Sussex County, New Jersey: Difference between revisions

Sussex County
County
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°08′N 74°41′W
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
Founded	June 8, 1753
Seat	Town of Newton
Largest city	Vernon Township
Area
• Total	536 sq mi (1,388 km2)
• Land	521 sq mi (1,350 km2)
• Water	15 sq mi (38 km2)  2.75%
Population  (2010)
• Total	149,265
• Density	286.4/sq mi (110.6/km2)
Website	www.sussex.nj.us

The County of Sussex (or Sussex County) is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is included as part of the New York City Metropolitan Area despite being largely rural farmland and forests. As of the 2010 United States Census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County--an increase of 5,099 (3.5%) from the 144,166 residents enumerated in the 2000 Census. It is ranked seventeenth among the state's 21 counties in terms of population, and fourth largest in terms of area. In 2009, Sussex County was ranked 142nd of all 3,113 counties in the country (9th in New Jersey) in terms of per capita income by the Bureau of Economic Analysis The County Seat of Sussex County is the Town of Newton.

High Point Monument as seen from Lake Marcia at High Point, Sussex County, the highest elevation in New Jersey at 1803 feet above sea level.

Geology and Geography

Physiographic Provinces

The geology of the region is dominated by two of New Jersey's physiographic provinces: (1) The Ridge and Valley Appalachians, and (2) the New Jersey-New York Highlands provinces.

The Ridge and Valley province was created approximately 300 million years ago during the Appalachian orogeny--a period of tremendous pressure and rock thrusting that caused the creation of the Appalachian Mountains. This physiographic province occupies approximately two-thirds of the county's area--the county's western and central sections--and is characterized by long, even ridges, with long, continuous valleys in between. This region is largely formed by sedimentary rock.

The New York - New Jersey Highlands, or Highlands region, in the county's eastern section is older, created from geological forces applied towards precambrian igneous and metamorphic rock approximately 500 million years ago. This region was protected by the New Jersey legislature and Governor James E. McGreevey under the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act of 2002 which sought to preserve water resources, to promote open space and farmland preservation, to create new recreational parks, and to regulate planning to achieve these goals. The watersheds within the Highlands provide fresh water resources for millions of residents in New Jersey and the New York City Metropolitan Area.

Mountains

The Kittatinny Mountain traverses the western section of the county and goes in a northeast-southwest axis. This is the first major ridge of the Ridge and Valley province. Walpack Ridge runs from Walpack Bend and follows the Delaware River to Port Jervis. These two ridges are the only two mountains in the ridge and valley province. Between Walpack Ridge and the Kittatinny Mountain is the Flatbrook Valley which is drained by the Little and Big Flatbrook streams.

To the east of Kittatinny Mountain is the Kittatinny Valley which is made of Ordovician Martinsburg Formation composed of shale, and slate, which make up most of the valley. A section of Kittatinny formation goes though Balesville. The rest is composed of Ordovician Jacksonburg formation which is limestone. There is also an ancient volcano at Rutan Hill, north of Beemerville. Kittatinny Valley is part of the Great Appalachian Valley which goes from Canada to Alabama. North of this valley is the Hudson Valley and to the south is the Lehigh Valley. The Walkill River drains the northern part of the Kittatinny Valley and the Paulinskill River drains the central and southern section of the Kittatinny Valley.

To the east of the Kittatinny Valley is the Highland province. A narrow fault of Hardyston Quartzite separates the Kittatinny Valley from the Highlands. Igneous and metamorphic rock from the Late Precambrian and Early Paleozoic era, make up the Highlands. Kittatinny and Franklin formation, along with Hardyston Quartzite are in the Highlands. The New Jersey Highlands geology is complicated due to complex patterns of folds, faults and intrusions. The Highland Province has the Wawayanda Mountains which has an elevation of 1448 at two peaks; Sparta Mountain, elevation 1232: Pochuck Mountain, elevation 1194, north of Lake Pochung; Hamburg Mountain, elevation 1495 east of Lake Wildwood.

Rivers and Watersheds

Sussex County has five river drainages. The first is the Walkill River which starts at Mohawk Lake in Sparta and travels north into New York and empties into the Hudson River. The second is the Paulinskill which starts near Newton, travels north to Lafayette, then heads west. The River flows through Augusta and the turns southwest where it flows though Blairstown and drains into the Delaware River south of Columbia, New Jersey. The third is the Pequest River, which starts in Andover Twp. travels south to Great Meadows where it turns west and flows to Belvidere, where it drains into the Delaware River. The fourth is the Big Flatbrook, which starts in Stokes State Forest at Steam Mill and travels in a southwesterly direction, west of the Kittatinny Mountain and drains into the Delaware River near Flatbrookville. The fifth is the Pequannock River which starts west of Vernon in a valley between Hamburg Mountain and Waywayanda Mountain. The river flows south and then turns east were it flows south of Waywayanda mountain and leaves the county. All of these rivers are well known trout streams, which are stocked every year by NJ Fish and Game.

Much of the county is hilly, as the Ridge and Valley Province is considered to be within the Appalachian Mountains. The Great Valley of the Appalachians, allows for land to be more amenable to agriculture. Corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, apples, peaches are grown.

Physical geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 536 square miles (1,390 km²), of which, 521 square miles (1,350 km²) of it is land and 15 square miles (39 km²) of it (2.75%) is water. High Point in this county is also the highest natural elevation in the state at 1,803 feet (549.5 m) above sea level. Sunrise Mountain in Stokes State Forest has an elevation of 1,653 feet (504 m). The county's lowest elevation is approximately 300 feet (90 m) above sea level along the Delaware River near Flatbrookville.

Adjacent counties

Given Sussex County's location at the top of the state, it is bordered by counties in New Jersey as well as in neighboring New York and Pennsylvania. This region is often collectively known as the Tri-State Area. The following counties are adjacent and contiguous to Sussex County (in order starting with the northernmost and rotating clockwise):

• Orange County, New York – northeast
• Passaic County, New Jersey – east
• Morris County, New Jersey – south
• Warren County, New Jersey – southwest
• Monroe County, Pennsylvania – west
• Pike County, Pennsylvania – northwest

National protected areas

• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (part)
• Middle Delaware National Scenic River (part)
• Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

History

According to local histories, European colonists from New York began permanently settling in the Upper Delaware Valley (known as the "Minisink") as early as 1690. At this time, the county was populated by the Munsee, a group of Lenni Lenape that inhabited Northwestern New Jersey and Southern New York. Palatine German immigrants arriving in Philadelphia and New York City would begin settling river valleys in Northwestern New Jersey and Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley starting in 1709, but reaching their height after 1740. By the 1750s, residents of this area began to petition colonial authorities for a new county to be formed and cited complaints of the inconvenience and long journey required to conduct business with the government and the courts. On 8 June 1753, Sussex County was created from portions of Morris County. The size of Sussex County at this time stretched over present-day Sussex and Warren Counties. On 20 November 1824, Warren County was created from the southern portion of the county.Template:GR.

Origin of the county's name

Sussex County was named by Royal Governor Jonathan Belcher (1689–1757) for Sussex in England which was the ancestral seat of His Grace, Thomas Pelham-Holles, first Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and first Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne (1693–1768), who at the time was the Secretary of State for the Northern Department, and later the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1754–1756, 1757–1762). Pelham-Holles, whose office oversaw British affairs in North America, was Governor Belcher's political superior. During his term as Governor of New Jersey (1747–1757), Belcher named many municipalities in honor of important British political figures, most of whom were superior to him in rank or precedence. He probably did so attempting to curry political favor, thereby regaining a level of standing that had been diminished from his scandal-caused removal from the Governorship of Massachusetts in 1741.

Sussex, in England, was notable historically as one of the seven kingdoms of the Heptarchy (A.D. 500–850), which were later unified under Egbert of Wessex (c. 770–839) into the Kingdom of England. The -sex suffix indicates the Saxon areas, of people from Saxony; Sus-sex for south Saxon, Es-sex for east Saxon, Wes-sex for west Saxon, and Middle-sex, as opposed to the Anglia names, for the areas of the Angles, Anglos, who came from Angle-land in what is now Denmark. Ironically, Sussex is the most northern county in New Jersey.

Paleo Indians, and Native Americans

Sussex County was under the Wisconsin Glacier which lasted from 21,000 B.C to 13,000 B.C. The glacier covered all of Sussex County. This glacier covered the top of Kittatinny Mountain. End moraines are in Stokes State Forest, Augusta, Hampton Twp., and Andover Twp. After the Wisconsin Glacier melted due to a change in climate, plants and grasses slowly grew. The area was still cold, so the landscape was first Tundra and then changed to Taiga Biome/Boreal Forest. The Boreal forest was a coniferous forest in which spruce and other pine trees grew. Grasslands also grew, as the area had various flora communities. Water was still present from glacial melt. By 12,000 BC the glacier retreated to the Catskill Mountains and by 8000 BC the glacier was north of the St Lawrence River in Canada. Between 8000 BC and 6000 BC Boreal and deciduous forests were growing. This is the time period that the Mastodons became extinct.

Mastodons roamed the area. Mastodons were found at Highland Lakes dated 8940 BC ± 200 years, in Swartswoods Lake, in Liberty Twp. dated 9045 BC ± 750 years, and Orange County, New York dated 7910 BC ± 225 years and 8050 BC ± 160 years. Caribou bones were found at the Dutchess County Cave near Florida, New York. Paleo Indian sites have been found at the Zierdt site in Montague, the Plenge Site in Great Meadows and at the Harry's Farm Site in Pahaquarry Township, Warren County, in which charcoal has been dated to 5430 BC ± 120 years. Charcoal dated 8940 BC ± 50 years, has been found at the Paleo Indian camp on Broadhead Creek in Pennsylvania, near the Delaware River. This site is one of the earliest Paleo Indian sites in Eastern North America. The caribou bones found in a cave near Florida, New York, site dated 10,580 BC ± 370 years. This suggests that Paleo Indians lived in the Sussex County area as far back as 10,310 BC to 10,950 BC. Paleo Indians lived in small groups and followed game. They were hunter-gatherers who made fluted spear points of Jasper and black Chert. Their numbers were not large and this, along with the fact that their sites are several to many feet below the present ground level, is why Paleo Indian sites are hard to find.

The area warmed and deciduous forests began to grow around 8000 BC. Oaks, maples, birch, willows replaced the coniferous forests and big game became extinct. There are different reasons for this, such as over-hunting or lack of food. By 6000 BC the Coniferous forests were almost gone, except for hemlock trees. Different big game lived in that type of forest, such as deer, elk and moose.

Eventually, the Lenape settled in the area, though the time of their arrival is unknown. Before the Lenape arrived in Sussex County, other native Americans occupied the area. The Lenape lived in river valleys, in flat flood plains. They were hunter-gatherers. With the advent of clay pottery around 1200 BC and the bow and arrow around 800 to 1000 AD, the Lenape were intensively gathering, Populations increased faster. Many types of nuts were available to them such as acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, beech nuts, chestnuts, and butternuts. Game was plentiful everywhere, such as deer, bear, elk, beaver and squirrels. Fish in the rivers were caught in nets or by hand and there was also shellfish.

The Lenape lived in long houses which were made of trees. These trees were cut down by fire. There was a small door at the end of the long house. In the roof there was a small hole to allow smoke to escape due to fires in the house.

By the time the Dutch and other Europeans arrived in the very late 17th century to early 18th century the region was settled by the Lenape. They were living in extended family camps which were near each other along the river valleys. These camps were fairly permanent although they may have migrated in search of food during different seasons. With the slow rise of agriculture around the year 1000, camps slowly became more stable. Population increased due to the ability to store food in pottery and procure game with the bow and arrow. The family clans were harmonious with each other. The Lenape had a trail that went from the Delaware River through Culvers Gap to Augusta, east of Newton, to Cranberry Lake and then to Stanhope. From there it probably went to Landing and to the Rockaway River near Rockaway. In Denville the trail may have divided, one going to Morristown and the other going to Parsippany (Philhower 1924). The Lenape trail is also shown on William Fadden's map.

The Little Ice Age may have also affected settlement of Sussex County. Beginning in the early 17th century, winters became longer and summers shorter. Frosts lasted longer into the growing season and started earlier in the autumn. This would affect the growing of crops by settlers. Several years of crop failure or low production may have sent settlers back to the warmer climate of the coastal areas. The Kittatinny Valley and the Flatbrook Valley would have definitely been affected by the temperature change, as these areas are among the coldest in the state. This cold would also have affected Lenape populations, particularly due to corn crop failures, caused by early frosts in August or late frosts in June and the inability to fish due to the freezing of the rivers or lakes for long periods. Various game went into a semi-hibernation during cold periods, which made hunting more difficult. Nut trees and nut crop production also would have been affected by the late frosts or freezes in May or June. All these factors would have resulted in starvation among the Native Americans. This Little Ice Age lasted until about 1850.

In 1664, the English gained control of New Netherland and relations with the Native Americans became better. Land purchases in the early 18th century and the Walking Purchase of 1737, in which three men started walking north on September 19, 1737, from Neshaminy Creek, Pa., northward. With them were three native Americans to observe. After a day and a half, one man walked past Port Jervis, New York area, in which the Native Americans were forced to sell all of this land, which was hundreds of square miles. This was land of all of eastern Pennsylvania. The Native Americans moved to the Ohio Valley or Canada. Due to this, relations with the English became poor. When the French and Indian War started in 1754, some Native Americans sided with the French.

