Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Springfield Township, New Jersey
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Township
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First Congregation of the Presbyterian Church at Springfield
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Map of Springfield Township in Union County. Inset: location of Union County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
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Census Bureau map of Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey
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 Springfield Township, New Jersey
Location in Union County, New Jersey
Springfield Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Springfield Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County | Union | |
| Formed | April 14, 1794 | |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5.17 sq mi (13.40 km2) | |
| • Land | 5.16 sq mi (13.36 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2) 0.31% | |
| Area rank | 272nd of 565 in state 9th of 21 in county |
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| Elevation | 138 ft (42 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,178 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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16,846 | |
| • Rank | 155th of 565 in state 12th of 21 in county |
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| • Density | 3,331.0/sq mi (1,286.1/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 204th of 565 in state 18th of 21 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07081
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| Area code(s) | 908 and 973 | |
| FIPS code | 3403970020 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882213 | |
Springfield Township is a community in Union County, New Jersey. It's called a township, which is a type of local government area. Springfield is located on a small hill in central New Jersey. It's also part of the larger New York metropolitan area.
In 2020, about 17,178 people lived here. This was the highest population ever recorded for Springfield. The population has been growing steadily over the past few decades.
Springfield Township was officially created on April 14, 1794. At that time, it was part of Essex County. It became one of New Jersey's first 104 townships in 1798. Later, in 1857, it became part of the new Union County. Over the years, parts of Springfield were used to form other towns like Millburn and Summit. The name "Springfield" comes from the many natural springs and small streams in the area.
Springfield is famous for the Battle of Springfield. This was one of the last major battles of the American Revolutionary War fought in New Jersey. Today, Springfield is also known for the Baltusrol Golf Club. This club has hosted many important golf tournaments, including the 2016 PGA Championship.
Contents
Springfield's History
Springfield's most famous historical event is the Battle of Springfield. This battle happened on June 23, 1780. American soldiers, led by General Nathanael Greene, fought against British forces. The British attacked early in the morning. Even though the Americans fought bravely, they had to leave Springfield. The British then burned down much of the town.
During the battle, a chaplain named Reverend James Caldwell did something memorable. He reportedly gave hymn books from the local Presbyterian Church to soldiers. They used the paper as wadding for their rifles. He famously told them, "Now put Watts into them, boys!" This battle stopped the British from moving further into New Jersey. The Americans lost about 15 soldiers, while the British lost around 150.
Revolutionary War Landmarks
Some buildings from the Revolutionary War era are still standing in Springfield. One important landmark is the Cannon Ball House. This house was built around 1741 and was a farmhouse during the war. The British used it as a hospital during the Battle of Springfield. It was one of only three buildings that survived the fire set by the British.
The Cannon Ball House is now a museum. It's called the "Cannon Ball House" because a cannonball was found stuck in one of its beams. The museum has five rooms from the Revolutionary era. It also displays items from the American Civil War, old tools, and a battle diorama. There's even a colonial garden.
After being burned down, the First Presbyterian Church was rebuilt. In 1903, a statue of an American soldier was put up. It stands at the site of New Jersey's smallest state park.
Springfield's Geography
Springfield Township covers about 5.17 square miles (13.40 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small amount of water.
Springfield is located on the northern edge of Union County. It shares borders with several other towns:
- Millburn to the north (in Essex County)
- Union Township to the east
- Kenilworth to the southeast
- Westfield and Cranford to the south
- Mountainside to the southwest
- Summit to the northwest
Some smaller areas within Springfield include Baltusrol, Branch Mills, and Milltown.
Parks and Recreation in Springfield
Springfield Township has several great places for outdoor activities. The Rahway River Parkway is a green area along the Rahway River that runs through the township.
Other parks include:
- Briant Park, which is partly in Summit.
- Lenape Park, a large park covering 450 acres. It also includes parts of Cranford, Kenilworth, Union Township, and Westfield.
