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Hackettstown, New Jersey

Hackettstown is a town in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is perhaps best known as the home to the US headquarters of Mars, Inc.. As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 10,248, an increase of 524 (+5.4%) from the 2010 census count of 9,724,  which in turn reflected a decline of 679 (−6.5%) from the 10,403 counted in the 2000 census.

Hackettstown was incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 9, 1853, from portions of Independence Township. Portions of territory were exchanged with Mansfield Township in 1857, 1860, 1872 and 1875.

Founding
William Johnson (1817–1891) was a prime contributor to the incorporation of the town in 1853. He and his brother George (1815–1889) were successful merchants in the town beginning in 1839 when they began operating the W.L. & G.W Johnson dry good store. The two men were very active in community affairs. George was a member of First Presbyterian Church, a director of the Hackettstown National Bank, and a member of the Hackettstown Water Board. Both men were involved in the establishment of the Union Cemetery.

Hackettstown was named after Samuel Hackett, an early settler and large landowner. Hackett is said to have "contributed liberally to the liquid refreshments on the christening of a new hotel, in order to secure the name which, before this, had been Helms' Mills or Musconetcong."

Tillie Smith murder case
In 1886, Tillie Smith, a 19-year-old kitchen worker from a poverty-stricken family, was raped, murdered and left lying in an open field near the campus of the Centenary Collegiate Institute, where she worked. James Titus, a janitor at the school, was tried and convicted of the rape and murder, based on circumstantial evidence and public opinion shaped by yellow journalism. Titus was sentenced to hang, but he signed a confession to avoid the death penalty and served 19 years of hard labor. He lived from 1904 to 1952 in Hackettstown among many of the same residents who championed his conviction, the validity of which remains controversial. The killing remains a popular local legend, inspiring several books, Weird NJ magazine articles, theatrical performances and dark tourism ghost tours.

20th century
The Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery, a popular tourist destination, was established in 1912.

In 1925, a train wreck just outside of town killed about 50 people and injured about 50 others en route to Hoboken, New Jersey, from Chicago. The derailment involved a Lackawanna Railroad train and occurred at the Hazen Road grade crossing near Rockport Road at approximately 3:30 am, as a result of debris washed downhill by a storm fouling the road crossing. The event made national headlines and stands as the deadliest event in Warren County history.

Fund-raising campaigns for a new hospital started as early as 1945, supported and organized by local civic and business groups including Kiwanis, Unico International, PTA and others, a large donation by the Seventh Day Adventists and a grant from the United States Public Health Service, the 106-bed Hackettstown Community Hospital was established in 1973.

In 1977, a mass shooting occurred in the town when a 20-year-old graduate of Hackettstown High School and former U.S. Marine, Emil Pierre Benoist, took random shots at passing cars over the course of about four hours and shot and killed six people, before turning his sniper rifle on himself.

In 1994, a charity BBQ picnic organized by the "Tri-County Motorcycle Club" at the Elk's Lodge in Hackettstown was crashed by rival members of the outlaw Pagan's Motorcycle Club. "An altercation started that escalated into knives and guns being used", according to the Warren County Prosecutor. Two Pagans were killed and three other bikers were injured.

21st century
Hackettstown was named #72 of the top 100 towns in the United States to Live and Work In by Money Magazine in 2005; it has not been included since.

In 2011, the town council proclaimed a sister city relationship with Hacketstown, Ireland.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town had a total area of 3.71 square miles (9.61 km2), including 3.61 square miles (9.35 km2) of land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km2) of water (2.67%). The town is located in a valley along the banks of the Musconetcong River.

Upper Pohatcong Mountain extends northeast of Washington approximately 6 mi.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the town include Warren Furnace.

Hackettstown borders the townships of Washington (Morris County) to the southeast, Mansfield to the southwest, Allamuchy to the north, Mount Olive to the northeast, and Independence to the west.

Hackettstown is 49.6 mi northeast of Allentown and 55.3 mi northwest of New York City.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 9,724 people, 3,575 households, and 2,256 families in the town. The population density was 2696.1 /sqmi. There were 3,755 housing units at an average density of 1041.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 85.08% (8,273) White, 2.46% (239) Black or African American, 0.24% (23) Native American, 4.97% (483) Asian, 0.05% (5) Pacific Islander, 5.19% (505) from other races, and 2.02% (196) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.16% (1,474) of the population.

Of the 3,575 households, 29.4% had children under the age of 18; 49.5% were married couples living together; 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 36.9% were non-families. Of all households, 30.0% were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.09.

20.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 14.5% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,215 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,907) and the median family income was $82,216 (+/− $10,611). Males had a median income of $51,489 (+/− $5,850) versus $41,822 (+/− $5,248) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,433 (+/− $2,122). About 4.4% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 10,403 people, 4,134 households, and 2,530 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,809.5 PD/sqmi. There were 4,347 housing units at an average density of 1,174.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 90.25% White, 2.18% African American, 0.12% Native American, 2.91% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.00% from other races, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.01% of the population.

There were 4,134 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $51,955, and the median income for a family was $64,383. Males had a median income of $44,420 versus $31,110 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,742. About 2.3% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Hackettstown houses the US headquarters of Mars Wrigley Confectionery, a business segment of Mars, Incorporated, makers of Milky Way, Mars, M&M's, Twix and Snickers.

Arts and culture
Musical groups from Hackettstown include The Semonski Sisters, a family musical act that appeared on television's The Lawrence Welk Show from 1975 to 1977.

Sports

 * The Skyland Rollergirls were a roller derby team founded in 2008 that bouted out of Excel Roller Skating Center in Hackettstown until it closed in late 2011.
 * The Jersey Express, a team in the American Basketball Association moved to Hackettstown in late 2012 and played in the gym at Centenary College.
 * Hackettstown High School sports teams are known as the Tigers and compete as part of the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference.
 * The Centenary University sports teams are known as the Cyclones.
 * The Hackettstown Harleys ice hockey team was founded in 2008.

Local government
Hackettstown operates under a mayor-council form of government that was created by a special charter adopted by the New Jersey Legislature and approved by the voters in 1970. The town is one of 11 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that operate under a special charter. The town's governing body is comprised of a strong mayor who serves a three-year term of office and six councilpersons who are elected at large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats up for election each year. The mayor is the town's chief executive officer, overseeing its day-to-day operation and presenting an annual budget. The council is the town's legislative body. The mayor attends town council meetings, but may only vote in the event of a tie. The mayor may veto ordinances passed by the council, which can be overridden with the votes of four council members.

