Location of Chesterfield Township in Burlington County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Burlington County in New Jersey highlighted in red (left).
Census Bureau map of Chesterfield Township, New Jersey
Chesterfield has permanently preserved more than 7,000 acres (2,800 ha) 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 560 acres (230 ha) 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.[21][22][23]
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.[24] The other two villages were Recklesstown (now Chesterfield) and Plattsburg (now Sykesville).[25] 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.[26]
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%).[1][2]
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]
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.[17] 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.[citation needed]
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.[45]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[14] there were 5,955 people, 899 households, and 744 families residing in the township. The population density was 278.1 inhabitants per square mile (107.4/km2). There were 924 housing units at an average density of 43.1 per square mile (16.6/km2). 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.[43][44] The census statistics above included 3,341 residents of state correctional facilities located in the township.[46][47]
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.[43][44]
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.[43][44]
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.[43][44]
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.[48]
Government
Local government
Chesterfield Township municipal building
Chesterfield 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.[49] 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.[6][50] At a reorganization meeting held in January of each year, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor, which by tradition has the committeeperson serving the last year of term in office chosen to serve as mayor. The Township Committee serves both as the township's executive and legislative body, and derives from the state statutes which delegates powers, prescribe the offices and structure and establish various procedures under which the Township must operate.[3] In the 2013 general election, voters approved an expansion of the Township Committee from three members to five, with three seats up for election in November 2014; the existing seat expiring that year, a new three-year seat and a seat with a two-year term, with the full cycle starting as of the 2015 general election.[51]
As of 2024[update], members of the Chesterfield Township Committee are Mayor Matthew Litt (D, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2023), Deputy Mayor Denise E. Koetas-Dale (D, term on committee ends 2026; term as deputy mayor ends 2024), Belinda Blazic (R, 2024), Shreekant Dhopte (D, 2025) and Rebecca Hughes (R, 2026).[3][52][53][54][55]
After the November 2016 general election ended with a tie between Democrat Rita Romeu and Republican Ron Kolczynski who both had 1,289 votes for the second of two township committee seats, a judge in January 2017 decided that Romeu won the race as she was entitled to two additional votes that had not been counted in November.[56]
Federal, state and county representation
Chesterfield Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District[57] and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.[58]
Burlington County's Constitutional Officers are:
Clerk Joanne Schwartz (D, Southampton Township, 2028)[74][75]
Sheriff James H. Kostoplis (D, Bordentown, 2025)[76][77] and
Surrogate Brian J. Carlin (D, Burlington Township, 2026).[78][79]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,855 registered voters in Chesterfield Township, of which 682 (23.9% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 864 (30.3% vs. 23.9%) were registered as Republicans and 1,304 (45.7% vs. 42.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[80] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 37.1% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 45.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide).[80][81]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,195 votes (49.1% vs. 58.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 1,189 votes (48.8% vs. 40.2%) and other candidates with 37 votes (1.5% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,436 ballots cast by the township's 3,129 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.9% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County).[82][83] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 1,089 votes (49.4% vs. 58.4% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,058 votes (48.0% vs. 39.9%) and other candidates with 32 votes (1.5% vs. 1.0%), among the 2,204 ballots cast by the township's 2,681 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.2% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County).[84] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 896 votes (54.8% vs. 46.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 713 votes (43.6% vs. 52.9%) and other candidates with 19 votes (1.2% vs. 0.8%), among the 1,636 ballots cast by the township's 1,986 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.4% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county).[85]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 975 votes (64.6% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 476 votes (31.5% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 30 votes (2.0% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,509 ballots cast by the township's 3,138 registered voters, yielding a 48.1% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county).[86][87] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 837 votes (55.1% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 580 votes (38.2% vs. 44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 57 votes (3.8% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 34 votes (2.2% vs. 1.2%), among the 1,518 ballots cast by the township's 2,786 registered voters, yielding a 54.5% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county).[88]
Education
The Chesterfield School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at Chesterfield Elementary School.[89][90] As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 723 students and 67.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.8:1.[91] A replacement school building for grades K–6 was planned based on the results of a referendum passed in December 2007 that provided for spending of $37.7 million towards the project.[92] The new school opened in January 2011, after having been pushed back from an original target opening date of September 2010.[93]
Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades attend the schools of the Northern Burlington County Regional School District, which also serves students from Mansfield Township, North Hanover Township and Springfield Township, along with children of United States Air Force personnel based at McGuire Air Force Base.[94][95] The schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[96]) are
Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School[97] with 743 students in grades 7 - 8 and
Northern Burlington County Regional High School[98] with 1,403 students in grades 9-12.[99][100] Both schools are in the Columbus section of Mansfield Township. Using a formula that reflects the population and the value of the assessed property in each of the constituent municipalities, taxpayers in Chesterfield Township pay 21.6% of the district's tax levy, with the district's 2013–2014 budget including $35.6 million in spending.[101] The 7–12 district's board of education has nine members, who are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year.[102] The nine seats on the Board of Education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with two seats assigned to Chesterfield Township.[103][104]
Students from Chesterfield Township, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton Township.[105]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 58.79 miles (94.61 km) of roadways, of which 38.50 miles (61.96 km) were maintained by the municipality, 18.17 miles (29.24 km) by Burlington County and 2.12 miles (3.41 km) by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.[106]
From 2004 when plans were announced until its completion in early November 2014, the Turnpike was widened along a 35-mile (56 km) stretch between Interchange 6 in Mansfield Township to Interchange 9 in East Brunswick Township in Middlesex County. Two new carriageways (to accommodate the outer roadways, or truck lanes) were built from Interchange 6 to Interchange 8A in Monroe Township, Middlesex County, and an additional lane on the existing outer roadways was added as well between Interchanges 8A and 9, bringing the roadway up to 12 lanes of traffic in a 3-3-3-3 "dual-dual" configuration of separate truck and car lanes in each direction.[109][110]
^Henry Charlton Beck: More Forgotten Towns of Southern New Jersey; Rutgers University Press, 1963, p. 199
^Chesterfield Township: Recklesstown Historic DistrictArchived 2006-06-21 at the Wayback Machine, 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."
^FISCAL NOTE ASSEMBLY, No. 3331 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 211th LEGISLATURE, New Jersey Legislature, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 25, 2012. "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."
^O'Sullivan, Jeannie. "Chesterfield governing body to increase by 2 seats", Burlington County Times, November 6, 2013. Accessed February 14, 2015. "Residents have won their quest for wider representation on the Township Committee, but the change won't go into effect for more than a year. In Tuesday's election, voters approved a special question to expand the number of seats on the governing body from three to five. Citizens will have the opportunity to file petitions for the two new seats, along with one expiring term held by Committeeman Jeremy Liedtka, in the primary election in June."
^"Judge: Rita Romeu Takes Twp Committee, Will be Sworn in Thursday", WBNC News, January 2017. Accessed September 15, 2019. "A judge today declared Rita Romeu a winner in the 2016 Chesterfield Township Committee Election. 2 more votes from Chesterfield residents whose ballots did not originally count was all it took Wednesday afternoon to end the long-standing tie between Democratic Candidate Rita Romeu and Republican Ron Kolczynski."
^Chesterfield Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Chesterfield School District. Accessed July 31, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through six in the Chesterfield Township School District. Composition: The Chesterfield Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Chesterfield Township."
^Walsh, Jim. "School repair plan rejected in Deptford", Courier-Post, December 12, 2007. Accessed July 19, 2011. "But residents approved a $37.7 million plan for a new elementary school in fast growing Chesterfield, Burlington County..."
^Zimmaro, Mark. "Sharp tax increase included in Northern Burlington budget", Burlington County Times, April 8, 2013. Accessed November 10, 2014. "The $35.6 million budget represents a 2.7 percent increase from last year's spending plan.... Tax rates in sending districts are determined using a state equalization formula that takes into account factors such as population and assessed values. Based on the formula, Chesterfield taxpayers fund 21.6 percent of Northern Burlington's tax levy, Mansfield 46.5 percent, North Hanover 14.2 percent and Springfield 17.7 percent."
^NJ Turnpike Interchange 6 to Widening program Overview, New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Accessed November 21, 2013. "The NJ Turnpike Interchange 6 to 9 Widening Program (Widening Program) consists of approximately 35 miles of road widening and associated interchange improvements from the vicinity of Interchange 6, in Mansfield Township, Burlington County (Milepost 48) to just south of Interchange 9 in East Brunswick Township, Middlesex County (Milepost 83)."
^Caldwell, Dave. "Sprinter Turned Driver Is a Quick Study in Acceleration", The New York Times, August 30, 2009. Accessed November 26, 2013. "Brown, a 33-year-old native of Chesterfield, N.J., could become the first African-American to win a major N.H.R.A. championship.... Brown lived in Trenton until he was 6. When his grandfather died, his family moved to his grandmother's 10-acre farm in Chesterfield, in the rural part of Burlington County."
^"Andrea Katz", Bucks County Courier Times, September 23, 2015. Accessed December 1, 2023. "Community and/or professional organizations with which you are affiliated: Chesterfield Township Board of Education, member"
^The Cast Iron Plow, Today in Science History. Accessed November 26, 2013. "Charles Newbold, born in Chesterfield, NJ (1980), spent his teenage years investigating the use of cast iron to improve on the heavy iron-clad wooden plow then available. He was issued the first US patent for a plow on 26 June 1797."
^Roberts, Julia. Women, Men, and Taverns in Tavern-Keeper Ely Playter's Journal, York University. Accessed July 31, 2022. "Playter was also a Loyalist. Born in the midst of Revolution, on November 30, 1776, in Chesterfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, he never actually chose his allegiance, but had Loyalism and its repercussions thrust upon him."
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