Springfield was formed as a township on April 14, 1794, from portions of Elizabeth Township and Newark Township, while the area was still part of Essex County, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's first 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. It became part of the newly formed Union County on March 19, 1857, with portions remaining in Essex County used to create Millburn. Other portions of the township have been taken to form New Providence Township (November 8, 1809, now known as Berkeley Heights), Livingston (February 5, 1813), Summit (March 23, 1869) and Cranford (March 14, 1871).[23] The township's name derives from springs and brooks in the area.[24]
Springfield is the home of the Baltusrol Golf Club, which was the host to the 2016 PGA Championship. It has also hosted other golfmajor championships, including the U.S. Open, held on seven occasions at Baltusrol, most recently in 1993. Golfweek magazine ranked Baltusrol as the 36th best in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Classic Courses" in the country.[25]
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Springfield as the 85th best place to live in New Jersey in its 2010 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.[26]
History
Springfield is celebrated as the site of a Battle of Springfield between the American Continental Army and British forces on June 23, 1780. The British, under Hessian General Wilhelm von Knyphausen, advanced from Elizabethtown about 5 o'clock in the morning. They were opposed by General Nathanael Greene, but owing to the superior number of the enemy he was compelled to evacuate Springfield, which was then burned by the British. During the action the Rev. James Caldwell, chaplain in the New Jersey brigade, is said to have distributed the Watts hymn books from the neighboring Presbyterian Church among the soldiers for wadding, saying at the same time, "Now put Watts into them, boys." This battle prevented further advance on the part of the British. The American loss was about 15 and that of the British about 150.[27]
Some historical landmarks from the Revolution still stand: the Cannon Ball House, which has since been converted into a museum, was (according to the township's official website) "Built circa 1741 and served as a farmhouse at the time of the Revolutionary War. During the Battle of Springfield (June 23, 1780) the British used it as a hospital. ... It was one of only three buildings left standing when all others including the Presbyterian Church where Reverend James Caldwell had taken Watts hymnbooks for rifle wadding, were set on fire. ... In later years the house became a tavern to serve travelers on Morris (Ave) Turnpike. The farmland was later sold off, and it served then as a private residence. The property was acquired by the Springfield Historical Society in 1955. It has become known as The Cannon Ball House because a cannonball was found on the west side embedded in a beam. ... The Cannon Ball House has five revolutionary era rooms, some American Civil War items, early tools, a Battle diorama and a colonial garden. It has just been (1998) renovated to its original appearance and color."[28]
After being burned down by the British, First Presbyterian Church was rebuilt. A statue of a Continental soldier was erected in 1903 at the site of the smallest state park in New Jersey.[29][30]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 5.17 square miles (13.40 km2), including 5.16 square miles (13.36 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.04 km2) of water (0.31%).[1][2]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Baltusrol, Branch Mills and Milltown.[34]
The 2010 United States census counted 15,817 people, 6,511 households, and 4,265 families in the township. The population density was 3,057.2 per square mile (1,180.4/km2). There were 6,736 housing units at an average density of 1,302.0 per square mile (502.7/km2). The racial makeup was 82.46% (13,042) White, 6.25% (989) Black or African American, 0.06% (10) Native American, 7.70% (1,218) Asian, 0.01% (2) Pacific Islander, 1.75% (277) from other races, and 1.76% (279) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.50% (1,502) of the population.[20]
Of the 6,511 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18; 53.6% were married couples living together; 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.5% were non-families. Of all households, 29.6% were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.05.[20]
21.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 88.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 84.7 males.[20]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $84,038 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,139) and the median family income was $111,359 (+/− $8,121). Males had a median income of $74,335 (+/− $7,959) versus $62,859 (+/− $6,250) for females. The per capita income for the township was $46,393 (+/− $3,175). About 2.9% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.[50]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[17] there were 14,429 people, 6,001 households, and 4,014 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,801.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,081.8/km2). There were 6,204 housing units at an average density of 1,204.7 per square mile (465.1/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 89.72% White, 3.72% African American, 0.02% Native American, 4.69% Asian, 0.96% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.14% of the population.[47][48]
There were 6,001 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.98.[47][48]
