HACKETTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY

'Hackettstown' is a town in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 10,403. The town is located in the eastern most region of the Lehigh Valley.
Hackettstown was incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 9, 1853, from portions of Independence Township. Portions of territory were exchanged with Mansfield Township in 1857, 1860, 1872 and 1875."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 246.
Hackettstown houses the headquarters of Transistor Devices Incorporated and Masterfoods USA, the American division of Mars, Incorporated, makers of Milky Way, Mars, M&M's, Twix and Snickers candy bars, as well as pet foods (such as the well-known ''Whiskas'' and ''Pedigree'' brands), human foods (including ''Uncle Ben's'') and non-confectionery snack foods (including ''Combos'').
It is believed that Hackettstown was named after Samuel Hackett, a prominent landowner who allegedly "contributed liberally to the liquid refreshments on the christening of a new hotel, in order to secure the name which, before this, had been Helms' Mills or Musconetcong"^[1].
Hackettstown was named #72 of the top 100 towns in the United States to Live and Work In by ''Money'' Magazine in 2005.^[2]

Contents

Geography

Demographics

Government

Local government

Federal, state and county representation

Education

Transportation

Local media

Notable residents

References

External links

Geography

Hackettstown is located at (40.853248, -74.829351).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.6 km² (3.7 mi²), all land. It is located in a valley along the banks of the Musconetcong River.
Upper Pohatcong Mountain extends northeast of Washington approximately 6 mi (10 km) to the vicinity of Paris.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,403 people, 4,134 households, and 2,530 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,085.6/km² (2,809.5/mi²). There were 4,347 housing units at an average density of 453.6/km² (1,174.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.25% White, 2.18% African American, 0.12% Native American, 2.91% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.00% from other races, and 2.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.01% of the population.
There were 4,134 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $51,955, and the median income for a family was $64,383. Males had a median income of $44,420 versus $31,110 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,742. About 2.3% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

The Town of Hackettstown operates under the Mayor-Council form of government. It was created by a special charter adopted by the New Jersey Legislature and approved by the voters in 1970.
The governing body consists of a strong mayor and six councilpersons all elected at large.
The Mayor is elected for a three year term and serves as the chief executive officer of the Town. The Mayor presides over Town meetings, Supervises Town departments and Town employees, Presents a proposed budget for consideration by the Town Council, (and, unless otherwise provided for by state or local law) hires all employees with the advise and consent of the Town Council.
The Mayor does not vote on any matter, except in the event of a tie vote. However, the Mayor has the power to veto any ordinance. A Mayor’s veto may be overridden by the vote of four council members.
The six-member Town Council serve for three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two Council seats up for vote at each election. The Council exercises the legislative power of the Town along with any other powers designated to the governing body by State or local law. The Council adopts all ordinances and regulations along with budget. Council members also serve on three member Council Committees that include Fire, Sanitation, Police, Welfare, Lighting, Recreation, Printing, License and Franchise, Public Works, Ordinance and Finance. These committees conduct research and detailed reviews of issues on behalf of the Town.^[3]
The Mayor of Hackettstown is Michael B. Lavery (R, term ends December 31, 2008). The Hackettstown Town Council consists of Joseph Bristow (2008), Nancy Brown (R, 2007; Acting Mayor when necessary), Maria DiGiovanni (R, 2008), Ralph Quaresima (R, 2007; Alternate Acting Mayor when necessary), Scott Sheldon (D, 2009) and Paul Wallace (R, 2009).^[4][5]

Federal, state and county representation

Hackettstown is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District.^[6]

Education

The Hackettstown School District serves approximately 2,000 students in grades K-12 in four schools: two elementary (Hatchery Hill School and Willow Grove School), one middle (Hackettstown Middle School), and a four-year high school. Hackettstown High School also serves students from the townships of Allamuchy, Independence, and Liberty, who attend as part of sending/receiving relationships.
For the 2001-02 school year, Hackettstown Middle School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon Award from the United States Department of Education, the highest honor that an American school can achieve.Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed May 11, 2006.
Centenary College, a private college affiliated with the United Methodist Church, is located in Hackettstown.

Transportation

The Hackettstown station is the western terminus of the New Jersey Transit Morristown Line and the Montclair-Boonton Line, which both provide service to Hoboken Terminal or to Pennsylvania Station in Midtown Manhattan via Midtown Direct.
NJ Transit bus service is provided on the MCM5 and 973 routes.^[7]
Passing through Hackettstown are U.S. Route 46, Route 24, Route 57 and Route 182.
Hackettstown is located 49.3 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, Elizabeth. Lehigh Valley International Airport near Allentown, Pennsylvania is 39.0 miles away.

Local media

★ WNTI, 91.9 on the FM dial - Centenary College radio.

★ WRNJ, known as "Oldies 1510 WRNJ" at 1510 on the AM dial, is licensed to Hackettstown.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Hackettstown include:

★ Bette Cooper, Miss America 1937.^[8]

★ Jimmi Simpson, actor.^[9]

References

1. ''Northwestern New Jersey--A History of Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, Warren, and Sussex Counties'', Vol. 2. (A. Van Doren Honeyman, ed. in chief, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, 1927) pg. 689
2. bBest Places to Live 2005: No. 72 - Hackettstown, NJ, ''Money (magazine)'', accessed November 2, 2006.
3. Town of Hackettstown Organization, Town of Hackettstown. Accessed July 3, 2006.
4. Town of Hackettstown Mayor/Council, Effective January 1, 2006, Town of Hackettstown. Accessed March 8, 2007.
5. Town of Hackettstown, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed August 21, 2007.
6. 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 58. Accessed August 30, 2006.
7. Warren County Bus/Rail Connections, New Jersey Transit. Accessed July 3, 2007.
8. No Headline, ''The New York Times'', October 16, 1983.
9. Jimmi Simpson Biography, accessed May 3, 2007.

External links

★ Hackettstown website

★ Warren County page for Hackettstown

★ Hackettstown School District

★

★ National Center for Education Statistics data for the Hackettstown School District

★ Hackettstown Business Improvement District

★ Hackettstown Life Community Web Site