Byram Township, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Byram Township, New Jersey
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Byram Township in Sussex County. Inset: Location of Sussex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sussex
government_footnotes =
government_type = Town (New Jersey)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Eskil "Skip" Danielson
leader_title1 = Manager
leader_name1 = Joseph Sabatini [ [http://www.byramtwp.org/upclose/govmnt/townoffc/TownManager.htm Town Manager] , Byram Township. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
established_title = Formed
established_date = February 5, 1798
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = February 21, 1798

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 57.4
area_land_km2 = 54.6
area_water_km2 = 2.9
area_total_sq_mi = 22.2
area_land_sq_mi = 21.1
area_water_sq_mi = 1.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 8254
population_density_km2 = 151.3
population_density_sq_mi = 391.8

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 308
elevation_ft = 1010
latd = 40 |latm = 57 |lats = 41 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 43 |longs = 21 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07874 - Stanhope
area_code = 973
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-09160GR|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 = 0882263GR|3
website = http://www.byramtwp.org
footnotes =

Byram Township — "The Township of Lakes" — is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 8,254.
Lake Mohawk is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located in parts of both Byram Township and Sparta Township.

History

Byram Township was created by an act by the New Jersey General Assembly on February 5, 1798, from portions of the now-defunct Newton Township, and was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. [http://www.byramtwp.org/upclose/history/Byramhistory.htm Byram Township History] , Byram Township. Accessed June 13, 2007. "Byram Township was established on February 5, 1798, having been separated from the vast area that was then Newton. The name honored the Byram Family, surveyors who had settled in the area before the Revolution. In 1798, the head of the family was Jephthah Byram, who is buried in the Sparta Cemetarysic."] "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 229. A date of April 9, 1798 is shown as the date the township was formed, which seems to be clearly incorrect, as the township was incorporated some six weeks earlier.] Byram Township was named in honor of patriarch Jephthah Byram and his family, who are believed to have emigrated to the area after the American Revolutionary War. Before being named Byram, the community had been called Lockwood. In 1829, a section of Green Township was incorporated into the township. Portions of the township have been taken to form Sparta Township (April 14, 1845), Brooklyn borough (March 24, 1898, now called Hopatcong) and Stanhope borough (March 24, 1904).

There are many historical sites located in Byram. The Roseville Schoolhouse, built in 1853, was recently moved from its original location on Lackawanna Drive to Mansfield Drive. [ [http://byramtwp.org/upclose/history/byram_schoolhouse.htm Roseville Schoolhouse Museum] , accessed February 12, 2007.] The Leport House, built in 1802, is Byram's oldest remaining house. [ [http://njherald.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=129546 Album Name: Leport House dedication & Kiddie Karaoke] , "New Jersey Herald", May 13, 2006.] The house is located right by the Byram General Store on Sparta-Stanhope Road. The Lockwood Cemetery, Byram's most recognizable cemetery, was built circa 1818. The cemetery consists of about 30 gravestones, with slight remnants of the foundation of a church.

In 1911, the Lackawanna Cut-Off rail line opened through Byram Township, with a station stop near the current sub-division neighborhood of Forest Lakes. The Cut-Off was part of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad's mainline from Hoboken, New Jersey to Buffalo, New York. The railroad was important in providing transportation for mines in Northern Jersey. It passes through Byram for a long distance. It runs mainly along Roseville, but as Roseville veers north, the tracks still head West. The line was abandoned in 1980 and the tracks were removed four years later. There is a proposal to reactivate passenger service via New Jersey Transit in the future.

Mining

Byram Township had a very large mining industry in the past. There are so many mineral mines in Byram that there is one almost walking distance from anywhere. The biggest mine, The Roseville Mine, is located on the current Roseville Road. The mine is in a quadrilateral plot of land, with the southwestern corner created by Roseville Road and Amity Road. The southeastern corner is created by an intersection between Roseville Road and the Lackawanna Cut-off. The Roseville Mine was first excavated sometime during the early 1850s. It was well worked during its life, with production in 1880 alone documented as 67,000 tons. Most of the work was done via a large open cut. This cut as it exists today, is water filled, however its massive size was impressive, its vertical walls being probably over 80 to 90 feet high. Another popular mine is the Charlotte Uranium mine. The mine extracted uranium from the rocks of southwestern Byram. The mine closed in the 1950s, but many remnants are still visible.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 22.2 square miles (57.4 km²), of which, 21.1 square miles (54.6 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.9 km²) of it (5.00%) is water. It is divided into several sections. They include the neighborhoods of Forest West, East and West Brookwood, Forest Lakes, Lackawanna, Cranberry Lakes, and the Lake Mohawk area.

The township is known as the "Township of Lakes" because many lakes are spread throughout.

Lubbers Run runs through the township, intersecting Mansfield Drive. The run is monitored monthly by the Byram Intermediate School's Environmental Club.

Residents of Byram are served by adjacent post offices in Stanhope, Andover Township and Sparta Township.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930=245
1940=373
1950=761
1960=1616
1970=4592
1980=7502
1990=8048
2000=8254
estimate= 8687
estyear=2005
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US3442510&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3442510&_street=&_county=byram&_cityTown=byram&_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 Byram township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 1, 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 8,254 people, 2,833 households, and 2,317 families residing in the township. The population density was 391.8 people per square mile (151.3/km²). There were 3,078 housing units at an average density of 146.1/sq mi (56.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.77% White, 0.97% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.41% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.94% of the population.

There were 2,833 households out of which 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.9% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 13.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the township the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $81,532, and the median income for a family was $89,500. Males had a median income of $59,722 versus $40,396 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,710. About 0.9% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 1.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

The Township of Byram is chartered under the Faulkner Act Council-Manager plan. Byram Township has a Mayor and four Council Members. The Mayor and all Council Members are elected at-large in nonpartisan elections for four-year staggered terms."2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 110.] Elected Officials enter office on July 1 of the Election Year. Byram Township's elections are held on the first Tuesday in May on the odd number years (e.g., May 2007, 2009, etc.) At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

The Township Council passes ordinances and resolutions. It maintains the Administrative Code. The Council appoints the Township Manager. It appoints the Municipal Clerk, the Tax Assessor and Members of all boards, commissions and authorities. It votes on the municipal budget after it has been prepared by the township manager. [ [http://www.byramtwp.org/upclose/govmnt/govmnt.htm Byram Township Government] , Byram Township. Accessed July 6, 2006.]

The Mayor of Byram Township is Eskil "Skip" Danielson (term ends June 30, 2009). Other members of the Byram Township Committee are James Oscovitch (2009), Scott Olson (2011), Daniel Rafferty (2011) and Brian Thompson (2011). [ [http://www.byramtwp.org/upclose/govmnt/townoffc/TownCouncil.htm Byram Township Council] , accessed July 22, 2007.]

Federal, state and county representation

Byram Township is in the Eleventh 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 Byram Township School District contains two public schools for grades K - 8, run by the Byram Township Board of Education. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3402550 Byram Township School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 27, 2008] ) are [http://www.byramschools.org/BLES/consolidated1.htm Byram Lakes Elementary School] serving grades K - 4 (626 students) and [http://www.byramschools.org/BIS/Intermediate1.htm Byram Township Intermediate School] serving grades 5 - 8 (525 students). The Consolidated School used to serve K-2, while BIS served 3-8, but the new Byram Lakes School was built to accommodate the rapidly increasing student count, and since then the Consolidated School has been used as a private special needs school named [http://www.celebratethechildren.org/ Celebrate the Children] .

For public school students in grades 9-12, the township shares Lenape Valley Regional High School, which serves Netcong in Morris County and the Sussex County communities of Stanhope and Byram Township. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/37/2615/37-2615-050.html Lenape Valley Regional High School 2007 Report Card narrative] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 27, 2008. "Blending a traditional program with a vision for the future, Lenape Valley Regional High School located in the town of Stanhope is a high school of significant prominence in our geographic region. Serving the communities of Byram Township, Netcong Boro, and Stanhope Borough, and bridging Morris and Sussex counties..."] In the past, students from Byram attended Sparta High School, but the Board of Education in Sparta eventually ended sending/receiving relationships with other districts to attend the school.

There are a few private schools close by. Reverend Brown in Sparta serves grades K-8 does have students from Byram. Hilltop Country Day School, which also serves K-8, also has students from Byram. Byram has students in various private high schools, but all but one school are located outside of Sussex County. Pope John XXIII Regional High School, in Sparta Township, is the location of the only private high school in Sussex County, which has around 10 students from Byram.

Recreation

Trails and Hiking

Byram Township is known as the "Gateway to New Jersey Trails"!

ussex Branch Trail

Sussex Branch Trail extends 21.2 miles from Netcong to Branchville, following the route of the old Sussex Branch Railroad. This line was in service under various ownerships from 1848 - 1966. Today trail users can explore the route once used by steam locomotives and long freight trains.

Parks

C.O. Johnson Park

C.O. Johnson Park is located on Roseville Road in Byram Township. This park includes a football field and a baseball field. It also has soccer fields and tennis and basketball courts. It also features a brand new playground and walking paths. At the park, refreshments are sold at the CO Johnson Fieldhouse.

Riverside Park

Riverside Park is located at the intersection of River Road and Waterloo Road in Byram Township. Opening ceremonies were held late summer of 2001.

Riverside Park is Byram's newest park. The park has the Musconetcong River running right behind it and features beautiful walking paths, fishing and canoing. The park features a brand new, state of the art playground, picnic tables, a gazebo and basketball courts.

Tomahawk Park

Tomahawk Park is a small park located on Tomahawk Trail in Byram Township. It is located right across from Tomahawk Lake.

Allamuchy Mountain State Park

Parts of Allamuchy Mountain State Park are located in the township. Access to the State Park can be gained via State Trails.

Neil Gylling Memorial Park

This park has two softball fields. A soccer field is also set up between the softball fields during the fall season. There are also two tennis courts. This is the traditional location for Byram Day which is celebrated the 2nd Saturday in September of every year.

Brookside Park

This is a small park that contains a basketball court in East Brookwood.

Transportation

The township is bisected by U.S. Route 206. A small portion of Interstate 80 passes through the southern tip of Byram Township.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Byram Township include:
*Rob Freeman (1981-), of the group Hidden in Plain View. [Falkenstein, Michelle. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9801E5D81731F937A15757C0A9639C8B63 "A Festival For the Band Next Door"] , "The New York Times", April 24, 2005. Accessed October 23, 2007. "Nevertheless, Mr. Freeman, 24, who is from Byram, says he is excited to do a show next weekend."]

References

External links

* [http://www.byramtwp.org/ Byram Township website]
* [http://www.sussex.nj.us/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=7&TPID=1095 Sussex County webpage for Byram Township]
* [http://www.byramschools.org/ Byram Township School District]
*NJReportCard|37|0640|0|Byram Township School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3402550 Data for the Byram Township School District] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.lvhs.org/ Lenape Valley Regional High School]