfield Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Beals Mills, Delaby, Finley, Friendship, Grammel Mills, Husted Station, Pleasant Grove, Seabrook, Seeley, Sunset, Watsons Corner and Woodruff.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 14, 2017.
The township borders Bridgeton, Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township and Hopewell Township in Cumberland County; and Alloway Township, Pittsgrove Township and Upper Pittsgrove Township in Salem County.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 7,660 people, 2,866 households, and 2,104 families in the township. The population density was . There were 3,025 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 74.67% (5,720) White, 12.96% (993) Black or African American, 1.27% (97) Native American, 2.65% (203) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 5.38% (412) from other races, and 3.07% (235) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.43% (722) of the population.
Of the 2,866 households, 28.4% had children under the age of 18; 53.9% were married couples living together; 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.6% were non-families. Of all households, 22.1% were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.08.
23.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $53,646 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,771) and the median family income was $61,974 (+/− $9,964). Males had a median income of $45,532 (+/− $5,633) versus $36,741 (+/− $10,855) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,033 (+/− $2,581). About 8.9% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Upper Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 24, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 7,556 people, 2,757 households, and 2,125 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 2,881 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 75.77% White, 16.41% African American, 0.81% Native American, 3.06% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.83% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.54% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Upper Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 24, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Upper Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 24, 2012.
There were 2,757 households, out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the township the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $47,861, and the median income for a family was $51,472. Males had a median income of $37,064 versus $23,719 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,884. About 10.1% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
Parks and recreation Sunset Lake is a reservoir located primarily in Hopewell Township and Upper Deerfield Township that was created by damming a stream that feeds to the area from Seeley Lake.Barlas, Thomas. "Cumberland's Sunset Lake to go from lawn to lake again", The Press of Atlantic City, May 28, 2015. Accessed November 2, 2019.
Government
Local government Upper Deerfield 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 the five-member Township Committee, whose members are elected at-large directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 19. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Upper Deerfield Township Committee are Mayor James P. Crilley (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2023), Deputy Mayor John L. Daddario (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Scott R. Smith (R, 2024), Thomas R. Speranza (R, 2024) and Joseph L. Spoltore (R, 2025).Township Committee, Upper Deerfield Township. Accessed September 7, 2023.2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Upper Deerfield Township. Accessed September 7, 2023.2023 Directory of Cumberland County, New Jersey, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2024.Election Summary Report General Election Cumberland County November 8, 2022, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.Election Summary Report General Election Cumberland County November 2, 2021, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.General Election Results November 3, 2020, Official Results, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 19, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
Federal, state and county representation Upper Deerfield 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 3rd 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 5,179 registered voters in Upper Deerfield Township, of which 1,296 (25.0%) were registered as Democrats, 1,189 (23.0%) were registered as Republicans and 2,693 (52.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.Voter Registration Summary - Cumberland, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 24, 2012.