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Sussex County was named by Royal Governor [[Jonathan Belcher]] (1689-1757) for [[Sussex]] in [[England]] which was the ancestral seat of [[Thomas Pelham-Holles]], the first [[Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne]] who at the time was the [[Secretary of State for the Northern Department]], and later the [[Prime Minister]] of the [[United Kingdom]] (1754-1758, 1762-1764). Pelham-Holles, whose office oversaw British affairs in North America, was Governor Belcher's political superior.
Sussex County was named by Royal Governor [[Jonathan Belcher]] (1689-1757) for [[Sussex]] in [[England]] which was the ancestral seat of [[Thomas Pelham-Holles]], the first [[Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne]] who at the time was the [[Secretary of State for the Northern Department]], and later the [[Prime Minister]] of the [[United Kingdom]] (1754-1758, 1762-1764). Pelham-Holles, whose office oversaw British affairs in North America, was Governor Belcher's political superior.


===Native American inhabitants===
{{Sectstub}}
===Exploration and settlement===
{{Sectstub}}
===Establishment of Sussex County===
===Establishment of Sussex County===
{{Sectstub}}

===The colonial period===

{{Sectstub}}

===Iron mining and forges===
{{Sectstub}}
===Industry===
{{Sectstub}}
===More cows than people===
{{Sectstub}}
===Transformation to "bedroom community"===
{{Sectstub}}


==Geography==
==Geography==

Revision as of 04:37, 16 December 2006

Sussex County
County
Official seal of Sussex County
Seal
Map of New Jersey highlighting Sussex County
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
Map of the United States highlighting New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°08′N 74°41′W / 41.14°N 74.69°W / 41.14; -74.69
Country United States
State New Jersey
Founded8 June 1753
SeatNewton
Population
 (2000)
 • Total
144,166
Websitewww.sussex.nj.us

The County of Sussex (also known as Sussex County) is a the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. Even though it was founded on 8 June 1753 by an order of Jonathan Belcher (1689-1757), Royal Governor of New Jersey (1747-1757) and his council, the European exploration and settlement of this area began in the last decade of the seventeenth century.

As of the 2000 Federal decennial census, 144,166 persons resided in Sussex County. Though chiefly a mix of rural and lightly developed suburban areas, Sussex County is part of the New York Metropolitan Area and given that an estimated sixty percent of the population in the workforce travels outside of the county for their employment, it is considered to be a bedroom community.

The county seat of Sussex County is the Town of Newton6. Sussex County is the fourth largest county in New Jersey in terms of area, and is also the 91st richest county in the United States with its per capita income being $26,992.

History

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 Thomas Pelham-Holles, the first Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne who at the time was the Secretary of State for the Northern Department, and later the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1754-1758, 1762-1764). Pelham-Holles, whose office oversaw British affairs in North America, was Governor Belcher's political superior.

Native American inhabitants

Exploration and settlement

Establishment of Sussex County

The colonial period

Iron mining and forges

Industry

More cows than people

Transformation to "bedroom community"

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,388 km² (536 mi²). 1,350 km² (521 mi²) of it is land and 38 km² (15 mi²) of it (2.75%) is water. High Point in this county is also the highest elevation in the state at 1,803 feet (549.5 m) above sea level. The county's lowest elevation is approximately 300 feet (90 m) above sea level along the Delaware River near Flatbrookville.

Much of the county is hilly, as the part of New Jersey most solidly within the Appalachian Mountains. However, the Great Valley of the Appalachians takes in a good deal of the eastern half of the county, allowing for land more amenable to agriculture.

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 144,166 people, 50,831 households, and 38,784 families residing in the county. The population density was 107/km² (277/mi²). There were 56,528 housing units at an average density of 42/km² (108/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.97% White, 2.24% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.71% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 4.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 50,831 households out of which 39.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.00% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.70% were non-families. 18.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.30% 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 27.90% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 9.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $67,266, and the median income for a family was $73,335. Males had a median income of $50,395 versus $33,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,992. About 2.80% of families and 4.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.10% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Sussex County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. The members are elected at large to serve three-year terms, with the three-year term of office starting on January 1.

The Freeholder Board is the center of legislative and administrative responsibility and, as such, performs a dual role. As legislators they draw up and adopt a budget, and in the role of administrators they are responsible for spending the funds they have appropriated.

As of 2005, Sussex County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Gary R. Chiusano (term ends December 31, 2008), Freeholder Deputy Director Harold J. Wirths (2007), Steven V. Oroho (2007), Glen Vetrano (2006) and Susan M. Zellman (2006). [1]

Municipalities

The following are Sussex County's 24 incorporated municipalities. Census-designated places — which are unincorporated areas in the County used by the Census Bureau for reporting and tracking purposes — are listed under their parent municipality (or municipalities):

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

Crime

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.[2].

Radio Broadcasting

Clear Channel Radio owns a cluster of 4 stations in the area.

  • 102.3 WSUS FM - Franklin. Format: Adult Contemporary
  • 103.7 WNNJ FM - Newton. Format: Classic Rock
  • 1360 WNNJ AM - Newton. Format: Oldies
  • 106.3 WHCY FM - Blairstown. Format: Hot Adult Contemporary (Not located in Sussex County.)


Notable people in or from Sussex County

Politics, military and public service

Arts, Letters, and Entertainment

Science, technology and medicine

Business

Sports

Miscellaneous

Education

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. 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

Sports

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.

The Sussex County Interscholastic League, or SCIL, is the high school athletic league for most high schools in the county.

References

  1. ^ Sussex County Board of chosen Freeholders, accessed May 22, 2006
  2. ^ The Human Cost of Heroin, New Jersey Herald, May 7, 2006
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