Lopatcong Township, New Jersey
Lopatcong Township is a township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 8,014, reflecting an increase of 2,249 (+39.0%) from the 5,765 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 713 (+14.1%) from the 5,052 counted in the 1990 Census. The township is part of the eastern region of the Lehigh Valley.
Lopatcong Township was featured in a 2003 article in The New York Times which discussed problems of public school financing in suburban communities and various strategies communities have adopted to deal with the problem.
History
What is now Lopatcong Township was created as Phillipsburg Township on March 7, 1851, by an act approved by the New Jersey Legislature from portions of Greenwich Township and Harmony Township. After Phillipsburg was incorporated as an independent municipality on March 8, 1861, the township changed its name to Lopatcong as of March 18, 1863, after a creek in the area.
The name of the creek and township — Lopatcong — came from four words of the Lenni Lenape Native Americans — Lowan peek achtu onk, which meant “winter watering place for deer“.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 7.159 square miles (18.541 km2), including 7.098 square miles (18.384 km2) of land and 0.061 square miles (0.157 km2) of water (0.85%).
Delaware Park (2010 Census population of 700) and Lopatcong Overlook (population 734 as of 2010) are unincorporated communities and census designated places (CDPs) located within the township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ingersol Heights and Union Town.
Lopatcong is made up of several neighborhoods, including Morris Park, Delaware Park, Rosehill Heights, Brakeley Park, Lows Hollow, Country Hills, Meadow View, Scott’s Mountain and Overlook.
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1860 | 3,741 | — | |
1870 | 1,150 | * | −69.3% |
1880 | 1,591 | 38.3% | |
1890 | 1,738 | 9.2% | |
1900 | 1,982 | 14.0% | |
1910 | 766 | −61.4% | |
1920 | 1,050 | 37.1% | |
1930 | 1,269 | 20.9% | |
1940 | 1,450 | 14.3% | |
1950 | 1,737 | 19.8% | |
1960 | 2,703 | 55.6% | |
1970 | 3,144 | 16.3% | |
1980 | 4,998 | 59.0% | |
1990 | 5,052 | 1.1% | |
2000 | 5,765 | 14.1% | |
2010 | 8,014 | 39.0% | |
Est. 2014 | 8,074 | [11][30] | 0.7% |
The Township’s economic data (as is all of Warren County) is calculated by the US Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Census 2010
At the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,014 people, 3,136 households, and 2,089 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,129.0 per square mile (435.9/km2). There were 3,420 housing units at an average density of 481.8 per square mile (186.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 87.22% (6,990) White, 6.03% (483) Black or African American, 0.14% (11) Native American, 4.18% (335) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.81% (65) from other races, and 1.61% (129) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.99% (480) of the population.
There were 3,136 households, of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the township, 23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.
The Census Bureau’s 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $77,320 (with a margin of error of +/- $4,889) and the median family income was $89,317 (+/- $6,056). Males had a median income of $61,771 (+/- $6,980) versus $49,338 (+/- $4,584) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $33,633 (+/- $2,586). About 0.7% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 45.59 miles (73.37 km) of roadways, of which 35.19 miles (56.63 km) were maintained by the municipality, 6.56 miles (10.56 km) by Warren County and 3.84 miles (6.18 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
The main county road that passes through is County Route 519 which passes through in the eastern part. Route 57 traverses towards the center and has its western end at US 22 which also passes through in the southern section of the township.
Public transportation
New Jersey Transit bus service is provided on the 890 and 891 routes.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Lopatcong Township include:
- Ned Bolcar (born 1967), linebacker who played three seasons in the NFL, one with the Seattle Seahawks and two with the Miami Dolphins.
Film community
Lopatcong Township was the primary location for the independent film Several Ways to Die Trying. The film’s writer/director, Glen Tickle, as well as members of the cast and crew are residents of the township.
(SOURCE: Infogalactic)