Editing Alpha, New Jersey

{{short description|Borough in Warren County, New Jersey, US}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Alpha, New Jersey
|settlement_type          = [[Borough (New Jersey)|Borough]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Alpha, NJ Volunteer Fire Company, Nov. 2024.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Alpha Volunteer Fire Company
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = Warren_County_New_Jersey_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Alpha_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Alpha in [[Warren County, New Jersey|Warren County]] highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Warren County in [[New Jersey]] highlighted in orange (left).
|image_map1               = Census_Bureau_map_of_Alpha,_New_Jersey.png
|mapsize1                 = 250x200px
|map_caption1             = Census Bureau map of Alpha, New Jersey
|pushpin_map              = USA New Jersey Warren County#USA New Jersey#USA
|pushpin_label            = Alpha
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in [[Warren County, New Jersey|Warren County]]##Location in [[New Jersey]]##Location in the United States
|pushpin_relief           = yes

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States}}}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|New Jersey}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in New Jersey|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Warren County, New Jersey|Warren]]
|government_footnotes     = <ref name=DataBook/>
|government_type          = [[Borough (New Jersey)|Borough]]
|governing_body           = Borough Council
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Craig S. Dunwell ([[New Jersey Republican Party|R]], term ends December 31, 2023)<ref name=MayorCouncil/><ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/dca/home/2023mayors.pdf 2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory], [[New Jersey Department of Community Affairs]], updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023.</ref>
|leader_title1            = [[Municipal clerk]]
|leader_name1             = Donna L. Messina<ref>[https://www.alphaboronj.org/offices/municipal_clerk.php Municipal Clerk], Borough of Alpha. Accessed February 28, 2022.</ref>
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = June 26, 1911
|named_for                = Alpha Cement Works

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 20, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 4.44
|area_land_km2            = 4.35
|area_water_km2           = 0.09
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.72
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.68
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.04
|area_water_percent       = 2.03
|area_rank                = 431st of 565 in state<br>21st of 22 in county<ref name=CensusArea>[https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_cousubs_34.txt 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed July 1, 2020.</ref>

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name=LWD2020/>
|population_total         = 2328
|population_rank          = 475th of 565 in state<br>19th of 22 in county<ref name=LWD2020Density>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/dmograph/est/mcd/density.xlsx Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021], [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref>
|population_density_km2   = auto
|population_density_sq_mi = 1385.2
|population_density_rank  = 347th of 565 in state<br>5th of 22 in county<ref name=LWD2020Density/>
|population_est           = 2348
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name=PopEst/>

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = −05:00
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|Eastern (EDT)]]
|utc_offset_DST           = −04:00
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref>{{Gnis|885138|Borough of Alpha}}, [[Geographic Names Information System]]. Accessed March 4, 2013.</ref>
|elevation_m              = 
|elevation_ft             = 269
|coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR1">[https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref>
|coordinates              = {{coord|40.659447|-75.157052|region:US-NJ_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 08865<ref>[http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=alpha&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code for Alpha, NJ], [[United States Postal Service]]. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/njzips.htm ZIP Codes], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed August 23, 2013.</ref>
|area_code                = [[Area code 908|908]]<ref>[http://www.area-codes.com/search.asp?frmNPA=&frmNXX=&frmState=NJ&frmCity=Alpha Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Alpha, NJ], Area-Codes.com. Accessed September 12, 2013.</ref>
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 3404101030<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR2">[https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey], Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 885138<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name="GR3">[http://geonames.usgs.gov US Board on Geographic Names], [[United States Geological Survey]]. Accessed September 4, 2014.</ref>
|blank2_name              = School district 
|blank2_info              = [[Phillipsburg School District]]
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.alphaboronj.org/}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Alpha''' is a [[Borough (New Jersey)|borough]] in [[Warren County, New Jersey|Warren County]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[New Jersey]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the borough's population was 2,328,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 41 (−1.7%) from the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]] count of 2,369,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected a decline of 113 (−4.6%) from the 2,482 counted in the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]].<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2010/2010data/table7cm.xls 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, 2022.</ref>

Alpha was incorporated as a borough from portions of [[Pohatcong Township, New Jersey|Pohatcong Township]] by an act of the [[New Jersey Legislature]] passed on June 26, 1911, and signed by Governor [[Woodrow Wilson]], based on the results of a referendum held on May 31, 1911.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. [https://nj.gov/dep/njgs/enviroed/oldpubs/bulletin67.pdf ''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''], Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 245. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The borough was named for the Alpha Cement Works.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. [http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/356/nj_place_names_origin.pdf#page=6 ''The Origin of New Jersey Place Names''], New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 26, 2015.</ref>

==History==
Formally known as Vulcanite, Alpha was incorporated on June 26, 1911, but its history can be traced back to a much earlier date. At the time of the [[Great Blizzard of 1888]], there were only seven houses in what is now the corporate limits of Alpha. The exact date on which the first house in Alpha is uncertain. One of the first homes in the community was a two-room log cabin constructed by the Pursel family beside an old Indian Trail on the former property of the Vulcanite Portland Cement Company, now New Brunswick Avenue.<ref>{{cite book|title=Golden Jubilee 1911 1961 Borough of Alpha, New Jersey}}</ref>

Less than two years after incorporating, the community obtained a continuation of the [[streetcar|streetcar line]] from Phillipsburg and electric street lights were installed.<ref>{{cite book|title=Golden Jubilee 1911 1961 Borough of Alpha, New Jersey}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the borough had a total area of 1.72 square miles (4.44&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), including 1.68 square miles (4.35&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.09&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of water (2.03%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

[[Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities|Unincorporated communities]], localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Vulcanite.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Locality Search], State of [[New Jersey]]. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

The borough is completely surrounded by [[Pohatcong Township, New Jersey|Pohatcong Township]],<ref>[https://www.warrencountynj.gov/our-county/municipalities Municipal Directory], [[Warren County, New Jersey]]. Accessed July 30, 2023.</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> making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.<ref>DeMarco, Megan. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/11/princeton_merger_voters_to_dec.html "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 2140
|1930= 2374
|1940= 2301
|1950= 2117
|1960= 2406
|1970= 2829
|1980= 2644
|1990= 2530
|2000= 2482
|2010= 2369
|2020= 2328
| estimate=2348
| estyear=2023
| estref=<ref name=PopEst>[https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/mcds/totals/SUB-MCD-EST2023-POP-34.xlsx Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022], [[United States Census Bureau]], released May 2024. Accessed May 16, 2024.</ref>
|footnote=Population sources:<small><br>1920<ref>[https://dspace.njstatelib.org/xmlui/handle/10929/25218?show=full ''Compendium of censuses 1726-1905: together with the tabulated returns of 1905''], [[New Jersey Department of State]], 1906. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref> 1920–1930<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=kifRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA719 ''Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I''], [[United States Census Bureau]], p. 719. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref><br>1940–2000<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2kpub/njsdcp3.pdf#page=27 Table 6: New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1940 - 2000], Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, August 2001. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1/><br>2010<ref name=Census2010>[https://archive.today/20200212104252/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0600000US3404101030 DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Alpha borough, Warren County, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref><ref name=LWD2010>[http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/dp1_war/alpha1.pdf Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Alpha borough] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316084745/http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/census/2010/dp/dp1_war/alpha1.pdf |date=March 16, 2018 }}, [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref> 2020<ref name=LWD2020>[https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/census/2020/2020%20pl94%20Tables/2020_Mun/MCD%200_All.pdf Total Population: Census 2010 - Census 2020 New Jersey Municipalities], [[New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development]]. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref></small>
}}

===2010 census===
The [[2010 United States census]] counted 2,369 people, 964 households, and 632 families in the borough. The [[population density]] was 1,417.2 per square mile (547.2/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,032 housing units at an average density of 617.4 per square mile (238.4/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup was 93.12% (2,206) [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 2.41% (57) [[Black (U.S. census)|Black or African American]], 0.00% (0) [[Native American (U.S. census)|Native American]], 1.52% (36) [[Asian (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.00% (0) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.18% (28) from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census#Race|other races]], and 1.77% (42) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. census)|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 5.28% (125) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 964 households, 29.3% had children under the age of 18; 47.5% were married couples living together; 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.4% were non-families. Of all households, 29.1% were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.03.<ref name=Census2010/>

22.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.7 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 [[American Community Survey]] showed that (in 2010 [[inflation adjustment|inflation-adjusted]] dollars) [[median household income]] was $63,953 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,724) and the median family income was $73,929 (+/− $6,822). Males had a median income of $49,461 (+/− $3,100) versus $40,859 (+/− $5,262) for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $28,567 (+/− $2,455). About 4.0% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref>[https://archive.today/20200212082842/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0600000US3404101030 DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Alpha borough, Warren County, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census]],<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,482 people, 989 households, and 688 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|1,462.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,034 housing units at an average density of {{convert|609.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 97.06% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.28% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.04% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.21% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.64% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.77% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.89% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>[http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/1603401030.pdf Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Alpha borough, New Jersey]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>[https://archive.today/20200212095331/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3404101030 DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Alpha borough, Warren County, New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref>

There were 989 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% 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 3.05.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the borough was $42,209, and the median income for a family was $45,435. Males had a median income of $39,957 versus $26,576 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $20,104. About 5.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

==Government==
===Local government===
[[File:Alpha, NJ borough hall, Nov. 2024.jpg|thumb|right|Alpha Municipal Complex]]
Alpha is governed under the [[Borough (New Jersey)|borough]] form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''], [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected [[at-large]] on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected [[direct election|directly]] by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 103.</ref> The borough form of government used by Alpha is a "[[weak mayor]] / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can [[veto]] ordinances subject to an [[veto override|override]] by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. [http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924045019/http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html |date=September 24, 2014 }}, [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]]. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=6 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 6. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

{{As of|2022}}, the [[mayor]] of Alpha Borough is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Craig S. Dunwell, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Alpha Borough Council are Council President Robert J. Melick Jr. (R, 2023), Angela Bickar ([[Independent politician|I]], 2022; elected to serve an unexpired term), Louis J. Cartabona (R, 2023), Todd W. Pantuso (R, 2022), Peter Petinelli (R, 2024) and Jodie Smith (R, 2024).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://www.alphaboronj.org/government/mayor___council.php Mayor & Council], Borough of Alpha. Accessed February 28, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://ecode360.com/documents/AL0476/public/657469948.pdf 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Alpha. Accessed June 21, 2022.</ref><ref name=Warren2021>[https://www.warrencountyvotes.com/home/showpublisheddocument/3284/637729175316070000 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>[https://www.warrencountyvotes.com/home/showpublisheddocument/2484/637648299297000000 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>[https://www.warrencountyvotes.com/home/showpublisheddocument/2470/637642013517370000 General Election November 5, 2019, Warren County Official Tally], [[Warren County, New Jersey|]], updated November 12, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref> Angela Bickar was elected to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Edward Hanics Jr.<ref name=Warren2021/>

Republican councilmember Jack Preiss and Democrat Kathleen Ronan, both serving terms ending in December 2018, resigned from office in September 2016. Preiss cited time conflicts with his work duties, while Ronan expressed her frustrations with working with the rest of the council. Louis Cartabona was chosen to fill the seat held by Preiss.<ref>Novak, Steve. [http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/index.ssf/2016/10/another_nj_town_dealing_with_e.html "Another Warren County town dealing with elected officials' resignations"], ''[[The Express-Times]]'', October 4, 2016. Accessed February 2, 2018. "Jack Preiss on Sept. 14 and Kathleen Ronan on Sept. 23. Preiss felt he could not devote the time necessary to his appointed role as the public works director, according to his letter to the borough. Ronan in her letter accused Mayor Craig Dunwell's administration of 'a total lack of respect for the will of council along with an inability to effectively communicate with members of the governing body.'... Louis Cartabona, who lost re-election last year, is back on council in place of the Republican Preiss, and is on the November ballot as a write-in for a full three-year term.</ref> In October, the council selected Jennifer Gable from a list of three nominees submitted by the Democratic municipal committee to fill Ronan's vacant seat.<ref>[http://www.alphaboro.org/images/2016/101116_min.pdf Borough Council Meeting Minutes October 11, 2016], Borough of Alpha. Accessed February 2, 2018. "Mayor Dunwell began the meeting with discussion of a Council vacancy. The Democratic Party met and provided three names.... Mrs. Jennifer Gable was then sworn in on Council to fill the vacancy."</ref> In the 2017 general election, Louis J. Cartabona and Alan Singleton were elected to serve the balance of the two unexpired terms of office.<ref name=Warren2017>[http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/2017_General_Official_Summary_with_Write-ins.pdf General Election November 7, 2017, Warren County Official Tally], [[Warren County, New Jersey|]], updated November 14, 2017. Accessed January 1, 2018.</ref>

Harry Zikas became the state's youngest mayor ever when he took office in 2000 at the age of 21.<ref>[http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/phillipsburg/index.ssf/2014/09/longtime_alpha_councilman_and.html "Longtime Alpha councilman and former mayor announces resignation"], ''The Express-Times'', September 9, 2014. Accessed June 15, 2017. "...he started his service to the borough when he was a 19-year-old member of the Board of Education. In 2000, he was sworn in as mayor... Zikas decided not to run for re-election in 2007, when he won a seat on council."</ref><ref>[http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/phillipsburg/index.ssf/2011/05/the_life_of_22-year-old_pohatc.html "Pohatcong Township Mayor-elect James Kern III's youth gives some pause, while others see promise"], ''The Express-Times'', May 22, 2011. Accessed June 15, 2017. "And next door to Pohatcong, Alpha is home to Harry Zikas Jr., who was New Jersey's youngest mayor ever when he was sworn in at age 21 in 2000, according to the Conference of Mayors."</ref> Zikas announced his resignation from office in September 2014, citing his acceptance of a job in Northern New Jersey.<ref>Peters, Sarah. [http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/phillipsburg/index.ssf/2014/09/longtime_alpha_councilman_and.html "Longtime Alpha councilman and former mayor announces resignation"], ''[[The Express-Times]]'', September 9, 2014. Accessed September 15, 2014. "Alpha Borough Councilman Harry Zikas Jr. formally announced his resignation in a letter to fellow officials late Monday night. His resignation is effective Sept. 20. Zikas accepted a promotion at work and plans to move to Paterson, New Jersey, he said."</ref> With Mayor Ed Hanics casting the tiebreaking vote, Tracy Grossman was selected in October 2014 to fill the remainder of Zikas's term of office.<ref>Peters, Sarah. [http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/phillipsburg/index.ssf/2014/10/alpha_mayor_breaks_tie_vote_on.html "Alpha mayor breaks tie vote on short-term council appointment"], ''[[The Express-Times]]'', October 14, 2014. Accessed November 16, 2015. "Alpha Borough Council tonight named Tracy Grossman to serve the two and a half months left in former Councilman Harry Zikas Jr.'s term."</ref>

In January 2014, the borough council selected Millard Rooks to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2015 of Michael Savary, who had resigned after pleading guilty to disorderly tampering with public records.<ref>Peters, Sarah. [http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/phillipsburg/index.ssf/2014/01/new_alpha_borough_councilman_t.html "New Alpha councilman takes office; appointment was a surprise to some officials"], ''[[The Express-Times]]'', January 12, 2014. Accessed November 16, 2015. "Instead, council appointed Millard Rooks Jr. to fill the vacancy left by Councilman Michael Savary's resignation, following Rooks' nomination by Schwar.... Savary's term didn't expire until December 2015, but the former councilman resigned after pleading guilty in September to disorderly tampering with public records."</ref>

===Federal, state and county representation===
Alpha is located in the 7th Congressional district<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report], [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>[https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf ''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''], New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#23 Districts by Number for 2011-2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref> Prior to the 2010 Census, Alpha had been part of the {{ushr|NJ|5|5th Congressional District}}, a change made by the [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]] that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.<ref name=LWV2011>[http://www.lwvnj.org/images/cg_2011.pdf#page=54 ''2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604153059/http://www.lwvnj.org/images/cg_2011.pdf#page=54 |date=June 4, 2013 }}, p. 54, New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed May 22, 2015.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 07}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 23}}

{{NJ Warren County Freeholders}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,441 registered voters in Alpha, of which 548 (38.0% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 296 (20.5% vs. 35.3%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 596 (41.4% vs. 43.1%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref name=VoterRegistration>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-warren-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Warren], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 60.8% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 78.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>[https://www.census.gov GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 497 votes (51.1% vs. 40.8% countywide), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 436 votes (44.8% vs. 56.0%) and other candidates with 25 votes (2.6% vs. 1.7%), among the 973 ballots cast by the borough's 1,457 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.8% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County).<ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-warren.pdf Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Warren County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118065243/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-warren.pdf |date=January 18, 2014 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-warren.pdf Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Warren County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118065245/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-warren.pdf |date=January 18, 2014 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Republican [[John McCain]] received 470 votes (47.7% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 464 votes (47.1% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 18 votes (1.8% vs. 1.6%), among the 985 ballots cast by the borough's 1,408 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.0% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-warren.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Warren County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Republican [[George W. Bush]] received 510 votes (50.1% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[John Kerry]] with 489 votes (48.0% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.2% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,018 ballots cast by the borough's 1,369 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.4% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_warren_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Warren County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref>

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In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 70.0% of the vote (442 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 26.9% (170 votes), and other candidates with 3.0% (19 votes), among the 651 ballots cast by the borough's 1,471 registered voters (20 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.3%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-warren.pdf |title=Governor - Warren County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-warren.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Warren County|date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Republican Chris Christie received 334 votes (48.2% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 251 votes (36.2% vs. 25.7%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 64 votes (9.2% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 21 votes (3.0% vs. 1.5%), among the 693 ballots cast by the borough's 1,397 registered voters, yielding a 49.6% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-warren.pdf 2009 Governor: Warren County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017230758/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-warren.pdf |date=October 17, 2012 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed May 31, 2013.</ref>

==Education==
Students in [[pre-kindergarten]] through [[eighth grade]] for public school attend the [[Alpha School District]] at Alpha School.<ref>[https://www.straussesmay.com/seportal/Public/DistrictPolicy.aspx?policyid=0110&id=60e576e9ddf34a4fab3980b5eae1024c Alpha Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification], Alpha School District. Accessed February 25, 2024. "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 Alpha School District. Composition: The Alpha School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Alpha."</ref><ref name=WarrenDistricts>[https://www.warrencountynj.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/7559/638308166139700000#page=7 ''Warren County 2023-2024 Public School Directory''], [[Warren County, New Jersey]]. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/selectreport/2022-2023/41/0070 School Performance Reports for the Alpha Borough School District], [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed February 25, 2024.</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 179 students and 24.4 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a [[student–teacher ratio]] of 7.3:1.<ref name=NCES>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&details=1&ID2=3400840&DistrictID=3400840 District information for Alpha Borough School District], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> In the 2016–2017 school year, Alpha had the 42nd smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 194 students.<ref>Guion, Payton. [https://www.nj.com/education/2017/09/njs_smallest_school_districts.html "These 43 N.J. school districts have fewer than 200 students"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], September 2017. Accessed January 30, 2020. "Based on data from the state Department of Education from the last school year and the Census Bureau, NJ Advance Media made a list of the smallest of the small school districts in the state, excluding charter schools and specialty institutions.... 42. Alpha Borough; Enrollment: 194; Grades: K-8; County: Warren; Town population: 2,369"</ref>

Public school students in [[ninth grade|ninth]] through [[twelfth grade]]s attend [[Phillipsburg High School (New Jersey)|Phillipsburg High School]] in [[Phillipsburg, New Jersey|Phillipsburg]], which serves students from Alpha as part of a [[sending/receiving relationship]] with the [[Phillipsburg School District]].<ref name=WarrenDistricts/> The high school also serves students from four other sending communities: [[Bloomsbury, New Jersey|Bloomsbury]] (in [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Hunterdon County]]), [[Greenwich Township, Warren County, New Jersey|Greenwich Township]], [[Lopatcong Township, New Jersey|Lopatcong Township]] and [[Pohatcong Township, New Jersey|Pohatcong Township]].<ref>[https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/report.aspx?type=school&lang=english&county=41&district=4100&school=050&SY=1617&schoolyear=2016-2017 Phillipsburg High School 2016-17 Report Card Narrative], [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed June 21, 2020. "Along with the residents of Phillipsburg, the high school consists of students from the sending districts of Lopatcong, Pohatcong, Alpha, Bloomsbury, and Greenwich Townships."</ref><ref>[https://www.pburgsd.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1201400&type=d&pREC_ID=1440845 Superintendent's Message], Phillipsburg School District. Accessed June 21, 2020. "The district serves students from the Town of Phillipsburg and five sending communities at the secondary level: Alpha, Bloomsbury, Greenwich, Lopatcong and Pohatcong Townships."</ref><ref>[https://www.pburgsd.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1201400&type=d&pREC_ID=1440845 About PSD], Phillipsburg School District. Accessed June 21, 2020. "The district serves students from the Town of Phillipsburg and five sending communities at the secondary level: Alpha, Bloomsbury, Greenwich, Lopatcong and Pohatcong Townships. Phillipsburg is the largest community in Warren County."</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 264 students and 22.0 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a [[student–teacher ratio]] of 12.0:1.<ref>[https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3410080&ID=341008003424 School data for Perth Amboy Magnet School], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Students from the borough and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in [[Blairstown, New Jersey|Blairstown]] (for grades K–8)<ref>[http://www.ridgeandvalley.org/about-us/f-a-q/ F.A.Q.], Ridge and Valley Charter School. Accessed January 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, New Jersey|Washington borough]] (for 9–12),<ref>[http://www.wctech.org/wcts/About%20Us/ About Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927093127/http://www.wctech.org/wcts/About%20Us/ |date=September 27, 2013 }}, [[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, New Jersey|Oxford Township]] (for Pre-K–12).<ref name=WarrenDistricts/>

==Transportation==
[[File:2021-06-17 14 54 48 View west along Interstate 78 (Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway) from the overpass for Edge Road in Alpha, Warren County, New Jersey.jpg|thumb|right|[[Interstate 78 in New Jersey|Interstate 78]] westbound through Alpha]]
{{As of|2010|5}}, the borough had a total of {{convert|21.40|mi}} of roadways, of which {{convert|17.38|mi}} were maintained by the municipality, {{convert|2.78|mi}} by Warren County and {{convert|1.24|mi}} by the [[Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/mileage_Warren.pdf Warren County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction], [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]], May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref> The main road that goes through is [[County Route 519 (New Jersey)|CR 519]]. [[New Jersey Route 122|Route 122]] runs through briefly in the north.

While [[Interstate 78 in New Jersey|Interstate 78]] passes through the southern portion of the borough, the closest access point is at [[U.S. Route 22 in New Jersey|US 22]] in neighboring Pohatcong.

The [[Norfolk Southern Railway]]'s [[Lehigh Line (Norfolk Southern)|Lehigh Line]] (formerly the mainline of the [[Lehigh Valley Railroad]]), runs through Alpha on its way to [[Phillipsburg, New Jersey]].{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

==Notable people==
{{Category see also|People from Alpha, New Jersey}}
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Alpha include:

* [[Joe Buzas]] (1919–2003), Minor League Baseball executive who played one season with the [[New York Yankees]]<ref>Aaron, Mark Z. [https://books.google.com/books?id=fAryBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA284 ''Who's on First: Replacement Players in World War II''], p. 284. [[Society for American Baseball Research]], 2015. {{ISBN|9781933599908}}. Accessed April 27, 2015. "Joseph John Buzas was born on October 2, 1919, in Alpha, New Jersey, a small town near the Pennsylvania coal country."</ref>
* [[Hector A. Cafferata Jr.]] (1929–2016), [[United States Marine Corps|United States Marine]] who received the [[Medal of Honor]] for his actions at the [[Battle of Chosin Reservoir]] during the [[Korean War]]<ref>Rhodin, Tony. [https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/phillipsburg/2016/04/medal_of_honor_recipient_who_l.html "Medal of Honor recipient, who lived in Alpha, dies at 86"],''[[The Express-Times]]'', April 18, 2016, updated January 2, 2019. Accessed September 1, 2020. "Hector A. Cafferata Jr., 86, who lived for years in Alpha and owned a bar there, died Tuesday in Venice, Florida."</ref>
* [[Jack Orchulli]] (born 1946), politician<ref>Staff. [http://www.registercitizen.com/general-news/20100807/jack-orchulli "Jack Orchulli - Republican candidate for State Comptroller"], ''The Register Citizen'', August 7, 2010. Accessed April 27, 2015. "Coming from a modest blue-collar background, Jack was raised on East Main Street, in Alpha, New Jersey."</ref>
* [[Jennie Somogyi]] (born 1977/78), ballet dancer who joined the [[New York City Ballet]] in 1993, at age 15, became a principal dancer in 2000, and retired in 2015<ref>[[Dinitia Smith|Smith, Dinitia]]. [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/11/arts/dance-two-rising-stars-on-different-arcs.html "Dance; Two Rising Stars, On Different Arcs"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 11, 1996. Accessed January 3, 2021. "There is little in her background to make Ms. Somogyi a candidate for the role of classical ballerina. She was raised in Alpha, a small town in central New Jersey, where her father is a mechanic, her mother a receptionist."</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://www.alphaboronj.org/ Borough of Alpha official website]
{{Warren County, New Jersey}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Alpha, New Jersey| ]]
[[Category:1911 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Borough form of New Jersey government]]
[[Category:Boroughs in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Warren County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1911]]