Mansfield 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 8,897, an increase of 353 (+4.1%) from the 2010 census count of 8,544, which in turn reflected an increase of 3,454 (+67.9%) from the 5,090 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. The township, and all of Burlington County, is a part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 1, 2023.
History
Before European settlement, the land that would become Mansfield Township was occupied by the Lenape Native Americans. Mansfield was first formed on November 6, 1688, and reformed by Royal charter on May 9, 1770. Mansfield was incorporated by an act 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 to form Fieldsboro (March 7, 1850, within township; became fully independent c. 1894), Bordentown Township (March 8, 1852) and Florence Township (March 7, 1872).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 96. Accessed May 30, 2024.
The township was named for Mansfield, England.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 4, 2015.Tusim, Pearl J. History.php "1688 Mansfield Township", Mansfield Township, NJ. Accessed September 4, 2015. "Mansfield Township - from the name of the English town on The border of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, England."
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 21.89 square miles (56.69 km2), including 21.73 square miles (56.29 km2) of land and 0.16 square miles (0.40 km2) of water (0.71%).
The township borders the Burlington County municipalities of Bordentown Township (to the north and northeast), Chesterfield Township (northeast), Florence Township (southwest) and Springfield Township (south).About, Mansfield Township. Accessed May 22, 2022. "It is in the northeast part of Burlington County and is bounded north and northeast by Bordentown Township, northeast by Chesterfield Township, south by Springfield Township and southwest by Florence Township."Areas touching Mansfield Township, MapIt. Accessed February 26, 2020.Burlington County Map , Coalition for a Healthy NJ. Accessed February 26, 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 Bishops Barn, Columbus (where the town hall is located), Georgetown, Hedding, Kinkora, Mansfield, Rising Sun Square (also known as Mansfield Square) and Three Tuns.About Mansfield Township, Mansfield Township. Accessed June 20, 2012.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015. Homestead, a retirement village, consists of 1,200 homes in Columbus.
Liberty Lake is a freshwater spring-fed lake, that allows boating, swimming and fishing.
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 8,544 people, 3,401 households, and 2,452 families in the township. The population density was . There were 3,529 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 79.04% (6,753) White, 10.42% (890) Black or African American, 0.16% (14) Native American, 7.69% (657) Asian, 0.06% (5) Pacific Islander, 0.62% (53) from other races, and 2.01% (172) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.01% (428) of the population.
Of the 3,401 households, 25.6% had children under the age of 18; 63.5% were married couples living together; 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.9% were non-families. Of all households, 24.8% were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01.
20.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 18.3% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 27.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 90.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $74,671 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,953) and the median family income was $97,774 (+/− $17,454). Males had a median income of $62,215 (+/− $5,997) versus $57,917 (+/− $10,212) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,899 (+/− $4,224). About 2.5% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Mansfield township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 20, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,090 people, 2,077 households, and 1,561 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 2,122 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 95.42% White, 1.91% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.83% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Mansfield township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 22, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Mansfield township, Burlington County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 22, 2013.
There were 2,077 households, out of which 23.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.4% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the township the population was spread out, with 18.7% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 31.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $50,757, and the median income for a family was $59,040. Males had a median income of $45,560 versus $40,968 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,559. About 2.9% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government Mansfield Township is governed under the Township form of government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The Township Committee is comprised of five members who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats 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. 103."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor. Legislative and executive powers of the township are exercised by the Township Committee as a whole, with the mayor presiding over meetings and voting as a member of the committee.
, members of the Mansfield Township Committee are Mayor Marcial Mojena (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Brian Sisz (R, 2024), Tim Boyd (R, 2025), Valerie Jennings (R, 2026), and Kelly Stobie (R, 2026).Township Directory, Mansfield Township. Accessed June 13, 2024. "The Township Committee is the governing body established by State law for the Township form of government. Mansfield has five members who are elected to serve as Township Committee members. The terms of the members are for three years staggered terms, so that at least one member is up for election every year. One member is chosen annually to serve as Mayor."2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Mansfield Township. Accessed May 22, 2022.November 8, 2022 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 29, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.November 2, 2021 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results, Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.November 3, 2020 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results , Burlington County, New Jersey, updated November 23, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
Local elections In 2020, independent candidates Dan Golenda and Bob Tallon ran a successful write-in campaign against incumbent Republicans Janice DiGiuseppe and her running mate Efthimios "Paul" Tsiknakis, winning 4,812 total votes versus 4,262. This was in response to a public outcry of Mansfield losing an affordable housing litigation suit, and the then-committee voting several actively-farmed parcels as "redevelopment" to cover financial issues in the township, which started a warehousing boom in the community. The following year 2021, Marcial Mojena (R) and Paul 'Brian' Sisz (R) ran a similarly successful "No More Warehouses" campaign. In 2022, the committee adopted an ordinance to remove warehousing as a permitted use in all zones of the township, until the impact from the currently approved warehouses in the township could be evaluated.Amending Chapter 65 Of The Code Of The Township Of Mansfield Entitled 'Zoning' To Adopt And Enact Provisions Prohibiting Warehouses And Distribution Centers As A Permitted Use In Mansfield Township, Accessed March 24, 2022.