Hackettstown, New Jersey

Hackettstown is a town in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is perhaps best known as the home to the US headquarters of Mars, Inc..<ref>Mars Wrigley Confectionery to base U.S. Headquarters in Hackettstown, Template:Webarchive Mars, Incorporated, December 5, 2017. Accessed April 27, 2023. "Mars Wrigley Confectionery U.S., part of the world's leading manufacturer of chocolate, chewing gum, mints, and fruity confections, announced today its intent to base its U.S. headquarters in New Jersey, utilizing existing offices in Hackettstown, New Jersey, as well as a new location in Newark, New Jersey. Mars Wrigley Confectionery's global headquarters will continue to be based in Chicago while its U.S. headquarters will transition to New Jersey by July 2020."</ref> As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 10,248,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 524 (+5.4%) from the 2010 census count of 9,724,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 679 (−6.5%) from the 10,403 counted in the 2000 census.<ref name=Census2000/><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>

Hackettstown was incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 9, 1853, from portions of Independence Township. Portions of territory were exchanged with Mansfield Township in 1857, 1860, 1872 and 1875.<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. 246. Accessed July 6, 2012.</ref>

History

Founding

William Johnson (1817–1891) was a prime contributor to the incorporation of the town in 1853. He and his brother George (1815–1889) were successful merchants in the town beginning in 1839 when they began operating the W.L. & G.W Johnson dry good store. The two men were very active in community affairs. George was a member of First Presbyterian Church, a director of the Hackettstown National Bank, and a member of the Hackettstown Water Board. Both men were involved in the establishment of the Union Cemetery.<ref>Historic Main Street, Hackettstown, New Jersey, Frank, Leonard and Raymond Lemasters, Harmony Press, Inc, Easton, Pennsylvania, 2006, pp. 77-78</ref>

Hackettstown was named after Samuel Hackett, an early settler and large landowner.<ref>via the Trenton Monitor. "Origin of Geographical Names in New Jersey", Camden Democrat, August 12, 1865. Accessed July 6, 2012. "Hackettstown – After Samuel Hackett, an early settler."</ref><ref>Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 146. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed March 17, 2015.</ref> Hackett is said to have "contributed liberally to the liquid refreshments on the christening of a new hotel, in order to secure the name which, before this, had been Helms' Mills or Musconetcong."<ref>Northwestern New Jersey–-A History of Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, Warren, and Sussex Counties, Vol. 2. (A. Van Doren Honeyman, ed. in chief, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, 1927) p. 689.</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.</ref>

Tillie Smith murder case

File:She Died in Defence of Her Honor.jpg

The Tillie Smith monument to chastity, She Died In Defence of Her Honor, April 8, 1886

In 1886, Tillie Smith, a 19-year-old kitchen worker from a poverty-stricken family, was raped, murdered and left lying in an open field near the campus of the Centenary Collegiate Institute, where she worked.<ref>Brock, Donna. "The Mystery of Tillie Smith", Hackettstown Historical Society. Accessed July 6, 2012.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> James Titus, a janitor at the school, was tried and convicted of the rape and murder, based on circumstantial evidence and public opinion shaped by yellow journalism. Titus was sentenced to hang, but he signed a confession to avoid the death penalty and served 19 years of hard labor. He lived from 1904 to 1952 in Hackettstown among many of the same residents who championed his conviction, the validity of which remains controversial.<ref>Sullivan, Denis. In Defence of Her Honor: The Tillie Smith Murder Case. Flemington: D.H. Thoreau Books, 2000.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The killing remains a popular local legend, inspiring several books, Weird NJ magazine articles,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> theatrical performances and dark tourism ghost tours.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

