| Lafayette Township, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Map of Lafayette Township in Sussex County. Inset: Location of Sussex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Lafayette Township, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Sussex |
| Incorporated | April 14, 1845 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | George Sweeney (2011) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 18.1 sq mi (46.8 km2) |
| • Land | 18.0 sq mi (46.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation[1] | 581 ft (177 m) |
| Population (2008)[2] | |
| • Total | 2,466 |
| • Density | 127.6/sq mi (49.3/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07848 |
| Area code(s) | 973 |
| FIPS code | 34-37440[3][4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882260[5] |
| Website | http://www.lafayettetwp.org |
Lafayette Township is a Township located in the Skylands Region of Sussex County, New Jersey. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 2,300.
Lafayette was formed as a Township based on an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 14, 1845, from part of Frankford Township and Newton Township, based on the results of a referendum held that same day.[6] The Township was named after the Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), the French general and statesman who served in the Continental Army (1777–81) during the American Revolutionary War.[7]
It is crossed by Route 15 and Route 94.
Contents |
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 18.1 square miles (47 km2), of which, 18.0 square miles (47 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.17%) is water.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 735 |
|
|
| 1940 | 803 | 9.3% | |
| 1950 | 836 | 4.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,100 | 31.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,202 | 9.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,614 | 34.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,902 | 17.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,300 | 20.9% | |
| Est. 2008 | 2,466 | [2] | 7.2% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[8] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 2,300 people, 771 households, and 647 families residing in the township. The population density was 127.6 people per square mile (49.3/km2). There were 799 housing units at an average density of 44.3 per square mile (17.1/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 97.04% White, 1.04% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.
There were 771 households out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.0% were non-families. 12.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% 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 3.20.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $82,805, and the median income for a family was $87,650. Males had a median income of $61,307 versus $38,816 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,491. About 1.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
Lafayette Township is governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[9] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.
As of 2011[update], members of the Lafayette Township Committee are Mayor George Sweeney (term ends December 31, 2011), Deputy Mayor Gregory Corcoran (2011), Richard Bruning (2013), John D’Angeli (2012) and Richard Hughes (2013).[10][11]
Lafayette Township is in the 5th Congressional district. New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is represented by Scott Garrett (R, Wantage Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
Lafayette is in the 24th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Steve Oroho (R, Franklin) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Gary R. Chiusano (R, Augusta) and Alison Littell McHose (R, Franklin).[12]
Sussex County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders whose five members are elected at-large on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. As of 2011, Sussex County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Richard A. Zeoli (R, term ends December 31, 2012; Byram Township)[13], Deputy Director Susan M. Zellman (R, 2012; Stanhope)[14], Phillip R. Crabb (R, 2011; Franklin)[15], Parker Space (R, 2013; Wantage Township)[16] and Richard Vohden (R, 2013; Green Township).[17][18]
As of March 23, 2011, out of a 2010 Census population of 2,538 in Lafayette, there were 1,738 registered voters (68.5% of the population, vs. 65.8% in all of Sussex County). Of registered voters, 228 (13.1% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 781 (44.9% vs. 39.3% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 727 (41.8% vs. 44.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were two voters registered to other parties (one Green and one Libertarian).[19]
On the national level, Lafayette is a stronghold for the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 67% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received 31%.[20] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 67% of the vote here, defeating Democrat Barack Obama, who received 30%.[21] This gives Lafayette Township a Cook PVI of R+20.
Public school students in Kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Lafayette Township School District, which served 290 students as of the 2008-09 school year.[22]
For grades 9 - 12, public school students attend High Point Regional High School, located in Sussex. Attending the school are students from Branchville, Frankford Township, Lafayette Township, Sussex Borough and from Wantage Township.[23]
McCabe, Wayne T. and Kate Gordon. A Penny A View...An Album of Postcard Views...Lafayette, N.J. (Newton, NJ: Historic Preservation Alternatives, 1993).
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||