Mount Olive Township, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 31.079 square miles (80.495 km²), including 29.407 square miles (76.165 km²) of land and 1.672 square miles (4.331 km²) of water (5.38%).

Budd Lake (with a 2010 Census population of 8,968) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Mount Olive Township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bartley, Flanders, Saxton Falls and Waterloo.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 28,117 people, 10,690 households, and 7,323 families residing in the township. The population density was 956.1 per square mile (369.2/km²). The township contained 11,244 housing units at an average density of 382.4 per square mile (147.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 80.66% (22,679) White, 5.74% (1,614) Black or African American, 0.20% (55) Native American, 8.23% (2,315) Asian, 0.04% (12) Pacific Islander, 2.86% (805) from other races, and 2.27% (637) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 11.51% (3,237) of the population.

Out of a total of 10,690 households, 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% 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 3.22.

In the township, 26.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females the census counted 97.3 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 94.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $77,243 (with a margin of error of +/- $5,287) and the median family income was $102,448 (+/- $8,454). Males had a median income of $70,532 (+/- $5,545) versus $52,205 (+/- $4,050) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,758 (+/- $1,723). About 3.8% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 24,193 people, 9,068 households, and 6,374 families residing in the township. The population density was 797.0 people per square mile (307.8/km²). There were 9,311 housing units at an average density of 306.7 per square mile (118.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.69% White, 3.79% African American, 0.17% Native American, 6.00% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.53% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.97% of the population.

There were 9,068 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 23.7% 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 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the township the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 37.6% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $64,515, and the median income for a family was $75,189. Males had a median income of $50,653 versus $35,882 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,691. About 1.7% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Starting from its inception in 1871, Mount Olive was governed under the Township form of municipal government, by a three-person Township Committee. In 1968, the Township Committee was expanded to five members. Effective January 1, 1972, the voters in the Township approved a change to a Mayor-Council form of government, which would be governed by a directly elected mayor and a seven-member Township Council elected on an at-large basis. The mayor would operate the government with the assistance of a Township Administrator, with the Council performing a legislative role.

Mount Olive Township is governed under the Optional Municipal Charter Law's (Faulkner Act) Mayor-Council form of government (Plan E), enacted based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission. This provides a "Strong Mayor" form of government, with a separately elected mayor and council, who each serve for four-year terms of office. The mayor, who is elected directly by the people, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Township. The Mayor is responsible for carrying out all Council decisions and for the day-to-day operation of all functions of the municipality. The Township Council consists of seven members elected on an at-large basis with staggered terms in elections held every two years with either three seats or four seats coming up for vote. The Township Council is the legislative branch of the government charged with approving the municipal budget and enacting the ordinances (laws) of the municipality. The council elects a Council President from among its membersat an annual reorganization meeting. The Council President presides at all council meetings.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Mount Olive Township is Republican Robert Greenbaum, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Township Council are Council President Joe Nicastro (R, term on council ends 2019; term as president ends 2017), Council Vice President Alex Roman (R, term on council ends 2019; term as vice president ends 2017), Daniel Amianda (R, 2017), John Ferrante (R, 2017), Colleen Labow (R, 2019), John Mania (R, 2017) and Gregory Stewart (R, 2017; elected to serve an unexpired term).

In July 2015, the Township Council selected Gregory Stewart from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Ray Perkins until his resignation from office to move out of the township, after having served 13 years in office; Stewart will serve on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the one year remaining on the term of office.

Serving a term ending December 2013, Patrick Walsh resigned from office in February 2013, citing internal conflicts in the township's Republican Party government.

Federal, state and county representation

Mount Olive Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Mount Olive Township had been part of the 11th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

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 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).

Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. The Freeholder Board sets policies for the operation of six super-departments, more than 30 divisions plus authorities, commissions, boards and study committees. Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator, John Bonanni. As of 2016, Morris County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Kathryn A. DeFillippo (Roxbury Township, term ends December 31, 2016), Deputy Freeholder William "Hank" Lyon (Montville, 2017), Douglas Cabana (Boonton Township, 2016), John Cesaro (Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, 2018), Thomas J. Mastrangelo (Montville, 2016) Christine Myers (Mendham Township, 2018), and Deborah Smith (Denville, 2018). Constitutional officers are County Clerk Ann F. Grossi (Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, 2018), Sheriff Edward V. Rochford (Morris Plains, 2016) and Surrogate John Pecoraro (Mendham Borough, 2019).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 15,159 registered voters in Mount Olive Township, of which 2,984 (19.7%) were registered as Democrats, 4,930 (32.5%) were registered as Republicans and 7,226 (47.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 19 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 53.3% of the vote (5,664 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.7% (4,855 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (113 votes), among the 10,691 ballots cast by the township's 16,433 registered voters (59 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 65.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 52.9% of the vote (6,191 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.5% (5,327 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (123 votes), among the 11,705 ballots cast by the township's 15,776 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 59.0% of the vote (6,330 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 39.9% (4,287 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (91 votes), among the 10,731 ballots cast by the township's 14,794 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.5.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 70.8% of the vote (4,315 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.1% (1,655 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (126 votes), among the 6,158 ballots cast by the township's 16,376 registered voters (62 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 37.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.4% of the vote (4,663 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 27.1% (1,995 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.1% (596 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (50 votes), among the 7,351 ballots cast by the township's 15,468 registered voters, yielding a 47.5% turnout.

Education

The Mount Olive Township School District serves public school students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2010-11 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics.) are four elementary schools — Chester M. Stephens Elementary School (grades K-5; 705 students), Mountain View Elementary School (K-5; 600), Sandshore Elementary School (K-5; 401) and Tinc Road Elementary School (K-5; 525) — Mount Olive Middle School (6-8; 1,143) and Mount Olive High School (9-12; 1,157).

Public library

The Mount Olive Public Library serves the informational, educational, cultural, and recreational resource of the township. It is the objective of the Library to serve the community with programs, books and other media. The Mount Olive Township Library Association was incorporated in 1976. In 1979, a major addition was added to the original octagon. In 1985, the township held a referendum with voters overwhelmingly in favor of municipalization. The Library officially became a municipal library in 1986. In 1991, a second addition was added to include an administrative area and the periodical/reading room. In January 2005 the new library which was built on Flanders-Drakestown Road opened for residents.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 140.17 miles (225.58 km) of roadways, of which 115.11 miles (185.25 km) were maintained by the municipality, 10.03 miles (16.14 km) by Morris County and 15.03 miles (24.19 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

The major roads that pass through include U.S. Route 46 through the center, U.S. Route 206 in the east and northeast part (called the "Netcong Bypass") and Interstate 80 (Bergen Passaic Expressway) in the north (which is also briefly multiplexed with US 206).

Public transportation

Commuter rail service is offered by NJ Transit at the Mount Olive station along its Morristown Line and Montclair-Boonton Line, offering service to Hoboken Terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey, Newark Broad Street Station, Secaucus Junction and Pennsylvania Station in Midtown Manhattan.

NJ Transit local bus service had been offered on the MCM5 route until 2010, when subsidies offered to the local service provider were eliminated as part of budget cuts.

Bus service is provided along Route 46 between Netcong and Dover on the Morris On the Move (M.O.M.) route.

Notable people

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