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

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	189		—
U.S. Decennial Census 2020[2]

Fortescue first appeared as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. Census.^[11]

As of 2020, the area had a population of 189.^[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.^[12]