Sandyston Township, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sandyston Township, New Jersey
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Sandyston Township in Sussex County. Inset: Location of Sussex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.


mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Sandyston Township, New Jersey

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sussex
government_footnotes =
government_type = Township (New Jersey)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = George Harper
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title = Royal Charter
established_date = February 26, 1762
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = February 21, 1798

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 112.2
area_land_km2 = 110.4
area_water_km2 = 1.8
area_total_sq_mi = 43.3
area_land_sq_mi = 42.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.7

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1924
population_density_km2 = 16.5
population_density_sq_mi = 42.8

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|882255|Township of Sandyston, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed June 13, 2008.]
elevation_m = 190
elevation_ft = 623
latd = 41 |latm = 12 |lats = 53 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 48 |longs = 19 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 07826 - Branchville
area_code = 973
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-65700GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0882255GR|3
website = http://www.sandystontownship.com
footnotes =

Sandyston Township is a small semi-rural Township located in the north-western part of the state in Sussex County, New Jersey, near the Pennsylvania border. The township is surrounded by and part of many National and State Parks.

As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,825, rising to 1,924 as of the 2006 Census estimate. Recently, the township has been ranked by "New Jersey Monthly" magazine as the sixth most desirable municipality in the State of New Jersey to live. Sandyston's growth in recent years has been attributed to the influx of people from more urban parts of the state and even New York City, located less than 75 miles away.

"New Jersey Monthly" magazine ranked Sandyston Township as its 26th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey. [ [http://njmonthly.com/articles/best_of/placestolive/best-places-to-live---the-complete-top-towns-list-.html "Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100"] , "New Jersey Monthly", February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008.]

Sandyston was first formed by Royal Charter on February 26, 1762, from portions of Walpack Township. Sandyston was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 232.]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 43.3 square miles (112.2 km²), of which, 42.6 square miles (110.4 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.62%) is water.

Sandyston Township sits anywhere between 300 and 1,600 feet above sea-level. A ridge runs along the eastern half of the township called the Kittatinny Mountains. The highest point in the township is Sunrise Mountain in Stokes State Forest. The lowest point is around the Delaware River in the western half of the township.

Hainesville is an unincorporated community located within the township. Layton is an unincorporated community within Sandyston, served as ZIP code 07851.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930=610
1940=651
1950=829
1960=1019
1970=1303
1980=1485
1990=1732
2000=1825
estimate= 1924
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=86000US07851&_geoContext=01000US%7C86000US07851&_street=&_county=sandyston&_cityTown=sandyston&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=860&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Sandyston township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 3, 2007.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,825 people, 693 households, and 503 families residing in the township. The population density was 42.8 people per square mile (16.5/km²). There were 907 housing units at an average density of 21.3/sq mi (8.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.86% White, 0.38% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.

There were 793 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the township the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $55,667, and the median income for a family was $65,774. Males had a median income of $46,167 versus $30,660 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,854. About 3.6% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Sandyston Township has been considered one of the most consistently Republican municipalities in New Jersey. In the past two Presidential elections of 2000 and 2004, the township has voted overwhelmingly Republican. Currently all three councilmen are Republican.
*1984Regan 540

Mondale 146
*1988Bush 510

Dukakis 168
*1992 Bush 440

Clinton 195

Perot 170
*1996 Dole 372

Clinton 256

Perot 77
*2000 Bush 484

Gore 242

Nader 41
*2004 Bush 638

Kerry 291

Local government

Sandyston Township is governed under the Township form of government with a three-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year. ["2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, 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 Sandyston Township Committee are Mayor George Harper, Deputy Mayor William Leppert and Fred MacDonald. [ [http://www.sandystontownship.com/sandyston_township_009_004.htm Township Committee] , Sandyston Township. Accessed June 25, 2008.]

Federal, state and county representation

Sandyston Township is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 63. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

Public school students in Kindergarten through sixth grade attend the schools of the Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District, together with students from Walpack Township. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/37/4650/37-4650-000.html Sandyston-Walpack School District 2007 Report Card Narrative] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 25, 2008. "The Sandyston-Walpack School District is both small and rural, serving the K-6 population of 180 students living in Sandyston and Walpack Townships."] The school is located in Layton. As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 177 students and 17.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 10.1. [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3414610&ID=341461005392 Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed June 25, 2008.]

Public school students of middle and high school age attend Kittatinny Regional High School located in Hampton Township, which serves 1,300 students who reside in Fredon Township, Hampton Township, Sandyston Township, Stillwater Township and Walpack Township. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/37/2465/37-2465-000.html Kittatiny Regional School District 2007 Report Card Narrative] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 25, 2008. "Located in beautiful, rural Sussex County in northwest New Jersey, Kittatinny Regional School District serves the five municipalities of Fredon Township, Hampton Township, Sandyston Township, Stillwater Township and the Township of Walpack."] The high school is located in Hampton, about 7 minutes outside of the County seat of Newton.

Transportation

U.S. Route 206 bisects the township. The Dingman's Ferry Bridge, one of the last privately owned toll bridge on the Delaware River and one of the last few in the United States, carries two lanes of PA 739 and NJ County Route 560, connecting to Delaware Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania.

References

External links

* [http://www.sandystontownship.com/ Sandyston Township]
* [http://www.sussex.nj.us/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=7&TPID=1107 Web page for Sandyston Township] , Sussex County, New Jersey
* [http://users.tellurian.net/sws/ Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School]
*NJReportCard|37|4650|050|Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3414610 Data for Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.krhs.net/ Kittatinny Regional High School]