Holland Township, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 24.024 square miles (62.221 km²), including 23.515 square miles (60.903 km²) of land and 0.509 square miles (1.318 km²) of water (2.12%).

The 379-acre (1.53 km²) Musconetcong Gorge Nature Preserve is an undeveloped park managed by the Hunterdon County Parks and Recreational System, with steeply wooded terrain overlooking the Musconetcong River. The gorge includes many spring-fed streams, a variety of plant species and wildlife. While much of the area offers challenging hikes, a variety of trails are being developed to offer access to less-seasoned hikers.

The township borders Alexandria Township, Bethlehem Township, and Milford Borough. Holland Township also borders Warren County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Amsterdam, Finesville, Hughesville, Little York, Mount Joy, Riegel Ridge, Spring Mills and Warren Paper Mills.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 5,291 people, 1,972 households, and 1,544 families residing in the township. The population density was 225.0 per square mile (86.9/km²). The township contained 2,066 housing units at an average density of 87.9 per square mile (33.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.62% (5,165) White, 0.72% (38) Black or African American, 0.06% (3) Native American, 0.77% (41) Asian, 0.04% (2) Pacific Islander, 0.28% (15) from other races, and 0.51% (27) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.68% (142) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,972 households, 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the township, 24.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 33.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.5 years. For every 100 females the census counted 96.7 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 92.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $85,190 (with a margin of error of +/- $11,358) and the median family income was $99,535 (+/- $16,553). Males had a median income of $77,951 (+/- $14,766) versus $56,719 (+/- $14,287) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $43,162 (+/- $5,210). About 1.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 0.0% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,124 people, 1,881 households, and 1,523 families residing in the township. The population density was 216.2 people per square mile (83.5/km²). There were 1,942 housing units at an average density of 81.9 per square mile (31.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.09% White, 0.43% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.39% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population.

There were 1,881 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.2% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.0% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the township the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $68,083, and the median income for a family was $71,925. Males had a median income of $50,737 versus $35,615 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,581. About 1.6% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Holland 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.

As of 2016, members of the Holland Township Committee are Mayor Ray Krov (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2017; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy Mayor Dan Bush (R, term on committee ends 2018; term as deputy mayor ends 2016), Thomas Scheibener (R, 2017), Robert Thurgarland (R, 2016; appointed to serve an unexpired term) and Ken Vogel (R, 2016).

In March 2016, the Township Committee selected Robert Thurgarland from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the term expiring December 2016 of Tony Roselle, who had resigned from office the previous month.

Federal, state and county representation

Holland Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.

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).

Hunterdon County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who serve three-year terms of office at-large on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the freeholders select one member to serve as the board's Director and another to serve as Deputy Director. As of 2015, Hunterdon County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director John King (R; Raritan Township, 2015), Freeholder Deputy Director Suzanne Lagay (R; Holland Township, 2016), J. Matthew Holt (R; Clinton Town, 2015), John E. Lanza (R; Flemington, 2016) and Robert G. Walton (R; Hampton, 2017). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Mary H. Melfi (R; Flemington, 2017), Sheriff Fredrick W. Brown (R; Alexandria Township, 2016) and Surrogate Susan J. Hoffman (R; Kingwood Township, 2018).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,699 registered voters in Holland Township, of which 669 (18.1%) were registered as Democrats, 1,537 (41.6%) were registered as Republicans and 1,490 (40.3%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 60.8% of the vote (1,680 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.7% (1,041 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (43 votes), among the 2,785 ballots cast by the township's 3,867 registered voters (21 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 72.0%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 57.5% of the vote (1,698 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 39.9% (1,180 votes) and other candidates with 1.6% (48 votes), among the 2,955 ballots cast by the township's 3,723 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 62.9% of the vote (1,805 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 36.1% (1,036 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (38 votes), among the 2,871 ballots cast by the township's 3,612 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 79.5.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 74.4% of the vote (1,353 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.9% (435 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (30 votes), among the 1,849 ballots cast by the township's 3,836 registered voters (31 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.0% of the vote (1,478 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 24.2% (551 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.4% (192 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (22 votes), among the 2,274 ballots cast by the township's 3,693 registered voters, yielding a 61.6% turnout.

Education

The Holland Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Holland Township Elementary School. As of the 2012-13 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 617 students and 61.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.99:1.

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Delaware Valley Regional High School, together with students from Alexandria Township, Frenchtown, Kingwood Township and Milford. The school is part of the Delaware Valley Regional High School District. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 899 students and 68.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.1:1.

Transportation

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 62.58 miles (100.71 km) of roadways, of which 45.73 miles (73.60 km) were maintained by the municipality and 16.85 miles (27.12 km) by Hunterdon County.

The only major road that passes through the township is County Route 519.

The closest limited access road is Interstate 78/U.S. Route 22 ("Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway") in neighboring Pohatcong Township in Warren County.