Belvidere, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town had a total area of 1.490 square miles (3.859 km²), including 1.452 square miles (3.759 km²) of land and 0.038 square miles (0.100 km²) of water (2.58%).

Dildine Island is located in the Delaware River, approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Belvidere.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 2,681 people, 1,054 households, and 681.9 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,847.0 per square mile (713.1/km²). The town contained 1,140 housing units at an average density of 785.4 per square mile (303.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.01% (2,574) White, 1.57% (42) Black or African American, 0.11% (3) Native American, 0.78% (21) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.22% (6) from other races, and 1.31% (35) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.62% (97) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,054 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.3% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the town, 25.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females the census counted 93.0 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 88.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $60,707 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,476) and the median family income was $74,028 (+/- $13,366). Males had a median income of $53,796 (+/- $11,432) versus $32,000 (+/- $7,359) for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,220 (+/- $2,359). About 0.8% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,771 people, 1,088 households, and 716 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,091.7 people per square mile (810.5/km²). There were 1,165 housing units at an average density of 879.4 per square mile (340.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.02% White, 0.51% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.31% of the population.

There were 1,088 households out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% 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 3.17.

In the town, the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,792, and the median income for a family was $62,212. Males had a median income of $41,800 versus $31,444 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,231. About 1.3% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.4% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Belvidere is governed under the Town form of municipal government by a Mayor and a Town Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Town Council consists of 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.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Belvidere is Republican Joseph M. Kennedy Sr., whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Town Council are Council President Laurel Napolitani (R, 2017; elected to serve an unexpired term), Desmond Fitzgerald (R, 2018), Charles A. Makatura Jr. (R, 2016), Kathleen B. Miers (R, 2017), Louis Miller (R, 2018) and Walter Tutka (R, 2016; elected to serve an unexpired term).

In March 2015, the Town Council selected Timothy Petre from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by William J. Murphy until he resigned from office. Petre served on an interim basis until the November 2015 general election, when Laurel Napolitani was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

In December 2014, the Town Council selected Laurel Napolitani from among three names nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the term expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Michael Viglianco, who resigned from council in December 2014 after moving out of Belvidere. Napolitani served on an interim basis until the November 2015 general election, when Walter Tutka was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

Federal, state and county representation

Belvidere is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Belvidere had been in the 23rd state legislative district.

New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is represented by Josh Gottheimer (D, Wyckoff). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 24th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Steve Oroho (R, Franklin) and in the General Assembly by Parker Space (R, Wantage Township) and Gail Phoebus (R, Andover Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Warren County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders whose three members are chosen at-large on a staggered basis in partisan elections with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as Freeholder Director and other as Deputy Director. As of 2014, Warren County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Edward J. Smith (R, Asbury / Franklin Township, 2015), Freeholder Deputy Director Richard D. Gardner (R, Asbury / Franklin Township, 2014) and Freeholder Jason Sarnoski (R, Lopatcong Township, 2016). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Patricia J. Kolb (Blairstown Township), Sheriff David Gallant (Blairstown Township) and Surrogate Kevin O'Neill (Hackettstown). The County Administrator, Steve Marvin, is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operation of the county and its departments.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 1,687 registered voters in Belvidere, of which 380 (22.5% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 611 (36.2% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 694 (41.1% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered to other parties. Among the town's 2010 Census population, 62.9% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 84.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 656 votes (53.8% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 521 votes (42.7% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 24 votes (2.0% vs. 1.7%), among the 1,220 ballots cast by the town's 1,724 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.8% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 693 votes (55.0% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 514 votes (40.8% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 27 votes (2.1% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,260 ballots cast by the town's 1,684 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.8% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 779 votes (61.9% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 452 votes (35.9% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 21 votes (1.7% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,259 ballots cast by the town's 1,640 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.8% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.3% of the vote (494 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.0% (195 votes), and other candidates with 4.7% (34 votes), among the 740 ballots cast by the town's 1,758 registered voters (17 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.1%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 480 votes (56.7% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 221 votes (26.1% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 116 votes (13.7% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 18 votes (2.1% vs. 1.5%), among the 847 ballots cast by the town's 1,642 registered voters, yielding a 51.6% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).

Education

The Belvidere School District serves students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2013-14 school year, the district's three schools had an enrollment of 738 students and 70.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.4:1. Schools in the district (with 2013-14 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Third Street School (Grades K-3; 104 students), Oxford Street Elementary School (4-8; 183) and Belvidere High School (9-12; 451). Students from Harmony Township, Hope Township and White Township attend the district's high school as part of sending/receiving relationships with the respective districts.

Students from the town and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Blairstown (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

As of May 2010, the town had a total of 16.39 miles (26.38 km) of roadways, of which 14.38 miles (23.14 km) were maintained by the municipality and 2.01 miles (3.23 km) by Warren County.

The Riverton–Belvidere Bridge crosses the Delaware River, connecting Belvidere with Riverton, Pennsylvania, operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. There is no toll for crossing on either side, after tolls were abolished by the Joint Commission for the Elimination of Toll Bridges in 1929. The bridge is 653 feet (199 m) long, connecting Warren County Route 620 Spur (Water Street) in Belvidere to former Pennsylvania Route 709 on the Riverton side.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Belvidere include:

Places of interest