Alpha is a borough in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,482.

Alpha was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 27, 1911, from portions of Pohatcong Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 31, 1911.

Alpha is one of the eastern-most locations within the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Geography

Alpha is located at (40.664003, -75.159871).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.5 km²), of which, 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (2.30%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,482 people, 989 households, and 688 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,462.0 people per square mile (563.7/km²). There were 1,034 housing units at an average density of 609.1/sq mi (234.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.06% White, 0.28% African American, 0.04% Native American, 1.21% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.89% of the population.

There were 989 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $42,209, and the median income for a family was $45,435. Males had a median income of $39,957 versus $26,576 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $20,104. About 5.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Alpha is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.

The Mayor of Alpha Borough is Edward Hanics, Jr. (D; Term ends December 31, 2011). Members of the Alpha Borough Council are Council President Robert Gara (D; 2008), John Hajdu (D; 2010), Louis Pettinelli (R; 2009), Klara Tarsi (D; 2009), Alex Zikas (D; 2008) and Harry Zikas, Jr. (D; 2010). Elected at age 19, Alex Zikas is one of New Jersey's youngest elected officials.

Federal, state and county representation

Alpha Borough is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District.

Education

Students in kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Alpha School District. Alpha Public School had an enrollment of 258 students in the 2005-06 school year.

Public school students in grades nine through 12 attend Phillipsburg High School in Phillipsburg, New Jersey as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Phillipsburg School District.

References

External links

• Borough of Alpha
• Warren County page for Alpha Borough
• Alpha Public School District
• Data for the Alpha Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• Phillipsburg High School
• Alpha Volunteer Fire Department