SOUTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP'S
OPEN SPACE AND FARMLAND PRESERVATION

This is a picture of the 220 acre VanIstendal/Good Farm on the western end of the Village of Vincentown, with borders on Red Lion Road and Church Road. It was purchased for recreation and farmland preservation in August, 2003.

One of the reasons that Southampton Township is such a desirable place to live is the Township's commitment to preserving as much open space and farmland as possible. Not only is 74 percent of the Township located in the protected Pine Barrens Preserve of New Jersey, but by the Spring of 2006, over 4,581 acres of Southampton were in Open Space Preservation Programs, namely: Farmland Preservation, Agriculture Retention and Development Programs, Open Space (Green Acres) and Limited Practical Use conservation easements.

Click here for breakdown of properties in preservation

In addition, Southampton Township boasts of a population of 600 horses, the largest of the 40 communities of Burlington County. Another interesting statistic is that there are only three remaining dairy farms in Burlington County -- all three located in Southampton Township: The Shontz Farm on Birmingham Road, The Kirkbride Farm and the Davis Farm, both located on Vincentown-Pemberton Road.

This sign is located on the Haines Farm, operated by Bruce Haines. The farm is located on "the Point" at the north entrance to the village of Vincentown on North Main Street. It is an example of an operating farm protected by the farmland preservation program. The words at the bottom of the sign read "Private Land - Public Legacy".

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The sign on the left is located at the corner of Church Road and Eayrestown Road in Vincentown on the Coles Roberts Farm, once known as "Jersey Jerry's"; The sign on the right is located on Mill Street along the Mill Race at the location of a Green Acres walking trail being laid out by the Township Boy Scouts.

Southampton Township also participates in projects with other State agencies to protect the environment and place obstacles to unwanted development in sensitive areas.

This sign is located on Eayrestown Road just south of the light on Church Road. It identifies the restoration of the Riparian Forest Buffer by Rutgers Cooperative Extension at this location (along a tributary of the Southwest Branch of Rancocas Creek), which was accomplished in April, 2000. The area restored consists of 650 x 60 ft. on the west side of the stream, and 250 ft. by 60 ft. on the east side of the stream. 700 native trees and shrubs, representing 8 species, were planted here.

For 15 years Southampton has maintained its committment to the principles of the Arbor Day Organization and has been honored with the "Tree City USA" award for maintaining their standards.

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