, the mayor of Hackettstown is Republican Gerald DiMaio Jr. whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Town Council are Jody Becker (R, 2024), Matthew Engelau (R, 2022), Leonard Kunz (R, 2023), James Lambo (R, 2022; elected to serve an unexpired term), Scott Sheldon (R, 2024) and Eric Tynan (R, 2023).

James Lambo was selected from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill a vacant seat. The seat, which expired in December 2018, was vacated by William Conforti in August 2016, after his announcement that he was moving out of the municipality. Lambo served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election during which he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

Federal, state, and county representation
Hackettstown is located in the 7th congressional district and is part of the 23rd state legislative district.

Politics
In the November 2020 election, there were 6,697 voters in Hackettstown. Of those voters, 2,473 (50.31%) voted for Republican Donald J. Trump and 2,280 (46.38%) voted for Democrat Joseph R. Biden, the eventual victor.

As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,410 registered voters in Hackettstown, of which 1,169 (21.6% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,764 (32.6% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 2,468 (45.6% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 9 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the town's 2010 Census population, 55.6% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 69.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,973 votes (52.2% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,661 votes (44.0% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 77 votes (2.0% vs. 1.7%), among the 3,777 ballots cast by the town's 5,516 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.5% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,090 votes (52.7% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,724 votes (43.4% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 64 votes (1.6% vs. 1.6%), among the 3,969 ballots cast by the town's 5,437 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.0% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,368 votes (60.3% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,492 votes (38.0% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 48 votes (1.2% vs. 1.3%), among the 3,928 ballots cast by the town's 5,241 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.9% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.5% of the vote (1,543 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 25.6% (545 votes), and other candidates with 1.9% (41 votes), among the 2,166 ballots cast by the town's 5,608 registered voters (37 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 38.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,547 votes (61.1% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 662 votes (26.1% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 250 votes (9.9% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 30 votes (1.2% vs. 1.5%), among the 2,533 ballots cast by the town's 5,321 registered voters, yielding a 47.6% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).

Education
The Hackettstown School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district serves students in four schools: two elementary schools (covering K-4), a middle school (5–8), and a four-year high school (9–12). As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 2,003 students and 172.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1. Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Hatchery Hill School with 275 students in grades PreK-1, Willow Grove School with 368 students in grades 2–4, Hackettstown Middle School with 475 students in grades 5-8 and Hackettstown High School with 869 students in grades 9–12. Students from the townships of Allamuchy, Independence, and Liberty, attend the district's high school as part of sending/receiving relationships. For the 2001–2002 school year, Hackettstown Middle School was recognized with the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence from the United States Department of Education, the highest honor that an American school can achieve.

Students from the town and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township (for grades K–8) or Warren County Technical School in Washington borough (for 9–12), with special education services provided by local districts supplemented throughout the county by the Warren County Special Services School District in Oxford Township (for Pre-K–12).

Centenary University, a private college affiliated with the United Methodist Church, was founded in 1867 and received approval in 1995 to grant master's degrees.

Media

 * WRNJ at 1510 AM and simulcast on FM Translators 92.7 FM 104.7 FM and 105.7 FM, is licensed to Hackettstown and locally owned and operated.
 * WXPJ at 91.9 FM – Originally Centenary University radio, the station was sold in 2015 and is owned and operated by the University of Pennsylvania.
 * Two regional Advance Digital publications serve the town, The Star-Ledger of Newark, and The Express-Times of Easton, Pa. The company formerly kept a newsroom for the free weekly newspaper The Warren Reporter on East Moore Street, which has since been closed and folded into its digital products.

Roads and highways
, the town had a total of 34.47 mi of roadways, of which 28.83 mi were maintained by the municipality, 2.96 mi by Warren County and 2.68 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Passing through Hackettstown are U.S. Route 46, Route 57, and County Route 517. Route 182 exists completely within the boundaries of Hackettstown. Interstate 80 runs to the north of the town.

Public transportation
The Hackettstown station is the western terminus of the NJ Transit Morristown Line and the Montclair-Boonton Line, which both provide service to Hoboken Terminal with connections to Pennsylvania Station in Midtown Manhattan via Midtown Direct trains. New Jersey Transit bus service used to be provided on the MCM5 and 973 local routes before they were discontinued.

Warren County operates a shuttle along Route 57 to Washington Township that operates on an hourly loop on weekdays, with connections available to a shuttle to Phillipsburg.

Airports
Hackettstown is located 49.3 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark / Elizabeth. Lehigh Valley International Airport, near Allentown, Pennsylvania, is 39.0 miles away.

Hackettstown Airport, a small general aviation airport with the official database designation of is located in adjoining Mansfield Township, only a few hundred yards from the municipal border with Hackettstown proper.

Points of interest

 * Hackettstown Historical Society Museum, 106 Church Street
 * Jacob C. Allen House, 206 West Moore Street, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
 * First Presbyterian Church of Hackettstown, 291 Main Street
 * Hackettstown Free Public Library, 110 Church Street
 * Hackettstown Community Center, 293 Main Street
 * Hackettstown Medical Center, 651 Willow Grove Street
 * Union Cemetery, Mountain Avenue
 * Mars Wrigley US Headquarters, 800 High Street

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hackettstown include:

 * Abraham H. Albertson (1872–1964), one of Seattle's most prominent architects of the first half of the 20th century
 * John D. Bulkeley (1911–1996), Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, Medal of Honor winner, PT boat skipper who evacuated General Douglas MacArthur from Corregidor
 * Bette Cooper (1920–2017), Miss America 1937
 * Jim Courter (born 1941), former Member of Congress
 * Jonathan Townley Crane (1819–1880), clergyman, author, abolitionist, father of author Stephen Crane, founder of Centenary Collegiate Institute
 * Christina Desiderio (born 2000), artistic gymnast
 * John DiMaio (born 1955), member of the New Jersey General Assembly who served as mayor of Hackettstown from 1991 to 1999
 * Brian Fallon (born 1980), lead singer for The Gaslight Anthem / The Horrible Crowes
 * John Clifford Heed (1862–1908), composer and musician, best known for composing over 60 marches
 * Kenneth Hopper (1926–2019), engineer
 * Izetta Jewel (1883–1978), born Izetta Jewel Kenney, actress and women's rights activist
 * Ken Kelsch (1947–2023), cinematographer of films including Bad Lieutenant and Big Night
 * Cole Kimball (born 1985), pitcher who has played for the Washington Nationals
 * William Logan (1914–2002), cyclist who competed in the tandem and team pursuit events at the 1936 Summer Olympics
 * Kristen Maloney (born 1981), former gymnastics Olympian
 * Naked Cowboy (stage name of Robert John Burck, born 1970), street performer and 2012 Presidential candidate
 * Louis F. Post (1849–1928), journalist, lawyer, author, former US Attorney, former Assistant United States Secretary of Labor during the Wilson administration
 * Jimmi Simpson (born 1975), Emmy nominated film and television actor
 * Joe Stanowicz (1921–1999), football player who attended the United States Military Academy where he played at the guard position for the Army Black Knights football team
 * Anthony Veneziano (born 1997), Major League Baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals
 * George Theodore Werts (1846–1910), Governor of New Jersey (1893–1896)

title: Hackettstown, New Jersey


text:
Hardwick Township, New Jersey

Hardwick Township is a township in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 1,598, a decrease of 98 (−5.8%) from the 2010 census count of 1,696, which in turn reflected an increase of 232 (+15.8%) from the 1,464 counted in the 2000 census.

