Walpack Township is a Township (New Jersey), township in Sussex County, New Jersey, Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 7,
[ a decrease of 9 (−56.3%) from the 2010 United States census, 2010 census count of 16,][ which in turn reflected a decline of 34 (−82.9%) from the 41 counted in the 2000 United States census, 2000 census. Walpack Township was the smallest municipality by population and one of only four List of municipalities in New Jersey, municipalities in New Jersey with a population under 100 as of the 2020 Census;][ it had the state's third-smallest population in the 2010 census, behind Tavistock, New Jersey, Tavistock (population 5) and the now-defunct Pine Valley, New Jersey, Pine Valley (population 12), both in Camden County, New Jersey, Camden County.][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 named from a Language change, corruption of the Lenape Native Americans in the United States, Native American content word "wahlpeck," which means "turn-hole," or an eddy (fluid dynamics), eddy or whirlpool, a compound of two Native American words, "woa-lac" (a hole), and "tuppeck" (a pool), though other sources attribute the name to mean "very deep water" or "sudden bend of a stream around the base of a rock".
History
Walpack Township dates back to October 26, 1731, when it was first mentioned as ''Walpake'' in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Hunterdon County. The area covered by the present-day township was set off to Morris County, New Jersey, Morris County upon that county's creation in 1739, and became part of the newly formed Sussex County in 1753. As of April 15, 1754, Walpack's boundaries were defined as a "precinct". Walpack was formally incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Montague Township, New Jersey, Montague Township (March 26, 1759), Sandyston Township, New Jersey, Sandyston Township (February 26, 1762) and the now-defunct Pahaquarry Township, New Jersey, Pahaquarry Township in Warren County, New Jersey, Warren County (December 27, 1824). Territory was gained from Stillwater Township, New Jersey, Stillwater Township in 1935.[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 Andrew Snable House was built in 1801 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 23, 1979. The Wallpack Center Historic District was added to the NRHP on July 17, 1980.
In 1962, following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Hurricane Connie, Connie and Hurricane Diane, Diane in 1955, a proposal was made by Congress for the United States Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to alleviate flooding on the Delaware River by constructing a dam at the site of Tocks Island Dam controversy, Tocks Island. This dam, south of Walpack, would have created a lake roughly long and wide. Over the next 15 years, approximately of the surrounding land, including Walpack, were claimed under eminent domain by the government for this project, and many long-time area residents were forced to move out. However, the dam and lake were never actually built:
As the Vietnam War strained federal budgets, the dam project stalled due to persistent concerns about the stability of soil beneath it, rising costs, new environmental laws and local activism. In 1978, Congress protected sections of the Delaware River under the Wild and Scenic River Act, killing the project.
Judge Joseph Stamler of New Jersey Superior Court rejected a proposal for a six-day rock festival to be held in the summer of 1970 on a site in the township, leading to the passage of standards for similar events that requires planning for traffic and safety between the organizers and local authorities, and sets limits on duration. Stamler stated that any positive benefits from such an event must be weighed against the "health, safety and welfare of the young, and the potential harm to the public".
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 24.88 square miles (64.45 km2), including 24.24 square miles (62.77 km2) of land and 0.65 square miles (1.68 km2) of water (2.60%).
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 16 people, 8 households, and 4 families in the township. The population density was . There were 15 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 93.75% (15) White (U.S. census), White, 0.00% (0) Black (U.S. census), Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American (U.S. census), Native American, 0.00% (0) Asian (U.S. census), Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander (U.S. census), Pacific Islander, 0.00% (0) from Race and ethnicity in the United States census#Race, other races, and 6.25% (1) from two or more races. Hispanic (U.S. census), Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.00% (0) of the population.[
Of the 8 households, 12.5% had children under the age of 18; 37.5% were married couples living together; 0.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 50.0% were non-families. Of all households, 50.0% were made up of individuals and 25.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 3.00.][
12.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.0 males.][
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation adjustment, inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $108,333 (with a margin of error of +/− $155,555) and the median family income was $127,500 (+/− $88,897). Males had a median income of $ (+/− $) versus $57,813 (+/− $26,023) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,663 (+/− $14,435). About none of families and none of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Walpack township, Sussex County, New Jersey]
United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 26, 2013.[DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Walpack township, Sussex County, New Jersey]
, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 26, 2013.
There were 20 households, out of which 20.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were Marriage, married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 40.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.75.[
In the township the population was spread out, with 19.5% under the age of 18, 2.4% from 18 to 24, 19.5% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 26.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.3 males.][
The median income for a household in the township was $22,250, and the median income for a family was $22,250. Males had a median income of $46,250 versus $0 for females. The per capita income for the township was $17,624. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.][
]
Government
Local government
Walpack Township is governed under the Township (New Jersey), 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 governing body is comprised of the three-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat 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, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Walpack Township Committee are Mayor Victor J. Maglio (Republican Party (United States), R, term on committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Kelly Happe (R, term on committee ends and term as deputy mayor ends 2024) and James Heigis (R, 2025).[Directory]
Walpack Township. Accessed April 1, 2024.[Summary Results Report Official Results November 7 2023 General Election]
Sussex County, New Jersey, November 22, 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.[Sussex County, New Jersey General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results Summary Report]
Sussex County, New Jersey, dated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.[Summary Results Report November 2, 2021 General Election Official Results]
Sussex County, New Jersey, updated November 22, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.
In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $450, the lowest in the county, compared to an average bill of $7,626 in Sussex County and $8,767 statewide.
Federal, state, and county representation
Walpack Township is located in the 7th Congressional District[2022 Redistricting Plan]
New Jersey Redistricting Commission, 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. Accessed February 1, 2020.[''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government'']
New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 22 registered voters in Walpack Township, of which 1 (4.5% vs. 16.5% countywide) was registered as a Democratic Party (United States), Democrat, 17 (77.3% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republican Party (United States), Republicans and 2 (9.1% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated (New Jersey), Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as Libertarian Party (United States), Libertarians or Green Party (United States), 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, 137.5% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 157.1% 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 10 votes (83.3% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 2 votes (16.7% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with no votes (0.0% vs. 2.1%), among the 12 ballots cast by the township's 18 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.7% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County). In the United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008, 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 14 votes (70.0% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3 votes (15.0% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 2 votes (10.0% vs. 1.5%), among the 20 ballots cast by the township's 28 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.4% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County). In the United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004, 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 22 votes (78.6% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 6 votes (21.4% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with no votes (0.0% vs. 1.3%), among the 28 ballots cast by the township's 35 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.0% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).
In the New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013, 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 77.8% of the vote (7 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 22.2% (2 votes), and other candidates receiving no votes, among the 9 ballots cast by the township's 19 registered voters, for a turnout of 47.4%.]
Education
Students in kindergarten through sixth grade attend the schools of the Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District, together with students from Sandyston Township, New Jersey, Sandyston Township. The school is located in the Layton, New Jersey, Layton section of Sandyston Township. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 120 students and 14.8 classroom teachers (on an full-time equivalent, FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.1:1.[District information for Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District]
National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024. In the 2016–17 school year, Sandyston-Walpack had the 26th smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 149 students.
Students in seventh grade, seventh through twelfth grade from Sandyston and Walpack Townships for public school attend Kittatinny Regional High School located in Hampton Township, New Jersey, Hampton Township, which also serves students who reside in Fredon Township, New Jersey, Fredon Township and Stillwater Township, New Jersey, Stillwater Township. The high school is located on a campus in Hampton Township, about seven minutes outside of the county seat of Newton, New Jersey, Newton. Kittatinny Regional High School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1997–98.[Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF)]
United States Department of Education. Accessed June 22, 2020. As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 781 students and 79.5 classroom teachers (on an full-time equivalent, FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.8:1.
Transportation
, the township had a total of of roadways, all of which were maintained by the municipality.
Signed routes in the township include National Park Service Route 615.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Walpack Township include:
* Frank Chapot (1932–2016), Olympic silver medalist equestrian[Margalit Fox, Fox, Margalit]
"Frank Chapot, Olympic Show Jumper and Mainstay of the Sport, Dies at 84"
''The New York Times'', June 25, 2016. Accessed June 26, 2016. "The son of Frank Joseph Chapot and the former Dorothy Davis, Frank Davis Chapot was born on Feb. 24, 1932, in Camden, N.J. He was reared on his parents' horse farm in Walpack, N.J."
See also
* Van Campen's Inn
References
External links
Township websiteWeb page for Walpack Township
Sussex County, New Jersey
Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School
*
Data for Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School
National Center for Education Statistics
Kittatinny Regional High School
*
{{Authority control
Walpack Township, New Jersey,
1798 establishments in New Jersey
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
New Jersey populated places on the Delaware River
Populated places established in 1798
Township form of New Jersey government
Townships in New Jersey
Townships in Sussex County, New Jersey