Hopatcong, New Jersey

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Hopatcong, New Jersey
—  Borough  —
Map of Hopatcong Borough in Sussex County.
Census Bureau map of Hopatcong, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°57′09″N 74°39′35″W / 40.952432°N 74.65966°W / 40.952432; -74.65966Coordinates: 40°57′09″N 74°39′35″W / 40.952432°N 74.65966°W / 40.952432; -74.65966
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Sussex
Incorporated April 2, 1898 as Brooklyn
Renamed March 22, 1901 as Hopatcong
Government
 • Type Borough (New Jersey)
 • Mayor Sylvia Petillo (term ends December 31, 2015)[1]
 • Administrator Robert Elia[2]
Area[3]
 • Total 12.248 sq mi (31.722 km2)
 • Land 10.854 sq mi (28.113 km2)
 • Water 1.394 sq mi (3.609 km2)  11.318%
Elevation[4] 1,001 ft (305 m)
Population (2010 Census)[5]
 • Total 15,147
 • Density 1,200/sq mi (480/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07843[6]
Area code(s) 862/973
FIPS code 34-32910[7][8]
GNIS feature ID 0885259[9]
Website http://www.hopatcong.org

Hopatcong is a Borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 15,147.[5]

The area had been called "Brookland" in the 19th century and the lake that was expanded to become Lake Hopatcong had been known as "Great Pond" or "Brookland Pond". During the 1830s, the name of the community had been modified to "Brooklyn", to match the spelling of the city on New York's Long Island.[10] Hopatcong was originally established as the Town of Brooklyn on April 2, 1898 from portions of Byram Township. On March 22, 1901, the Borough of Hopatcong replaced Brooklyn.[11] In 1922, residents of Byram Cove, Northwood, and other areas to the west of the original land area of the borough, voted to leave Byram Township and join Hopatcong, leaving the Borough with its current borders.[12]

Contents

[edit] Geography

Hopatcong is located at 40°57′09″N 74°39′35″W / 40.952432°N 74.65966°W / 40.952432; -74.65966 (40.952432,-74.65966). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 12.248 square miles (31.722 km2), of which, 10.854 square miles (28.113 km2) of it is land and 1.394 square miles (3.609 km2) of it (11.38%) is water.[13][3]

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1910 146
—
1920 179 22.6%
1930 534 198.3%
1940 660 23.6%
1950 1,173 77.7%
1960 3,391 189.1%
1970 9,052 166.9%
1980 15,531 71.6%
1990 15,586 0.4%
2000 15,888 1.9%
2010 15,147 −4.7%
Population sources:1910-1930[14]
1930-1990[15] 2000[16] 2010[5]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 15,888 people, 5,656 households, and 4,236 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,449.7 people per square mile (559.7/km2). There were 6,190 housing units at an average density of 564.8 per square mile (218.1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 93.10% White, 1.95% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 1.42% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.99% of the population.[16]

There were 5,656 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.2% 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 3.24.[16]

In the borough the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.[16]

The median income for a household in the borough was $65,799, and the median income for a family was $73,277. Males had a median income of $47,083 versus $34,238 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,698. About 2.2% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.[16]

[edit] History

Lake Hopatcong as seen from Hopatcong Borough.

The town of Hopatcong has a rich history given its relationship with New York City. It borders Lake Hopatcong, a partially man made lake that is now a source of much recreation and desirable real estate, and is the biggest lake in New Jersey. The town, just 40 miles west of New York City, began as a summer get away for the wealthy in NYC who primarily sought access to the lake. An amusement park sprung up called "Bertrand's Island" which was accessible via the lake or by car through Mount Arlington. The construction of Interstate 80, a highway that stretches from Teaneck, New Jersey all the way across the country to San Francisco, California, triggered rapid growth in New York City's suburbs and led to Hopatcong becoming a permanent residential community.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Hopatcong 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.[17]

The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the Borough, helps set the agenda for Council meetings and chairs all meetings of the Council. The Mayor can vote only in the event of a tie but has the power to veto any ordinance adopted by the Council.

