Pequannock Township, New Jersey

History

The name for the area goes back at least as far as March 1, 1720, when it was referred to as "Poquanick", a precinct in Hunterdon County. Formed as "Poquanock Township" on March 25, 1740, as the county's largest township, what is now a 7.1-square-mile (18 km²) bedroom community composed of Pompton Plains in its northern portion and old Pequannock in its southern was once a vast 176-square-mile (460 km²) region of rural farmland settled by the Dutch after its purchase by Arent Schuyler and associates in 1695 and 1696. The township was incorporated by the New Jersey Legislature's Township Act of 1798 as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships on February 21, 1798.

Over time, several municipalities were split off from the township: Jefferson Township on February 11, 1804; Rockaway Township on April 8, 1844; Boonton Township on April 11, 1867; Montville Township on April 11, 1867; Butler Borough on March 13, 1901; Kinnelon Borough on March 21, 1922; Lincoln Park Borough on April 25, 1922; and Riverdale Borough on April 17, 1923.

During the American Revolutionary War, both Comte de Rochambeau and George Washington's troops camped on what is now the site of the Pequannock Valley Middle School. While Washington stayed at the Schuyler-Colfax House in nearby Pompton, unproven oral history states that he attended church services in the First Reformed Church located in Pompton Plains, also known as the Pompton Meeting House, which had been constructed in 1771. The Mandeville Inn, located on the site of where the soldiers had camped during the war, was built in 1788 and was once owned by Garret Hobart, later Vice President of the United States. The stone with the engraved date is now located inside the Pequannock Valley Middle School when the Inn was demolished and replaced with the school in 1950.

During the Civil War, Pequannock was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The Giles Mandeville House (also built in 1788), a field and quarry-stone structure located at 515 Newark-Pompton Turnpike, which is believed to have served as a waypoint for many runaway slaves, still stands today, and has been in use as the Manse of the adjacent First Reformed Church since 1953.

Historic sites

Historic sites located in Pequannock Township include:

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 7.171 square miles (18.575 km²), including 6.748 square miles (17.478 km²) of land and 0.423 square miles (1.096 km²) of water (5.90%).

The Township of Pequannock is located in eastern Morris County, along Route 23, approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the interchange of Route 23 with Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 46. Interstate 287 crosses the northwest corner of the township, with a full interchange just north of the township in the borough of Riverdale. Pequannock Township is located 20 miles (32 km) west of New York City.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Pequannock and Pompton Plains, each of which is served by a separate post office of the United States Postal Service.

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 15,540 people, 6,471 households, and 3,986 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,302.7 per square mile (889.1/km²). The township contained 6,794 housing units at an average density of 1,006.7 per square mile (388.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.76% (14,881) White, 0.48% (75) Black or African American, 0.09% (14) Native American, 1.94% (302) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.89% (138) from other races, and 0.84% (130) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.52% (703) of the population.

Out of a total of 6,471 households, 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township, 21.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 19.4% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 24.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.2 years. For every 100 females the census counted 85.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 81.3 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $84,322 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,784) and the median family income was $109,572 (+/- $9,602). Males had a median income of $77,988 (+/- $7,857) versus $50,744 (+/- $7,369) for females. The per capita income for the township was $42,016 (+/- $2,741). About 1.8% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 13,888 people, 5,026 households, and 3,829 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,965.1 people per square mile (758.4/km²). There were 5,097 housing units at an average density of 721.2 per square mile (278.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.60% White, 0.30% African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.91% Asian, 0.50% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.94% of the population.

There were 5,026 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $72,729, and the median income for a family was $84,487. Males had a median income of $61,093 versus $38,523 for females. The per capita income for the township was $31,892. About 2.5% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Since January 1, 1956, the Township has operated within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager Plan E form of local government. The Council consists of five members elected at-large in a partisan vote to four-year terms in office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election in even-numbered years as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting, the members of the Council select one of their members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor. The Township Council hires a Township Manager, who serves as the chief executive and administrative officer of the Township.

As of 2016, Pequannock's Township Council consists of Mayor David Kohle (R, term on council and as mayor ends December 31, 2016), Deputy Mayor Joel D. Vanderhoff (R, term on council and as deputy mayor ends 2016), Melissa Florance-Lynch (R, 2018), Richard Phelan (R, 2018) and Catherine Winterfield (R, 2018).

Ed Engelbart was named Township Historian, following a resolution passed on May 10, 2011, making him the first person to be named to this position in a decade.

Federal, state and county representation

Pequannock Township is located in the 11th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 40th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Pequannock Township had been in the 26th state legislative district.

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 40th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Kevin J. O'Toole (R, Cedar Grove) and in the General Assembly by David C. Russo (R, Ridgewood) and Kevin J. Rooney (R, Wyckoff). Rooney was sworn into office on December 12, 2016, to fill the seat of Scott Rumana, who had resigned from office on October 20, 2016, to become a judge of the New Jersey Superior Court. 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 10,911 registered voters in Pequannock Township, of which 4,042 (37.0%) were registered as Republicans, 2,242 (20.5%) were registered as Democrats, and 4,625 (42.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 58.8% of the vote (4,850 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.3% (3,326 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (76 votes), among the 8,309 ballots cast by the township's 11,383 registered voters (57 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.0%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 58.8% of the vote (5,341 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 39.7% (3,608 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (84 votes), among the 9,088 ballots cast by the township's 11,236 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.9%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 62.0% of the vote (4,889 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 37.1% (2,925 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (45 votes), among the 7,886 ballots cast by the township's 10,055 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 78.4.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.6% of the vote (3,695 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 29.9% (1,612 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (82 votes), among the 5,436 ballots cast by the township's 11,301 registered voters (47 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.1%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 58.5% of the vote (3,550 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 33.1% (2,008 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.9% (420 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (49 votes), among the 6,073 ballots cast by the township's 11,127 registered voters, yielding a 54.6% turnout.

Education

The Pequannock Township School District serves public school students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's five schools had an enrollment of 2,256 students and 179.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.57:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Stephen J. Gerace Elementary School (306 students; in grades K-5), Hillview Elementary School (373; K-5), North Boulevard Elementary School (302; K-5), Pequannock Valley Middle School (569; 6-8) and Pequannock Township High School (706; 9-12).

Holy Spirit School is a Catholic school serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. In addition, there is Kolbe Immaculata School, a non-diocesan Catholic school for grades 1-8; the Netherlands Reformed Christian School (PK-12); and Chancellor Academy, a school founded in 1983 that serves students in sixth through twelfth grades who have not succeeded in a traditional school structure.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 63.41 miles (102.05 km) of roadways, of which 50.67 miles (81.55 km) were maintained by the municipality, 8.54 miles (13.74 km) by Morris County and 4.20 miles (6.76 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Two major roadways exist within the township; Interstate 287 crosses the northwest corner and Route 23 runs near the eastern boundary.

Public transportation

The Mountain View and Lincoln Park NJ Transit stations are both near Pequannock, offering service on the Montclair-Boonton Line to Hoboken Terminal. Pequannock Township was formerly served by the Pompton Plains railroad station, which has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Bus service is provided by NJ Transit on the 194 line to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. In September 2012, as part of budget cuts, NJ Transit suspended service to Newark on the 75 line.

Downtown Pompton Plains is 19.8 miles (31.9 km) from Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark / Elizabeth, 14.1 miles (22.7 km) from Teterboro Airport, 13.7 miles (22.0 km) from Morristown Municipal Airport in Hanover Township, 11.5 miles (18.5 km) from Greenwood Lake Airport in West Milford, 6.6 miles (10.6 km) from Essex County Airport and 1.6 miles (2.6 km) from Lincoln Park Airport in Lincoln Park Borough.

Media

Pequannock is served by New York City TV stations. It is served by the newspapers The Star-Ledger, the Daily Record, and The Record of Bergen County.

Notable people

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