Franklin Township, Warren County, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 24.127 square miles (62.489 km²), including 24.040 square miles (62.264 km²) of land and 0.087 square miles (0.225 km²) of water (0.36%).

Asbury (with a 2010 Census population of 273), Broadway (244) and New Village (421) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs)located within the township.

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

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 3,176 people, 1,122 households, and 885.3 families residing in the township. The population density was 132.1 per square mile (51.0/km²). The township contained 1,219 housing units at an average density of 50.7 per square mile (19.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.43% (2,999) White, 1.48% (47) Black or African American, 0.13% (4) Native American, 2.33% (74) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.19% (6) from other races, and 1.45% (46) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.84% (122) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,122 households, 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.4% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.1% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the township, 24.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 20.0% from 25 to 44, 35.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.6 years. For every 100 females the census counted 101.9 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 100.6 males. The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $85,893 (with a margin of error of +/- $7,764) and the median family income was $98,333 (+/- $7,142). Males had a median income of $69,784 (+/- $9,633) versus $59,750 (+/- $16,881) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,178 (+/- $4,746). About 7.2% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,768 people, 972 households, and 750 families residing in the township. The population density was 115.4 people per square mile (44.5/km²). There were 1,019 housing units at an average density of 42.5 per square mile (16.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.04% White, 0.83% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.87% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.99% of the population.

There were 972 households out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.6% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.8% were non-families. 18.6% of all households 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 2.84 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the township the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $69,115, and the median income for a family was $72,763. Males had a median income of $47,569 versus $31,906 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,224. About 2.4% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Franklin Township is governed under the Township form of government. The five-member Township Committee is elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.

As of 2016, members of the Franklin Township Committee are Mayor Bonnie Butler (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2016), Deputy Mayor Jacob R. Pence (R, term on committee ends 2017; term as mayor ends 2016), Joseph E. Flynn (R, 2018), Jeff DeAngelis (R, 2016) and Michael Toretta (R, 2018).

Federal, state and county representation

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

New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District is represented by Leonard Lance (R, Clinton Township). 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 23rd Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Michael J. Doherty (R, Washington Township, Warren County) and in the General Assembly by John DiMaio (R, Hackettstown) and Erik Peterson (R, Franklin Township, Hunterdon County). 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 2,112 registered voters in Franklin Township, of which 396 (18.8% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 890 (42.1% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 825 (39.1% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 66.5% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 88.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 921 votes (63.1% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 493 votes (33.8% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 27 votes (1.8% vs. 1.7%), among the 1,460 ballots cast by the township's 2,095 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.7% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 960 votes (59.9% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 588 votes (36.7% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 39 votes (2.4% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,602 ballots cast by the township's 2,090 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.7% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 967 votes (63.1% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 529 votes (34.5% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 26 votes (1.7% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,533 ballots cast by the township's 1,900 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.7% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 79.6% of the vote (730 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 18.2% (167 votes), and other candidates with 2.2% (20 votes), among the 932 ballots cast by the township's 2,148 registered voters (15 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 794 votes (68.8% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 200 votes (17.3% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 117 votes (10.1% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 25 votes (2.2% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,154 ballots cast by the township's 2,059 registered voters, yielding a 56.0% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).

Education

The Franklin Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 230 students and 26.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.7:1.

Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades attend the schools of the Warren Hills Regional School District, which also serves students from the municipalities of Mansfield Township, Washington Borough, Washington Township and Oxford Township (for 9-12 only, attending on a tuition basis). Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Warren Hills Regional Middle School (grades 7 and 8; 663 students) located in Washington Borough and Warren Hills Regional High School (grades 9 - 12; 1,276 students) located in Washington Township.

Students from the township and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township (for grades K-8) 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 township had a total of 52.92 miles (85.17 km) of roadways, of which 36.93 miles (59.43 km) were maintained by the municipality, 11.05 miles (17.78 km) by Warren County and 4.94 miles (7.95 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Major roadways in Franklin Township include Interstate 78/US 22, which pass through the southern part very briefly with Exit 6 right on the border. Route 57 runs through the northern part of the township.

Notable people

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