In the township the population was spread out, with 20.6% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.[47][48]
The median income for a household in the township was $73,790, and the median income for a family was $85,725. Males had a median income of $55,907 versus $39,542 for females. The per capita income for the township was $36,754. About 1.8% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.[47][48]
Government
Local government
The Township of Springfield 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.[51] 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.[8][52] At an annual reorganization meeting, usually held on the first day of January, the committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.[3]
As of 2023[update], members of the Springfield Township Committee members are Mayor Christopher Capodice (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2023; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Alex Keiser (D, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Erica DuBois (D, 2025), Richard Huber (D, 2025), and Christopher Weber (D, 2024).[3][4][53][54][55][56]
Union County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners, whose nine members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis with three seats coming up for election each year, with an appointed County Manager overseeing the day-to-day operations of the county. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Chair and Vice Chair from among its members.[67] As of 2024[update], Union County's County Commissioners are:
Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Joanne Rajoppi (D, Union Township, 2025),[78][79]
Sheriff Peter Corvelli (D, Kenilworth, 2026)[80][81] and
Surrogate Christopher E. Hudak (D, Clark, 2027).[82][83]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 10,078 registered voters in Springfield Township, of which 3,271 (32.5% vs. 41.8% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,795 (17.8% vs. 15.3%) were registered as Republicans and 5,007 (49.7% vs. 42.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[84] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 63.7% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 80.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide).[84][85]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,083 votes (55.3% vs. 66.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 3,179 votes (43.0% vs. 32.3%) and other candidates with 63 votes (0.9% vs. 0.8%), among the 7,388 ballots cast by the township's 10,772 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.6% (vs. 68.8% in Union County).[86][87] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 4,328 votes (53.9% vs. 63.1% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 3,548 votes (44.2% vs. 35.2%) and other candidates with 82 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 8,033 ballots cast by the township's 10,379 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.4% (vs. 74.7% in Union County).[88] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 4,246 votes (55.1% vs. 58.3% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 3,372 votes (43.8% vs. 40.3%) and other candidates with 49 votes (0.6% vs. 0.7%), among the 7,703 ballots cast by the township's 9,885 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.9% (vs. 72.3% in the whole county).[89]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 57.0% of the vote (2,624 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 41.7% (1,921 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (59 votes), among the 4,723 ballots cast by the township's 10,771 registered voters (119 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.8%.[90][91] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,477 votes (46.0% vs. 41.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 2,447 votes (45.5% vs. 50.6%), Independent Chris Daggett with 359 votes (6.7% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 28 votes (0.5% vs. 0.8%), among the 5,380 ballots cast by the township's 10,214 registered voters, yielding a 52.7% turnout (vs. 46.5% in the county).[92]
Education
The Springfield Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.[93] As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 2,273 students and 167.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.6:1.[94] All of the township's schools are named after notable Springfieldians. For instance, the township's high school is named after Jonathan Dayton, a signer of the United States Constitution. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[95]) are
Edward V. Walton Early Childhood Center[96] with 627 students in grades Pre-K–2,
James Caldwell Elementary School[97] with 255 students in grades 3–5,
Thelma L. Sandmeier Elementary School[98] with 261 students in grades 3–5,
Florence M. Gaudineer Middle School[99] with 512 students in grades 6–8 and
Jonathan Dayton High School[100] with 578 students in grades 9–12.[101]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 56.53 miles (90.98 km) of roadways, of which 39.82 miles (64.08 km) were maintained by the municipality, 8.63 miles (13.89 km) by Union County and 8.08 miles (13.00 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[104]
NJ Transit provides bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan in New York City and to points in New Jersey including Newark Penn Station. Parking is available for a fee at a municipal lot near the center of town (Hannah Street and Center Street) and in the Duffy's Corner lot at Morris and Caldwell Place, which provide easy access to all NJ Transit buses that run through town. Annual permits are available from the town hall.
