Sussex County, New Jersey

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Sussex County, New Jersey
Seal of Sussex County, New Jersey
Map of New Jersey highlighting Sussex County
Location in the state of New Jersey
Map of the U.S. highlighting New Jersey
New Jersey's location in the U.S.
Seat Newton
Largest city Vernon
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
536 sq mi (1,388 km²)
521 sq mi (1,350 km²)
15 sq mi (38 km²), 2.75%
PopulationEst.
 - (2006)
 - Density
153,384
276.7/sq mi (103.9/km²)
Founded 8 June, 1753
County flag Flag of Sussex County, New Jersey
Website www.sussex.nj.us

The County of Sussex (also known as Sussex County) is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2000 Federal decennial census, 144,166 persons resided in Sussex County. Sussex County is the 91st wealthiest county in the United States with its per capita income being $26,992.

The county was founded on 8 June 1753 from portions of Morris County.[1] The county seat of Sussex County is the Town of Newton[2].

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Origin of the county's name

Sussex County was named by Royal Governor Jonathan Belcher (1689-1757) for Sussex in England which was the ancestral seat of His Grace, Thomas Pelham-Holles, first Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and first Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne (1693-1768), who at the time was the Secretary of State for the Northern Department, and later the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1754-1756, 1757-1762). Pelham-Holles, whose office oversaw British affairs in North America, was Governor Belcher's political superior. During his term as Governor of New Jersey (1747-1757), Belcher named many municipalities in honor of important British political figures, most of whom were superior to him in rank or precedence. It is believed that he did so in order to curry political favor and regain a level of standing that was diminished from his scandal which precipitated his removal from the Governorship of Massachusetts in 1741.[3][4]

Sussex, in England, was notable historically as one of the seven kingdoms of the Heptarchy (A.D. 500–850), which were later unified under Egbert of Wessex (c. 770–839) into the Kingdom of England. The -sex suffix indicates the Saxon areas, of people from Saxony; Sus-sex for south Saxon, Es-sex for east Saxon, Wes-sex for west Saxon, and Middle-sex, as opposed to the Anglia names, for the areas of the Angles, Anglos, who came from Angle-land in what is now Denmark.

[edit] Paleo Indians, and Native Americans

Sussex County was under the Wisconsin Glacier which lasted from 21,000 B.C to 13,000 B.C.. The glacier covered all of Sussex County. This glacier covered the top of Kittatinny Mountain. End moraines are in Stokes State Forest, Augusta, Hampton Twp., and Andover Twp. After the Wisconsin Glacier melted due to a change in climate, plants and grasses slowly grew. The area was still cold, so the landscape was first Tundra and then changed to Taiga Biome/ Boreal Forest. The Boreal forest was a coniferous forest in which Spruce and other pine trees grew. Grasslands also grew, as the area had various flora communities. Water was still present from glaceral melt. By 12,000 BC the glacier retreated to the Catskills and by 8000 BC the glacier was north of the St Lawrence River in Canada.(Ogden 1977) Between 8000BC and 6000BC Boreal and deciduous forests were growing. This is the time period that the Mastadons became extinct.

Mastadons roamed the area. Mastadons were found at Highland Lakes dated 8940 BC + or - 200 years, in Swartswoods Lake, in Liberty Twp. dated 9045 BC+ or - 750 years, and Orange County , New York dated 7910 BC+ or - 225 years and 8050 BC + or -160 years. Caribou bones were found at the Dutchess County Cave near Florida, NY. Paleo Indian sites have been found at the Zierdt site in Montague, the Plenge Site in Great Meadows and at the Harry's Farm Site in Paraquarry Twp, Warren County in which charcole has been dated to 5430 BC + or - 120 years. Charcoal Dated 8940 BC+ or - 50 years, has been found at the Paleo Indian camp on Broadhead Creek in Pa. near the Delaware. This site is one of the earliest Paleo Indian sites in Eastern North America. The caribou bones found in the Cave near Florida, New York site dated 10,580 BC + or - 370 years. This suggests that Paleo Indians lived in the Sussex County are as far back as 10,310 BC to 10,950 BC. Paleo Indians lived in small groups and followed game. They were hunter-gatherers. They made fluted spear points of Jasper and Chert. Their numbers were not large and that is why Paleo Indian sites are hard to find. Also that their sites are several, to many feet below the present surface of the area.

The area warmed and deciduous forests began to grow around 8,000 BC. Oaks, maples, birch, willows replaced the coniferous forests and big game became extinct. There are different reasons for this, such as over hunting or lack of food. By 6000 BC the Coniferous forests were almost gone, except for hemlock trees. Different big game that lived in that type of forest such as deer, elk and moose.

Eventually the Lenape settled in the area and the time of their arrival is unknown. Before the Lenape arrived in Sussex County, other native Americans have occupied the area. The Lenape lived in river valleys, in flat flood plains. They were hunter gathers. With the advent of clay pottery around 1200 BC , the Bow and arrow around 800 to 1000 AD, the Lenape were intensively gathering, Populations increased faster. Many types of nuts were available to them such as acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, beech nuts, and butternuts. Game was plentiful everywhere, such as deer, bear, elk, beaver and squirrels. Fish in the rivers was caught in nets or by hand. And there was shell fish. By the time the Dutch and other Europeans arrived in the very late 1600s to early 1700s the region was settled by the Lenape. They were living in extended family camps which were near each other along the river valleys. These camps were fairly permanent although they may have migrated in search of food during different seasons. With the slow rise of agriculture around the year 1000 , camps slowly became more stabile. Population increased due to the ability to store food in pottery and procure game with the bow and arrow. The family clans were harmonious with each other. The Lenape had a trail that went from the Delaware River through Culvers Gap to Augusta, east of Newton, to Cranberry Lake and then to Stanhope. From there it probably went to Landing and to the Rockaway River near Rockaway. In Denville the trail may have divided, one going to Morristown and the other going to Parsippany.(Philhower 1924). The Lenape trail is also shown on William Fadden's map.

The Little Ice Age may also effected settlement of Sussex County. Beginning in the early 1600's, winters became longer and summers shorter. Frosts lasted longer into the growing season and started earlier. This would effect the growing of crops by settlers. Several years of crop failure or low production may have sent settlers back to the warmer areas of the coastal areas. The Kittatinny Valley and the Flatbrook Valley would definitely been effected by the temperature change, as these area's are among the coldest in the state. This cold would also have effected Lenape populations as corn crop failures, due to early frosts in August or late frosts in June. The inability to fish due to the freezing of the rivers or lakes for long periods. Various game went into a semi hibernation during cold periods also made hunting difficult. Nut trees and nut crop production also would have been effected by the late frosts or freezes in May or June. All these factors would have resulted in starvation among the Native Americans.

In 1664 the English gained control of New Netherland. Relations with the Native Americans became better and people. Land purchases in the early 1700's and the Walking Purchase of 1737, in which 3 men started walking north from Neshaminy Creek, Pa., northward. One man made made it to Port Jervis, NY area , in which the Native Americans were forced to sell all of this land, which was hundreds of square miles. This was land of all of eastern Pennsylvania. Due to this, relations with the English became poor. When the French and Indian Wars started in 1665, some Native Americans sided with the French.

By the 1750's, nearly all Native Americans were gone from Sussex County. This was due to the land purchases or diseases that the Native Americans contacted from the Europeans. The Native Americans were separated from Asia and Europe for thousands of years. Nearly half of Native Americans died from disease. During the 1750's the Native Americans moved to western Pennsylvania, the Ohio Valley and to Eastern Canada.

[edit] European Settlement

In 1615, three Dutchmen left Fort Nassau near Albany, NY. They traveled southwest to the Delaware River and followed the river downstream. In 1616 they were captured by Native Americans near the confluence of the Schuykill River and Delaware River. This is south of Easton, Pennsylvania. It is unknown the route three men traveled. They may have traveled through Sussex County or Pennsylvania. This is the earliest record of Europeans traveling in or near Sussex County.

Governor Kieft's War of 1643 to 1645, the Esopus War of 1655 to 1660, and the Peach War of 1655 to 1657, would have prevented colonization of New Netherland which today is called Sussex County. There was hostile relations between the Dutch and Native Americans.

The French and Indian Wars which started in 1754 to 1763, had an effect on colonists who lived in Sussex County. Small forts or fortified homes made a line from Phillipsburg to Port Jervis area. Seven fortified homes were along along the Delaware River in the Sussex County area from Walpack Bend to Port Jervis. These forts are shown on the map drawn by Jonathon Hampton in 1758. Fort Reading was 12 miles north of Easton, near Belvidere. The next was Col. Van Camps fort, 18 miles north of Fort Reading. Col. Van Camps fort was just south of Walpack Bend. Fort Walpack was 6 miles north of Van Camps fort in the river bend at Walpack. Fort Shapnack was also called Head Quarters was 6 miles north of Fort Walpack. Fort Nominack was 8 mikes north near Nominack Island. Shipeconk Fort was 4 miles north. Coles Fort was 8 miles north of Shipeconk Fort. The most northern fort was Fort Gardner which was 12 miles north of Fort Cole. Fort Gardner was near the NJ and NY State line. Later the line was drawn further south, so Fort Gardner is northeast of Port Jervis, NY. (NJCD and Kraft 1976). Indian raids took place on farms of colonists. Farm houses and barns were burned. People were killed. Due to this, settlement of Sussex County came to a halt as no colonist wanted to venture into the northwestern part of Sussex County during this war.

The first known settler, what was then New Jersey or now New York was a blacksmith who purchased land from the Lenape near Port Jervis in 1698. They sold him some land as his skills as a blacksmith was highly valued. As he could make iron pots, axes, and knives that no Native American could make. As the New Jersey and New York border later changed in 1769 to a place further south then what is was originally. The Minisink Patent of 1704, in which land was sold by Native Americans to Europeans in Orange County, NY. After this, settlement probably occurred along the Delaware in Montague around 1705 to 1710. There was a church built in Walpack in 1716. Settlement probably occurred in 1714 in Walpack.

Permanent farms started to appear in the flat area's of the county where the land was fertile and near streams for water. Some land was previously cleared by Native Americans while other areas were natural fields due to natural fires or flora selection. Game was still plentiful as well as fish and waterfowl.

From a map of William Fadden in 1778 shows several roads going through western Sussex County. The map does not show the Paraquarry Mine or a road that leads to the Paraquarry area. Instead the map shows a road that goes from the Port Jervis area south along the eastern side of the Delaware River to Minisink Island. Here at Minisink Island the road forks three ways. The one road goes through Culver's Gap. The second road goes south to the village of Walpack where it turns west and crosses the Delaware River at Walpack Bend. The road continues along the western side of the Delaware River and proceeds south. The third road crosses the Delaware at Minisink Island and goes along the western side of the Delaware River in a southward direction.

Sources indicate that in the following decades Germans via Philadelphia, and English colonists from New England, Long Island, Newark, and Salem County, New Jersey. [1]

[edit] Government

[edit] Board of Chosen Freeholders

The County of Sussex is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders that consists of five members elected at-large to serve three-year terms. Seats are elected on a staggered basis over three years, with two seats available in the first year, two seats the following, and then one seat. All terms of office begin on January 1 and end on December 31. The Board of Chosen Freeholders is the center of legislative and administrative responsibility for the County of Sussex. It is responsible for writing and adopting a budget and overseeing the spending of funds appropriated by that budget.

Many county services do overlap those provided by municipalities within the county, however, the Board of Chosen Freeholders is responsible for the following tasks:

"Public Safety and Emergency Management, Community College and Technical School, the County Library System, Social Services, Youth Services, Community Service, Mental Health, Division of Senior Services, [The County] Nursing Home [formerly the Alms House], Environmental and Public Health Services, Mosquito Control, the Medical Examiner’s Office, the County Jail and Detention Center, Farmland and Open Space Preservation, Economic Development, Road and Bridge Maintenance and Repair, the Para Transit System and Transportation Planning, Solid Waste Planning, the County Master Plan, including Water Resource Planning."[5]

As of 2008, members of the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders are Freeholder Director Glen Vetrano (R, term ends December 31, 2009; Hampton Township), Deputy Director Jeffrey M. Parrott (R, 2010; Wantage Township), Phillip R. Crabb (R, 2008; Franklin Borough), Harold J. Wirths (R, 2010; Wantage Township) and Susan M. Zellman (R, 2009; Stanhope).[5]

[edit] Constitutional officers

As with each county in New Jersey, three elected positions, known as "constitutional officers" are required by the New Jersey State Constitution.

The office of County Clerk, a position which is selected for a term of five years, is currently occupied by Erma Gormley (R). The office of County Surrogate, elected also for at term of five years, is currently occupied by Nancy Fitzgibbons (R). The County Sheriff, a position which has a term of three years, is currently Robert Untig (R).

[edit] Municipalities

Index map of Sussex County municipalities (click to see index key)

The following are Sussex County's 24 incorporated municipalities:

[edit] Politics

Sussex County is a predominantly Republican area, as among registered voters, affiliations with the Republican Party outpace those of the Democratic Party by a ratio of three to one. All five members of the county board of Chosen Freeholders, all three county-wide constitutional officers, and all except a few of the 108 municipal offices among the county's 24 municipalities are held by Republicans. In the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, George W. Bush carried the county by a 29.6% margin over John Kerry, the largest margin for Bush in any county in New Jersey, with Kerry carrying the state by 6.7% over Bush.[6] In 2008, John McCain carried Sussex County by a 20.6% margin over Barack Obama, McCain's best showing in New Jersey, with Obama winning statewide by 15.5% over McCain.[7] Also, Sussex County is the home county of Scott Garrett, who is by far the most conservative congressman from New Jersey. He represents almost all of Sussex County along with Warren County, northern Passaic County, and northern Bergen County. The southeast corner of Sussex County is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen.

[edit] Geography

[edit] Physical geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 536 square miles (1,388 km²), of which, 521 square miles (1,350 km²) of it is land and 15 square miles (38 km²) of it (2.75%) is water. High Point in this county is also the highest elevation in the state at 1,803 feet (549.5 m) above sea level. Sunrise Mountain in Stokes State Forest has an elevation of 1653 feet. The county's lowest elevation is approximately 300 feet (90 m) above sea level along the Delaware River near Flatbrookville.

Sussex County has two Geophysical provinces. The first is the Ridge and Valley Province which occupies about two thirds of the county, the west and central section. The second is the Highlands Province which is the eastern third of the county.

The Kittatinny Mountain traverses the western section of the county and goes in a northeast-southwest axis. Walpack Ridge runs from Walpack Bend and follows the Delaware River to Port Jervis. These two ridges are the only two mountains in the ridge and valley province. Between Walpack Ridge and the Kittatinny Mountain is the Flatbrook Valley which is drained by the Little and Big Flatbrook streams.

To the east of Kittatinny Mountain is the Kittatinny Valley. This made of Ordovician Martinsburg Formation composed of shale, and slate, which make up most of the valley.A section of Kittatinny formation goes though Balesville. The rest is composed of Ordovician Jacksonburg formation which is limestone. There is also an ancient volcano at Rutan Hill, north of Bemerville. Kittatinny Valley is part of the Great Appalachian Valley which goes from Canada to Alabama. North of this valley is the Hudson Valley and to the south is the Lehigh Valley. The Walkill River drains the northern part of the Kittatinny Valley and the Paulinskill River drains the central and southern section of the Kittatinny Valley.

To the east of the Kittatinny Valley is the Highland province. A narrow fault of Hardyston Quartzite separates the Kittatinny Valley from the Highlands. Precambian rock, Kittatinny and Franklin formation, along with Hardyston Quartzite are in the Highlands. The Highland Province has the Wawayanda Mountains which has an elevation of 1448 at two peaks; Sparta Mountain, elevation 1232: Pochuck Mountain, elevation 1194, north of Lake Pochung; Hamburg Mountain, elevation 1495 east of Lake Wildwood.

Sussex County has four river drainages. The first is the Walkill River which starts at Mohawk Lake in Sparta and travels north into New York and empties into the Hudson River. The second is the Paulinskill which starts near Newton, travels north to Lafayette, then heads west. The River flows through Augusta and the turns southwest where it flows though Blairstown and drains into the Delaware River south of Columbia, NJ. The third is the Pequest River, which starts in Andover Twp. travels south to Great Meadows where it turns west and flows to Belvidere, where it drains into the Delaware River. The four is the Big Flatbrook, which starts in Stokes State Forest at Steam Mill and travels in a southwesterly direction, west of the Kittatinny Mountain and drains into the Delaware River near Flatbrookville. All of these rivers are well known trout streams, which are stocked every year by NJ Fish and Game.

Much of the county is hilly, as the Ridge and Valley Province is considered to be within the Appalachian Mountains. The Great Valley of the Appalachians, allows for land to be more amenable to agriculture. Corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, apples, peaches are grown.

[edit] Adjacent counties

Given Sussex County's location at the top of the state, it is bordered by counties in New Jersey as well as in neighboring New York and Pennsylvania. This region is often collectively known as the Tri-State Area.[8] The following counties are adjacent and contiguous to Sussex County (in order starting with the northernmost and rotating clockwise):

Pike County, Pennsylvania Orange County, New York
Monroe County, Pennsylvania North Passaic County
West   Sussex County, New Jersey    East
South
Warren County Morris County

[edit] National protected areas

[edit] Economy and other factors

Early industry and commerce chiefly centered around agriculture, iron mining, shifting during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to focus on several factories and the mining of zinc. Today, Sussex County features a mix of rural farmland, forests and suburban development. Though agriculture (chiefly dairy farming) is on the decline and because the county hosts little industry, Sussex County is considered a "bedroom community" as most residents commute to neighboring counties (Bergen, Essex and Morris Counties) or to New York City for work.

[edit] Taxes

Property taxes in Sussex County have always been historically lower than its neighboring counties. Taxes on an acre of land, depending on the condition and size of the house, could be as low as $1500 a year. Typical property taxes in the county are in the $3000-$6000 a year range. This is due to low local spending, regional schools, modest Police Departments, and many municipalities have a volunteer Fire Department.

[edit] Transportation

Sussex County is served by a number of roads connecting it to the rest of the state and to both Pennsylvania and New York. Interstate 80 passes through the extreme southern tip of Sussex County. Interstate 84 passes just yards north of Sussex County, but never enters New Jersey.

New Jersey's Route 15, Route 23, Route 94, Route 181, Route 183, and Route 284 pass through the County, as does U.S. Route 206

Commuter Rail available from Netcong, New Jersey on the Morris & Essex Lines of New Jersey Transit. New Jersey Transit also aims to open up the Lackawanna Cutoff, which passes through Andover and Green Townships to commuter traffic, connecting Scranton, Pennsylvania with Hoboken, New Jersey and New York City.

Sussex County has four public-use airports, all privately owned and catering to recreational pilots. They are Sussex Airport, in Wantage Township, which has a runway of 3,499 feet, Newton Airport in Andover Township, Andover Aeroflex Airport also in Andover Township, and Trinca Airport in Green Township, which has a 1,900-foot grass runway.

[edit] Television and radio broadcasting

Clear Channel Radio owns a cluster of four stations in the area.

  • 102.3 WSUS-FM - Franklin. Format: Adult Contemporary
  • 103.7 WNNJ - Newton. Format: Classic Rock
  • 1360 WTOC - Newton. Format: Oldies
  • 106.3 WHCY-FM - Franklin. Format: Hot Adult Contemporary

FST Broadcasting Corp. owns WTBQ, just north of Vernon, NJ.

  • 1110 WTBQ - Warwick, New York (can be heard throughout Northern Sussex County). Format: NewsTalk and Sports

The radio station WNTI, 91.9 FM, is broadcast from Centenary College in Hackettstown (Warren County). It is a commercial free, public station playing progressive music. It can be heard throughout most of Sussex County. Calvary Chapel of Howell, NJ broadcasts WRDR The Bridge FM with towers in Northern New Jersey and Southern New York.

  • 103.1 WJUX-FM Northern NJ and New York City. Format: Religious
  • 99.7 WJUX-FM Sullivan and Orange Counties, NY. Format: Religious
  • 94.3 WJUX-FM Pamona, NY and parts of Rockland County, NY. Format: Religious

Public radio (NJN - New Jersey Public Radio); primarily NPR but also an American Public Media outlet:

  • 88.5 WNJP - Sussex, New Jersey
  • 89.3 WNJY - Netcong, New Jersey

[edit] Crime

Every type of crime has occurred in the county. Heroin use has been on the rise and shows no signs of improvement despite efforts of law enforcement and community groups working to fight the problem. This is due to the inexpensive cost of heroin and its highly addictive nature.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1790 19,500
—
1800 22,534 15.6%
1810 25,549 13.4%
1820 32,752 28.2%
1830 20,346 * −37.9%
1840 21,770 7.0%
1850 22,989 5.6%
1860 23,846 3.7%
1870 23,168 −2.8%
1880 23,539 1.6%
1890 22,259 −5.4%
1900 24,134 8.4%
1910 26,781 11.0%
1920 24,905 −7.0%
1930 27,830 11.7%
1940 29,632 6.5%
1950 34,423 16.2%
1960 49,255 43.1%
1970 77,528 57.4%
1980 116,119 49.8%
1990 130,943 12.8%
2000 144,166 10.1%
Est. 2006 153,384 [9] 6.4%
* lost territory
historical census data source: [10][11]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 144,166 people, 50,831 households, and 38,784 families residing in the county. The population density was 277 people per square mile (107/km²). There were 56,528 housing units at an average density of 108 per square mile (42/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.70% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 3.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.4% were of Italian, 18.1% Irish, 16.0% German, 7.2% English, 5.9% Polish and 5.2% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

