Sparta is a

township A township is a form of human settlement or administrative subdivision. Its exact definition varies among countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, this tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Canad ...

in Sussex County in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 19,600, a decrease of 122 (−0.6%) from the 2010 census count of 19,722, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,642 (+9.1%) from the 18,080 counted in the 2000 census. Sparta was organized as a township by an act of the

New Jersey Legislature The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and ...

on April 14, 1845, from portions of Byram Township, Frankford Township, Hardyston Township and (the now-defunct) Newton Township.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 May 30, 2024. The township was named after the existing community of Sparta, which had been settled and named years before, the name likely coming from

Sparta Sparta was a prominent city-state in Laconia in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (), while the name Sparta referred to its main settlement in the Evrotas Valley, valley of Evrotas (river), Evrotas rive ...

, Greece. Ogdensburg borough was incorporated on February 26, 1914, from portions of Sparta Township. The township was listed as the safest place in New Jersey as well as the seventh safest municipality in the nation according to a 2022 crime statistic compilation from Safewise.com.

History

Overview

Sparta was originally inhabited by

Lenape The Lenape (, , ; ), also called the Lenni Lenape and Delaware people, are an Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands, who live in the United States and Canada. The Lenape's historica ...

Native Americans. In the 1750s, Dutch explorers discovered red ores in the area and attempted to mine copper. No permanent settlers arrived until 1778, when Robert Ogden and his wife built their home and constructed an iron forge on lands he had acquired and "called their house and farm Sparta." The first public building in Sparta was the Presbyterian Church which was incorporated in 1786. Schools were established in Ogdensburg by 1806 and in Sparta by 1812.

Iron Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe () and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's o ...

zinc Zinc is a chemical element; it has symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is a slightly brittle metal at room temperature and has a shiny-greyish appearance when oxidation is removed. It is the first element in group 12 (IIB) of the periodic tabl ...

, and

limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

supported a mining industry for over 100 years, but today the mining operations have ceased and the township is now a residential community served by retail, professional, and service small businesses. According to the 2000 census, 65% of Sparta workers commute to jobs outside of the county.

Mining industry

Iron

Robert Ogden settled in 1778 near the present town of Ogdensburg and built an iron forge, utilizing local ore from his Ogden Mine on Sparta Mountain. The Horseshoe mine was opened in 1772 by the Englishmen Spargo and Harvey who shipped ore by horse and mule to the forges at Sparta and Hopewell. It wasn't until 1868 that the

Ogden Mine Railroad The Ogden Mine Railroad was a mine railroad in the U.S. state of New Jersey from 1866 until 1941. History It was built in 1866 to transport iron ore from the mines on Sparta Mountain in New Jersey. Ore was carried to Nolan's Point on Lake Hop ...

began operations and made it economical to ship zinc and iron ore to Nolan's Point on

Lake Hopatcong Lake Hopatcong is the largest freshwater body in New Jersey, United States, about in area. Located from the Delaware River and from Manhattan, New York City, the lake forms part of the border between Sussex County, New Jersey, Sussex and Morris ...

where the

Morris Canal The Morris Canal (1829–1924) was a toll road, common carrier Anthracite, anthracite coal canal across North Jersey, northern New Jersey that connected the two industrial canals in Easton, Pennsylvania across the Delaware River from its weste ...

had a marine terminal that could ship ore to Newark. In 1872, the

New Jersey Midland Railroad The New Jersey Midland Railway, also known simply as "the Midland", was a 19th-century predecessor to the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway (NYS&W) that operated in Northern New Jersey and Orange County, New York. Formation and construc ...

(later known as the New York, Susquehanna & Western) extended to Ogdensburg and captured the zinc ore traffic. In 1836, Henry Decker, along with Nelson Hunt and Lewis Sherman, began the manufacture of anchors at their forges in Sparta. Their success led to a small industry of forging anchors in Sparta, but by the end of the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

the forge industry in Sparta had come to an end. In 1889,

Thomas Edison Thomas Alva Edison (February11, 1847October18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventions, ...

invested $3.5 million in his

Edison Ore-Milling Company The Edison Ore-Milling Company was a venture by Thomas Edison that began in 1881. Edison introduced some significant technological developments to the iron ore milling industry but the company ultimately proved to be unprofitable. Towards the end ...

to build iron operations on of Sparta Mountain. Edison hoped to concentrate the mountain's vast quantities of low-grade ore and supply East Coast mills with raw material. At its peak Edison's operation employed 500 people, but after a 10-year effort he abandoned his attempt to compete with more economical ores from

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

Mesabi Iron Range The Mesabi Iron Range is a mining district and mountain range in northeastern Minnesota following an elongate trend containing large deposits of iron ore. It is the largest of four major iron ranges in the region collectively known as the Ir ...

. The availability of the cheap Minnesota ores put an end to iron mining in Sparta.

Zinc

In 1848 the

New Jersey Zinc Company New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 19 ...

began operations at Sterling Hill. Earlier attempts to obtain iron from the mineral rich ore of the Sterling Hill failed because of manganese contamination, but zinc was recoverable and the ores at Sterling Hill were rich with it.Staff
"Zinc Mine Showcases a Disappearing World"
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', October 8, 1992. Accessed October 8, 2015. "In 1848, the process to extract zinc from ore was developed there.The mine was owned by the New Jersey Zinc Company, a subsidiary of Horshead Industries of New York City, until it shut for financial reasons in 1986." In 1856 the Passaic Zinc Company started operations at the

Sterling Hill Mine The Sterling Hill Mine, now known as the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, is a former zinc mine in Ogdensburg, New Jersey, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. It was the last working underground mine in ...

and constructed large ore crushers, shipping the ores to the company's plant in

Jersey City Jersey City is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, second-most populous

. By 1868, both iron and zinc operations were in progress at Sterling Hill, but the numerous companies and claims were embroiled in continuous legal battles, the largest of which was a 12-year dispute between the

and the Franklin Iron Company over rights to mixed ores, each company having purchased the right to mine zinc and iron, respectively. In 1880, the Franklin Iron Company acquired the New Jersey Zinc Company's operations at Sterling Hill mine, ending the dispute. Large scale operations began in 1897 when the claims were consolidated under the New Jersey Zinc Company and by 1900 its mill was processing 1,500 tons of ore daily. Zinc operations continued until 1986 when the Sterling Hill mine ceased operation. The Sterling Hill mine site is currently occupied by the

Sterling Hill Mining Museum The Sterling Hill Mine, now known as the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, is a former zinc mine in Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. It was the last working underground mine in New Jersey. It closed in 1986, and became a mus ...

and is open to the public for tours.

Limestone

After closing his iron operations, Thomas Edison recouped his losses by opening a quarry called Limecrest near Sparta in 1919. The lime quarry fed Edison's

Portland cement Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general use around the world as a basic ingredient of concrete, mortar (masonry), mortar, stucco, and non-specialty grout. It was developed from other types of hydraulic lime in England in th ...

operations, and was in continuous operation under various owners for more than 80 years until it closed in 2003. During the years of its operation the limestone quarry was an important source of employment and tax revenue for Sparta. Limestone is no longer mined, but a limited amount of granite continues to be quarried by a handful of employees.

Tourism

The

opened to Ogdensburg in 1872 for zinc ore traffic, but in 1882 the line was extended to Stroudsburg,

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

and a station was built at Sparta, giving tourists easy access to the many boarding houses that served summer residents from the cities. Passenger service ended in 1935, but by then Sparta was well established as a summer destination. In 1926, the Arthur D. Crane Company along with developer and designer Herbert L. Closs constructed a dam across the

Wallkill River The Wallkill River, a tributary of the Hudson River, Hudson, drains Lake Mohawk (New Jersey), Lake Mohawk in Sparta, New Jersey, Sparta, New Jersey, flowing from there generally northeasterly U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset ...

to form Lake Mohawk in 1928. The private resort community created by the Crane Company consisted primarily of summer homes, but the homes began to be winterized in the 1940s and the current membership of 2,600 families are largely year-round residents.

Geography

The township borders the municipalities of Andover Township, Byram Township, Franklin Borough, Hardyston Township, Hopatcong Borough, Lafayette Township and

Ogdensburg, New Jersey Ogdensburg is a Borough (New Jersey), borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 2,258, a decrease of 152 (−6.3%) from the 2010 United ...

Ogdensburg Borough in Sussex County; and Jefferson Township in Morris County. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the township had a total area of 38.80 square miles (100.50 km²), including 36.79 square miles (95.28 km²) of land and 2.02 square miles (5.22 km²) of water (5.20%).

Unincorporated communities

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ackerson, Edison, Hopewell, Houses Corner, Lake Mohawk,

Monroe Monroe or Monroes may refer to: People and fictional characters * Monroe (surname) * Monroe (given name) * James Monroe, 5th President of the United States * Marilyn Monroe, actress and model Places United States * Monroe, Arkansas, an unincorp ...

, Sparta Junction, Sussex Mills, Upper Mohawk and Woodruffs Gap.

Lake Mohawk

Lake Mohawk (with 8,092 out of the CDP's total 2010 Census population of 9,916 in the township) is an

unincorporated community An unincorporated area is a parcel of land that is not governed by a local general-purpose municipal corporation. (At p. 178.) They may be governed or serviced by an encompassing unit (such as a county) or another branch of the state (such as th ...

and

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...

(CDP) split between Byram Township and Sparta.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32)

, August 2012. Accessed February 19, 2013.

Sparta Junction

Sparta Junction was where the tracks of the

New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway , also referred to as the Susie-Q or the Susquehanna, and formerly the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad, is an American Railroad classes#Class II, Class II Rail freight transport, freight r ...

and the

Lehigh and Hudson River Railway The Lehigh and Hudson River Railway (L&HR) was the smallest of the six railroads that were merged into Conrail in 1976. It was a bridge line running northeast–southwest across northwestern New Jersey, connecting the line to the Poughkeepsie Br ...

crossed, near the western boundary of Sparta. A railroad telegraph office and a train order station, that controlled train signalling semaphores, was located there. It is located at .

Geology

Sparta is in the Highlands which is comprised of igneous and metamorphic rock. Folding and faulting occurred when a continent struck the North American Plate. This is what created the mountains through Sparta and northwards. The Wisconsin Glacier created all the lakes and streams. The Franklin Marble goes through the township from Lime Crest Quarry to the New York line.

Demographics

Sparta has been noted for the high number of pilots and their families who settle in the area. In his 1994 book ''The Airport: Terminal Nights and Runway Days at John F. Kennedy International'',

James Kaplan James C. Kaplan (born September 10, 1951) is an American novelist, journalist, and biographer. Biography He was born in New York City and grew up in rural Pennsylvania and suburban New Jersey. He matriculated at New York University and graduated ...

describes the home township of an interviewee as "thickly populated, for no particular reason, with pilots, many of whom do their flying out of Kennedy. The view out he pilot'spicture window is of trees ... The lights and noise of Manhattan, fifty miles distant, attract flight attendants, single people mostly. Pilots like the woods."

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 19,722 people, 6,868 households, and 5,453 families in the township. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 7,423 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 94.15% (18,569)

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.00% (198) Black or African American, 0.11% (22) Native American, 2.49% (491) Asian, 0.02% (4)

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 0.70% (139) from other races, and 1.52% (299) from two or more races.

Hispanic or Latino ''Hispanic'' and '' Latino'' are ethnonyms used to refer collectively to the inhabitants of the United States who are of Spanish or Latin American ancestry (). While many use the terms interchangeably, for example, the United States Census Bureau ...

of any race were 5.34% (1,054) of the population. Of the 6,868 households, 41.8% had children under the age of 18; 69.6% were married couples living together; 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.6% were non-families. Of all households, 17.4% were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.27. 28.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.1 males. The Census Bureau's 2006–2010

American Community Survey The American Community Survey (ACS) is an annual demographics survey program conducted by the United States Census Bureau. It regularly gathers information previously contained only in the long form of the United States census, decennial census ...

showed that (in 2010

inflation-adjusted In economics, nominal value refers to value measured in terms of absolute money amounts, whereas real value is considered and measured against the actual goods or services for which it can be exchanged at a given time. Real value takes into acco ...

dollars)

median household income The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways of und ...

was $112,699 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,658) and the median family income was $127,669 (+/− $8,981). Males had a median income of $89,118 (+/− $5,949) versus $60,590 (+/− $5,416) for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the borough was $50,115 (+/− $3,064). About 2.3% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 18,080 people, 6,225 households, and 5,029 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 6,590 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 96.7%

, 0.3%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.1% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.03%

, 0.45% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 2.54% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Sparta township, Sussex County, New Jersey
,

. Accessed February 25, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Sparta township, Sussex County, New Jersey
,

. Accessed February 25, 2013. There were 6,225 households, out of which 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.9% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.28. In the township the population was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males. The median income for a household in the township was $89,835, and the median income for a family was $100,658. Males had a median income of $74,293 versus $39,349 for females. The

for the township was $36,910. About 1.0% of families and 1.5% of the population were below the

, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Sparta is home to many small businesses. Lake Mohawk houses many boutiques and gift shops that cater to a wide variety of shoppers. As well as these smaller businesses, Sparta home to multiple family-owned pizzerias and delis.

Rockaway Townsquare Rockaway Townsquare, also known as the Rockaway Mall, is a two-level super regional shopping mall in Rockaway Township, New Jersey which opened in 1977. It has a gross leasable area of which includes Macy's, JCPenney, Raymour & Flanigan, and o ...

is located about 15 minutes away from Sparta and allows residents to find a wider variety of shops.

Government

Local government

Sparta is governed within the

Faulkner Act The Optional Municipal Charter Law or Faulkner Act (, et seq.) provides New Jersey municipalities with a variety of models of local government. This legislation is called the Faulkner Act in honor of the late Bayard H. Faulkner, former mayor ...

, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager (Plan B) form of municipal government, implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of July 1, 1960. The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form. The governing body is comprised of a five-member Township Council whose members are elected

at-large At large (''before a noun'': at-large) is a description for members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent a whole membership or population (notably a city, county, state, province, nation, club or association), rather tha ...

on a

non-partisan Nonpartisanship, also known as nonpartisanism, is a lack of affiliation with a political party and a lack of political bias. While an ''Oxford English Dictionary'' definition of ''partisan'' includes adherents of a party, cause, person, etc., ...

basis for staggered four-year terms of office, with either two or three seats coming up for election in even-numbered years as part of the November general election.''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'',

Rutgers University Rutgers University ( ), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of three campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's C ...

Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy The Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy of Rutgers University (The Bloustein School) serves as a center for the theory and practice of urban planning, public policy and public health/health administration scholarship. The sc ...

, March 2013, p. 110. The council chooses a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among themselves to serve one-year terms of office. The Township Council has the responsibility for all legislative matters. The Council's responsibilities include enacting ordinances and resolutions, establishing policies, preparing the annual budget with the assistance of the Township Manager and the Treasurer, and levying taxes. Additionally, the Council makes appointments to both the policy and decision-making boards and various advisory committees in accordance with general law and Township ordinances and resolutions. The council voted to shift its municipal elections from May to November, and voters approved a 2011 referendum that ended a requirement that a runoff election be held in June in the event that no candidate received a majority of votes in the May council election. The first election in which the candidates receiving the most votes won office was held in November 2012. , members of the Sparta Township Council are

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

Neill Clark (term on the council ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Dean Blumetti (term on council ends 2026; term as deputy mayor ends 2024), Daniel Chiariello (2026), Josh Hertzberg (2024) and Christine Quinn (2024).Township Council
Sparta Township. Accessed May 20, 2024. "Sparta Township is governed by a nonpartisan form of government known as Council-Manager Plan B of the Faulkner Act. The five-member Council is elected at large for four-year terms of office on a staggered basis with two or three seats coming up for election every other year. The council chooses a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among themselves to serve one-year terms of office."Sussex County, New Jersey General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results Summary Report

Sussex County, New Jersey Sussex County () is the northernmost county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its county seat is Newton.Election Summary November 3, 2020 General Election Official Amended Results

Sussex County, New Jersey Sussex County () is the northernmost county in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Its county seat is Newton.2022 Redistricting Plan

New Jersey Redistricting Commission The New Jersey Redistricting Commission is a constitutional body of the government of New Jersey tasked with redrawing the state's Congressional election districts after each decade's census. Like Arizona, Idaho, Hawaii, Montana, and Washington ...

, December 8, 2022. and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District

New Jersey Department of State The secretary of state of New Jersey oversees the Department of State, which is one of the original state offices. The Secretary is responsible for overseeing New Jersey State Council on the Arts, artistic, cultural, and New Jersey Historical Com ...

. Accessed February 1, 2020.''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''
New Jersey

League of Women Voters The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a nonpartisan American nonprofit political organization. Founded in 1920, its ongoing major activities include Voter registration, registering voters, providing voter information, boosting voter turnout and adv ...

. Accessed October 30, 2019. Prior to the 2010 Census, Sparta Township had been split between the and the 11th Congressional District, a change made by the

that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.''2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''
, p. 64, New Jersey

. Accessed May 22, 2015.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 13,647 registered voters in Sparta Township, of which 2,393 (17.5% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 4,854 (35.6% vs. 39.3%) were registered as

Republicans Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

and 6,387 (46.8% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 13 voters registered as

Libertarians Libertarianism (from ; or from ) is a political philosophy that holds freedom, personal sovereignty, and liberty as primary values. Many libertarians believe that the concept of freedom is in accord with the Non-Aggression Principle, according ...

or Green Party (United States), Greens.Voter Registration Summary - Sussex

Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed February 25, 2013. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 69.2% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 97.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide). In the United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012, 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 6,370 votes (61.6% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,747 votes (36.3% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 188 votes (1.8% vs. 2.1%), among the 10,335 ballots cast by the township's 14,177 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.9% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008, 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 6,462 votes (59.9% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 4,171 votes (38.7% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 103 votes (1.0% vs. 1.5%), among the 10,781 ballots cast by the township's 13,490 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.9% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004, 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 6,622 votes (65.8% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 3,311 votes (32.9% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 102 votes (1.0% vs. 1.3%), among the 10,070 ballots cast by the township's 12,537 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.3% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county). In the New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013, 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.8% of the vote (4,431 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.6% (1,496 votes), and other candidates with 2.6% (159 votes), among the 6,140 ballots cast by the township's 14,360 registered voters (54 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.8%. In the New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009, 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 4,694 votes (65.2% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,844 votes (25.6% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 593 votes (8.2% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 37 votes (0.5% vs. 1.3%), among the 7,202 ballots cast by the township's 13,308 registered voters, yielding a 54.1% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).

Education

Public schools

The Sparta Township Public School District serves students in public school from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 3,236 students and 290.6 classroom teachers (on an full-time equivalent, FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1.District information for Sparta Township Public School District
National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022. Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Alpine Elementary School with 725 students in grades PreK-2, Mohawk Avenue School with 231 students in grade 3, Helen Morgan School with 476 students in grades 4-5, Sparta Middle School with 719 students in grades 6-8, Sparta High School (New Jersey), Sparta High School with 1,065 students in grades 9-12. The Sparta Education Foundation was founded in 2006 to help with budgetary issues in the Sparta school district and to bring extra funds to the public school district from concerned private citizens and groups. In 2009, the Foundation provided technology money for SMART boards and projectors in Alpine and Helen Morgan schools. The Board of Education office is located in the Mohawk Avenue School. Matthew L. Beck is the Superintendent of Schools.

Specialized and charter schools

Sparta is also home to Sussex County Technical School, a county-wide technical high school. Sussex Charter School for Technology serves grades 6-8, and is open to students from across the state, with preference given to application to students from Sparta.

Private schools

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson is responsible fo
Rev. George A. Brown Elementary
for 1st-5th, Pope John XXIII Middle School for 6th-8th, and Pope John XXIII High School (Sparta, New Jersey), Pope John XXIII High School for 9th-12th. Sparta is home of Hilltop Country Day School, a private school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Veritas Christian Academy (New Jersey), Veritas Christian Academy, a small private school, educates 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. New Jersey Route 15, Route 15 is the primary highway serving Sparta Township. Much of the original stretch of this highway within Sparta has been bypassed by a freeway, with the old route now designated New Jersey Route 181, Route 181. New Jersey Route 94, Route 94 and County Route 517 (New Jersey), County Route 517 also pass through the township.

Public transportation

Sparta is served by the Skylands Connect bus, which provides service to Newton, New Jersey, Newton, Hamburg, New Jersey, Hamburg and Sussex, New Jersey, Sussex. Lakeland Bus Lines provides commuter service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan from the Sparta police station and Blue Heron Road park and rides on the Route 80 route.

Emergency services

Police

The Sparta Police Department is headquartered in the Municipal Building. The department is led by the Chief of Police Neil Spidaletto. The department has 10 Ford Explorers. Sparta Dispatch located in Sparta Police Headquarters is staffed 24/7 by trained Telecommunicators and Emergency Medical Dispatchers. Sparta Dispatch handles Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Dispatch for the towns of Sparta, Franklin, New Jersey, Franklin, Ogdensburg and Stanhope, New Jersey, Stanhope.

Emergency Medical Services

The Sparta Ambulance Squad was founded on July 11, 1947, by the Sparta VFW post 7248. The squad is staffed by a combination of volunteers and paid EMTs. During weekdays, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., ambulances are staffed by two paid EMTs. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and all day on weekends, Volunteer crews are on call to handle emergencies. If a crew is not found in Sparta, mutual aid agreements exist with area volunteer and hospital based EMS agencies. The squad and its more than 60 members operate three ambulances (4191, 4192, 4193), an off-road utility vehicle, and an Emergency Response Unit (4195). Sparta Ambulance Squad's headquarters is located at 14 Sparta Avenue. In 2013, the squad responded to 1,425 calls.About Us
Sparta Ambulance Squad. Accessed March 10, 2020.

Fire

The Sparta Fire Department serves the township, providing firefighting services along with vehicle extrication and HazMat services. The department's headquarters is located at 141 Woodport Road but it also has substations on Glen Road and Sparta Stanhope Road. This is a volunteer fire department.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Sparta include: * Mary Vail Andress (1883–1964), banker who was a World War I relief worker in France * Greg Baty (born 1964), former National Football League, NFL player * Mike Budnik (born 1974), former professional inline skater and mixed martial arts fighter * Cassidy (musician), Cassidy, lead singer for the band Antigone Rising from 1999 through 2008 * Tom Caltabiano, writer and stand-up comedian, who directed and co-starred in the documentary ''95 Miles to Go'' with longtime friend Ray Romano * Frank Dolce (born 1996), actor who appeared in ''Sons of Tucson'' on television and on Broadway theatre, Broadway in the role of Michael in ''Billy Elliot the Musical'' * Charles Joseph Fletcher (1922–2011), inventor and the owner and chief executive of an aeronautical equipment company Technology General Corporation * Archimedes Giacomantonio (1906–1988), sculptor who was best known for his busts of noted figures * Bob Gunderman (1934–2024), NFL football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers * Frank Herbert (politician), Frank Herbert (1931–2018), politician who served in the New Jersey Senate and the Bergen County Board of County Commissioners (New Jersey), Board of Chosen Freeholders * Chris Jent (born 1970), former NBA basketball player and current coach * F. Ross Johnson (1931–2016), Canadian businessman and former CEO of RJR Nabisco * Jordan Lawlor (born 1992), musician, who has toured with the band M83 * Jeff Lenosky (born 1971), US National Mountain Bike Champion and world record holder *Simon J. Levien (born 2000), journalist who exposed the presence of the Ku Klux Klan on Harvard's campus * Sean Maguire (American football), Sean Maguire (born 1994), football quarterback * Wendy Mass (born 1967), author * Dan Miller (fighter), Dan Miller (born 1981), mixed martial artist who is a UFC Contender, CFFC Middleweight Champion and IFL Middleweight ChampionMcCullough, Andy
"Ex-Sparta High wrestlers Jim and Dan Miller make UFC a family affair"
''The Star-Ledger'', March 26, 2010, updated April 1, 2019. Accessed September 14, 2021. "Day after day, Mike Miller heard his boys brawling. His two 20-something sons worked construction with him, on the job at 7 a.m., out in the sun during the summer. When work slowed, Jim and Dan tussled in basements and dumpsters, 'beating the crap out of each other,' Jim said. So Mike waited. He understood. The boys missed competition. Both had wrestled at Sparta High School." * Jim Miller (fighter), Jim Miller (born 1984), mixed martial artist who is a UFC Contender, CFFC Lightweight Champion and Reality Fighting Featherweight Champion * Troy Murphy (born 1980), NBA basketball player * Sylvia Pressler (1934–2010), New Jersey court judge whose rulings included one allowing girls to participate in Little League Baseball * Tom Raney, comics artist known for his work on ''Uncanny X-Men'' and ''The Outsiders'' * J. Allyn Rosser (born 1957), poet * Jack Thomas Smith (born 1969), horror filmmaker * Tim Sweeney (baseball), Tim Sweeney (born 1980), former professional baseball player who became a sports agent and participated in ''The Amazing Race 23'' * Arthur Tipton (1882–1942), football player and United States Army officer * Russ Van Atta (1906–1986), former Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles, Saint Louis Browns who served as Sheriff of Sussex County and as a county freeholder * Harry Wright (American football), Harry Wright (1919–1993), football player and coach who played for the New York Giants and served as the mayor of the townshipvia Associated Press
"Harry C. Wright, Football Player, 73"
''

'', March 13, 1993. Accessed October 25, 2018. "He also served terms in Sparta, N.J., as Mayor and a member of the Township Council."

Sources

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References

External links

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Sparta Ambulance Squad
{{Authority control Sparta, New Jersey, 1845 establishments in New Jersey Faulkner Act (council–manager) Populated places established in 1845 Townships in New Jersey Townships in Sussex County, New Jersey Wallkill River