Education in Springfield
The Springfield Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade. The school district has five schools. In the 2022–23 school year, about 2,236 students were enrolled.
All of Springfield's schools are named after important people from the town's history. For example, the high school is named after Jonathan Dayton, who signed the United States Constitution.
The schools in the district are:
- Edward V. Walton Early Childhood Center (PreK-2)
- James Caldwell Elementary School (grades 3-5)
- Thelma L. Sandmeier Elementary School (grades 3-5)
- Florence M. Gaudineer Middle School (grades 6-8)
- Jonathan Dayton High School (grades 9-12)
Next to Florence M. Gaudineer Middle School is Saint James the Apostle School. This is a Catholic school for students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.
Transportation in Springfield
Springfield Township has several major roads and highways passing through it. These include Interstate 78, U.S. Route 22, Route 24, and Route 124.
Public Transportation
NJ Transit provides bus service for Springfield residents. You can take buses to places like the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan (New York City) and to Newark Penn Station. Parking is available for a fee at municipal lots in town for bus riders.
While Springfield doesn't have its own train station, nearby towns do. The Millburn and Short Hills NJ Transit stations are close by. However, these stations often don't allow parking for people who don't live in those towns during busy hours. The closest train stations with parking for non-residents are Maplewood and Summit.
A local bus, the #70, connects Springfield to the Summit and Millburn train stations. It also goes to Newark Penn Station, where you can connect to Amtrak trains, other NJ Transit trains to New York Penn Station, and Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) trains. The #114 bus goes directly to Midtown Manhattan.
Springfield also has a special jitney service. It runs on weekdays during morning and evening rush hours. This jitney takes people from the community pool to the Short Hills train station.
Newark Liberty International Airport is only about 10 miles east of Springfield. This means residents have easy access to many national and international flights.
Historical Transportation
In the past, the Rahway Valley Railroad used to run through Springfield. It offered both freight (for goods) and passenger service in the early 1900s. The section of the railway going to Summit stopped service in 1976.
There was also a trolley line called the Morris County Traction Company. This trolley ran through Springfield to and from Newark and Morris County in the early 20th century.
Notable People from Springfield
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Springfield Township. Here are a few:
- Lou Campanelli (1938–2023), a well-known basketball coach.
- Anthony Cioffi (born 1994), a football player who played for Rutgers University and the Oakland Raiders.
- Jon Denning (born 1987), a NASCAR driver.
- Jeannette DePalma (1956–1972), a historical figure of local interest.
- Ina Drew, a business leader who worked at JP Morgan Chase.
- George A. Halsey (1827–1894), a politician who served in Congress.
- Toni Kalem (born 1951), an actress, screenwriter, and director.
- Louis Keller (1857–1922), the founder of the Baltusrol Golf Club.
- Dina Matos (born 1966), a former First Lady of New Jersey.
- Gail J. McGovern (born 1952), the President and CEO of the American Red Cross.
- Mark Melni, a pianist and inventor.
- Curt Merz (1938–2022), a professional American football player.
- Jackie Nese (born 1997), a singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor.
- Dylan O'Brien (born 1991), a popular actor.
- Bernard Purdie (born 1941), a famous session drummer.
- Claudio Reyna (born 1973), a professional soccer player.
- Jeff Ross (born 1965), a well-known comedian.
- George Erik Rupp (born 1942), a former president of Rice University and Columbia University.
- Gabe Saporta (born 1979), the lead singer of the band Cobra Starship.
- Joe Schaffernoth (1937–2016), a pitcher who played for the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians.
- Barbara Tropp (1948–2001), a chef and writer who helped introduce Americans to Chinese cuisine.
- Zygi Wilf (born 1950), the owner of the Minnesota Vikings football team.
- James Yee (born 1968), a former United States Army chaplain.
Images for kids
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Interstate 78 eastbound in Springfield Township
_from_the_overpass_for_Union_County_Route_636_(Shunpike_Road)_in_Springfield_Township,_Union_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
