Washington Township, Morris County, New Jersey

Washington Township, New Jersey
—  Township  —
Washington Township highlighted in Morris County. Inset map: Morris County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Washington Township, Morris County, New Jersey
Coordinates:
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Morris
Incorporated April 2, 1798
Government[1]
 • Type Township (New Jersey)
 • Mayor Kenneth W. Short (term ends 2012)[2]
 • Administrator Dianne Gallets[3]
Area[4]
 • Total 44.86 sq mi (116.2 km2)
 • Land 44.86 sq mi (116.2 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation[5] 1,089 ft (332 m)
Population (2010 Census)[6]
 • Total 18,533
 • Density 413.1/sq mi (159.5/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07853 - Long Valley
Area code(s) 908
FIPS code 34-77240[7][8]
GNIS feature ID 0882198[9]
Website http://www.washtwpmorris.org

Washington Township is a Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 18,533.[6] It's one of six municipalities (five of which are townships) in the state of New Jersey with the name Washington.[10] Washington, New Jersey, in fact is only 10 miles (16 km) away. To add to the confusion, Washington Borough is surrounded by another municipality that is also called Washington Township.

Washington Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1798, from portions of Roxbury Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Chester Township as of April 1, 1799.[11] U.S. Route 46, County Route 513, and County Route 517 pass through town. It is only minutes away from Interstate 80 in the neighboring community of Mount Olive and U.S. Route 206 in Chester.

Long Valley is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Washington Township. The Long Valley section — the heart of the township — was called German Valley when it was first settled in the 18th century by people from Saxony, in Germany.

Schooley's Mountain is an unincorporated community in Washington Township named for the Schooley family, who owned a considerable amount of land there during the 1790s. The Schooleys Mountain section was a famous resort in the 19th century because of its natural springs.[12]

Contents

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 44.86 square miles (116.2 km2), all of it land.[4]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1930 1,615
1940 1,870 15.8%
1950 2,147 14.8%
1960 3,330 55.1%
1970 6,962 109.1%
1980 11,402 63.8%
1990 15,592 36.7%
2000 17,592 12.8%
2010 18,533 5.3%
Population sources:
1930-1990[13] 2000[14] 2010[6][15]

As of the 2010 Census, Washington Township had a population of 18,533. The median age was 43.0. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 93.1% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.3% Asian, 0.7% some other race and 1.5% reporting two or more races. 4.6% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[15]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 17,592 people, 5,755 households, and 4,874 families residing in the township. The population density was 392.1 people per square mile (151.4/km²). There were 5,890 housing units at an average density of 131.3 per square mile (50.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.16% White, 0.83% African American, 0.09% Native American, 1.87% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.21% of the population.[14]

There were 5,755 households out of which 47.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.1% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.3% were non-families. 12.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.31.[14]

In the township the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males.[14]

The median income for a household in the township was $97,763, and the median income for a family was $104,926. Males had a median income of $76,791 versus $41,759 for females. The per capita income for the township was $37,489. About 1.8% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Government

Local government

Washington 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.[1] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Vice Mayor.

As of 2011, the members of the Washington Township Committee are Mayor Kenneth Short (2012), Vice Mayor James Harmon (2011), David Kennedy (2013), James LiaBraaten (2013) and Bill Roehrich (2012).[16]

The 2008 property tax rate for Washington Township is $2.318 per $100 of assessed value, with an equalization ratio of 89.75%.[17]

Federal, state and county representation

Washington Township is in the 11th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.[18] The borough was relocated to the 25th state legislative district by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[6] The new district was in effect for the June 2011 primary and the November 2011 general election, with the state senator and assembly members elected in November 2011 taking office in the new district as of January 2012.[18]

New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen (R, Harding Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

Until January, 2012, Washington Township 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).[19] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[20] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[21]

Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year.[22] As of 2011, Morris County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director William J. Chegwidden (Wharton),[23] Deputy Freeholder Director Douglas R. Cabana (Boonton Township),[24] Gene F. Feyl (Denville),[25] Ann F. Grassi (Parsippany-Troy Hills),[26] Thomas J. Mastrangelo (Montville),[27] John J. Murphy (Morris Township)[28] and Margaret Nordstrom (Washington Township).[29][30]

Politics

On the national and state levels, Washington Township leans very strongly toward the Republican Party. In the 2008 Presidential Election, Republican John McCain received 61% of the vote, defeating Democrat Barack Obama, who received around 38%. In the 2009 Gubernatorial Election, Republican Chris Christie received 69% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine, who received around 22%.

Education

The Washington Township Schools is a public school district that includes five schools and a central office. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[31]) are Benedict A. Cucinella Elementary School (672 students), Flocktown-Kossmann School (601) and Old Farmers Road School (457) for grades K-5, along with Long Valley Middle School for grades 6-8 (1,010).

Students in grades 9-12 attend West Morris Central High School, which is located in the township (but is considered Chester because of its mailing address) 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.[32]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Washington Township include:

Local media

Radio station WRNJ has studios, offices and its transmitter in Washington Township, broadcasting at 1510 AM. The station is licensed to nearby Hackettstown.

References

  1. ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 110.
  2. ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed November 8, 2011.
  3. ^ Township Departments and Department Heads, Washington Township. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  4. ^ a b GCT-PH1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2000 for Morris County, New Jersey -- County Subdivision and Place, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2011.
  5. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Washington, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
  6. ^ a b c d 2011 Apportionment Redistricting: Municipalities sorted alphabetically, New Jersey Department of State, p. 10. Accessed June 30, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  8. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  9. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  10. ^ Wilk, Tom. "Awash in Washingtons: New Jersey has six towns named for the father of our country.", New Jersey Monthly, January 17, 2011. Accessed November 8, 2011. "In New Jersey, Washington can lay claim to another first. He’s number one in names selected for the state’s 566 municipalities. Bergen, Burlington, Gloucester, Morris and Warren counties all have a Washington Township. Warren also has a Washington Borough surrounded—naturally—by Washington Township. The largest is Gloucester County’s Washington, with 52,096 people; the smallest is the Washington in Burlington, with a population of 649. New Jersey had a sixth Washington Township in Mercer County until 2008, when voters there approved a name change to Robbinsville."
  11. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 197.
  12. ^ a b [1]"Washington Township" The Daily Record
  13. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 2, 2009. Accessed November 8, 2011.
  14. ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Washington township, Morris County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2011.
  15. ^ a b Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Washington township, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed November 8, 2011.
  16. ^ Local Government, Washington Township. Accessed November 8, 2011.
  17. ^ Tax Department, Washington Township. Accessed November 8, 2011. "The 2011 Tax Ratio is 89.75%. The 2010 Tax rate is $2.318 per $100 of evaluation."
  18. ^ a b 2010 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 65, backed up by the Internet Archive as of December 17, 2010. Accessed November 8, 2011.
  19. ^ "Legislative Roster: 2010-2011 Session". New Jersey Legislature. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp. Retrieved 2010-08-04. 
  20. ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  21. ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  22. ^ What is a Freeholder?, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 5, 2011.
  23. ^ William J. Chegwidden, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  24. ^ Douglas R. Cabana, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  25. ^ Gene F. Feyl, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  26. ^ Ann F. Grossi, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  27. ^ Thomas J. Mastrangelo, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  28. ^ John J. Murphy, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  29. ^ Margaret Nordstrom, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  30. ^ Meet the Freeholders, Morris County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  31. ^ Data for the Washington Township Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 8, 2011.
  32. ^ West Morris Regional High School District 2010 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 1, 2011. "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."

External links