Califon, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Califon, New Jersey
settlement_type = Borough
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

imagesize =
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Califon in Hunterdon County. Inset: Location of Hunterdon County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.


mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Califon, New Jersey

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Hunterdon
government_footnotes =
government_type = Borough (New Jersey)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Walter Burnett
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = April 2, 1918

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 2.5
area_land_km2 = 2.5
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.0
area_land_sq_mi = 1.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1052
population_density_km2 = 422.1
population_density_sq_mi = 1093.2

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|885176|Borough of Califon, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.]
elevation_m = 146
elevation_ft = 479
latd = 40 |latm = 43 |lats = 09 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 50 |longs = 12 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07830
area_code = 908
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-09280GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0885176GR|3
website = http://www.califonborough-nj.org
footnotes =

Califon is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 1,055.

History

Califon was a station on the High Bridge Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The rail line was abandoned in 1976 and now serves as a Hunterdon County-administered rail trail called Columbia Trail, which runs south to High Bridge and north to points in Morris County.

Though the mills were present in the area of Califon for some time prior to its incorporation as a town, it was quite a while before growth became evident in the mid-nineteenth century. It was first called California, from Jacob Neighbor's enthusiasm in the milling business about the time the California Gold Rush broke out. The Borough was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature from portions of both Lebanon and Tewksbury Townships on April 2, 1918."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 154]

The Califon Historical Society has registered 170 structures with the National Register of Historic Places. Califon is a Victorian-style enclave where the houses are marked with the names of the builders and their dates of establishment rather than with street numbers.

Geography

Califon is located at coor dms|40|43|13|N|74|50|12|W|city (40.720250, -74.836533)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²), of which, 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²) of it is land and 1.02% is water.

Califon borders Lebanon Township and Tewksbury Township.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930= 534
1940= 572
1950= 623
1960= 777
1970= 970
1980= 1023
1990= 1073
2000= 1055
estimate= 1052
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US3406370&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3406370&_street=&_county=califon&_cityTown=califon&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Califon borough] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 27, 2007.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,055 people, 401 households, and 301 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,093.2 people per square mile (419.9/km²). There were 410 housing units at an average density of 424.9/sq mi (163.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.67% White, 0.76% Asian, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 401 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the borough the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $76,657, and the median income for a family was $85,963. Males had a median income of $59,167 versus $41,125 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,064. About 3.3% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Califon is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year. ["2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 110.]

The Mayor of Califon Borough is Walter 'Bud' Burnett] . Members of the Califon Borough Council are Kathleen Anderson, Richard Baggstrom, Charles Daniel, Richard Hopkins, Steven Stanaback and Gill Smith. [ [http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/califon.htm The Borough of Califon] , Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed August 27, 2007.] [ [http://www.califonborough-nj.org/page2.html Califon Borough Council] , Califon Borough. Accessed April 3, 2008 - not updated to reflect correct term end dates for 2008.]

Federal, state and county representation

Califon Borough is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

The Califon School District serves students in public school for kindergarten through eighth . The Califon Public School had an enrollment of 143 students for the 2005-06 school year. [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3402610 Data for the Califon Public School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed May 20, 2008.] Dr. Kathleen Prystash is the Chief School Administrator.

Public school students in grades 9 through 12 are served by the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District. Voorhees High School serves students from Califon Borough, Glen Gardner Borough, Hampton Borough, High Bridge Borough, Lebanon Township and Tewksbury Township. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/19/3660/19-3660-060.html Voorhees High School 2007 Report Card Narratives] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 4, 2008. "Voorhees High School has consistently ranked among the top high schools in the state. With an enrollment of 1200 students in grades 9-12, the school serves the communities of Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township, and Tewksbury Township."]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Califon include:
*Merv Griffin (1925-2007), television producer, once owned a farm a few miles outside of Califon. [McLellan, Dennis. [http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzNzYmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcxODEzOTEmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMg= "Merv Griffin, entertainment mogul, dies"] , "The Record (Bergen County)", August 13, 2007. Accessed September 4, 2007. "He stabled quarter horses at his former home in Califon, in Hunterdon County."] When he launched the game show "Wheel of Fortune", he gave a nod to Califon when naming the production company which was expressly responsible for the show. To this day, "Wheel of Fortune" legally does business as "Califon Productions, Inc.", although the show is owned by Sony Pictures. [Holl, John. [http://www.nj.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/news-7/1187067699306540.xml&coll=1 "To Califon, Merv was a regular farm guy"] , "The Star-Ledger", August 14, 2007. Accessed September 4, 2007. "Viewers who pay careful attention to the closing credits on "Wheel of Fortune" will see the game show is produced by Califon Productions, a subtle nod from Merv Griffin, the program's creator, to the Hunterdon County community where he once owned a farm."]
*Francis Burton Harrison (1873-1957), member of the United States House of Representatives and Governor-General of the Philippines under Woodrow Wilson. Harrison retired to Califon a few months before his death in 1957. [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10E1FFB3855137A93C0AB178AD95F438585F9 "F.B. Harrison, 83, U.S. Ex-Aide, Dies"] , "The New York Times", November 22, 1957.]

References

External links

* [http://www.califonborough-nj.org/ Official Borough website]
* [http://www.califonhistoricalsociety.org/ Society's website]
* [http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/califon.htm Hunterdon County webpage for Califon Borough]
* [http://califonschool.org/ Califon Public School website]
*NJReportCard|19|0670|0|Califon Public School
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3402610 Data for the Califon Public School] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.nhvweb.net/ North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District]
* [http://www.califon.org/ Califon Area Merchants and Professionals Association]
* [http://www.hlta.org Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance]