Rockaway Township, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rockaway Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, USA. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 22,930.
A large part of the township consists of Picatinny Arsenal, a United States Army base, used mainly for the development of new weapons technologies, especially concerning anti-terrorism.
Lake Telemark (2000 Census population of 1,202) and White Meadow Lake (9,052) are census-designated places and unincorporated areas located within Rockaway Township.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 119.1 km² (46.0 mi²). 110.9 km² (42.8 mi²) of it is land and 8.2 km² (3.2 mi²) of it (6.89%) is water.
Rockaway Township and its sister town, Rockaway Borough, and the area around the two towns are home to some scenic areas. These areas include lakes, rivers, and expansive ranges of mountains, covered with trees and wildlife. The township is home of the Farny State Park, Wildcat Ridge NWR, and Mount Hope Historical Park.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 22,930 people, 8,108 households, and 6,380 families residing in the township. The population density was 206.8/km² (535.5/mi²). There were 8,506 housing units at an average density of 76.7/km² (198.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 88.86% White, 2.46% African American, 0.10% Native American, 5.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.60% from other races, and 1.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.28% of the population.
There were 8,108 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.5% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 17.0% 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 2.82 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $80,939, and the median income for a family was $89,281. Males had a median income of $58,027 versus $40,038 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,184. About 1.4% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Rockaway Township is governed under the Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) system of municipal government.
The Mayor of Rockaway Township is Louis S. Sceusi.[1]
The Rockaway Township Council consists of nine members, with three elected at-large and six elected from wards. Members of the Township Council for 2006 are:[2]
- Joseph O'Connor, Council-At-Large
- William Schievella, Council-At-Large
- John DiMaria, Jr., Council-At-Large
- Michael Dachisen, Ward 1
- John J. Quinn, Ward 2
- Paul Minenna, Ward 3
- Alexander Gellman, Ward 4
- David Press, Ward 5
- Stephen Antonelli, Ward 6
[edit] Federal, state, and county representation
Rockaway Township is in the Eleventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 25th Legislative District.[3]
New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District, covering western portions of Essex County, all of Morris County, and sections of Passaic County, Somerset County and Sussex County, is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen (R, Harding Township). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Robert Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 25th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Anthony Bucco (R, Denville) and in the Assembly by Michael Patrick Carroll (R, Morristown) and Richard A. Merkt (R, Randolph). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Morris County's Freeholders are: Margaret Nordstrom (Freeholder Director), John Inglesino (Freeholder Deputy Director), Douglas R. Cabana, Frank J. Druetzler, Cecilia G. Laureys John J. Murphy and Jack Schrier.
[edit] Education
The Rockaway Township Public Schools are made up of five elementary schools and one middle school. The schools serving students in Kindergarten through 5th grades are Birchwood, Catherine A. Dwyer, Dennis B. O'Brien, Katherine D. Malone and Stony Brook. Copeland Middle School serves grades 6 through 8.
Students in grades 9 - 12 attend Morris Hills High School in Rockaway Borough or Morris Knolls High School in Denville Township, depending where in the township they live. The high schools are part of the Morris Hills Regional High School District, which also serves the residential communities of Rockaway Borough and Wharton.
[edit] Transportation
- Route 15, U.S. Route 46 and Interstate 80 all pass through the township.
[edit] Points of interest
- Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility.
- Rockaway Townsquare Mall, which currently has a gross leasable area of 1,250,000 ft²,[4] has recently begun a significant expansion project. An AMC 16-screen movie theater has recently been built along with stores such as, Target, Pier 1 Imports, Dick's Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Borders Books, Olive Garden, Cold Stone Creamery, Panera Bread, and a Wal-Mart. Other plans include the renovation of the outer mall's buildings' facades, construction of new wing of the main mall complex, and new stores within the mall itself, but those plans have not been finalized.
[edit] Trivia
- The 2003 American independent film, The Station Agent, was partially filmed at various locations in the northern part of the township.
[edit] References
- ^ Office of the Mayor, accessed July 13, 2006
- ^ Council Members, accessed July 13, 2006
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 63, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ International Council of Shopping Centers: Rockaway Townsquare Mall, accessed September 21, 2006
[edit] External links
- Rockaway Township website
- Rockaway Township Public Schools
- Abandoned Mines of Rockaway Township & the NJ Highlands
- Rockaway Township Public Schools's 2004-2005 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Rockaway Township Public Schools
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(County Seat: Morristown) |
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| Boroughs |
Butler | Chatham | Chester | Florham Park | Kinnelon | Lincoln Park | Madison | Mendham | Morris Plains | Mount Arlington | Mountain Lakes | Netcong | Rockaway | Riverdale | Victory Gardens | Wharton |
 |
| Towns | Boonton | Dover | Morristown | |
| Townships | Boonton | Chatham | Chester | Denville | East Hanover | Hanover | Harding | Jefferson | Long Hill | Mendham | Mine Hill | Montville | Mount Olive | Morris | Parsippany-Troy Hills | Pequannock | Randolph | Rockaway | Roxbury | Washington | |
| CDPs and other Communities | Budd Lake | Cedar Knolls | Cedar Lake | Convent Station | Flanders | Green Village | Lake Swannanoa | Landing | Lake Telemark | Long Valley | New Vernon | Port Morris | Stirling | Succasunna-Kenvil | Towaco | Whippany | White Meadow Lake | |
