Hardwick Township, New Jersey

Hardwick Township is a Township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,464. The township was created around 1713 by royal patent. It is located in the far eastern region of the Lehigh Valley.

Hardwick Township was created by Royal Charter on January 22, 1750, from Greenwich Township, while the area was part of Morris County. It became part of the newly-created Sussex County on June 8, 1753. Parts of Hardwick Township were taken on November 11, 1782, to form Independence Township. Hardwick Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. On November 20, 1824, most of Hardwick Township was transferred to form part of Warren County, with the remainder staying in Sussex County as parts of Green Township and Stillwater Township, which were both created as of December 27, 1824. Frelinghuysen Township was created March 7, 1848, from portions of the township.

The now-defunct Pahaquarry Township was absorbed by Hardwick Township on July 2, 1997. Pahaquarry Township had been created on March 14, 1825, and got its name from the word Pahaquarra, which was a derivation of the Indian word Pahaqualong, which meant "termination of two mountains" and described the mountain or mountainous area that was the area's southern border.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 37.9 square miles (98.2 km²), of which, 36.5 square miles (94.5 km²) of it is land and 1.4 square miles (3.7 km²) of it (3.80%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,464 people, 502 households, and 410 families residing in the township. The population density was 40.1 people per square mile (15.5/km²). There were 530 housing units at an average density of 14.5/sq mi (5.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.06% White, 0.61% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.89% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.32% of the population.

There were 502 households out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.3% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.3% were non-families. 13.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $72,167, and the median income for a family was $76,111. Males had a median income of $56,000 versus $31,875 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,038. About 0.5% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Hardwick 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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

The Hardwick Township Committee consists of Mayor Kevin Duffy (R, term ends December 31, 2009, Deputy Mayor James Perry (R, 2010) and J. Alfred Carrazzone (R, 2008).

Federal, state and county representation

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

Education

Hardwick Township is a non-operating school district. For grades K-6, public school students attend Blairstown Elementary School in Blairstown Township as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Blairstown Township School District.

Public school students in grades 7 through 12 attend the North Warren Regional High School (1,044 students) in Blairstown, a public secondary high school, serving students from the townships of Blairstown, Frelinghuysen, Hardwick, and Knowlton.

Notable Residents

Lou Reed, rock performer

Popular Culture

The original Friday the 13th movie was filmed in Hardwick's local Boy Scout camp.

References

External links

• Warren County page for Hardwick Township
• Blairstown Township School District
• Data for the Blairstown Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• North Warren Regional School District
• Data for the North Warren Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics