Location of Frelinghuysen Township in Warren County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Warren County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Census Bureau map of Frelinghuysen Township, New Jersey
Frelinghuysen Township was incorporated from portions of Hardwick Township on March 7, 1848.[3] According to the book Historical Sites of Warren County, the township was named for Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen, a minister and theologian of the Dutch Reformed Church who came to New Jersey in 1720.[21] Theodorus was the grandfather of Theodore Frelinghuysen, the noted statesman, educator and running mate of presidential candidate Henry Clay on the Whig Party ticket in the 1844 election, who is also credited as the inspiration for the township's name.[22]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 23.87 square miles (61.83 km2), including 23.62 square miles (61.18 km2) of land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km2) of water (1.04%).[1][2]
Johnsonburg (with a 2010 Census population of 101[23]) and Marksboro (population of 82 in 2010[24]) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within the township.[25][26][27] Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ebenezer, Glovers Pond, Kerrs Corners, Shiloh, Southtown and Yellow Frame.[28]
Of the 760 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18; 69.1% were married couples living together; 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.1% were non-families. Of all households, 13.6% were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.07.[18]
21.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 35.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.4 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $94,688 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,942) and the median family income was $104,712 (+/− $8,336). Males had a median income of $81,667 (+/− $4,051) versus $53,857 (+/− $2,542) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $39,316 (+/− $3,207). About 2.2% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.[42]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census,[15] there were 2,083 people, 722 households, and 578 families residing in the township. The population density was 88.9 inhabitants per square mile (34.3/km2). There were 755 housing units at an average density of 32.2 per square mile (12.4/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 97.79% White, 0.34% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.64% of the population.[39][40]
There were 722 households, out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.5% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.13.[39][40]
In the township the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.[39][40]
The median income for a household in the township was $72,434, and the median income for a family was $78,464. Males had a median income of $56,818 versus $36,827 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,792. About 1.1% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.[39][40]
Government
Local government
Frelinghuysen Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.[43] The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.[7][44] The committee has an organizational meeting each January to appoint a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among its members. These officers serve for one year, until the next organizational meeting.[4]
As of 2022[update], members of the Frelinghuysen Township Committee are Mayor Keith C. Ramos (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2022), Deputy Mayor Christopher Stracco (R, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2022), David C. Boynton (R, 2023), Todd McPeek (R, 2024) and Robert Stock (R, 2022; appointed to serve an unexpired term).[4][45][46][47][48]
In January 2022, Robert Stack was sworn in to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Frank D. Desiderio Jr. until his resignation the previous month.[49][50]
Warren County is governed by a three-member Board of County Commissioners, who are chosen at-large on a staggered basis in partisan elections with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as Commissioner Director and other as Deputy Director.[57] As of 2025[update], Warren County's Commissioners are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,583 registered voters in Frelinghuysen Township, of which 248 (15.7% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 700 (44.2% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 634 (40.1% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[69] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 71.0% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 90.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).[69][70]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 756 votes (65.3% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 368 votes (31.8% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.9% vs. 1.7%), among the 1,157 ballots cast by the township's 1,582 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.1% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County).[71][72] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 802 votes (64.4% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 405 votes (32.5% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 19 votes (1.5% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,246 ballots cast by the township's 1,577 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.0% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County).[73] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 801 votes (66.3% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 384 votes (31.8% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 20 votes (1.7% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,209 ballots cast by the township's 1,491 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.1% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).[74]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 75.7% of the vote (535 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 21.1% (149 votes), and other candidates with 3.3% (23 votes), among the 720 ballots cast by the township's 1,591 registered voters (13 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.3%.[75][76] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 623 votes (64.5% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 219 votes (22.7% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 95 votes (9.8% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 15 votes (1.6% vs. 1.5%), among the 966 ballots cast by the township's 1,560 registered voters, yielding a 61.9% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).[77]
Education
The Frelinghuysen Township School District serves children in public school in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade at Frelinghuysen Elementary School.[78][79][80][81] As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 131 students and 13.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.0:1.[82] In the 2016–2017 school year, Frelinghuysen had the 28th smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 150 students.[83]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 51.83 miles (83.41 km) of roadways, of which 30.05 miles (48.36 km) were maintained by the municipality, 14.88 miles (23.95 km) by Warren County and 6.90 miles (11.10 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[91]
Interstate 80 (the Bergen-Passaic Expressway) traverses though the southern part of Frelinghuysen, but does not have any interchanges within the township; the closest exits are in both neighboring Allamuchy and Hope Townships. Route 94 runs through in the northern part of the township. CR 519 is the main county road that passes through roughly from the southwest to the northeast.
^Alleman, Helen and Leedom, Helen P. Historical Sites of Warren County. (Warren County Tercentenary Committee and Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders, New Jersey, 1965) pg. 45
^Minutes of Regular Meeting of December 15, 2021, Frelinghuysen Township. Accessed March 1, 2022. "Mr. Stracco explained that Mr. Desiderio resigned at the work session. Mr. Stracco explained the process of filling the vacancy."
^Governmental Structure, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022. "Warren County operates under the County Commissioner form of county government. The Board of County Commissioners consists of three Commissioners each elected at large for staggered terms of three years. The Commissioner Director is chosen by the full board at the board's annual reorganization meeting in January. The Commissioners supervise, direct, and administer all county services and functions through the various departments, autonomous boards, agencies, and commissions. Reporting to the Board of County Commissioners is an appointed County Administrator."
^Jason J. Sarnoski, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
^Lori Ciesla, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
^James R. Kern III, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
^Frelinghuysen Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Frelinghuysen Township School District. Accessed June 22, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through six in the Frelinghuysen Township School District. Composition: The Frelinghuysen Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Frelinghuysen Township."
^Guion, Payton. "These 43 N.J. school districts have fewer than 200 students", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 2017. Accessed January 30, 2020. "Based on data from the state Department of Education from the last school year and the Census Bureau, NJ Advance Media made a list of the smallest of the small school districts in the state, excluding charter schools and specialty institutions....28. Frelinghuysen Township (tie); Enrollment: 150; Grades: Pre-K-6; County: Warren; Town population: 2,230"
^North Warren Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, North Warren Regional High School. Accessed March 31, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades seven through twelve in the North Warren Regional High School District. Composition: The North Warren Regional High School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Blairstown Township, Frelinghuysen Township, Knowlton Township and Hardwick Township."
^Home Page, North Warren Regional School District. Accessed June 4, 2013. "North Warren Regional is a public secondary school district, serving students in grades 7-12 in the townships of Blairstown, Frelinghuysen, Hardwick, and Knowlton. The district covers 96.8 square miles bordering the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in scenic Warren County."
^F.A.Q., Ridge and Valley Charter School. Accessed January 6, 2017. "Enrollment is open, on a space available basis, to all K-8 students residing in N.J. with priority given to students residing in the districts of Blairstown, Hardwick, Knowlton, Frelinghuysen, and North Warren Regional School."
^Lee, Francis Bazley. Genealogical and Memorial History of the State of New Jersey, p. 345. Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1910. Accessed May 7, 2023. "Colonel Mark Thomson the first member the family of whom we have definite information settled first in Changewater and then in Marksboro, Sussex (now Warren county), New Jersey the latter of which places was named in his honor."