Mansfield Township, Warren County, New Jersey

Mansfield Township is a township in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 7,781, its highest decennial census count ever,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> and an increase of 56 (+0.7%) from the 2010 census count of 7,725,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 1,072 (+16.1%) from the 6,653 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>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.</ref>

What is now Mansfield Township was formed on May 30, 1754, as Mansfield-Woodhouse Township from portions of Greenwich Township, while the area was still part of Sussex County, and was incorporated as Mansfield Township on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature. The township became part of the newly formed Warren County on November 20, 1824. Portions of the township were taken to form Franklin Township (April 8, 1839) and Washington Township (April 9, 1849).<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 247. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The township was named after William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield.<ref name=Snell>Snell, James P. History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers, p. 726. Everts & Peck, 1881. Accessed September 4, 2015. "The township was formed out of Greenwich in 1754. It received its name in honor of Lord Mansfield, of London, who was a prominent jurist on the Queen's Bench at that time."</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 29.69 square miles (76.90 km²), including 29.59 square miles (76.63 km²) of land and 0.11 square miles (0.27 km²) of water (0.35%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Anderson (with a 2010 Census population of 342<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Anderson CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref>), Beattystown (4,554<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Beattystown CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref>) and Port Murray (129<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Port Murray CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref>) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within the township.<ref>GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref><ref>2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref><ref name=CPH232>New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, p. III-5, August 2012. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref>

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Karrsville, Mount Bethel, Penwell, Rockport and Stephensburg.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 5, 2015.</ref>

The township borders the municipalities of Hackettstown, Independence Township, Liberty Township, Oxford Township and Washington Township in Warren County; Lebanon Township in Hunterdon County; and Washington Township in Morris County.<ref>Municipal Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

Template:US Census population The Township's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 7,725 people, 2,972 households, and 2,000 families in the township. The population density was 259.1 per square mile (100.0/km²). There were 3,316 housing units at an average density of 111.2 per square mile (42.9/km²). The racial makeup was 86.73% (6,700) White, 4.89% (378) Black or African American, 0.18% (14) Native American, 3.21% (248) Asian, 0.03% (2) Pacific Islander, 3.06% (236) from other races, and 1.90% (147) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.94% (845) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 2,972 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18; 51.8% were married couples living together; 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.7% were non-families. Of all households, 25.5% were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.08.<ref name=Census2010/>

22.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.4 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $74,063 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,316) and the median family income was $87,434 (+/− $8,330). Males had a median income of $56,567 (+/− $5,612) versus $41,583 (+/− $1,597) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,259 (+/− $2,751). About 5.1% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Mansfield township, Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 6,653 people, 2,334 households, and 1,750 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,415 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 90.91% White, 4.51% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 1.59% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.37% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Mansfield township, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Mansfield township, Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref>

There were 2,334 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.18.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the ownship the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $61,763, and the median income for a family was $76,102. Males had a median income of $50,295 versus $35,737 for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,277. About 2.7% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Mansfield 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.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> 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.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 103.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> At an annual reorganization meeting conducted during the first week of January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.

Template:As of, members of the Mansfield Township Committee are Mayor Joseph E. Watters (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Deputy mayor Glen McGuinness (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2022; elected to serve an unexpired term), Desiree Mora Dillon (R, 2022) and Joseph D. Farino (R, 2023) and Ronald Hayes (R, 2023).<ref name=Government>Municipal Government, Mansfield Township. Accessed May 30, 2024. "Under the current township government laws, the Township Committee remains the backbone of the municipality’s government. Voters elect, at-large, the Township Committee comprising five members. The elections are partisan and the committee members serve staggered three-year terms. The Township Committee elects the mayor for a one-year term."</ref><ref>2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Mansfield Township. Accessed June 21, 2022.</ref><ref name=Warren2021>Summary Results Report 2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Warren2020>Warren County 2020 General Election November 20, 2020 Official Results, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Warren2019>General Election November 5, 2019, Warren County Official Tally, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 12, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

