Liberty Township, New Jersey: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 04:00, 23 January 2025

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Liberty 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 2,670,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 272 (−9.2%) from the 2010 census count of 2,942,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 177 (+6.4%) from the 2,765 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>

Liberty Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 26, 1926, from portions of Hope Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 30, 1926.<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. 247. Accessed May 29, 2024.</ref>

Geography

File:Mountain Lake, Liberty Twp., NJ (2), Nov. 2024.jpg

Mountain Lake, a lake and community within Liberty Township

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 11.93 square miles (30.89 km²), including 11.67 square miles (30.22 km²) of land and 0.26 square miles (0.68 km²) of water (2.20%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Mountain Lake (with a 2010 census population of 575<ref>DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Mountain Lake CDP, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 7, 2013.</ref>) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) 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 7, 2013.</ref><ref>2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 7, 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 7, 2013.</ref> Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Danville, Great Meadows and Townsbury.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed December 21, 2014.</ref>

Mountain Lake is over 12,000 years old and is Warren County's largest natural glacial lake. The lake has an area of Template:Convert, maximum depth of Template:Convert and an average depth of Template:Convert. The Mountain Lake Community Association (MLCA) oversees the Mountain Lake watershed and helps to maintain Mountain Lake's natural habitat.<ref>Mountain Lake Community Association, Liberty Township. Accessed June 7, 2013. "The 3,600 acre Mountain Lake Watershed lies entirely in Liberty Township. It includes Warren County's largest (122 acres), natural, glacial lake, Mountain Lake."</ref> South of Mountain Lake is High Rock where many visitors enjoy to go hiking and can view the lake and surrounding areas, including the Delaware Water Gap.

The township borders the Warren County municipalities of Hope Township, Independence Township, Mansfield Township and White 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 included by the U.S. Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 2,942 people, 1,047 households, and 789 families in the township. The population density was 253.6 per square mile (97.9/km²). There were 1,151 housing units at an average density of 99.2 per square mile (38.3/km²). The racial makeup was 95.65% (2,814) White, 1.02% (30) Black or African American, 0.20% (6) Native American, 1.50% (44) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.44% (13) from other races, and 1.19% (35) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.15% (122) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 1,047 households, 35.8% had children under the age of 18; 63.0% were married couples living together; 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.6% were non-families. Of all households, 18.4% were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.21.<ref name=Census2010/>

24.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 34.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 104.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.4 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $73,750 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,599) and the median family income was $87,059 (+/− $12,952). Males had a median income of $55,625 (+/− $10,748) versus $49,511 (+/− $6,823) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,946 (+/− $3,591). About none of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Liberty township, Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 7, 2013.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 U.S. census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,765 people, 980 households, and 750 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,088 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 97.40% White, 0.36% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.54% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.68% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Liberty township, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 31, 2016.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Liberty township, Warren County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 7, 2013.</ref>

There were 980 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $62,535, and the median income for a family was $68,529. Males had a median income of $48,446 versus $33,529 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,743. About 2.0% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

File:Liberty Township, NJ municipal building, Nov. 2024.jpg

Liberty Township Municipal Building

Liberty 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 Liberty Township Committee are Mayor John E. Inscho (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Deputy Mayor Daniel B. Grover (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2022), Peter Karcher (R, 2023), David Rogers (R, 2022) and Wayne Spangenberg (R, 2023).<ref name=Officials>Officials & Contact Info, Liberty Township. Accessed March 2, 2022.</ref><ref>2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Liberty Township. Accessed June 21, 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>

Carl Cummins was appointed to fill the vacant seat of John Fisher, who had died in September 2013, after the deadline to remove his name from the ballot and who won a seat in the November 2013 general election. Fisher's term of office runs until December 2016.<ref>Lee, Christine. "Liberty Township appoints Carl Cummins to fill committee vacancy", The Express Times, January 8, 2014. Accessed November 3, 2014. "Liberty Township officials appointed Committeeman Carl Cummins to replace the late John Fisher during Tuesday's township committee reorganization meeting.Fisher, the township's former deputy mayor, died Sept. 22 after the deadline to remove his name from the November ballot."</ref> Cummins served on an interim basis until the November 2014 general election when he was elected to serve the balance of the term.<ref name=Warren2014>General Election November 4, 2014 Warren County Official Tally, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 10, 2014. Accessed August 7, 2016.</ref>

Federal, state, and county representation

Liberty 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 23rd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2023>Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed September 1, 2023.</ref>

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Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,897 registered voters in Liberty Township, of which 386 (20.3% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 768 (40.5% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 742 (39.1% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Warren, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed June 7, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 64.5% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 85.1% 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 7, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 709 votes (59.4% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 447 votes (37.5% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 24 votes (2.0% vs. 1.7%), among the 1,193 ballots cast by the township's 1,894 registered voters, for a turnout of 63.0% (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 7, 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 7, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 843 votes (57.6% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 585 votes (40.0% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.5% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,463 ballots cast by the township's 1,912 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.5% (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 7, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 909 votes (63.4% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 491 votes (34.2% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 32 votes (2.2% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,434 ballots cast by the township's 1,809 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.3% (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 7, 2013.</ref>

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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.9% of the vote (588 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 22.6% (180 votes), and other candidates with 3.5% (28 votes), among the 810 ballots cast by the township's 1,923 registered voters (14 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.1%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 658 votes (63.4% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 244 votes (23.5% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 99 votes (9.5% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 21 votes (2.0% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,038 ballots cast by the township's 1,855 registered voters, yielding a 56.0% 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 7, 2013.</ref>

Education

Public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Great Meadows Regional School District, together with students from Independence 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> Seats on the regional district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with three seats allocated to Liberty Township; one seat from Liberty Township and two from Independence Township up for election each year.<ref>Board of Education Members, Great Meadows Regional School District. Accessed April 14, 2020.</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 PreK–12).<ref name=WarrenDistricts/><ref>About Template:Webarchive, Warren County Special Services School District. Accessed September 16, 2013.</ref>