Although there is no train station in Springfield, the Millburn and Short Hills NJ Transit stations are located nearby, though neither allows commuter-hour parking for non-residents. The closest stations that allow out-of-town residents access to parking are Maplewood and Summit. The 70 bus provides access from the center of town to NJ Transit's Summit and Millburn stations; Eastbound it terminates at NJ Transit's Newark Penn Station with connections to Amtrak, NJ Transit trains to New York Penn Station, and Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) trains. The township also runs a jitney that operates on weekdays during morning and evening rush hours from the community pool to NJ Transit's Short Hills station.[112] NJ Transit buses 65, 66 and 70 (to Newark), the 114 (to Midtown Manhattan's Port Authority Bus Terminal) and local service on the 52 route also run along the town's major roadways. Bus #114 runs at a frequency of 2-3 buses per hour during rush hour and 1 per hour outside of rush hour.[113]
Newark Liberty International Airport is approximately 10 miles (16 km) east of Springfield, putting hundreds of direct international and national flights within a 20 min reach of the town's residents.
Historical transportation
The Rahway Valley Railroad passed through the community, and during the early 20th century offered both freight and passenger service, but is currently out of service. The section of the railway that extended from Springfield to Summit was taken out of service in 1976, though special trains were operated to provide service to Baltusrol during the 1980 U.S. Open.[114]
A trolley line called the Morris County Traction Company, ran trolley service through Springfield to/from Newark and Morris County, in the early part of the 20th century.[115]
Jeannette DePalma (1956–1972), murder victim found in Houdaille Quarry whose unsolved case has become a matter of significant controversy thanks in part to coverage in Weird NJ magazine[123]
Harry Pappas, politician who served on the Springfield Township Committee, has held posts in the Democratic and Republican parties in New Jersey and is a perennial candidate for public office[138]
James Yee (born c. 1968), former United States Armychaplain with the rank of captain; best known for being subject to an intense investigation by the United States, but all charges were later dropped[148]
^ abcTownship Committee, Springfield Township. Accessed June 30, 2022. "Since its incorporation as a municipality, the Township operates under the Township Committee form of government and is comprised of five members elected to staggered, three-year terms. At the Committee’s organizational meeting each January, one member is elected to serve as Mayor for a twelve-month term and another is chosen to serve as Deputy Mayor."
^About Springfield, Township of Springfield. Accessed June 30, 2015. "Springfield's First Presbyterian Church, which had been burned by the British, was rebuilt, using much of the original structure. It remains at 210 Morris Avenue to this day. The statue of a Continental Soldier out front is the smallest state park in New Jersey."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^Springfield Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Springfield Public Schools. Accessed May 17, 2020. "Purpose: The Board exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Township of Springfield School District. Composition: The Township of Springfield School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the Township of Springfield in the County of Union, New Jersey."
^Jacobson, Steve. "Put College Before Coach", Newsday, February 17, 1993. Accessed January 27, 2011. "In the locker room the coach, who grew up in Springfield, N.J., flung the lunches and kicked them."
^TopVet: Bill Chatfield, Veterans Advantage, June 25, 2005. Accessed November 17, 2022. "Born in a small town in the Catskill Mountains of New York, Bill spent his formative years 'off Exit 13' of the New Jersey Turnpike in the towns of Springfield and Cranford."
^Monaco, Lou. "Dreams Do Come True: Springfield's Anthony Cioffi to Sign with Oakland Raiders", TAPintoSpringfield, April 30, 2017. Accessed November 11, 2017. "The dream has come true for the Springfield kid.Just work baby!Anthony Cioffi, the 5-foot-11, 205-pound four-year defensive back out of Rutgers and Jonathan Dayton High School alum, signed as a priority undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders."
^Martínez Montero, Homero (1977). Armada Nacional: Estudio Histórico y Biográfico. República Oriental del Uruguay, p. 112 (in Spanish)
^Kaplan, Ron. "Gearing up for a career as NASCAR's rare Jew", New Jersey Jewish News, January 4, 2007. Accessed October 9, 2015. "As a kid, Jon Denning loved to play with cars. Nothing unusual about that; such toys are a staple of childhood. What is unusual is the extreme to which the Springfield native has taken it: Denning is a driver on the NASCAR circuit, a lone Jew in a sport renowned as a haven for 'good ole boys.'"
