Branchville, New Jersey
| Branchville, New Jersey | |
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| — Borough — | |
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| Coordinates: 41°8′48″N 74°44′57″W / 41.14667°N 74.74917°WCoordinates: 41°8′48″N 74°44′57″W / 41.14667°N 74.74917°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Sussex |
| Incorporated | March 9, 1898 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Type | Borough (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Gerald W. Van Gorden (2011) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km2) |
| • Land | 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 571 ft (174 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[2] | |
| • Total | 841 |
| • Density | 1,401.7/sq mi (560.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 07826, 07827, 07890 |
| Area code(s) | 973 |
| FIPS code | 34-07300[3][4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0874904[5] |
- For the former name of the unincorporated community in Somerset County, see South Branch, New Jersey
Branchville is a borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 841.[2] The borough is located in the northernmost region of Sussex County.
Branchville was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 9, 1898, from portions of Frankford Township. An additional portion of Frankford Township was annexed as of March 1, 1951.[6]
Contents |
[edit] History
Branchville was established by settlers from Connecticut in the 18th century. It grew quickly and in the 1820s the town was divided into building lots. By the year 1844, Branchville was a well established community with 32 dwellings, mills, blacksmiths, an academy, a church and a variety of other factories and businesses.
The addition of two water-powered mills and a dam in 1855 furthered the town's prosperity. Energy would later be harnessed from this dam and a second one that was built to supply Branchville with electricity and its own power company.
Extension of rail service to Branchville in 1869 brought an even greater boon to the village's economic market growth. From 1869-1871 forty new homes were built. The railroad had made it possible to ship products from the local mills and creameries to larger urban areas to the east. With lake communities nearby the tourism was also spurred by the railroad. Up to six trains a day would bring people from the larger cities to enjoy a country vacation.
[edit] Geography
Branchville is located at 41°8'48" North, 74°44'57" West (41.146748, -74.749243).[7]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2).
[edit] Geology
Branchville is on the Ordovician Martinsburg Formation. This is a shale, slate, and limestone formation created 450 millions of years ago when a chain of volcanic islands collided with proto North America. The islands went over the North American Plate, creating the Highlands of Sussex County and the Kittatinny Valley. Millions of years of erosion occurred and there was a second event. About 400 million years ago a small continent that was long and thin, collided with proto North America creating folding and faulting. The Silurian Shawangunk conglomerate that was under a shallow sea, lifted due to pressure. The pressure created heat which melted the silica and bonded the quartz and conglomerate together, creating Kittatinny Mountain.
The Wisconsin Glacier covered all of Branchville from 21,000 BC to 13,000 BC, covering the top of Kittatinny Mountain. End moraines exist in Stokes State Forest, another just off Route 565 north of the Skylands Park and one about a mile south of Ross's Corner. An esker was created when the glacier retreated due to climate warming. Many ponds and lakes created. Culver Lake was created at this time, as the drainage became blocked. Branchville is drained by Culver's Lake Creek and Dry brook. Dry Creek starts at the Branchville Reservoir, travels south, enters into Culver's Creek in Branchville and eventually empties into the Paulinskill. There is a chain of hills between Dry Creek and Papakatin Creek. These hills are what separate the Paulinskill River drainage system from that of the Wallkill. The drainage divide is just north of Route 206 and the goes northwest toward Branchville Reservoir. Water near Route 206 or south of Route 206 drains into the Paulinskill. Water north of Route 206 drains into the Wallkill River.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 665 |
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| 1940 | 715 | 7.5% | |
| 1950 | 810 | 13.3% | |
| 1960 | 963 | 18.9% | |
| 1970 | 911 | −5.4% | |
| 1980 | 870 | −4.5% | |
| 1990 | 851 | −2.2% | |
| 2000 | 845 | −0.7% | |
| 2010 | 841 | −0.5% | |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[2][8] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 845 people, 354 households, and 225 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,421.6 people per square mile (553.0/km2). There were 377 housing units at an average density of 634.3 per square mile (246.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 100.00% White, 0.12% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 354 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the borough the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $45,855, and the median income for a family was $60,909. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $27,159 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,748. About 4.2% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Branchville is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[1]
As of 2011[update], the Mayor of Branchville Borough is Gerald W. Van Gorden (R, term ends December 31, 2011). Members of the Branchville Borough Council are William Bathgate (R, 2011), Katieanne Harrison (R, 2011), David Wayne Howell (R, 2012), Marc Lordi (R, 2010), Frank San Phillip (R, 2012) and Richard VanStone (R, 2010).[9][10]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Branchville is in the 5th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.[11] The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[2]
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 24th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Steve Oroho (R, Franklin) and in the General Assembly by Gary R. Chiusano (R, Frankford Township) and Alison Littell McHose (R, Franklin).[12] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[13] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[14]
Sussex County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders whose five members are elected at-large on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. As of 2011, Sussex County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Richard A. Zeoli (R, term ends December 31, 2012; Byram Township)[15], Deputy Director Susan M. Zellman (R, 2012; Stanhope)[16], Phillip R. Crabb (R, 2011; Franklin)[17], Parker Space (R, 2013; Wantage Township)[18] and Richard Vohden (R, 2013; Green Township).[19][20]
[edit] Politics
As of March 23, 2011, out of a 2010 Census population of 841 in Branchville, there were 556 registered voters (66.1% of the population, vs. 65.8% in all of Sussex County). Of registered voters, 75 (13.5% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 306 (55.0% vs. 39.3% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 175 (31.5% vs. 44.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were no voters registered to other parties.[21]
In recent years, on the national level, Branchville is a stronghold for the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 65% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received 32%.[22] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 60% of the vote here, defeating Democrat Barack Obama, who received 38%.[23] This gives Branchville a Cook PVI of R+15.
[edit] Education
Students in public school for pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Frankford Township School District, located in Branchville, as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[24] The district served 625 students as of the 2008-09 school year.[25]
Public school students in grades 9 - 12 attend High Point Regional High School, located in Sussex. Attending the school are students from Branchville, Frankford Township, Lafayette Township, Sussex Borough and Wantage Township.[26]
[edit] References
- ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 110.
- ^ a b c d 2011 Apportionment Redistricting: Municipalities sorted alphabetically, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed June 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 229.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Sussex County webpage for Branchville Borough, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 29, 2011. Web page still shows 2009 and 2010 term end dates as of date accessed.
- ^ Staff. Sussex County election results 2009, New Jersey Herald, June 2, 2009. Accessed June 7, 2011.
- ^ 2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. Accessed June 7, 2011.
- ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
- ^ Richard A. Zeoli, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
- ^ Susan M. Zellman, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
- ^ Phillip R. Crabb, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
- ^ Parker Space, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
- ^ Richard A. Vohden, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
- ^ Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
- ^ "http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-sussex-co-summary-report.pdf
- ^ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/presidential_sussex_co_2004.pdf
- ^ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/08-gen-elect-presidential-results-sussex.pdf
- ^ Lamonte, Rosalie S. Report on Non-Operating School District: Branchville, New Jersey Department of Education, June 30, 2009. Accessed October 9, 2009.
- ^ Data for the Frankford Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed July 29, 2011.
- ^ School Info, High Point Regional High School. Accessed March 16, 2011. "High Point Regional High School is located in rural Sussex County, New Jersey, where approximately 1,200 students attend from the five municipalities of Branchville, Frankford, Lafayette, Sussex and Wantage."
[edit] External links
- Sussex County webpage for Branchville Borough
- Branchville Borough history
- Frankford Township School District
- Frankford Township School District's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Frankford Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics
- High Point Regional High School
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