Mansfield's largest village grew around the Morris Canal and railroad. Today it contains the municipal building, elementary school, historic district and major recreation and open-space resources.
Warren County Community Guide
Mansfield Township
Port Murray · Anderson · Beattystown
Mansfield Township stretches across the ridges and valleys of central Warren County, combining historic villages, farmland, Route 57 commercial areas, the Musconetcong River, Morris Canal heritage and a growing municipal recreation system.
One township, several local identities: Port Murray is Mansfield's largest village and municipal center, while Anderson and Beattystown are older Route 57 communities with their own historic identities. Rockport and Mount Bethel are also part of Mansfield's broader historic landscape.
1754Founded as Mansfield-Woodhouse Township
30.5 sq. mi.Approximate township area
Port MurrayLargest village and municipal center
PreK–6Mansfield Elementary School
7–12Warren Hills Regional schools
Route 57Main commercial and travel corridor
Communities Within Mansfield Township
Mansfield is a township of villages, crossroads and rural neighborhoods rather than a single compact downtown.
Historic Anderson developed along the Musconetcong Valley and Route 57. Township historical material traces the settlement to the late eighteenth century.
One of Mansfield's oldest settlements, originally known as Beaty's Mill, Beattystown grew around mills and commerce along the Musconetcong River corridor.
Rockport grew with the Morris Canal, while Mount Bethel developed as another early township settlement. Both remain part of Mansfield's historical geography.
Explore the Complete Mansfield Township Guides
Use the dedicated pages for local businesses, dining, real estate, visiting, classifieds and employment.
Business & Shopping
Route 57 shopping centers, professional services, automotive, home services, healthcare, retail and local businesses.
Open Business & Shopping → Food & DrinkRestaurants, bakeries, pizza, coffee, groceries, takeout and the Route 57 dining corridor.
Open Food & Drink → Real EstateHomes, farmland, newer residential development, taxes, zoning, utilities, schools and parcel due diligence.
Open Real Estate → Visiting & LodgingPort Murray, Morris Canal history, parks, trails, Musconetcong recreation, nearby attractions and lodging.
Open Visiting & Lodging → ClassifiedsLocal items, community notices, garage sales, pets, announcements and neighborhood marketplace categories.
Open Classifieds → JobsSchool, municipal, healthcare, retail, trades, logistics and Warren County employment resources.
Open Jobs →About Mansfield Township
Mansfield combines rural Warren County landscapes with historic villages and a substantial commercial corridor along Route 57.
Ridges, Valleys & River
The township stretches through rolling terrain toward the Musconetcong River, with farmland, wooded areas and historic settlement patterns still visible.
Route 57 Corridor
Route 57 links the township's older communities with major retail, services, restaurants and travel connections toward Hackettstown and Washington.
Agriculture & Commerce
Residential neighborhoods, farms, preserved open space, village areas and large-scale retail all coexist within Mansfield's 30.5-square-mile footprint.
Morris Canal Heritage
Port Murray and Rockport owe much of their nineteenth-century growth to the Morris Canal, whose towpath and surviving landscape remain visible today.
History & Heritage
Founded in 1754
The township was formed on May 30, 1754 as Mansfield-Woodhouse Township while the area was still part of Sussex County.
Incorporated in 1798
Mansfield Township was incorporated on February 21, 1798 and became part of Warren County when the new county was created from Sussex County in the 1820s.
Named for Lord Mansfield
The township is named for William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, a prominent eighteenth-century British jurist.
Port Murray Historic District
Port Murray's historic district preserves a village shaped by both the Morris Canal and the railroad, with surviving vernacular architecture and canal remnants.
Canal country: Warren County historical sources note that villages including Port Murray developed because of the Morris Canal, which opened regional agricultural and industrial products to wider markets during the nineteenth century.
Local Government
Mansfield Township operates under a five-member Township Committee form of government.
Port Murray, NJ 07865
908-689-6151
Current municipal office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Joseph Watters is the current mayor. The Township Committee also includes Deputy Mayor Ron Hayes and committee members Glen McGuinness, Michael Bollard and Brent Connelly.
Call 911 for emergencies. Mansfield's official non-emergency public-safety number is 908-852-0003.
The township website provides tax payments, permits, forms, public notices, recycling information, municipal code and other resident services.
Education
Mansfield operates its own elementary district through Grade 6, with older students attending the Warren Hills Regional School District.
Port Murray, NJ 07865
908-689-3212
The district currently serves more than 580 students and maintains preschool through Grade 6 programs in one school.
Washington, NJ 07882
908-689-0750
Mansfield students move into the Warren Hills Regional district beginning in Grade 7.
Washington, NJ 07882
908-689-3050
The regional high school serves Mansfield students through Grade 12.
Parks, Trails & Open Space
Mansfield's recreation and open-space system combines township athletic facilities with preserved county parkland and Morris Canal heritage.
Port Murray, NJ 07865
Current township material identifies the park as part of Mansfield's major recreation complex, with athletic facilities, tennis, walking areas and additional parkland on the larger Port Murray Road tract.
More than 189 acres of preserved land along the Morris Canal Greenway, with forest, wetlands, meadows, a tributary to the Musconetcong River and access to historic canal towpath sections.
Township recreation material identifies tennis courts, ball fields, walking areas and playground facilities serving local neighborhoods.
Port Murray contains accessible canal remnants and towpath sections that connect outdoor recreation with Mansfield's transportation and industrial history.
Sports & Recreation
The Mansfield Township Recreation Committee manages a broad seasonal youth-sports program and oversees the development of township recreation facilities.
Basketball & Cheerleading
Youth basketball runs in winter, while cheerleading is part of the fall recreation season.
Soccer & Softball
Soccer is offered in spring and fall, while softball is played during the spring season.
Football & Field Hockey
Fall programs include football and field hockey through the township recreation system.
Tennis & Golf
The township recreation program also maintains tennis and golf offerings alongside its larger field-sport program.
Volunteer-powered recreation: Mansfield's Recreation Committee is an all-volunteer board and welcomes residents for board service, coaching and other program support.
Places of Worship
Mansfield's villages and Route 57 corridor include longstanding congregations representing several Christian traditions.
Port Murray, NJ 07865
908-689-3272
Port Murray, NJ 07865
908-689-0409
Port Murray, NJ 07865
908-689-7774
Port Murray, NJ 07865
908-852-6515
Port Murray, NJ 07865
908-689-8318
Worship times and ministry schedules can change. Contact each congregation directly for current services and programs.
Official & Community Resources
Mansfield Township
Municipal news, taxes, public notices, permits, forms, recreation, code information and Township Committee resources.
Mansfield Township School District
Elementary school calendar, Board of Education information, staff, programs, registration and district resources.
Warren Hills Regional School District
Middle-school and high-school calendars, programs, athletics, student resources and regional district information.
Warren County Parks & Heritage
Port Murray Park maps, Morris Canal heritage, preserved open space and regional recreation resources.
Promote a Business Serving Mansfield Township
NJTGO helps residents discover local businesses, restaurants, services and community resources. Basic commercial directory listings do not include external business website links; enhanced paid listings can include additional visibility, promotional content and direct links.
Advertising & Enhanced ListingsSubmit a Correction