Sandyston Township, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 43.259 square miles (112.040 km²), including 42.519 square miles (110.124 km²) of land and 0.740 square miles (1.917 km²) of water (1.71%).

The township ranges from 300 to 1,600 feet (91 to 488 m) above sea level. A ridge runs along the eastern half of the township called the Kittatinny Mountains. The highest point in the township is Sunrise Mountain in Stokes State Forest. The lowest point is around the Delaware River in the western half of the township.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Abertown, Bevans, Centerville, Dingmans Ferry, Hainesville, Kittatinny Lake, Lake Ashroe, Layton, Namanack Island, Normanock, Peters Valley, Shaytown, Stoney Lake and Tuttles Corner.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 1,998 people, 788 households, and 561.1 families residing in the township. The population density was 47.0 per square mile (18.1/km²). The township contained 988 housing units at an average density of 23.2 per square mile (9.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.45% (1,947) White, 0.40% (8) Black or African American, 0.10% (2) Native American, 0.55% (11) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.30% (6) from other races, and 1.20% (24) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.40% (68) of the population.

Out of a total of 788 households, 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.8% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% 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 3.01.

In the township, 22.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 36.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.7 years. For every 100 females the census counted 98.8 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 98.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $73,750 (with a margin of error of +/- $8,449) and the median family income was $96,071 (+/- $15,669). Males had a median income of $62,071 (+/- $9,210) versus $41,875 (+/- $7,589) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,921 (+/- $9,604). About 2.5% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 1,825 people, 693 households, and 503 families residing in the township. The population density was 42.8 people per square mile (16.5/km²). There were 907 housing units at an average density of 21.3 per square mile (8.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.86% White, 0.38% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.

There were 793 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% 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 3.12.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $55,667, and the median income for a family was $65,774. Males had a median income of $46,167 versus $30,660 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,854. About 3.6% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

Local government

Sandyston Township is governed under the Township form of government. The governing body is a three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters 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. 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 Sandyston Township Committee are Mayor George B. Harper Jr. (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2017; term as mayor ends 2016), Deputy Mayor Frederick V. MacDonald (R, term on committee ends 2018; term as deputy mayor ends 2016) and Kamala M. "Kammy" Hull (R, 2016; appointed to serve an unexpired term until November 2016).

In January 2016, the Township Committee selected Kamala "Kammy" Hull from three names nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring on December 2016 that had been held by William J. Leppert until his resignation effective the previous month; Hull will serve on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters will select a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.

Federal, state and county representation

Sandyston 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 1,349 registered voters in Sandyston Township, of which 193 (14.3% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 662 (49.1% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 492 (36.5% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 67.5% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 87.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 661 votes (65.1% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 327 votes (32.2% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 24 votes (2.4% vs. 2.1%), among the 1,015 ballots cast by the township's 1,392 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.9% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 655 votes (64.0% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 353 votes (34.5% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.9% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,024 ballots cast by the township's 1,328 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.1% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 638 votes (67.7% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 291 votes (30.9% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.3% vs. 1.3%), among the 943 ballots cast by the township's 1,163 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.1% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.5% of the vote (496 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.1% (156 votes), and other candidates with 3.4% (23 votes), among the 678 ballots cast by the township's 1,423 registered voters (3 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 475 votes (65.6% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 157 votes (21.7% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 77 votes (10.6% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 10 votes (1.4% vs. 1.3%), among the 724 ballots cast by the township's 1,303 registered voters, yielding a 55.6% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).

Education

Public school students in kindergarten through sixth grade attend the schools of the Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District, together with students from Walpack Township. The school is located in Layton. As of the 2013-14 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 148 students and 17.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.5:1.

Students in seventh through twelfth grade for public school attend Kittatinny Regional High School located in Hampton Township, which also serves students who reside in Fredon Township, Hampton Township, Stillwater Township and Walpack Township. The high school is located on a 96-acre (39 ha) campus in Hampton Township, about seven minutes outside of the county seat of Newton. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,079 students and 97.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1. Kittatinny Regional High School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1997-98.

Transportation

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 52.47 miles (84.44 km) of roadways, of which 28.98 miles (46.64 km) were maintained by the municipality, 16.22 miles (26.10 km) by Sussex County and 7.27 miles (11.70 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

U.S. Route 206 bisects the township. The Dingman's Ferry Bridge, one of the last privately owned toll bridges on the Delaware River and one of the last few in the United States, carries two lanes of PA 739 and NJ County Route 560, connecting to Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania.

Notable people

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