In January 2020, Tony Cardell, who had been elected as a Republican in November 2019, announced that he would not be taking office for the seat expiring in December 2022.<ref>Reorganization Meeting Minutes for January 1, 2020, Township of Mansfield. Accessed February 26, 2020. "Ms. Hrebenak stated that a letter of resignation was received from Mr. Tony Cardell, this causes a vacancy on the Township Committee and will be referred to the Municipal County Committee."</ref> Glen McGuinness was elected in November 2021 to fill the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Warren2021/>

Federal, state, and county representation

Mansfield Township is located in the 7th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,443 registered voters in Mansfield Township, of which 779 (17.5% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,784 (40.2% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,877 (42.2% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were three voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Warren, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 57.5% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 74.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,789 votes (57.6% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,232 votes (39.7% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 45 votes (1.4% vs. 1.7%), among the 3,105 ballots cast by the township's 4,596 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.6% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Warren County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Warren County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,925 votes (57.5% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,328 votes (39.7% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 50 votes (1.5% vs. 1.6%), among the 3,349 ballots cast by the township's 4,504 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.4% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Warren County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,043 votes (64.6% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,076 votes (34.0% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 34 votes (1.1% vs. 1.3%), among the 3,163 ballots cast by the township's 4,227 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.8% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Warren County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref>

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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 74.1% of the vote (1,251 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.7% (401 votes), and other candidates with 2.2% (37 votes), among the 1,715 ballots cast by the township's 4,683 registered voters (26 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.6%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,415 votes (66.5% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 482 votes (22.6% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 171 votes (8.0% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 29 votes (1.4% vs. 1.5%), among the 2,129 ballots cast by the township's 4,360 registered voters, yielding a 48.8% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Warren County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed June 10, 2013.</ref>

Education

Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through sixth grade are served by the Mansfield Township School District at Mansfield Township Elementary School.<ref name=WarrenDistricts>Warren County 2022-2023 Public School Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed December 27, 2022.</ref> As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 607 students and 56.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.7:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Mansfield Township Elementary School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>

Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades attend the schools of the Warren Hills Regional School District, which also serves students from the municipalities of Franklin Township, Washington Borough and Washington Township, along with those from Oxford Township (for 9–12 only, attending on a tuition basis).<ref>Warren Hills Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Warren Hills Regional School District. Accessed June 6, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades 7 through 12 in the Warren Hills Regional School District. Composition: The Warren Hills Regional School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Franklin Township, Mansfield Township, Washington Borough, Washington Township in the County of Warren."</ref><ref>Warren Hills Regional School District 2014 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 6, 2020. "At Warren Hills Regional, we provide our students with a strong academic foundation. From the receiving districts of Franklin Township, Mansfield Township, Oxford (high school tuition students), Washington Borough and Washington Township, students progress along the academic continuum led by a faculty committed to planning and implementing a variety of instructional strategies and activities that facilitate the preparation of our students for the challenge of mastering the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and the Common Core State Standards."</ref><ref>Our History, Warren Hills Regional School District. Accessed June 6, 2020. "The Warren Hills Regional School District services students from Franklin Township, Mansfield Township, Washington Borough and Washington Township. Oxford Township currently sends its high school students to the Warren Hills Regional High School on a tuition basis."</ref> Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>Warren Hills Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>) are Warren Hills Regional Middle School<ref>Warren Hills Regional Middle School, Warren Hills Regional School District. Accessed June 6, 2020.</ref> with 542 students in grades 7 and 8 (located in Washington Borough) and Warren Hills Regional High School<ref>Warren Hills Regional High School, Warren Hills Regional School District. Accessed June 6, 2020.</ref> with 1,205 students in grades 9–12 (located in Washington Township).<ref name=WarrenDistricts/><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Warren Hills Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated to based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with three seats assigned to Mansfield Township.<ref>Warren Hills Regional Board of Education District Policy 0141 - Board Member Number and Term, Warren Hills Regional School District. Accessed June 6, 2020. "The Board of Education shall consist of nine [9] members as follows: Franklin Township - 1 member; Mansfield Township - 3 members; Washington Borough - 2 members; Washington Township - 3 members. The term of a Board member shall be three [3] years."</ref><ref>Warren Hills Regional Board of Education, Warren Hills Regional School District. Accessed June 6, 2020.</ref>

