Independence Township, New Jersey

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

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

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


mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Independence 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 = Robert Giordano (2009)
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = February 21, 1798

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 51.5
area_land_km2 = 51.4
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 19.9
area_land_sq_mi = 19.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 5603
population_density_km2 = 109.0
population_density_sq_mi = 282.4

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|882244|Township of Independence, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.]
elevation_m = 156
elevation_ft = 512
latd = 40 |latm = 51 |lats = 56 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 51 |longs = 32 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07838 - Great Meadows
area_code = 908
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-33930GR|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 = 0882244GR|3
website = http://www.independencenj.com
footnotes =

Independence Township is a Township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 5,603. The township is part of the eastern region of the Lehigh Valley.

Independence Township was originally created from Hardwick Township, while the area was still part of Sussex County. Hardwick Township was incorporated as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Most of Independence Township became part of the newly-created Warren County on November 20, 1824, with the remainder becoming part of Green Township in Sussex County. Portions of the township were taken to form Hackettstown (March 9, 1853) and Allamuchy Township (April 4, 1873)."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 246.]

Great Meadows-Vienna (2000 Census population of 1,264) is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Independence Township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 19.9 square miles (51.5 km²), of which, 19.8 square miles (51.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.25%) is water.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930=964
1940=1046
1950=1169
1960=1509
1970=2057
1980=2829
1990=3940
2000=5603
estimate= 5770
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=06000US3404100670&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34041%7C06000US3404100670&_street=&_county=Independence&_cityTown=Independence&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=060&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Independence 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 5,603 people, 2,146 households, and 1,489 families residing in the township. The population density was 282.4 people per square mile (109.0/km²). There were 2,210 housing units at an average density of 111.4/sq mi (43.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 94.98% White, 1.16% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.79% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.77% of the population.

There were 2,146 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.0% 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 3.18.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $67,247, and the median income for a family was $79,819. Males had a median income of $59,688 versus $37,643 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,555. About 1.2% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Independence Township 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. 103.] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

The Independence Township Committee consists of Mayor Robert Giordano (R, term ends December 31, 2010), Deputy Mayor John Cummins (R, 2008),, Steve Crawford (R, 2008), Bonnie Kelsey (R, 2009) and Tim Norton (R, 2010). [ [http://www.independencenj.com/directory.html#govbody Directory: Governing Body] , Independence Township. Accessed June 5, 2008.] [ [http://www.co.warren.nj.us/mun/independence.html Independence Township] , Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed June 5, 2008] .]

Federal, state and county representation

Independence 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.]

History

The Township of Independence was established by an act of the New Jersey Legislature in 1782. This occurred through the division of Hardwick Township which at that time made it a section of Sussex County. Next through another act of the State Legislature in 1825, it was one of the seven large southerly townships, formerly in Sussex County, which together comprised the area that became Warren County. As the seven townships gradually were subdivided, Independence was reduced to half its original size through the loss of Hackettstown in 1853 and Allamuchy Township in 1873. The population thereby decreased to around one thousand, having the boundaries that it has today. It is roughly eight miles long from the northwest to the southeast corners, about six miles across its widest point and covers an area of 20.4 square miles.

Through the Township the major brooks and the Great Meadows drain into the Pequest River which winds slowly from northeast to southwest to flow on through the County and eventually into the Delaware River at Belvidere. Part of the eastern land drains under the Morris Canal bed and south into the Musconetcong River just below the boundary with Mansfield Township. The hillsides are steep, layered with rock and limestone while the valleys still hold soil deposited here from the receding glaciers. Mastodon bones and a few relics of the early Indian dwellers still occasionally can be found as well as coveys of game birds, some while tail deer, and small game.

This area at first was settled and cleared as farmland for growing hay and grain or as pastureland. Here timber was cut for lumber, grain was milled into flour, and some iron ore was mined from the Jenny Jump Mountain area during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The mining of iron ore which attracted the early settlers, the later iron foundries, and many of the early industries have disappeared as has the Morris Canal and the railroads as the major means of shipping freight. After many attempts the Great Meadow was drained with the water channeled to permit successful development of commercial vegetable production. Shipping over the years has been by wagon, small trucks, rail freight, and then by large trailer trucks.

Education

Public school students in grades K through 8 attend the Great Meadows Regional School District. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 school year enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3400008 Data for the Great Meadows Regional School District] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed June 5, 2008.] ) are [http://www.gmrsd.com/central.htm Independence Central School] (381 students in K-5), [http://www.gmrsd.com/liberty.htm Liberty School] (254 students in K-5) and [http://www.gmrsd.com/middle.htm Great Meadows Middle School] (354 students in 6-8).

Students attending public school for grades 9-12 attend Hackettstown High School which serves students from Hackettstown, as well as students from the townships of Allamuchy, Independence and Liberty, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Hackettstown School District. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc06/narrative/41/1870/41-1870-050.html Hackettstown High School 2005-06 Report Card Narrative] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 15, 2007. "Hackettstown High School is a four year comprehensive High School with an enrollment of 951 students in grades 9-12 who come from the communities of Allamuchy, Hackettstown, Independence, and Liberty Township."]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Independence Township include:
*Chuck Haytaian, former speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E3DA123EF935A35752C1A962958260 "THE 1994 CAMPAIGN; The Election: A Voters' Guide To the Candidates"] , "The New York Times", November 6, 1994. Accessed November 25, 2007. "Born in the Bronx, now lives in Independence, in rural Warren County."]

References

External links

* [http://www.independencenj.com/ Independence Township website]
* [http://www.co.warren.nj.us/mun/independence.html Warren County page for Independence Township]
* [http://www.gmrsd.com/ Great Meadows Regional School District]
*NJReportCard|41|1785|0|Great Meadows Regional School District
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3400008 Data for the Great Meadows Regional School District] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.hackettstown.org/hhs/ Hackettstown High School]