The Mayor has executive authority to act between Council meetings in matters affecting the Borough. The Mayor can declare a state of emergency and can act to protect the Borough and its citizens. The Mayor appoints the members of all Borough Committees and certain Borough Commissions. The Mayor's nominations for certain other Borough Boards and Commissions are subject to Council approval. The Mayor prepares the initial draft of the annual Borough budget for submission to the Council. The Mayor can issue Proclamations. The Mayor is authorized to perform marriage ceremonies. The Mayor is required to sit as a member of the Borough Planning Board. The signatures of the Mayor and Borough Clerk are necessary to create any legally binding obligation of the Borough.

The Borough Council is the legislative body of the Borough and can act in one of two formats: a) Ordinances, which have the effect of law and b) Resolutions, which state the policy or direction of the Council. Ordinances require public notice and a public hearing prior to adoption. Resolutions must be adopted in public but do not require public hearings.

The Council is charged with the adoption of the annual Borough Budget. The Mayor's nominations of certain Borough officials are also subject to Council approval. Council members are annually appointed by the Mayor to act as liaisons to various Borough departments, Boards, Commissions or Committees. The Council annually elects a member to serve in the position of Council President. In the absence of the Mayor, the Council President can assume the role and duties of the Mayor. The Council also annually elects a member to serve as its representative on the Planning Board.

As of 2012, the Mayor of Hopatcong Borough is Sylvia Petillo (R, term ends December 31, 2015). Members of the Hopatcong Borough Council are Council President Rich Bunce (R, 2012), Howard Baker (R, 2013), Michael Francis (R, 2013), Marie Galate (R, 2012), Estelle Klein (R, 2014) and John Young (R, 2014).[18][19]

[edit] Events

Hopatcong holds annual APBA Boat Races that attract the local residents to a day at the lake. Hopatcong is also known for its yearly "Hopatcong Days" which is a weekend of events that include a parade, and an array of festivities in Modick Park, sponsored by the local Business Association. Most popular during this weekend is the annual Soap Box Derby and Car Show devised and run by the Wagner Family for over 10 years to date.[citation needed]

The Hopatcong Museum also holds a variety of interesting local historical artifacts.[citation needed]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Hopatcong Borough is in the 5th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.[5][20]

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).[21] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[22] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[23]

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)[24], Deputy Director Susan M. Zellman (R, 2012; Stanhope)[25], Phillip R. Crabb (R, 2011; Franklin)[26], Parker Space (R, 2013; Wantage Township)[27] and Richard Vohden (R, 2013; Green Township).[28][29]

[edit] Politics

As of March 23, 2011, out of a 2010 Census population of 15,147 in Hopatcong, there were 9,554 registered voters (63.1% of the population, vs. 65.8% in all of Sussex County). Of registered voters, 1,917 (20.1% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 3,242 (33.9% vs. 39.3% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 4,383 (45.9% vs. 44.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were twelve voters registered to other parties (four Greens and eight Libertarians).[30]

On the national level, Hopatcong leans toward the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 59% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received 39%.[31] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 55% of the vote here, defeating Democrat Barack Obama, who received 43%.[32] This gives Hopatcong a Cook PVI of R+10.

[edit] Education

Students in grades K through 12 attend the Hopatcong Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[33]) are Hudson Maxim School (313 students in KG-1), Tulsa Trail Elementary School (296; 2-3), Durban Avenue School (329; 4-5), Hopatcong Middle School (528; 6-8) and Hopatcong High School (730; 9-12).

