Chester Township, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- See also Chester Borough, New Jersey
| Chester, New Jersey | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Morris |
| Incorporated | |
| Government | |
| - Type | Faulkner Act (Small Municipality) |
| - Mayor | William A. Cogger |
| Area April 1, 1799 | |
| - Total | 29.3 sq mi (76.0 km²) |
| - Land | 29.3 sq mi (76.0 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation [1] | 712 ft (217 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 7,890 |
| - Density | 248.3/sq mi (95.9/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07930 |
| Area code(s) | 908 |
| FIPS code | 34-12610[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882199[4] |
Chester Township is a township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 7,282.
Chester Township was established by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 1, 1799 from portions of both Roxbury Township and Washington Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. Additional territories were acquired from Randolph Township (in 1806) and Washington Township (1840 and 1853). Portions of the township were taken on April 3, 1930 to form Chester Borough, a separate municipality surrounded entirely by Chester Township.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 29.3 square miles (76.0 km²), of which 0.03% is water.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,453 |
|
|
| 1940 | 874 | * | -39.8% |
| 1950 | 1,297 | 48.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,107 | 62.5% | |
| 1970 | 4,265 | 102.4% | |
| 1980 | 5,198 | 21.9% | |
| 1990 | 5,958 | 14.6% | |
| 2000 | 7,282 | 22.2% | |
| Est. 2006 | 7,890 | [2] | 8.3% |
| * lost territory Population 1930 - 1990.[6] |
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As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 7,282 people, 2,323 households, and 2,014 families residing in the township. The population density was 248.3 people per square mile (95.9/km²). There were 2,377 housing units at an average density of 81.1/sq mi (31.3/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.12% white, 1.15% African American, 0.01% Native American, 2.39% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.58% of the population.
Of the 2,323 households, 46.0% feature children under the age of 18, 79.6% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.3% were non-families. 10.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the township the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $117,298, and the median income for a family was $133,586. Males had a median income of $91,841 versus $52,076 for females. The per capita income for the township was $55,353. About 2.4% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
In 1958, Chester Township changed its form of government from the Township Form to a Faulkner Act form, Small Municipality, Plan C. Its structure includes four Councilmembers and a Mayor, all elected at large (not from wards) for three-year terms.
The candidates run on a partisan basis at regular primary and general election times. Independent candidates, having declared their intentions at primary time, run only in the general election.
Plan C is a "strong mayor" form in which the Mayor, as chief executive, is responsible for all administrative functions. The Mayor presides at Council meetings, voting and participating as a member of the Council. He appoints, with Council approval, the following: Tax Assessor, Tax Collector, Clerk, Administrator, Treasurer, Zoning Officer, Construction Official, Court Administrator, Road Superintendent, Attorney, and Engineer. The Mayor is responsible for the budget, enforcing the charter (State law) and all ordinances (local laws), and the preparation of an annual report for the Council and residents.
The Council has legislative and policy-making power. It elects a Council President annually to preside in the Mayor's absence. The Mayor appoints the chairman and members of each committee, which are Finance and Insurance, Police, Public Works, and Construction Office. Councilmembers also serve as liaisons to the Recreation Committee, Parks Advisory Committee, Cable TV Committee, and Board of Health. The Mayor and one councilman are members of the Planning Board.
As of 2008, the members of the Chester Township Committee are Mayor William A. Cogger, Joan Fischer, Brian Murphy, Karen Powell and Leonard Taylor.[7]
[edit] Merger discussion with Chester Borough
In 2007, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine created incentives for small towns of less than 10,000 inhabitants to combine with other cities. The goal was to reduce the overall cost of government and thereby offer some tax relief. "New Jersey has 21 counties, 566 municipalities and 616 school districts, and property taxes average $6,800 per homeowner, or twice the national average." [8]
Chester Borough was carved out of Chester Township in 1930 in an effort to control a water utility. Now that the two towns share a single water supply, that issue is moot. Governor Corzine's plan to reduce or eliminate state aid now has residents are considering recombining towns. While the towns share schools, fire departments, and other municipal services, some residents are concerned about the unknown costs of a merger.[8]
The two mayors have publicly endorsed a cost/benefit analysis of a merger. Two past efforts failed so the towns are taking a slow and deliberate approach to determine the savings, if any.[8]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Chester Township is in the Eleventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th Legislative District.[9]
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 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).[10] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[11]
Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two or three seats up for election each year.[12] As of 2008, Morris County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Margaret Nordstrom, Deputy Freeholder Director Gene F. Feyl, Douglas R. Cabana, William J. Chegwidden, John J. Murphy, James W. Murray and Jack J. Schrier.[13]
[edit] Education
Students in grades K-8 attend the Chester Township Public School District, together with children from Chester Borough. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[14]) are Dickerson Elementary School (K-2, 469 students), Bragg Intermediate School (3-5, 463 students), and Black River Middle School (6-8, 445 students). Dickerson and Bragg Schools are located on Route 24, east of Chester Borough; Black River Middle School is on County Route 513 (North Road), north of Chester Borough.
Public school students in grades 9-12 attend West Morris Mendham High School, which is located in Mendham Borough and is part of the West Morris Regional High School District. Students in the district come from the surrounding Morris County school districts of Chester Borough, Chester Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township and from Washington Township.[15]
[edit] Transportation
New Jersey Transit local bus service is provided on the MCM4 and MCM5 routes.[16]
[edit] Local recreation and environment
Of the township’s 29.8 square miles (77 km²), 42 percent, or about 12 square miles (31 km²), is permanently protected from development. There are nature reserves and parkland, but also agricultural property that is deed restricted under the state Farmland Preservation Program, which buys the development rights while allowing the farmer to retain title and continue working the land.[17]
Chester has been described as a rural environment that caters to "agritourism." The township has developed this reputation by preserving farmland through public investment in open spaces. [17]
The townships parks are preserves are free and open to the public. A partial list includes:
- Chubb Park: an 85 acre area with playing fields, skating, ponds, and sledding. [18]
- Tiger Brook Park: Purchased with the assistance of the New Jersey Green Acres Program in 1980, this 270-acre (1.1 km²) preserve contains a ten acre reservoir. [18]
- Hacklebarney State Park: This 890-acre (3.6 km²) park was established in 1924 with the donation of 32 acres. The Black River, which bisects the park, is one of the premier trout fishing streams in New Jersey. [18]
- Black River Fish and Wildlife Management Area: This area consists of 3,020 acres (12.2 km²) in the northern portion of the Township. It was purchased under the Green Acres Acquisition Program for recreational activities, including fishing, hunting, canoing, cross-country skiing and hiking.[17]
Development is highly constrained due to state and town ordinance. Over 80% of the town falls into the New Jersey Highlands. This environmentally sensitive area supplies drinking water to two-thirds of the state’s residents. In 2004, the state passed the Highlands Preservation Act to limit development. In 2005, 27 new homes were built and only 16 in 2006. [17]
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Chester Township include:
- Jim Breuer (1967-), comedian.[19]
- Alex Buzbee (1985-), Defensive End for the Washington Redskins of the NFL.[20]
[edit] References
- ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Chester, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Chester township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 21, 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. 192.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Township Directory, Chester Township. Accessed February 28, 2008.
- ^ a b c Van Dyke, Meghan (2008). The Chesters look at forming one community. The Daily Record. Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. 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.
- ^ What is a Freeholder?, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed February 6, 2008.
- ^ Meet the Freeholders, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed February 6, 2008.
- ^ Data for the Chester Township Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 28, 2008.
- ^ West Morris Regional High School District 2006 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed January 30, 2008. "Established in 1958, the West Morris Regional High School District operates two schools, West Morris Central High School and West Morris Mendham High School. The district serves the students of five Morris County communities, Chester Borough, Chester Township, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township and Washington Township, in grades 9 through 12. Students from Washington Township attend West Morris Central High School, and students from the Chesters and the Mendhams attend West Morris Mendham High School."
- ^ Morris County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed June 21, 2007.
- ^ a b c d Cheslow, Jerry (2007). Don’t Count on Running Into the Neighbors. New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ a b c Chester Township Parks. Chester Township, NJ (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ Keller, Joel. "IN PERSON; Mr. Breuer's Neighborhood", The New York Times, October 16, 2005. Accessed February 28, 2008.
- ^ Former Hoya Football Standout Alex Buzbee Signs with Washington Redskins, CSTV, May 15, 2007. Accessed October 14, 2007. "Like most college seniors, Georgetown University senior Alex Buzbee (Chester, N.J./Seton Hall Prep) went through a series of job interviews."
[edit] External links
- Chester Township website
- Chester Township Public School District
- Chester Township Public School District's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Chester Township Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics
- West Morris Regional High School District
- West Morris Central High School
- West Morris Mendham High School
- Daily Record, area newspaper
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