By the 1750s, nearly all Native Americans were gone from Sussex County. This was due to the land purchases, starvation due to the Little Ice Age, or diseases that the Native Americans contacted from the Europeans. The Native Americans were separated from Asia and Europe for thousands of years and did not have immunities. Nearly half of Native Americans died from disease. During the 1750s the Native Americans moved to western Pennsylvania, the Ohio Valley and to Eastern Canada.

European settlement

Between 1611 and 1614, three Dutchmen, A. Block, H. Christiaensen and C. Mey surveyed land between the 40th and 45th parallels along the Atlantic coast and named the area they surveyed New Netherland. In 1614, a Dutch fort was established on Castle Island on the Hudson River near Albany, New York. This fort was called Fort Nassau. In 1615, three Dutchmen left Fort Nassau and traveled southwest to the Delaware River and followed the river downstream. In 1616 they were captured by Native Americans near the confluence of the Schuykill River and Delaware River, south of Easton, Pennsylvania. The route the three men traveled is unknown, but they may have traveled through Sussex County or Pennsylvania. This is the earliest record of Europeans traveling in or near Sussex County. In 1625, a Dutch fort was built on the southern end of Manhattan Island and named Fort Amsterdam.

Governor Kieft's War of 1643 to 1645, the Esopus War of 1655 to 1660, and the Peach War of 1655 to 1657 would have prevented colonization of New Netherland, which today is called Sussex County. There were also hostile relations between the Dutch and Native Americans.

On August 27, 1664, three English ships approached Fort Amsterdam and the fort was surrendered to the English. The English now controlled New Amsterdam and Sussex County was now under control of the colony of New York. Relations with the Native Americans improved for a while.

The French and Indian War started in 1754 and lasted until August 1765. The French wanted North America for the fur trade. Native Americans, such as the Lenape and the Shawnee, who were cheated out of their land by the English and other Europeans sided with the French who promised them that their lands would be returned. Even though a treaty was signed on February 10, 1763, the war continued until August 1765, as communication was poor at the time. This war had an effect on colonists who lived in Sussex County. Small forts or fortified homes made a line from Phillipsburg to the Port Jervis area. Seven fortified homes stood along the Delaware River in the Sussex County area from Walpack Bend to Port Jervis. These eight forts are shown on the map drawn by Jonathon Hampton in 1758. Fort Reading was 12 miles (19 km) north of Easton, near Belvidere. The next was Col. Van Camps Fort, 18 miles (29 km) north of Fort Reading. Col. Van Camps Fort was just south of Walpack Bend. Fort Walpack was 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Van Camps Fort in the river bend at Walpack. Fort Shapnack, also called Head Quarters, was 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Fort Walpack. Fort Nominack was 8 mikes north near Nominack Island. Shipeconk Fort was 4 miles (6.4 km) north. Coles Fort was 8 miles (13 km) north of Shipeconk Fort. The most northern fort was Fort Gardner which was 12 miles (19 km) north of Fort Cole. Fort Gardner was near the NJ and NY state line. Later the line was drawn further south, so Fort Gardner is northeast of Port Jervis, New York. (NJCD and Kraft 1976). According to historians today there was sixteen forts or fortified homes. Indian raids took place on farms of colonists in western Sussex County, Pennsylvania and New York State along the Delaware River. Farm houses and barns were burned and people were killed. Due to this, settlement of Sussex County came to a halt as no colonists wanted to venture into the northwestern part of Sussex County during this war.

The first known settler was a blacksmith who purchased land from the Lenape near Port Jervis in 1698. He purchased land in New Jersey that later became part of New York State when the state border changed in 1769 to a place further south than what it was originally. The Lenape sold him the land as his skills as a blacksmith were highly valued, since he could make iron pots, axes, and knives that no Native American could make. After this, settlement probably occurred along the Delaware in Montague around 1705 to 1710. Settlement probably occurred in 1714 in Walpack and a church was built there in 1716.

Permanent farms started to appear in the flat areas of the county where the land was fertile and near streams for water. Some land was previously cleared by Native Americans, while other areas were natural fields due to natural fires or flora selection. Game was still plentiful, as were fish and waterfowl. Houses were built of stone or tree logs.

A map by William Fadden in 1778 shows several roads going through western Sussex County. The map does not show the Pahaquarry Copper Mine or a road that leads to the Pahaquarry area. Instead the map shows a road that goes from the Port Jervis area south along the eastern side of the Delaware River to Minisink Island. At Minisink Island the road forks three ways. One road goes through Culver's Gap. The second road goes south to the village of Walpack, where it turns west and crosses the Delaware River at Walpack Bend, continues along the western side of the Delaware River, and proceeds south. The third road crosses the Delaware at Minisink Island and goes along the western side of the Delaware River in a southward direction.

Civil War

During the Civil War, approximately 2,000 residents entered Union service, per "Sons of Sussex", a 2010 listing by Lisa E. Heuslein and John C. Rights available at the Sussex County Library in Frankford.

Government

Board of Chosen Freeholders

The County of Sussex is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders that consists of five members elected at-large to serve three-year terms. Seats are elected on a staggered basis over three years, with two seats available in the first year, two seats the following, and then one seat. All terms of office begin on January 1 and end on December 31. The Board of Chosen Freeholders is the center of legislative and administrative responsibility for the County of Sussex. It is responsible for writing and adopting a budget and overseeing the spending of funds appropriated by that budget.

Many county services do overlap those provided by municipalities within the county, however, the Board of Chosen Freeholders is responsible for the following tasks:

"Public Safety and Emergency Management, Community College and Technical School, the County Library System, Social Services, Youth Services, Community Service, Mental Health, Division of Senior Services, [The County] Nursing Home [formerly the Alms House], Environmental and Public Health Services, Mosquito Control, the Medical Examiner's Office, the County Jail and Detention Center, Farmland and Open Space Preservation, Economic Development, Road and Bridge Maintenance and Repair, the Para Transit System and Transportation Planning, Solid Waste Planning, the County Master Plan, including Water Resource Planning."

As of 2010, members of the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders are Freeholder Director Jeffrey M. Parrott (R, term ends December 31, 2010; Wantage Township), Deputy Director Phillip R. Crabb (R, 2011; Franklin Borough), Richard A. Zeoli (R, 2012; Byram Township), Parker Space (R, 2010; Wantage Township) and Susan M. Zellman (R, 2012; Stanhope).

Constitutional officers

As with each county in New Jersey, three elected positions, known as "constitutional officers" are required by the New Jersey State Constitution.

The office of County Clerk, a position which is selected for a term of five years, is currently occupied by Erma Gormley (R). The office of County Surrogate, elected also for at term of five years, is currently occupied by Nancy Fitzgibbons (R). The County Sheriff, a position which has a term of three years, is currently Michael F. Strada (R).

Municipalities

Index map of Sussex County municipalities (click to see index key)

The following are Sussex County's 24 incorporated municipalities:

• Andover Township (township)
• Andover (borough)
• Branchville (borough)
• Byram Township (township)
• Frankford Township (township)
  • Augusta, New Jersey
• Franklin (borough)
• Fredon Township (township)
• Green Township (township)
• Hamburg (borough)
• Hampton Township (township)
• Hardyston Township (township)
• Hopatcong (borough)
• Lafayette Township (township)
• Montague Township (township)
• Newton (town)
• Ogdensburg (borough)
• Sandyston Township (township)
• Sparta Township (township)
• Stanhope (borough)
• Stillwater Township (township)
• Sussex (borough)
• Vernon Township (township)
  • Highland Lakes, New Jersey
• Walpack Township (township)
• Wantage Township (township)

Politics

Sussex County is a predominantly Republican area, as among registered voters, affiliations with the Republican Party outpace those of the Democratic Party by a ratio of three to one. All five members of the county board of Chosen Freeholders, all three county-wide constitutional officers, and all except a few of the 108 municipal offices among the county's 24 municipalities are held by Republicans. In the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, George W. Bush carried the county by a 29.6% margin over John Kerry, the largest margin for Bush in any county in New Jersey, with Kerry carrying the state by 6.7% over Bush. In 2008, John McCain carried Sussex County by a 20.6% margin over Barack Obama, McCain's best showing in New Jersey, with Obama winning statewide by 15.5% over McCain. In the 2009 Gubernatorial Election, Republican Chris Christie received 63% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine, who received around 26%. Also, Sussex County is the home county of Scott Garrett, who is by far the most conservative congressman from New Jersey. He represents almost all of Sussex County along with Warren County, northern Passaic County, and northern Bergen County. The southeast corner of Sussex County is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen.