20th century

The Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery, a popular tourist destination, was established in 1912.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1925, a train wreck just outside of town killed about 50 people and injured about 50 others en route to Hoboken, New Jersey, from Chicago. The derailment involved a Lackawanna Railroad train and occurred at the Hazen Road grade crossing near Rockport Road at approximately 3:30 am, as a result of debris washed downhill by a storm fouling the road crossing. The event made national headlines and stands as the deadliest event in Warren County history.<ref name="United Press International">"Big Toll Taken In A New Jersey Wreck. Latest Report Shows At Least 27 Were Killed. Thunderstorm Clogged A Switch With Sand Causing A Derailment.", Sterling Daily Gazette, June 16, 1925. Accessed March 17, 2015.</ref><ref>Staff. "Derailed In Big Storm; Special Train Leaves Rails in Early Morning Near Hackettstown.", The New York Times, June 17, 1925. Accessed July 6, 2012. "Hackettstown, N.J., June 16. -- Thirty-nine persons are dead and 48 are in hospitals, as the result of the wreck of a special train early this morning on the Delaware, Lackawanna Western Railroad near here, and about sixty miles from New York."</ref><ref>Staff. "Wreck Death List Now 45 In Jersey; One More Victim Dies and 13 Others Are in a Critical Condition. Funeral Special Departs Bodies Due in Chicago Tomorrow -- Coroner's Inquest Is Set for Monday Night.", The New York Times, June 19, 1925. Accessed July 6, 2012.</ref>

Fund-raising campaigns for a new hospital started as early as 1945, supported and organized by local civic and business groups including Kiwanis, Unico International, PTA and others, a large donation by the Seventh Day Adventists and a grant from the United States Public Health Service, the 106-bed Hackettstown Community Hospital was established in 1973.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1977, a mass shooting occurred in the town when Emil Pierre Benoist, a 20-year-old graduate of Hackettstown High School and former U.S. Marine, took random shots at passing cars over the course of about four hours and shot and killed six people before turning his sniper rifle on himself.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1994, a charity BBQ picnic organized by the "Tri-County Motorcycle Club" at the Elk's Lodge in Hackettstown was crashed by rival members of the outlaw Pagan's Motorcycle Club. "An altercation started that escalated into knives and guns being used", according to the Warren County Prosecutor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Two Pagans were killed and three other bikers were injured.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

21st century

Hackettstown was named #72 of the top 100 towns in the United States to Live and Work In by Money Magazine in 2005; it has not been included since.<ref>Best Places to Live 2005: No. 72 - Hackettstown, NJ, Money, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 6, 2008. Accessed March 17, 2015.</ref>

In 2011, the town council proclaimed a sister city relationship with Hacketstown, Ireland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town had a total area of 3.71 square miles (9.61 km²), including 3.61 square miles (9.35 km²) of land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km²) of water (2.67%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 /> The town is located in a valley along the banks of the Musconetcong River.

Upper Pohatcong Mountain extends northeast of Washington approximately Template:Convert.<ref>History Template:Webarchive, Borough of Washington. Accessed June 5, 2013. "Upper Pohatcong Mountain extends northeast of Washington approximately 6 mi (10 km) to the vicinity of Hackettstown."</ref>

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the town include Warren Furnace.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

Hackettstown borders the townships of Washington (Morris County) to the southeast, Mansfield to the southwest, Allamuchy to the north, Mount Olive to the northeast, and Independence to the west.<ref>Areas touching Hackettstown, MapIt. Accessed March 31, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipal Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Hackettstown is Template:Convert northeast of Allentown and Template:Convert northwest of New York City.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 9,724 people, 3,575 households, and 2,256 families in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 3,755 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 85.08% (8,273) White, 2.46% (239) Black or African American, 0.24% (23) Native American, 4.97% (483) Asian, 0.05% (5) Pacific Islander, 5.19% (505) from other races, and 2.02% (196) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.16% (1,474) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 3,575 households, 29.4% had children under the age of 18; 49.5% were married couples living together; 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 36.9% were non-families. Of all households, 30.0% were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.09.<ref name=Census2010/>

20.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 14.5% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.4 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,215 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,907) and the median family income was $82,216 (+/− $10,611). Males had a median income of $51,489 (+/− $5,850) versus $41,822 (+/− $5,248) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,433 (+/− $2,122). About 4.4% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Hackettstown town, Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 6, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 10,403 people, 4,134 households, and 2,530 families residing in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 4,347 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 90.25% White, 2.18% African American, 0.12% Native American, 2.91% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.00% from other races, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.01% of the population.<ref name="Census2000">Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Hackettstown town Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 6, 2012.</ref><ref name="Census2000SF1">DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Hackettstown town, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 5, 2012.</ref>

There were 4,134 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.10.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the town was $51,955, and the median income for a family was $64,383. Males had a median income of $44,420 versus $31,110 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,742. About 2.3% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Economy

File:M&M-Mars Headquarters.jpg

Mars Wrigley US Headquarters, 800 High Street<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hackettstown houses the US headquarters of Mars Wrigley Confectionery, a business segment of Mars, Incorporated, makers of Milky Way, Mars, M&M's, Twix and Snickers.<ref>Mars United States Template:Webarchive, Mars, Incorporated. Accessed June 5, 2013. "Mars Chocolate has nine factories in North America and is headquartered in Hackettstown, New Jersey."</ref>

Arts and culture

Musical groups from Hackettstown include The Semonski Sisters, a family musical act that appeared on television's The Lawrence Welk Show from 1975 to 1977.<ref>The Semonski Sisters, WelkMusicalFamily.com. Accessed September 10, 2017.</ref>

Sports

• The Skyland Rollergirls were a roller derby team founded in 2008 that bouted out of Excel Roller Skating Center in Hackettstown until it closed in late 2011.<ref>HomePage, Template:Webarchive, Skyland Roller Girls. Accessed October 1, 2022.</ref><ref>Skyland Rollergirls, Flat Track Stats. Accessed October 1, 2022.</ref>
• The Jersey Express, a team in the American Basketball Association moved to Hackettstown in late 2012 and played in the gym at Centenary College.<ref>Loigu, Andy. "Sports Chatter: New Jersey Express call Centenary home this winter", Warren Reporter, February 16, 2013. Accessed June 5, 2013. "The New Jersey Express has been in the circuit that brought the red, white and blue ball and three-point shot into the sport 45 years ago, since 2005, but is in its first season of calling the Reeves Gymnasium and Hackettstown its home."</ref>
• Hackettstown High School sports teams are known as the Tigers and compete as part of the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference.<ref>Member Schools, Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. Accessed October 1, 2022.</ref>
• The Centenary University sports teams are known as the Cyclones.<ref>Home Page, Centenary Cyclones. Accessed October 1, 2022.</ref>
• The Hackettstown Harleys ice hockey team was founded in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Government

Local government

Hackettstown operates under a mayor-council form of government that was created by a special charter adopted by the New Jersey Legislature and approved by the voters in 1970.<ref>Charter and General Code Ordinance, p .420. Updated through December 31, 2018. Accessed September 1, 2020. "On September 23, 1970, an Act to provide a special charter for the Town of Hackettstown was adopted by the Legislature. This act was approved by the voters on November 3, 1970, and became effective at that time."</ref> The town is one of 11 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that operate under a special charter.<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 town's governing body is comprised of a strong mayor who serves a three-year term of office and six councilpersons who are elected at large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats up for election each year.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 125.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 15. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The mayor is the town's chief executive officer, overseeing its day-to-day operation and presenting an annual budget. The council is the town's legislative body. The mayor attends town council meetings, but may only vote in the event of a tie. The mayor may veto ordinances passed by the council, which can be overridden with the votes of four council members.<ref>Town of Hackettstown Organization Template:Webarchive, Town of Hackettstown. Accessed July 3, 2006.</ref>

Template:As of, the mayor of Hackettstown is Republican Gerald DiMaio Jr. whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Town Council are Jody Becker (R, 2024), Matthew Engelau (R, 2022), Leonard Kunz (R, 2023), James Lambo (R, 2022; elected to serve an unexpired term), Scott Sheldon (R, 2024) and Eric Tynan (R, 2023).<ref name=MayorCouncil>Mayor and Town Council, Town of Hackettstown. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref><ref>2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Town of Hackettstown. Accessed July 30, 2022.</ref><ref name=Warren2021>Summary Results Report 2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Warren2020>Warren County 2020 General Election November 20, 2020 Official Results, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Warren2019>General Election November 5, 2019, Warren County Official Tally, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 12, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

