Wantage Township, New Jersey Explained

Wantage Township, New Jersey
Settlement Type:Township
Seal Type:coat of arms
Mapsize:250x200px
Image Map1:Census Bureau map of Wantage Township, New Jersey.png
Mapsize1:250x200px
Map Caption1:Census Bureau map of Wantage Township, New Jersey.
Pushpin Map:USA New Jersey Sussex County#USA New Jersey#USA
Pushpin Label:Wantage Township
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Sussex County##Location in New Jersey##Location in the United States
Pushpin Relief:yes
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2: Sussex
Government Type:Township
Governing Body:Township Committee
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:William Gaechter (R, term ends December 31, 2024)[1]
Leader Title1:Administrator
Leader Name1:Michael L. Restel[2]
Leader Title2:Municipal clerk
Leader Name2:Melissa Morales (acting)
Established Title:Formed
Established Date:May 30, 1754 (as precinct)
Established Title1:Incorporated
Established Date1:February 21, 1798
Named For:Wantage, England
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[3]
Area Total Km2:174.78
Area Land Km2:172.91
Area Water Km2:1.87
Area Total Sq Mi:67.48
Area Land Sq Mi:66.76
Area Water Sq Mi:0.72
Area Water Percent:1.07
Area Rank:18th of 565 in state
2nd of 24 in county
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:10811
Population Rank:233rd of 565 in state
4th of 24 in county[4]
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Density Sq Mi:161.9
Population Density Rank:516th of 565 in state
18th of 24 in county
Population Est:10993
Pop Est As Of:2023
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:−05:00
Timezone Dst:Eastern (EDT)
Utc Offset Dst:−04:00
Elevation Footnotes:[5]
Elevation Ft:538
Coordinates Footnotes:[6]
Coordinates:41.2522°N -74.6328°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:07461[7]
Area Code:973[8]
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:3403776790[9] [10]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0882257[11]

Wantage Township (pronounced WHAN-tij[12]) is a township in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 10,811, a decrease of 547 (−4.8%) from the 2010 census count of 11,358, which in turn reflected an increase of 971 (+9.3%) from the 10,387 counted in the 2000 census.[13]

Wantage Township was formed as a precinct on May 30, 1754, from portions of Newton Township. It was incorporated as a township on February 21, 1798, as part of the state's initial group of 104 townships. Boundary exchanges were made with Frankford Township in both 1826 and 1834. Portions of the township were taken on October 14, 1891 to form the Borough of Deckertown (renamed Sussex borough in 1902).[14] The township was named for Wantage, England.[15]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 67.48 square miles (174.78 km2), including 66.76 square miles (172.91 km2) of land and 0.72 square miles (1.87 km2) of water (1.07%).[3] The township is located in the Kittatinny Valley which is a section of the Great Appalachian Valley that stretches for from Canada to Alabama.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Beemerville, Colesville, Hanford, Lake Neepaulin, Lake Rutherford, Lewisburg, Libertyville, Martins, Mount Salem, Papakating, Plumbsock, Quarryville, Rockport, Roys and Woodbourne.[16]

Rutan Hill, also called Volcanic Hill, located near the Beemerville section of Wantage Township, is New Jersey's only volcanic site that was last active over 440 million years ago.[17]

Rivers and streams in Wantage are tributaries in the Wallkill River watershed, and include:

The township completely surrounds Sussex borough, making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.[18] Wantage borders the municipalities of Frankford Township, Hardyston Township, Lafayette Township, Montague Township, Sandyston Township and Vernon Township in Sussex County; and both Greenville and Minisink in Orange County, New York.[19] [20] [21]

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 11,358 people, 3,910 households, and 3,116 families in the township. The population density was 170.1 per square mile (65.7/km2). There were 4,173 housing units at an average density of 62.5 per square mile (24.1/km2). The racial makeup was 95.23% (10,816) White, 1.21% (137) Black or African American, 0.11% (13) Native American, 0.99% (113) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.93% (106) from other races, and 1.52% (173) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.23% (594) of the population.

Of the 3,910 households, 34.7% had children under the age of 18; 66.8% were married couples living together; 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.3% were non-families. Of all households, 15.8% were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.25.

25.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.7 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $72,270 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,478) and the median family income was $78,934 (+/− $9,462). Males had a median income of $55,509 (+/− $8,605) versus $41,013 (+/− $3,999) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,266 (+/− $2,047). About 4.3% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.[22]

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 10,387 people, 3,441 households, and 2,856 families residing in the township. The population density was 154.8sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 3,663 housing units at an average density of 54.6sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the township was 97.10% White, 0.65% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.89% of the population.[23] [24]

There were 3,441 households, out of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.5% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% were non-families. 13.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.33.[23] [24]

In the township the population was spread out, with 29.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.0 males.[23] [24]

The median income for a household in the township was $58,440, and the median income for a family was $65,339. Males had a median income of $42,697 versus $30,160 for females. The per capita income for the township was $22,488. About 4.2% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.[23] [24]

Government

Local government

Wantage 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.[25] The governing body is comprised of the Township Committee, whose three members are elected directly by the voters at-large 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 in a three-year cycle.[26] [27] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

, members of the Wantage Township Committee are Mayor William Gaechter (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2024), Deputy Mayor Ronald Bassani (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2024) and Justin VanderGroef (R, 2026).[28] [29] [30] [31] [32]

Federal, state and county representation

Wantage Township is located in the 5th Congressional District[33] and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.[34] [35] [36]

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 7,397 registered voters in Wantage Township, of which 969 (13.1% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 3,315 (44.8% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 3,104 (42.0% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 9 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[37] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 65.1% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 86.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).[37] [38]

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 3,269 votes (62.8% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,800 votes (34.6% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 119 votes (2.3% vs. 2.1%), among the 5,203 ballots cast by the township's 7,467 registered voters, for a turnout of 69.7% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County).[39] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 3,454 votes (62.2% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,987 votes (35.8% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 74 votes (1.3% vs. 1.5%), among the 5,551 ballots cast by the township's 7,319 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.8% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County).[40] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 3,300 votes (67.0% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,564 votes (31.7% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 48 votes (1.0% vs. 1.3%), among the 4,928 ballots cast by the township's 6,500 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.8% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).[41]

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 70.0% of the vote (2,107 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.0% (812 votes), and other candidates with 3.0% (89 votes), among the 3,038 ballots cast by the township's 7,582 registered voters (30 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.1%.[42] [43] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 2,602 votes (63.7% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 999 votes (24.5% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 388 votes (9.5% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 59 votes (1.4% vs. 1.3%), among the 4,084 ballots cast by the township's 7,192 registered voters, yielding a 56.8% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).[44]

Education

Public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade attend the schools of the Sussex-Wantage Regional School District, together with students from Sussex Borough.[45] As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,049 students and 99.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.6:1.[46] Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[47]) are Clifton E. Lawrence School[48] in Wantage, with 376 students in grades K–2, Wantage Elementary School[49] in Wantage, with 340 students in grades 3–5 andSussex Middle School[50] in Sussex, with 328 students in grades 6–8.[51] [52] [53] [54]

For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students from both Sussex and Wantage attend High Point Regional High School, together with students from Branchville, Frankford Township, Lafayette Township and Montague Township.[55] [56] [57] As of the 2019–20 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 866 students and 76.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.[58] Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with seven seats assigned to Wantage Township.[59]

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Sussex County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[60]

Route 23, Route 284, CR 519 and CR 565 all pass through the township. Route 284 connects to NY 284, providing access to U.S. Route 6.

Aviation

Sussex Airport, a small general aviation airport, is located in Wantage Township.[61]

Winery

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Wantage Township include:

Notes and References

  1. https://www.state.nj.us/dca/home/2023mayors.pdf 2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory
  2. https://www.wantagetwp.com/departments/administration/ Administration Office
  3. https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_cousubs_34.txt 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places
  4. https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/assets/PDFs/dmograph/est/mcd/density.xlsx Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021
  5. , Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 14, 2013.
  6. https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990
  7. http://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupResultsAction!input.action?resultMode=0&city=wantage&state=NJ Look Up a ZIP Code for Wantage, NJ
  8. http://www.area-codes.com/search.asp?frmNPA=&frmNXX=&frmState=NJ&frmCounty=Sussex&frmCity=Wantage Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Wantage, NJ
  9. https://www.census.gov U.S. Census website
  10. https://mcdc.missouri.edu/applications/geocodes/?state=34 Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey
  11. http://geonames.usgs.gov US Board on Geographic Names
  12. Melisurgo, Len. "Here's the right way to pronounce 25 N.J. town names everyone botches", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 23, 2017. Accessed June 22, 2023. "Wantage (Sussex County) The locals call it WHAN-tij. But out-of-towners often say WHAN-toj, almost like wonton soup."
  13. 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
  14. Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 233. Accessed May 30, 2024.
  15. Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 25, 2015.
  16. http://www.state.nj.us/infobank/localnames.txt Locality Search
  17. Lewis, J. Volney and Kümmel, Henry B. (1940). Bulletin 50: Geologic Series. The Geology of New Jersey. Trenton, New Jersey: Bureau of Geology and Topography. : 109.
  18. DeMarco, Megan. "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.
  19. https://www.wantagetwp.com Home Page
  20. https://www.sussex.nj.us/FCpdf/Sussex%20County%20Map%20-%207-1-03.pdf Sussex County Map
  21. https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/maps/polnoroads.pdf New Jersey Municipal Boundaries
  22. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0600000US3403776790 DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Wantage township, Sussex County, New Jersey
  23. http://censtats.census.gov/data/NJ/0603403776790.pdf Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Wantage township, New Jersey
  24. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/00_SF1/DP1/0600000US3403776790 DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Wantage township, Sussex County, New Jersey
  25. 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
  26. 2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 110.
  27. https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=7 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"
  28. https://www.wantagetwp.com/committees/mayorandcommittee/ Mayor & Committee
  29. https://www.wantagetwp.com/municipal/2024/financialstatements/2024-Introduced-Budget.pdf 2024 Municipal Data Sheet
  30. https://sussexcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Nov-7-2023-GE-OFFICIAL-summary-rpt-with-write-ins-suppressed.pdf Summary Results Report Official Results November 7 2023 General Election
  31. https://sussexcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/NOV-8-2022-GE-Official-County-Summary.pdf Sussex County, New Jersey General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results Summary Report
  32. https://sussexcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/official-11-22-21.pdf Summary Results Report November 2, 2021 General Election Official Results
  33. https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report
  34. https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District
  35. https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf 2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government
  36. https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#24 Districts by Number for 2011-2020
  37. http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-sussex-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Sussex
  38. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey
  39. http://www.sussexcountyclerk.com/election_results/General%20Election%20Results/Amended-2GNJSUSS-District-Detailed.html General Election November 6, 2012: District Report - Group Detail
  40. http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-sussex.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Sussex County
  41. http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_sussex_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Sussex County
  42. Web site: Governor - Sussex County . January 29, 2014 . New Jersey Department of Elections . December 24, 2014.
  43. Web site: Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Sussex County. January 29, 2014 . New Jersey Department of Elections . December 24, 2014.
  44. http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-sussex.pdf 2009 Governor: Sussex County
  45. https://www.straussesmay.com/seportal/Public/DistrictPolicy.aspx?policyid=0110&id=10f98477b6724c8395288b0cd47dc2cf Sussex-Wantage Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification
  46. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&details=1&ID2=3415960&DistrictID=3415960 District information for Sussex-Wantage Regional School District
  47. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3415960 School Data for the Sussex-Wantage Regional School District
  48. https://www.swregional.org/Domain/122 Clifton E. Lawrence School
  49. https://www.swregional.org/Domain/139 Wantage Elementary School
  50. https://www.swregional.org/Domain/153 Sussex Middle School
  51. https://www.swregional.org/domain/11 School Hours
  52. https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/selectreport/2022-2023/37/5100 School Performance Reports for the Sussex-Wantage Regional School District
  53. https://www.sussex.nj.us/documents/superintendentofschools/sussex-county-public-school-directory-2020-21.pdf#page=31 Public School Directory 2020-2021
  54. https://homeroom6.doe.state.nj.us/directory/school/districtid/5100 New Jersey School Directory for the Sussex-Wantage Regional School District
  55. https://www.nj.gov/education/pr/1314/narrative/37/5100/37-5100-000.html Sussex-Wantage Regional School District 2014 Report Card Narrative
  56. https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/1516/37/2165/030.html High Point Regional High School 2016 Report Card Narrative
  57. http://www.hpregional.org/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=65529614 "2019-20 School Profile"
  58. https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3407140&ID=340714005358 School data for High Point Regional High School District
  59. https://www.swregional.org/domain/26 Board of Education
  60. http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/mileage_Sussex.pdf Sussex County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction
  61. http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/airwater/aviation/pdf/airportdir/Sussex.pdf Sussex Airport
  62. http://www.baltimoreravens.com/team/roster/Nick-Boyle/3d149544-9a6d-44d9-a05e-f3ba2450c783 Nick Boyle
  63. Staff. "CNN's Lou Dobbs says wife was shot at - and blames critics of his immigration views", New York Daily News, October 30, 2009. Accessed April 2, 2011. "His wife and driver were outside the Wantage home Oct. 5 when they heard the gunshot, said State Police Sgt. Stephen Jones."
  64. https://garrett.house.gov/about/full-biography Full Biography
  65. http://www.nps.gov/resources/person.htm%3Fid%3D80 Judson Kilpatrick
  66. Watry, Greg, "Ex-Wantage resident is Playboy's 'Miss March'", New Jersey Herald, April 5, 2014. Accessed March 7, 2024. "Growing up in the sticks of Sussex County, Britt Linn spent her childhood like any country girl.... Now a full-time model in New York City, she recently graced the centerfold pages of Playboy as Miss March 2014. 'Growing up in Sussex County was the ideal place,' the 23-year-old former Wantage resident said."
  67. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/bio.asp?Leg=358 Parker Space
  68. http://nj.gov/governor/admin/HaroldWirths.html Harold J. Wirths; Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Labor