Blairstown, New Jersey

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Blairstown, New Jersey
—  Township  —
Map of Blairstown Township in Warren County. Inset: Location of Warren County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Blairstown, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°58′45″N 74°59′49″W / 40.97917°N 74.99694°W / 40.97917; -74.99694
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Warren
Incorporated April 14, 1845
Government
 • Type Township (New Jersey)
 • Mayor Richard Mach (2013)
Area
 • Total 31.8 sq mi (82.3 km2)
 • Land 31.0 sq mi (80.3 km2)
 • Water 0.8 sq mi (1.9 km2)
Elevation[1] 502 ft (153 m)
Population (2010 Census)[2]
 • Total 5,967
 • Density 192.5/sq mi (74.3/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07825
Area code(s) 908
FIPS code 34-06160[3][4]
GNIS feature ID 0882317[5]
Website http://www.blairstown-nj.org/

Blairstown is a Township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 5,967.[2]

Blairstown Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 14, 1845, from portions of Knowlton Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day.[6] It is located in Warren County, New Jersey.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.8 square miles (82 km2), of which, 31.0 square miles (80 km2) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2) of it (2.36%) is water. The township is located in the Kittatinny Valley which is a section of the 700 mile long Great Appalachian Valley that stretches from Canada to Alabama.

Hardwick Twp
Frelinghuysen Twp
   Blairstown Twp    
Knowlton Twp Hope Township

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1930 1,416
—
1940 1,449 2.3%
1950 1,571 8.4%
1960 1,797 14.4%
1970 2,189 21.8%
1980 4,360 99.2%
1990 5,331 22.3%
2000 5,747 7.8%
2010 5,967 3.8%
Population 1930 - 1990.[2][7]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 5,747 people, 2,040 households, and 1,638 families residing in the township. The population density was 185.3 people per square mile (71.5/km²). There were 2,136 housing units at an average density of 68.9 per square mile (26.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.17% White, 0.26% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98% of the population.

There were 2,040 households out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $64,809, and the median income for a family was $71,214. Males had a median income of $51,931 versus $33,646 for females. The per capita income for the township was $27,775. About 3.0% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over. The Township's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is calculated by the US Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area which includes Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties, PA and Warren County, NJ.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Blairstown has a traditional Township form of government, with a five-member committee. Committee members serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. Each year, the Committee members select one of their fellow members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.[8][9]

As of 2012, the Blairstown Township Committee consists of Mayor Frank Anderson (R, term ends December 31, 2012), Deputy Mayor Richard Mach (R, 2013), Stephen Lance (R, 2014), William Seal (R, 2012), and Herman Shoemaker (R, 2014).[10][11]

[edit] Former Mayors

  • 2012 - Frank Anderson (R)
  • 2011 - Richard Mach (R)
  • 2010 - Richard Mach (R)
  • 2009 - Richard Mach (R)
  • 2008 - Stephen Lance (R)
  • 2007 - Stephen Lance (R)
  • 2006 - Stephen Lance (R)
  • 2005 - Alfred Handy (R)
  • 2004 - George Joest (R)
  • 2003 - William Horsey (R)
  • 2002 - George Joest (R)
  • 2001 - William Seal (R)
  • 2000 - Jane Santini (D)
  • 1999 - Joseph DiGrazia (R)
  • 1998 - Anita Ardia (I)
  • 1997 - Franklin D Shotwell (R)
  • 1996 - Franklin D Shotwell (R)
  • 1995 - Charles Eble (R)

[edit] Former Committeemen

  • 2012-14 - Herman Shoemaker (R)
  • 2007-12 - William Seal (R)
  • 2006-11 - Sal Lascari (R)
  • 2006-14 - Stephen Lance (R)
  • 2005-12 - Frank Anderson (R)
  • 2005-13 - Richard Mach (R)
  • 2004-06 - Gary Stevens (R)
  • 2003-05 - Alfred Handy (R)
  • 2003-05 - Raymond Davis (R)
  • 2002-04 - William Horsey (R)
  • 2001-05 - George Joest (R)
  • 2001-03 - JoAnne VanValkenburg (I)
  • 1998-01 - William Seal (R)
  • 1997-02 - Jane Santini (D)
  • 1997-02 - Anita Ardia (I)
  • 1995-97 - Fred Cook (D)
  • 1995-97 - Charles Eble (R)
  • 1992-94 - Robert Rokosz (R)
  • 1990-92 - Anthony Hipple (R)
  • 1989-94 - Walter Orcutt (R)
  • 1988-93 - Robert McElroy (D)
  • 1984-86 - George Wilhelm (R)
  • 1981-87 - Carl Race (R)
  • 1979-87 - Sal Simonetti (R)
  • 1978-83 - Elwyn Barker (R)
  • 1968-89 - Frank Kelly (D)

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Blairstown Township is in the 5th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.[12] The township was relocated to the 24th state legislative district by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[2] The new district will be in effect for the June 2011 primary and the November 2011 general election, with the state senator and assembly members elected taking office in the new district as of January 2012.[12]

New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is represented by Scott Garrett (R, Wantage Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 23rd Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Michael J. Doherty (R, Washington Township, Warren County) and in the General Assembly by John DiMaio (R, Hackettstown) and Erik Peterson (R, Franklin Township, Hunterdon County).[13] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[14] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[15]

Warren County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders whose three members are elected at-large on a staggered basis with one seat coming up for election each year. As of 2011, Warren County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Everett A. Chamberlain (Belvidere, term ends December 31, 2012), Freeholder Deputy Director Richard D. Gardner (Asbury, 2011) and Freeholder Jason Sarnoski (Lopatcong Township, 2013).[16]

[edit] Education

Blair Walk, built as part of Blair Academy, crosses over the 17-foot-high (5.2 m) dam just off Main Street in Blairstown, perhaps Blairstown's most recognizable point of interest.

Public school students in grades K through 6 attend the Blairstown Elementary School, as part of the Blairstown Township School District. Blairstown Elementary School served 721 students in grades K-6, as of the 2008-09 school year.[17] Students from Hardwick Township, a non-operating school district, attend Blairstown Elementary School.[18]

Students in grades 7 through 12 for public school attend the North Warren Regional High School in Blairstown, a public secondary high school, serving students from the townships of Blairstown, Frelinghuysen, Hardwick, and Knowlton.[19]

Students from across the world attend Blair Academy, a private school, which is located in Blairstown for grades 9-12.

Ridge and Valley Charter School, a K-8 charter school focused on Earth literacy and sustainable living is also located in Blairstown.

[edit] Transportation

Interstate 80 and Route 94 pass through the township. Blairstown airport (1N7) is located southwest of the central business district. It is the home of Yards Creek Soaring, where you can take a glider ride to see Blairstown from the air.

The Lackawanna Cut-Off, a 28.45-mile high-speed, double-track railway line was constructed by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad between 1908 and 1911, opening for service on December 24, 1911. It ran west from Port Morris, New Jersey to Slateford, Pennsylvania and passed through Blairstown. The DL&W RR merged with the Erie Railroad on October 17, 1960, to form the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad. Due to declining revenues, passenger service over the Lackawanna Cut-Off was discontinued on January 5, 1970, and freight service ceased in 1979, just three years after the E-L was absorbed into the Consolidated Railroad Company (Conrail). The tracks remained relatively dormant until 1984, when the property was sold to a developer and rails removed. The right of way is now the property of the State of New Jersey, and plans are underway for the restoration of rail service in the future. Blairstown's poured concrete passenger and freight stations still stand, although privately owned.

The former Blairstown New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad station site, as seen in October 2011, as a parking lot for Foot Bridge Park.

