Stillwater Township, New Jersey

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

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

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


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

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sussex
government_footnotes =
government_type = Township (New Jersey)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = William Morrison (2008)
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = December 27, 1824

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 73.5
area_land_km2 = 70.2
area_water_km2 = 3.3
area_total_sq_mi = 28.4
area_land_sq_mi = 27.1
area_water_sq_mi = 1.3

population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes =
population_total = 4312
population_density_km2 = 60.8
population_density_sq_mi = 157.3

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|882262|Township of Stillwater, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.]
elevation_m = 215
elevation_ft = 705
latd = 41 |latm = 4 |lats = 10 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 51 |longs = 34 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07875
area_code = 973
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-70890GR|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 = 0882262GR|3
website = http://www.stillwaternj.us
footnotes =

Stillwater Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. It is a farming community with a small "village." Stillwater is known for its lakeside summer residences, abundant limestone and lime kilns. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 4,267.

Crandon Lakes (2000 Census population of 1,150) is a census-designated place and unincorporated area split between Hampton Township and Stillwater Township.

"New Jersey Monthly" magazine ranked Stillwater Township as its 40th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey. [ [http://njmonthly.com/articles/best_of/placestolive/best-places-to-live---the-complete-top-towns-list-.html "Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100"] , "New Jersey Monthly", February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008.]

Stillwater was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 27, 1824, from portions of Hardwick Township."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 232.]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 28.4 square miles (73.5 km²), of which, 27.1 square miles (70.2 km²) of it is land and 1.3 square miles (3.3 km²) of it (4.44%) is water.

Stillwater is the home of Swartswood State Park, established in 1914 as the first State Park established by the state of New Jersey. In the center of the park lies the Little Swartswood and Swartswood Lake. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930=706
1940=679
1950=816
1960=1339
1970=2158
1980=3887
1990=4253
2000=4267
estimate= 4312
estyear=2007
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&_name=stillwater&_state=04000US34&_county=stillwater&_cityTown=stillwater&_zip=&_sse=on&_lang=en&pctxt=fph Census data for Stillwater township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 27, 2008.]
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 4,267 people, 1,494 households, and 1,154 families residing in the township. The population density was 157.3 people per square mile (60.7/km²). There were 2,030 housing units at an average density of 74.9/sq mi (28.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.96% White, 0.16% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.09% of the population.

There were 1,494 households out of which 41.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the township the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $63,750, and the median income for a family was $71,563. Males had a median income of $48,580 versus $35,505 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,933. About 1.6% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

History timeline

*1741, Casper Shafer built the Stillwater gristmill about half a mile from the present mill site.
*1764, the Stillwater gristmill is moved to its present location. It operated there until 1840.
*December 27, 1824, the township was created by an act passed by the New Jersey Legislature [Snell, James P. (1881) "History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers". (Centennial ed., Harmony, NJ: Harmony Press, 1981, pg. 383] .
*1844, the gristmill is rebuilt and powered by water from the Paulins Kill. Casper's son, Nathan Armstrong Shafer lived in Whitehall Manor, which he built near what is now the center of the village. Aline Murray Kilmer, the widow of poet Joyce Kilmer, lived the last decade of her life at Whitehall, passing away there on October 1, 1941.
*Early 1900s, Swartswood Lake became a major resort. Weekenders took the train into nearby Blairstown through the 1940s to stay at such places as the North Shore Inn, The Casino, and The Dove Island Inn (now a private home). Later, summer cabins became popular with Brooklyn weekenders.
*1910, the Stillwater creamery was built. Borden, Inc. later took control of the creamery.
*1920s, the Paulinskill River was dammed to create Paulinskill Lake and many summer residences sprang up. These summer cottages have grown into what is now a year-round community.

Today the Presbyterian Church is the most prominent feature in Stillwater village. Opposite the church is the former Stillwater Academy, an old schoolhouse. The old schoolhouse is now home to the local historical society museum. Stillwater was, and still is, primarily agricultural. The area is dotted with lime kilns, which used to burn lime to enrich the soil, but are now obsolete, becoming lost to history and the overgrowth of vegetation. An intact kiln still exists on Millbrook Road, a little more than two miles from Stillwater village.

Government

Local government

Stillwater 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."2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 110.] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

As of 2008, members of the Stillwater Township Committee are Mayor William Morrison (term ends December 31, 2008), Deputy Mayor Beth Raff (2010), Jay Burd (2010), Al Fuoco (2009) and George Scott (2009). [ [http://www.stillwaternj.us/officials.html Stillwater Township Committee] , Stillwater Township. Accessed June 13, 2008.]

Stillwater Township's law enforcement consists of the Stillwater Township Police Department, run by chief Anthony Kozlowski. The town is serviced by Stillwater Emergency Rescue Squad, Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Company and the Swartswood Volunteer Fire Department.

Federal, state and county representation

Stillwater Township is in the Fifth 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. 64. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

The Stillwater Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. The Stillwater Township School had an enrollment of 404 students as of the 2005-06 school year. [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3415750 Data for the Stillwater Township School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed June 13, 2008.]

The students of middle and high school age in public school for grades 7-12 attend Kittatinny Regional High School located in Hampton Township, which serves 1,300 students who reside in Fredon Township, Hampton Township, Sandyston Township, Stillwater Township and Walpack Township. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/37/2465/37-2465-000.html Kittatiny Regional School District 2007 Report Card Narrative] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 25, 2008. "Located in beautiful, rural Sussex County in northwest New Jersey, Kittatinny Regional School District serves the five municipalities of Fredon Township, Hampton Township, Sandyston Township, Stillwater Township and the Township of Walpack."] The high school is located in Hampton, about seven minutes outside of the County seat of Newton.

ee also

* Harmony Hill Methodist Church (Stillwater, New Jersey)
* Paulins Kill
* Stillwater Cemetery (Stillwater, New Jersey)
* Stillwater Presbyterian Church (Stillwater, New Jersey)

References

Reading List

McCabe, Wayne T. and Kate Gordon. "A Penny A View...An Album of Postcard Views...Stillwater, N.J." (Newton, NJ: Historic Preservation Alternatives, 1995).

External links

* [http://www.stillwaternj.us/ Stillwater Township web site]
* [http://www.stillwaterschool.net/ Stillwater Township School]
*NJReportCard|37|5040|0|Stillwater Township School
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3415750 Data for the Stillwater Township School] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.krhs.net/ Kittatinny Regional High School]
* [http://www.njskylands.com/tnstlwtr.htm Skylands Guide to Stillwater]
* [http://www.njskylands.com/tnmills.htm Skylands Guide to Stone Mills]
* [http://abshafer.com/stillwater.html Virtual tour of the village of Stillwater]
* [http://www.historicstillwater.org/ Historical Society of Stillwater Township]