Blairstown, New Jersey

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Blairstown, New Jersey
Map of Blairstown Township in Warren County
Map of Blairstown Township in Warren County
Coordinates: 40°58′45″N 74°59′49″W / 40.97917, -74.99694
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Warren
Incorporated April 14, 1845
Government
 - Type Township (New Jersey)
 - Mayor Frank Anderson (2009)
Area
 - Total 31.8 sq mi (82.3 km²)
 - Land 31.0 sq mi (80.3 km²)
 - Water 0.8 sq mi (1.9 km²)
Elevation [1] 502 ft (153 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 5,982
 - Density 185.3/sq mi (71.5/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07825
Area code(s) 908
FIPS code 34-06160[3]
GNIS feature ID 0882317[4]
Website: http://www.blairstown-nj.org/

Blairstown is a Township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 5,747. The township is located in the far eastern region of the Lehigh Valley.

Blairstown Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 14, 1845, from portions of Knowlton Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day.[5]

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.8 square miles (82.3 km²), of which, 31.0 square miles (80.3 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (2.36%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1930 1,416
—
1940 1,449 2.3%
1950 1,571 8.4%
1960 1,797 14.4%
1970 2,189 21.8%
1980 4,360 99.2%
1990 5,331 22.3%
2000 5,747 7.8%
Est. 2006 5,982 [2] 4.1%
Population 1930 - 1990.[6]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 5,747 people, 2,040 households, and 1,638 families residing in the township. The population density was 185.3 people per square mile (71.5/km²). There were 2,136 housing units at an average density of 68.9/sq mi (26.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.17% White, 0.26% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98% of the population.

There were 2,040 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $64,809, and the median income for a family was $71,214. Males had a median income of $51,931 versus $33,646 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,775. About 3.0% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Blairstown has a traditional Township form of government, with a five-member committee. Committee members serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. Each year, the Committee members select one of their fellow members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.[7][8]

The Blairstown Township Committee consists of Mayor Stephen Lance (R, term ends December 31, 2011), Deputy Mayor Sal Lascari (R, 2011), Frank Anderson (R, 2009), Richard Mach (R, 2010), and Bill Seal (R, 2009).[9][10]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Blairstown Township is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District.[11]

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 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).[12] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[13]

Warren County is governed by a three-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. As of 2008, Warren County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director John DiMaio (term ends December 31, 2009), Freeholder Deputy Director Richard D. Gardner (2008) and Freeholder Everett A. Chamberlain (2010).[14]

[edit] Education

Blair Walk, built as part of Blair Academy, crosses over the 17-foot (5.2 m) high dam just off Main Street in Blairstown, perhaps Blairstown's most recognizable point of interest.
Blair Walk, built as part of Blair Academy, crosses over the 17-foot (5.2 m) high dam just off Main Street in Blairstown, perhaps Blairstown's most recognizable point of interest.

Public school students in grades K through 6 attend the Blairstown Elementary School, as part of the Blairstown Township School District. Blairstown Elementary School served 744 students in grades K-6, as of the 2005-06 school year.[15] Students from Hardwick Township, a non-operating school district, attend Blairstown Elementary School as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[16]

Students in grades 7 through 12 for public school attend the North Warren Regional High School (1,044 students) in Blairstown, a public secondary high school, serving students from the townships of Blairstown, Frelinghuysen, Hardwick, and Knowlton.[17]

Children also have the choice of going to the Blair Academy, a private school, for grades 9-12 or Ridge and Valley Charter School, a K-8 charter school focused on Earth literacy and sustainable living.

[edit] Transportation

Interstate 80 and Route 94 pass through the township. Blairstown airport is located southwest of the central business district.

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Blairstown include:

[edit] Popular culture

Now painted a bright blue, historic Roy's Hall is a highlight of Blairstown's Main Street.
Now painted a bright blue, historic Roy's Hall is a highlight of Blairstown's Main Street.

[edit] References

  1. ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Blairstown, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Census data for Blairstown township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 21, 2007.
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 245.
  6. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  7. ^ Township of Blairstown, accessed September 20, 2006.
  8. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 103.
  9. ^ Blairstown Township Committee: Our Elected Officials, accessed May 5, 2008.
  10. ^ Township of Blairstown, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 13, 2007.
  11. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  12. ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  13. ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  14. ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed March 8, 2008.
  15. ^ Data for the Blairstown Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 12, 2008.
  16. ^ Blairstown Elementary School 2007 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 5, 2008. "Students from Blairstown and Hardwick Townships form the nucleus of the student body."
  17. ^ School Profile, North Warren Regional High School. Accessed March 12, 2008. "North Warren Regional is a public secondary school district, serving students in grades 7-12 in the townships of Blairstown, Frelinghuysen, Hardwick, and Knowlton. The district covers 96.8 square miles (251 km²) bordering the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in scenic Warren County."
  18. ^ Bischoff, Dan. "Jersey ceramics, from six different angles", The Star-Ledger, April 9, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2008. "The headliner, as he is almost wherever he shows, is Bennett Bean, here displaying seven pit-fired and gilded ceramic compositions that exude the cool, Modernist, syncopated painted patterning for which he is so well known. Bean, of Blairstown, is no doubt the best-known artist in 'Uncommon Clay,' but his aesthetic does not dominate the show."
  19. ^ Blairstown, Past and Present, Township of Blairstown. Accessed July 13, 2007. "The name of the village was officially changed to Blairstown by a vote of the citizens at a public meeting held Jan. 24, 1939. John I. Blair was only 36 years of age at the time."
  20. ^ "Bergen odd couple ran high-priced hooker ring" http://www.northjersey.com/news/crimeandcourts/Odd_couple_ran_alleged_call-girl_ring.html
  21. ^ Isaac Wildrick, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 1, 2007.
  22. ^ Friday the 13th Filming Locations, accessed November 14, 2006.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
Warren County, New Jersey
County seat: Belvidere
Boroughs
Map of New Jersey highlighting Warren County
Towns
Townships
CDPs
Communities

Coordinates: 40°58′58″N, 74°57′38″W