Fairton, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Fairton is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP)<ref>State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> located within Fairfield Township, in Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.<ref>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 18, 2012.</ref> It is part of the Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area for statistical purposes. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 1,264.<ref name=Census2010>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Fairton CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 2, 2012.</ref>

History

This area was occupied historically by the Lenape and Nanticoke peoples, both part of the Algonquian languages family of the Atlantic coast. Their territory was encroached on by European-American settlers from colonial times.

The first industry in Fairfield was a mill, established by English settler Samuel Fithian. He owned part of the Grist Mill on Forke Creek before 1702. No information has been discovered on the other owners, but the shares were probably held in common. At some time before 1763, the owners moved the mill dam to near Clarks Pond Road. The mill was owned by David Clark from 1759 to 1843.

In the 1810s, a pork and beef business was the principal industry in this area. In the center of town was a busy public wharf, from which were shipped vegetables, fish and lumber to large city markets. Fairton was also active in the boatbuilding industry; between 1850 and 1897, its yards built three sloops.<ref>Conahey Sr., Patrick W. "A look back at history of Fairton", Cumberland County Voices, September 29, 2009. Accessed September 18, 2016.</ref>

In 1978, the indigenous peoples based in Cumberland County reorganized as the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation. Their cultural center is based in Fairton, and their tribal headquarters in Bridgeton.<ref name=NMAI>"Meet Native America: Mark Gould, Chief of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation" Template:Webarchive, National Museum of the American Indian, September 6, 2016. Accessed September 18, 2016. "Our tribal headquarters is located in Bridgeton, in Cumberland County, New Jersey. Our cultural center is located on 51 acres in Fairton, in Cumberland County. Most of our tribal members live and have always lived in Cumberland and Salem counties."</ref> The tribe said that in 2016 they had 3,000 enrolled members, whose membership is based on documented descent from core families and blood quantum. The tribe has not obtained federal recognition. They contend that a state resolution recognized them, but in March 2016 a state court of New Jersey said that the state has not officially recognized any American Indian tribe in its territory and had no process to do so.<ref>"New Jersey judge dismisses lawsuit to recognize American Indian tribes", KYW-TV, March 9, 2016. Accessed September 18, 2016.</ref><ref>O'Sullivan, Jeannie. "New Jersey never formally recognized tribe, judge rules", Law 360, March 9, 2016. Accessed September 18, 2016.</ref> Tribal members have lived for centuries in Cumberland and Salem counties in present-day New Jersey.<ref name=NMAI/>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of Template:Convert, including Template:Convert of land and Template:Convert of water (4.29%).<ref name=CensusArea>Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 21, 2016.</ref><ref name="GR1">US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 1,264 people, 529 households, and 354 families in the CDP. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 573 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 71.76% (907) White, 12.82% (162) Black or African American, 4.83% (61) Native American, 0.71% (9) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 4.03% (51) from other races, and 5.85% (74) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.07% (102) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 529 households, 23.4% had children under the age of 18; 45.4% were married couples living together; 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.1% were non-families. Of all households, 28.4% were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.90.<ref name=Census2010/>

20.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.1 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,253 people, 474 households, and 334 families residing in the CDP. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 511 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the CDP was 61.43% White, 33.38% African American, 2.35% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.54% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>DP-1 - Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Fairton CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 2, 2012.</ref>

There were 474 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.92.<ref name=Census2000/>

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 11.5% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 48.0% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 265.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 313.9 males.<ref name=Census2000/>

The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,962, and the median income for a family was $41,000. Males had a median income of $30,750 versus $25,326 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,005. About 3.1% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Fairton include:

• Nathaniel Clark Burt (1825–1874), Presbyterian clergyman.<ref>"Nathaniel Clark Burt", American Writers and Compilers of Sacred Music. Accessed August 28, 2013. "Nathaniel Clark Burt, born in Fairton, New Jersey, April 23, 1825, graduated from Princeton in 1846, and from its theological seminary three years later."</ref>
• John T. Nixon (1820–1889), represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1859 to 1863.<ref>John Thompson Nixon, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 24, 2007.</ref>