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Vernon Township, New Jersey

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Vernon Township is a township in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located about a one hour drive from New York City and is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 22,358,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 1,585 (−6.6%) from the 2010 census count of 23,943,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 743 (−3.0%) from the 24,686 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> It is both the most populous municipality<ref name=LWD2020/> and the largest in area in the county.<ref name=CensusArea/>

Vernon is home to Mountain Creek (formerly Great Gorge and Vernon Valley), a ski resort and water park as well as the Crystal Springs Resort's Minerals Hotel and Elements Spa. The Hidden Valley ski resort, which opened in 1976 and occupied a Template:Convert property that included one of New Jersey's three remaining downhill skiing facilities, closed at the end of the 2013 season and could find no buyers at an auction held that year;<ref>De Poto, Tom. "Hidden Valley Ski Resort fails to sell at auction", The Star-Ledger, October 1, 2013. Accessed December 14, 2014. "Hidden Valley Ski Resort, which was on the auction block this morning, is still in search of a new owner.... The 140-acre resort in Vernon closed at the end of last season after 36 years of operation. It is one of only three down hill ski slopes in New Jersey."</ref> it has since reopened as the National Winter Activity Center. The Great Gorge Playboy Club was located in the Vernon community of McAfee, but was sold and turned into a hotel called the Legends Resort & Country Club. Opened in 1972 at a cost of $20 million (equivalent to $Template:Inflation million in Template:Inflation/year), featuring 700 rooms and 27 holes of golf, the hotel was sold to Americana in 1982 and later was resold to Metairie Corp. which branded the property as the Legends Resort and Country Club. In 2017, the township started eviction proceedings against low-income residents who had been living in the defunct resort on a permanent basis.<ref>Genader, Ann. "Remembering Hugh Hefner's Great Gorge Playboy Club", The Record, August 30, 2017. Accessed November 5, 2017. "The hotel was sold to the Americana chain in 1982. Reports at the time said the resort had been losing money for years. Later, sold again it was turned into the Seasons Hotel. Still later Seasons was sold to Metairie Corp. which turned into the Legends Resort and Country Club. The hotel has been derelict and permanently closed to public operations for many years. In February 2017 Vernon Township began to evict low-income full-time residents of the hotel. Township officials said the owner rented rooms out illegally and that health and safety issues had to be addressed."</ref>

History

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The independent township of Vernon was established on April 8, 1793, from portions of Hardyston Township, and the township was formally incorporated on February 21, 1798.<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. 232. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The Template:Convert which marked the town's borders over 200 years ago have not changed since. However, the population of Vernon, which was 1,548 people as recently as 1950, has steadily grown since the 1960s, when the ski industry was introduced to the area. Additional growth has come as home prices have soared in the inner suburbs of New York City and property buyers seek the better values available from real estate developments in the area.

Iron mining in the town of Vernon was prevalent during the mid-to-late 19th century. Mines such as the Canistear Mine, Williams Mine, and the Pochuk Mine created industry which spawned local businesses, and brought rail travel to the town.

It is not known how Vernon Township got its name, but a number of theories have been offered by author Ronald J. Dupont Jr.:

  • Admiral Edward Vernon. Dupont writes that this is very possible because of two things: 1. the township was created in 1792, the year that George Washington was reelected as president, and 2. because Vernon Township's first Masonic Lodge in 1820 was named Mount Vernon (Washington was also a Freemason during his life), likely after Washington's Virginia residence. The residence, in turn, got its name because Washington's brother Lawrence Washington served with Admiral Vernon.<ref name="Dupont Jr.">Dupont Jr., Ronald J. Vernon 200--A Bicentennial History of the Township of Vernon, New Jersey: 1792-1992. (The Friends of the Dorothy E. Henry Library, McAfee, NJ, 1992) pg. 53</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 18, 2015.</ref>
  • A family named Vernon. Not likely, Dupont says, although he notes that a Nathaniel Vernon was a licensed tavernkeeper in Sussex County in 1756. However, the tavern was likely elsewhere, and not in what is now Vernon.<ref name="Dupont Jr."/>
  • The Latin root "Vernus." One form of "vernus" is "vernal," as in vernal equinox ("spring"), and so Vernon "had connotations of spring: green, lush, fresh, fertile, etc., and hence was an attractive name for a place."<ref name="Dupont Jr."/>

Dupont Jr. also writes that in the late 19th century two places named Vernon existed, one in Sussex County and another in Essex County. When the Essex County community was granted a post office, they found out that another Vernon existed, and so they eventually named the community Verona.<ref>Verona New Jersey Historical Photographs and History, First Baptist Church of Bloomfield. Accessed June 13, 2006.</ref>

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 69.96 square miles (181.19 km2), including 67.60 square miles (175.07 km2) of land and 2.36 square miles (6.12 km2) of water (3.38%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Highland Lakes (2010 Census population of 4,933<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Highland Lakes CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 5, 2012.</ref>), Vernon Center (2010 Census population of 1,713<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Vernon Center CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 5, 2012.</ref>) and Vernon Valley (1,626 as of 2010<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Vernon Valley CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 5, 2012.</ref>) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Vernon Township.<ref>GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Sussex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 26, 2013.</ref><ref>2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 26, 2013.</ref><ref name=CPH232>New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed February 26, 2013.</ref>

The township is bordered by the municipalities of Hardyston Township and Wantage Township in Sussex County; West Milford Township in Passaic County; and the Town of Warwick in Orange County.<ref>Sussex County Map, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed March 10, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Elevation varies greatly due to the valleys, rolling hills, and mountains. The United States Geological Survey places Glenwood at Template:Convert, McAfee at Template:Convert, and Highland Lakes at Template:Convert.

The township is located in the Kittatinny Valley which is a section of the Great Appalachian Valley that stretches Template:Convert from Canada to Alabama.

The City of Newark in Essex County owns Template:Convert of land in the township that are part of their Pequannock River Watershed, which provides water to the city from a total area of Template:Convert that also includes portions of Hardyston Township, Jefferson Township, Kinnelon, Rockaway Township and West Milford.<ref>Primerano, Jane. "Newark appealing watershed taxes against Jefferson", AIM Jefferson, May 8, 2015. Accessed July 2, 2015. "Besides West Milford and Jefferson, Newark owns watershed land in Hardyston, Vernon, and Rockaway Townships and Kinnelon Borough, Leach said."</ref><ref>City of Newark v. Vernon Tp., Leagle from Tax Court of New Jersey, April 1, 1980. Accessed July 2, 2015. "The City of Newark appeals the denial of the Sussex County Tax Board of its claim for a reduction of assessments of 5,424 acres of vacant watershed land in the Township of Vernon for the years 1973, 1974 and 1976.... Generally, the lands are part of the 35,000-acre Pequannock Watershed (approximately two times the size of Newark), which was purchased by Newark at the turn of the century to provide a water supply. The watershed, which contains five major bodies of water, is located in Vernon and Hardyston in Sussex County, Jefferson, Rockaway and Kinnelon in Morris County, and West Milford in Passaic County."</ref>

Communities and neighborhoods

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Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include:<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref><ref name=About>About Vernon, Vernon Township.Accessed June 19, 2020. "Communities within the township include Glenwood, Highland Lakes, McAfee, Vernon Valley, Barry Lakes and Lake Wallkill."</ref>

  • Barry Lakes
  • Canistear Reservoir
  • Cedar Ridge
  • Cliffwood Lake
  • DeKays
  • Glenwood
  • Great Gorge
  • High Breeze
  • Highland Lakes
  • Independence Corners
  • Kampe P.O.
  • Lake Conway
  • Lake Panorama
  • Lake Pochung
  • Lake Wanda
  • Lake Wallkill
  • Lake Wilderwood
  • Maple Grange
  • McAfee
  • Mud Pond
  • Owens
  • Pleasant Valley Lake
  • Prices Switch
  • Scenic Lake
  • Vernon Village "Town Center"
  • Vernon Valley a.k.a. "The Valley"
  • Vernon Valley Lake
  • Wawayanda
  • Wawayanda Lake

Glenwood and McAfee are located in the western portion of the township, McAfee to the South and Glenwood to the North. Highland Lakes is in the Eastern portion of the township. Pleasant Valley Lake is in the southwest portion of the township. Four of these sections have a post office. Vernon also has many developments.

Vernon is home to many lake communities, including Highland Lakes, Barry Lakes, Cliffwood Lake, High Breeze, Lake Conway, Lake Wanda, Laurel Lake, Lake Wildwood, Lake Panorama, Lake Pochung, Lake Wallkill, Pleasant Valley Lake, Scenic Lakes, and Vernon Valley Lake.

The township's largest housing complex is Great Gorge Village. Originally built as a slope-side vacation housing development with 1,356 units, the village is no longer affiliated with the ski resort and is operated by real estate investor Andrew Mulvihill. Village residents, who pay $5.5 million in condominium fees to cover services, have argued that Mulvihill and affiliated businesses have used their control of the community's board of directors to direct contracts to affiliated vendors.<ref>Obernauer, Eric. "Great Gorge Village residents air complaints", New Jersey Herald, June 25, 2017. Accessed November 5, 2017. "With residents of the 1,356-unit Great Gorge Village in an uprising against resort and real estate magnate Andrew Mulvihill and his associates, who together hold a majority of seats on the condominium community's board of directors, a showdown could be looming when the board — known as the master council — holds its next meeting July 12, 7 p.m. at Minerals Sports Club. Residents of the village, which collects nearly $5.5 million in dues from condo owners each year for management and upkeep, are openly complaining of bid-rigging and backroom deals with vendors controlled by Mulvihill."</ref>

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2010 census

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The 2010 United States census counted 23,943 people, 8,622 households, and 6,596 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 10,958 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 95.18% (22,790) White, 1.39% (332) Black or African American, 0.17% (40) Native American, 0.78% (186) Asian, 0.03% (8) Pacific Islander, 1.10% (263) from other races, and 1.35% (324) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.41% (1,534) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 8,622 households, 35.6% had children under the age of 18; 63.0% were married couples living together; 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.5% were non-families. Of all households, 19.0% were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.18.<ref name=Census2010/>

24.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 34.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 102.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 101.2 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $81,129 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,949) and the median family income was $87,215 (+/− $4,152). Males had a median income of $62,462 (+/− $3,163) versus $41,917 (+/− $2,121) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,649 (+/− $1,365). About 3.2% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Vernon township, Sussex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 5, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 24,686 people, 8,368 households, and 6,610 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 9,994 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 96.56% White, 0.76% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.60% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Vernon township, Sussex County, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 5, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Vernon township, Sussex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2012.</ref>

There were 8,368 households, out of which 45.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.35.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $67,566, and the median income for a family was $72,609. Males had a median income of $50,084 versus $33,292 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,250. About 2.8% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Economy

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The primary satellite uplink earth terminal facility for Sirius XM Radio is located in Vernon,<ref>Sirius Radio Service Template:Webarchive, Houston Media Systems. Accessed June 5, 2012. "Another limitation on service for Sirius' system is the satellite uplink (what Sirius is sending to the satellites). The satellite uplink from Sirius comes from Vernon, NJ, USA."</ref> as is the Vernon Valley uplink facility for SES Worldcom.

Parks and recreation

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Government

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Local government

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In a November 2010 referendum, 70% of voters approved a change from the Faulkner Act (council–manager) form of government to the mayor–council form. Under the new plan, a mayor directly elected by the voters oversees the day-to-day operation of the township with the aid of a business manager, subject to the oversight of a five-member Township Council. The Mayor and Council took office after elections in May 2011, replacing the previously existing council.<ref>Molnar, Phillip. "Vernon votes for change in form of government"Template:Dead link, New Jersey Herald, November 2, 2010. Accessed July 25, 2011. "A May election will now decide an elected mayor and a new five-person council. The new Township Council will be seated July 1, and would appoint a new township administrator. Vernon's current Faulkner Act council-manager form of government, in which the township manager makes most decisions for the township (after council approval), will now become a mayor-council form, in which an elected mayor will be the executive in the township."</ref> The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> Under the terms of an ordinance passed in August 2011, the township's elections were shifted from May to November, with the council citing savings from eliminating the standalone municipal election.<ref>Ordinance No. 11-19, Vernon Township. Accessed October 29, 2014. "An ordinance establishing the Vernon Township municipal elections on the same day as November general elections held and extending the terms of office for the existing mayor and council members pursuant to law."</ref>

