Country United States County Warren Incorporated February 21, 1798 Zip code 07863 Local time Tuesday 5:57 PM | State New Jersey Established May 30, 1754 Elevation 142 m Population 2,307 (2000) | |
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Area rank 259th of 566 in state
17th of 22 in county Weather 9°C, Wind NE at 5 km/h, 93% Humidity | ||
Oxford Township is a township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 2,514, reflecting an increase of 207 (+9.0%) from the 2,307 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 517 (+28.9%) from the 1,790 counted in the 1990 Census. It part of the eastern-most region of the Lehigh Valley.
Contents
- Map of Oxford Township NJ 07863 USA
- Geography
- Climate
- Demographics
- Census 2010
- Census 2000
- Local government
- Federal state and county representation
- Politics
- Education
- Transportation
- Notable people
- Points of interest
- References
Map of Oxford Township, NJ 07863, USA
Oxford Township was formed from portions of Greenwich Township on May 30, 1754, while the area was still part of Sussex County. It was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature. Mansfield Township became part of the newly formed Warren County on November 20, 1824. Over the centuries since its creation, portions of the township were taken to form Knowlton Township (February 23, 1763), Franklin Township, Harmony Township and Hope Township (all on April 8, 1839), Belvidere (April 7, 1845) and White Township (April 9, 1913).
The origin of the name and the exact date of the township's creation is in dispute. One source says that the township was named for the University of Oxford in England, and was formed in either 1753 or 1755, but other sources claim that the township was named after an early settler named John Axford, who came to settle in the area with others between 1735 and 1739, and affirms that the township's creation was in 1755.
Oxford Furnace, constructed in 1741, was the third furnace in Colonial New Jersey and the first constructed at a site where iron ore was mined. Other furnaces used ore extracted from bogs in South Jersey, impure deposits called bog iron. Oxford Furnace operated the longest of any of the Colonial-era furnaces, not being "blown out" until 1884. In 1835, it was the site of America's first successful use of the hot blast in which preheated air was blown into the furnace, cutting production time. Though worn down by time, much of the site still stands. Oxford Furnace is listed on the State and the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 5.887 square miles (15.248 km2), including 5.786 square miles (14.986 km2) of land and 0.101 square miles (0.262 km2) of water (1.72%).
Oxford CDP (with a 2010 Census population of 1,090) is a unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within the township. Oxford CDP and Oxford Township are not coextensive, with the CDP covering 11.7% of the 5.89 miles (9.48 km) of the township as a whole.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Pequest.
The township borders the Warren County municipalities of Liberty Township, Mansfield Township, Washington Township and White Township.
Climate
Being in the Northeast, Oxford experiences all four seasons with hot humid summers and cold, snowy winters.
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 2,514 people, 950 households, and 675.5 families residing in the township. The population density was 434.5 per square mile (167.8/km2). The township contained 1,033 housing units at an average density of 178.5 per square mile (68.9/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 94.99% (2,388) White, 1.63% (41) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 1.51% (38) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.68% (17) from other races, and 1.19% (30) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.78% (95) of the population.
Out of a total of 950 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% 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 3.13.
In the township, 24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females the census counted 94.7 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 93.7 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,268 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,864) and the median family income was $76,186 (+/- $8,432). Males had a median income of $56,731 (+/- $11,282) versus $36,816 (+/- $5,060) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,948 (+/- $2,220). About 1.5% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,307 people, 886 households, and 618 families residing in the township. The population density was 388.7 inhabitants per square mile (150.0/km²). There were 938 housing units at an average density of 158.0 per square mile (61.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.58% White, 1.21% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.65% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.47% of the population.
There were 886 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $53,359, and the median income for a family was $63,750. Males had a median income of $45,667 versus $31,210 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,515. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Oxford Township is governed under the Township form of government. The three-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 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 held during the first week of January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2016, members of the Oxford Township Committee are Mayor Marc Pasquini (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2018; term as mayor ends 2016), Robert F. Nyland (R, term on committee ends 2017; term as deputy mayor ends 2016) and William E. Ryan Jr. (R, 2016; elected to serve an unexpired term).
After committee member Keith Gibbons resigned in July 2014 in the wake of harassment claims, Mayor Jade White and committee member Jim Williams resigned in August 2014 after realizing that Williams should have been up for election the previous November following his appointment to office. This left the township with no serving council members. In September 2014, Governor Chris Christie appointed Democrat Bill Bray and Republicans Marck Pasquini and Bill Ryan to fill the three vacant seats on an interim basis until the November 2014 general election, with the committee selecting Pasquini as mayor and Ryan as deputy mayor. In the November 2014 general election, Ryan was elected to serve the balance of the term expiring in December 2016.
Federal, state and county representation
Oxford 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, Oxford 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 1,464 registered voters in Oxford Township, of which 338 (23.1% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 555 (37.9% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 569 (38.9% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were two voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 58.2% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 76.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 591 votes (57.4% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 403 votes (39.1% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 20 votes (1.9% vs. 1.7%), among the 1,030 ballots cast by the township's 1,495 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.9% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 662 votes (58.0% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 417 votes (36.5% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.9% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,142 ballots cast by the township's 1,517 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.3% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 698 votes (63.1% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 379 votes (34.3% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 19 votes (1.7% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,106 ballots cast by the township's 1,443 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.6% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.6% of the vote (514 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.2% (169 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (15 votes), among the 725 ballots cast by the township's 1,516 registered voters (27 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 503 votes (64.0% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 176 votes (22.4% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 83 votes (10.6% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.5% vs. 1.5%), among the 786 ballots cast by the township's 1,468 registered voters, yielding a 53.5% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).
Education
The Oxford Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Oxford Central School. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 413 students and 30.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.8:1.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades are served by the Warren Hills Regional School District, which is a district for grades 7-12 that also serves students from the municipalities of Franklin Township, Mansfield Township, Washington Borough and Washington Township, with students from Oxford Township attending on a tuition basis as part of a sending/receiving relationship. Schools in the district (with 2012-13 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Warren Hills Regional Middle School (grades 7 and 8; 616 students) located in Washington Borough and Warren Hills Regional High School (grades 9 - 12; 1,246 students) located in Washington Township.
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 21.69 miles (34.91 km) of roadways, of which 13.02 miles (20.95 km) were maintained by the municipality, 6.47 miles (10.41 km) by Warren County and 2.20 miles (3.54 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
The main road that passes through is Route 31.
The closest limited access roads (I-78 and Interstate 80) are at least 20 minutes away.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Oxford Township include: