Pohatcong Township, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 13.712 square miles (35.514 km²), including 13.355 square miles (34.590 km²) of land and 0.357 square miles (0.924 km²) of water (2.60%).

Finesville (with a 2010 Census population of 175) and Upper Pohatcong (2010 population of 1,781) 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 Carpentersville, Hughesville, Huntington, Kennedys, Riegelsville, Springtown, Warren and Warren Glen.

The borough of Alpha is completely surrounded by Pohatcong Township, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.

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 3,339 people, 1,310 households, and 941.9 families residing in the township. The population density was 250.0 per square mile (96.5/km²). The township contained 1,420 housing units at an average density of 106.3 per square mile (41.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.24% (3,180) White, 1.59% (53) Black or African American, 0.03% (1) Native American, 0.90% (30) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.69% (23) from other races, and 1.56% (52) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.47% (116) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,310 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the township, 22.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females the census counted 100.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 97.3 males. The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $84,318 (with a margin of error of +/- $14,047) and the median family income was $95,982 (+/- $2,028). Males had a median income of $56,705 (+/- $13,134) versus $35,481 (+/- $1,974) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,781 (+/- $7,346). About 3.9% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 3,416 people, 1,341 households, and 989 families residing in the township. The population density was 256.3 people per square mile (98.9/km²). There were 1,411 housing units at an average density of 105.9 per square mile (40.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.01% White, 0.44% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.02% of the population.

There were 1,341 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the township the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $52,188, and the median income for a family was $60,208. Males had a median income of $44,327 versus $32,316 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,754. About 3.4% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The Phillipsburg Mall is located on the border of Pohatcong and Lopatcong Township. 43 acres (17 ha) of the mall is located in Pohatcong, with the portion of the property in the township being assessed for $39.8 million, one of the highest valuations in the municipality.

Local government

Pohatcong Township is governed by the Faulkner Act (Small Municipality) form of government. The Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, allows municipalities to adopt a Small Municipality form of government only for municipalities with a population of under 12,000. The government consists of a Mayor and a four-member Township Council, with all positions elected at-large in non-partisan elections. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. Council members serve a term of three years, which are staggered so that either one or two seats come up for election each year as part of the November general election. In May 2011 the township council submitted an ordinance to shift the non-partisan elections from May to November. The shift, which took effect in November 2012, was intended to save the municipality $8,000 a year in costs associated with conducting the election.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Pohatcong Township is James R. Kern III, whose term of office expires on December 31, 2019. Members of the Township Council are Council President Mary Van Lieu (2016), Stephen Babinsky (2018), David Slack (2016) and Anthony S. "Sal" Vangeli (2017).

At 22 years of age when he was inaugurated on July 1, 2011, Kern became the youngest municipal executive serving in office in the State of New Jersey.

Federal, state and county representation

Pohatcong Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Pohatcong Township had been part of the 5th 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 23rd Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Michael J. Doherty (R, Washington Township, Warren County) and in the General Assembly by John DiMaio (R, Hackettstown) and Erik Peterson (R, Franklin Township, Hunterdon County). 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 2,162 registered voters in Pohatcong Township, of which 583 (27.0% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 595 (27.5% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 983 (45.5% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 64.7% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 83.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 802 votes (54.1% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 634 votes (42.8% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.5% vs. 1.7%), among the 1,482 ballots cast by the township's 2,158 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.7% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 813 votes (51.5% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 707 votes (44.8% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 24 votes (1.5% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,578 ballots cast by the township's 2,178 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.5% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 863 votes (53.8% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 712 votes (44.4% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 23 votes (1.4% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,605 ballots cast by the township's 2,141 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.0% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.7% of the vote (688 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.9% (275 votes), and other candidates with 2.4% (24 votes), among the 1,001 ballots cast by the township's 2,180 registered voters (14 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 619 votes (57.9% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 297 votes (27.8% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 117 votes (10.9% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 14 votes (1.3% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,069 ballots cast by the township's 2,115 registered voters, yielding a 50.5% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).

Education

The Pohatcong Township School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Pohatcong Township Elementary School. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district and its one school had an enrollment of 454 students and 28.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 15.9:1.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Phillipsburg High School in Phillipsburg as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Phillipsburg School District. The high school also serves students from four other sending communities: Alpha, Bloomsbury (in Hunterdon County), Greenwich Township and Lopatcong Township. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,631 students and 117.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.9:1.

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).

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 54.70 miles (88.03 km) of roadways, of which 36.13 miles (58.15 km) were maintained by the municipality, 12.81 miles (20.62 km) by Warren County, 3.20 miles (5.15 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 2.56 miles (4.12 km) by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

The major county road that passes through is CR 519.

Route 122 is the only major state road that passes through (which used to be U.S. Route 22 ALT until it was changed in 1993).

Interstate 78 passes through in the central region while U.S. Route 22 runs along the eastern border before running concurrent with I-78.

The Riegelsville Bridge is a suspension bridge crossing the Delaware River connecting Pohatcong to Riegelsville, Pennsylvania, that is owned and operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. The current bridge on the site opened in 1904.

Public transportation

Trans-Bridge Lines operates the 890 and 891 bus routes, which connect Pohatcong Township with Easton, Pennsylvania.

Rail- the Lehigh Line

The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line (formerly the mainline of the Lehigh Valley Railroad), runs through Pohatcong Township on its way to Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

Surrounding communities

Pohatcong completely surrounds Alpha.

Historic sites

The Finesville-Seigletown Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 10, 2010.

Wineries