Vernon Township, New Jersey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vernon, New Jersey
Map of Vernon Township.
Map of Vernon Township.
Coordinates: 41°11′41″N 74°29′36″W / 41.19472, -74.49333
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Sussex
Established April 8, 1793
Incorporated February 21, 1798
Government
 - Type Faulkner Act (Council-Manager)
 - Mayor Austin Carew
 - Manager Melinda Carlton
Area
 - Total 70.5 sq mi (182.7 km²)
 - Land 68.4 sq mi (177.1 km²)
 - Water 2.1 sq mi (5.5 km²)
Elevation [1] 446 ft (136 m)
Population (2006)[2]
 - Total 25,453
 - Density 360.9/sq mi (139.4/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07462
Area code(s) 973
FIPS code 34-75740[3]
GNIS feature ID 0882258[4]
Website: http://www.vernontwp.com

Vernon Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey. It is located about one hour drive from New York City and is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 24,686, making it the largest township in the county by population.

Vernon is home to ski resort and water park, Mountain Creek (formerly Great Gorge and Vernon Valley), the Hidden Valley ski resort, as well as Crystal Springs Resort's Minerals Hotel and Elements Spa. The Great Gorge Playboy Club was located in the Vernon community of McAfee, but was sold and turned into a hotel, now called the Legends Hotel and Resort.

Contents

[edit] History

The independent township of Vernon was established on April 8, 1793, from portions of Hardyston Township, and the township was formally incorporated on February 21, 1798.[5] The 68 square miles which marked the town's borders over 200 years ago have not changed since. However, the population of Vernon, which was a mere 1,548 people as recently as 1950, has steadily grown since the 1960s, when the ski industry was introduced to the area. Additional growth has come as home prices have soared in the near suburbs of New York City and property buyers seek the better values available from real estate developments in the area.

Iron mining in the town of Vernon was prevalent during the mid to late 1800s. Mines such as the Canistear Mine, Williams Mine, and the Pochuk Mine created industry which spawned local businesses, and brought rail travel to the town.

It is not known how Vernon Township got its name, but author Ronald J. Dupont, Jr., posits that the township could have been named after:

  • Admiral Edward Vernon. Dupont writes that this is very possible because of two things: 1) the township was created in 1792, the year that George Washington was reelected as President, and 2) because Vernon Township's first Masonic Lodge in 1820 was named Mount Vernon (Washington was also a Freemason during his life), likely after Washington's Virginia residence. The residence, in turn, got its name because Washington's brother Lawrence Washington served with Admiral Vernon.[6]
  • A family named Vernon. Not likely, Dupont says, although he notes that a Nathaniel Vernon was a licensed tavernkeeper in Sussex County in 1756. However, the tavern was likely elsewhere, and not in what is now present-day Vernon.[6]
  • The Latin root "Vernus." One form of "vernus" is "vernal," as in vernal equinox ("spring"), and so Vernon "had connotations of spring: green, lush, fresh, fertile, etc., and hence was an attractive name for a place."[6]

Dupont, Jr., writes of an interesting sidebar. In the late 1800s two places named Vernon existed -- the one in Sussex County and another in Essex County. When the Essex County village got a post office, they found out that another Vernon existed, and so they eventually named the town Verona.[7]

[edit] Geography

Rolling hills of Vernon.
Rolling hills of Vernon.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 70.5 square miles (182.7 km²)(42% of which are federal or state preserved property - property dedicated to the preservation of open space, natural resources, and wildlife habitat). 68.4 square miles (177.1 km²) of it is land and 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²) of it (3.03%) is water.

Highland Lake and Vernon Valley are census-designated places and unincorporated areas located within Vernon Township.

Vernon is bordered by Hardyston and Wantage Township, all of which are within Sussex County. Vernon borders Orange County, New York with the Town of Warwick. Vernon also shares a border with Passaic County with West Milford Township.

Elevation varies greatly due to the valleys, rolling hills, and mountains. The United States Geological Survey places Glenwood at 580 feet, McAfee at 435 feet, and Highland Lakes at 1260 feet.

[edit] Communities and neighborhoods

Communities and neighborhoods in Vernon Township include the following sections:

Glenwood and McAfee exist in the Western portion of the township, McAfee to the South and Glenwood to the North. Highland Lakes is in the Eastern portion of the township. Pleasant Valley Lake is in the South West portion of the township. Four of these sections have a post office. Vernon also has many developments.

Vernon is home to many lake communities, including Highland Lakes, Barry Lakes, Cliffwood Lake, High Breeze, Lake Conway, Lake Wanda, Laurel Lake, Lake Wildwood,, Lake Panorama, Lake Pochung, Lake Wallkill, Pleasant Valley Lake, Scenic Lakes, and Vernon Valley Lake.

Other name places are Owens, Glenwood, De Kays, Prices Switch, Maple Grange, Independence Corners, Sand Hills, Waywayanda, Vernon, Cherry Ridge, and the lost village of Canistear (now under the Canistear Reservoir). Portions of the township are owned by the City of Newark, Essex County, for their Pequannock River Watershed, which provides water to the city.

[edit] Transportation

Roadways passing through Vernon Township include Route 94, County Route 515, County Route 517 and County Route 565. County Route 644 and County Route 641 also pass through the township. The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway passes through Vernon, but only freight service is offered.

Vernon is the site of a wrong-way concurrency at the intersection of NJ 94 and CR 517 in McAfee.

[edit] Emergency Services

Vernon Township is serviced by the Vernon Police Department, Two ambulance squads and four fire depts.Vernon Fire Dept covers a good region of "the Valley", Highland Lakes Fire Dept. covers "the mountain", Mc Afee Fire Dept covers the Pleasant Valley Lake area, And Pochuck Valley covers most of the Glenwood section.The Vernon Township Ambulance Squad is split amongst two buildings "the Mountain" and "the Valley" respectively. The Glenwood section is partially covered by the Glenwood Pochuck Volunteer Ambulance Corp. Other than the Police Department, the rest of the emergency services are made up of volunteers.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1930 1,279
—
1940 1,407 10%
1950 1,548 10%
1960 2,155 39.2%
1970 6,059 181.2%
1980 16,302 169.1%
1990 21,211 30.1%
2000 24,686 16.4%
Est. 2006 25,453 [2] 3.1%
Population 1930 - 1990.[8]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 24,686 people, 8,368 households, and 6,610 families residing in the township. The population density was 360.9 people per square mile (139.4/km²). There were 9,994 housing units at an average density of 146.1/sq mi (56.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.56% White, 0.76% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.60% of the population.

There were 8,368 households out of which 45.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.35.

Route 94 going north near Minerals Hotel
Route 94 going north near Minerals Hotel

In the township the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $67,566, and the median income for a family was $72,609. Males had a median income of $50,084 versus $33,292 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,250. About 2.8% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Pursuant to Article I, Section 5-1 of the Township's Code, Vernon Township is governed under the Council-Manager plan of the New Jersey Optional Municipal Charter Law, more commonly known as the Faulkner Act.

Members of the Vernon Township Council are Mayor Austin Carew, Deputy Mayor Glenn McLaughlin, Neil Desmond, James Oroho, and Richard Carson.[9] The Township Manager is Melinda Carlton.[10]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Vernon Township is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th 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 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).[12] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[13]

Sussex County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. As of 2008, members of the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders are Freeholder Director Harold J. Wirths (R, term ends December 31, 2010; Wantage Township), Deputy Director Glen Vetrano (R, 2009; Hampton Township), Phillip R. Crabb (R, 2008; Franklin), Jeffrey M. Parrott (R, 2010; Wantage Township) and Susan M. Zellman (R, 2009; Stanhope).[14]

[edit] Politics

There are 14,249 registered voters in Vernon. Of registered voters, 77.1% turned out to cast ballots in the 2004 Presidential election. On the national level, Vernon Township voters lean strongly toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 62% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received around 36%.[15]

[edit] Education

The Vernon Township School District serves students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[16]) are Walnut Ridge Primary School (grades K-1, 651 students), Cedar Mountain Primary School (grades 2-4, 446 students), Rolling Hills Primary School (grades 2-4, 571 students), Lounsberry Hollow Middle School (grades 5&6, 786 students), Glen Meadow Middle School (grades 7&8, 1,009 students) and Vernon Township High School (grades 9-12, 1,724 students). New Jersey Teacher of the Year 2004-2005, Peggy Stewart, teaches at Vernon Township High School (VTHS).[17]

[edit] Corporate residents

The primary satellite uplink earth terminal facility for Sirius Satellite Radio is located in Vernon, as is the Vernon Valley uplink facility for SES Americom.

[edit] Places of interest

[edit] Attractions

[edit] Hotels

A slanted view of Minerals Hotel
A slanted view of Minerals Hotel

[edit] Churches

Churches in Vernon Township include Glenwood Baptist Church, Christ Community Church, Holy Counselar Lutheran Church, Hope Evangelical Free Church, McAfee Bible Church, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Vernon United Methodist Church, Faith with Love Fellowship Church and St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church.

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Vernon Township include:

[edit] References

  1. ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Vernon, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
  2. ^ a b Census data for Vernon township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 1, 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. 232.
  6. ^ a b c Dupont, Jr., Ronald J. Vernon 200--A Bicentennial History of the Township of Vernon, New Jersey: 1792-1992. (The Friends of the Dorothy E. Henry Library, McAfee, NJ, 1992) pg. 53
  7. ^ Verona New Jersey Historical Photographs and History, First Baptist Church of Bloomfield. Accessed June 13, 2006.
  8. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  9. ^ Council Members, Vernon Township. Accessed February 12, 2008.
  10. ^ Office of the Township Manager, Vernon Township. Accessed March 4, 2008.
  11. ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 65, 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. ^ Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed February 15, 2008.
  15. ^ 2004 Presidential Election results: Sussex County, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Elections, dated December 13, 2004.
  16. ^ Data for the Vernon Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 4, 2008.
  17. ^ Sussex County Educator Named 2004-05 New Jersey Teacher of the Year, New Jersey Department of Education press release dated October 6, 2004. Accessed March 4, 2008.
  18. ^ Lockwood, Jim. "Super snowboarder lands back in Jersey", The Star-Ledger, February 17, 2007. Accessed August 2, 2007. "Kass, 24, formerly of Vernon, is one of the bad boy pioneers of gravity-defying leaps and spins who have helped transform snowboarding from slopeside annoyance to mainstream popularity."
  19. ^ John Winans biography, United States Congress. Accessed August 2, 2007.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Sussex County, New Jersey
County seat: Newton
Boroughs
Map of New Jersey highlighting Sussex County
Town
Townships
CDPs
Unincorporated
communities