Hope Township, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
name = Hope Township
settlement_type = Township
official_name =
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

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


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

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Warren
government_footnotes =
government_type = Township (New Jersey)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Timothy C. McDonough (2009)
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = April 8, 1839

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 48.4
area_land_km2 = 47.9
area_water_km2 = 0.5
area_total_sq_mi = 18.7
area_land_sq_mi = 18.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.2

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1974
population_density_km2 = 39.5
population_density_sq_mi = 102.2

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|882242|Township of Hope, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.]
elevation_m = 161
elevation_ft = 528
latd = 40 |latm = 54 |lats = 55 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 58 |longs = 12 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07844
area_code = 908
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-33060GR|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 = 0882242GR|3
website = http://www.hopetownship.com
footnotes =

Hope Township is a Township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,891. It is located in the eastern region of the Lehigh Valley.

Hope Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 8, 1839, from portions of Knowlton Township and Oxford Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. Liberty Township was created March 25, 1926, from portions of the township."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 246.]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 18.7 square miles (48.4 km²), of which, 18.5 square miles (47.9 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) of it (0.96%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,891 people, 697 households, and 538 families residing in the township. The population density was 102.2 people per square mile (39.5/km²). There were 747 housing units at an average density of 40.4/sq mi (15.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.25% White, 0.42% African American, 0.42% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.

There were 697 households out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.3% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.The median income for a household in the township was $61,319, and the median income for a family was $68,750. Males had a median income of $48,750 versus $34,038 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,902. About 1.1% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

History

Hope Township is one of the earliest planned communities in the United States, having been established by German Moravians in 1769. They knew what they wanted to achieve, which is shown on several early planning maps, which detail streets, homes, wells, businesses, farms, a school, tavern and church.

Prior to the arrival of the Moravians, there was no distinct town, but several families farmed on Jenny Jump Mountain, to the south of Hope, in surrounding area and on John Samuel Green, Jr.’s farm in the center of what is now the Village. Throughout the 1760s, Moravians from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania traveled through this area on their way to New England to establish new communities. They lodged overnight with the Green Family who became very impressed with their religion and way of life. USCensusPop
1930=553
1940=646
1950=681
1960=833
1970=1140
1980=1468
1990=1719
2000=1891
estimate= 1974
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US3466240&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3466240&_street=&_county=hope&_cityTown=hope&_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 Hope township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 7, 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.] The Moravians were a religious group whose formal name was the “Unitas Fratrum” or Unity of the Brethren. They were followers of Jan Hus, the reformer from Prague who protested against the Roman Catholic Church in 1415 and was finally burned at the stake for his rebellion. These followers continued to practice his views in Moravia and Bohemia in what is now the Czech Republic, hence the common name “The Moravians”. In the late 1600’s this group began to be persecuted and sought shelter away from Bohemia. Count Nicolas Ludwig von Zinzendorf offered them refuge on his lands east of Dresden, Germany and provided a base for them to regroup and pursue their religion. That settlement which remains as the center of the worldwide Moravian religion is called Herrnhut or “The Lord's Watch" inhabitants were not only "under the Lord's watchful care" but were also to be "on watch for the Lord". With the support of Count von Zinzendorf, the Church established over 200 missionary settlements.

After a formal survey of the Village completed on November 26, 1774, the community was officially accepted by The Moravian Church and the name was changed by drawing lots on February 8, 1775 from Greenland to Hope.

After almost 40 years of the Moravian “experiment” in Hope, the community was sold and almost all of the Moravians returned to Bethlehem or Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The basic reason for closing the community was that it was never self-supporting and had declined from its height of population of 147 to under 100 people by the early 1800s. The Church in Germany could no longer subsidize such a small village. Moravians worldwide were selling possessions and even some other entire communities to pay off debts incurred years earlier by Count von Zinzendorf, who heavily mortgaged his lands to give them opportunity back in Germany. Disease and a competitive gristmill also contributed to Moravian Hope's decline. [ [http://www.hopetownship.com/history-of-hope-township History of Hope Township] , Hope Township. Accessed September 10, 2006.]

Government

Local government

Hope Township is governed under the Township form of government with a three-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 seat 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. 103.] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

The Hope Township Committee consists of Mayor Timothy C. McDonough (Independent; term ends December 31, 2009), George Beatty (Republican; 2008) and M. John Koonz (Republican; 2010). [http://www.co.warren.nj.us/mun/hope.html Hope Township] , Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed March 8, 2008.]

Constitutional Officers are: Clerk Mary Pat Quinn, Chief Financial Officer Peter Kowalick, Jr., Tax Collector Stephen Lance, and Tax Assessor Richard Motyka.

Federal, state and county representation

Hope Township is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 59. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

The Hope Township School serves 222 students in prekindergarten through eighth grade, as of the 2005-06 school year. [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3407470 Data for Hope Township School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 8, 2008.]

Students in grades nine through twelve from Harmony Township, Hope Township and White Township attend Belvidere High School in Belvidere as part of sending/receiving relationships with the Belvidere School District. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/41/0280/41-0280-020.html Belvidere High School 2007 Report Card Narrative] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 8, 2008. "Belvidere High School is a small Group I school of approximately 575 students, encompassing grades nine through twelve. Students arrive from the Belvidere K-12 district and three surrounding K-8 districts; Hope, Harmony and White."]

Transportation

Interstate 80 also passes through the township, with access via Exit 12 to Hope-Blairstown Road (County Route 521). CR 519 also passes through Hope, and can be accessed by CR 521.

Points of interest

*Land of Make Believe is an amusement park centered around "Safe and wholesome recreation", with entertaining rides and attractions that are enjoyed by people of all ages but not so extreme that it scares off younger children. [ [http://www.lomb.com/AboutUs.html About Us] , Land of Make Believe (amusement park). Accessed June 26, 2008.]
*Therefore, it is somewhat ironic that Hope, New Jersey, was the location for much of the filming of the horror movie Friday the 13th, with the Moravian Cemetery (see photograph below) appearing in the film. [ [http://www.fridaythe13thfilms.com/bts/locations/part1.html Friday the 13th filming locations] , accessed November 25, 2006.]

References

External links

* [http://www.hopetownship.com Official Hope Township Informational Website]
* [http://www.hopevfd.org Hope Township Fire Department]
* [http://www.co.warren.nj.us/mun/hope.html Warren County page for Hope Township]
* [http://www.goes.com/hopeschool Hope Township School]
*NJReportCard|41|2250|0|Hope Township School
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3407470 Data for Hope Township School] , National Center for Education Statistics