Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey

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Delaware Township, New Jersey redirects here. For other meanings, see Delaware, New Jersey.
Delaware, New Jersey
Map of Delaware Township in Hunterdon County. Inset: Location of Hunterdon County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Map of Delaware Township in Hunterdon County. Inset: Location of Hunterdon County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°26′34″N 74°57′26″W / 40.44278, -74.95722
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Hunterdon
Incorporated April 2, 1838
Government
 - Type Township (New Jersey)
 - Mayor Susan D. Lockwood
Area
 - Total 37.0 sq mi (95.9 km²)
 - Land 36.7 sq mi (95.2 km²)
 - Water 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
Elevation [1] 338 ft (103 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 4,730
 - Density 121.9/sq mi (47.1/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 08557 - Sergeantsville
08559 - Stockton
08822 - Flemington
Area code(s) 609, 908
FIPS code 34-17170[3]
GNIS feature ID 0882182[4]
Website: http://www.delawaretwpnj.org/

Delaware Township is a Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 4,478. The historic community of Sergeantsville is located within Delaware Township. Other villages are Croton, Locktown, Sand Brook, Raven Rock and Rosemont.

Delaware was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1838, from a portion of a larger municipality then known as Amwell Township (now defunct). Historian and cartographer John P. Snyder has erroneously stated that a referendum was held on that date, but there was in fact no referendum and the people of Amwell knew nothing about the division until after the Legislature passed the bill.[5][6] A portion of the township was taken to form Stockton borough (April 14, 1898).

The township was first settled in the early 18th century by Colonel John Reading (1657-1717), who was instrumental in the creation of Amwell Township in 1708 and also worked for the creation of Hunterdon County in 1714.

The Township of Delaware lies along the Delaware River, which forms the southwestern boundary of Hunterdon County. The Delaware and Raritan Canal parallels the Delaware River along the southern border of the township. The sole remaining covered bridge (abutments constructed in 1750; bridge built in 1872) in New Jersey crosses the Wickecheoke Creek between Sergeantsville and Rosemont.[7]

The Township retains much of its rural heritage. Rolling fields and picturesque barns belong to farms that have changed little in the last two hundred years, but it has not been immune to growth. Newly created lots along the road frontage and some small developments have changed the feel of the Township. The village of Sergeantsville is the center of the township, containing the (K-8) elementary school, the Post Office, and the Town Hall. The community was first settled by a Mr. Thatcher about 1740 and was later named for Charles Sergeant, an American Revolutionary War soldier. A tradition in the Township is Sergeantsville's "Thanksgiving in the Country" house tour. Each year participants tour four or five different homes that have historical, architectural or cultural qualities, and proceeds from this fundraising event benefit the Facial Reconstruction Unit of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.[7]

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 37.0 square miles (95.9 km²), of which, 36.7 square miles (95.2 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (0.76%) is water.

Delaware Township borders Kingwood Township, Franklin Township, Raritan Township, East Amwell Township, West Amwell Township, the City of Lambertville, and Stockton Borough.

Delaware Township also borders the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Delaware Township is connected to Solebury Township, Pennsylvania by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission's Lumberville-Raven Rock Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge over the Delaware River.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1930 1,704
—
1940 1,756 3.1%
1950 2,031 15.7%
1960 2,485 22.4%
1970 3,249 30.7%
1980 3,816 17.5%
1990 4,512 18.2%
2000 4,478 -0.8%
Est. 2006 4,730 [2] 5.6%
Population 1930 - 1990.[8]

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,478 people, 1,643 households, and 1,302 families residing in the township. The population density was 121.9 people per square mile (47.1/km²). There were 1,701 housing units at an average density of 46.3/sq mi (17.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.70% White, 0.40% African American, 0.04% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.

There were 1,643 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.3% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.7% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the township the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 32.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $80,756, and the median income for a family was $90,842. Males had a median income of $61,701 versus $48,780 for females. The per capita income for the township was $38,285. 3.4% of the population and 2.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 1.2% are under the age of 18 and 12.2% are 65 or older.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Delaware Township uses the Township form of government which is one of the oldest forms of government in New Jersey. The governing body is a township committee of five members who are elected for three-year staggered terms in partisan elections from the Township at large. There is an election of at least one member every year.

