Mount Olive Township, New Jersey

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Mount Olive, New Jersey
Mount Olive Township highlighted in Morris County. Inset map: Morris County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Mount Olive Township highlighted in Morris County. Inset map: Morris County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Coordinates: 40°51′52″N 74°43′54″W / 40.86444, -74.73167
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Morris
Incorporated March 22, 1871
Government
 - Type Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
 - Mayor David Scappicchio
Area
 - Total 31.1 sq mi (80.4 km²)
 - Land 30.4 sq mi (78.6 km²)
 - Water 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km²)
Elevation [1] 1,086 ft (331 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 26,065
 - Density 797.0/sq mi (307.7/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07828
Area code(s) 973
FIPS code 34-49080[3]
GNIS feature ID 0882197[4]
Website: http://www.mountolivetownship.com

Mount Olive Township is a Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 24,193.

The Township of Mount Olive was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1871 from portions of Roxbury Township.[5][6] Netcong was formed from portions of the township on October 23, 1894.[5]

Budd Lake (2000 Census population of 8,100) is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Mount Olive Township. Flanders is an unincorporated area within the Township.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 80.432 (80.4) km² (31.1 sq mi). 30.4 square miles (78.6 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (2.25%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1930 1,235
—
1940 1,526 23.6%
1950 2,597 70.2%
1960 3,807 46.6%
1970 10,394 173.0%
1980 18,748 80.4%
1990 21,282 13.5%
2000 24,193 13.7%
Est. 2006 26,065 [2] 7.7%
Population 1930 - 1990.[7]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 24,193 people, 9,068 households, and 6,374 families residing in the township. The population density was 797.0 people per square mile (307.8/km²). There were 9,311 housing units at an average density of 306.7/sq mi (118.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.69% White, 3.79% African American, 0.17% Native American, 6.00% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.53% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.97% of the population.

There were 9,068 households out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the township the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 37.6% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $64,515, and the median income for a family was $75,189. Males had a median income of $50,653 versus $35,882 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,691. About 1.7% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

Starting from its inception in 1871, Mount Olive was governed under the Township form of municipal government, by a three-person Township Committee. In 1968, the Township Committee was expanded to five members. On January 1, 1972, the voters in the Township approved a change to a Mayor-Council form of government, which would be governed by a directly elected mayor and a seven-member Township Council elected on an at-large basis. The mayor would operate the government with the assistance of a Township Administrator, with the Council performing a legislative role.[6]

[edit] Local government

Mount Olive Township is governed under the Optional Municipal Charter Law's (Faulkner Act) Mayor-Council Form of government, a "Strong Mayor" Form of government, providing for a separately elected mayor and council, who serve for four-year terms of office.[8] The mayor, who is elected directly by the people, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Township. The Mayor is responsible for carrying out all Council decisions and for the day to day operation of all functions of the municipality.

The Township Council consists of seven members elected at large with staggered terms. The Township Council is the legislative branch of the government charged with approving the municipal budget and enacting the ordinances (laws) of the municipality. The Township Council President presides over all meetings of the governing body. The Council elects the Council President from amongst its members each year at a reorganization meeting.[9]

As of 2008, the Mayor of Mount Olive Township is David Scappicchio, who was elected on November 7, 2006, as part of an election in which the former mayor Richard DeLaRoche was recalled. Scappicchio's term of office ends December 31, 2011.[10] Scappicchio's term of office ends on December 31, 2007. Members of the Township Council are Council President Ray Perkins (2009), Council Vice President Phil Tobey (2011), Rob Greenbaum (2009), Colleen Labow (2011), Steven Rattner (2009), Alex Roman (2011) and Russ Tepper (2009).[11]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Mount Olive Township is in the Eleventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th Legislative District.[12]

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).[13] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[14]

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.[15] 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.[16]

[edit] Education

The Mount Olive Township School District serves nearly 5,000 public school students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics.[17]) are four elementary schools serving grades K-5 (except as noted) — Chester M. Stephens Elementary School (PreK-5, 609 students), Mountain View School (675 students), Sandshore School (515 students) and Tinc Road School (582 students) — Mount Olive Middle School for grades 6-8 (1,172 students) and Mount Olive High School for grades 9-12 (1,377 students).

[edit] Public Library

The Mt. Olive Public Library serves the informational, educational, cultural, and recreational resource of the township. It is the objective of the Library to serve the community with programs, books and other media in manner that is cordial, efficient and equitable.

The Mount Olive Township Library Association was incorporated in 1976. In 1979, a major addition was added to the original octagon. In 1985, the township held a referendum with voters overwhelmingly in favor of municipalization. The Library officially became a municipal Library in 1986. In 1991, a second addition was added to include an administrative area and the periodical/reading room. In January 2005 the residents of Mt. Olive entered the new library which was built on Flanders-Drakestown Road.

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Mount Olive Township include:

[edit] References

  1. ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Mount Olive, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Census data for Mount Olive township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 10, 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. ^ a b "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 195.
  6. ^ a b The History of Mt. Olive, Mount Olive Township. Accessed July 17, 2006.
  7. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  8. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 110.
  9. ^ Mount Olive Township Form of Government, Mount Olive Township. Accessed July 17, 2006.
  10. ^ Ex-councilman sworn in as new Mt. Olive mayor: Scapicchio urges town to move forward, Daily Record (Morristown), November 9, 2006.
  11. ^ Mount Olive Township Officials, Mount Olive Township. Accessed February 29, 2008.
  12. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 61. Accessed August 30, 2006.
  13. ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  14. ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
  15. ^ What is a Freeholder?, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed February 6, 2008.
  16. ^ Meet the Freeholders, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed February 6, 2008.
  17. ^ . Accessed February 29, 2008.
  18. ^ Joshua S. Salmon biography, United States Congress. Accessed August 11, 2007.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
Morris County, New Jersey
County seat: Morristown
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