History
Hardwick Township was created around 1713 through a royal patent. The township was created by Royal charter on January 22, 1750, from Greenwich Township when the area was part of Morris County. It became part of the newly created Sussex County on June 8, 1753. Parts of Hardwick Township were taken on November 11, 1782, to form Independence Township. Hardwick Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. On November 20, 1824, most of Hardwick Township was transferred to form part of Warren County, with the remainder staying in Sussex County as parts of Green Township and Stillwater Township, which were both created as of December 27, 1824. Frelinghuysen Township was created March 7, 1848, from portions of the township. The township was named for Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke.

Pahaquarry Township was dissolved and absorbed by Hardwick Township on July 2, 1997. Pahaquarry Township had been created on March 14, 1825, and received its name from the word "Pahaquarra", which was a derivation of the Native American word Pahaqualong used by the Lenape meaning "termination of two mountains" (describing the mountain or mountainous area that was the area's southern border) or "the place between the mountains beside the waters".

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 38.94 square miles (100.85 km2), including 37.53 square miles (97.19 km2) of land and 1.42 square miles (3.66 km2) of water (3.63%). The part of the township east of the Kittatinny Ridge (the part excluding the now defunct Pahaquarry Township) is located in the Kittatinny Valley which is a section of the Great Appalachian Valley that stretches for 700 mi from Canada to Alabama. The defunct Pahaquarry section of the Township which borders the Delaware River is located in the Minisink Valley that extends from the Delaware Water Gap north to Port Jervis, New York.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bass Lake, Franklin Grove, Hardwick, Hardwick Center, Millbrook, Newbakers Corner, Sand Pond, Squares Corner and White Pond.

Sunfish Pond is a 44 acre glacial lake surrounded by a 258 acre hardwood forest located on the Kittatinny Ridge within Worthington State Forest, adjacent to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The Appalachian Trail runs alongside the western and northern edges of the lake, which was created by the Wisconsin Glacier during the last ice age. The lake was declared a National Natural Landmark in January 1970.

Camp Ralph S. Mason is a YMCA, established in 1900, that covers 460 acres adjacent to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area that serves approximately 800 campers in its summer camp programs and 7,000 participants at its outdoor center.

The Pahaquarry Copper Mine is an abandoned copper mine. Active mining was attempted for brief periods during the mid-eighteenth, mid-nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries but was never successful. The site is administered by the National Park Service.

Hardwick Township borders the municipalities of Blairstown, Frelinghuysen Township, and Knowlton Township in Warren County; and Stillwater Township and Walpack Township in Sussex County.

Demographics
The township's economic data, like all of Warren County, is included by the U.S. Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 1,696 people, 573 households, and 453 families in the township. The population density was 46.3 PD/sqmi. There were 619 housing units at an average density of 16.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 96.99% (1,645) White, 0.94% (16) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.65% (11) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.71% (12) from other races, and 0.71% (12) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.95% (67) of the population.

Of the 573 households, 33.9% had children under the age of 18; 67.9% were married couples living together; 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.9% were non-families. Of all households, 16.2% were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.19.

24.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 19.3% from 25 to 44, 35.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.3 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $96,094 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,827) and the median family income was $105,469 (+/− $14,654). Males had a median income of $77,045 (+/− $8,432) versus $46,667 (+/− $3,953) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,377 (+/− $5,353). About 3.0% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,464 people, 502 households, and 410 families residing in the township. The population density was 40.1 PD/sqmi. There were 530 housing units at an average density of 14.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 97.06% White, 0.61% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.89% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.32% of the population.

There were 502 households, out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.3% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 13.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $72,167, and the median income for a family was $76,111. Males had a median income of $56,000 versus $31,875 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,038. About 0.5% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Hardwick Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The governing body is comprised of a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

members of the Hardwick Township Committee are Mayor Chris Jacksic (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Nichole L. Meuse (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2023) and John C. Lovell Jr. (R, 2023).

Federal, state, and county representation
Hardwick Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,097 registered voters in Hardwick Township, of which 195 (17.8% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 480 (43.8% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 422 (38.5% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 64.7% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 86.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 446 votes (59.9% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 267 votes (35.8% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 18 votes (2.4% vs. 1.7%), among the 745 ballots cast by the township's 1,123 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.3% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 473 votes (57.9% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 310 votes (37.9% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 17 votes (2.1% vs. 1.6%), among the 817 ballots cast by the township's 1,075 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.0% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 536 votes (65.7% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 272 votes (33.3% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 5 votes (0.6% vs. 1.3%), among the 816 ballots cast by the township's 1,019 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.1% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.9% of the vote (299 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.9% (102 votes), and other candidates with 2.2% (9 votes), among the 427 ballots cast by the township's 1,141 registered voters (17 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 37.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 343 votes (61.4% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 151 votes (27.0% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 46 votes (8.2% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 16 votes (2.9% vs. 1.5%), among the 559 ballots cast by the township's 1,065 registered voters, yielding a 52.5% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).

Education
For kindergarten through sixth grade, public school students attend Blairstown Elementary School in Blairstown Township as part of the Blairstown Township School District. The Hardwick Township Board of Education was dissolved and merged into the Blairstown district as of July 1, 2009. The tax levies for the 2009–2010 year were left unchanged, with the tax levy for subsequent years apportioned based 78.8% on enrollment and 21.2% on the equalized value of property on the two municipalities. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 466 students and 46.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.0:1.

Students in seventh through twelfth grades for public school attend the North Warren Regional High School in Blairstown, a public secondary high school that also serves students from the townships of Blairstown, Frelinghuysen and Knowlton. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 799 students and 77.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.3:1. Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with one seat allocated to Hardwick Township.

Students from the township and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township (for grades K–8, with Hardwick residents granted admissions priority) or Warren County Technical School in Washington borough (for 9–12), with special education services provided by local districts supplemented throughout the county by the Warren County Special Services School District in Oxford Township (for Pre-K–12).

Transportation
, the township had a total of 41.74 mi of roadways, of which 28.55 mi were maintained by the municipality, 11.68 mi by Warren County, 1.01 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.50 mi by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

The only major roads that pass through are County Route 521 in the eastern part and Interstate 80 in the very west. The portion of I-80 also includes part of the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge which connects to Pennsylvania.

Old Mine Road, a scenic road that runs along the Delaware River, is said to be among the oldest roads in the Northeast used for the business purposes. It originates in Hardwick at I-80 and continues to the northeast into Walpack Township.

Popular culture
The original Friday the 13th movie was filmed at Hardwick's local Boy Scout Camp, No-Be-Bo-Sco.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hardwick Township include:

 * John Linn (1763–1821), member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey from 1817 to 1821
 * Benjamin Lundy (1789–1839), Quaker abolitionist
 * Lou Reed (1942–2013), rock performer

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Hardwick Township, New Jersey


text:
Harmony Township, New Jersey

Harmony Township is a township located in Warren County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 2,503, a decrease of 164 (−6.1%) from the 2010 census count of 2,667, which in turn reflected a decline of 62 (−2.3%) from the 2,729 counted in the 2000 census.

Harmony was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1839, from portions of Greenwich Township and Oxford Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. Phillipsburg Township was created March 7, 1851, from portions of the township. The township was named for Harmon Shipman, an early settler.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Harmony township had a total area of 24.13 square miles (62.49 km2), including 23.75 square miles (61.51 km2) of land and 0.38 square miles (0.98 km2) of water (1.56%).

Brainards (with a 2010 population of 202 ) Harmony CDP (441 ) and Hutchinson (135 ) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within the township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Allens Mills, Harmony Station, Lower Harmony, Martins Creek Station, Montana and Roxburg.

The township borders the Warren County municipalities of Franklin Township, Lopatcong Township and White Township.

Demographics
The township's economic data, like all of Warren County, is calculated by the U.S. Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 2,667 people, 1,017 households, and 760 families in the township. The population density was 112.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,109 housing units at an average density of 46.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 98.28% (2,621) White, 0.67% (18) Black or African American, 0.26% (7) Native American, 0.19% (5) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.07% (2) from other races, and 0.52% (14) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% (35) of the population.

Of the 1,017 households, 28.0% had children under the age of 18; 63.1% were married couples living together; 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.3% were non-families. Of all households, 20.6% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.02.

21.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 35.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.4 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $82,339 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,992) and the median family income was $86,964 (+/− $11,141). Males had a median income of $60,489 (+/− $4,798) versus $53,100 (+/− $11,618) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,985 (+/− $4,062). About 0.7% of families and 1.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,729 people, 1,010 households, and 786 families residing in the township. The population density was 114.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,076 housing units at an average density of 45.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 97.91% White, 0.70% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.28% of the population.

There were 1,010 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the township, the population was spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $60,977, and the median income for a family was $64,196. Males had a median income of $49,375 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,776. About 2.8% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Harmony Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The governing body is comprised of a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

, members of the Harmony Township Committee are Mayor Brian R. Tipton (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Deputy Mayor Diane Yamrock (R, term on committee ends 2023; term as deputy mayor ends 2022) and Richard T. Cornely (R, 2022).

Federal, state, and county representation
Harmony Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Harmony Township had been part of the NJ's 5th congressional district, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,802 registered voters in Harmony Township, of which 333 (18.5% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 786 (43.6% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 683 (37.9% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 67.6% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 85.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 702 votes (58.9% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 442 votes (37.1% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 24 votes (2.0% vs. 1.7%), among the 1,192 ballots cast by the township's 1,826 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.3% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 805 votes (59.9% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 486 votes (36.1% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 33 votes (2.5% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,345 ballots cast by the township's 1,824 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.7% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 798 votes (61.6% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 479 votes (37.0% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 14 votes (1.1% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,296 ballots cast by the township's 1,713 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.7% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.9% of the vote (536 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 21.4% (151 votes), and other candidates with 2.7% (19 votes), among the 717 ballots cast by the township's 1,844 registered voters (11 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 38.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 543 votes (63.7% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 197 votes (23.1% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 84 votes (9.9% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 11 votes (1.3% vs. 1.5%), among the 852 ballots cast by the township's 1,800 registered voters, yielding a 47.3% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).

Education
The Harmony Township School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Harmony Township School.

As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 200 students and 30.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 6.7:1.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Belvidere High School, together with students from Hope Township and White Township, as part of sending/receiving relationships with the Belvidere School District.

As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 357 students and 32.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1.

Students from the township and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township (for grades K–8) or Warren County Technical School in Washington borough (for 9–12), with special education services provided by local districts supplemented throughout the county by the Warren County Special Services School District in Oxford Township (for PreK–12).

Transportation
, the township had a total of 59.27 mi of roadways, of which 36.13 mi were maintained by the municipality and 23.14 mi by Warren County.

The only major road that traverses Harmony is CR 519, which leads to U.S. Route 22 to the south and U.S. Route 46 to the north.

The closest limited access road is Interstate 78 which is in neighboring Greenwich and Franklin.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Harmony Township include:

 * Elena Seiple (born 1973), bodybuilder and strongwoman
 * Robert A. Seiple (born 1942), non-profit executive, former military officer, university administrator, and diplomat, who served as the first United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom

title: Harmony Township, New Jersey


text:
Hope Township, New Jersey

Hope Township is a township in Warren County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 1,835, a decrease of 117 (−6.0%) from the 2010 census count of 1,952, which in turn reflected an increase of 61 (+3.2%) from the 1,891 counted in the 2000 census. The 2010 population of 1,952 reflected an all-time high since the 1,903 recorded in the 1840 census, the first recorded population after the township was formed.

Hope Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1839, from portions of Knowlton Township and Oxford Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. Liberty Township was created on March 25, 1926, from portions of the township.

History
Hope Township is one of the earliest planned communities in the United States, having been established by German Moravians in 1769. Early planning maps detail planned locations of streets, homes, wells, businesses, farms, a school, tavern, and church.

Prior to the arrival of the Moravians, there was no distinct town, but several families farmed on Jenny Jump Mountain, to the south of Hope, in surrounding area and on John Samuel Green Jr.'s farm in the center of what is now the Village. Throughout the 1760s, Moravians from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania traveled through this area on their way to New England to establish new communities. They lodged overnight with the Green Family who were impressed with their religion and way of life.

The Moravians were a religious group whose formal name was the "Unitas Fratrum" or Unity of the Brethren. They were followers of Jan Hus, the reformer from Prague who protested against the Roman Catholic Church in 1415 and was finally burned at the stake for his rebellion. These followers continued to practice his views in Moravia and Bohemia in what is now the Czech Republic, hence the common name "The Moravians". In the late 17th century this group began to be persecuted and sought shelter away from Bohemia. Count Nicolas Ludwig von Zinzendorf offered them refuge on his lands east of Dresden, Germany, and provided a base for them to regroup and pursue their religion. That settlement which remains as the center of the worldwide Moravian religion is called Herrnhut or "The Lord's Watch" inhabitants were not only "under the Lord's watchful care" but were also to be "on watch for the Lord". With the support of Count von Zinzendorf, the Church established over 200 missionary settlements.

After a formal survey of the village completed on November 26, 1774, the community was officially accepted by The Moravian Church and the name was changed by drawing lots on February 8, 1775, from Greenland to Hope. The name derives from the "hope of immortality" of the early Moravian settlers.

After almost 40 years of the Moravian "experiment" in Hope, the community was sold and almost all of the Moravians returned to Bethlehem or Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The basic reason for closing the community was that it was never self-supporting and had declined from its height of population of 147 to under 100 people by the early 19th century. The Church in Germany could no longer subsidize such a small village. Moravians worldwide were selling possessions and even some other entire communities to pay off debts incurred years earlier by Count von Zinzendorf, who heavily mortgaged his lands to give them opportunity back in Germany. Disease and a competitive gristmill also contributed to Moravian Hope's decline.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 18.29 square miles (47.38 km2), including 18.08 square miles (46.83 km2) of land and 0.21 square miles (0.55 km2) of water (1.15%). The township is located in the Kittatinny Valley, which is a section of the Great Appalachian Valley that stretches 700 mi from Canada to Alabama.

Hope CDP (with a 2010 population of 195 ), Mount Hermon (141 ) and Silver Lake (368 ) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within the township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include:
 * Feebletown
 * Locust Lake
 * Mount Herman
 * Swayzes Mill

The township borders the Warren County municipalities of Blairstown Township, Frelinghuysen Township, Knowlton Township, Liberty Township and White Township.

Demographics
The township's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is included by the US Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 1,952 people, 741 households, and 558 families in the township. The population density was 104.8 per square mile (40.5/km2). There were 809 housing units at an average density of 43.4 per square mile (16.8/km2). The racial makeup was 96.21% (1,878) White, 1.18% (23) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 1.59% (31) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.41% (8) from other races, and 0.61% (12) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.10% (80) of the population.

Of the 741 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18; 62.2% were married couples living together; 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.7% were non-families. Of all households, 19.6% were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.03.

22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 35.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $75,107 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,302) and the median family income was $81,204 (+/− $7,973). Males had a median income of $59,141 (+/− $10,502) versus $52,574 (+/− $25,011) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,283 (+/− $2,988). About 4.8% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 1,891 people, 697 households, and 538 families residing in the township. The population density was 102.2 PD/sqmi. There were 747 housing units at an average density of 40.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 98.25% White, 0.42% African American, 0.42% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.

There were 697 households, out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.3% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $61,319, and the median income for a family was $68,750. Males had a median income of $48,750 versus $34,038 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,902. About 1.1% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Hope Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The governing body is comprised of a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor, each serving in that role for one year.

, the Hope Township Committee is comprised of Mayor Timothy C. McDonough (I, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Deputy Mayor C. John Kruk (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2022) and Terry Urfer (R, 2023).

Constitutional officers are township clerk, Robin Keggan; chief financial officer, Kathleen Reinalda; tax collector, Stephen Lance; and tax assessor, Richard Motyka.

Federal, state, and county representation
Hope Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,317 registered voters in Hope Township, of which 248 (18.8% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 523 (39.7% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 545 (41.4% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 67.5% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 87.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 566 votes (60.5% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 337 votes (36.0% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 20 votes (2.1% vs. 1.7%), among the 936 ballots cast by the township's 1,321 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.9% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 628 votes (62.7% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 339 votes (33.9% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 15 votes (1.5% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,001 ballots cast by the township's 1,380 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.5% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 641 votes (64.6% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 324 votes (32.7% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 17 votes (1.7% vs. 1.3%), among the 992 ballots cast by the township's 1,279 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.6% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 77.6% of the vote (437 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 20.1% (113 votes), and other candidates with 2.3% (13 votes), among the 573 ballots cast by the township's 1,334 registered voters (10 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.0%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 467 votes (68.2% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 142 votes (20.7% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 50 votes (7.3% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 14 votes (2.0% vs. 1.5%), among the 685 ballots cast by the township's 1,328 registered voters, yielding a 51.6% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).

Education
Hope Township School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Hope Township Elementary School. As of the 2020–2021 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 115 students and 16.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.1:1. In the 2016–2017 school year, the district was tied for the 30th-smallest enrollment of any school district in the state.

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades from Harmony Township, Hope Township and White Township attend Belvidere High School in Belvidere as part of sending/receiving relationships with the Belvidere School District. As of the 2020–2021 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 367 students and 32.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.4:1.

Students from the township and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township (for grades K–8) or Warren County Technical School in Washington borough (for 9–12), with special education services provided by local districts supplemented throughout the county by the Warren County Special Services School District in Oxford Township (for Pre-K–12).

Transportation
, the township had a total of 44.14 mi of roadways, of which 19.30 mi were maintained by the municipality, 21.42 mi by Warren County and 3.42 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Interstate 80 (the Bergen-Passaic Expressway) passes through the township for 3.42 mi, with access via exit 12 to Hope-Blairstown Road (County Route 521). CR 521 has its southern terminus in Hope Township at an intersection with County Route 609 (High Street) and runs through the township for 2.83 mi. CR 519 passes through Hope for 6.33 mi and can be accessed by CR 521.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hope Township include:

 * Abraham H. Albertson (1872–1964), one of Seattle's most prominent architects of the first half of the 20th century
 * John Insley Blair (1802–1899), entrepreneur, railroad magnate, philanthropist and one of the 19th century's wealthiest men
 * Charles Ferren Hopkins (1842–1934), the last surviving Union Civil War soldier in New Jersey that was a recipient of the Medal of Honor
 * Joseph Krumgold (1908–1980), author of books and screenplays who was the first writer to win two annual Newbery Medals for the most distinguished new American children's book

Popular culture

 * Duluth, Minnesota slow-core band Low recorded their 1994 debut LP, I Could Live in Hope in Hope Township, and named the album as a reference to the municipality.
 * Hope Township was the filming location for two scenes in the horror movie Friday the 13th, with the Moravian Cemetery (see photo) and Hartung's General Store appearing in the film.