The Township Committee annually chooses one of the Committee to serve as mayor for that year. The mayor presides at Township Committee meetings and votes as a member of the Committee, but has no veto power or other special powers except to officiate at weddings. All legislative and executive powers are exercised by the committee as a whole.

Members of the 2008 Delaware Township Committee are Mayor Susan D. Lockwood (term ends December 31, 2008), Deputy Mayor Kristin McCarthy (2008), Alan C. Johnson (2009), Richard W. Madden, Jr. (2009) and James F. McCue (2008).[7]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Delaware Township is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District.[9]

New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional District, covering all of Hunterdon County and portions of Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, and Somerset County, is represented by Rush D. Holt Jr. (D). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 23rd District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Leonard Lance (R, Clinton Township) and in the Assembly by Michael J. Doherty (R, Oxford Township) and Marcia A. Karrow (R, Raritan Township).[10] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[11]

Hunterdon County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis. As of 2008, Hunterdon County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Erik Peterson (Milford), Freeholder Deputy Director William Mennen (Tewksbury Township), Matt Holt (Clinton Town), George B. Melick (Tewksbury Township) and Ronald Sworen (Frenchtown).[12]

[edit] Education

The Delaware Township School District serves students in grades kindergarten through grade eight, with an enrollment of 510 students in 2005-06.[13] The school is located on a twenty-six acre site adjacent to the community of Sergeantsville and three miles from the Delaware River.

Students in grade 9 - 12 attend the Hunterdon Central High School, part of the Hunterdon Central Regional High School District, which serves almost 3100 students in central Hunterdon County from Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Borough, Raritan Township and Readington Township.[14]

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Delaware Township include:

[edit] References

  1. ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Delaware, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Census data for Delaware township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2007.
  3. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  5. ^ Goodspeed, Marfy. "170 Years Ago, Delaware Twp. in the Midst of a Controversy", Delaware Township Post, March 7, 2008. Accessed March 8, 2008.
  6. ^ Snyder, John P.The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968. Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 154.
  7. ^ a b c Hunterdon County web page for Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed February 28, 2008.
  8. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  9. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 64. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  10. ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  11. ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  12. ^ Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders, accessed February 22, 2008.
  13. ^ Data for the Delaware Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 9, 2008.
  14. ^ Hunterdon Central Regional High School 2007 Report card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 9, 2008. "Located in beautiful, historic Hunterdon County in central New Jersey, Hunterdon Central Regional High School serves the five municipalities of Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Borough, Raritan Township, and Readington Township."
  15. ^ "Bucks County Artists" James A. Michener Art Museum. Accessed March 18, 2008.
  16. ^ "Will Cotton, 77, Dead", The New York Times, January 6, 1958. Accessed April 3, 2008.
  17. ^ Johnston, Lyle. "Goodnight, Chet" a Biography of Chet Huntley
  18. ^ Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders, August 22, 2006. Accessed March 8, 2008.
  19. ^ Adelson, Fred B. "ART; Children's Page Turners to Linger Over", The New York Times, January 9, 2000. Accessed December 9, 2007. "Both Richard Egielski of Milford and John Schoenherr of Delaware Township (near Stockton) are represented by illustrations from books aimed at ages 4 to 8, the youngest group."
  20. ^ "Glenway Wescott, 85, Novelist and Essayist". The New York Times, February 24, 1987. Accessed April 4, 2008.
  21. ^ "Entertainers", Time, March 6, 1944. Accessed March 11, 2008.
  22. ^ "Fun Facts about Hunterdon County, New Jersey", Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 11, 2008.
  23. ^ "Bucks County Artists", James A. Michener Art Museum. Accessed March 11, 2008.
  24. ^ Strunsky, Steve. "Zimmer Returning To Washington", The New York Times, July 10, 2001. Accessed March 8, 2008.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
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