Fortescue, New Jersey

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]

Fortescue, New Jersey
Census-designated place
Fortescue Beach
Fortescue Location in Cumberland County Show map of Cumberland County, New Jersey Fortescue Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Fortescue Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 39°14′15″N 75°10′18″W
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Cumberland
Township	Downe
Area [1]
• 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  (2020)[2]
• Total	189
• Density	651.7/sq mi (251.6/km2)
ZIP Code	08321
FIPS code	34-24360[3]
GNIS feature ID	0876423[4]

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]

Historical population

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

1. "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
2. Census Data Explorer: Fortescue CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 15, 2023.
3. Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed June 9, 2023.
4. "Fortescue". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
5. State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022.
6. Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed June 9, 2016.
7. "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."
8. Gannett, Henry (January 28, 1895). "A Geographic Dictionary of New Jersey". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
9. 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."
10. Fortescue Wildlife Management Area, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlige. Accessed June 8, 2016.
11. Climate Summary for Fortescue, New Jersey