James Lambo was selected from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill a vacant seat. The seat, which expired in December 2018, was vacated by William Conforti in August 2016, after his announcement that he was moving out of the municipality. Lambo served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election during which he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref>Novak, Steve. "Another Warren County town dealing with elected officials' resignations", The Express-Times, October 4, 2016. Accessed February 2, 2018. "Councilman William Conforti resigned from the municipal government Aug. 5 because he was moving out of town.... Council appointed James Lambo to fill the slot. His name is to be put on November ballot to fill the remainder of the term, which expires at the end of 2018, town Clerk/Administrator William Kuster said."</ref><ref name=Warren2016>General Election November 8, 2016, Warren County Official Tally Template:Webarchive, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 16, 2016. Accessed January 30, 2017.</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Hackettstown is located in the 7th congressional district<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of the 23rd 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>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 5,410 registered voters in Hackettstown, of which 1,169 (21.6% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,764 (32.6% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 2,468 (45.6% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 9 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name="VoterRegistration">Voter Registration Summary - Warren, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed June 5, 2013.</ref> Among the town's 2010 Census population, 55.6% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 69.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% 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 June 5, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,973 votes (52.2% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,661 votes (44.0% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 77 votes (2.0% vs. 1.7%), among the 3,777 ballots cast by the town's 5,516 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.5% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Warren County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed June 5, 2013.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Warren County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed June 5, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 2,090 votes (52.7% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,724 votes (43.4% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 64 votes (1.6% vs. 1.6%), among the 3,969 ballots cast by the town's 5,437 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.0% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Warren County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed June 5, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 2,368 votes (60.3% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,492 votes (38.0% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 48 votes (1.2% vs. 1.3%), among the 3,928 ballots cast by the town's 5,241 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.9% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Warren County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed June 5, 2013.</ref>

Template:PresHead Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow Template:PresRow |}

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.5% of the vote (1,543 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 25.6% (545 votes), and other candidates with 1.9% (41 votes), among the 2,166 ballots cast by the town's 5,608 registered voters (37 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 38.6%.<ref name="2013Elections">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="2013VoterReg">Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,547 votes (61.1% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 662 votes (26.1% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 250 votes (9.9% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 30 votes (1.2% vs. 1.5%), among the 2,533 ballots cast by the town's 5,321 registered voters, yielding a 47.6% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Warren County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed June 5, 2013.</ref>

Education

File:Old Main, Centenary University, Hackettstown, NJ.jpg

Edward Seay Administration Building, Centenary University

The Hackettstown School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Hackettstown Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Hackettstown School District. Accessed November 9, 2023. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Hackettstown School District. Composition: The Hackettstown School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Hackettstown and middle and high school pupils from Allamuchy and Great Meadows."</ref> The district serves students in four schools: two elementary schools (covering K-4), a middle school (5–8), and a four-year high school (9–12). As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 2,003 students and 172.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Hackettstown Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Hackettstown School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>) are Hatchery Hill School<ref>Hatchery Hill School, Hackettstown School District. Accessed November 9, 2023.</ref> with 275 students in grades PreK-1, Willow Grove School<ref>Willow Grove School, Hackettstown School District. Accessed November 9, 2023.</ref> with 368 students in grades 2–4, Hackettstown Middle School<ref>Hackettstown Middle School, Hackettstown School District. Accessed November 9, 2023.</ref> with 475 students in grades 5-8 and Hackettstown High School<ref>Hackettstown High School, Hackettstown School District. Accessed November 9, 2023.</ref> with 869 students in grades 9–12.<ref>Building Level Administration, Hackettstown School District. Accessed November 9, 2023.</ref><ref>2023-2024 Public School Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed November 9, 2023.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Hackettstown Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Hackettstown School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> Students from the townships of Allamuchy, Independence, and Liberty, attend the district's high school as part of sending/receiving relationships.<ref>Hackettstown High School 2013 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 20, 2016. "Hackettstown High School serves the communities of Hackettstown, Allamuchy, Independence, and Liberty."</ref> For the 2001–2002 school year, Hackettstown Middle School was recognized with the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence from the United States Department of Education, the highest honor that an American school can achieve.<ref>Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed September 1, 2020.</ref>

Students from the town and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township (for grades K–8)<ref>F.A.Q., Ridge and Valley Charter School. Accessed July 17, 2017. "Enrollment is open, on a space available basis, to all K-8 students residing in N.J. with priority given to students residing in the districts of Blairstown, Hardwick, Knowlton, Frelinghuysen, and North Warren Regional School."</ref> or Warren County Technical School in Washington borough (for 9–12),<ref>About Us Template:Webarchive, Warren County Technical School. Accessed September 12, 2013.</ref> with special education services provided by local districts supplemented throughout the county by the Warren County Special Services School District in Oxford Township (for Pre-K–12).<ref>About Template:Webarchive, Warren County Special Services School District. Accessed September 12, 2013.</ref>

Centenary University, a private university affiliated with the United Methodist Church, was founded in 1867 as a preparatory school and evolved into a junior college and later a four-year undergraduate college. In 2017 the college was granted University status by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.<ref>History and Traditions, Centenary University. Accessed March 31, 2020. "Founded in 1867 by the Newark Conference of the United Methodist Church, Centenary University has evolved from a coeducational preparatory school into a modern, independent, four-year baccalaureate and master-level institution of higher learning."</ref>Centenary University is the only four-year post-secondary institution in Warren County.

Media

• WRNJ at 1510 AM and simulcast on FM Translators 92.7 FM 104.7 FM and 105.7 FM, is licensed to Hackettstown and locally owned and operated.<ref>Home Page, WRNJ. Accessed October 6, 2019.</ref>
• WXPJ at 91.9 FM – Originally Centenary University radio, the station was sold in 2015 and is owned and operated by the University of Pennsylvania.<ref>Blumenthal, Jeff. "WXPN expands reach by acquiring North Jersey radio station", Philadelphia Business Journal, October 12, 2015. Accessed March 20, 2023. "The ownership of WNTI (91.9 FM), the public radio station owned by Centenary College of Hackettstown, N.J., was transferred to WXPN, which will begin broadcasting its music programming on its new property beginning on Thursday at 12 p.m. FCC approval of the transaction is expected to take 60 to 90 days after the filing."</ref>
• Two regional Advance Digital publications serve the town, The Star-Ledger of Newark, and The Express-Times of Easton, Pa. The company formerly kept a newsroom for the free weekly newspaper The Warren Reporter on East Moore Street, which has since been closed and folded into its digital products.<ref>Home Page, NJ.com. Accessed May 17, 2023.</ref>

Transportation

File:2018-06-28 14 39 47 View east along U.S. Route 46 (Main Street-Mill Street) just east of New Jersey State Route 182 and Warren County Route 517 (Mountain Avenue) in Hackettstown, Warren County, New Jersey.jpg

U.S. Route 46 in Hackettstown

Roads and highways

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

Passing through Hackettstown are U.S. Route 46, Route 57, and County Route 517. Route 182 exists completely within the boundaries of Hackettstown. Interstate 80 runs to the north of the town.

Public transportation

File:Hackettstown station - March 2017.jpg

Hackettstown station

The Hackettstown station is the western terminus of the NJ Transit Morristown Line and the Montclair-Boonton Line, which both provide service to Hoboken Terminal with connections to Pennsylvania Station in Midtown Manhattan via Midtown Direct trains. New Jersey Transit bus service used to be provided on the MCM5 and 973 local routes before they were discontinued.<ref>Warren County Bus rail Connections, NJ Transit, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 22, 2009. Accessed June 6, 2013.</ref>

Warren County operates a shuttle along Route 57 to Washington Township that operates on an hourly loop on weekdays, with connections available to a shuttle to Phillipsburg.<ref>Warren County Transportation (WCT) Shuttles and Demand Response, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 11, 2022. "The Washington – Hackettstown Shuttle runs Monday – Friday starting at 8:00 a.m. with the last run beginning at 4:30 p.m. Shuttles operate on a schedule with stops every 60 minutes at key locations along the route."</ref><ref>Washington To Hackettstown and Back Shuttle Map, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 11, 2022.</ref>

Airports

Hackettstown is located Template:Convert from Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark / Elizabeth. Lehigh Valley International Airport, near Allentown, Pennsylvania, is Template:Convert away.

Hackettstown Airport, a small general aviation airport with the official database designation of Template:Airport codes is located in adjoining Mansfield Township, only a few hundred yards from the municipal border with Hackettstown proper.

Points of interest

• Union Cemetery, Mountain Avenue
• Mars Wrigley US Headquarters

• Historical Society Museum<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  Historical Society Museum<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Jacob C. Allen House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
  Jacob C. Allen House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
• First Presbyterian Church<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  First Presbyterian Church<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Old Presbyterian Burial Ground<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  Old Presbyterian Burial Ground<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Hackettstown Free Public Library
  Hackettstown Free Public Library
• Hackettstown Community Center
  Hackettstown Community Center
• 400 West Moore Street
  400 West Moore Street
• Hackettstown Medical Center
  Hackettstown Medical Center

Notable people

File:Bulkeley MOH.jpg

Lt. Bulkeley receiving the Medal of Honor Template:Circa

File:Izetta Jewel 01.JPG

Izetta Jewel Template:Circa

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hackettstown include:

• Abraham H. Albertson (1872–1964), one of Seattle's most prominent architects of the first half of the 20th century<ref>Landmark Nomination for Frances Skinner Edris Nurses Home, City of Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board. Accessed January 25, 2020. "Born in New Jersey, Albertson lived in Hackettstown, NJ, in 1880."</ref>
• Stevo Bednarsky (born 1998), soccer player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• John D. Bulkeley (1911–1996), Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, Medal of Honor winner, PT boat skipper who evacuated General Douglas MacArthur from Corregidor<ref>Vachon, Duane. "John D. Bulkeley Vice Admiral USN – A Gitmo Hero, Hawaii Reporter, March 21, 2014. accessed January 17, 2019. "John Duncan Bulkeley was born on August 19, 1911 at New York City. He grew up on a farm in Hackettstown, New Jersey and graduated from Hackettstown High School."</ref>
• Bette Cooper (1920–2017), Miss America 1937<ref>Staff. "Sororities Admit 85 At Centenary Junior; Majority of Students Named to Three Societies Are From New York Area", The New York Times, November 21, 1937. Accessed September 12, 2018. "Miss Bette Cooper of this community, who was chosen Miss America for 1937 at the Atlantic City beauty contest in September, is a new member of Delta Sigma Sigma."</ref><ref>MacFarland, James M. "No Headline", The New York Times, October 16, 1983. Accessed July 6, 2012. "If memory serves me correctly, Miss Cooper then lived in Hackettstown, where her parents lived. She confounded the Atlantic City pageant officials by not returning for the after-contest festivities. Later, she attended Centenary College in Hackettstown."</ref>
• Jim Courter (born 1941), former Member of Congress<ref>"Katrina Courter, Taylor Whitman", The New York Times, September 10, 2006. Accessed September 20, 2007. "Katrina Janis Courter, a daughter of Carmen and former Representative Jim Courter of Hackettstown, N.J., and Taylor Prentice Whitman, the son of former Gov. Christie Todd Whitman and John Russell Whitman of Oldwick, N.J., were married yesterday at Watch Hill Chapel in Rhode Island."</ref>
• Jonathan Townley Crane (1819–1880), clergyman, author, abolitionist, father of author Stephen Crane, founder of Centenary Collegiate Institute<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Christina Desiderio (born 2000), artistic gymnast<ref>Reinhard, Paul. "Christina Desiderio heads to U.S. Olympic Trials in California this week, keeping alive a streak for her Allentown gymnastics training center" Template:Webarchive, The Morning Call, July 4, 2016. Accessed September 10, 2017. "Desiderio, who will be 16 next month, came to the Parkettes gym just prior to her 10th birthday when another gym just five minutes from her Hackettstown, N.J., home was no longer a challenge for her."</ref>
• John DiMaio (born 1955), member of the New Jersey General Assembly who served as mayor of Hackettstown from 1991 to 1999<ref>Assemblyman John DiMaio Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed July 19, 2011.</ref>
• Brian Fallon (born 1980), lead singer for The Gaslight Anthem / The Horrible Crowes<ref>Jordan, Chris. "Gaslight Anthem guys teach old friends American Slang", Courier News, July 29, 2010, backed up by the Internet Archive as of October 2, 2012. Accessed September 10, 2017. "DuHamel and Gaslight's Brian Fallon have been friends since the two spent their teenage years in Hackettstown together."</ref>
• John Clifford Heed (1862–1908), composer and musician, best known for composing over 60 marches<ref>Sunderman Conservatory Wind Symphony program, Gettysburg College, December 4, 2015. Accessed September 10, 2017. "John Clifford Heed was born in Hackettstown, New Jersey in April 1862."</ref>
• Kenneth Hopper (1926–2019), engineer<ref>Hopper, Ken; Hopper, Will. The Puritan Gift: Triumph, Collapse and Revival of an American Dream, p. xiii. I.B.Tauris, 2007. Template:ISBN. Accessed August 12, 2013.</ref>
• Izetta Jewel (1883–1978), born Izetta Jewel Kenney, actress and women's rights activist<ref>Izetta Jewel Papers Template:Webarchive, Harvard University. Accessed August 30, 2012.</ref>
• Ken Kelsch (1947–2023), cinematographer of films including Bad Lieutenant and Big Night<ref>Ken Kelsch, Mandy.com. Accessed December 27, 2023. "Location: Hackettstown, New Jersey, USA"</ref>
• Cole Kimball (born 1985), pitcher who has played for the Washington Nationals<ref>Morrow, Geoff. "Commentary: Cole Kimball provides the Harrisburg Senators serious attitude", The Patriot-News, August 15, 2010. Accessed May 30, 2013. "Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Kimball lived in the New York City borough until he was 7. Then his family, including two sisters and a brother, moved to Hackettstown, N.J.... After college stints at St. John's University and Division III Centenary College, the latter just down the street from his Hackettstown home, Kimball was selected in the 12th round by the Washington Nationals in the 2006 amateur draft."</ref>
• William Logan (1914–2002), cyclist who competed in the tandem and team pursuit events at the 1936 Summer Olympics<ref>William Logan Bio, Stats, and Results, Sports Reference. Accessed September 10, 2017.</ref>
• Kristen Maloney (born 1981), former gymnastics Olympian<ref>Havsy, Jane. "Olympic Dreams Come True", Daily Record, September 14, 2000. Accessed May 10, 2011. "Gymnast Kristen Maloney was born in Hackettstown though she attended Pen Argyl, Pa High School and trains with the Parkettes in Pennsylvania."</ref>
• Naked Cowboy (stage name of Robert John Burck, born 1970), street performer and 2012 Presidential candidate<ref>via Associated Press. "He's baaack — 'Naked Cowboy' belts out tunes in Times Square", Deseret News, July 29, 2001. Accessed January 25, 2020. "So why give up the excitement of the rest of America to settle down in Hackettstown, N.J., and commute to Times Square every day? 'I get paid tons of money, but that's not important,' said Burck, who claims to make nearly $600 a day by charging a dollar to let people take his picture."</ref>
• Louis F. Post (1849–1928), journalist, lawyer, author, former US Attorney, former Assistant United States Secretary of Labor during the Wilson administration<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Jimmi Simpson (born 1975), Emmy nominated film and television actor<ref>Sommers, Michael W. "TV play gives audiences a prime time", The Star-Ledger, December 3, 2007. Accessed May 10, 2011. "A rumpled, dreamy-eyed Farnsworth is portrayed by Jimmi Simpson (a Hackettstown native) with mild manners and a deep sense of purpose."</ref>
• Joe Stanowicz (1921–1999), football player who attended the United States Military Academy where he played at the guard position for the Army Black Knights football team<ref>Staff. "Speedy Backs and Sturdy Line Factors in Army's Success; Cadets Unbeaten In Three Starts", The New York Times, October 13, 1943. Accessed September 12, 2018. "Joe Stanowicz, a Hackettwtown, N. J., boy who later went to Blair Academy, where he starred as fullback, has been remolded into a tackle, giving the Cadets two 215-pounders at these important slots, while McCorkle is a converted end."</ref>
• Anthony Veneziano (born 1997), Major League Baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals<ref>Anthony Veneziano, MLB.com. Accessed November 9, 2023. "Born: 9/01/1997 in Hackettstown, NJ"</ref>
• George Theodore Werts (1846–1910), Governor of New Jersey (1893–1896)<ref>"New Jersey Governor George Theodore Werts", National Governors Association. Accessed September 10, 2017. "George T. Werts, the thirty-fifth governor of New Jersey, was born in Hackettstown, New Jersey on March 24, 1846."</ref>

External links

• Official website
• Hackettstown Historical Society
• Chronological History of Hackettstown (1712-1953)
• Hackettstown Fire Department History