Economy and other factors

Early industry and commerce chiefly centered on agriculture, iron mining, shifting during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to focus on several factories and the mining of zinc. Today, Sussex County features a mix of rural farmland, forests and suburban development. Though agriculture (chiefly dairy farming) is on the decline and because the county hosts little industry, Sussex County is considered a "bedroom community" as most residents commute to neighboring counties (Bergen, Essex and Morris Counties) or to New York City for work.

Taxes

Property taxes in Sussex County have always been historically lower than its neighboring counties. Taxes on an acre of land, depending on the condition and size of the house, could be as low as $1500 a year. Typical property taxes in the county are in the $3000–$6000 a year range. This is due to low local spending, regional schools, modest police departments, and all municipalities having a volunteer Fire Department.

Transportation

Sussex County is served by a number of roads connecting it to the rest of the state and to both Pennsylvania and New York. Interstate 80 passes through the extreme southern tip of Sussex County solely in Byram. Interstate 84 passes just yards north of Sussex County, but never enters New Jersey.

New Jersey's Route 15, Route 23, Route 94, Route 181, Route 183, and Route 284 pass through the County, as does U.S. Route 206

Commuter rail service is available from Netcong, New Jersey on the Morris & Essex Lines of New Jersey Transit. New Jersey Transit also is in the process of re-opening the Lackawanna Cutoff, which passes through Andover and Green Townships, to commuter rail service, connecting Scranton, Pennsylvania with Hoboken, New Jersey and New York City. Service from Andover, NJ via the Cut-Off is slated to open in 2014.

Sussex County has four public-use airports, all privately owned and catering to recreational pilots. They are Sussex Airport, in Wantage Township, which has a runway of 3,500 feet (1,100 m), Newton Airport in Andover Township, Andover Aeroflex Airport also in Andover Township, and Trinca Airport in Green Township, which has a 1,900-foot (580 m) grass runway.

Television and radio broadcasting

Clear Channel Radio owns a cluster of four stations in the area.

• 102.3 WSUS-FM – Franklin. Format: Adult Contemporary
• 103.7 WNNJ – Newton. Format: Classic Rock
• 1360 WTOC – Newton. Format: Oldies
• 106.3 WHCY-FM – Franklin. Format: Hot Adult Contemporary

Stations from The Hudson Valley Also can be heard: 92.7 WRRV-FM- Middletown. Format: Alternative 104.7 WSPK-FM- Poughkeepsie. Format: Top 40 Stations from Scranton-East Stroudsburg Area also can be heard: 107.9 WKRF-FM- Tobyhanna. Format: Top 40 Stations from The Lehigh Valley Area can also be heard: 104.1 WAEB-FM- Allentown. Format: Top 40 FST Broadcasting Corp. owns WTBQ, just north of Vernon, New Jersey.

• 1110 WTBQ – Warwick, New York (can be heard throughout Northern Sussex County). Format: NewsTalk and Sports

The radio station WNTI, 91.9 FM, is broadcast from Centenary College in Hackettstown (Warren County). It is a commercial free, public station playing progressive music. It can be heard throughout most of Sussex County. Calvary Chapel of Howell, New Jersey broadcasts WRDR The Bridge FM with towers in Northern New Jersey and Southern New York.

• 103.1 WJGK-FM
• 99.7 WJUX-FM Sullivan and Orange Counties, New York. Format: Religious
• 94.3 WJUX-FM Pamona, New York and parts of Rockland County, New York. Format: Religious

Public radio (NJN – New Jersey Public Radio); primarily NPR but also an American Public Media outlet:

• 88.5 WNJP – Sussex, New Jersey
• 89.3 WNJY – Netcong, New Jersey

Crime and law enforcement

Heroin use has been on the rise and shows no signs of improvement despite efforts of law enforcement and community groups working to fight the problem. This is due to the inexpensive cost of heroin and its highly addictive nature. Yet for the most part, crime is fairly low in Sussex County. Law Enforcements are well organized and the sheriff is elected by the people of Sussex County. This is the only law enforcement position that is elected in the county. The Sheriff's office is located on 39 High Street, in Newton. The current sheriff of Sussex County is Michael Strada.

The State Police are located on Route 206 in Augusta and most townships have local police departments. There is also N.J. Park police in Stokes State Forest and other state parks.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	19,500		—
1800	22,534		15.6%
1810	25,549		13.4%
1820	32,752		28.2%
1830	20,346	*	−37.9%
1840	21,770		7.0%
1850	22,989		5.6%
1860	23,846		3.7%
1870	23,168		−2.8%
1880	23,539		1.6%
1890	22,259		−5.4%
1900	24,134		8.4%
1910	26,781		11.0%
1920	24,905		−7.0%
1930	27,830		11.7%
1940	29,632		6.5%
1950	34,423		16.2%
1960	49,255		43.1%
1970	77,528		57.4%
1980	116,119		49.8%
1990	130,943		12.8%
2000	144,166		10.1%
2010	149,265		3.5%
* lost territory historical census data source:

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 144,166 people, 50,831 households, and 38,784 families residing in the county. The population density was 277 people per square mile (107/km²). There were 56,528 housing units at an average density of 108 per square mile (42/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.70% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 3.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.4% were of Italian, 18.1% Irish, 16.0% German, 7.2% English, 5.9% Polish and 5.2% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

By 2006, 90.3% of the county population was non-Hispanic whites. The percentage of African-Americans was up to 1.7%. Asians were now 1.9% of the population. 5.3% of the population was Latino.

In 2000 there were 50,831 households out of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $67,266, and the median income for a family was $73,335 (these figures had risen to $79,434 and $89,302 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $50,395 versus $33,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,992. About 2.8% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Sussex County's municipalities are divided into eight local and regional public high school districts. Each municipality (except Walpack Township) has its own elementary or grammar school. Several municipalities have two or more elementary or grammar schools. Several of the county's high schools are highly ranked by both state and federal education departments, with two high schools (Kittatinny Regional and High Point Regional) having achieved the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School Award.

The county's Board of Chosen Freeholders oversees the Sussex County Technical School (formerly the Sussex County Vocational-Technical School), a county-wide technical high school in Sparta Township, New Jersey.

Pope John XXIII Regional High School in Sparta, New Jersey, operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson, which also operates the K-8 schools Immaculate Conception in Franklin, St. Joseph in Newton and Rev. George A. Brown in Sparta. There are several other private schools in the county.

Higher education

Sussex County Community College is a two-year community college located at the intersection of County Route 519 and Plotts Road in Newton. Opened in 1982, SCCC offers 37 associate degrees and 11 certificate programs to its more than 4,200 students.

South Orange-based Upsala College located its Wirth Campus in Sussex County, which served 300 students before the school closed in 1995.

Tourism and recreation

There are nine wildlife management areas located in Sussex County for hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing, covering more than 15,000 acres (6,100 ha). There are also several state forests and state parks.

State and federal parks

• Stokes State Forest
• High Point State Park
• Swartswood State Park
• Wawayanda State Park
• Kittatinny Valley State Park
• Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
• Allamuchy Mountain State Park

Sports franchises

Augusta is the site of Skylands Park, a minor league baseball stadium, home of the Sussex Skyhawks. The Skyhawks play in the Can-Am League. Skylands Park was the former home of the New Jersey Cardinals (from 1994–2005), but the Cardinals moved to State College, Pennsylvania making room for the Skyhawks.

Notable people in or from Sussex County

Politics, military and public service

• Thomas Oakley Anderson — United States Navy officer during the Barbary Wars (1803–1805).
• E. Scott Garrett —, politician, New Jersey General Assembly, U.S. House of Representatives.
• John W. Griggs — Governor of New Jersey.
• Daniel Haines — Governor of New Jersey.
• Hugh Judson Kilpatrick — Civil War general, diplomat.
• Ardolph Loges Kline — Mayor of New York City.
• Robert Littell — New Jersey State Senator.
• Benjamin Lundy — abolitionist and writer.
• Alison Littell McHose — Member of the New Jersey General Assembly.
• Nathaniel Pettit — Canadian politician.
• Rodman M. Price — Governor of New Jersey.
• John Rutherfurd — United States Senator (1791–1799).
• John Cleves Symmes — Revolutionary War officer and politician.
• Andrew Napolitano — former NJ Superior Court Judge and libertarian Fox News Judicial Analyst.

Arts, letters, and entertainment

• Lou Dobbs — television and radio news commentator.
• Rob Freeman — musician.
• Nicolas de Gunzburg — fashion critic, magazine editor (Vogue, Harpers), actor.
• Janeane Garofalo — actress, activist.
• John Gibson — television news host on FoxNews.
• Aline Murray Kilmer — poet, wife of Joyce Kilmer.
• Homer R. Mensch — classical double bassist, New York Philharmonic.
• Andrew Napolitano — television news commentator on FoxNews.
• William Pierson — actor.
• J. Allyn Rosser — poet, academic.
• The Misfits — musicians
• Railroad Earth — musicians

Science, technology and medicine

• Charles J. Fletcher — possible inventor of the Hovercraft.
• Hudson Maxim — inventor, scientist, munitions manufacturer.
• Ross Winans — inventor, entrepreneur.

Business

• Newman E. Drake — entrepreneur, founder of Drake's Cakes.

Sports

• Lou Benfatti — NFL and college football player.
• Mike Budnik — former professional inline skater, and professional mixed martial arts fighter
• Danny Kass — Olympic and champion snowboarder.
• Jim Miller — UFC Contender, CFFC Lightweight Champion, Reality Fighting Featherweight Champion
• Dan Miller — UFC Contender, CFFC Middleweight Champion, IFL Middleweight Champion
• Troy Murphy — NBA and college basketball player.
• Russ Van Atta — Major League Baseball player.
• Dave Yovanovits — NFL and college football player.
• Chris Jent — NBA Player and Coach.
• Adam Riggs — Major League Baseball player

Miscellaneous

• Ira Condict — minister, third president of Rutgers University.
• Zip the Pinhead — circus sideshow with P.T. Barnum.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Sussex County, New Jersey

References and other resources

Books and printed materials

• Armstrong, William C. Pioneer Families of Northwestern New Jersey (Lambertville, New Jersey: Hunterdon House, 1979).
• Cawley, James S. and Cawley, Margaret. Exploring the Little Rivers of New Jersey (New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1942, 1961, 1971, 1993). ISBN 0-8135-0684-0
• Chambers, Theodore Frelinghuysen. The Early Germans of New Jersey: Their History, Churches, and Genealogies (Dover, New Jersey, Dover Printing Company, 1895), passim.
• Cummings, Warren D. Sussex County: A History (Newton, New Jersey: Newton Rotary Club, 1964). NO ISBN
• Cunningham, John T. Railroad Wonder: The Lackawanna Cut-Off (Newark, New Jersey: Newark Sunday News, 1961). NO ISBN
• Documents Relating to the Colonial, Revolutionary and Post-Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey [Title Varies]. Archives of the State of New Jersey, 1st–2nd series. 47 volumes. (Newark, New Jersey: 1880–1949). NO ISBN
• Honeyman, A. Van Doren (ed.). Northwestern New Jersey—A History of Somerset, Morris, Hunterdon, Warren, and Sussex Counties Volume 1. (Lewis Historical Publishing Co., New York, 1927).
• McCabe, Wayne T. Sussex County (Images of America) (Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2003).
• Schaeffer, Casper M.D. (and Johnson, William M.). Memoirs and Reminiscences: Together with Sketches of the Early History of Sussex County, New Jersey. (Hackensack, New Jersey: Privately Printed, 1907). NO ISBN
• Schrabisch, Max. Indian habitations in Sussex County, New Jersey Geological Survey of New Jersey, Bulletin No. 13. (Union Hill, New Jersey: Dispatch Printing Company, 1915). NO ISBN
• Schrabisch, Max. Archaeology of Warren and Hunterdon counties Geological Survey of New Jersey, Bulletin No. 18. (Trenton, N.J., MacCrellish and Quigley co., state printers, 1917). NO ISBN
• Snell, James P. History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. (Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1881). NO ISBN
• Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries 1606–1968 (Trenton, New Jersey: Bureau of Geology and Topography, 1969). No ISBN
• Stickney, Charles E. Old Sussex County families of the Minisink Region from articles in the Wantage Recorder (compiled by Virginia Alleman Brown) (Washington, New Jersey: Genealogical Researchers, 1988)

Maps and atlases

• Map of Jonathan Hampton (1758) in the collection of the New Jersey Historical Society, Newark, New Jersey.
• Hopkins, Griffith Morgan. Map of Sussex County, New Jersey. (1860) [Reprinted by the Sussex County Historical Society: Netcong, New Jersey: Esposito (Jostens), 2004.]
• Beers, Frederick W. County Atlas of Warren, New Jersey: From actual surveys by and under the direction of F. W. Beers (New York: F.W. Beers & Co. 1874). [Reprinted by Warren County Historical Society: Harmony, New Jersey: Harmony Press, 1994].
• Hagstrom Morris/Sussex/Warren counties atlas (Maspeth, New York: Hagstrom Map Company, Inc. 2004).

External links

County Government Sussex County webpage. Churches St Mary's Episcopal Church, Sparta NJ Education Sussex County Community College Sussex County Technical School Sussex County Interscholastic League

History and Tourism Sussex County Historical Society Sussex County Abandoned Mine History Newton Fire Museum News and Media The Advertiser-News The Sparta Independent Times Herald-Record The New Jersey Herald The Star-Ledger The Township Journal WSUS 102.3 FM