Sandyston Township, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Sandyston Township is a small rural township in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located in the northwestern part of the state near the Pennsylvania border. The township is surrounded by and part of many national and state parks. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 1,977,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 21 (−1.1%) from the 2010 census count of 1,998,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 173 (+9.5%) from the 1,825 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> Sandyston's growth in recent years has been attributed to the influx of people from more urban parts of the state and even New York City, located less than Template:Convert away.

New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Sandyston Township 26th on its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey.<ref>"Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100" Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008.</ref>

Sandyston was first formed by royal charter on February 26, 1762, from portions of Walpack Township. Sandyston was incorporated as a township on February 21, 1798, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature as part of the initial group of 104 townships incorporated in the state.<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 232. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 42.06 square miles (108.94 km²), including 41.33 square miles (107.05 km²) of land and 0.73 square miles (1.89 km²) of water (1.74%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The township ranges from Template:Convert above sea level. A ridge runs along the eastern half of the township called the Kittatinny Mountains. The highest point in the township is Sunrise Mountain in Stokes State Forest. The lowest point is around the Delaware River in the western half of the township.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Abertown, Bevans, Centerville, Dingmans Ferry, Hainesville, Kittatinny Lake, Lake Ashroe, Layton, Namanack Island, Normanock, Peters Valley, Shaytown, Stoney Lake and Tuttles Corner.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 14, 2015.</ref>

Sandyston Township borders the Sussex County municipalities of Frankford Township, Montague Township and Walpack Township.<ref>Sussex County Map, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 1,998 people, 788 households, and 561 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 988 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 97.45% (1,947) White, 0.40% (8) Black or African American, 0.10% (2) Native American, 0.55% (11) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.30% (6) from other races, and 1.20% (24) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.40% (68) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 788 households, 29.9% had children under the age of 18; 58.8% were married couples living together; 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.8% were non-families. Of all households, 22.6% were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01.<ref name=Census2010/>

22.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 36.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.6 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 +/− $8,449) and the median family income was $96,071 (+/− $15,669). Males had a median income of $62,071 (+/− $9,210) versus $41,875 (+/− $7,589) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,921 (+/− $9,604). About 2.5% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Sandyston township, Sussex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 U.S. census,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 1,825 people, 693 households, and 503 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 907 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 97.86% White, 0.38% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Sandyston township, Sussex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Sandyston township, Sussex County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref>

There were 793 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.12.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $55,667, and the median income for a family was $65,774. Males had a median income of $46,167 versus $30,660 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,854. About 3.6% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Parks and recreation

File:Peters Valley School of Craft, NJ.jpg

Peters Valley School of Craft

• Brau Kettle karst<ref>Dalton, Richard F. Caves of New Jersey, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - New Jersey Geological Survey. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref>
• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Stokes State Forest cover more than two-thirds of the township<ref>A Brief History of Sandyston, Sandyston Township. Accessed July 24, 2013. "Sandyston Township measures only 42 square miles and includes Stokes State Forest and the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area, which renders 70 percent of the township tax exempt."</ref>
• Peters Valley School of Craft<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Government

Local government

Sandyston 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 governing body is comprised of the three-person Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 110.</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 and another as Deputy Mayor.

Template:As of, members of the Sandyston Township Committee are Mayor George B. Harper Jr. (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Kamala M. "Kammy" Hull (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2024) and Ronald E. Green (R, 2024).<ref name=TownshipCommittee>Township Committee, Sandyston Township. Accessed May 24, 2024.</ref><ref>2024 Municipal User Friendly Budget, Sandyston Township. Accessed May 24, 2024.</ref><ref name=Sussex2023>Summary Results Report Official Results November 7 2023 General Election, Sussex County, New Jersey, November 22, 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Sussex2022>Sussex County, New Jersey General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results Summary Report, Sussex County, New Jersey, dated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Sussex2021>Summary Results Report November 2, 2021 General Election Official Results, Sussex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

In January 2016, the Township Committee selected Kamala "Kammy" Hull from three names nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by William J. Leppert until his resignation effective the previous month; Hull will serve on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters will select a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref>Reorganization Meeting Minutes January 4, 2016, Sandyston Township. Accessed August 2, 2016. "With the resignation of William J. Leppert from the Township Committee, effective December 31, 2015, the Clerk presented a list of three names prepared by the Sandyston Township Municipal Committee to fill the unexpired term set to expire December 31, 2016. The three names presented were Kamala M. Hull, Kelly Hanlon and Keith Utter. Mayor Harper stated Mayor Harper made a motion to appoint Kamala Hull to fill the unexpired term of William J. Leppert, left vacant by his resignation, seconded by Deputy Mayor MacDonald and unanimously carried."</ref><ref>Comstock, Lori. "Sandyston incumbent beats out challenger", New Jersey Herald, June 8, 2016. Accessed August 2, 2016. "Kamala Hull had been appointed to the Township Committee in January to fill the unexpired term of William J. Leppert, who had resigned in December."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Sandyston Township is located in the 5th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,349 registered voters in Sandyston Township, of which 193 (14.3% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 662 (49.1% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 492 (36.5% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary - Sussex, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 census population, 67.5% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 87.1% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 661 votes (65.1% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 327 votes (32.2% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 24 votes (2.4% vs. 2.1%), among the 1,015 ballots cast by the township's 1,392 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.9% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County).<ref>General Election November 6, 2012: District Report - Group Detail Template:Webarchive, Sussex County, New Jersey Clerk, run date November 30, 2012. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 655 votes (64.0% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 353 votes (34.5% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 9 votes (0.9% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,024 ballots cast by the township's 1,328 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.1% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Sussex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 638 votes (67.7% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 291 votes (30.9% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.3% vs. 1.3%), among the 943 ballots cast by the township's 1,163 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.1% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Sussex County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref>

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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.5% of the vote (496 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.1% (156 votes), and other candidates with 3.4% (23 votes), among the 678 ballots cast by the township's 1,423 registered voters (3 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.6%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 475 votes (65.6% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 157 votes (21.7% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 77 votes (10.6% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 10 votes (1.4% vs. 1.3%), among the 724 ballots cast by the township's 1,303 registered voters, yielding a 55.6% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Sussex County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref>

Education

Public school students in kindergarten through sixth grade attend the schools of the Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District, together with students from Walpack Township.<ref>About, Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District. Accessed June 22, 2020. "The Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School is a K-6 district with an enrollment of about 120 students. The school is located in a beautiful portion of northwest New Jersey. The elementary students who live in the townships of Sandyston and Walpack attend here. The students of middle and high school age attend Kittatinny Regional High School located in Hampton Township."</ref> The school is located in the Layton section of Sandyston Township. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 138 students and 16.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.2:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref> In the 2016–17 school year, Sandyston-Walpack had the 26th smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 149 students.<ref>Guion, Payton. "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.... 26. Sandyston-Walpack Township (tie;) Enrollment: 149; Grades: K-6; County: Sussex; Town population: 2,014"</ref>

Students in seventh through twelfth grade from Sandyston and Walpack Townships for public school attend Kittatinny Regional High School located in Hampton Township, which also serves students who reside in Fredon Township and Stillwater Township.<ref>Kittatiny Regional School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 22, 2020. "Located in beautiful, rural Sussex County in northwest New Jersey, Kittatinny Regional School District serves the five municipalities of Fredon Township, Hampton Township, Sandyston Township, Stillwater Township and the Township of Walpack. The District is comprised of 125 square miles and has a school population of approximately 1020 students."</ref><ref>Kittatinny has a New Look, Kittatinny Regional High School. Accessed June 22, 2020. "Located in beautiful, rural Sussex County in northwest New Jersey, Kittatinny Regional School District serves the five municipalities of Fredon Township, Hampton Township, Sandyston Township, Stillwater Township and the Township of Walpack. The District is comprised of 125 square miles and has a school population of approximately 1020 students."</ref> The high school is located on a Template:Convert campus in Hampton Township, about seven minutes outside of the county seat of Newton. Kittatinny Regional High School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1997–1998.<ref name=blueribbon>Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed June 22, 2020.</ref> As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 941 students and 97.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.7:1.<ref>School data for Kittatinny Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>

Transportation

File:2018-07-27 09 26 58 View south along U.S. Route 206 and Sussex County Route 521 between Sussex County Route 656 (Shaytown Road) and Sussex County Route 675 (Degroat Road) in Sandyston Township, Sussex County, New Jersey.jpg

U.S. Route 206 and County Route 521 southbound in Sandyston Township

Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Sussex County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Sussex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

U.S. Route 206 bisects the township, concurrent with County Route 521. The Dingman's Ferry Bridge, one of the last privately owned toll bridges on the Delaware River and one of the last few in the United States, carries two lanes of PA 739 and NJ County Route 560, connecting to Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania.<ref>History, Dingmans Choice and Delaware Bridge Company. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref>

Notable people

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

• George B. Harper (1918–1988), politician who served in the New Jersey Senate from 1954 to 1964<ref>Staff. "George B. Harper Sr. '41", Princeton Alumni Weekly, Volume 88. Accessed January 5, 2017. "George died at his home in Layton. N.J., on Mar. 1, 1988."</ref>
• Harry Harper (1895–1963), pitcher who played in the major leagues for four different teams<ref>Barbati, Carl. "Sussex Hall of Fame welcomes new members", New Jersey Herald, November 19, 2012. Accessed January 5, 2017. "Harry Harper, Layton (1913-23, Senators, Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers)"</ref>
• Ernest L. Hettich (1897–1973), scholar of classics<ref>"Ernest L. Hettich", The New York Times, April 3, 1973. Accessed June 12, 2023. "Dr. Ernest L. Hettich, professor emeritus of classics and director emeritus of the library system at New York University, died on March 20 at his home in Sandyston Township, Sussex County, N. J."</ref>
• Bill Sienkiewicz (born 1958), artist known for his work in comic books, particularly for Marvel Comics' New Mutants, Moon Knight, and Elektra: Assassin<ref>Greenfield, Dan. "How a Meeting at DC Led Bill Sienkiewicz to Marvel’S Moon Knight", 13th Dimension, November 10, 2019. Accessed August 31, 2020. "[Dan Greenfield:] Where was it that you grew up? [Bill Sienkiewicz:] I grew up in northern New Jersey, an area called Hainesville. … I was a farm kid, I was baling hay and stuff."</ref>

External links

• Sandyston Township
• Web page for Sandyston Township, Sussex County, New Jersey
• Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School
• Template:NJReportCard
• Data for Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School, National Center for Education Statistics
• Kittatinny Regional High School