Independence Township, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Independence Township is a township in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 5,469,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 193 (−3.4%) from the 2010 census count of 5,662,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 59 (+1.1%) from the 5,603 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>

History

Independence Township was originally created on November 11, 1782, from Hardwick Township, while the area was still part of Sussex County, and was incorporated as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Most of Independence Township became part of the newly created Warren County on November 20, 1824, with the remainder becoming part of Green Township in Sussex County. Portions of the township were taken to form Hackettstown (March 9, 1853) and Allamuchy Township (April 4, 1873).<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 246. Accessed May 29, 2024.</ref> The township was named for American independence.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 2, 2015.</ref>

Through the Township the major brooks and the Great Meadows drain into the Pequest River which winds slowly from northeast to southwest to flow on through the county and eventually into the Delaware River at Belvidere. Part of the eastern land drains under the Morris Canal bed and south into the Musconetcong River just below the boundary with Mansfield Township. The hillsides are steep, layered with rock and limestone while the valleys still hold soil deposited here from the receding glaciers. Mastodon bones and a few relics of the early Indian dwellers still occasionally can be found as well as coveys of game birds, some white tail deer and small game.

This area was initially settled and cleared as farmland for growing hay and grain or as pastureland. Timber was cut for lumber, grain was milled into flour, and some iron ore was mined from the Jenny Jump Mountain area during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The mining of iron ore which attracted the early settlers, the later iron foundries, and many of the early industries have disappeared as has the Morris Canal and the railroads as the major means of shipping freight. After many attempts the Great Meadow was drained with the water channeled to permit successful development of commercial vegetable production. Shipping over the years has been by wagon, small trucks, rail freight, and then by large trailer trucks.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 19.98 square miles (51.75 km²), including 19.83 square miles (51.36 km²) of land and 0.15 square miles (0.39 km²) of water (0.76%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Great Meadows (2010 Census population of 303<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Great Meadows CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 16, 2012.</ref>) and Vienna (population of 981 as of 2010<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Vienna CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 16, 2012.</ref>) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within the township.<ref>GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 6, 2013.</ref><ref>2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 6, 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, p. III-5, August 2012. Accessed June 6, 2013.</ref> Through the 2000 United States Census, the areas were grouped together as Great Meadows-Vienna, which had a population of 1,264 as of that year.<ref>DP-1Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 from the Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Great Meadows-Vienna CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 6, 2013.</ref>

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Petersburgh.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 1, 2015.</ref>

The township borders the Warren County municipalities of Allamuchy Township, Frelinghuysen Township, Hackettstown, Liberty Township and Mansfield Township.<ref>Municipal Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

Template:US Census population The Township's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is calculated by the US Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.<ref>Karp, Gregory. "Lehigh Valley, Warren County reunited as a metro area ** Economies, social patterns similar, federal office says.", The Morning Call, June 22, 2003. Accessed February 15, 2022. "This time, new rules for defining MSAs determined that because the Phillipsburg area was the biggest cluster of people in Warren County, the whole county should be lumped with the nearby Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro area."</ref>

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 5,662 people, 2,234 households, and 1,506 families in the township. The population density was 286.8 per square mile (110.7/km²). There were 2,325 housing units at an average density of 117.8 per square mile (45.5/km²). The racial makeup was 93.43% (5,290) White, 1.22% (69) Black or African American, 0.09% (5) Native American, 2.23% (126) Asian, 0.07% (4) Pacific Islander, 1.61% (91) from other races, and 1.36% (77) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.42% (307) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 2,234 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18; 55.8% were married couples living together; 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.6% were non-families. Of all households, 26.9% were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.13.<ref name=Census2010/>

23.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.3 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $89,844 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,094) and the median family income was $104,808 (+/− $8,796). Males had a median income of $72,719 (+/− $6,017) versus $58,413 (+/− $7,006) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,372 (+/− $2,731). About 1.6% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Independence township, Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 16, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 5,603 people, 2,146 households, and 1,489 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 2,210 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 94.98% White, 1.16% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.79% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.77% of the population.<ref name="Census2000">Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Independence township, Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 16, 2012.</ref><ref name="Census2000SF1">DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Independence township, Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 16, 2012.</ref>

There were 2,146 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.18.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $67,247, and the median income for a family was $79,819. Males had a median income of $59,688 versus $37,643 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,555. About 1.2% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Independence Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.<ref name="DataBook">2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 103.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

Template:As of, members of the Independence Township Committee are Mayor Robert M. Giordano (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Glenn Cougle (R, 2024), Kathleen Gesumaria (R, 2023), Bonnie Kelsey (R, 2023) and Michael S. Pennington (R, 2022).<ref name=Committee>Township Committee, Independence Township. Accessed March 2, 2022.</ref><ref>2021 Municipal Data Sheet, Independence Township. Accessed March 2, 2022.</ref><ref name=Warren2021>Summary Results Report 2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Warren2020>Warren County 2020 General Election November 20, 2020 Official Results, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Warren2019>General Election November 5, 2019, Warren County Official Tally, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 12, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Independence Township is located in the 7th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2022>2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2023>Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed September 1, 2023.</ref>

File:Independence Hall, Established 1782.jpg

Independence Hall, home of the Independence Township Senior Center

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,789 registered voters in Independence Township, of which 691 (18.2% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,384 (36.5% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,709 (45.1% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref name="VoterRegistration">Voter Registration Summary - Warren, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed June 6, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 66.9% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 87.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 6, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,500 votes (58.8% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 964 votes (37.8% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 51 votes (2.0% vs. 1.7%), among the 2,550 ballots cast by the township's 3,836 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.5% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County).<ref>Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Warren County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed June 6, 2013.</ref><ref>Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Warren County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed June 6, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,559 votes (55.7% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,159 votes (41.4% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 49 votes (1.8% vs. 1.6%), among the 2,797 ballots cast by the township's 3,784 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.9% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Warren County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed June 6, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,763 votes (64.4% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 927 votes (33.9% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 35 votes (1.3% vs. 1.3%), among the 2,736 ballots cast by the township's 3,518 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.8% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Warren County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed June 6, 2013.</ref>

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

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.5% of the vote (1,037 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.3% (376 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (17 votes), among the 1,450 ballots cast by the township's 3,879 registered voters (20 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 37.4%.<ref name="2013Elections">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="2013VoterReg">Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,176 votes (63.8% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 435 votes (23.6% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 182 votes (9.9% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 24 votes (1.3% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,842 ballots cast by the township's 3,733 registered voters, yielding a 49.3% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Warren County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed June 6, 2013.</ref>

Education

Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Great Meadows Regional School District, together with students from Liberty Township.<ref>Great Meadows Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Great Meadows Regional School District. Accessed April 14, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through eight in the Great Meadows Regional School District. Composition: The Great Meadows Regional School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Great Meadows."</ref><ref>Great Meadows Regional School District 2014 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 16, 2017. "Great Meadows Regional is a K-8 school district with an enrollment of approximately 900 students. High school students attend Hackettstown High School as part of a sending/ receiving agreement. Great Meadows Regional consists of the contiguous townships of Independence and Liberty, is located in central Warren County and encompasses 32.35 square miles."</ref> The New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division blocked a 2007 effort by Liberty Township to leave the Great Meadows district based on Liberty's greater share of district costs, with the court citing the inability of the two communities to provide an efficient education separately.<ref>Novak, Stephen J. "State court says Liberty Township cannot withdraw from Great Meadows school district" Template:Webarchive, The Express-Times, April 2, 2009. Accessed June 6, 2013. "Formed in 1993, Great Meadows has three schools: Liberty Elementary, Independence Township Central School and Great Meadows Regional Middle School. Both townships send students to Hackettstown High School for grades nine through 12. Liberty Township sought to break from Independence Township in 2004 after a contentious budget season."</ref> As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 643 students and 59.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Great Meadows Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2021–22 school year enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Great Meadows Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>) are Central Elementary School<ref>Central Elementary School, Great Meadows Regional School District. Accessed October 4, 2023.</ref> with 302 students in grades PreK-3 and Great Meadows Middle School<ref>Great Meadows Middle School, Great Meadows Regional School District. Accessed October 4, 2023.</ref> with 337 students in grades 4-8.<ref name=WarrenDistricts>Warren County 2022-2023 Public School Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed December 27, 2022.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Great Meadows Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 1, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Great Meadows Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Students attending public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Hackettstown High School which serves students from Hackettstown, along with students from the townships of Allamuchy and Liberty, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Hackettstown School District.<ref>Hackettstown High School 2013 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 16, 2017. "Hackettstown High School serves the communities of Hackettstown, Allamuchy, Independence, and Liberty."</ref><ref name=WarrenDistricts/> As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 869 students and 67.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1.<ref>School data for Hackettstown High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>

Students from the township and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township (for grades K–8)<ref>F.A.Q., Ridge and Valley Charter School. Accessed November 14, 2016. "Enrollment is open, on a space available basis, to all K-8 students residing in N.J. with priority given to students residing in the districts of Blairstown, Hardwick, Knowlton, Frelinghuysen, and North Warren Regional School."</ref> or Warren County Technical School in Washington borough (for 9–12),<ref>About Us Template:Webarchive, Warren County Technical School. Accessed September 16, 2013.</ref> with special education services provided by local districts supplemented throughout the county by the Warren County Special Services School District in Oxford Township (for Pre-K–12).<ref name=WarrenDistricts/><ref>About Template:Webarchive, Warren County Special Services School District. Accessed September 16, 2013.</ref>

Transportation

File:2018-06-28 14 23 26 View east along U.S. Route 46 just east of Warren County Route 611 (Hope Road) in Independence Township, Warren County, New Jersey.jpg

View east along U.S. Route 46 in Independence 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 Warren County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Warren County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

CR 517 passes through in the eastern part of the township<ref>County Route 517 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, November 2012 Accessed July 21, 2016.</ref> while U.S. Route 46 traverses Template:Convert across the southern part of the municipality.<ref>U.S. Route 46 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, November 2012 Accessed July 21, 2016.</ref>

Interstate 80 misses the township by less than 100 feet, but is accessible in both neighboring Allamuchy Township (exit 19) and Hope Township (exit 12).<ref>Interstate 80 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, April 2014. Accessed July 21, 2016.</ref>

The Great Meadows Railroad Station, along the abandoned Lehigh and Hudson Railway, is the only nineteenth-century station to remain preserved with all its structures. It was placed on the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places in 1989.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notable people

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

• Bobby Caldwell (1951–2023), singer, songwriter, and musician, best known for his signature song "What You Won't Do for Love"<ref>Williams, Alex. "Bobby Caldwell, Silky-Voiced R&B Crooner, Dies at 71", The New York Times, March 15, 2023. Accessed March 15, 2023. "Bobby Caldwell, a singer-songwriter whose sultry R&B hit “What You Won’t Do for Love” propelled his debut album to double-platinum status in 1978 and was later covered by chart-toppers like Boyz II Men and Michael Bolton, died on Tuesday at his home in Great Meadows, N.J. He was 71."</ref>
• Christina Desiderio (born 2000), artistic gymnast<ref>Craig, Kyle. "This Warren County, Parkettes gymnast is vying for an Olympic spot Friday", The Express-Times, July 7, 2016. Accessed May 16, 2017. "Desiderio, who's from Independence Township, placed 12th in the all-around scoring during the P&G Gymnastics Championships in St. Louis last month, earning a spot at the Olympic Trials and place on the senior national team."</ref>
• Chuck Haytaian (born 1938), former speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly<ref>"The 1994 Campaign; The Election: A Voters' Guide To the Candidates", The New York Times, November 6, 1994. Accessed September 11, 2013. "Born in the Bronx, now lives in Independence, in rural Warren County."</ref>
• Edwin Kaprat (1964–1995), serial killer, rapist, and arsonist who committed six murders in Tampa and Hernando County, Florida from 1991 to 1993, most being elderly women.<ref>Conner, Collins; Troyer, Kit; and Dewitt, Dan. "Suspect remembered as a child full of rage", Tampa Bay Times, October 18, 1993, updated October 10, 2005. Accessed January 21, 2023. "Kaprat began running away from home _ a three-bedroom, red-brick house on a wooded hillside in Great Meadows, just west of Hackettstown, N.J."</ref>
• Cole Kimball (born 1985), former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Washington Nationals<ref>via Associated Press. "Cole Kimball claimed on waivers by Toronto Blue Jays", The Express-Times, November 16, 2011. Accessed September 3, 2019. "Kimball, 26, appeared in 12 games for Washington last season, posting a 1-0 record with a 1.93 ERA over 14 innings, his first season in the Major Leagues. The Great Meadows, New Jersey native held opponents to a .174 average and had scoreless outings in 10 of his 12 appearances."</ref>

External links

• Independence Township website