By 2006, 90.3% of the county population was non-Hispanic whites. The percentage of African-Americans was up to 1.7%. Asians were now 1.9% of the population. 5.3% of the population was Latino.

In 2000 There were 50,831 households out of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $67,266, and the median income for a family was $73,335 (these figures had risen to $79,434 and $89,302 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[13]). Males had a median income of $50,395 versus $33,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,992. About 2.8% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

The Sussex County Interscholastic League, or SCIL, is the high school athletic league for most high schools in the county.

[edit] Tourism and recreation

[edit] State and federal parks

[edit] Recreational activities

Each year, thousands of people travel to Sussex County for various recreational activities. This is because the terrain, flora and fauna is diverse.

Sussex County is well known for hunting and fishing. There are many state Wildlife Management areas that allow hunting, fishing, hiking or cross country skiing. The Flatbrook WMA, Paulinskill WMA, Whittingham WMA, Hamburg Mountain WMA, Rockaway River WMA, Sparta Mountain WMA, Walpack WMA, Stokes State Forest, the Delaware Water Gap NRA are some places to hunt, fish, trap, or cross country ski. Deer hunting in Sussex County is one of the best in the state. Small game and waterfowl hunting is everywhere.

Trout fishing is excellent, as one can fish in some of the premier streams such as the Big Flatbrook, the Paulinskill , the Pequest, the Wallkill or the Musconetcong which borders the county. There are also many premier lakes also. The Delaware River for the Shad, Walleye, Carp and other fish. Ice fishing is also done on Culver's Lake, Lake Hopatong, and at other lakes.

Cross country skiing is a challenge at Blue Mountain Lake Trails, High Point State Park, or on any state land. The only problem with cross country skiing is that the snow here does not stay soft or powdery for long. Most skiing has to be done the day after it snows or two days at the most. Then the snow becomes a crust of ice. Downhill skiers go to Hidden Valley or Great Gorge.

Hiking can be done at Stokes State Forest, High Point State Park or at the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area.

Campers set up tents in Stokes State Forest and there are cabins there for rent too.

Snowmobiles travel across the frozen lakes, farm fields, and forests in the winter when there is snow.

Snow shoeing is done by those who enjoy the cold snowy forests of the Delaware River area, Stokes State Forest or any Wildlife Management area.

Apple picking is done in the early autumn, when the leaves are turning beautiful colors. Several farms have apple picking.

Horseback riding can be done along the Paulinskill or other horse back riding stables.

Mushroom picking is done by old timers and starts in late September though October. But extreme caution is advised for those who want to try this sport as 95% of the mushrooms that are growing are extremely poisonous.

Swimming can be done at various lakes, and for the adventurous can be done in the deep holes of the rivers.

Bird watching can be done anywhere, as there are thousands of acres of forests, fields or wetlands.

Berry picking is done in the fields for blackberries or forests for blueberries.

Canoeing is mostly done on the Delaware River in late spring due to the temperature of the water in the river as well as river water volume. Canoeing can be done on the Paulinskill River, the Pequest River, the Musconetcong River, and the Big Flatbrook in early spring when water is high.

Photography is done by many people during the autumn season and trough out the year as the area is very beautiful.

[edit] Sports franchises

Augusta is the site of Skylands Park, a minor league baseball stadium, home of the Sussex Skyhawks. The Skyhawks play in the Can-Am League. Skylands Park was the former home of the New Jersey Cardinals (from 1994-2005), but the Cardinals moved to State College, Pennsylvania making room for the Skyhawks.

[edit] Notable people in or from Sussex County

[edit] Politics, military and public service

[edit] Arts, letters, and entertainment

[edit] Science, technology and medicine

[edit] Business

[edit] Sports

[edit] Miscellaneous

[edit] References and other resources

[edit] Notes and citations

  1. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 229.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. ^ Snell, James P. (ed.) History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey. (Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1881), 149 ff..
  4. ^ Haffenden, Peter. "Colonial appointments and patronage under the duke of Newcastle, 1724–1739" in English Historical Review, 78 (1963), 417–35.
  5. ^ a b Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, published on the County of Sussex (New Jersey) website (no further authorship information available). Accessed January 15, 2009.
  6. ^ New Jersey Presidential Election Returns by County 2004, Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. Accessed August 31, 2008.
  7. ^ U.S. Election Atlas
  8. ^ N.B.: The term "Tri-State Area" also refers to the region surrounding New York City, including the states of New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.
  9. ^ "QuickFacts: Sussex County, New Jersey". U.S. Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34/34037.html. Retrieved 2007-09-24. 
  10. ^ "New Jersey Resident Population by County: 1880 - 1930". http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd5.htm. 
  11. ^ "Geostat Center: Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/. Retrieved 2007-03-02. 
  12. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  13. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=05000US34023&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34023&_street=&_county=sussex+county&_cityTown=sussex+county&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=050&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=

[edit] Books and printed materials

  • Armstrong, William C. Pioneer Families of Northwestern New Jersey (Lambertville, New Jersey: Hunterdon House, 1979).
  • Cawley, James S. and Cawley, Margaret. Exploring the Little Rivers of New Jersey (New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1942, 1961, 1971, 1993). ISBN 0813506840
  • Chambers, Theodore Frelinghuysen. The Early Germans of New Jersey: Their History, Churches, and Genealogies (Dover, New Jersey, Dover Printing Company, 1895), passim.
  • Cummings, Warren D. Sussex County: A History (Newton, New Jersey: Newton Rotary Club, 1964). NO ISBN
  • Cunningham, John T. Railroad Wonder: The Lackawanna Cut-Off (Newark, New Jersey: Newark Sunday News, 1961). NO ISBN
  • Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey [Title Varies]. Archives of the State of New Jersey, 1st-2nd series. 47 volumes. (Newark, New Jersey: 1880-1949). NO ISBN
  • Honeyman, A. Van Doren (ed.). Northwestern New Jersey--A History of Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, Warren, and Sussex Counties Volume 1. (Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, 1927).
  • McCabe, Wayne T. Sussex County (Images of America) (Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2003).
  • Schaeffer, Casper M.D. (and Johnson, William M.). Memoirs and Reminiscences: Together with Sketches of the Early History of Sussex County, New Jersey. (Hackensack, New Jersey: Privately Printed, 1907). NO ISBN
  • Schrabisch, Max. Indian habitations in Sussex County, New Jersey Geological Survey of New Jersey, Bulletin No. 13. (Union Hill, New Jersey: Dispatch Printing Company, 1915). NO ISBN
  • Schrabisch, Max. Archaeology of Warren and Hunterdon counties Geological Survey of New Jersey, Bulletin No. 18. (Trenton, N.J., MacCrellish and Quigley co., state printers, 1917). NO ISBN
  • Snell, James P. History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. (Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1881). NO ISBN
  • Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries 1606-1968 (Trenton, New Jersey: Bureau of Geology and Topography, 1969). No ISBN
  • Stickney, Charles E. Old Sussex County families of the Minisink Region from articles in the Wantage Recorder (compiled by Virginia Alleman Brown) (Washington, New Jersey: Genealogical Researchers, 1988)

[edit] Maps and atlases

  • Map of Jonathan Hampton (1758) in the collection of the New Jersey Historical Society, Newark, New Jersey.
  • Hopkins, Griffith Morgan. Map of Sussex County, New Jersey. (1860) [Reprinted by the Sussex County Historical Society: Netcong, New Jersey: Esposito (Jostens), 2004.]
  • Beers, Frederick W. County Atlas of Warren, New Jersey: From actual surveys by and under the direction of F. W. Beers (New York: F.W. Beers & Co. 1874). [Reprinted by Warren County Historical Society: Harmony, New Jersey: Harmony Press, 1994].
  • Hagstrom Morris/Sussex/Warren counties atlas (Maspeth, New York: Hagstrom Map Company, Inc. 2004).

[edit] External links

County Government


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Sussex County, New Jersey
County seat: Newton
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Coordinates: 41°08′N 74°41′W / 41.14°N 74.69°W / 41.14; -74.69

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sussex_County,_New_Jersey"