Students from the township and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township (for grades K–8)<ref>F.A.Q., Ridge and Valley Charter School. Accessed January 5, 2017. "Enrollment is open, on a space available basis, to all K-8 students residing in N.J. with priority given to students residing in the districts of Blairstown, Hardwick, Knowlton, Frelinghuysen, and North Warren Regional School."</ref> or Warren County Technical School in Washington borough (for 9–12),<ref>About Us Template:Webarchive, Warren County Technical School. Accessed September 12, 2013.</ref> with special education services provided by local districts supplemented throughout the county by the Warren County Special Services School District in Oxford Township (for PreK–12).<ref name=WarrenDistricts/><ref>About Template:Webarchive, Warren County Special Services School District. Accessed September 12, 2013.</ref>

Transportation

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Warren County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Warren County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

The only major roads that pass through are Route 31 which passes through briefly in the west<ref>Route 31 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated May 2017. Accessed September 4, 2022.</ref> and Route 57 runs for Template:Convert in the southern part.<ref>Route 57 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated May 2016. Accessed September 4, 2022.</ref>

No limited access roads traverse through. However, they are accessible two towns over such as Interstate 78 (in Franklin, Union, Clinton and Tewksbury townships) and Interstate 80 (in Knowlton, Hope, Allamuchy and Mount Olive townships).<ref>Warren County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed February 25, 2023.</ref>

Public transportation

A small general aviation airport, named Hackettstown Airport and holding the official database designation of Template:Airport codes is in Mansfield Township, only a few hundred yards from the municipal border with Hackettstown.<ref>"Four People Injured In Small-Plane Crash Mansfield Twp. Warren County",The Morning Call, August 4, 1998. Accessed September 4, 2022. "Four New Jersey residents were injured Sunday afternoon when their small plane crashed shortly after takeoff at Hackettstown Airport in Mansfield Township in eastern Warren County."</ref>

Rail service is provided into Hackettstown by NJ Transit. South of Hackettstown, Norfolk Southern's Washington Secondary passes the location of the Rockport Wreck, a train accident that occurred on June 16, 1925, that resulted in 50 fatalities.<ref>Staff. "Mansfield Township was the scene of one of the worst railroad disasters 85 years ago", The Express-Times, June 16, 2010. Accessed June 10, 2013. "Eight-five years ago today, a stretch of the Lackawanna Railway in Mansfield Township became the scene of one of the worst railway disasters in the nation's history. On June 16, 1925, 50 people died when a Hoboken-bound steam locomotive derailed near the Rockport Pheasant Farm when the front wheels hit debris from a heavy rain storm and jumped the track at approximately 3 a.m."</ref>

Notable people

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

• John D. Bulkeley (1911–1996), vice admiral in the United States Navy who was one of its most decorated naval officers<ref>Charlton, Art; and Sterling, Guy. "A legendary wartime hero started out as Jersey boy", The Star-Ledger, April 9, 1996. Accessed March 8, 2025, via Newspapers.com. The 1928 yearbook of Hackettstown High School predicted John D. Bulkeley would be a sailor, but that underestimated the kind of sailor he became: a highly decorated wartime hero who rose to the rank of vice admiral.... "Dale said he moved to a farm in Mansfield, Warren County, as a young boy. There he attended a one-room elementary school in Beattystown."</ref>
• John Eugene Kunzler (1923– 2006), scientist and physicist who conducted pioneering research into the field of superconducting magnets.<ref>"Alumni 1950:", p. 37, Catalyst Magazine of the University of California, Berkeley, June 16, 2015. Accessed March 30, 2023. "We have learned from his daughter, Marilyn Barber, that John Eugene Kunzler (Ph.D. Chem) passed away on Najuary 11, 2006, after a brief battle with cancer... He had made his home in Port Murray, NJ."</ref>
• Michael Weiner (1961–2013), attorney who served as the fifth executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association<ref>McCullough, Andy. "Michael Weiner, battling inoperable brain tumor, continues to draw people together", The Star-Ledger, January 6, 2013. Accessed May 3, 2015. "From childhood to college, law school to labor relations, his role as executive director of the MLB Players Association to his home in Mansfield Township, Michael Weiner drew people together."</ref>

External links

• Mansfield Township website