[21] Fairfield Township was formed by Royal charter on May 12, 1697, from portions of the Cohansey Township area, while still part of Salem County, and was formed as a precinct in the newly created Cumberland County on January 19, 1748.

It was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of the initial group of 104 townships in the state by an act of the New Jersey Legislature.

[1][2] Fairton (with a 2010 census population of 1,264,[26]) and Gouldtown are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Fairfield Township.

[27] Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Back Neck, Ben Davis Point, Clarks Pond, Fordville, Lanings Wharf, Mulfords Landing, New England Crossroads, Sea Breeze and Tindells Landing.

[28] The township has three primary population centers: Sea Breeze, Fairton (originally named Bumbridge) and Gouldtown, an old African American community from the segregation period.

[30][31] The 2010 United States census counted 6,295 people, 1,882 households, and 1,357 families in the township.

[19] Fairfield Township had the highest percentage of Native Americans in any municipality in New Jersey, at 5.10% in the 2010 census.

[citation needed] The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $46,895 (with a margin of error of +/− $3,014) and the median family income was $55,286 (+/− $4,900).

[3][47][48][49][50][51] JoAnne Servais was appointed to serve the unexpired term ending December 2014 of Dennis Pierce, who had resigned from office in June 2012 citing health issues.

[55][56][57] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).

[59] For the 2024-2025 session, the 1st legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Mike Testa (R, Vineland) and in the General Assembly by Antwan McClellan (R, Ocean City) and Erik K. Simonsen (R, Lower Township).

[61] As of 2025[update], members of the Cumberland County Board of County Commissioners (with party affiliation, residence and term-end year listed in parentheses) are: Douglas A. Albrecht (R, Vineland, 2025),[62] Deputy Director Antonio Romero (R, Vineland, 2027),[63] Sandra Taylor (R, Downe Township; 2026),[64] Victoria Groetsch-Lods (R, Vineland, 2025),[65] Arthur Marchand (R, Hopewell Township, 2026),[66] James Sauro (R, Vineland, 2026)[67] and Robert A. Austino (D, Bridgeton, 2027).

[81][82] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 75.9% of the vote (1,860 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain, who received 22.3% (547 votes), with 2,451 ballots cast among the township's 3,707 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.1%.

[83] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 68.7% of the vote (1,476 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush, who received around 29.6% (636 votes), with 2,149 ballots cast among the township's 3,400 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 63.2.

[109][110] NJ Transit offers service on the 553 route between Upper Deerfield Township and Atlantic City.

[111][112] People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Fairfield Township include: