See also: Franklin Township, New Jersey (disambiguation).
| Franklin, New Jersey | |
| Settlement Type: | Borough |
| Nickname: | Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World[1] |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Image Map1: | Census_Bureau_map_of_Franklin,_New_Jersey.png |
| Mapsize1: | 250x200px |
| Map Caption1: | Census Bureau map of Franklin, New Jersey |
| Pushpin Map: | USA New Jersey Sussex County#USA New Jersey#USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Franklin |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Sussex County##Location in New Jersey##Location in the United States |
| Pushpin Relief: | yes |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Sussex |
| Government Type: | Borough |
| Governing Body: | Borough Council |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | John M. Sowden IV (R, term ends December 31, 2027)[2] |
| Leader Title1: | Administrator |
| Leader Name1: | Vacant[3] |
| Leader Title2: | Municipal clerk |
| Leader Name2: | Darlene J. Tremont[4] |
| Established Title: | Incorporated |
| Established Date: | April 23, 1913 |
| Named For: | Benjamin Franklin |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [5] |
| Area Total Km2: | 11.47 |
| Area Land Km2: | 11.28 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.19 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 4.43 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 4.36 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.07 |
| Area Water Percent: | 1.60 |
| Area Rank: | 284th of 565 in state 17th of 24 in county[6] |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 4912 |
| Population Rank: | 378th of 565 in state 10th of 24 in county[7] |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1127.6 |
| Population Density Rank: | 369th of 565 in state 7th of 24 in county |
| Population Est: | 5008 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2023 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | −05:00 |
| Timezone Dst: | Eastern (EDT) |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −04:00 |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [8] |
| Elevation Ft: | 541 |
| Coordinates Footnotes: | [9] |
| Coordinates: | 41.109°N -74.5886°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 07416[10] [11] |
| Area Code: | 973 exchanges: 209, 823, 827[12] |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 3403724930[13] [14] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0885224[15] |
Franklin is a borough in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 4,912, a decrease of 133 (−2.6%) from the 2010 census count of 5,045, which in turn reflected a decline of 115 (−2.2%) from the 5,160 counted in the 2000 census.[16]
Franklin, known as the "Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World,"[17] is located over a rich ore body containing more than 150 minerals, many of them fluorescent and 25 of which are found nowhere else on earth. Settled in the 17th century, the village known as Franklin Furnace after Benjamin Franklin,[18] [19] [20] developed near iron mines and iron smelting operations located along the Wallkill River. In the early 19th century, zinc deposits in the area began to be developed commercially. For most of the century many small companies mined zinc and iron in the Franklin area. In 1897 all zinc mining efforts merged into the New Jersey Zinc Company, which was a major controlling factor in the development of Franklin. Immigrants from Russia, Britain, Hungary and Poland joined the work force at the mine. The population, 500 in 1897, had swelled to 3,000 by 1913. On March 18, 1913, the Borough of Franklin was incorporated from portions of Hardyston Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 23, 1913.[21]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 4.43 square miles (11.47 km2), including 4.36 square miles (11.28 km2) of land and 0.07 square miles (0.19 km2) of water (1.60%).[6]
The borough borders the boroughs of Hamburg and Ogdensburg, as well as Sparta and Hardyston townships.[22] [23] [24] [25]
Franklin Furnace provides many examples of the complex mineralogy of the area.[26]
The 2010 United States census counted 5,045 people, 1,936 households, and 1,316 families in the borough. The population density was 1,121.6 per square mile (433.1/km2). There were 2,136 housing units at an average density of 474.9 per square mile (183.4/km2). The racial makeup was 92.15% (4,649) White, 2.18% (110) Black or African American, 0.30% (15) Native American, 1.74% (88) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.23% (62) from other races, and 2.40% (121) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.83% (395) of the population.
Of the 1,936 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18; 49.7% were married couples living together; 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.0% were non-families. Of all households, 26.7% 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 2.59 and the average family size was 3.15.
22.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 31.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,813 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,585) and the median family income was $81,875 (+/− $11,964). Males had a median income of $49,413 (+/− $8,152) versus $45,385 (+/− $9,926) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,708 (+/− $2,344). About 5.1% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.[27]
As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,160 people, 1,898 households, and 1,324 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1150.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,997 housing units at an average density of 445.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.10% White, 0.62% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.47% Asian, 1.22% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.42% of the population.[28] [29]
There were 1,898 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.22.[28] [29]
In the borough the age distribution of the population shows 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.[28] [29]
The median income for a household in the borough was $44,985, and the median income for a family was $52,682. Males had a median income of $41,080 versus $26,201 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,386. About 5.6% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.[28] [29]
Franklin is governed under the 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.[30] 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 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.[31] The borough form of government used by Franklin 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 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.[32] [33]
, the mayor of Franklin Borough is Republican John M. Sowden IV, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Borough Council are Concetto Formica (R, 2025), Rachel Heath (R, 2024), Joseph Limon (R, 2026), John E. Postas (R, 2026), Stephen M. Skellenger (R, 2025) and Gilbert J. Snyder (R, 2024).[34] [35] [36] [37] [38]
Franklin is located in the 5th Congressional District[39] and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.[40] [41] [42]
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,071 registered voters in Franklin, of which 469 (15.3% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,302 (42.4% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,296 (42.2% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[43] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 60.9% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 78.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).[43] [44]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,121 votes (57.2% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 772 votes (39.4% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 58 votes (3.0% vs. 2.1%), among the 1,959 ballots cast by the borough's 3,095 registered voters, for a turnout of 63.3% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County).[45] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,213 votes (57.2% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 857 votes (40.4% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 37 votes (1.7% vs. 1.5%), among the 2,122 ballots cast by the borough's 2,930 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.4% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County).[46] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,269 votes (63.4% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 695 votes (34.7% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 28 votes (1.4% vs. 1.3%), among the 2,001 ballots cast by the borough's 2,740 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.0% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).[47]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 68.6% of the vote (841 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.7% (339 votes), and other candidates with 3.8% (46 votes), among the 1,242 ballots cast by the borough's 3,134 registered voters (16 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 39.6%.[48] [49] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 870 votes (63.0% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 361 votes (26.1% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 116 votes (8.4% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 26 votes (1.9% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,382 ballots cast by the borough's 2,936 registered voters, yielding a 47.1% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).[50]
Students in public school for kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Franklin Borough School District.[51] [52] As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 477 students and 49.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.6:1.[53]
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Wallkill Valley Regional High School which also serves students from Hamburg Borough, Hardyston Township and Ogdensburg Borough, and is part of the Wallkill Valley Regional High School District.[54] [55] As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 615 students and 50.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.3:1.[56] Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the populations of the constituent municipalities, with two seats assigned to Franklin.[57]
, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Sussex County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[58]
The main highway providing service to Franklin is Route 23.[59] County Route 517 also traverses the borough, mostly concurrent with Route 23.[60]
The county provides Skylands Ride bus service operating between Sussex and Newton.[61]
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Franklin include: