Vernon Township, New Jersey

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Vernon Township, New Jersey
—  Township  —
Map of Vernon Township in Sussex County. Inset: Location of Sussex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Vernon Township, New Jersey
Coordinates: 41°11′41″N 74°29′36″W / 41.19472°N 74.49333°W / 41.19472; -74.49333Coordinates: 41°11′41″N 74°29′36″W / 41.19472°N 74.49333°W / 41.19472; -74.49333
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Sussex
Established April 8, 1793
Incorporated February 21, 1798
Government
 • Type Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)
 • Mayor Victor J. Marotta[1]
 • Administrator Gerald J. Giaimis[2]
Area
 • Total 70.5 sq mi (182.7 km2)
 • Land 68.4 sq mi (177.1 km2)
 • Water 2.1 sq mi (5.5 km2)
Elevation[3] 446 ft (136 m)
Population (2006)[4]
 • Total 25,453
 • Density 360.9/sq mi (139.4/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07462
Area code(s) 973
FIPS code 34-75740[5][6]
GNIS feature ID 0882258[7]
Website www.vernontwp.com

Vernon Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey. It is located about one hour drive from New York City and is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 24,686, making it the largest township in the county by population.

Vernon is home to ski resort and water park, Mountain Creek (formerly Great Gorge and Vernon Valley), the Hidden Valley ski resort, as well as Crystal Springs Resort's Minerals Hotel and Elements Spa. The Great Gorge Playboy Club was located in the Vernon community of McAfee, but was sold and turned into a hotel, now called the Legends Resort & Country Club.

Contents

[edit] History

The independent township of Vernon was established on April 8, 1793, from portions of Hardyston Township, and the township was formally incorporated on February 21, 1798.[8] The 68 square miles (180 km2) which marked the town's borders over 200 years ago have not changed since. However, the population of Vernon, which was a mere 1,548 people as recently as 1950, has steadily grown since the 1960s, when the ski industry was introduced to the area. Additional growth has come as home prices have soared in the near suburbs of New York City and property buyers seek the better values available from real estate developments in the area.

Iron mining in the town of Vernon was prevalent during the mid-to-late 19th century. Mines such as the Canistear Mine, Williams Mine, and the Pochuk Mine created industry which spawned local businesses, and brought rail travel to the town.

It is not known how Vernon Township got its name, but author Ronald J. Dupont, Jr., posits that the township could have been named after:

  • Admiral Edward Vernon. Dupont writes that this is very possible because of two things: 1) the township was created in 1792, the year that George Washington was reelected as President, and 2) because Vernon Township's first Masonic Lodge in 1820 was named Mount Vernon (Washington was also a Freemason during his life), likely after Washington's Virginia residence. The residence, in turn, got its name because Washington's brother Lawrence Washington served with Admiral Vernon.[9]
  • A family named Vernon. Not likely, Dupont says, although he notes that a Nathaniel Vernon was a licensed tavernkeeper in Sussex County in 1756. However, the tavern was likely elsewhere, and not in what is now present-day Vernon.[9]
  • The Latin root "Vernus." One form of "vernus" is "vernal," as in vernal equinox ("spring"), and so Vernon "had connotations of spring: green, lush, fresh, fertile, etc., and hence was an attractive name for a place."[9]

Dupont, Jr. also writes that in the late 19th century two places named Vernon existed—the one in Sussex County and another in Essex County. When the Essex County village got a post office, they found out that another Vernon existed, and so they eventually named the town Verona.[10]

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 70.5 square miles (183 km2)(42% of which are federal or state preserved property - property dedicated to the preservation of open space, natural resources, and wildlife habitat). 68.4 square miles (177 km2) of it is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) of it (3.03%) is water.

Highland Lakes and Vernon Valley are census-designated places and unincorporated areas located within Vernon Township.

Vernon is bordered by Hardyston and Wantage Township, all of which are within Sussex County. Vernon borders Orange County, New York with the Town of Warwick. Vernon also shares a border with Passaic County and West Milford Township.

Elevation varies greatly due to the valleys, rolling hills, and mountains. The United States Geological Survey places Glenwood at 580 feet (180 m), McAfee at 435 feet (133 m), and Highland Lakes at 1,260 feet (380 m).

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.

Wantage Twp Warwick, NY
   Vernon Twp    
Hardyston Twp West Milford Twp

[edit] Communities and neighborhoods

Communities and neighborhoods in Vernon Township include the following sections:

  • Vernon Village "Town Center"
  • Vernon Valley a.k.a. "The Valley"
  • Vernon Valley Lake
  • Highland Lakes
  • Cliffwood Lake
  • Pleasant Valley Lake
  • Barry Lakes
  • Glenwood
  • McAfee
  • Lake Wallkill
  • Lake Panorama
  • Old Orchard
  • Scenic Lakes

Glenwood and McAfee exist in the Western portion of the township, McAfee to the South and Glenwood to the North. Highland Lakes is in the Eastern portion of the township. Pleasant Valley Lake is in the South West portion of the township. Four of these sections have a post office. Vernon also has many developments.

Vernon is home to many lake communities, including Highland Lakes, Barry Lakes, Cliffwood Lake, High Breeze, Lake Conway, Lake Wanda, Laurel Lake, Lake Wildwood, Lake Glenwood, Lake Panorama, Lake Pochung, Lake Wallkill, Pleasant Valley Lake, Scenic Lakes, and Vernon Valley Lake.

Other name places are Owens, Glenwood, De Kays, Prices Switch, Maple Grange, Independence Corners, Sand Hills, Waywayanda, Vernon, Cherry Ridge, and the lost village of Canistear (now under the Canistear Reservoir). Portions of the township are owned by the City of Newark, Essex County, for their Pequannock River Watershed, which provides water to the city.

[edit] Transportation

Roadways passing through Vernon Township include Route 94, County Route 515, County Route 517 and County Route 565. County Route 644 and County Route 641 also pass through the township. In addition, direct access to Interstate 80 is offered via Route 94, and County Route 565 to Route 23 to I-84. New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway passes through Vernon, but only freight service is offered.

Vernon is the site of a wrong-way concurrency at the intersection of NJ 94 and CR 517 in McAfee.

[edit] Emergency services

Vernon Township is serviced by the Vernon Police Department, Two ambulance squads and four fire departments. Vernon Fire Department covers a significant portion of "the Valley", Highland Lakes Fire Department covers "the mountain", McAfee Fire Department covers the Pleasant Valley Lake area and Pochuck Valley covers most of the Glenwood section. The Vernon Township Ambulance Squad is split amongst two buildings "the Mountain" and "the Valley" respectively. The Glenwood section is partially covered by the Glenwood Pochuck Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Other than the Police Department, the rest of the emergency services are made up of volunteers.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1930 1,279
—
1940 1,407 10.0%
1950 1,548 10.0%
1960 2,155 39.2%
1970 6,059 181.2%
1980 16,302 169.1%
1990 21,211 30.1%
2000 24,686 16.4%
Est. 2006 25,453 [4] 3.1%
Population 1930 - 1990.[11]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 24,686 people, 8,368 households, and 6,610 families residing in the township. The population density was 360.9 people per square mile (139.4/km²). There were 9,994 housing units at an average density of 146.1 per square mile (56.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.56% White, 0.76% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.60% of the population.

There were 8,368 households out of which 45.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the township the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 102.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $67,566, and the median income for a family was $72,609. Males had a median income of $50,084 versus $33,292 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,250. About 2.8% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.ng uop

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

In a November 2010 referendum, 70% of voters approved a change from the Faulkner Act (Council-Manager) form of government to a Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) form. Under the new plan, a mayor directly elected by the voters oversees the day-to-day operation of the township with the aid of a business manager, subject to the oversight of a five-member Township Council. The Mayor and Council took office after elections in May 2011, replacing the previously existing council.[12]

The Mayor and all five members of the Township Council are directly elected by the voters on an at-large basis to four-year terms of office in non-partisan elections. Under the current plan, Vernon has a "strong mayor" system of government in which the mayor heads the executive branch, overseeing township functions, enforcing all ordinances and other regulations, appoints department heads and prepares a budget, with the assistance of a business administrator. The Township Council is the legislative branch, responsible for enacting ordinances, approving the mayor's department head appointments, can remove employees for cause and can modify the mayor's budget by majority vote, though budget increases require a ⅔ majority. The mayor has the option to attend and speak at council meetings but is not given a vote.[1][13]

As of 2011, the Mayor is Victor J. Marotta.[1] Members of the Vernon Township Council are Council President Brian Lynch, Eddie Dunn, Dan Kadish, Patrick Rizzuto and Richard Wetzel.[13] All of the members of the governing body were elected in May 2011 and took office on July 1, 2011.[14]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Vernon Township is in the 5th Congressional district. 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).

Vernon is in the 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).[15]

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)[16], Deputy Director Susan M. Zellman (R, 2012; Stanhope)[17], Phillip R. Crabb (R, 2011; Franklin)[18], Parker Space (R, 2013; Wantage Township)[19] and Richard Vohden (R, 2013; Green Township).[20][21]

[edit] Politics

As of March 23, 2011, out of a 2010 Census population of 23,943 in Vernon, there were 15,476 registered voters (64.6% of the population, vs. 65.8% in all of Sussex County). Of registered voters, 2,425 (15.7% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 5,489 (35.5% vs. 39.3% countywide) were registered as Republicans and 7,538 (48.7% vs. 44.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared. There were twenty-four voters registered to other parties (one Conservative, ten Greens, eight Libertarians and five Constitution Partiers).[22]

On the national level, Vernon is a stronghold for the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 62% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry, who received 36%.[23] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 58% of the vote here, defeating Democrat Barack Obama, who received 40%.[24] This gives Vernon Township a Cook PVI of R+13.

[edit] Education

The Vernon Township School District serves students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[25]) are Walnut Ridge Primary School (grades K-1, 582 students), Cedar Mountain Primary School (grades 1-4, 420 students), Rolling Hills Primary School (grades 2-4, 489 students), Lounsberry Hollow Middle School (grades 5&6, 639 students), Glen Meadow Middle School (grades 7&8, 711 students) and Vernon Township High School (grades 9-12, 1,606 students).

[edit] Corporate residents

The primary satellite uplink earth terminal facility for Sirius Satellite Radio is located in Vernon, as is the Vernon Valley uplink facility for SES Americom.

[edit] Places of interest

[edit] Attractions

[edit] Hotels

[edit] Churches

Churches in Vernon Township include Glenwood Baptist Church, Christ Community Church, Holy Counselar Lutheran Church, Hope Evangelical Free Church, McAfee Bible Church, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Vernon United Methodist Church, Faith with Love Fellowship Church and St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church.

Restaurant: The Vernon Inn

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Vernon Township include:

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Mayor's Office, Vernon Township. Accessed July 25, 2011.
  2. ^ Administrator, Vernon Township. Accessed July 25, 2011.
  3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Vernon, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
  4. ^ a b Census data for Vernon township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  5. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  6. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  7. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  8. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 232.
  9. ^ a b c Dupont, Jr., Ronald J. Vernon 200--A Bicentennial History of the Township of Vernon, New Jersey: 1792-1992. (The Friends of the Dorothy E. Henry Library, McAfee, NJ, 1992) pg. 53
  10. ^ Verona New Jersey Historical Photographs and History, First Baptist Church of Bloomfield. Accessed June 13, 2006.
  11. ^ 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 July 6, 2011.
  12. ^ Molnar, Phillip. "Vernon votes for change in form of government", New Jersey Herald, November 2, 2010. Accessed July 25, 2011. "A May election will now decide an elected mayor and a new five-person council. The new Township Council will be seated July 1, and would appoint a new township administrator. Vernon's current Faulkner Act council-manager form of government, in which the township manager makes most decisions for the township (after council approval), will now become a mayor-council form, in which an elected mayor will be the executive in the township."
  13. ^ a b Council Members, Vernon Township. Accessed July 25, 2011.
  14. ^ Molnar, Phillip. "Marotta wins Vernon race for mayor", New Jersey Herald, May 10, 2011. Accessed July 25, 2011.
  15. ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
  16. ^ Richard A. Zeoli, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  17. ^ Susan M. Zellman, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  18. ^ Phillip R. Crabb, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  19. ^ Parker Space, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  20. ^ Richard A. Vohden, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  21. ^ Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  22. ^ "http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-sussex-co-summary-report.pdf
  23. ^ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/presidential_sussex_co_2004.pdf
  24. ^ http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/08-gen-elect-presidential-results-sussex.pdf
  25. ^ Data for the Vernon Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 18, 2011.
  26. ^ Fugate, Roberta, 'There is nothing wrong with deaf people', New Jersey Herald, July 18, 2008
  27. ^ Dupont, Ronald J.; and Dupont, Ronald J., Jr. Vernon Township, via Google Books, Arcadia Publishing, 2002, ISBN 0738511102. Confer p. 96. Accessed July 6, 2008.
  28. ^ Lockwood, Jim. "Super snowboarder lands back in Jersey", The Star-Ledger, February 17, 2007. Accessed August 2, 2007. "Kass, 24, formerly of Vernon, is one of the bad boy pioneers of gravity-defying leaps and spins who have helped transform snowboarding from slopeside annoyance to mainstream popularity."
  29. ^ John Winans biography, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 2, 2007.

[edit] External links

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