Fortescue, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
,_July_2021.jpg) Fortescue Beach | |
  Fortescue Location in
Cumberland County  Fortescue Location in
New Jersey  Fortescue Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 39°14′15″N 75°10′18″W / 39.23750°N 75.17167°W | |
| Country | 
United States |
| State | 
New Jersey |
| County | Cumberland |
| Township | Downe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.32 sq mi (0.81 km2) |
| • Land | 0.29 sq mi (0.75 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 189 |
| • Density | 651.7/sq mi (251.6/km2) |
| ZIP Code | 08321 |
| FIPS code | 34-24360 [3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0876423 [4] |
Fortescue is a community and census-designated place (CDP) [5] in Downe Township, Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. [6] The community is located on the state's southern coast, on the Delaware Bay, surrounded on three sides by marshland. The area was named for John Fortescue, a local property owner at the time of American independence. [7] [8] As of the 2020 United States census, the CDP's population was 189. [2]
During the late 1970s and mid 1980s, Fortescue experienced the best fishing it had ever seen. Anglers were catching enormous numbers of weakfish every summer. Fortescue was the self-proclaimed "weakfish capital of the world". [9] Overfishing led federal authorities to establish limits in the mid-1970s on the weakfish catch, though by 1990 the fish population had crashed, severely impacting the commercial fishing economy in the area. [7]
Fortescue is part of the Fortescue State Wildlife Management Area which covers 1,311.92 acres (530.92 ha). [10]
Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, the area had a population of 189. [2]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 189 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 [2] | |||
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Fortescue has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. [11]
References
- ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Census Data Explorer: Fortescue CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 15, 2023.
- ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed June 9, 2023.
- ^ "Fortescue". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
- ^ State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022.
- ^ Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed June 9, 2016.
- ^ a b "Ever hear of a town called Fortescue?", Asbury Park Press, December 30, 2015. Accessed July 2, 2019. "Named after John Fortescue, who owned the land before 1776, the little town is surrounded by protected wetlands."
- ^ Gannett, Henry (January 28, 1895). "A Geographic Dictionary of New Jersey". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
- ^ About, Downe Township. Accessed October 4, 2017. "Commercial and recreational fishing and boating are an important part of the way of life here, in fact, Downe and Fortescue are known as the 'weakfish capital' of the world."
- ^ Fortescue Wildlife Management Area, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlige. Accessed June 8, 2016.
- ^ Climate Summary for Fortescue, New Jersey
Municipalities and communities of
Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Borough | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs |
| |
|
Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |