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Sandyston Township, New Jersey

Sandyston Township is a small rural township in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located in the northwestern part of the state near the Pennsylvania border. The township is surrounded by and part of many national and state parks. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 1,977, a decrease of 21 (−1.1%) from the 2010 census count of 1,998, which in turn reflected an increase of 173 (+9.5%) from the 1,825 counted in the 2000 census. Sandyston's growth in recent years has been attributed to the influx of people from more urban parts of the state and even New York City, located less than 75 miles away.

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Sandyston Township 26th on its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.

Sandyston was first formed by royal charter on February 26, 1762, from portions of Walpack Township. Sandyston was incorporated as a township on February 21, 1798, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature as part of the initial group of 104 townships incorporated in the state.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 42.06 square miles (108.94 km2), including 41.33 square miles (107.05 km2) of land and 0.73 square miles (1.89 km2) of water (1.74%).

The township ranges from 300 to 1600 ft above sea level. A ridge runs along the eastern half of the township called the Kittatinny Mountains. The highest point in the township is Sunrise Mountain in Stokes State Forest. The lowest point is around the Delaware River in the western half of the township.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Abertown, Bevans, Centerville, Dingmans Ferry, Hainesville, Kittatinny Lake, Lake Ashroe, Layton, Namanack Island, Normanock, Peters Valley, Shaytown, Stoney Lake and Tuttles Corner.

Sandyston Township borders the Sussex County municipalities of Frankford Township, Montague Township and Walpack Township.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 1,998 people, 788 households, and 561 families in the township. The population density was 47.0 PD/sqmi. There were 988 housing units at an average density of 23.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 97.45% (1,947) White, 0.40% (8) Black or African American, 0.10% (2) Native American, 0.55% (11) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.30% (6) from other races, and 1.20% (24) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.40% (68) of the population.

Of the 788 households, 29.9% had children under the age of 18; 58.8% were married couples living together; 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.8% were non-families. Of all households, 22.6% were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01.

22.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 36.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.6 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 +/− $8,449) and the median family income was $96,071 (+/− $15,669). Males had a median income of $62,071 (+/− $9,210) versus $41,875 (+/− $7,589) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,921 (+/− $9,604). About 2.5% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 U.S. census, there were 1,825 people, 693 households, and 503 families residing in the township. The population density was 42.8 PD/sqmi. There were 907 housing units at an average density of 21.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 97.86% White, 0.38% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.

There were 793 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% 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 3.12.

In the township, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $55,667, and the median income for a family was $65,774. Males had a median income of $46,167 versus $30,660 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,854. About 3.6% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

 * Brau Kettle karst
 * Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Stokes State Forest cover more than two-thirds of the township
 * Peters Valley School of Craft

Local government
Sandyston 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 the three-person Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters 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. 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 Sandyston Township Committee are Mayor George B. Harper Jr. (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Kamala M. "Kammy" Hull (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2024) and Ronald E. Green (R, 2024).

In January 2016, the Township Committee selected Kamala "Kammy" Hull from three names nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by William J. Leppert until his resignation effective the previous month; Hull will serve on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters will select a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.

Federal, state and county representation
Sandyston Township is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,349 registered voters in Sandyston Township, of which 193 (14.3% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 662 (49.1% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 492 (36.5% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens. Among the township's 2010 census population, 67.5% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 87.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 661 votes (65.1% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 327 votes (32.2% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 24 votes (2.4% vs. 2.1%), among the 1,015 ballots cast by the township's 1,392 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.9% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 655 votes (64.0% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 353 votes (34.5% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.9% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,024 ballots cast by the township's 1,328 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.1% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 638 votes (67.7% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 291 votes (30.9% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.3% vs. 1.3%), among the 943 ballots cast by the township's 1,163 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.1% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.5% of the vote (496 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.1% (156 votes), and other candidates with 3.4% (23 votes), among the 678 ballots cast by the township's 1,423 registered voters (3 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 475 votes (65.6% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 157 votes (21.7% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 77 votes (10.6% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 10 votes (1.4% vs. 1.3%), among the 724 ballots cast by the township's 1,303 registered voters, yielding a 55.6% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).

Education
Public school students in kindergarten through sixth grade attend the schools of the Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District, together with students from Walpack Township. The school is located in the Layton section of Sandyston Township. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 138 students and 16.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.2:1. In the 2016–17 school year, Sandyston-Walpack had the 26th smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 149 students.

Students in seventh through twelfth grade from Sandyston and Walpack Townships for public school attend Kittatinny Regional High School located in Hampton Township, which also serves students who reside in Fredon Township and Stillwater Township. The high school is located on a 96 acres campus in Hampton Township, about seven minutes outside of the county seat of Newton. Kittatinny Regional High School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1997–1998. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 941 students and 97.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.7:1.

Transportation
, the township had a total of 52.47 mi of roadways, of which 28.98 mi were maintained by the municipality, 16.22 mi by Sussex County and 7.27 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

U.S. Route 206 bisects the township, concurrent with County Route 521. The Dingman's Ferry Bridge, one of the last privately owned toll bridges on the Delaware River and one of the last few in the United States, carries two lanes of PA 739 and NJ County Route 560, connecting to Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Sandyston Township include:
 * George B. Harper (1918–1988), politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from 1954 to 1964
 * Harry Harper (1895–1963), pitcher who played in the major leagues for four different teams
 * Ernest L. Hettich (1897–1973), scholar of classics
 * Bill Sienkiewicz (born 1958), artist known for his work in comic books, particularly for Marvel Comics' New Mutants, Moon Knight, and Elektra: Assassin

title: Sandyston Township, New Jersey


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Sparta, New Jersey

Sparta is a township in Sussex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 19,600, a decrease of 122 (−0.6%) from the 2010 census count of 19,722,  which in turn reflected an increase of 1,642 (+9.1%) from the 18,080 counted in the 2000 census.

Sparta was organized as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 14, 1845, from portions of Byram Township, Frankford Township, Hardyston Township and (the now-defunct) Newton Township. The township was named after the existing community of Sparta, which had been settled and named years before, the name likely coming from Sparta, Greece. Ogdensburg borough was incorporated on February 26, 1914, from portions of Sparta Township.

The township was listed as the safest place in New Jersey as well as the seventh safest municipality in the nation according to a 2022 crime statistic compilation from Safewise.com.

Overview
Sparta was originally inhabited by Lenape Native Americans. In the 1750s, Dutch explorers discovered red ores in the area and attempted to mine copper. No permanent settlers arrived until 1778, when Robert Ogden and his wife built their home and constructed an iron forge on lands he had acquired and "called their house and farm Sparta." The first public building in Sparta was the Presbyterian Church which was incorporated in 1786. Schools were established in Ogdensburg by 1806 and in Sparta by 1812.

Iron, zinc, and limestone supported a mining industry for over 100 years, but today the mining operations have ceased and the township is now a residential community served by retail, professional, and service small businesses. According to the 2000 census, 65% of Sparta workers commute to jobs outside of the county.

Iron
Robert Ogden settled in 1778 near the present town of Ogdensburg and built an iron forge, utilizing local ore from his Ogden Mine on Sparta Mountain. The Horseshoe mine was opened in 1772 by the Englishmen Spargo and Harvey who shipped ore by horse and mule to the forges at Sparta and Hopewell. It wasn't until 1868 that the Ogden Mine Railroad began operations and made it economical to ship zinc and iron ore to Nolan's Point on Lake Hopatcong where the Morris Canal had a marine terminal that could ship ore to Newark. In 1872, the New Jersey Midland Railroad (later known as the New York, Susquehanna & Western) extended to Ogdensburg and captured the zinc ore traffic.

In 1836, Henry Decker, along with Nelson Hunt and Lewis Sherman, began the manufacture of anchors at their forges in Sparta. Their success led to a small industry of forging anchors in Sparta, but by the end of the Civil War the forge industry in Sparta had come to an end.

In 1889, Thomas Edison invested $3.5 million in his Edison Ore-Milling Company to build iron operations on 2500 acre of Sparta Mountain. Edison hoped to concentrate the mountain's vast quantities of low-grade ore and supply East Coast mills with raw material. At its peak Edison's operation employed 500 people, but after a 10-year effort he abandoned his attempt to compete with more economical ores from Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range. The availability of the cheap Minnesota ores put an end to iron mining in Sparta.

Zinc
In 1848 the New Jersey Zinc Company began operations at Sterling Hill. Earlier attempts to obtain iron from the mineral rich ore of the Sterling Hill failed because of manganese contamination, but zinc was recoverable and the ores at Sterling Hill were rich with it.

In 1856 the Passaic Zinc Company started operations at the Sterling Hill Mine and constructed large ore crushers, shipping the ores to the company's plant in Jersey City.

By 1868, both iron and zinc operations were in progress at Sterling Hill, but the numerous companies and claims were embroiled in continuous legal battles, the largest of which was a 12-year dispute between the New Jersey Zinc Company and the Franklin Iron Company over rights to mixed ores, each company having purchased the right to mine zinc and iron, respectively. In 1880, the Franklin Iron Company acquired the New Jersey Zinc Company's operations at Sterling Hill mine, ending the dispute. Large scale operations began in 1897 when the claims were consolidated under the New Jersey Zinc Company and by 1900 its mill was processing 1,500 tons of ore daily.

Zinc operations continued until 1986 when the Sterling Hill mine ceased operation. The Sterling Hill mine site is currently occupied by the Sterling Hill Mining Museum and is open to the public for tours.

Limestone
After closing his iron operations, Thomas Edison recouped his losses by opening a quarry called Limecrest near Sparta in 1919. The lime quarry fed Edison's Portland cement operations, and was in continuous operation under various owners for more than 80 years until it closed in 2003. During the years of its operation the limestone quarry was an important source of employment and tax revenue for Sparta. Limestone is no longer mined, but a limited amount of granite continues to be quarried by a handful of employees.

Tourism
The New Jersey Midland Railroad opened to Ogdensburg in 1872 for zinc ore traffic, but in 1882 the line was extended to Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and a station was built at Sparta, giving tourists easy access to the many boarding houses that served summer residents from the cities. Passenger service ended in 1935, but by then Sparta was well established as a summer destination. In 1926, the Arthur D. Crane Company along with developer and designer Herbert L. Closs constructed a 600 ft dam across the Wallkill River to form 300 acre Lake Mohawk in 1928. The private resort community created by the Crane Company consisted primarily of summer homes, but the homes began to be winterized in the 1940s and the current membership of 2,600 families are largely year-round residents.

Geography
The township borders the municipalities of Andover Township, Byram Township, Franklin borough, Hardyston Township, Hopatcong borough Lafayette Township and Ogdensburg, New Jersey Ogdensburg Borough in Sussex County; and Jefferson Township in Morris County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 38.80 square miles (100.50 km2), including 36.79 square miles (95.28 km2) of land and 2.02 square miles (5.22 km2) of water (5.20%).

Unincorporated communities
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ackerson, Edison, Hopewell, Houses Corner, Lake Mohawk, Monroe, Sparta Junction, Sussex Mills, Upper Mohawk and Woodruffs Gap.

Lake Mohawk
Lake Mohawk (with 8,092 out of the CDP's total 2010 Census population of 9,916 in the township ) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) split between Byram Township and Sparta.

Sparta Junction
Sparta Junction was where the tracks of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad and the Lehigh and Hudson River Railway crossed, near the western boundary of Sparta. A railroad telegraph office and a train order station, that controlled train signalling semaphores, was located there. It is located at 41.06426°N, -74.67127°W.

Geology
Sparta is in the Highlands which is comprised of igneous and metamorphic rock. Folding and faulting occurred when a continent struck the North American Plate. This is what created the mountains through Sparta and northwards. The Wisconsin Glacier created all the lakes and streams. The Franklin Marble goes through the township from Lime Crest Quarry to the New York line.

Demographics
Sparta has been noted for the high number of pilots and their families who settle in the area. In his 1994 book The Airport: Terminal Nights and Runway Days at John F. Kennedy International, James Kaplan describes the home township of an interviewee as "thickly populated, for no particular reason, with pilots, many of whom do their flying out of Kennedy. The view out [the pilot's] picture window is of trees ... The lights and noise of Manhattan, fifty miles distant, attract flight attendants, single people mostly. Pilots like the woods."

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 19,722 people, 6,868 households, and 5,453 families in the township. The population density was 533.9 /sqmi. There were 7,423 housing units at an average density of 200.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 94.15% (18,569) White, 1.00% (198) Black or African American, 0.11% (22) Native American, 2.49% (491) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander, 0.70% (139) from other races, and 1.52% (299) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.34% (1,054) of the population.

Of the 6,868 households, 41.8% had children under the age of 18; 69.6% were married couples living together; 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.6% were non-families. Of all households, 17.4% 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 2.87 and the average family size was 3.27.

28.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $112,699 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,658) and the median family income was $127,669 (+/− $8,981). Males had a median income of $89,118 (+/− $5,949) versus $60,590 (+/− $5,416) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $50,115 (+/− $3,064). About 2.3% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 18,080 people, 6,225 households, and 5,029 families residing in the township. The population density was 483.5 PD/sqmi. There were 6,590 housing units at an average density of 176.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 96.7% White, 0.3% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.54% of the population.

There were 6,225 households, out of which 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.9% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $89,835, and the median income for a family was $100,658. Males had a median income of $74,293 versus $39,349 for females. The per capita income for the township was $36,910. About 1.0% of families and 1.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Sparta is home to many small businesses. Lake Mohawk houses many boutiques and gift shops that cater to a wide variety of shoppers. As well as these smaller businesses, Sparta home to multiple family-owned pizzerias and delis.

Rockaway Townsquare is located about 15 minutes away from Sparta and allows residents to find a wider variety of shops.

Local government
Sparta is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager (Plan B) form of municipal government, implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of July 1, 1960. The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form. The governing body is comprised of a five-member Township Council whose members are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis for staggered four-year terms of office, with either two or three seats coming up for election in even-numbered years as part of the November general election. The council chooses a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among themselves to serve one-year terms of office. The Township Council has the responsibility for all legislative matters.

The Council's responsibilities include enacting ordinances and resolutions, establishing policies, preparing the annual budget with the assistance of the Township Manager and the Treasurer, and levying taxes. Additionally, the Council makes appointments to both the policy and decision-making boards and various advisory committees in accordance with general law and Township ordinances and resolutions.

The council voted to shift its municipal elections from May to November, and voters approved a 2011 referendum that ended a requirement that a runoff election be held in June in the event that no candidate received a majority of votes in the May council election. The first election in which the candidates receiving the most votes won office was held in November 2012.

, members of the Sparta Township Council are Mayor Neill Clark (term on the council ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Dean Blumetti (term on council ends 2026; term as deputy mayor ends 2024), Daniel Chiariello (2026), Josh Hertzberg (2024) and Christine Quinn (2024).

In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $12,044, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.

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

Prior to the 2010 Census, Sparta Township had been split between the NJ's 5th congressional district and the 11th 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 13,647 registered voters in Sparta Township, of which 2,393 (17.5% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 4,854 (35.6% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 6,387 (46.8% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 13 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 69.2% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 97.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 6,370 votes (61.6% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,747 votes (36.3% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 188 votes (1.8% vs. 2.1%), among the 10,335 ballots cast by the township's 14,177 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.9% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 6,462 votes (59.9% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 4,171 votes (38.7% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 103 votes (1.0% vs. 1.5%), among the 10,781 ballots cast by the township's 13,490 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.9% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 6,622 votes (65.8% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 3,311 votes (32.9% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 102 votes (1.0% vs. 1.3%), among the 10,070 ballots cast by the township's 12,537 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.3% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.8% of the vote (4,431 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.6% (1,496 votes), and other candidates with 2.6% (159 votes), among the 6,140 ballots cast by the township's 14,360 registered voters (54 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 4,694 votes (65.2% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,844 votes (25.6% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 593 votes (8.2% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 37 votes (0.5% vs. 1.3%), among the 7,202 ballots cast by the township's 13,308 registered voters, yielding a 54.1% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).

Public schools
The Sparta Township Public School District serves students in public school from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 3,236 students and 290.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1. Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Alpine Elementary School with 725 students in grades PreK-2, Mohawk Avenue School with 231 students in grade 3, Helen Morgan School with 476 students in grades 4-5, Sparta Middle School with 719 students in grades 6-8, Sparta High School with 1,065 students in grades 9-12.

The Sparta Education Foundation was founded in 2006 to help with budgetary issues in the Sparta school district and to bring extra funds to the public school district from concerned private citizens and groups. In 2009, the Foundation provided technology money for SMART boards and projectors in Alpine and Helen Morgan schools. The Board of Education office is located in the Mohawk Avenue School. Matthew L. Beck is the Superintendent of Schools.

Specialized and charter schools
Sparta is also home to Sussex County Technical School, a county-wide technical high school.

Sussex Charter School for Technology serves grades 6-8, and is open to students from across the state, with preference given to application to students from Sparta.

Private schools
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson is responsible for Rev. George A. Brown Elementary for 1st-5th, Pope John XXIII Middle School for 6th-8th, and Pope John XXIII High School for 9th-12th.

Sparta is home of Hilltop Country Day School, a private school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Veritas Christian Academy, a small private school, educates students in grades 9-12.

Roads and highways
, the township had a total of 132.81 mi of roadways, of which 97.07 mi were maintained by the municipality, 20.05 mi by Sussex County and 15.69 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Route 15 is the primary highway serving Sparta Township. Much of the original stretch of this highway within Sparta has been bypassed by a freeway, with the old route now designated Route 181. Route 94 and County Route 517 also pass through the township.

Public transportation
Sparta is served by the Skylands Connect bus, which provides service to Newton, Hamburg and Sussex. Lakeland Bus Lines provides commuter service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan from the Sparta police station and Blue Heron Road park and rides on the Route 80 route.

Police
The Sparta Police Department is headquartered in the Municipal Building. The department is led by the Chief of Police Neil Spidaletto. The department has 10 Ford Explorers. Sparta Dispatch located in Sparta Police Headquarters is staffed 24/7 by trained Telecommunicators and Emergency Medical Dispatchers. Sparta Dispatch handles Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Dispatch for the towns of Sparta, Franklin, Ogdensburg and Stanhope.

Emergency Medical Services
The Sparta Ambulance Squad was founded on July 11, 1947, by the Sparta VFW post 7248. The squad is staffed by a combination of volunteers and paid EMTs. During weekdays, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., ambulances are staffed by two paid EMTs. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and all day on weekends, Volunteer crews are on call to handle emergencies. If a crew is not found in Sparta, mutual aid agreements exist with area volunteer and hospital based EMS agencies. The squad and its more than 60 members operate three ambulances (4191, 4192, 4193), an off-road utility vehicle, and an Emergency Response Unit (4195). Sparta Ambulance Squad's headquarters is located at 14 Sparta Avenue. In 2013, the squad responded to 1,425 calls.

Fire
The Sparta Fire Department serves the township, providing firefighting services along with vehicle extrication and HazMat services. The department's headquarters is located at 141 Woodport Road but it also has substations on Glen Road and Sparta Stanhope Road.

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

 * Mary Vail Andress (1883–1964), banker who was a World War I relief worker in France
 * Greg Baty (born 1964), former NFL player
 * Mike Budnik (born 1974), former professional inline skater and mixed martial arts fighter
 * Cassidy, lead singer for the band Antigone Rising from 1999 through 2008
 * Frank Dolce (born 1996), actor who appeared in Sons of Tucson on television and on Broadway in the role of Michael in Billy Elliot the Musical
 * Charles Joseph Fletcher (1922–2011), inventor and the owner and chief executive of an aeronautical equipment company Technology General Corporation
 * Archimedes Giacomantonio (1906–1988), sculptor who was best known for his busts of noted figures
 * Bob Gunderman (born 1934), NFL football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers
 * Frank Herbert (1931–2018), politician who served in the New Jersey Senate and the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders
 * Chris Jent (born 1970), former NBA basketball player and current coach
 * F. Ross Johnson (1931–2016), Canadian businessman and former CEO of RJR Nabisco
 * Jordan Lawlor (born 1992), musician, who has toured with the band M83
 * Jeff Lenosky (born 1971), US National Mountain Bike Champion and world record holder
 * Simon J. Levien (born 2000), journalist who exposed the presence of the Ku Klux Klan on Harvard's campus
 * Sean Maguire (born 1994), football quarterback
 * Wendy Mass (born 1967), author
 * Dan Miller (born 1981), mixed martial artist who is a UFC Contender, CFFC Middleweight Champion and IFL Middleweight Champion
 * Jim Miller (born 1984), mixed martial artist who is a UFC Contender, CFFC Lightweight Champion and Reality Fighting Featherweight Champion
 * Troy Murphy (born 1980), NBA basketball player
 * Sylvia Pressler (1934–2010), New Jersey court judge whose rulings included one allowing girls to participate in Little League Baseball
 * Tom Raney, comics artist known for his work on Uncanny X-Men and The Outsiders
 * J. Allyn Rosser (born 1957), poet
 * Jack Thomas Smith (born 1969), horror filmmaker
 * Tim Sweeney (born 1980), former professional baseball player who became a sports agent and participated in The Amazing Race 23
 * Arthur Tipton (1882–1942), football player and United States Army officer
 * Russ Van Atta (1906–1986), former Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees and the Saint Louis Browns who served as Sheriff of Sussex County and as a county freeholder
 * Harry Wright (1919–1993), football player and coach who played for the New York Giants and served as the mayor of the township

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

title: Sparta, New Jersey


text:
Stanhope, New Jersey

Stanhope is a borough in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 3,526, a decrease of 84 (−2.3%) from the 2010 census count of 3,610, which in turn reflected an increase of 26 (+0.7%) from the 3,584 counted in the 2000 census.

Stanhope was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 24, 1904, from portions of Byram Township.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.09 square miles (5.42 km2), including 1.84 square miles (4.76 km2) of land and 0.26 square miles (0.66 km2) of water (12.25%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Lake Musconetcong.

Stanhope is the southernmost municipality in Sussex County. The borough borders the municipalities of Byram Township and Hopatcong in Sussex County; and Mount Olive Township, Netcong and Roxbury in Morris County.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 3,610 people, 1,396 households, and 958 families in the borough. The population density was 1,966.3 per square mile (759.2/km2). There were 1,472 housing units at an average density of 801.8 per square mile (309.6/km2). The racial makeup was 91.36% (3,298) White, 1.58% (57) Black or African American, 0.08% (3) Native American, 2.33% (84) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 2.63% (95) from other races, and 2.02% (73) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.50% (307) of the population.

Of the 1,396 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18; 53.2% were married couples living together; 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.4% were non-families. Of all households, 25.1% 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 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.

22.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.2 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 $78,625 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,138) and the median family income was $94,545 (+/− $11,809). Males had a median income of $51,974 (+/− $7,042) versus $47,241 (+/− $3,337) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,934 (+/− $4,607). About 0.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 3,584 people, 1,384 households, and 978 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,913.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,419 housing units at an average density of 757.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 93.55% White, 1.34% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.40% from other races, and 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.05% of the population.

There were 1,384 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $63,059, and the median income for a family was $73,203. Males had a median income of $49,861 versus $36,545 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,535. About 1.7% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Stanhope is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The borough form of government used by Stanhope is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

, the mayor of Stanhope is Republican Gene Wronko, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Borough Council are Council President William Thornton (R, 2024), Diana M. Kuncken (R, 2025), Anthony J. Riccardi (D, 2026), Thomas J. Romano (R, 2026), Tyler Simpson (R, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term) and Scott Wachterhauser (R, 2025; elected to serve an unexpired term).

Tyler Simpson was appointed in January 2024 to serve the rest of the seat expiring in December 2024 that became vacant when Gene Wronko took office as mayor earlier that month.

In April 2023, Scott Wachterhauser was appointed to fill the seat expiring in April 2023 vacated following the resignation Michael Vance. Wachterhauser served on an interim basis until November 2023, when he was elected to serve the remainder of the term.

Michael Vance was chosen in June 2021 to fill the seat that had been held by Raymond Cipollini that expired in December 2022. In the November 2021 general election, Vance was elected to serve the remainder of the term of office.

In January 2020, the borough council selected Gene Wronko from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to serve to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that was vacated by Patricia Zdichocki when she took office as mayor. Wronko serves on an interim basis until the November 2020 general election.

In January 2018, the borough council selected Anthony Riccardi from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Michael A. Depew until he left office because of health issues. Riccardi served on an interim basis until the November 2018 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

Federal, state, and county representation
Stanhope 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 2,403 registered voters in Stanhope, of which 486 (20.2% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 754 (31.4% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,159 (48.2% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 66.6% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 86.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).

Presidential elections
In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,017 votes (59.4% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 665 votes (38.8% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 25 votes (1.5% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,712 ballots cast by the borough's 2,200 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.8% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 995 votes (53.4% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 821 votes (44.1% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 30 votes (1.6% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,863 ballots cast by the borough's 2,384 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.1% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 843 votes (52.2% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 738 votes (45.7% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 29 votes (1.8% vs. 2.1%), among the 1,614 ballots cast by the borough's 2,458 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.7% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald J. Trump received 1,036 votes (56.1% vs. 62.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 743 votes (40.2% vs. 32.7% countywide) and other candidates with 67 votes (3.6% vs. 4.4%), among the 1,884 ballots cast by the borough's 2,529 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.4% (vs. 72.7% in Sussex County).

Gubernatorial elections
In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 716 votes (59.6% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 354 votes (29.5% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 105 votes (8.7% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.8% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,201 ballots cast by the borough's 2,360 registered voters, yielding a 50.9% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county). In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.8% of the vote (711 votes), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.2% (267 votes), and other candidates with 3.9% (40 votes), among the 1,029 ballots cast by the borough's 2,475 registered voters (11 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.6%. In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 55% of the vote (555 votes), ahead of Democrat Phil Murphy with 40% (404 votes), and other candidates with 4.8 (49 votes), among the 1,019 ballots cast by the borough's 2,508 registered voters, yielding a 41% turnout (matching 41% in the county).

Education
The Stanhope Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 292 students and 30.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.7:1.

For ninth through twelfth grades, the borough shares Lenape Valley Regional High School, which serves public school students from Netcong in Morris County and the Sussex County communities of Byram Township and Stanhope. As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 657 students and 54.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1. Students from the borough had attended Netcong High School until 1974, when the Lenape Valley district was created. Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the populations of the constituent municipalities, with two seats assigned to Stanhope.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 16.76 mi of roadways, of which 12.75 mi were maintained by the municipality, 2.24 mi by Sussex County and 1.77 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Route 183 is the main access road that serves the borough. U.S. Route 206 also passes through in the western section and is partially a limited access road (the "Netcong Bypass") which connects to Interstate 80 in neighboring Mount Olive.

Stanhope is noted for its highway oddity. Upon the completion of Interstate 80 (c. 1974), Old U.S. Route 206 through Stanhope was renamed Route 183. A section of Interstate 80 now acts as a traffic bypass around Stanhope.

Public transportation
Lakeland Bus Lines provides service operating along Interstate 80 between Newton, New Jersey, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

Points of interest
Since 1949, the Patriots' Path Council of the Boy Scouts of America operate two camps at the Mt. Allamuchy Scout Reservation in Stanhope. Camp Somers is a year-round overnight camp for Boy Scouts aged 12 to 17. Camp Wheeler is a day camp for younger Cub Scouts.

The Plaster Mill was part of an iron works along the Morris Canal, which ran through the borough. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Across the Musconetcong River in Netcong, the nearby Stanhope United Methodist Church, also known as the Church in the Glen, was added to the NRHP in 2013 for its significance in architecture.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Stanhope include:
 * Gamaliel Bartlett (1796–1859), first postmaster at Stanhope, appointed in 1823 by President James Monroe. In 1829, Bartlett petitioned the Sussex County Court for a license to "...keep an Inn or Tavern in the house in which he now lives, in the Township of Byram..." It was signed by the 16 town council members (referred to as Freeholders!). Probably the location of the proposed licensed premises was what is locally referred to as: The Stanhope House
 * Rob Freeman (born 1981), former guitarist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter for the pop punk/post-hardcore group Hidden in Plain View
 * Alicia Luciano (born 1983), beauty pageant competitor who held the title of Miss New Jersey 2002 and competed in the Miss America 2003 Pageant
 * Joe Reo, lead singer for Hidden in Plain View
 * Dave Yovanovits (born 1981), guard for the Cleveland Browns

title: Stanhope, New Jersey


text:
Stillwater Township, New Jersey

Stillwater Township is a township located in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Situated in the Kittatinny Valley, Stillwater is a rural farming community with a long history of dairy farming. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 4,004, a decrease of 95 (−2.3%) from the 2010 census count of 4,099, which in turn reflected a decrease of 168 (−3.9%) from the 4,267 counted in the 2000 census.

Stillwater was settled in the eighteenth century by Palatine German immigrants who entered through the port of Philadelphia. In 1741, Casper Shafer, John George Wintermute (Windemuth), and their father-in-law Johan Peter Bernhardt settled along the Paulins Kill. For the next 50 years, the village of Stillwater was essentially German, centered on a union church shared by Lutheran and German Reformed (Calvinist) congregations. The German population assimilated by the early nineteenth century, but evidence of their settlement remains in the architecture of the grist mills, lime kilns, and stone houses located throughout the valley. Stillwater was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 27, 1824, from portions of Hardwick Township when Sussex County was divided in half by the legislature a few weeks earlier to create Warren County. Portions of the township were taken to form Fredon Township on February 24, 1904.

In 2008, New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Stillwater Township as its 40th best place to live in its annual rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.

History
The township was created on December 27, 1824, by an act passed by the New Jersey Legislature.

A prominent structure in the area's history is the Shafer Grist Mill. Originally built by Casper Shafer in 1741, it was moved approximately a half mile to its present location in 1764. It was rebuilt in 1844 and powered by water from the Paulins Kill. Casper's son, Nathan Armstrong Shafer lived in Whitehall Manor, which he built near what is now the center of the village. The gristmill operated commercially until 1955, making it one of the oldest, continuously operating, water-powered gristmills in the State of New Jersey. Aline Murray Kilmer, the widow of poet Joyce Kilmer, lived the last decade of her life at Whitehall, passing away there on October 1, 1941.

In the early 1900s, Swartswood Lake became a major resort. Weekenders took the train into nearby Blairstown through the 1940s to stay at such places as the North Shore Inn, The Casino, and The Dove Island Inn (now a private home). Later, summer cabins became popular with Brooklyn weekenders.

The Stillwater creamery was built in 1910. Borden, Inc. later took control of the creamery.

In the 1920s, the Paulins Kill was dammed to create Paulins Kill Lake and many summer residences sprang up. These summer cottages have grown into what is now a year-round community.

The Presbyterian Church is the most prominent feature in Stillwater village. Opposite the church is the former Academy, an old schoolhouse that is now home of the Historical Society of Stillwater Township. Stillwater was, and still is, primarily agricultural. The area is dotted with lime kilns, which used to burn lime to enrich the soil, but are now obsolete, becoming lost to history and the overgrowth of vegetation. An intact kiln still exists on Millbrook Road, a little more than two miles (3 km) from Stillwater village.

Roughly one-third of Stillwater Township's area was ceded to create Fredon Township in 1904.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 28.25 square miles (73.17 km2), including 26.92 square miles (69.73 km2) of land and 1.33 square miles (3.43 km2) of water (4.69%).

The township borders the municipalities of Fredon Township, Hampton Township and Walpack Township in Sussex County; and both Frelinghuysen Township and Hardwick Township in Warren County.

Neighborhoods
Crandon Lakes (with a 2010 Census population of 496 in Stillwater Township, out of a CDP total of 1,178 ) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) split between Hampton Township and Stillwater Township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Catfish Pond, Duck Pond, Fairview Lake, Five Points, Lake Kathryn, Middleville, Mud Pond, Paulins Kill Lake, Quick Pond, Stillwater, Swartswood, Swartswood Lake and Wintermutes Foundry.

Stillwater is a small one-street village in the area that was first settled by Johan Peter Bernhardt and his two sons-in-law, John George Wintermute and Casper Shafer. At the western terminus of end of Main Street where it meets County Route 521, the First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater is the dominant feature. As Main Street travels east, the Garris's General Store (1876), "Whitehall" (built in 1785 by Abraham Shafer), Casper Shafer's stonehouse (c. 1741), crossing the Paulins Kill near Shafer's grist mill (1764, 1844) and miller's house. An 1820 hostelry, the Stillwater Inn, recently was destroyed by fire. One half-mile (800 m) south of the Presbyterian church, is John George Wintermute's stonehouse (1755), his son Peter's stonehouse (1791). Located adjacent is Stillwater Cemetery—the site of the original Lutheran-Calvinist union church (1771–1838), the graves of the towns earliest settlers, and many eighteenth century ethnic German gravestones.

Geology
Flanked to the west by Kittatinny Mountain, the Stillwater Township is located within the Ridge and Valley Physiographic Province, and the entire township is within the Kittatinny Valley a region of rolling hills and flat valley floors that is a section of the larger Great Appalachian Valley running 700 mi from eastern Canada to northern Alabama. Elevations in this valley range from 400 to(-). According to Snell, "The surface of the country is generally uneven and hilly, and on the west exceedingly rugged and mountainous. Ponds and watercourses abound. Of the latter, the most important is the Paulinskill, a millstream of considerable consequence." All of Stillwater Township is located in the Paulins Kill watershed which flows southwest through Sussex and Warren counties before joining the Delaware River near Columbia, New Jersey. The valley floor is part of the Ordovician Martinsburg Formation (shale and slate) which make up most of the valley—and the Jacksonburg Formation (mostly limestone).

Climate
Stillwater Township is located in Northwestern New Jersey which has a humid continental climate (microthermal)—a cooler climate due to its higher elevations.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 4,099 people, 1,553 households, and 1,141 families in the township. The population density was 151.5 per square mile (58.5/km2). There were 1,930 housing units at an average density of 71.3 per square mile (27.5/km2). The racial makeup was 97.07% (3,979) White, 0.66% (27) Black or African American, 0.05% (2) Native American, 0.71% (29) Asian, 0.02% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.20% (8) from other races, and 1.29% (53) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.20% (90) of the population.

Of the 1,553 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18; 61.4% were married couples living together; 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 26.5% were non-families. Of all households, 21.6% were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.09.

21.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 22.0% from 25 to 44, 36.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $79,367 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,830) and the median family income was $94,900 (+/− $17,365). Males had a median income of $50,600 (+/− $10,895) versus $52,587 (+/− $7,700) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,147 (+/− $2,398). About 7.0% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 4,267 people, 1,494 households, and 1,154 families residing in the township. The population density was 157.3 PD/sqmi. There were 2,030 housing units at an average density of 74.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 97.96% White, 0.16% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.09% of the population.

There were 1,494 households, out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% 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 3.27.

In the township the population was spread out, with 28.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $63,750, and the median income for a family was $71,563. Males had a median income of $48,580 versus $35,505 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,933. About 1.6% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Stillwater 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 held during the first week of January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

, members of the Stillwater Township Committee are Mayor Lisa Chammings (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2023), Deputy Mayor Vera A. Rumsey (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Paul Barta (R, 2024), Dawn A. Delaney (R, 2025) and George E. Scott (R, 2024).

Local emergency services
As of 2010, the Township Committee disbanded the Stillwater Police Department. Pending a lawsuit against the township, the New Jersey State Police assumed police coverage on a full-time basis. The township estimated savings of $482,000 by having State Police coverage; as a rural community, the township would not pay a fee to the State Police.

The Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Company provide fire and rescue services to the township Stillwater station houses CAFS Pumper 42–62, Rescue-Pumper 42–61, Tanker/Pumper 42–71, Tanker 42–72, Rescue 42–75 and utility and special operations 42–81.

In February 2016, the township disbanded the Swartswood Volunteer Fire Department and reclaimed township-owned vehicles and other property.

In 2020 The Stillwater Emergency Rescue Squad combined with the Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Department. The Fire department took ownership of both ambulances, personnel and equipment. The Fire Department now provides emergency medical services to the township, utilizing two full-size ambulances.

Federal, state, and county representation
Stillwater 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 3,009 registered voters in Stillwater Township, of which 468 (15.6% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,384 (46.0% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,153 (38.3% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 73.4% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 94.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,283 votes (61.9% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 735 votes (35.5% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 49 votes (2.4% vs. 2.1%), among the 2,073 ballots cast by the township's 3,079 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.3% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,389 votes (59.7% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 872 votes (37.5% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 52 votes (2.2% vs. 1.5%), among the 2,328 ballots cast by the township's 2,978 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,473 votes (65.0% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 754 votes (33.3% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 35 votes (1.5% vs. 1.3%), among the 2,267 ballots cast by the township's 2,832 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.0% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 71.5% of the vote (844 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.9% (294 votes), and other candidates with 3.6% (43 votes), among the 1,193 ballots cast by the township's 3,075 registered voters (12 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 38.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,036 votes (63.3% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 406 votes (24.8% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 157 votes (9.6% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 24 votes (1.5% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,637 ballots cast by the township's 2,991 registered voters, yielding a 54.7% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).

Education
The Stillwater Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at Stillwater Township School. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 254 students and 29.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.7:1.

Students in seventh through twelfth grade for public school attend Kittatinny Regional High School located in Hampton Township, which serves students who reside in Fredon Township, Hampton Township, Sandyston Township and Walpack Township. The high school is located on a 96 acres campus in Hampton Township, about seven minutes outside of the county seat of Newton. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 941 students and 97.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.7:1. Kittatinny Regional High School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1997–1998.

Transportation
, the township had a total of 60.77 mi of roadways, of which 39.87 mi were maintained by the municipality and 20.90 mi by Sussex County.

No Interstate, U.S. or state highways cross Stillwater Township. The most significant roadway within the township is County Route 521.

Parks and recreation
Stillwater is the home of Swartswood State Park, established in 1914 as the first state park established by the state of New Jersey. In the center of the park lies the Little Swartswood and Swartswood Lake. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.

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

 * Rev. Elbert Nevius Condit (1846–1900), son of Rev. T.B. Condit (1804–1888), Presbyterian minister, third president of Occidental College
 * Louis Finkelstein (1923–2000), painter, art critic and Queens College professor
 * Gretna Campbell Finkelstein (1922–1987), artist affiliated with the New York School, wife of Louis Finkelstein
 * Aaron Hankinson (1735–1806), Revolutionary War brigadier general (Sussex County Militia), New Jersey state assemblyman
 * Aline Murray Kilmer (1888–1941), poet and author, widow of Joyce Kilmer (1886–1918)
 * Casper Shafer (c. 1711–1784), first settler, colonial politician
 * Matt Valenti (born 1984), two-time NCAA Division I national champion wrestler from the University of Pennsylvania

title: Stillwater Township, New Jersey


text:
Sussex, New Jersey

Sussex is a borough in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 2,024, a decrease of 106 (−5.0%) from the 2010 census count of 2,130, which in turn reflected a decline of 15 (−0.7%) from the 2,145 counted in the 2000 census.

Sussex was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 14, 1891, as Deckertown, from portions of Wantage Township. The borough's original name was for settler Peter Decker. The borough was renamed Sussex on March 2, 1902. The county and borough are named for the historic county of Sussex in England.

A joint commission of residents of both Sussex and Wantage had recommended that the two communities should be consolidated to form what would be called the Township of Sussex-Wantage, which would operate within the Faulkner Act under the council-manager form of government, with a mayor and a six-member township council, and that voters in both municipalities should approve a referendum to be held on November 3, 2009. The committee noted that the two municipalities share common issues, schools, library and community services and that the artificial nature of the octagonal Sussex border often made it hard to distinguish between the two. The efforts at consolidation with surrounding Wantage Township ended in November 2009 after Wantage voters rejected the merger despite support from Sussex borough residents.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Sussex borough had a total area of 0.62 square miles (1.62 km2), including 0.59 square miles (1.54 km2) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) of water (5.00%). It is approximately 400 to 450 ft above sea level. The borough is completely surrounded by Wantage Township, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.

The borough is in the watershed of the Wallkill River (which flows north, and empties into the Rondout Creek, which flows into the Hudson River near Kingston, New York) and its tributary Glen Brook, which near Sussex forms a small body of water called Clove Lake, part of which is within the borough.

Climate
Due to its inland location and elevation, Sussex has a climate much cooler than most of the state, classified as humid continental (Köppen Dfa, closely bordering on Dfb), with cold, moderately snowy winters, and very warm, humid summers. It is part of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 25.8 F in January to 71.8 F in July. Temperatures reach 90 F on 13.4 days and fall to 0 F on 5.2 nights annually. Snowfall averages 38.7 in per season, although this usually varies widely from year to year. Extremes in the temperature range from −29 F on January 21, 1994 up to 106 F on July 10, 1936.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 2,130 people, 899 households, and 525 families in the borough. The population density was 3,615.9 per square mile (1,396.1/km2). There were 1,005 housing units at an average density of 1,706.1 per square mile (658.7/km2). The racial makeup was 91.03% (1,939) White, 1.92% (41) Black or African American, 0.33% (7) Native American, 2.30% (49) Asian, 0.42% (9) Pacific Islander, 1.36% (29) from other races, and 2.63% (56) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.93% (169) of the population.

Of the 899 households, 26.8% had children under the age of 18; 36.8% were married couples living together; 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 41.6% were non-families. Of all households, 36.9% were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 3.04.

22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $40,978 (with a margin of error of +/− $13,975) and the median family income was $53,125 (+/− $10,034). Males had a median income of $40,234 (+/− $9,777) versus $30,777 (+/− $3,942) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,887 (+/− $2,314). About 13.0% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,145 people, 903 households, and 512 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,598 PD/sqmi. There were 961 housing units at an average density of 1,612 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 96.32% White, 1.12% African American, 0.09% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.56% of the population.

There were 903 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 35.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $36,172, and the median income for a family was $45,250. Males had a median income of $37,009 versus $22,475 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $18,866. About 6.9% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Sussex is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The borough form of government used by Sussex is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

, the mayor of Sussex Borough is Republican Robert Holowach, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2027. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Mario Poggi (R, 2025), Charles H. Fronheiser Jr. (R, 2024), Martin Kokoruda (R, 2026), Jake Little (R, 2024), John Ross (R, 2025) and Nicholas Southard (R, 2026).

After the borough council did not vote to select any of the three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee, Nicholas R. Holowach was picked by the Republican group and sworn into office in June 2021 to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Walter Cleary III until he resigned from office to move out of the borough. In November 2021, Holowach was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

In January 2020, the borough council selected Linda Masson from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that was vacated by Edward Meyer when he took office as mayor.

In January 2016, the council appointed Albert Decker from a list three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the council seat vacated by Katherine Little expiring in December 2017 that became open when she took office as mayor; Decker served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters selected a candidate to serve the one year remaining on the term of office.

In January 2015, the borough council selected Mario Poggi from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Bruce D. LaBar, who resigned from office earlier that month. In the November 2015 general election, Frank Dykstra was chosen to fill the balance of the seat expiring in December 2016.

Federal, state and county representation
Sussex Borough is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,143 registered voters in Sussex, of which 193 (16.9% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 428 (37.4% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 521 (45.6% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 53.7% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 69.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 391 votes (57.8% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 270 votes (39.9% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 16 votes (2.4% vs. 2.1%), among the 677 ballots cast by the borough's 1,146 registered voters, for a turnout of 59.1% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 427 votes (57.1% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 299 votes (40.0% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 18 votes (2.4% vs. 1.5%), among the 748 ballots cast by the borough's 1,109 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.4% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 456 votes (62.0% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 263 votes (35.7% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 16 votes (2.2% vs. 1.3%), among the 736 ballots cast by the borough's 1,091 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.5% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 70.8% of the vote (276 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 25.4% (99 votes), and other candidates with 3.8% (15 votes), among the 397 ballots cast by the borough's 1,148 registered voters (7 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 34.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 291 votes (56.8% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 140 votes (27.3% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 59 votes (11.5% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 16 votes (3.1% vs. 1.3%), among the 512 ballots cast by the borough's 1,109 registered voters, yielding a 46.2% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).

Education
Students in public school for kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Sussex-Wantage Regional School District, together with students from Wantage Township. As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,049 students and 99.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.6:1. Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Clifton E. Lawrence School in Wantage, with 376 students in grades K–2, Wantage Elementary School in Wantage, with 340 students in grades 3–5 and Sussex Middle School in Sussex, with 328 students in grades 6–8.

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students from both Sussex and Wantage attend High Point Regional High School, together with students from Branchville, Frankford Township, Lafayette Township and Montague Township. As of the 2019–20 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 866 students and 76.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1. Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with two seats assigned to Sussex.

Sussex Christian School is an inter-denominational Christian private day school that was founded in 1958 by members of the Sussex Christian Reformed Church, and which serves students from Northern New Jersey and the surrounding communities in New York and Pennsylvania.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 9.21 mi of roadways, of which 6.67 mi were maintained by the municipality, 0.87 mi by Sussex County and 1.67 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Sussex is located at the intersection of Route 23 and Route 284.

Public transportation
Local bus service is provided by the Skylands Connect bus, which provides service to Hamburg, Sparta, and Newton.

Sussex Airport is located 1 mi southwest of Sussex.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Sussex include:
 * Grant Decker (1814–1890), first mayor of Flint, Michigan
 * Paul W. Downs (born 1982), actor, writer, and director best known for his portrayal of Trey Pucker on the Comedy Central series Broad City
 * D. C. Fontana (1939–2019), television script writer and story editor, best known for her work on the original Star Trek franchise and several western television series
 * Bill Glynn (1925–2013), Major League Baseball first baseman who played four seasons of professional baseball for the Cleveland Indians and the Philadelphia Phillies
 * William Alexander Linn (1846–1917), journalist and historian
 * Homer Mensch (1914–2005), classical bassist

title: Sussex, New Jersey