^Beeson, Ed. "N.J. native Ina Drew took the fall for JPMorgan mess by retiring", The Star-Ledger, May 20, 2012. Accessed October 27, 2017. "Drew, who is 55 and grew up in Springfield, has proven herself over the decades to be a tenacious and loyal worker, having served essentially with one bank as it underwent merger after merger."
^Kleiner, Dick. "Actress Toni Kalem Shaking Ethnic Image", The Sumter Daily Item, January 15, 1982. Accessed October 9, 2015. "And she isn't the New York street girl she played so often. She's actually from Springfield, N.J., the very middle-class daughter of a very middle-class insurance agent."
^Hanley, Robert. "Life At The Center Of Jersey Vote Tallying", The New York Times, November 6, 1981. Accessed September 15, 2014. "Mr. Lan was up nearly all night on Tuesday and did not retire until 4 A.M. He went to a motel across from the State House to sleep, instead of returning to his home in Springfield, where he's lived for 25 years."
^Brown, Dick. "George Low: One of Baltusrol's Best Kept Secrets", Baltusrol Golf Club. Accessed October 9, 2015. "George Low lived on the Baltusrol property, raised his family here, played championship caliber golf, taught the game to a number of very good players and was an honorary life member."
^Capuzzo, Jill P. "The Tangled Journey Of a Governor's Wife", The New York Times, November 7, 2004. Accessed October 7, 2018 "The McGreeveys will be moving out of Drumthwacket, the governor's Greek Revival mansion in Princeton, and go their separate ways -- she to a red-brick ranch she bought for an undisclosed price in Springfield, Union County."
^Gail J. McGovern, Boardroom Insiders, updated April 26, 2015. Accessed October 9, 2015. "Born on January 12, 1952; raised in suburban, Springfield, New Jersey."
^Mark Melni - Owner and Founder of Microchips ETC, Microchips. Accessed October 9, 2015. "Though born in Springfield, New Jersey, Mark has lived most of his life, and raised his family in Twin Falls."
^Curt Merz, NJSports.com. Accessed February 6, 2022. "Curtis Carl Merz was born April 17, 1938 in Newark and grew up in Springfield. Curt was a massive talent who earned all-state honors in football, basketball and track for Jonathan Dayton High School."
^Whiteside, Kelly. "USA's Reyna personifies perseverance", USA Today, June 2, 2006. Accessed October 9, 2015. "Reyna's father, Miguel, is from Argentina, where he played professionally, and his mother, Maria, is from Portugal. His parents immigrated to New Jersey in the late 1950s, then settled a decade later in Springfield, N.J., where Reyna was raised."
^Witchel, Alex. "Field Trip; Give Me That Lower East Side Mix", The New York Times, January 27, 2002. Accessed April 10, 2012. "Unfortunately, they weren't around long. His mother died of leukemia when Mr. Ross was 14, his father of a cerebral hemorrhage when his son was 19. After Mr. Ross graduated from Boston University, his grandfather moved into the family home in Springfield, N.J.; the two were inseparable."
^McCall, Tris. "MTV Video Music Awards 2011: Cobra Starship rocks pre-show", The Star-Ledger, August 28, 2011. Accessed May 23, 2013. "Frontman Gabe Saporta, who lived in Springfield and went to high school in West Orange, was once the bassist and singer in Midtown, a roughneck pop-punk band that shared more with earnest Saves the Day than poppy Panic! at the Disco."
^Lustig, Jay. "Cobra Starship flies with 'Snakes on a Plane'.", The Star-Ledger, December 15, 2006. "With his new band, Cobra Starship, former Springfield resident Gabe Saporta was able to get one of his songs accepted for the soundtrack of the movie Snakes on a Plane."
^via Associated Press. "At Home With Zygi Wilf", WCCO-TV, November 21, 2005, backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 12, 2007. Accessed October 9, 2015. "'It's probably like the quarterback who has to run all the plays,' he says, steering his car into the cul-de-sac where his large French Chateau-style house sits in Springfield, a community that is made up largely of Jewish and Italian families."
^Rivera, Ray. "A Rising Star", The Seattle Times, January 9, 2005. Accessed April 7, 2008. "Jimmy, as his parents called him, grew up Lutheran in the small New Jersey town of Springfield."
United States
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