Blairstown was also served by a second railroad, the Blairstown Railway. The little short line, a personal project of the local industrial magnate John Insley Blair, was constructed in 1876 from Blairstown to Delaware, NJ, where it connected with the Old Main Line of the Lackawanna RR. The Blairstown Railway was absorbed by the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad in 1882 as it built west to the coal fields of Pennsylvania. The NYS&W also operated passenger service between Blairstown and New York (via Jersey City, NJ) until 1935. A third railroad, the Lehigh & New England Railroad, operated through Blairstown via trackage rights over the NYS&W between Swartswood Jct. and Hainesburg Jct. until October 31, 1961, when the L&NE was abandoned. With the loss of L&NE trackage rights revenues and little local business to sustain the line, the NYS&W also abandoned its line through Blairstown shortly thereafter, and the tracks were removed in 1962. The right of way today has been preserved by the State of New Jersey as the 26 mile long Paulinskill Valley Trail.

[edit] Notable residents

Main article: List of people from the Lehigh Valley

Notable current and former residents of Blairstown include:

[edit] Popular culture

Now painted a bright blue, historic Roy's Hall is a highlight of Blairstown's Main Street.
  • Scenes from the horror film Friday the 13th were filmed on Blairstown's Main Street, and at the Blairstown Diner on Route 94; the Boy Scout camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in adjacent Hardwick Township was the site for Camp Crystal Lake.[24]
  • Historic Blairstown Theater (also known as Roy's Hall) was built in 1913 as a silent movie house. The building was restored and painted blue in 2005 and was the site of the Blairstown Theater Festival in 2007.
  • The body of Princess Doe was discovered at the Cedar Ridge Cemetery in Blairstown on July 15, 1982. She became the first unidentified body entered into the FBI's NCIC computer system.

[edit] References

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Blairstown, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d 2011 Apportionment Redistricting: Municipalities sorted alphabetically, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed June 5, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  5. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  6. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 245.
  7. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  8. ^ Township of Blairstown, accessed September 20, 2006.
  9. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 103.
  10. ^ Governing Body, Blairstown Township. Accessed March 14, 2011.
  11. ^ Township of Blairstown, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed March 14, 2011.
  12. ^ a b 2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 54. Accessed June 5, 2011.
  13. ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
  14. ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  15. ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  16. ^ Board of Chosen Freeholders, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  17. ^ Data for the Blairstown Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 14, 2011.
  18. ^ Novak, Stephen J. "Hardwick Township School District among 13 'nonoperating' districts eliminated Wednesday", The Express-Times, July 2, 2009. Accessed March 15, 2011. "The Hardwick district had a board of education and a part-time board secretary. But without a school of its own, it paid tuition to send its students to Blairstown Township. They'll continue to go there next school year, when the neighboring district takes control through a state order."
  19. ^ School Profile, North Warren Regional High School, backed up by the Internet Archive as of may 19, 2007.. Accessed March 15, 2011. "North Warren Regional is a public secondary school district, serving students in grades 7-12 in the townships of Blairstown, Frelinghuysen, Hardwick, and Knowlton. The district covers 96.8 square miles (251 km2) bordering the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in scenic Warren County."
  20. ^ Bischoff, Dan. "Jersey ceramics, from six different angles", The Star-Ledger, April 9, 2008. Accessed May 5, 2008. "The headliner, as he is almost wherever he shows, is Bennett Bean, here displaying seven pit-fired and gilded ceramic compositions that exude the cool, Modernist, syncopated painted patterning for which he is so well known. Bean, of Blairstown, is no doubt the best-known artist in 'Uncommon Clay,' but his aesthetic does not dominate the show."
  21. ^ Staff. "News beat", Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, September 11, 2004. Accessed June 5, 2011. "Bean of Blairstown N.J. is a writer-educator and author of The Chopsticks-Fork Principle: A Memoir and Manual."
  22. ^ Blairstown, Past and Present, Township of Blairstown. Accessed July 13, 2007. "The name of the village was officially changed to Blairstown by a vote of the citizens at a public meeting held Jan. 24, 1939. John I. Blair was only 36 years of age at the time."
  23. ^ Isaac Wildrick, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed September 1, 2007.
  24. ^ Friday the 13th Filming Locations, accessed November 14, 2006.

[edit] External links

Municipalities and communities of Warren County, New Jersey, United States
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Towns
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Communities

Coordinates: 40°58′58″N 74°57′38″W / 40.98278°N 74.96056°W / 40.98278; -74.96056

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