DELAWARE TOWNSHIP, HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY

'Delaware Township' is a Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 4,478. The historic community of Sergeantsville is located within Delaware Township.
Delaware was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1838, from a portion of a larger municipality then known as Amwell Township (now defunct), based on the results of a referendum held that same day. A portion of the township was taken to form Stockton borough (April 14, 1898)."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 154.
The Township of Delaware lies along the Delaware River, which forms the southwestern boundary of Hunterdon County. The Delaware and Raritan Canal parallels the Delaware River along the southern border of the township. The sole remaining covered bridge (abutments constructed in 1750; bridge built in 1872) in New Jersey crosses the Wickecheoke Creek between Sergeantsville and Rosemont.
The Township retains much of its rural heritage. Rolling fields and picturesque barns belong to farms that have changed little in the last two hundred years, but it has not been immune to growth. Newly created lots along the road frontage and some small developments have changed the feel of the Township. The village of Sergeantsville is the center of the township, containing the (K-8) elementary school, the Post Office, and the Town Hall. The community was first settled by a Mr. Thatcher in 1700, and was later named for Charles Sergeant, an American Revolutionary War soldier. A tradition in the Township, is Sergeantsville's "Thanksgiving in the Country" house tour. Participants tour four or five different homes each year, that have historical, architectural or cultural qualities, and proceeds from this fundraising event benefit the Facial Reconstruction Unit of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Government

Local government

Federal, state and county representation

Education

References

External links

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 95.9 km² (37.0 mi²). 95.2 km² (36.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.7 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (0.76%) is water.
Delaware Township borders Kingwood Township, Franklin Township, Raritan Township, East Amwell Township, West Amwell Township, the City of Lambertville, and Stockton Borough.
Delaware Township also borders the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Delaware Township is connected to Solebury Township, Pennsylvania by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission's Lumberville-Raven Rock Bridge, a pedestrian suspension bridge over the Delaware River.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,478 people, 1,643 households, and 1,302 families residing in the township. The population density was 47.1/km² (121.9/mi²). There were 1,701 housing units at an average density of 17.9/km² (46.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.70% White, 0.40% African American, 0.04% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 1,643 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.3% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.7% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 32.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $80,756, and the median income for a family was $90,842. Males had a median income of $61,701 versus $48,780 for females. The per capita income for the township was $38,285. 3.4% of the population and 2.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 1.2% are under the age of 18 and 12.2% are 65 or older.

Government

Local government

Delaware Township uses the Township form of government which is one of the oldest forms of government in New Jersey. The governing body is a township committee of five members who are elected for three-year staggered terms in partisan elections from the Township at large. There is an election of at least one member every year.
The Township Committee annually chooses one of the Committee to serve as mayor for that year. The mayor presides at Township Committee meetings and votes as a member of the Committee, but has no veto power or other special powers except to officiate at weddings. All legislative and executive powers are exercised by the committee as a whole.
Members of the 2007 Delaware Township Committee are Mayor Kristin McCarthy, Alan Johnson, Susan D. Lockwood, Richard W. Madden and James F. McCue.Hunterdon County web page for Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 17, 2007.

Federal, state and county representation

Delaware Township is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District.^[1]

Education

The Delaware Township School District serves students in grades kindergarten through grade eight. The school is located on a twenty-six acre site adjacent to the community of Sergeantsville and three miles from the Delaware River.
Students in grade 9 - 12 attend the Hunterdon Central High School, part of the Hunterdon Central Regional High School District, which serves almost 2,800 students in central Hunterdon County. Students from Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Borough, Raritan Township and Readington Township attend Hunterdon Central High School.

References

1. 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 64. Accessed August 30, 2006.

External links

★ Hunterdon County web page for Delaware Township

★ Delaware Township School

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★ National Center for Education Statistics data for the Delaware Township School District

★ Hunterdon Central Regional High School District

★ The Delaware Township Post - Community Commentary about life in Delaware Township

★ Lumberville-Raven Rock bridge article at the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission website

★ Sergeantsville Volunteer Fire Company, Delaware Township, NJ

★ Thanksgiving in the Country - an annual tour of Sergeantsville's historic homes

★ Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance

★ HunterdonCountry.com