Franklin, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:See also Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Franklin is a borough in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 4,912,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 133 (−2.6%) from the 2010 census count of 5,045,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 115 (−2.2%) from the 5,160 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

Franklin, known as the "Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World,"<ref>Fluorescent Minerals, Fluorescent Mineral Society. Accessed September 15, 2012.</ref> is located over a rich ore body containing more than 150 minerals, many of them fluorescent and 25 of which are found nowhere else on earth. Settled in the 17th century, the village known as Franklin Furnace after Benjamin Franklin,<ref>Franklinite Mineral Page, mindat.org. Accessed August 31, 2015.</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.</ref><ref>Herman, Jennifer New Jersey Encyclopedia, p. 277. State History Publications, 2008. Template:ISBN. Accessed August 31, 2015.</ref> developed near iron mines and iron smelting operations located along the Wallkill River. In the early 19th century, zinc deposits in the area began to be developed commercially. For most of the century many small companies mined zinc and iron in the Franklin area. In 1897 all zinc mining efforts merged into the New Jersey Zinc Company, which was a major controlling factor in the development of Franklin. Immigrants from Russia, Britain, Hungary and Poland joined the work force at the mine. The population, 500 in 1897, had swelled to 3,000 by 1913. On March 18, 1913, the Borough of Franklin was incorporated from portions of Hardyston Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 23, 1913.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 230. Accessed October 25, 2012.</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.43 square miles (11.47 km²), including 4.36 square miles (11.28 km²) of land and 0.07 square miles (0.19 km²) of water (1.60%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The borough borders the boroughs of Hamburg and Ogdensburg, as well as Sparta and Hardyston townships.<ref>Areas touching Franklin, MapIt. Accessed March 31, 2020.</ref><ref>Sussex County Map, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed March 31, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref><ref>The Hospital Site Redevelopment Plan, Franklin Borough, revised August 8, 2017. Accessed January 14, 2018. "In terms of this redevelopment plan's consistency with other planning documents, the only municipality that is contiguous to this part of Franklin is Hardyston Township. Ogdensburg, Hamburg and Sparta are also contiguous to Franklin but those municipalities are far removed from the Hospital Site Redevelopment Area."</ref>

Franklin Furnace provides many examples of the complex mineralogy of the area.<ref>History, Borough of Franklin. Accessed January 5, 2025. "Franklin, known as the Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World, is located over a rich ore body containing more than 150 minerals, many of them fluorescent and 25 of which are found nowhere else on earth."</ref>

Demographics

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2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 5,045 people, 1,936 households, and 1,316 families in the borough. The population density was 1,121.6 per square mile (433.1/km²). There were 2,136 housing units at an average density of 474.9 per square mile (183.4/km²). The racial makeup was 92.15% (4,649) White, 2.18% (110) Black or African American, 0.30% (15) Native American, 1.74% (88) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.23% (62) from other races, and 2.40% (121) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.83% (395) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 1,936 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18; 49.7% were married couples living together; 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.0% were non-families. Of all households, 26.7% were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.15.<ref name=Census2010/>

22.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 31.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.1 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,813 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,585) and the median family income was $81,875 (+/− $11,964). Males had a median income of $49,413 (+/− $8,152) versus $45,385 (+/− $9,926) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,708 (+/− $2,344). About 5.1% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Franklin borough, Sussex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 15, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 5,160 people, 1,898 households, and 1,324 families residing in the borough. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,997 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.10% White, 0.62% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.47% Asian, 1.22% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.42% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Franklin borough, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 15, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Franklin borough, Sussex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 15, 2012.</ref>

There were 1,898 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.22.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough the age distribution of the population shows 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $44,985, and the median income for a family was $52,682. Males had a median income of $41,080 versus $26,201 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,386. About 5.6% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Franklin is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 110.</ref> The borough form of government used by Franklin is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask", New Jersey State League of Municipalities, March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Franklin Borough is Republican John M. Sowden IV, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Borough Council are Concetto Formica (R, 2025), Rachel Heath (R, 2024), Joseph Limon (R, 2026), John E. Postas (R, 2026), Stephen M. Skellenger (R, 2025) and Gilbert J. Snyder (R, 2024).<ref name=Council>Council Members, Borough of Franklin. Accessed May 20, 2024.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Franklin. Accessed May 20, 2024.</ref><ref name=Sussex2023>Summary Results Report Official Results November 7 2023 General Election, Sussex County, New Jersey, November 22, 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Sussex2022>Sussex County, New Jersey General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results Summary Report, Sussex County, New Jersey, dated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Sussex2021>Summary Results Report November 2, 2021 General Election Official Results, Sussex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Franklin is located in the 5th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

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Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,071 registered voters in Franklin, of which 469 (15.3% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,302 (42.4% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,296 (42.2% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Sussex, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed February 20, 2013.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 60.9% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 78.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 20, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,121 votes (57.2% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 772 votes (39.4% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 58 votes (3.0% vs. 2.1%), among the 1,959 ballots cast by the borough's 3,095 registered voters, for a turnout of 63.3% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County).<ref>General Election November 6, 2012: District Report - Group Detail, Sussex County, New Jersey Clerk, run date November 30, 2012. Accessed January 5, 2017.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,213 votes (57.2% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 857 votes (40.4% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 37 votes (1.7% vs. 1.5%), among the 2,122 ballots cast by the borough's 2,930 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.4% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Sussex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed February 20, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,269 votes (63.4% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 695 votes (34.7% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 28 votes (1.4% vs. 1.3%), among the 2,001 ballots cast by the borough's 2,740 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.0% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Sussex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed February 20, 2013.</ref>

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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.6% of the vote (841 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.7% (339 votes), and other candidates with 3.8% (46 votes), among the 1,242 ballots cast by the borough's 3,134 registered voters (16 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 39.6%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 870 votes (63.0% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 361 votes (26.1% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 116 votes (8.4% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 26 votes (1.9% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,382 ballots cast by the borough's 2,936 registered voters, yielding a 47.1% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Sussex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed February 20, 2013.</ref>

Education

Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Franklin Borough School District.<ref>Franklin Borough Board of Education Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Franklin Borough School District, revised April 9, 1984. Accessed March 5, 2025. "Composition: The Franklin School District shall be comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the Borough of Franklin for the purpose of providing a program of education in grades Kindergarten through 8."</ref><ref>Public School Directory 2024-2025, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2025.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Franklin Borough School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Franklin Borough School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 507 students and 49.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.4:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Franklin Borough School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Wallkill Valley Regional High School which also serves students from Hardyston Township, Hamburg Borough and Ogdensburg Borough, and is part of the Wallkill Valley Regional High School District.<ref>Wallkill Valley Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Wallkill Valley Regional High School, adopted January 5, 2022. Accessed March 5, 2025. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades nine through twelve in the Wallkill Valley Regional High School District. Composition The Wallkill Valley Regional High School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Franklin, Hamburg, Hardyston, and Ogdensburg."</ref><ref>Jennings, Rob. "Wallkill Valley grad named superintendent/principal", New Jersey Herald, August 26, 2015. Accessed March 5, 2025. "Wallkill Valley Regional High School enrolls students from Hamburg, Hardyston, Ogdensburg and Franklin."</ref> As of the 2023–24 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 617 students and 48.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.8:1.<ref>School data for Wallkill Valley Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref> Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the populations of the constituent municipalities, with two seats assigned to Franklin.<ref name=Board>Dates and Board Members, Wallkill Valley Regional High School. Accessed March 5, 2025.</ref>

Transportation

File:2018-07-26 07 59 22 View north along New Jersey State Route 23 and Sussex County Route 517 just north of High Street in Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey.jpg

Route 23 and County Route 517 northbound in Franklin

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the borough had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Sussex County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Sussex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

The main highway providing service to Franklin is Route 23.<ref>Route 23 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated June 2017. Accessed November 20, 2022.</ref> County Route 517 also traverses the borough, mostly concurrent with Route 23.<ref>County Route 517 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated November 2012. Accessed November 20, 2022.</ref>

Public transportation

The county provides Skylands Ride bus service operating between Sussex and Newton.<ref>Skylands Ride Route Map, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed July 9, 2015.</ref>

Media

WSUS is a Class A radio station with an adult contemporary format serving the Sussex County area on 102.3 FM, owned by iHeartMedia and licensed to Franklin.<ref>Data for Station Wsus, Federal Communications Commission. Accessed October 12, 2009.</ref>

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Franklin include:

Gertrude M. Clarke (1932–2020), science educator who primarily taught high school physics and nucleonics and extensively engaged in nuclear physics research.<ref>Gertrude Margaret Clarke obituary, The Star-Ledger, May 22, 2020. Accessed February 27, 2023. "Gert, as she was known to friends and family, was born on May 28th, 1932 in Franklin, N.J. She attended Franklin High, earned her baccalaureate degree from Douglass College in 1954, attended pre-doctoral courses at Rutgers University, and studied atomic, nuclear, and solid state physics at Yale University Graduate School."</ref>
Alexandra Tillson Filer (1916–2015), metallurgist, mineral collector and bookseller<ref>"EMS' oldest living alumna looks back on making history at Penn State", Penn State News, May 5, 2014. Accessed October 29, 2019. "Born in 1916 in Franklin Furnace, N.J., Alexandra Tillson Filer, 97, was raised in one of the most important mining towns in the country at the time."</ref>
Charles Joseph Fletcher (1922–2011), inventor and the owner / CEO of Technology General Corporation who developed an early version of the hovercraft<ref>Staff. "Charles J. Fletcher: Obituary", New Jersey Herald, April 22, 2011. Accessed April 29, 2015. "Charles J. Fletcher, 88, died Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at Saint Clare's Hospital, in Sussex. Mr. Fletcher, son of the late Horace and Florence (Romyns) Fletcher was born in Franklin on Dec. 21, 1922."</ref>
Samuel Fowler (1779–1844), doctor, state legislator, and member of the United States House of Representatives who was one of the developers of the mines in the area<ref>"Fowler, Samuel, (1779 - 1844)", Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed April 29, 2015.</ref>
Alfred B. Littell (1893–1970), politician who was mayor of Franklin in the 1950s, who also served as a member of both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and as President of the New Jersey Senate in 1951<ref>Staff. "Alfred B. Littell, Jersey Legislator", The New York Times, December 15, 1970. Accessed August 31, 2020. "The elder Mr. Littell had been mayor of Franklin in 1956 and 1957, and served as a Sussex County Freeholder in 1956."</ref>
Robert Littell (1936–2014), politician, who served as a member of the New Jersey State Senate from 1992 to 2008<ref>Staff. "Robert E. 'Bob' Littell: Obituary", New Jersey Herald, November 16, 2014. "Senator Robert E. 'Bob' Littell, 78, died after a long illness at his home surrounded by his family on Friday, Nov. 14, 2014. Born to the late Senator Alfred B. Littell and Dorothy A. Kershner in Orange, he was a lifelong resident of Franklin."</ref>
Charles Francis Lynch (1884–1942), United States Attorney and a United States district court judge in New Jersey<ref>Charles Francis Lynch, Biographical Directory of Federal Judges. Accessed April 29, 2015. "Lynch, Charles Francis – Born January 9, 1884, in Franklin, New Jersey"</ref>
Alison Littell McHose (born 1965), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2003 to 2015 until she was appointed as borough administrator<ref>Novak, Steve. "Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose to resign; search for replacement begins", The Express-Times, January 2, 2015. Accessed February 20, 2017. "McHose, 49, on Thursday was named business administrator of the Sussex County borough of Franklin, where she lives with her husband and three children."</ref>
Steve Nagy (1919–2016), pitcher who played for two MLB seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Senators, as part of a career that included 14 minor league seasons<ref>Steve Nagy, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed April 29, 2015.</ref>
Steve Oroho (born 1958), politician who represented the 24th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate from 2008 to 2024<ref>Senator Steven V. Oroho (R), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed April 29, 2015.</ref>

References

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External links

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