Hope Township, New Jersey

History

Hope Township is one of the earliest planned communities in the United States, having been established by German Moravians in 1769. They knew what they wanted to achieve, which is shown on several early planning maps, which detail streets, homes, wells, businesses, farms, a school, tavern and church.

Prior to the arrival of the Moravians, there was no distinct town, but several families farmed on Jenny Jump Mountain, to the south of Hope, in surrounding area and on John Samuel Green Jr.'s farm in the center of what is now the Village. Throughout the 1760s, Moravians from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania traveled through this area on their way to New England to establish new communities. They lodged overnight with the Green Family who were impressed with their religion and way of life.

The Moravians were a religious group whose formal name was the "Unitas Fratrum" or Unity of the Brethren. They were followers of Jan Hus, the reformer from Prague who protested against the Roman Catholic Church in 1415 and was finally burned at the stake for his rebellion. These followers continued to practice his views in Moravia and Bohemia in what is now the Czech Republic, hence the common name "The Moravians". In the late 17th century this group began to be persecuted and sought shelter away from Bohemia. Count Nicolas Ludwig von Zinzendorf offered them refuge on his lands east of Dresden, Germany, and provided a base for them to regroup and pursue their religion. That settlement which remains as the center of the worldwide Moravian religion is called Herrnhut or "The Lord's Watch" inhabitants were not only "under the Lord's watchful care" but were also to be "on watch for the Lord". With the support of Count von Zinzendorf, the Church established over 200 missionary settlements.

After a formal survey of the Village completed on November 26, 1774, the community was officially accepted by The Moravian Church and the name was changed by drawing lots on February 8, 1775, from Greenland to Hope. The name derives from the "hope of immortality" of the early Moravian settlers.

After almost 40 years of the Moravian "experiment" in Hope, the community was sold and almost all of the Moravians returned to Bethlehem or Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The basic reason for closing the community was that it was never self-supporting and had declined from its height of population of 147 to under 100 people by the early 19th century. The Church in Germany could no longer subsidize such a small village. Moravians worldwide were selling possessions and even some other entire communities to pay off debts incurred years earlier by Count von Zinzendorf, who heavily mortgaged his lands to give them opportunity back in Germany. Disease and a competitive gristmill also contributed to Moravian Hope's decline.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 18.837 square miles (48.788 km²), including 18.621 square miles (48.229 km²) of land and 0.216 square miles (0.559 km²) of water (1.15%). The township is located in the Kittatinny Valley which is a section of the Great Appalachian Valley that stretches 700 miles (1,100 km) from Canada to Alabama.

Hope CDP (with a 2010 Census population of 195), Mount Hermon (141) and Silver Lake (368) 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 Feebletown, Locust Lake, Mount Herman and Swayzes Mill.

Demographics

The Township's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is calculated by the US Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 1,952 people, 741 households, and 558 families residing in the township. The population density was 104.8 per square mile (40.5/km²). The township contained 809 housing units at an average density of 43.4 per square mile (16.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.21% (1,878) White, 1.18% (23) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 1.59% (31) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.41% (8) from other races, and 0.61% (12) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.10% (80) of the population.

Out of a total of 741 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 19.6% 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 2.63 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the township, 22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 35.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.2 years. For every 100 females the census counted 97.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 97.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $75,107 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,302) and the median family income was $81,204 (+/- $7,973). Males had a median income of $59,141 (+/- $10,502) versus $52,574 (+/- $25,011) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,283 (+/- $2,988). About 4.8% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 0.8% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 1,891 people, 697 households, and 538 families residing in the township. The population density was 102.2 people per square mile (39.5/km²). There were 747 housing units at an average density of 40.4 per square mile (15.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.25% White, 0.42% African American, 0.42% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.

There were 697 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.3% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.7% 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 2.71 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 28.1% 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 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $61,319, and the median income for a family was $68,750. Males had a median income of $48,750 versus $34,038 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,902. About 1.1% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Hope Township is governed under the Township form of government. The governing body is a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat 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 as Deputy Mayor, each serving in that role for one year.

As of 2016, the Hope Township Committee consists of Mayor Timothy C. McDonough (I, term on committee ends December 31, 2018; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy Mayor George H. Beatty (R, 2017; term as deputy mayor ends 2016) and M. John Koonz (R, 2016).

Constitutional Officers are Township Clerk Judith Fisher, Chief Financial Officer Kathleen Reinalda, Tax Collector Stephen Lance and Tax Assessor Richard Motyka.

Federal, state and county representation

Hope 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, Hope 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 1,317 registered voters in Hope Township, of which 248 (18.8% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 523 (39.7% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 545 (41.4% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 67.5% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 87.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 566 votes (60.5% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 337 votes (36.0% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 20 votes (2.1% vs. 1.7%), among the 936 ballots cast by the township's 1,321 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.9% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 628 votes (62.7% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 339 votes (33.9% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 15 votes (1.5% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,001 ballots cast by the township's 1,380 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.5% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 641 votes (64.6% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 324 votes (32.7% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 17 votes (1.7% vs. 1.3%), among the 992 ballots cast by the township's 1,279 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.6% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 77.6% of the vote (437 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 20.1% (113 votes), and other candidates with 2.3% (13 votes), among the 573 ballots cast by the township's 1,334 registered voters (10 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 43.0%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 467 votes (68.2% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 142 votes (20.7% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 50 votes (7.3% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 14 votes (2.0% vs. 1.5%), among the 685 ballots cast by the township's 1,328 registered voters, yielding a 51.6% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).

Education

The Hope Township School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Hope Township Elementary School. As of the 2012-13 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 190 students and 16.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.28:1.

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades from Harmony Township, Hope Township and White Township attend Belvidere High School in Belvidere as part of sending/receiving relationships with the Belvidere School District. As of the 2013-14 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 451 students and 41.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.0:1.

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 44.14 miles (71.04 km) of roadways, of which 19.30 miles (31.06 km) were maintained by the municipality, 21.42 miles (34.47 km) by Warren County and 3.42 miles (5.50 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Interstate 80 (the Bergen-Passaic Expressway) passes through the township for 3.42 miles (5.50 km), with access via exit 12 to Hope-Blairstown Road (County Route 521). CR 521 has its southern terminus in Hope Township at an intersection with County Route 609 (High Street) and runs through the township for 2.83 miles (4.55 km). CR 519 passes through Hope for 6.33 miles (10.19 km) and can be accessed by CR 521.

Notable people

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

Popular culture

Points of interest