Montague Township, New Jersey
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement
Montague Township is a township in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, in the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 3,792,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 55 (−1.4%) from the 2010 census count of 3,847,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 435 (+12.7%) from the 3,412 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> High Point, within Montague Township, is the highest elevation within New Jersey at an altitude of Template:Convert above sea level. It is the northernmost town in New Jersey.
Most of the area of Montague Township is public lands, primarily High Point State Park, Stokes State Forest, and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Montague is known for its scenery and wildlife; summer sports in the area include hiking, biking, camping (both public and private campgrounds are available), and fishing.
The derivation of the township's name is uncertain, though suggestions include that it was named after the George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester, as suggested by King George II, who approved the royal patent on March 26, 1759;<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 7, 2015.</ref> for Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, an author who was popular at the time; or for solicitor John Montague.<ref>History of Montague Template:Webarchive, Montague Association for the Restoration of Community History. Accessed May 19, 2013.</ref> Montague was incorporated on February 21, 1798, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships.<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. 231. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref>
The township borders both New York and Pennsylvania, the only municipality in New Jersey to border both states; it is a rural community that does not have any traffic lights.<ref name=JenningsonlyNJ>Template:Cite web</ref> Before Montague Township was granted its own post office in the 1980s, residents had all of their mail delivered through the 12771 ZIP code for Port Jervis, New York, leading to situations where residents had New Jersey driver's licenses with a New York State mailing address.<ref>Hanley, Robert. "New Jersey Journal", The New York Times, May 11, 1980. Accessed February 27, 2020.</ref>
Geography
[edit]According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 46.63 square miles (120.77 km2), including 45.23 square miles (117.15 km2) of land and 1.40 square miles (3.62 km2) of water (3.00%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Brick House, Duttonville, Four Corners, High Point, High Point Park, Lake Marcia, Mashipacong Island, Mashipacong Pond, Millville, and Minisink Island.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>
The Tri-States Monument marks the northwest end of the New Jersey and New York boundary and the north end of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania boundary.<ref name=njgs>Template:Cite web</ref> It is also the northernmost point of New Jersey.<ref name=ccvn>Template:Cite book</ref>
Montague Township borders the municipalities of Sandyston Township and Wantage Township in Sussex County; and New York State.<ref>Sussex County Map, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed February 27, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>
In 2019 only about 30% of the land was available for development, as the federal government and the State of New Jersey collectively own 70% or more of the land in the township.<ref name=JenningsonlyNJ/>
Climate
[edit]This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Montague Township has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.<ref>Climate Summary for Montague Township, New Jersey</ref>
Demographics
[edit]In 2019 over 50% of the people living in the township first settled in the 1980s and 1990s. Rob Jennings of NJ Advance Media described Montague as racially homogeneous.<ref name=JenningsonlyNJ/>
2010 census
[edit]The 2010 United States census counted 3,847 people, 1,535 households, and 1,045 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,802 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 92.33% (3,552) White, 2.63% (101) Black or African American, 0.23% (9) Native American, 1.01% (39) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.46% (56) from other races, and 2.34% (90) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.39% (246) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>
Of the 1,535 households, 26.8% had children under the age of 18; 53.0% were married couples living together; 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.9% were non-families. Of all households, 25.9% were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.03.<ref name=Census2010/>
22.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.2 males.<ref name=Census2010/>
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $64,526 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,763) and the median family income was $68,542 (+/− $13,778). Males had a median income of $44,105 (+/− $14,473) versus $33,996 (+/− $5,832) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,411 (+/− $2,961). About 7.3% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% 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 Montague township, Sussex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 24, 2013.</ref>
2000 census
[edit]As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 3,412 people, 1,286 households, and 910 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,588 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 95.25% White, 1.79% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 1.08% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.28% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Montague township, Sussex County, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 24, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Montague township, Sussex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 24, 2013.</ref>
There were 1,286 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
In the township the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
The median income for a household in the township was $45,368, and the median income for a family was $50,833. Males had a median income of $39,569 versus $25,221 for females. The per capita income for the township was $20,676. About 8.5% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>
Economy
[edit]The central business district, which had five gas stations as of 2019, is on New Jersey Route 23. Business at the gas stations declined after a New Jersey tax increase in 2016 since drivers from New Jersey Route 23 had used the stations to get less inexpensive fuel, as fuel in New York State is more expensive.<ref name=JenningsonlyNJ/>
Parks and recreation
