Stanhope, New Jersey

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Stanhope borough had a total area of 2.188 square miles (5.667 km²), including 1.836 square miles (4.755 km²) of land and 0.352 square miles (0.912 km²) of water (16.1%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Lake Musconetcong.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 3,610 people, 1,396 households, and 957.7 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,966.3 per square mile (759.2/km²). The borough contained 1,472 housing units at an average density of 801.8 per square mile (309.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.36% (3,298) White, 1.58% (57) Black or African American, 0.08% (3) Native American, 2.33% (84) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 2.63% (95) from other races, and 2.02% (73) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 8.50% (307) of the population.

Out of a total of 1,396 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the borough, 22.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years. For every 100 females the census counted 93.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 91.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $78,625 (with a margin of error of +/- $10,138) and the median family income was $94,545 (+/- $11,809). Males had a median income of $51,974 (+/- $7,042) versus $47,241 (+/- $3,337) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $35,934 (+/- $4,607). About 0.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 0.0% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 3,584 people, 1,384 households, and 978 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,913.6 people per square mile (740.0/km²). There were 1,419 housing units at an average density of 757.7 per square mile (293.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.55% White, 1.34% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.40% from other races, and 2.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.05% of the population.

There were 1,384 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the borough the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $63,059, and the median income for a family was $73,203. Males had a median income of $49,861 versus $36,545 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,535. About 1.7% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

Stanhope is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by Stanhope, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.

As of 2016, the Mayor of Stanhope Borough is Republican Rosemarie Maio, whose term of office ends December 31, 2019. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Bill Thornton (R, 2018), Michael A. Depew (D, 2017), Diana M. Kuncken (R, 2016), Thomas J. Romano (R, 2017), Doreen Thistleton (R, 2016) and Patricia Zdichocki (R, 2018).

Federal, state and county representation

Stanhope is located in the 11th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th 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 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 2,403 registered voters in Stanhope, of which 486 (20.2% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 754 (31.4% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,159 (48.2% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 66.6% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 86.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 843 votes (52.2% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 738 votes (45.7% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 29 votes (1.8% vs. 2.1%), among the 1,614 ballots cast by the borough's 2,458 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.7% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 995 votes (53.4% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 821 votes (44.1% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 30 votes (1.6% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,863 ballots cast by the borough's 2,384 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.1% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,017 votes (59.4% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 665 votes (38.8% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 25 votes (1.5% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,712 ballots cast by the borough's 2,200 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.8% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.8% of the vote (711 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.2% (267 votes), and other candidates with 3.9% (40 votes), among the 1,029 ballots cast by the borough's 2,475 registered voters (11 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.6%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 716 votes (59.6% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 354 votes (29.5% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 105 votes (8.7% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.8% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,201 ballots cast by the borough's 2,360 registered voters, yielding a 50.9% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).

Education

The Stanhope Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2012-13 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 356 students and 28.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.72:1.

For ninth through twelfth grades, the borough shares Lenape Valley Regional High School, which serves public school students from Netcong in Morris County and the Sussex County communities of Byram Township and Stanhope. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 824 students and 61.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.4:1. Students from the borough had attended Netcong High School until 1974, when the Lenape Valley district was created.

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 16.76 miles (26.97 km) of roadways, of which 12.75 miles (20.52 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.24 miles (3.60 km) by Sussex County and 1.77 miles (2.85 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Route 183 is the main access road that serves the borough. U.S. Route 206 also passes through in the western section and is partially a limited access road (the "Netcong Bypass") which connects to Interstate 80 in neighboring Mount Olive.

Stanhope is noted for its highway oddity. Upon the completion of Interstate 80 (circa 1974), Old U.S. Route 206 through Stanhope was renamed Route 183. A section of Interstate 80 now acts as a traffic bypass around Stanhope.

Public transportation

Lakeland Bus Lines provides service operating along Interstate 80 between Newton, New Jersey and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

Points of interest

Waterloo Village, (located in Byram Township) in Allamuchy Mountain State Park, exhibits many different time periods from a 400-year-old Lenape (Delaware) Native American village to a bustling port along the once prosperous Morris Canal. The early 19th-century village contains a working mill with gristmills and sawmills, a general store, a blacksmith shop and restored houses. Classical and popular music programs are available to the public during the summer months.

Notable people

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