Warren County, New Jersey

Infobox U.S. County
county = Warren County
state = New Jersey


founded year = November 20, 1824
seat wl = Belvidere
area_total_sq_mi =363
area_land_sq_mi =358
area_water_sq_mi =5
area percentage = 1.35%
census yr = 2000
pop = 102437
density_km2 =111
web = www.co.warren.nj.us

Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 102,437. Its county seat is BelvidereGR|6.

Warren County was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on November 20, 1824, from portions of Sussex County. At its creation, the county consisted of the townships of Greenwich, Independence, Knowlton, Mansfield, Oxford, Pahaquarry (now defunct)."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 245.]

Warren County is generally considered the eastern border of the Lehigh Valley.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 363 square miles (940 km²), of which, 358 square miles (927 km²) of it is land and 5 square miles (13 km²) of it (1.35%) is water.

Much of Warren County is rugged and mountainous, with the Kittatinny Ridge providing a hard backbone to the county in the west and many lower ridges winding their way through the county, with narrow valleys in between. The highest elevation is on the Kittatinny Ridge, at two areas near Upper Yards Creek Reservoir near Blairstown that slightly exceed 1,600 feet (487.6 m) above sea level; the lowest point is the confluence of the Delaware and Musconetcong rivers at the county's southern tip, at 160 feet (48.7 m) of elevation.

Adjacent counties

*Sussex County, New Jersey - northeast
*Morris County, New Jersey - east
*Bucks County, Pennsylvania - south
*Hunterdon County, New Jersey - south
*Northampton County, Pennsylvania - west
*Monroe County, Pennsylvania - northwest

National protected areas

* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (part)
* Middle Delaware National Scenic River (part)

Demographics

USCensusPop
1830=18627
1840=20366
1850=22358
1860=28433
1870=34336
1880=36589
1890=36553
1900=37781
1910=43187
1920=45057
1930=49319
1940=50181
1950=54374
1960=63220
1970=73960
1980=84429
1990=91607
2000=102437
estimate=110376
estyear=2005
estref= [cite web
url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34/34041.html
title=QuickFacts: Warren County, New Jersey
publisher=U.S. Census Bureau
accessdate=2007-03-01]
footnote=historical census data source: [cite web
url=http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd5.htm
title=New Jersey Resident Population by County: 1880 - 1930] [cite web
url=http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/
title=Geostat Center: Historical Census Browser
publisher=University of Virginia Library
accessdate=2007-03-02]

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 102,437 people, 38,660 households, and 27,487 families residing in the county. The population density was 286 people per square mile (111/km²). There were 41,157 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile (44/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.54% White, 1.87% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 3.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.4% were of Italian, 18.2% German, 14.6% Irish, 7.2% Polish, 6.8% English and 5.2% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 38,660 households out of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $56,100, and the median income for a family was $66,223. Males had a median income of $47,331 versus $31,790 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,728. About 3.60% of families and 5.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.90% of those under age 18 and 6.70% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Warren County is governed by a three-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. The members are elected at large to serve three-year terms. One Freeholder seat comes up for election each year, and the three-year term of office starts (and ends) on January 1.

The Freeholder Board is the center of legislative and administrative responsibility and, as such, performs a dual role. As legislators they draw up and adopt a budget, and in the role of administrators they are responsible for spending the funds they have appropriated.

As of January 2007, Warren County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Everett A. Chamberlain (term ends 2010), Freeholder Deputy Director John DiMaio (2008) and Freeholder Richard D. Gardner (2009). [ [http://www.co.warren.nj.us/freeholders.html Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders] , accessed February 27, 2007]

Other elected officials in Warren County are County Clerk Patricia J Kolb, Sheriff Sal Simonetti, Surrogate Susan A. Dickey. Prosecutor Thomas S. Ferguson is appointed by the Governor.

Elections

Freeholder :Democratic businessman Adam Fitting [ [http://www.FittingForFreeholder.com Fitting For Freeholder] , accessed July 4, 2008] is challenging Incumbent Republican Freeholder Richard D. Gardner

Warren County has been a consistently Republican county in state and national elections. In the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, George W. Bush carried the county by a 24% margin over John Kerry, the second-highest margin for Bush in the state behind Sussex County. [ [http://www.njvoterinfo.org/2004presNJ.htm New Jersey Presidential Election Returns by County 2004] , Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. Accessed August 28, 2008.] In the state's 2005 gubernatorial election, Warren County voted for Doug Forrester by 21 points over incumbent Jon Corzine. [ [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?off=5&year=2005&elect=0&evt=G&f=0&fips=34041&submit=Retrieve 2005 Gubernatorial General Election Results - Warren County, NJ] , Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. Accessed August 28, 2008.]

Transportation

While Warren County only has one New Jersey Transit train stop in the entire county (Hackettstown), Warren has a number of state routes, a few U.S. Routes, and two interstates. Warren houses Route 57, Route 173, Route 31, and Route 94. The US Routes are U.S. Route 22, and U.S. Route 46. The two interstates that pass through the county are the "Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway" (I-78), and the "Bergen-Passaic Expressway" (I-80).

Municipalities

*Allamuchy Township
**Allamuchy-Panther Valley
*Alpha
*Belvidere
*Blairstown Township
*Franklin Township
*Frelinghuysen Township
*Greenwich Township
*Hackettstown
*Hardwick Township
*Harmony Township
*Hope Township
*Independence Township
**Great Meadows-Vienna
*Knowlton Township
*Liberty Township
*Lopatcong Township
*Mansfield Township
**Beatyestown
*Oxford Township
**Oxford
*Phillipsburg
*Pohatcong Township
*Washington Township
**Brass Castle
*Washington
*White Township

Education

*Warren County Community College, in Franklin Township, offers degree programs and certificate programs. The College serves approximately 1,700 full-time and part-time students, in addition to students in non-credit programs and courses.
*Centenary College is a private college affiliated with the United Methodist Church and in Hackettstown, New Jersey.
*Blair Academy is a prestigious college preparatory schools located in Blairstown

References

Link

* [http://www.mcall.com/community/guide/community/ "Living in the Greater Lehigh Valley," by "The Allentown Morning Call"] .