Points of interest

 * Land of Make Believe is an amusement park opened in 1954 oriented towards younger children.

title: Hope Township, New Jersey


text:
Independence Township, New Jersey

Independence Township is a township in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 5,469, a decrease of 193 (−3.4%) from the 2010 census count of 5,662,  which in turn reflected an increase of 59 (+1.1%) from the 5,603 counted in the 2000 census.

History
Independence Township was originally created on November 11, 1782, from Hardwick Township, while the area was still part of Sussex County, and was incorporated as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Most of Independence Township became part of the newly created Warren County on November 20, 1824, with the remainder becoming part of Green Township in Sussex County. Portions of the township were taken to form Hackettstown (March 9, 1853) and Allamuchy Township (April 4, 1873). The township was named for American independence.

Through the Township the major brooks and the Great Meadows drain into the Pequest River which winds slowly from northeast to southwest to flow on through the county and eventually into the Delaware River at Belvidere. Part of the eastern land drains under the Morris Canal bed and south into the Musconetcong River just below the boundary with Mansfield Township. The hillsides are steep, layered with rock and limestone while the valleys still hold soil deposited here from the receding glaciers. Mastodon bones and a few relics of the early Indian dwellers still occasionally can be found as well as coveys of game birds, some white tail deer and small game.

This area was initially settled and cleared as farmland for growing hay and grain or as pastureland. Timber was cut for lumber, grain was milled into flour, and some iron ore was mined from the Jenny Jump Mountain area during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The mining of iron ore which attracted the early settlers, the later iron foundries, and many of the early industries have disappeared as has the Morris Canal and the railroads as the major means of shipping freight. After many attempts the Great Meadow was drained with the water channeled to permit successful development of commercial vegetable production. Shipping over the years has been by wagon, small trucks, rail freight, and then by large trailer trucks.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 19.98 square miles (51.75 km2), including 19.83 square miles (51.36 km2) of land and 0.15 square miles (0.39 km2) of water (0.76%).

Great Meadows (2010 Census population of 303 ) and Vienna (population of 981 as of 2010 ) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within the township. Through the 2000 United States Census, the areas were grouped together as Great Meadows-Vienna, which had a population of 1,264 as of that year.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Petersburgh.

The township borders the Warren County municipalities of Allamuchy Township, Frelinghuysen Township, Hackettstown, Liberty Township and Mansfield Township.

Demographics
The Township's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is calculated by the US Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 5,662 people, 2,234 households, and 1,506 families in the township. The population density was 286.8 per square mile (110.7/km2). There were 2,325 housing units at an average density of 117.8 per square mile (45.5/km2). The racial makeup was 93.43% (5,290) White, 1.22% (69) Black or African American, 0.09% (5) Native American, 2.23% (126) Asian, 0.07% (4) Pacific Islander, 1.61% (91) from other races, and 1.36% (77) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.42% (307) of the population.

Of the 2,234 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18; 55.8% were married couples living together; 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.6% were non-families. Of all households, 26.9% were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13.

23.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.3 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $89,844 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,094) and the median family income was $104,808 (+/− $8,796). Males had a median income of $72,719 (+/− $6,017) versus $58,413 (+/− $7,006) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,372 (+/− $2,731). About 1.6% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,603 people, 2,146 households, and 1,489 families residing in the township. The population density was 282.4 PD/sqmi. There were 2,210 housing units at an average density of 111.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 94.98% White, 1.16% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.79% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.77% of the population.

There were 2,146 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $67,247, and the median income for a family was $79,819. Males had a median income of $59,688 versus $37,643 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,555. About 1.2% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Independence Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

, members of the Independence Township Committee are Mayor Robert M. Giordano (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Glenn Cougle (R, 2024), Kathleen Gesumaria (R, 2023), Bonnie Kelsey (R, 2023) and Michael S. Pennington (R, 2022).

Federal, state, and county representation
Independence Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,789 registered voters in Independence Township, of which 691 (18.2% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,384 (36.5% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,709 (45.1% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 66.9% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 87.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,500 votes (58.8% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 964 votes (37.8% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 51 votes (2.0% vs. 1.7%), among the 2,550 ballots cast by the township's 3,836 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.5% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,559 votes (55.7% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,159 votes (41.4% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 49 votes (1.8% vs. 1.6%), among the 2,797 ballots cast by the township's 3,784 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.9% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,763 votes (64.4% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 927 votes (33.9% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 35 votes (1.3% vs. 1.3%), among the 2,736 ballots cast by the township's 3,518 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.8% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.5% of the vote (1,037 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.3% (376 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (17 votes), among the 1,450 ballots cast by the township's 3,879 registered voters (20 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 37.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,176 votes (63.8% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 435 votes (23.6% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 182 votes (9.9% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 24 votes (1.3% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,842 ballots cast by the township's 3,733 registered voters, yielding a 49.3% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).

Education
Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Great Meadows Regional School District, together with students from Liberty Township. The New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division blocked a 2007 effort by Liberty Township to leave the Great Meadows district based on Liberty's greater share of district costs, with the court citing the inability of the two communities to provide an efficient education separately. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 643 students and 59.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1. Schools in the district (with 2021–22 school year enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Central Elementary School with 302 students in grades PreK-3 and Great Meadows Middle School with 337 students in grades 4-8.

Students attending public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Hackettstown High School which serves students from Hackettstown, along with students from the townships of Allamuchy and Liberty, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Hackettstown School District. As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 869 students and 67.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

Students from the township and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township (for grades K–8) or Warren County Technical School in Washington borough (for 9–12), with special education services provided by local districts supplemented throughout the county by the Warren County Special Services School District in Oxford Township (for Pre-K–12).

Transportation
, the township had a total of 46.85 mi of roadways, of which 32.70 mi were maintained by the municipality, 9.26 mi by Warren County and 4.89 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

CR 517 passes through in the eastern part of the township while U.S. Route 46 traverses 4.89 mi across the southern part of the municipality.

Interstate 80 misses the township by less than 100 feet, but is accessible in both neighboring Allamuchy Township (exit 19) and Hope Township (exit 12).

The Great Meadows Railroad Station, along the abandoned Lehigh and Hudson Railway, is the only nineteenth-century station to remain preserved with all its structures. It was placed on the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Independence Township include:
 * Bobby Caldwell (1951–2023), singer, songwriter, and musician, best known for his signature song "What You Won't Do for Love"
 * Christina Desiderio (born 2000), artistic gymnast
 * Chuck Haytaian (born 1938), former speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly
 * Edwin Kaprat (1964–1995), serial killer, rapist, and arsonist who committed six murders in Tampa and Hernando County, Florida from 1991 to 1993, most being elderly women.
 * Cole Kimball (born 1985), former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Washington Nationals

title: Independence Township, New Jersey


text:
Knowlton Township, New Jersey

Knowlton Township is a township in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 2,894, a decrease of 161 (−5.3%) from the 2010 census count of 3,055, which in turn reflected an increase of 78 (+2.6%) from the 2,977 counted in the 2000 census.

History
Knowlton Township was created as a precinct by Royal charter from portions of Oxford Township on February 23, 1763, while the area was still part of Sussex County, and was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, and then became part of the newly created Warren County on November 20, 1824. Portions of the township were taken to form Hope Township (April 8, 1839) and Blairstown Township (April 14, 1845).

Knowlton's name is variously attributed to Thomas Knowlton, a Colonel in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War who was killed in action at the Battle of Harlem Heights, or to the knolls that characterize the area. In some older sources, the name is spelled "Knawltown".

The township is served by postal ZIP Codes in Columbia (07832) and Delaware (07833), although a small number of Knowlton residents receive postal deliveries via the Blairstown (07825) post office. Within the township are several small hamlets, including Browning, Deckers Ferry, Mount Pleasant, Polkville, Ramseyburg, Warrington and Knowlton itself.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 25.33 square miles (65.60 km2), including 24.72 square miles (64.03 km2) of land and 0.60 square miles (1.56 km2) of water (2.38%). The township is located in the Kittatinny Valley which is a section of the Great Appalachian Valley that stretches 700 mi from Canada to Alabama.

Columbia (with a 2010 Census population of 229 ), Delaware (150 ) and Hainesburg (91 ) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within the township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Browning, Deckers Ferry, Mount Pleasant, Polkville, Ramseyburg and Warrington.

The township borders the Warren County municipalities of Blairstown Township, Hardwick Township, Hope Township and White Township.

Demographics
The Township's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is calculated by the US Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 3,055 people, 1,097 households, and 864 families in the township. The population density was 123.4 PD/sqmi. There were 1,212 housing units at an average density of 49.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 96.07% (2,935) White, 0.92% (28) Black or African American, 0.29% (9) Native American, 0.92% (28) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.75% (23) from other races, and 1.05% (32) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.63% (111) of the population.

Of the 1,097 households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18; 66.5% were married couples living together; 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.2% were non-families. Of all households, 16.3% were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.10.

23.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 20.2% from 25 to 44, 36.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 101.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $81,346 (with a margin of error of +/− $11,792) and the median family income was $86,708 (+/− $13,339). Males had a median income of $76,733 (+/− $8,158) versus $51,757 (+/− $3,961) for females. The per capita income for the Township was $35,440 (+/− $4,605). About 1.4% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 2,977 people, 1,028 households, and 816 families residing in the township. The population density was 120.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,135 housing units at an average density of 45.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 97.45% White, 0.40% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.85% of the population.

There were 1,028 households, out of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.1% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the township the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $63,409, and the median income for a family was $72,130. Males had a median income of $46,250 versus $35,326 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,631. About 1.5% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Knowlton Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

, the Knowlton Township Committee is comprised of Mayor M. Adele Starrs (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2022), Deputy Mayor Debra L. Shipps (R, term on committee ends 2023; term as deputy mayor ends 2022), Kathy Cuntala (R, 2024), James Mazza (R, 2023), and Frank Van Horn (R, 2022).

Federal, state, and county representation
Knowlton Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,008 registered voters in Knowlton Township, of which 418 (20.8% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 694 (34.6% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 895 (44.6% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There as one voter registered to another party. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 65.7% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 85.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 833 votes (63.1% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 441 votes (33.4% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 19 votes (1.4% vs. 1.7%), among the 1,320 ballots cast by the township's 2,027 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.1% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 918 votes (63.0% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 491 votes (33.7% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 25 votes (1.7% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,457 ballots cast by the township's 2,045 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.2% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 948 votes (65.8% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 469 votes (32.5% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 17 votes (1.2% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,441 ballots cast by the township's 1,899 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.9% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 74.6% of the vote (671 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 22.8% (205 votes), and other candidates with 2.6% (23 votes), among the 915 ballots cast by the township's 2,040 registered voters (16 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 595 votes (63.8% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 203 votes (21.8% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 102 votes (10.9% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 13 votes (1.4% vs. 1.5%), among the 932 ballots cast by the township's 1,987 registered voters, yielding a 46.9% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).

Education
Children in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade for public school attend Knowlton Township Elementary School as part of the Knowlton Township School District. As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 155 students and 23.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 6.7:1. In the 2016–17 school year, Knowlton had the 41st smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 192 students.

Students in public school for seventh through twelfth grades attend the North Warren Regional High School in Blairstown, a public secondary high school, serving students from the townships of Blairstown, Frelinghuysen, Hardwick and Knowlton. As of the 2019–20 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 752 students and 69.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1. The seats on the district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with two seats assigned to Knowlton Township.

Students from the township and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township (for grades K–8, with Knowlton students among those given admission preference) or Warren County Technical School in Washington borough (for 9–12), with special education services provided by local districts supplemented throughout the county by the Warren County Special Services School District in Oxford Township (for PreK–12).

Recreation
Tunnel Field is the primary recreational site in the township with several baseball and softball diamonds and soccer fields. Tunnel also has a play area (including swings and play area), a basketball court, tennis court, paved walking track, and concession stand. The field is located by Route 94 and is divided by the Lackawanna Cut-Off and is connected through an old tunnel (hence the name).

Roads and highways
, the township had a total of 67.96 mi of roadways, of which 37.33 mi were maintained by the municipality, 13.67 mi by Warren County and 16.83 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.13 mi by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

Interstate 80 (Bergen-Passaic Expressway) is the main east–west limited access road, passing through the township for 7.24 mi with a junction at Routes 94 and 46. Route 94 passes through the northern portion of the township for 3.92 mi. U.S. Route 46 runs for 5.50 mi through the township's southern portion. The Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge (part of Route 94), which is owned and operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, crosses the Delaware River and connects with Pennsylvania Route 611 in Portland, Pennsylvania.

Rail history
Much of Knowlton's development after 1850 can be traced to the presence of the five railroad lines that criss-crossed the township: the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad's Old Road and, later, the Lackawanna Cut-Off; the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway; the Lehigh & New England Railroad; and the Blairstown Railway. In subsequent years, all of these rail lines have been abandoned. In their heyday, however, two rail lines and three railroads served the town of Delaware: the New York, Susquehanna and Western (formerly Blairstown) Railway; and the Old Road of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (which also had granted trackage rights to the Pennsylvania Railroad, technically a sixth railroad). The community of Columbia was also served by the NYS&W (Hainesburg also had a station), with the Lehigh and New England Railroad also passing through town.

In more recent years, development within Knowlton has been tied to the presence of U.S. Route 46 and, since the early 1970s, Interstate 80. Many Knowlton residents use Route 80 to commute to their jobs either further east in New Jersey or further west in Pennsylvania. Route 94 crosses through the township. Two bridges cross the Delaware River, connecting the township to Pennsylvania; the Portland–Columbia Toll Bridge, opened in 1953, connects Route 94 to Pennsylvania Route 611 in Portland, Pennsylvania. The two places are also connected by the Portland–Columbia Pedestrian Bridge, which dates back to a structure constructed in 1869 and was dedicated for pedestrian use when the vehicular toll bridge was completed in 1953.

Points of interest

 * Brook Hollow Winery
 * DeVille's Historic Texaco

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Knowlton Township include:

 * A. Elizabeth Adams (1892–1962), zoologist and professor at Mount Holyoke College
 * Charles H. Flummerfelt (1863–1931), politician who served in the Washington House of Representatives and Washington State Senate
 * Cornelius Edward Gallagher (1921–2018), politician who represented New Jersey's 13th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1959 to 1973
 * Philip Johnson (1818–1867), represented Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives from 1861 to 1867
 * Jonathan Sonne, competitive Magic: The Gathering player
 * William Henry Witte (1817–1876), member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, serving from 1853 to 1855

title: Knowlton Township, New Jersey


text:
Liberty Township, New Jersey

Liberty Township is a township in Warren County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 2,670, a decrease of 272 (−9.2%) from the 2010 census count of 2,942, which in turn reflected an increase of 177 (+6.4%) from the 2,765 counted in the 2000 census.

Liberty Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 26, 1926, from portions of Hope Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 30, 1926.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 11.93 square miles (30.89 km2), including 11.67 square miles (30.22 km2) of land and 0.26 square miles (0.68 km2) of water (2.20%).

Mountain Lake (with a 2010 census population of 575 ) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within the township. Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Danville, Great Meadows and Townsbury.

Mountain Lake is over 12,000 years old and is Warren County's largest natural glacial lake. The lake has an area of 122 acre, maximum depth of 38 ft and an average depth of 17 ft. The Mountain Lake Community Association (MLCA) oversees the Mountain Lake watershed and helps to maintain Mountain Lake's natural habitat. South of Mountain Lake is High Rock where many visitors enjoy to go hiking and can view the lake and surrounding areas, including the Delaware Water Gap.

The township borders the Warren County municipalities of Hope Township, Independence Township, Mansfield Township and White Township.

Demographics
The Township's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is included by the U.S. Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 2,942 people, 1,047 households, and 789 families in the township. The population density was 253.6 per square mile (97.9/km2). There were 1,151 housing units at an average density of 99.2 per square mile (38.3/km2). The racial makeup was 95.65% (2,814) White, 1.02% (30) Black or African American, 0.20% (6) Native American, 1.50% (44) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.44% (13) from other races, and 1.19% (35) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.15% (122) of the population.

Of the 1,047 households, 35.8% had children under the age of 18; 63.0% were married couples living together; 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.6% were non-families. Of all households, 18.4% were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.21.

24.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 34.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 104.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $73,750 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,599) and the median family income was $87,059 (+/− $12,952). Males had a median income of $55,625 (+/− $10,748) versus $49,511 (+/− $6,823) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,946 (+/− $3,591). About none of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 2,765 people, 980 households, and 750 families residing in the township. The population density was 234.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,088 housing units at an average density of 92.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 97.40% White, 0.36% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.54% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.68% of the population.

There were 980 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the township, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $62,535, and the median income for a family was $68,529. Males had a median income of $48,446 versus $33,529 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,743. About 2.0% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Liberty Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

, members of the Liberty Township Committee are Mayor John E. Inscho (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Deputy Mayor Daniel B. Grover (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2022), Peter Karcher (R, 2023), David Rogers (R, 2022) and Wayne Spangenberg (R, 2023).

Carl Cummins was appointed to fill the vacant seat of John Fisher, who had died in September 2013, after the deadline to remove his name from the ballot and who won a seat in the November 2013 general election. Fisher's term of office runs until December 2016. Cummins served on an interim basis until the November 2014 general election when he was elected to serve the balance of the term.

Federal, state, and county representation
Liberty Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,897 registered voters in Liberty Township, of which 386 (20.3% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 768 (40.5% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 742 (39.1% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 64.5% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 85.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 709 votes (59.4% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 447 votes (37.5% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 24 votes (2.0% vs. 1.7%), among the 1,193 ballots cast by the township's 1,894 registered voters, for a turnout of 63.0% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 843 votes (57.6% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 585 votes (40.0% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.5% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,463 ballots cast by the township's 1,912 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.5% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 909 votes (63.4% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 491 votes (34.2% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 32 votes (2.2% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,434 ballots cast by the township's 1,809 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.3% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.9% of the vote (588 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 22.6% (180 votes), and other candidates with 3.5% (28 votes), among the 810 ballots cast by the township's 1,923 registered voters (14 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.1%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 658 votes (63.4% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 244 votes (23.5% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 99 votes (9.5% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 21 votes (2.0% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,038 ballots cast by the township's 1,855 registered voters, yielding a 56.0% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).

Education
Public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Great Meadows Regional School District, together with students from Independence Township. The New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division blocked a 2007 effort by Liberty Township to leave the Great Meadows district based on Liberty's greater share of district costs, with the court citing the inability of the two communities to provide an efficient education separately. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 643 students and 59.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1. Schools in the district (with 2021–22 school year enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Central Elementary School with 302 students in grades PreK-3 and Great Meadows Middle School with 337 students in grades 4-8. Seats on the regional district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with three seats allocated to Liberty Township; one seat from Liberty Township and two from Independence Township up for election each year.

Students attending public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Hackettstown High School which serves students from Hackettstown, along with students from the townships of Allamuchy and Liberty, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Hackettstown School District. As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 869 students and 67.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

Students from the township and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township (for grades K–8) or Warren County Technical School in Washington borough (for 9–12), with special education services provided by local districts supplemented throughout the county by the Warren County Special Services School District in Oxford Township (for PreK–12).

Transportation
, the township had a total of 33.83 mi of roadways, of which 24.74 mi were maintained by the municipality, 5.91 mi by Warren County and 3.18 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

The only major road to pass through is U.S. Route 46, which runs for 3.18 mi in the township's southeastern area.

The closest limited access road is Interstate 80 (the Bergen-Passaic Expressway) in neighboring Hope Township.

title: Liberty Township, New Jersey