[edit]According to Richard Innella, who served as mayor, previously a softball team for women in Pennsylvania took Montague Township residents.<ref name=JenningsonlyNJ/>
Government
[edit]Local government
[edit]Montague Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.<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 Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election 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><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor, each serving terms of one year.<ref name=Committee/>
Template:As of, members of the Montague Township Committee are Mayor George E. Zitone (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Joseph Krumpfer (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2024), Richard E. Innella (R, 2025), James LeDonne (R, 2024) and Fred Merusi (R, 2026).<ref name=Committee>Mayor & Township Committee, Montague Township. Accessed May 24, 2024. "Montague Township operates under a 'Township' form of government, consisting of 5 members of a Township Committee, elected at-large for staggered 3-year terms. Elections are held annually.... The Mayor is appointed to a 1-year term by the Committee Members at the Reorganization Meeting, which is held in January each year."</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Montague Township. Accessed May 24, 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
[edit]Montague Township 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
[edit]Jennings described the township as leaning towards conservative politics.<ref name=JenningsonlyNJ/> As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,448 registered voters in Montague Township, of which 328 (13.4% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,247 (50.9% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 870 (35.5% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 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 24, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 63.6% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 82.4% 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 24, 2013.</ref>
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,001 votes (63.6% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 530 votes (33.7% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 39 votes (2.5% vs. 2.1%), among the 1,575 ballots cast by the township's 2,426 registered voters, for a turnout of 64.9% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County).<ref>General Election November 6, 2012: District Report - Group Detail Template:Webarchive, Sussex County, New Jersey Clerk, run date November 30, 2012. Accessed February 24, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,150 votes (63.9% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 592 votes (32.9% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 35 votes (1.9% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,799 ballots cast by the township's 2,421 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.3% (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 24, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,072 votes (68.5% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 466 votes (29.8% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 20 votes (1.3% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,564 ballots cast by the township's 2,072 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.5% (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 24, 2013.</ref>
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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 74.6% of the vote (750 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 21.8% (219 votes), and other candidates with 3.7% (37 votes), among the 1,015 ballots cast by the township's 2,446 registered voters (9 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.5%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 832 votes (68.6% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 243 votes (20.0% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 103 votes (8.5% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.8% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,212 ballots cast by the township's 2,402 registered voters, yielding a 50.5% 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 24, 2013.</ref>
Education
[edit]Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Montague Township School District.<ref>Montague Township Board of Education District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Montague Township School District, adopted October 25, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2025. "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 eight in the Montague Township School District. Composition: The Montague Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Montague Township."</ref><ref>Montague Township School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 14, 2017. "Montague Township is located in the Delaware Highlands Region of New Jersey. High Point State Park and Stokes State Forest provide the scenery to this rural Sussex County community. Montague Township School District is a Pre-K through grade 8 school in Sussex County. Montague students attend High Point Regional High School for grades 9 through 12. Sussex County Technical School and parent choice school are also options for students."</ref><ref>Public School Directory 2023-2024, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed December 1, 2024.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Montague Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Montague Township 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 309 students and 37.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.2:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Montague Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend High Point Regional High School, also serves students from Branchville Borough, Frankford Township, Lafayette Township, Sussex Borough and Wantage Township (where the school is located).<ref>2022-23 School Profile, High Point Regional High School. Accessed January 1, 2025. "Located 63 miles northwest of Manhattan in bucolic Sussex County, NJ, High Point serves students from six municipalities: Branchville, Lafayette, Frankford, Montague, Sussex, and Wantage."</ref> As of the 2023–24 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 803 students and 73.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.0:1.<ref>School data for High Point Regional High School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref> They may enroll at Sussex County Technical School, which accepts students on a selective basis,<ref>2023-24 School Profile, Sussex County Technical School. Accessed January 1, 2025. 'Sussex County Technical School (SCTS) offers Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for Sussex County high school students. The academies are public programs of choice for Sussex County residents."</ref> and to the middle school charter program in Sparta Township.
Infrastructure
[edit]The United States Postal Service established a post office in 1980. Prior to that year the post came from Port Jervis, New York with a 12771 zip code, giving the residents New York mailing addresses.<ref name=JenningsonlyNJ/>
Transportation
[edit]Template:As of there are no traffic lights in the town.<ref name=JenningsonlyNJ/>
Template:As of, the township 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 and Template:Convert by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.<ref>Sussex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>
One U.S., state, and major county route each traverses the township. U.S. Route 206 passes through in the western part and crosses the Delaware River at the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge. Route 23 passes through the eastern part and serves as the entrance road to High Point State Park and ends at the New York border just south of Interstate 84. County Route 521 enters Montague concurrent with US 206, separates from US 206 just south of the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge, then heads northeast through the northwest portion of the township before ending at the New York state boundary.
The closest limited access road is Interstate 84 and is immediately over the state line in Deerpark, New York.
In the northernmost section of the township along Route 23, there are several gasoline stations, most likely because gas had historically been significantly less expensive in New Jersey than in Matamoras, Pennsylvania or Port Jervis, New York.
Notable people
[edit]Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Montague Township include:
- Ed Banach (born 1960), athlete who won a gold medal in Freestyle Wrestling in the 198-pound-weight (heavyweight) class at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles<ref name=Banach>Staff. "Branch Twins Grapple With Their Problems", The New York Times, June 22, 1984. Accessed May 3, 2015. "Within a year, Ed and Lou were given up by one couple, but taken in by another one, which also had taken another brother, Steve, who was 5. Ed and Lou were 4. The couple, Alan and Stephanie Tooley, had been married eight years and had given up on having children. They lived in a ranch house on an acre in Montague, N.J."</ref>
- Lou Banach (born 1960), athlete who won a gold medal in Freestyle Wrestling in the 220-pound-weight (heavyweight) class at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles<ref name=Banach/>
- John Westbrook Hornbeck (1804–1848), Whig Party member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania from 1847 to 1848<ref>Hornbeck, John Westbrook, (1804 - 1848), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed May 3, 2015.</ref>
- Daniel Myers Van Auken (1826–1908), was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania from 1867 to 1871<ref>Van Auken, Daniel Myers, (1826 - 1908), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed May 3, 2015.</ref>
- Kinuyo Yamashita, video game music composer and sound producer best known for her soundtrack for Konami's Castlevania<ref>Kinuyo Yamashita, MobyGames. Accessed May 3, 2015.</ref>
- Paul Zindel (1936–2003), playwright, young adult novelist, and educator who wrote The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.<ref>Gavin, John A. "Workshops on words give clue to future", The Record, March 3, 2000. Accessed January 6, 2023, via Newspapers.com. "Paul Zindel, a Pulitzer Prize winner whose novels were required reading for students, gave guidance on how to develop the plot of a mystery.... Zindel, who lives in Montague in Sussex County and teaches part time at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, told students some of the secrets of good writing and recommended books that could sharpen their skills."</ref>
Wineries
[edit]- Westfall Winery - Now defunct. Replaced with a farm animal sanctuary
References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Montague Township website
- Montague Township School District
- Template:NJReportCard
- School Data for the Montague Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics
Template:Sussex County, New Jersey
- Pages with broken file links
- Montague Township, New Jersey
- 1759 establishments in New Jersey
- Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
- Papakating Creek watershed
- Populated places established in 1759
- Township form of New Jersey government
- Townships in New Jersey
- Townships in Sussex County, New Jersey
- New Jersey populated places on the Delaware River