Tewksbury Township, New Jersey
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| Tewksbury, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Hunterdon |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | William Voyce |
| Area | |
| - Total | 31.6 sq mi (82.0 km²) |
| - Land | 31.6 sq mi (81.9 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 636 ft (194 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 6,088 |
| - Density | 175.2/sq mi (67.6/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07830 - Califon |
| Area code(s) | 908 |
| FIPS code | 34-72510[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882190[4] |
| Website: http://www.tewksburytwp.net | |
Tewksbury Township is a Township located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey and is located within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 5,541. Like Tewksbury, Massachusetts, the township is named after Tewkesbury, England.[citation needed]
Tewksbury Township was first mentioned as holding a township meeting on March 11, 1755, as having been formed partly from the now-defunct Lebanon Township, though the exact circumstances of its formation by charter are unknown. Tewksbury was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township have been take to form Califon borough (April 2, 1898). Portions of the township were acquired from Readington Township in 1832 and 1861, and portions were transferred to Clinton Township in 1871 and 1891.[5]
The original settlers were of English extraction. However, a large German contingent settled in the area around 1749 and theirs became the strongest influence when Tewksbury became a township. The enclave of Oldwick, with a charming mixture of Victorian, Federal, New England and Georgian style homes is protected by historic legislation. Zion Lutheran Church in Oldwick (formerly New Germantown) is the oldest German Lutheran parish in New Jersey.[6]
Oldwick is also home to the Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center, a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) Premier Accredited Center for Therapeutic horseback riding.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.6 square miles (82.0 km²), of which, 31.6 square miles (81.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.06%) is water.
Tewksbury Township borders Readington Township, Clinton Township, Lebanon Township, and Califon Borough. Tewksbury Township also borders Morris County and Somerset County.
The township also includes the communities of Pottersville, Cokesbury and Mountainville.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,119 |
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| 1940 | 1,200 | 7.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,439 | 19.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,908 | 32.6% | |
| 1970 | 2,959 | 55.1% | |
| 1980 | 4,094 | 38.4% | |
| 1990 | 4,803 | 17.3% | |
| 2000 | 5,541 | 15.4% | |
| Est. 2006 | 6,088 | [2] | 9.9% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[7] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 5,541 people, 1,986 households, and 1,662 families residing in the township. The population density was 175.2 people per square mile (67.6/km²). There were 2,052 housing units at an average density of 64.9/sq mi (25.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.82% White, 0.52% African American, 1.88% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.
According to an independent study conducted on the town, 65% of the population are practicing Roman Catholics, 5% practices Judaism, and 30% come from various Protestant sects.[citation needed]
According to the same study mentioned above, the four largest ethnicities in Tewksbury Township are Italian-Americans (26%), German-Americans (20%), Anglo-Americans (19%), and Irish-Americans (15%).[citation needed]
There were 1,986 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.2% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 12.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 33.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $135,649, and the median income for a family was $150,189. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $57,500 for females. The per capita income for the township was $65,470. About 1.6% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Tewksbury Township is governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[8] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
The members of the Tewksbury Township Committee are Mayor William Voyce, Deputy Mayor William Mennen, Louis DiMare, Robert Hoffman and Shaun C. Van Doren.[9]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Tewksbury Township is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th Legislative District.[10]
New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District, covering portions of Hunterdon County, Middlesex County, Somerset County and Union County, is represented by Mike Ferguson (R). 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 24th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Steve Oroho (R, Franklin) and in the Assembly by Gary R. Chiusano (R, Augusta) and Alison Littell McHose (R, Franklin).[11] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[12]
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).[13]
[edit] Education
The Tewksbury Township Schools is a K - 8 public school district, which operates two schools serving 747 students. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[14]) are Tewksbury Elementary School for grades K - 4 (429 students) and Old Turnpike School for prekindergarten and grades 5 - 8 (324 students). The original elementary school, Sawmill, opened in 1951 and has subsequently been sold.
Public school students in grades 9 through 12 attend Voorhees High School in Glen Gardner as part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District. Voorhees High School serves students from Califon Borough (67 students), Glen Gardner Borough (75 students), Hampton Borough (87 students), High Bridge Borough (217 students), Lebanon Township (404 students) and Tewksbury Township (235 students).[15]
[edit] Transportation
Interstate 78 passes through the Township, and is accessible via Oldwick Road (County Route 523) at Exit 24. County Route 517 also passes through the Township.
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Tewksbury Township include:
- John Amos (1939-), actor
- Pat Calpin - bassist of the ska band Catch 22
- Eileen Ford (1922-), founder of Ford Models.[16]
- Kamine family - Owners of Olympic horse Royal Kaliber
- Charlie Murphy (1959-), Actor and Comedian
- Pat Pacillo (1963-), former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Tewksbury, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Tewksbury township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 6, 2007
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 154
- ^ Hunterdon County webpage for Tewksbury Township, accessed March 21, 2007
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 110.
- ^ Township of Tewksbury Elected Officials, Tewksbury Township. Accessed June 4, 2008.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 65. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders, accessed February 22, 2008.
- ^ Data for the Tewksbury Township Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 4, 2008.
- ^ Voorhees High School 2007 Report Card Narratives, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 4, 2008. "Voorhees High School has consistently ranked among the top high schools in the state. With an enrollment of 1200 students in grades 9-12, the school serves the communities of Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township, and Tewksbury Township."
- ^ Speers, W. "MODEL-AGENCY FORDS LOSE N. JERSEY HOME TO FIRE", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 4, 1993. Accessed March 29, 2008. "The fab North Jersey home of Gerard and Eileen Ford, owners of the fashion industy's most prestigious modeling agency, was pretty much totaled by fire Tuesday night. Nobody was hurt but a fire official said the Tewksbury Township home was 90 percent destroyed."
[edit] External links
- Tewksbury Township website
- Hunterdon County webpage for Tewksbury Township
- Tewksbury Township Schools
- Tewksbury Township Schools's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Tewksbury Township Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
- North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District
- Tewksbury Rescue Squad - STATION 24
- Tewksbury Open Records website (not Town sponsored)
- Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance
- Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center
- Tewksbury 5 Miler
- Tewksbury Township, New Jersey is at coordinates Coordinates:
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