The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member Township Council, who are directly elected by the voters on an at-large basis to staggered four-year terms of office on a non-partisan basis, with either two or three seats up for election in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election. Three council seats come up for election together and the two other council seats and the mayoral seat are up for vote together two years later.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 109.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 10. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> Under the current plan, Vernon has a "strong mayor" system of government in which the mayor heads the executive branch, overseeing township functions, enforcing all ordinances and other regulations, appoints department heads and prepares a budget, with the assistance of a business administrator. The Township Council is the legislative branch, responsible for enacting ordinances, approving the mayor's department head appointments, can remove employees for cause and can modify the mayor's budget by majority vote, though budget increases require a two-thirds majority. The mayor has the option to attend and speak at council meetings but is not given a vote.<ref>About Town Hall, Vernon Township. Accessed June 7, 2022. "On July 1, 2011, following a November 2010 referendum, Vernon Township’s form of government changed from a Faulkner Act council-manager form of government to a nonpartisan Faulkner Act mayor-council form. Under this form of government, also known as the “strong mayor” form, voters directly elect a mayor who serves as the chief executive.... The township council serves as the legislative branch of the township. Jointly, its five members are responsible for all policy-making, such as enacting ordinances, approving the mayor’s appointments and appointment of the township clerk."</ref>

Template:As of, the Mayor is Anthony L. Rossi, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.<ref name=Mayor>Mayor's Office, Vernon Township. Accessed February 1, 2024. "Under Vernon’s mayor-council form of government, the mayor is elected directly by the voters and serves as the township’s chief executive."</ref> Members of the Vernon Township Council are Council President Patrick Rizzuto (2025), Council Vice President Natalie Buccieri (2025), Jessica DeBenedetto (2025; elected to serve an unexpired term), William J. Higgins (2027) and Bradley D. Sparta (2027).<ref name=Council>Township Council: About, Vernon Township. Accessed April 23, 2023. "The township council is the elected governing body responsible for legislative functions in Vernon Township. It is comprised of five members, all of whom are elected at-large. Subsequent to the implementation of Vernon’s new form of government on July 1, 2011, initial council terms are staggered—three members serve for two years and two members serve for four years. Going forward, all will serve for a term of four years."</ref><ref>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Vernon 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>

In February 2023, Peg Distasi was appointed to the seat expiring in December 2025 that had been held by Bryan Lynch; the seat will come up for election in November 2023 for the balance of the term.<ref>Zummo, Mike. "Distasi chosen to fill vacant council seat", Advertiser-News North, February 13, 2023. Accessed April 23, 2023. "Peg Distasi was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Vernon Township Council at its Feb. 6 meeting. Former council president Brian Lynch resigned his seat in January.... Voters will elect a candidate in November to fill the rest of Lynch’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2025."</ref> In the November 2023 general election, Jessica DeBenedetto was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Sussex2023/>

In November 2022, the council appointed Joe Tadrick to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Harry Shortway the previous month due to health issues.<ref>Zummo, Mike. "Shortway resigns from Vernon council", Advertiser-News North, October 17, 2022. Accessed April 23, 2023. "Vernon Township Councilman Harry Shortway on Oct. 15 officially resigned his position due to health reasons."</ref><ref>Zummo, Mike. "Tadrick appointed to Vernon council", Advertiser-News North, November 14, 2022. Accessed April 23, 2023. "The Vernon Township Council on Nov. 10 appointed Joe Tadrick to fill the vacancy created by last month’s resignation of Councilman Harry Shortway. Shortway resigned his seat on Oct. 15 after announcing he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer for the second time. Tadrick will fill the remaining term, which is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2023."</ref>

In October 2021, the Township Council selected Michael Furrey to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Kelly Weller until she stepped down from office earlier that month after announcing that she was moving out of the township.<ref>Zummo, Mike. "Utilities chair Mike Furrey fills vacancy on Vernon council", Advertiser-News, October 22, 2021. Accessed June 7, 2022. "Mike Furrey will replace Kelly Weller on the Vernon Township Council until the next general election next year.... Weller submitted her resignation on Oct. 1. She is moving out of Vernon Township.... Furrey will fill Weller’s seat until Nov. 8, 2022, when voters will elect the person who will fill the remainder of her term, set to expire on Dec. 31, 2023."</ref> Furrey served on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election, when Bradley D. Sparta was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Sussex2022/>

The Township Council selected Toni Cilli in January 2021 to fill the seat held by Jean Murphy running to December 2021.<ref>Zummo, Mike. "Toni Cilli to fill Jean Murphy’s seat on Vernon council", Advertiser-News, January 22, 2021. Accessed June 7, 2022. "The Vernon Township Council on Jan. 11 unanimously appointed Toni Cilli to fill the remainder of former Councilwoman Jean Murphy’s term. Murphy, who announced her resignation via a letter read by Township Council Vice President John Auberger on Jan. 1, was scheduled to serve until Dec. 31."</ref>

Andrew Pitsker took office in July 2020 after being chosen to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held until Mark Van Tassel left office the previous month.<ref>"Vernon appoints Andrew Pitsker to open council seat", New Jersey Herald, July 14, 2020. Accessed June 7, 2022. "The Township Council appointed Andrew Pitsker to its open seat Monday night following a 30-minute discussion, two nominations and the reading of private emails that put a council member at odds with the mayor. Pitsker fills the seat left empty by Mark Van Tassel’s resignation last month with a 3-2 vote."</ref> Pitsker served on an interim basis until the November 2020 general election, when he was elected to serve the remainder of the term.<ref name=Sussex2020>Election Summary November 3, 2020 General Election Official Amended Results, Sussex County, New Jersey, updated December 10, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

Four members of the governing body were elected in May 2011 and took office on July 1, 2011, Jean Murphy was elected in November 2014 just beating Edward Dunn.<ref name=Sussex2013>Sussex County General and School Election November 5, 2013 Summary Report Official Results, Sussex County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 7, 2013. Accessed August 1, 2016.</ref><ref>Molnar, Phillip. "Marotta wins Vernon race for mayor" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Herald, May 10, 2011. Accessed July 25, 2011.</ref><ref name=Sussex2011Vernon>Vernon Municipal Election - May 10, 2011 Template:Webarchive, Sussex County, New Jersey Clerk, run date May 11, 2011. Accessed February 26, 2013.</ref>

Emergency services

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Vernon Township is serviced by the Vernon Police Department, one ambulance squad and four fire departments. All of the emergency services are made up of volunteers, except for the police department.

Vernon Fire Department covers a significant portion of "the Valley", Highland Lakes Fire Department covers "the mountain", McAfee Fire Department covers the Pleasant Valley Lake area and Pochuck Valley covers most of the Glenwood section.<ref>Fire Department, Vernon Township. Accessed February 26, 2013.</ref>

Since 2024, Vernon Emergency Medical Services (formed from the merger of the Vernon Township Ambulance Squad and the Glenwood Pochuck Volunteer Ambulance Corps) is split between three stations buildings situated to best serve the township.<ref>Ambulance Squad, Vernon Township. Accessed February 19, 2024. "Vernon Emergency Medical Services (VEMS) is the unified organization that has evolved from the merger of two volunteer-run ambulance squads—Vernon Township Ambulance Squad (VTAS) and the Glenwood Pochuck Volunteer Ambulance Corps (GPVAC)—as of 2024.... Strategically positioned across the township, VEMS operates three stations to optimize response times and coverage."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

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Vernon 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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Template:NJ Sussex County Commissioners

Politics

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As of March 2011, there were a total of 15,476 registered voters in Vernon Township, of which 2,425 (15.7% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 5,489 (35.5% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 7,538 (48.7% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 24 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 26, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 64.6% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 85.4% 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 26, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 6,111 votes (56.8% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 4,322 votes (40.2% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 281 votes (2.6% vs. 2.1%), among the 10,753 ballots cast by the township's 15,729 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.4% (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 26, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 6,778 votes (58.3% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 4,603 votes (39.6% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 184 votes (1.6% vs. 1.5%), among the 11,620 ballots cast by the township's 15,195 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.5% (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 26, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 6,826 votes (62.4% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 3,921 votes (35.8% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 149 votes (1.4% vs. 1.3%), among the 10,939 ballots cast by the township's 14,249 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.8% (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 26, 2013.</ref>

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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.0% of the vote (4,445 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.0% (1,740 votes), and other candidates with 4.0% (257 votes), among the 6,498 ballots cast by the township's 15,896 registered voters (56 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.9%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 4,441 votes (59.5% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 2,106 votes (28.2% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 732 votes (9.8% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 124 votes (1.7% vs. 1.3%), among the 7,458 ballots cast by the township's 15,109 registered voters, yielding a 49.4% 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 26, 2013.</ref>

Education

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The Vernon Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Vernon Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Vernon Township School District, adopted April 21, 2005. Accessed December 30, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-K through twelve in the School District of Vernon Township. Composition: The Vernon Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Vernon Township."</ref> As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 2,941 students and 236.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Vernon Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Vernon Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2025.</ref>) are Walnut Ridge School<ref>Walnut Ridge School, Vernon Township School District. Accessed December 30, 2024.</ref> with 89 students in PreK, Cedar Mountain Primary School<ref>Cedar Mountain Primary School, Vernon Township School District. Accessed December 30, 2024.</ref> with 424 students in grades K–1, Rolling Hills Primary School<ref>Rolling Hills Primary School, Vernon Township School District. Accessed December 30, 2024.</ref> with 406 students in grades 2–3, Lounsberry Hollow School<ref>Lounsberry Hollow School, Vernon Township School District. Accessed December 30, 2024.</ref> with 428 students in grades 4–5, Glen Meadow Middle School<ref>Glen Meadow Middle School, Vernon Township School District. Accessed December 30, 2024.</ref> with 640 students in grades 6–8 and Vernon Township High School<ref>Vernon Township High School, Vernon Township School District. Accessed December 30, 2024.</ref> with 912 students in grades 9–12.<ref>Public School Directory 2024-2025, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed December 1, 2024.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Vernon Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Vernon Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Transportation

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Roads and highways

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File:2021-09-18 15 42 25 View south along New Jersey State Route 94 (McAfee-Vernon Road) from the pedestrian overpass between Sand Hill Road and Columbus Drive in Vernon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey.jpg
Route 94 southbound in Vernon Township

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.<ref>Sussex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

The main highway serving Vernon Township is New Jersey Route 94. Other significant roads passing through Vernon Township include County Route 515, County Route 517 and County Route 565. County Route 644 and County Route 641 also pass through the township. In addition, direct access to Interstate 80 is offered via Route 94, and County Route 565 to Route 23 to Interstate 84 in New York.

Vernon is the site of a wrong-way concurrency at the intersection of Route 94 and County Route 517 in McAfee.Template:Citation needed

Public transportation

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The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway passes through Vernon, but only freight service is offered.

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  • Portions of the 1989 film See No Evil, Hear No Evil were filmed and shot in Vernon at the former Playboy Club, referred to as simply the "Great Gorge Resort" in the movie.<ref>Barbati, Carl. "Return to glory: New owner brings Great Gorge golf course back to life", New Jersey Herald, March 30, 2017. Accessed December 20, 2020. "In 1989, the movie See No Evil, Hear No Evi” was filmed here, starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder."</ref>
  • In 2020, the former Action Park was preserved through its legacy in two memoir adaptations. On June 30, Penguin Random House published the book Action Park by Andy Mulvihill and Jake Rossen, and two months later, HBO Max released the documentary film Class Action Park about the life, times and dangers of the former Action Park.<ref>Syme, Rachel. "The Thrills and Horrors of HBO’s Class Action Park", The New Yorker, September 10, 2020. Accessed December 20, 2020. "I thought about the Beach again—and how a day there always provoked a giddy mix of elation and dread—when I watched the new HBO Max original documentary, 'Class Action Park.' It turns out that my home-town park was tame compared to what was going on in the nineteen-seventies and eighties at Action Park, in Vernon, New Jersey."</ref>

Notable people

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

References

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