Fredon Township, New Jersey
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Fredon Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 2,860.
Officially designated in 1904, Fredon Township was formed from parts of Andover, Green, Hampton and Stillwater Townships, making it the youngest township in Sussex County.
According to a February 8, 1976, newspaper article, in 1800, Isaac V. Coursen named the Stillwater Township area "Coursen's Corners" after establishing a post office in his store, but changed the name to Fredon Village before his death in 1855. Stillwater Township's Bicentennial Committee obtained information from the Postmaster General which "states that 'Fredon' is derived from the German word 'fredonia,' meaning place of freedom." [1]
Hampton and Stillwater Townships border Fredon on the northwest. It was along this border, through the Paulinskill Valley, that the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway operated from 1872 until 1962, taking agricultural products to New York City. Today the right-of-way has been developed into the Paulinskill Valley Trail, a non-motorized multi-use trail that is part of the Kittatinny Valley State Park.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 46.5 km² (17.9 mi²). 46.0 km² (17.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (1.06%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 2,860 people, 982 households, and 818 families residing in the township. The population density was 62.2/km² (161.1/mi²). There were 1,019 housing units at an average density of 22.2/km² (57.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.17% White, 0.52% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.56% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.17% of the population.
There were 982 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.5% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.7% were non-families. 13.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $75,710, and the median income for a family was $84,038. Males had a median income of $52,396 versus $34,205 for females. The per capita income for the township was $31,430. About 0.7% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The Township of Fredon operates under the Township form of government. Five Committee Members are elected on an at-large basis. A Mayor and Depity mayor are selected from among its members to serve one-year terms by the Township Committee members at the annual reorganization meeting. Each Committee Member serves a three-year term of office.
Members of the Fredon Township Committee are Mayor John Richardson, Deputy Mayor Sandra Coltelli, James McCracken, Michelina Meola and Annette Seaman.[2]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Fredon Township is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th Legislative District.[3]
New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District, covering the northern portions of Bergen County, Passaic County and Sussex County and all of Warren County, is represented by Scott Garrett (R, Wantage Township). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Robert Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 24th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Robert Littell (R, Franklin) and in the Assembly by Guy R. Gregg (R, Flanders) and Alison Littell McHose (R, Sparta). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Sussex County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Sussex County's Freeholders are Director Gary R. Chiusano (term ends December 31, 2008), Deputy Director Harold J. Wirths (2007), Steven V. Oroho (2007), Glen Vetrano (2006) and Susan M. Zellman (2006).
[edit] Education
Fredon Township School has an enrollment of over 300 students, 53 faculty and staff members and a budget over $3 million per year, serving students in grades K-6. Fredon School was awarded the National Blue Ribbon Award for Academic Excellence in November 2001, the highest level of recognition granted to an American school.[4].
The students of middle and high school age attend Kittatinny Regional High School located in Hampton Township, which serves 1,300 students who reside in Fredon Township, Hampton Township, Sandyston Township, Stillwater Township and Walpack Township. The high school is located in Hampton, about 7 minutes outside of the County seat of Newton.
[edit] References
- ^ Wynne, Ann. "Township beset by changing boundaries," New Jersey Sunday Herald Bicentennial Edition, February 8, 1976.
- ^ Directory of Local Officials and Employees - Township Committee, accessed October 19, 2006
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 57, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), accessed May 11, 2006
[edit] External links
- Fredon Township website
- Fredon Township School
- Fredon Township School's 2004-2005 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National center for Education Statistics data for Fredon Township School
- Kittatinny Regional High School