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Hopatcong include:

  • Joe Cook (1890–1959), vaudeville actor who lived on the shores of Lake Hopatcong in a house he named "Sleepless Hollow".[34]
  • Lotta Crabtree (1847-1924), actress.[12]
  • Joe Martinek (born 1989), leading football rusher in New Jersey high school history.[35]
  • Hudson Maxim (1853–1927), inventor and chemist who is the namesake of the district's Hudson Maxim School.[36]
  • Dave Yovanovits (born 1981), former NFL Offensive lineman.[37]

[edit] References

  1. ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed October 2, 2011.
  2. ^ Administrator, Borough of Hopatcong. Accessed January 23, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 23, 2012.
  4. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Borough of Hopatcong, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
  5. ^ a b c d Municipalities Grouped by 2011-2020 Legislative Districts, New Jersey Department of State, p. 11. Accessed January 23, 2012.
  6. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code, United States Postal Service. Accessed October 3, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  8. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  9. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  10. ^ Balston, Mottel. It's also known as "The Cong."A HISTORY OF LANDING, MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, LandingNewJersey.com. Accessed May 19, 2008.
  11. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. pp. 231 (re Hopatcong) and 229 (re Brooklyn)
  12. ^ a b History, Borough of Hopatcong. Accessed October 3, 2011.
  13. ^ "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. 
  14. ^ "Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I", United States Census Bureau, p. 719. Accessed January 23, 2012.
  15. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 2, 2009. Accessed October 3, 2011.
  16. ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Hopatcong borough, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 3, 2011.
  17. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 110.
  18. ^ Mayor / Council. Borough of Hopatcong. Accessed January 23, 2012. Note that Young's term-end date was listed as 2011 as of date accessed
  19. ^ Staff. "Hopatcong's Petillo, Young, Klein Sworn In, HopatcongPatch, January 4, 2012. Accessed January 23, 2012. "Mayor Sylvia Petillo and council members John Young and Estelle Klein were sworn into new terms at Wednesday night's Hopatcong reorganization meeting at the municipal building. Councilman Richard Bunce was named council president and Petillo, in her second straight term, announced the members of the borough's new land-use board, which will replace the zoning and planning boards."
  20. ^ Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 23, 2012.
  21. ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
  22. ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  23. ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  24. ^ Richard A. Zeoli, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  25. ^ Susan M. Zellman, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  26. ^ Phillip R. Crabb, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  27. ^ Parker Space, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  28. ^ Richard A. Vohden, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  29. ^ Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  30. ^ Voter Registration Summary - Sussex, New Jersey Department of State, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 3, 2011.
  31. ^ 2004 Presidential Election - Sussex County, New Jersey Department of State, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 23, 2012.
  32. ^ 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Sussex County, New Jersey Department of State, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 23, 2012.
  33. ^ Data for Hopatcong Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed October 3, 2011.
  34. ^ History, Borough of Hopatcong. Accessed February 1, 2011. "The center for much of this activity was Joe Cook's Sleepless Hollow in Hopatcong's Davis Cove. Cook was a popular Vaudevillian, comedian and musical theater star who lived at the Lake from 1924 to 1941."
  35. ^ Hofmann, Joe. "Off and running", Daily Record (Morristown), September 7, 2006. Accessed February 1, 2011. "Hopatcong's Joe Martinek and Pope John's Jeremy Tucker are both first-team All-State running back candidates who combined for 5,010 yards and 62 touchdowns last year."
  36. ^ Via Associated Press. "Hudson Maxim has passed on", Christian Science Monitor, May 7, 1927. Accessed February 1, 2011. "LAKE HOPATCONG, N.J. (AP)-- Hudson Maxim, inventor of explosives and author on a variety of subjects, has passed on at his home here."
  37. ^ Hoffman, Joe. "Former Hopatcong star Yovanovits used skill, work ethic to become an NFL draft pick", Daily Record (Morristown), May 3, 2003. Accessed October 3, 2011. "Dave Yovanovits was told to watch for his name to scroll across the bottom of the television screen during the second day of the NFL draft last Sunday. Temple was the only Division 1 school to offer him a scholarship after his senior season at Hopatcong."

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