Country United States County Sussex Incorporated February 21, 1798 Zip code 07827 Local time Friday 5:34 PM | State New Jersey Royal patent March 26, 1759 Elevation 366 m Population 3,412 (2000) | |
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Area rank 40th of 566 in state
3rd of 24 in county Weather 5°C, Wind NW at 10 km/h, 26% Humidity | ||
Montague Township is a township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States, in the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 3,847, reflecting an increase of 435 (+12.7%) from the 3,412 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 580 (+20.5%) from the 2,832 counted in the 1990 Census. High Point, within Montague Township, is the highest elevation within New Jersey at an altitude of 1,803 feet (550 m) above sea level. Montague is also the northernmost municipality in the state of New Jersey.
Contents
- Map of Montague Township NJ USA
- Geography
- Climate
- Census 2010
- Census 2000
- Local government
- Federal state and county representation
- Politics
- Education
- Transportation
- Notable people
- Wineries
- References
Map of Montague Township, NJ, USA
Most of the area of Montague Township is public lands, primarily High Point State Park, Stokes State Forest, and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Montague is known for its scenery and wildlife, and summer sports in the area include hiking, biking, camping (both public and private campgrounds are available), and fishing.
The derivation of the township's name is uncertain, though suggestions include that it was named after the George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester, as suggested by King George II, who approved the royal patent on March 26, 1759; for Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, an author who was popular at the time; or for solicitor John Montague. Montague was incorporated on February 21, 1798, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships.
Before Montague Township was granted its own post office in the 1980s, residents had all of their mail delivered through the 12771 ZIP code for Port Jervis, New York, leading to situations where residents had New Jersey driver's licenses with a New York State mailing address.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 45.380 square miles (117.533 km2), including 43.997 square miles (113.951 km2) of land and 1.383 square miles (3.582 km2) of water (3.05%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Brick House, Duttonville, High Point, High Point Park, Lake Marcia, Mashipacong Island, Mashipacong Pond, Millville and Minisink Island.
Climate
This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Montague Township has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.
Census 2010
The 2010 United States Census counted 3,847 people, 1,535 households, and 1,045 families residing in the township. The population density was 87.4 per square mile (33.7/km2). The township contained 1,802 housing units at an average density of 41.0 per square mile (15.8/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 92.33% (3,552) White, 2.63% (101) Black or African American, 0.23% (9) Native American, 1.01% (39) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.46% (56) from other races, and 2.34% (90) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 6.39% (246) of the population.
Out of a total of 1,535 households, 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the township, 22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females the census counted 100.8 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 100.2 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $64,526 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,763) and the median family income was $68,542 (+/- $13,778). Males had a median income of $44,105 (+/- $14,473) versus $33,996 (+/- $5,832) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,411 (+/- $2,961). About 7.3% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 3,412 people, 1,286 households, and 910 families residing in the township. The population density was 77.5 people per square mile (29.9/km²). There were 1,588 housing units at an average density of 36.1 per square mile (13.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.25% White, 1.79% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 1.08% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.
There were 1,286 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 107.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $45,368, and the median income for a family was $50,833. Males had a median income of $39,569 versus $25,221 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,676. About 8.5% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Montague 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 as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2016, members of the Montague Township Committee are Mayor George E. Zitone (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2017; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy Mayor Gene L. Crawford (R, term on committee ends 2018; term as deputy mayor ends 2016), Glenn Barbagallo (R, 2017), Paul M. Brislin (R, 2018) and Richard E. Innella (R, 2016).
Federal, state and county representation
Montague Township is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th 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).
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 2,448 registered voters in Montague Township, of which 328 (13.4% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,247 (50.9% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 870 (35.5% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 63.6% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 82.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,001 votes (63.6% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 530 votes (33.7% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 39 votes (2.5% vs. 2.1%), among the 1,575 ballots cast by the township's 2,426 registered voters, for a turnout of 64.9% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,150 votes (63.9% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 592 votes (32.9% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 35 votes (1.9% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,799 ballots cast by the township's 2,421 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.3% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,072 votes (68.5% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 466 votes (29.8% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 20 votes (1.3% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,564 ballots cast by the township's 2,072 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.5% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 74.6% of the vote (750 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 21.8% (219 votes), and other candidates with 3.7% (37 votes), among the 1,015 ballots cast by the township's 2,446 registered voters (9 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 832 votes (68.6% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 243 votes (20.0% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 103 votes (8.5% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.8% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,212 ballots cast by the township's 2,402 registered voters, yielding a 50.5% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).
Education
Students in public school for kindergarten through sixth grade attend the Montague Township School District. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 349 students and 28.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1.
Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades cross state lines to attend middle school and (had crossed to attend) high school in nearby Port Jervis, New York or may enroll at Sussex County Technical School, which accepts students on a selective basis, and to the middle school charter program in Sparta Township. Starting in September 2014, Montague Township's high school students began attending High Point Regional High School, in a shift from Port Jervis that will take four years to complete. High Point also serves students from Branchville Borough, Frankford Township, Lafayette Township, Sussex Borough and Wantage Township (where the school is located). As of the 2014-15 school year, High Point High School had an enrollment of 1,002 students and 94.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.6:1.
Transportation
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 55.97 miles (90.07 km) of roadways, of which 25.50 miles (41.04 km) were maintained by the municipality, 23.85 miles (38.38 km) by Sussex County and 6.13 miles (9.87 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.49 miles (0.79 km) by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.
One U.S., state, and county route each traverses the township. U.S. Route 206 passes through in the western part and crosses the Delaware River at the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge. Route 23 passes through the eastern part and serves as the entrance road to High Point State Park and ends at the New York border just south of I-84. County Route 521 passes through the northwest and ends at the New York state boundary.
The closest limited access road is Interstate 84 (which used to be part of the New York State Thruway until October 2010) and is immediately over the state line in Deer Park, New York.
In the northernmost section of the township along Route 23, there are several gasoline stations, most likely because gas is significantly less expensive in New Jersey than in Matamoras, Pennsylvania or Port Jervis, New York.
The township does not have a traffic light.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Montague Township include: