Andover Township, New Jersey

Andover Township is a township in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 5,996, a decrease of 323 (−5.1%) from the 2010 census count of 6,319, which in turn reflected an increase of 286 (+4.7%) from the 6,033 counted in the 2000 census.

Andover was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 11, 1864, from portions of Newton Township, which was split up on that date and dissolved. Portions of the township were taken to form Fredon Township (February 24, 1904) and Andover borough (March 25, 1904). Portions of the township were ceded to Newton town in both 1869 and 1927.Snyder, John P
''The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968''
Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 230. Accessed May 30, 2024.

The township was suggestively named after the existing village of Andover, whose name origin is not certain, though sources indicate that the name comes from Andover, Hampshire, England. In the years before World War II, Andover Township was home to Camp Nordland, a retreat and gathering place covering owned and operated by the German American Bund, an American Nazi organization devoted to promoting a favorable view of Nazi Germany. Camp Nordland was shut down by the federal government after Germany declared war on the United States and sold at auction in 1944. The property eventually was acquired by Andover Township and is now called Hillside Park with a recreational hall and sports fields.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 20.79 square miles (53.85 km²), including 20.05 square miles (51.92 km²) of land and 0.75 square miles (1.93 km²) of water (3.59%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Brighton, County Road Camp, Davis Pond, Drakes Pond, Garders Lake, Iliffs Lake, Lake Aeroflex, Lake Iliff, Lake Lenape, Long Pond, Mulford, New Waywayanda Lake, Pinkneyville, Redings Pond, Springdale, Stickle Pond, Sussex Mills, Whitehall and Whites Pond.

The township borders the Sussex County municipalities of Andover, Byram Township, Fredon Township, Green Township, Hampton Township, Lafayette Township and Sparta Township.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 6,319 people, 2,070 households, and 1,590 families in the township. The population density was 316.6 per square mile (122.2/km²). There were 2,181 housing units at an average density of 109.3 per square mile (42.2/km²). The racial makeup was 91.64% (5,791) White, 3.37% (213) Black or African American, 0.17% (11) Native American, 2.60% (164) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.73% (46) from other races, and 1.49% (94) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.14% (325) of the population.

Of the 2,070 households, 34.9% had children under the age of 18; 64.8% were married couples living together; 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.2% were non-families. Of all households, 19.2% were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.10.

22.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 34.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $95,313 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,064) and the median family income was $105,554 (+/− $13,995). Males had a median income of $72,066 (+/− $10,198) versus $47,750 (+/− $8,020) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,284 (+/− $4,082). About 2.3% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 6,033 people, 1,889 households, and 1,499 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 1,968 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 94.45% White, 1.86% African American, 0.08% Native American, 2.30% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.25% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Andover township, Sussex County, New Jersey
United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 18, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Andover township, Sussex County, New Jersey
United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 18, 2013.

There were 1,889 households, out of which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.9% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% 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 3.16.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $75,748, and the median income for a family was $78,439. Males had a median income of $57,098 versus $36,268 for females. The per capita income for the township was $29,180. About 1.3% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Andover Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 110. At an annual reorganization held in January, the council selects a mayor and a deputy mayor from among its members.

, members of the Andover Township Committee are Mayor Thomas D. Walsh Jr. ( R, term on township committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2025), Deputy Mayor Eric Karr (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2024), Ellsworth E. Bensley Jr. (R, 2025), Michael Lensak (R, 2026) and Janis L. McGovern (R, 2024).Township Committee
Andover Township. Accessed May 20, 2024. "Andover Township is governed by a Mayor and Committee who are chosen through partisan elections held in annually November. The Mayor and the four Committee members handle legislative functions. A full-time Administrator assists the Mayor and Committee and coordinates the operations of government departments."Summary Results Report Official Results November 7 2023 General Election
Sussex County, New Jersey