Editing Vernon Township, New Jersey (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township had a total area of 69.96 square miles (181.19&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), including 67.60 square miles (175.07&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of land and 2.36 square miles (6.12&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of water (3.38%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

[[Highland Lakes, New Jersey|Highland Lakes]] (2010 Census population of 4,933<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3431405 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Highland Lakes CDP, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212140037/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3431405 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed June 5, 2012.</ref>), [[Vernon Center, New Jersey|Vernon Center]] (2010 Census population of 1,713<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3475745 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Vernon Center CDP, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212153826/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3475745 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed June 5, 2012.</ref>) and [[Vernon Valley, New Jersey|Vernon Valley]] (1,626 as of 2010<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3475750 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Vernon Valley CDP, New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212134526/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US3475750 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed June 5, 2012.</ref>) are [[Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities|unincorporated communities]] and [[census-designated place]]s (CDPs) located within Vernon Township.<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US34037 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] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212202539/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US34037 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed February 26, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www2.census.gov/acs2010_5yr/summaryfile/UserTools/Geography/NJ.xls 2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed February 26, 2013.</ref><ref name=CPH232>[https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-32.pdf 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, New Jersey|Hardyston Township]] and [[Wantage Township, New Jersey|Wantage Township]] in Sussex County; [[West Milford, New Jersey|West Milford Township]] in [[Passaic County, New Jersey|Passaic County]]; and the [[Warwick, New York|Town of Warwick]] in [[Orange County, New York|Orange County]].<ref>[https://www.sussex.nj.us/FCpdf/Sussex%20County%20Map%20-%207-1-03.pdf Sussex County Map], [[Sussex County, New Jersey]]. Accessed March 10, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/polnoroads.pdf 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 {{convert|580|ft|m}}, McAfee at {{convert|435|ft|m}}, and Highland Lakes at {{convert|1260|ft|m}}.

The township is located in the [[Kittatinny Mountains|Kittatinny Valley]] which is a section of the [[Great Appalachian Valley]] that stretches {{convert|700|mi}} from Canada to Alabama.

The City of [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]] in [[Essex County, New Jersey|Essex County]] owns {{convert|5400|acres}} of land in the township that are part of their [[Pequannock River]] Watershed, which provides water to the city from a total area of {{convert|35000|acres}} that also includes portions of [[Hardyston Township, New Jersey|Hardyston Township]], [[Jefferson Township, New Jersey|Jefferson Township]], [[Kinnelon, New Jersey|Kinnelon]], [[Rockaway Township, New Jersey|Rockaway Township]] and [[West Milford, New Jersey|West Milford]].<ref>Primerano, Jane. [http://www.northjersey.com/community-news/newark-appealing-watershed-taxes-against-jefferson-1.1329222 "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>[http://www.leagle.com/decision/1980911NJTax90_180.xml/CITY%20OF%20NEWARK%20v.%20VERNON%20TP. ''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===
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include:<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Locality Search], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref><ref name=About>[http://www.vernontwp.com/about_vernon/overview/ 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, New Jersey|Glenwood]]
*Great Gorge
*High Breeze
*[[Highland Lakes, New Jersey|Highland Lakes]]
*Independence Corners
*Kampe P.O.
*Lake Conway
*Lake Panorama
*Lake Pochung
*Lake Wanda
*Lake Wallkill
*Lake Wilderwood
*Maple Grange
*[[McAfee, New Jersey|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, New Jersey|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. [http://www.njherald.com/20170625/great-gorge-village-residents-air-complaints#// "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>