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 3,136, an increase of 17 (+0.5%) from the 2010 census count of 3,119, which in turn reflected an increase of 192 (+6.6%) from the 2,927 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.
Deerfield Township was formed as a precinct on January 19, 1748, and 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 Bridgeton Township (March 3, 1845) and Upper Deerfield Township (February 23, 1922).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026. The township was named for Deerfield, Massachusetts.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 16.88 square miles (43.72 km2), including 16.84 square miles (43.62 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of water (0.22%).
Rosenhayn (2020 population of 1,150) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Deerfield Township.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 22, 2012.Rosenhayn CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 23, 2025.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Carmel and Garton.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.
Deerfield Township borders Fairfield Township, Millville, Upper Deerfield Township and Vineland in Cumberland County; and Pittsgrove Township in Salem County.Map of Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed March 27, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 3,119 people, 1,089 households, and 810 families in the township. The population density was . There were 1,143 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 73.23% (2,284) White, 12.06% (376) Black or African American, 2.12% (66) Native American, 1.35% (42) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 7.41% (231) from other races, and 3.85% (120) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.08% (439) of the population.
Of the 1,089 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18; 56.6% were married couples living together; 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.6% were non-families. Of all households, 20.2% were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.24.
24.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.9 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $68,571 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,904) and the median family income was $73,566 (+/− $9,367). Males had a median income of $46,309 (+/− $5,147) versus $31,574 (+/− $6,302) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,799 (+/− $3,131). About 3.1% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,927 people, 1,013 households, and 785 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 1,065 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 78.20% White, 13.05% African American, 1.54% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 3.04% from other races, and 3.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.94% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Deerfield township, Cumberland County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 22, 2012.
There were 1,013 households, out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the township the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $45,365, and the median income for a family was $47,225. Males had a median income of $34,196 versus $25,147 for females. The per capita income for the township was $18,468. About 6.3% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 14.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government 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 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. 19."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025. At an annual reorganization meeting held in January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Deerfield Township Committee are Mayor Abigail Perlstein O'Brien (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2027; term as mayor ends December 31, 2025), Deputy Mayor Brian L. Casper (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2025), Dominick A. Patitucci (R, 2027), Micole C. "Mikki" Sparacio (R, 2025; elected to an unexpired term) and John A. Wolbert Jr. (R, 2027).Officials, Deerfield Township. Accessed July 23, 2025.2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of Deerfield. Accessed July 23, 2025.2024 Directory of Cumberland County, New Jersey, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Accessed July 1, 2025.General Election Results November 5, 2024, Official Results, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.November 7, 2023 General Election Results, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.Election Summary Report General Election Cumberland County November 8, 2022, Cumberland County, New Jersey, updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
After being tied on election day at the November 2014 general election with 362 votes, Democratic incumbent Frank Spatola Jr. was re-elected with 366 votes, edging Republican challenger Jason P. Scythes by three votes once provisional ballots were counted.Woods, Done E. "Deerfield Township election result comes down to 3-vote difference", NJ.com, November 10, 2014. Accessed June 30, 2016. "According to Kelly Hoffman, election clerk for the Cumberland County Clerk's Office, Democratic incumbent Deputy Mayor Frank Spatola Jr. won re-election with 366 votes. Jason P. Scythes, the Republican challenger, received 363 votes.... After Election Day, Spatola and Scythes were originally tied with 362 votes each." At the township's January 2015 reorganization meeting, Sparacio was sworn in using a conference call as he was stationed outside the country as part of his service with the Air National Guard.Woods, Don E. "Deerfield Township swears in deployed committeeman over telephone", South Jersey Times, January 14, 2015. Accessed January 15, 2015. "Even though he was deployed overseas with the Air National Guard, Deerfield Township Committeeman Joseph V. Sparacio was sworn in over a conference call during the township's reorganization."
Federal, state and county representation 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 2,087 registered voters in Deerfield Township, of which 552 (26.4%) were registered as Democrats, 522 (25.0%) were registered as Republicans and 1,013 (48.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.Voter Registration Summary - Cumberland, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 22, 2012.