Outdoor recreation thrives in this New Jersey neighborhood
Downe Township has given residents access to vast stretches of wetlands, sandy bay shores and forested areas since it was founded in 1748, making the area’s nickname “Nature Lover’s Paradise” fitting. Centuries have passed, but popular pastimes such as birdwatching, fishing and boating never fell out of fashion. “The great thing about Downe Township is we have three villages,” says Sean Pignatelli, a longtime township resident and chairman of the Downe Township Recreation Committee. “Dividing Creek is mainly suburbs and is best for going crabbing. Newport is more rural with farm life, and Fortescue is a fishing village with lots of tourism. There are a lot of B&Bs there, and people can rent or charter boats. There’s just so much to do there.” Suzanne Cunningham, an experienced Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach-Washington-Gloucester, also says the access to Delaware Bay and other outdoor destinations is a big draw. “People are buying second homes to be close to the natural environment and for boating,” she says.
Boating and fishing are popular among residents of Downe Township due to it's close proximity to the bay.
The waterfront offers solace for residents of Downe Township year round.
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Wildlife management areas and Fortescue Beach
While the area currently has no public parks, multiple wildlife management areas and beaches create spaces to go birdwatching or reconnect with nature. Fortescue Fish and Wildlife Management Area is a popular place to fish. Fortescue Beach borders the Egg Island Fish and Wildlife Management Area, where people spot horseshoe crabs in the sand or launch boats into the water. The Natural Lands' Glades Wildlife Refuge and the Edward G. Bevan Fish and Wildlife Management Area are the most popular places to go hiking or to spot osprey and bald eagles. For the first time ever, there will be a township-owned park in Dividing Creek very soon. Pignatelli says the committee received a grant to build the playground, and everyone has been excited about the new addition. “The whole county is on a waitlist to be notified when we do a ribbon cutting to open the park,” Pignatelli says. “We plan to have it ready for use by Christmas of 2024.”
Wildlife refuge surrounds Downe Township, offering views of native birds and marshland.
Roadside fishing is a daily ritual for Downe Township residents near the refuge.
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Living in Dividing Creek, Newport or Fortescue
Homes often range from $75,000 to $350,000. Fortescue features three-bedroom bayfront homes on risers, and Gandy’s Beach is similar but with fewer homes. Newport and Dividing Creek primarily have one- and two-bedroom properties with Colonial Revival, Tudor and Victorian-style architecture. With miles of wetlands and marshes, the township is prone to flooding during heavy rainfall, particularly in the Fortescue and Gandy’s Beach areas. Cunningham mentions that flood insurance is required for anyone with a mortgage.
Pignatelli says the township has earned the moniker of “the sunset capital of the East Coast” because so many people are running from bigger cities to settle down in the area’s slow-paced and friendly lifestyle. Pignatelli moved into Downe Township to escape busy city life, and most people who move to the area have similar reasons. “My family has owned property here since the ‘70s. I’ve been coming down for the summer since I was born. We had a second home here, and we moved down to become full-time residents in 2020 after COVID hit.” Pignatelli also points out that his neighbors and the rest of the township’s residents are his favorite aspect of the area. “Everyone here would give you the shirt off their backs. Everyone knows everyone, and it’s an old-fashioned area. When we moved in, people didn’t know we were already familiar with the area. They knocked on the door, introduced themselves and even brought pies to welcome us to the area.” The CAP Index gives the township a 1 out of 10 crime score, which is lower than the national average of 4.
A quiet stretch of Delaware Bay frames prime real estate in Downe Township.
This unique Tudor home in Downe Township hints at the region’s architectural heritage.
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Appreciating the other neighbors: horseshoe crabs
The recreation committee puts on three annual events: Halloween decorating, Christmas decorating and garden scape competitions. Residents try to make their homes the best dressed for the season to win prizes, such as gift cards or T-shirts. The big event each year is the Horseshoe Crab Festival. “The Horseshoe Crab Festival is open to everyone,” says Pignatelli. “People rent out tables to sell items, and the festival promotes awareness about the horseshoe crabs here. Their numbers have gone down since they’ve been picked up and used for cancer research.” The committee also focuses its conservation efforts on protecting the osprey and bald eagles living in the many wildlife areas. There are plenty of ways to meet up with neighbors throughout town, including Friday movie nights at the historic Fortescue Chapel and free concerts throughout the year at Union Hall in Dividing Creek. Some residents catch up on Sundays at Dividing Creek Baptist Church, founded in 1761.
Seafood restaurants and Millville stores
The Charlesworth Hotel & Restaurant brings an air of refinement to beachy Fortescue with a dress code, surf and turf dishes and uninterrupted views of Delaware Bay. The Red Eyed Crab in Dividing Creek also specializes in seafood with rotating daily specials, though the restaurant is open only Thursdays through Sundays for dinner. Newport Deli Mart near Newport is a convenience shop that sells quick bites like Krispy Krunchy Chicken dishes and sandwiches. Residents in Newport can drive up to the Dollar General in Lawrence, but most head into Millville to grab groceries at ShopRite or home goods at Target.
Downe Township residents can get groceries from the ShopRite in Millville.
The Red Eyed Crab house features fresh seafood options in an eclectic dining room.
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Driving to town or the Millville Executive Airport
Getting around the township requires a car, as the area is too rural to have bus routes. Drivers have a 9-mile trip from Fortescue to Dividing Creek and a 5-mile trip from Newport to Dividing Creek. Millville, with its stores and restaurants, is 12 miles north. The Millville Executive Airport is a little closer, about 11 miles north, with the Millville Army Air Field Museum and Glasstown Brewing Company close by.
Millville Executive Airport offers charter flights near the Downe Township.
A short drive from Downe Township, Millville provides access to stores and local services.
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From Downe Township Elementary to Bridgeton High
Downe Township Elementary School gets a C from Niche and serves prekindergarten through eighth grade. It's also the only school within the township. Bridgeton High School is the designated next step, also earning a C. However, families can apply to the county’s school choice program to enroll students in a Millville high school. Some students apply to Cumberland County Technical Educational Center in Vineland, on the northern edge of Millville, to enroll in classes.
Downe Township Elementary offers classes for students from kindergarten through middle school.
Bridgeton High School earns a C rating from Niche for academics and student experience.
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Written By
Rylee Doyle
Photography Contributed By
Conner Baker
Video By
Brandon Flash Craigie
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Robert Barnhardt Jr,
an experienced agent in this area.
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