Green Township, New Jersey

Green 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 3,627, an increase of 26 (+0.7%) from the 2010 census count of 3,601, which in turn reflected increase of 381 (+11.8%) from the 3,220 counted in the 2000 census.

History

On November 20, 1824, the southern portion of Sussex County was set off to create Warren County. The northern portions of both Hardwick and Independence townships, remained in Sussex County and were incorporated as Green Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 27, 1824.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 August 30, 2012.

In 1829, part of Green Township were transferred to Byram Township, and in 1853 Green Township was expanded to include a section of the old Newtown Township. On February 24, 1904, Fredon Township was incorporated from a portion of the township. In 1881, the area was listed as ; and today Green encompasses . The township was named after Ephraim Green, who settled near Greendell in 1770. Many sections of Green retain their own unique identity, such as Tranquility, Huntsville, Greendell and Yellow Frame.History
, Township of Green. Accessed August 30, 2012.

Tranquility was originally known as Kennedytown, named for Amos Kennedy who settled here. When the location for the Tranquility Methodist Church was being chosen, a disagreement arose over erecting it in Allamuchy Township or Kennedytown. A compromise was affected, with the church being erected halfway between the two points. To memorialize the agreement, the church was named Tranquility. Later, Kennedytown took the church's name as its own.

In 1911, the Lackawanna Cut-off rail line opened through Green Township, with a stop at Greendell station. The Cut-Off was part of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad's mainline from Hoboken to Buffalo. The line was abandoned in 1980 and the tracks were removed four years later. New Jersey Transit is considering reactivating passenger service on the line extending to Scranton, Pennsylvania, with a proposed maintenance-of-way facility at Greendell that would incorporate the surviving station building.

In August 2006, a documentary titled ''The History of Green Township'' was produced by Kelsey Falkowski. The video includes historical landmarks, interviews with lifelong citizens of Green Township, and leads up to the contemporary view of the township. Copies can be obtained through the Green Township Historical Society.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Green township had a total area of 16.30 square miles (42.21 km²), including 16.03 square miles (41.53 km²) of land and 0.27 square miles (0.69 km²) of water (1.63%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Brighton Lakes, Buckmire Pond, Greendell, Huntsburg, Huntsville, Lincoln, Tranquility, Whitehall and Yellow Frame.

Green Township borders the municipalities of Andover Borough, Andover Township, Byram Township and Fredon Township in Sussex County; and Allamuchy Township and Frelinghuysen Township in Warren County.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 3,601 people, 1,181 households, and 997 families in the township. The population density was 225.3 per square mile (87.0/km²). There were 1,251 housing units at an average density of 78.3 per square mile (30.2/km²). The racial makeup was 94.78% (3,413) White, 1.25% (45) Black or African American, 0.03% (1) Native American, 1.72% (62) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.78% (28) from other races, and 1.44% (52) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.80% (173) of the population.

Of the 1,181 households, 43.0% had children under the age of 18; 76.0% were married couples living together; 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 15.6% were non-families. Of all households, 11.2% were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.31.

28.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.9 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $103,693 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,229) and the median family income was $113,971 (+/− $20,140). Males had a median income of $85,591 (+/− $9,018) versus $50,583 (+/− $7,305) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,546 (+/− $3,396). About 1.3% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 3,220 people, 1,046 households, and 890 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 1,069 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 96.49% White, 0.93% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.20% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Green township, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Green township, Sussex County, New Jersey
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 30, 2012.

There were 1,046 households, out of which 45.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.9% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 11.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.07 and the average family size was 3.34.

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.8% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $84,847, and the median income for a family was $89,788. Males had a median income of $61,576 versus $33,393 for females. The per capita income for the township was $34,127. About 0.9% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Green 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 meeting held during the first week of January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

, members of the Green Township Committee are Mayor Margaret H. "Peg" Phillips ( R, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Virginia "Ginny" Raffay (R, term on committee ends 2026; term as deputy mayor ends 2024), James DeYoung (R, 2024; elected to serve an unexpired term), Bader G. Qarmout (R, 2025) and Michael Rose (R, 2025).Township Committee General Information
Green Township. Accessed May 20, 2024. "The Township Committee members are elected officials whose three year terms of office begin on January 1 following their election at the November General Election. At the reorganization meeting during the first week of January, the Township Committee elects one of their members to be the Mayor and another to be the Deputy Mayor."Summary Results Report Official Results November 7 2023 General Election
Sussex County, New Jersey