Hopatcong, New Jersey

History

The town of Hopatcong has a rich history, given its relationship with New York City. It borders Lake Hopatcong, a partially man-made lake that is now a source of much recreation and desirable real estate, and is the biggest lake in New Jersey. The community, 40 miles (64 km) west of New York City, began as a summer getaway for the wealthy in NYC who primarily sought access to the lake. An amusement park, called "Bertrand's Island", sprang up and was accessible via the lake, trolley or by car through Mount Arlington. The construction of Interstate 80, a highway that stretches from Teaneck, New Jersey, all the way across the country to San Francisco, California, triggered rapid growth in New York City's suburbs and led to Hopatcong becoming a permanent residential community.

The area had been called "Brookland" in the 19th century and the lake that was expanded to become Lake Hopatcong had been known as "Great Pond" or "Brookland Pond". During the 1830s, the name of the community had been modified to "Brooklyn", to match the spelling of the city on New York's Long Island. Hopatcong was originally established as the Town of Brooklyn on April 2, 1898, from portions of Byram Township. On March 22, 1901, the Borough of Hopatcong replaced Brooklyn. In 1922, residents of Byram Cove, Northwood, and other areas to the west of the original land area of the borough, voted to leave Byram Township and join Hopatcong, leaving the Borough with its current borders.

While the origin of the borough's name is unclear, it is said to derive from Native American phrases variously meaning "stone over water" or "pipestone", among other variations

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 12.248 square miles (31.722 km²), including 10.854 square miles (28.113 km²) of land and 1.394 square miles (3.609 km²) of water (11.38%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Bear Ponds, Byram Cove, Cow Tongue Point, Davis Cove, Glasser, Hendersons Cove, Lake Hopatcong, Roseville, Sharps Rock and Sperry Springs.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 15,147 people, 5,653 households, and 4,110 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,395.5 per square mile (538.8/km²). The borough contained 6,296 housing units at an average density of 580.0 per square mile (223.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.07% (13,794) White, 2.91% (441) Black or African American, 0.11% (16) Native American, 2.25% (341) Asian, 0.02% (3) Pacific Islander, 1.76% (266) from other races, and 1.89% (286) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 11.32% (1,714) of the population.

Out of a total of 5,653 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% 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 3.13.

In the borough, 22.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 32.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females the census counted 101.0 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 101.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $85,730 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,570) and the median family income was $95,962 (+/- $5,996). Males had a median income of $60,533 (+/- $5,094) versus $47,515 (+/- $7,133) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,033 (+/- $2,406). About 1.6% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 15,888 people, 5,656 households, and 4,236 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,449.7 people per square mile (559.7/km²). There were 6,190 housing units at an average density of 564.8 per square mile (218.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.10% White, 1.95% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 1.42% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.99% of the population.

There were 5,656 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 18.6% 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 2.81 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the borough the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $65,799, and the median income for a family was $73,277. Males had a median income of $47,083 versus $34,238 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,698. About 2.2% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Hopatcong is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough 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 Borough 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. The Borough form of government used by Hopatcong, the most common system used in the state, 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.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Hopatcong Borough is Republican Sylvia Petillo, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Hopatcong Borough Council are Council President Frank Padula (R, 2016; elected to serve an unexpired term), Richard Bunce (R, 2018), Michael Francis (R, 2016), Marie Ryder Galate (R, 2018), Richard Schindelar (R, 2017) and John Young (R, 2017).

In May 2014, the Borough Council appointed Frank Padula to fill the vacancy of Richard Hoer, who had resigned the previous month. Padula served on an interim basis until the November 2014 general election, when he ran unopposed and won the balance of the term of office expiring in December 2016.

Federal, state and county representation

Hopatcong is located in the 11th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Hopatcong had been part of the 5th Congressional District; the change was made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission and took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen (R, Harding 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 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).

Sussex County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders whose five members are elected at-large in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Freeholder Director and Deputy Director from among its members, with day-to-day supervision of the operation of the county delegated to a County Administrator. As of 2014, Sussex County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Richard Vohden (R, Green Township, 2016), Deputy Director Dennis J. Mudrick (R, Sparta Township, 2015), Phillip R. Crabb (R, Franklin, 2014), George Graham (R, Stanhope, 2016) and Gail Phoebus (R, Andover Township, 2015). Graham was chosen in April 2013 to fill the seat vacated by Parker Space, who had been chosen to fill a vacancy in the New Jersey General Assembly. Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Jeff Parrott (R, 2016), Sheriff Michael F. Strada (R, 2016) and Surrogate Gary R. Chiusano (R, filling the vacancy after the resignation of Nancy Fitzgibbons). The County Administrator is John Eskilson.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 9,554 registered voters in Hopatcong, of whom 1,917 (20.1% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 3,242 (33.9% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 4,383 (45.9% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 12 voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 63.1% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 81.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 3,285 votes (55.0% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2,560 votes (42.9% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 117 votes (2.0% vs. 2.1%), among the 5,973 ballots cast by the borough's 9,652 registered voters, for a turnout of 61.9% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 3,941 votes (54.7% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,096 votes (43.0% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 117 votes (1.6% vs. 1.5%), among the 7,199 ballots cast by the borough's 9,571 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.2% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 4,003 votes (59.4% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 2,616 votes (38.8% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 98 votes (1.5% vs. 1.3%), among the 6,739 ballots cast by the borough's 9,182 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.4% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 71.3% of the vote (2,906 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.9% (1,016 votes), and other candidates with 3.8% (153 votes), among the 4,110 ballots cast by the borough's 9,777 registered voters (35 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.0%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 3,089 votes (63.2% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,260 votes (25.8% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 441 votes (9.0% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 72 votes (1.5% vs. 1.3%), among the 4,888 ballots cast by the borough's 9,454 registered voters, yielding a 51.7% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).

Education

Students in public school for kindergarten through twelfth grade are served by the Hopatcong Public Schools. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's five schools had an enrollment of 2,020 students and 153.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.13:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Hudson Maxim Elementary School (282 students in KG-1), Tulsa Trail Elementary School (279; 2-3), Durban Avenue Elementary School (302; 4-5), Hopatcong Middle School (483; 6-8) and Hopatcong High School (674; 9-12).

Transportation

As of May 2010, the borough had a total of 78.70 miles (126.66 km) of roadways, of which 65.33 miles (105.14 km) were maintained by the municipality and 13.37 miles (21.52 km) by Sussex County.

Events

Hopatcong holds annual APBA Boat Races that attract the local residents to a day at the lake. Hopatcong is also known for its yearly "Hopatcong Days" that offer a weekend of events that include a parade, and an array of festivities in Modick Park, sponsored by the local Business Association and including an annual Soap Box Derby and Car Show.

The Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum holds a variety of local historical artifacts.

Notable people

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