Vernon, New Jersey

Vernon Township is a township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. It is located about one hour's drive from New York City and is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 23,943, reflecting a decline of 743 (−3.0%) from the 24,686 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 3,475 (+16.4%) from the 21,211 counted in the 1990 Census. It is both the most populous municipality and the largest in area in the county.

Vernon is home to Mountain Creek (formerly Great Gorge and Vernon Valley), a ski resort and water park as well as the Crystal Springs Resort's Minerals Hotel and Elements Spa. The Hidden Valley ski resort, which opened in 1976 and occupied a property that included one of New Jersey's three remaining downhill skiing facilities, closed at the end of the 2013 season and could find no buyers at an auction held that year; it has since reopened as the National Winter Activity Center. 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. Opened in 1972 at a cost of $20 million, featuring 700 rooms and 27 holes of golf, the hotel was sold to Americana in 1982 and later was resold to Metairie Corp. which branded the property as the Legends Resort and Country Club. In 2017, the township started eviction proceedings against low-income residents who had been living in the defunct resort on a permanent basis.

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.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 232. Accessed June 5, 2012. The which marked the town's borders over 200 years ago have not changed since. However, the population of Vernon, which was 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 inner 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 a number of theories have been offered by author Ronald J. Dupont Jr.:

*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.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
*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 Vernon.
*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."

Dupont Jr. also writes that in the late 19th century ''two'' places named Vernon existed, one in Sussex County and another in Essex County. When the Essex County community was granted a post office, they found out that another Vernon existed, and so they eventually named the community Verona.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 69.96 square miles (181.19 km²), including 67.60 square miles (175.07 km²) of land and 2.36 square miles (6.12 km²) of water (3.38%).

Highland Lakes (2010 Census population of 4,933), Vernon Center (2010 Census population of 1,713) and Vernon Valley (1,626 as of 2010) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Vernon Township.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32)
United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed February 26, 2013.

The township is bordered by the municipalities of Hardyston Township and Wantage Township in Sussex County; West Milford Township in Passaic County; and the Town of Warwick in Orange County.

Elevation varies greatly due to the valleys, rolling hills, and mountains. The United States Geological Survey places Glenwood at , McAfee at , and Highland Lakes at .

The township is located in the Kittatinny Valley which is a section of the Great Appalachian Valley that stretches from Canada to Alabama.

The City of Newark in Essex County owns of land in the township that are part of their Pequannock River Watershed, which provides water to the city from a total area of that also includes portions of Hardyston Township, Jefferson Township, Kinnelon, Rockaway Township and West Milford.

Communities and neighborhoods

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include:About Vernon
Vernon Township.Accessed June 19, 2020. "Communities within the township include Glenwood, Highland Lakes, McAfee, Vernon Valley, Barry Lakes and Lake Wallkill."
*Barry Lakes
*Canistear Reservoir
*Cedar Ridge
*DeKays
* Glenwood
*Great Gorge
* Highland Lakes
*Independence Corners
*Kampe P.O.
*Lake Conway
*Lake Panorama
*Lake Pochung
*Lake Wanda
*Lake Wallkill
*Lake Wilderwood
*Maple Grange
*McAfee
*Mud Pond
*Owens
*Pleasant Valley Lake
*Prices Switch
*Vernon Village "Town Center"
*Vernon Valley a.k.a. "The Valley"
*Vernon Valley Lake
*Wawayanda
*Wawayanda Lake

Glenwood and McAfee are located 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 southwest 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 Panorama, Lake Pochung, Lake Wallkill, Pleasant Valley Lake, Scenic Lakes, and Vernon Valley Lake.

The township's largest housing complex is Great Gorge Village. Originally built as a slope-side vacation housing development with 1,356 units, the village is no longer affiliated with the ski resort and is operated by real estate investor Andrew Mulvihill. Village residents, who pay $5.5 million in condominium fees to cover services, have argued that Mulvihill and affiliated businesses have used their control of the community's board of directors to direct contracts to affiliated vendors.

Demographics

2010 Census

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $81,129 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,949) and the median family income was $87,215 (+/− $4,152). Males had a median income of $62,462 (+/− $3,163) versus $41,917 (+/− $2,121) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,649 (+/− $1,365). About 3.2% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 2.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census 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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Vernon township, Sussex County, New Jersey
United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 5, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Vernon township, Sussex County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 24, 2012.

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.

Economy

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

Parks and recreation

* Appalachian National Scenic Trail
* Mountain Creek Ski Resort and Mountain Creek Waterpark
* Hidden Valley Resort – Since January 2016, the area has been repurposed as the National Winter Activity Center, which provides education and ski / snowboard instruction to groups that might not have access to winter sports.

Government

Local government

In a November 2010 referendum, 70% of voters approved a change from the Faulkner Act (council–manager) form of government to the 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. The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government. Under the terms of an ordinance passed in August 2011, the township's elections were shifted from May to November, with the council citing savings from eliminating the standalone municipal election.

The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member Township Council, who are directly elected by the voters on an at-large basis to staggered four-year terms of office on a non-partisan basis, with either two or three seats up for election in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election. Three council seats come up for election together and the two other council seats and the mayoral seat are up for vote together two years later.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 109. 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.

, the Mayor is Howard L. Burrell, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023.Mayor's Office
Vernon Township. Accessed June 7, 2022. "Under Vernon’s mayor-council form of government, the mayor is elected directly by the voters and serves as the township’s chief executive." Members of the Vernon Township Council are Council President Patrick Rizzuto (2025), Council Vice President Natalie Buccieri (2025), Michael Furrey (2023; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Brian Lynch (2025) and Harry J. Shortway (2023).Township Council: About
Vernon Township. Accessed June 7, 2022. "The township council is the elected governing body responsible for legislative functions in Vernon Township. It is comprised of five members, all of whom are elected at-large. Subsequent to the implementation of Vernon’s new form of government on July 1, 2011, initial council terms are staggered—three members serve for two years and two members serve for four years. Going forward, all will serve for a term of four years."Summary Results Report November 2, 2021 General Election Official Results
Sussex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.Election Summary November 3, 2020 General Election Official Amended Results
Sussex County, New Jersey, updated December 10, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.Sussex County, New Jersey General Election November 5, 2019, Official Results Summary Report
Sussex County, New Jersey, dated November 8, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.

In October 2021, the Township Council selected Michael Furrey to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Kelly Weller until she stepped down from office earlier that month after announcing that she was moving out of the township. Furrey will serve on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election, when a candidate will be selected to serve the balance of the term of office.

The Township Council selected Toni Cilli in January 2021 to fill the seat held by Jean Murphy running to December 2021.

Andrew Pitsker took office in July 2020 after being chosen to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held until Mark Van Tassel left office the previous month. Pitsker served on an interim basis until the November 2020 general election, when he was elected to serve the remainder of the term.

Four members of the governing body were elected in May 2011 and took office on July 1, 2011, Jean Murphy was elected in November 2014 just beating Edward Dunn.Sussex County General and School Election November 5, 2013 Summary Report Official Results
Sussex County, New Jersey Clerk, updated November 7, 2013. Accessed August 1, 2016.Vernon Municipal Election - May 10, 2011
, Sussex County, New Jersey Clerk, run date May 11, 2011. Accessed February 26, 2013.

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 between two buildings, "the Mountain" and "the Valley" respectively, while 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.

Federal, state and county representation

Vernon Township is located in the 5th Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report
New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District
New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''
New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.

Sussex County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners whose five members are elected at-large in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Commissioner Director and Deputy Director from among its members, with day-to-day supervision of the operation of the county delegated to a County Administrator. , Sussex County's Commissioners are
Commissioner Director Anthony Fasano ( R, Hopatcong, term as commissioner and as commissioner director ends December 31, 2022),
Deputy Director Chris Carney (R, Frankford Township, term as commissioner ends 2024; term as deputy director ends 2022),
Dawn Fantasia (R, Franklin, 2024),
Jill Space (R, Wantage Township, 2022; appointed to serve an unexpired term) and
Herbert Yardley (R, Stillwater Township, 2023). In May 2022, Jill Space was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Sylvia Petillo until she resigned from office.

Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are
County Clerk Jeffrey M. Parrott (R, Wantage Township, 2026),
Sheriff Michael F. Strada (R, Hampton Township, 2022) and
Surrogate Gary R. Chiusano (R, Frankford Township, 2023). The County Administrator is Gregory V. Poff II, whose appointment expires in 2025.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 15,476 registered voters in Vernon Township, of which 2,425 (15.7% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 5,489 (35.5% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 7,538 (48.7% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 24 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.Voter Registration Summary - Sussex
New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed February 26, 2013. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 64.6% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 85.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 6,111 votes (56.8% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 4,322 votes (40.2% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 281 votes (2.6% vs. 2.1%), among the 10,753 ballots cast by the township's 15,729 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.4% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 6,778 votes (58.3% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 4,603 votes (39.6% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 184 votes (1.6% vs. 1.5%), among the 11,620 ballots cast by the township's 15,195 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.5% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 6,826 votes (62.4% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 3,921 votes (35.8% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 149 votes (1.4% vs. 1.3%), among the 10,939 ballots cast by the township's 14,249 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.8% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.0% of the vote (4,445 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 27.0% (1,740 votes), and other candidates with 4.0% (257 votes), among the 6,498 ballots cast by the township's 15,896 registered voters (56 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 4,441 votes (59.5% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 2,106 votes (28.2% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 732 votes (9.8% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 124 votes (1.7% vs. 1.3%), among the 7,458 ballots cast by the township's 15,109 registered voters, yielding a 49.4% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).

Education

The Vernon Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2018–2019 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 3,012 students and 296.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.2:1.District information for Vernon Township School District
National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020. Schools in the district (with 2018–2019 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are
Walnut Ridge School with 96 students in Pre-K,
Cedar Mountain Primary School with 374 students in grades K–1,
Rolling Hills Elementary School with 429 students in grades 2–3,
Lounsberry Hollow School with 410 students in grades 4–5,
Glen Meadow Middle School with 680 students in grades 6–8 and
Vernon Township High School with 995 students in grades 9–12.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Sussex County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

The main highway serving Vernon Township is New Jersey Route 94. Other significant roads passing through Vernon Township include 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 Interstate 84 in New York. The 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.

Public transportation

NJ Transit offers seasonal bus service between the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and Mountain Creek on the 304 route.

In popular culture

*Portions of the 1989 film '' See No Evil, Hear No Evil'' were filmed and shot in Vernon at the former Playboy Club, referred to as simply the "Great Gorge Resort" in the movie.
*In 2020, the former Action Park was preserved through its legacy in two memoir adaptations. On June 30, Penguin Random House published the book ''Action Park'' by Andy Mulvihill and Jake Rossen, and two months later, HBO Max released the documentary film '' Class Action Park'' about the life, times and dangers of the former Action Park.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Vernon Township include:

* Helena Rutherfurd Ely (1858–1920), author, garden writer and creator of Vernon's Meadowburn Farm
* Nicolas de Gunzburg (1904–1981), editor in chief of '' Town & Country'' and fashion editor at ''Vogue'' and ''Harper's Bazaar''
* Brett Hearn (born 1958), modified stock car driver
* Katie Henry, blues rock singer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter
* Ryan Izzo (born 1995), football tight end for the New England Patriots
* Brad Leone (born 1985), chef for ''Bon Appétit'' star of show ''It's Alive''
* John Winans (1831–1907), U.S. Representative from Wisconsin
* Ross Winans (1796–1877), inventor, mechanic, and builder of locomotives and railroad machineryHager, Guy W
Ross Winans
Friends of Orianda House. Accessed January 4, 2018. "Place of Birth: Vernon, Sussex County, NJ"

References

External links

Vernon Township websiteVernon Township School District
*
School Data for the Vernon Township School District
National Center for Education Statistics
Aim Vernon – Vernon's local newspaperThe Advertiser News, community newspaperPleasant Valley Lake's websiteVernonWebMountain CreekCrystal Springs ResortVernon NJ Business DirectoryBarry LakesVernon creates law to limit sex offenders, Advertiser-News, April 2008

{{Authority control

1793 establishments in New Jersey
Faulkner Act (mayor–council)
Populated places established in 1793
Townships in Sussex County, New Jersey