Frelinghuysen Township, New Jersey

History

Frelinghuysen Township was incorporated from portions of Hardwick Township on March 7, 1848. According to the book Historical Sites of Warren County, the township was named for Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen, a minister and theologian of the Dutch Reformed Church who came to New Jersey in 1720. Theodorus was the grandfather of Theodore Frelinghuysen, the noted statesman, educator and running mate of presidential candidate Henry Clay on the Whig Party ticket in the 1844 election, who is also credited as the inspiration for the township's name.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 23.566 square miles (61.034 km²), including 23.323 square miles (60.405 km²) of land and 0.243 square miles (0.629 km²) of water (1.03%).

Johnsonburg (with a 2010 Census population of 101) and Marksboro (population of 82 in 2010) 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 Ebenezer, Glovers Pond, Kerrs Corners, Shiloh, Southtown and Yellow Frame.

The township is located in the Kittatinny Valley which is a section of the Great Appalachian Valley that stretches for 700 miles (1,100 km) from Canada to Alabama.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 2,230 people, 760 households, and 614.8 families residing in the township. The population density was 95.6 per square mile (36.9/km²). The township contained 826 housing units at an average density of 35.4 per square mile (13.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.22% (2,168) White, 0.63% (14) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.54% (12) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.58% (13) from other races, and 1.03% (23) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.56% (57) of the population.

Out of a total of 760 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.1% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.1% were non-families. 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the township, 21.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 35.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.3 years. For every 100 females the census counted 92.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 90.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $94,688 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,942) and the median family income was $104,712 (+/- $8,336). Males had a median income of $81,667 (+/- $4,051) versus $53,857 (+/- $2,542) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,316 (+/- $3,207). About 2.2% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,083 people, 722 households, and 578 families residing in the township. The population density was 88.9 people per square mile (34.3/km²). There were 755 housing units at an average density of 32.2 per square mile (12.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.79% White, 0.34% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.64% of the population.

There were 722 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.5% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $72,434, and the median income for a family was $78,464. Males had a median income of $56,818 versus $36,827 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,792. About 1.1% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Frelinghuysen 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. The committee has an organizational meeting each January to appoint a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among its members. These officers serve for one year, until the next organizational meeting.

As of 2016, members of the Frelinghuysen Township Committee are Mayor Christopher W. Kuhn (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2018; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy Mayor Christopher Stracco (R, term on committee ends 2018; term as deputy mayor ends 2016), David C. Boynton (R, 2017), Alan DeCarolis (R, 2016), Frank D. Desidero Jr. (R, 2016).

Federal, state and county representation

Frelinghuysen Township 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, Frelinghuysen Township 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 1,583 registered voters in Frelinghuysen Township, of which 248 (15.7% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 700 (44.2% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 634 (40.1% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 71.0% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 90.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 756 votes (65.3% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 368 votes (31.8% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.9% vs. 1.7%), among the 1,157 ballots cast by the township's 1,582 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.1% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 802 votes (64.4% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 405 votes (32.5% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 19 votes (1.5% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,246 ballots cast by the township's 1,577 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.0% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 801 votes (66.3% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 384 votes (31.8% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 20 votes (1.7% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,209 ballots cast by the township's 1,491 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.1% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.7% of the vote (535 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 21.1% (149 votes), and other candidates with 3.3% (23 votes), among the 720 ballots cast by the township's 1,591 registered voters (13 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 623 votes (64.5% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 219 votes (22.7% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 95 votes (9.8% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 15 votes (1.6% vs. 1.5%), among the 966 ballots cast by the township's 1,560 registered voters, yielding a 61.9% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).

Education

The Frelinghuysen Township School District serves children in public school in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at Frelinghuysen Elementary School. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 149 students and 12.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.7:1.

Students in seventh through twelfth grades for public school attend the North Warren Regional High School, a public secondary high school that also serves students from the townships of Blairstown (site of the school), Hardwick and Knowlton. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 911 students and 86.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.5:1.

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

Transportation

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 51.83 miles (83.41 km) of roadways, of which 30.05 miles (48.36 km) were maintained by the municipality, 14.88 miles (23.95 km) by Warren County and 6.90 miles (11.10 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

CR 519 is the main county road that passes through roughly from the southwest to the northeast.

Route 94 runs through in the northern part.

While Interstate 80 (the Bergen-Passaic Expressway) traverses though the southern part without any interchanges, the closest exits are in both neighboring Allamuchy and Hope Townships.

Notable people

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