Frelinghuysen Township ( ) is a township in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 2,199, a decrease of 31 (−1.4%) from the 2010 census count of 2,230, which in turn reflected an increase of 147 (+7.1%) from the 2,083 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
History Frelinghuysen Township was incorporated from portions of Hardwick Township on March 7, 1848.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 245. Accessed June 4, 2013. 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.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 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.Weaver & Kern. Warren County History and Directory: Or, The Farmers̓ Manual and Business Mens̓ Guide, p. 343. Press of the Review, 1886. Accessed June 4, 2013. "It was named in honor of Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen."
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%).
Johnsonburg (with a 2020 Census population of 381) and Marksboro (population of 186 in 2020) are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within the township.GCT-PH1 - Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Warren County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 4, 2013.2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 4, 2013.New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, p. III-5, August 2012. Accessed June 4, 2013. 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.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2015.
The township is located in the Kittatinny Valley which is a section of the Great Appalachian Valley that stretches for from Canada to Alabama.
Frelinghuysen Township borders the municipalities of Allamuchy Township, Blairstown, Hardwick Township, Hope Township and Independence Township in Warren County; and Fredon Township, Green Township and Stillwater Township in Sussex County.Municipal Directory, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Demographics
The township's economic data (as is all of Warren County) is calculated by the US Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.Karp, Gregory. "Lehigh Valley, Warren County reunited as a metro area ** Economies, social patterns similar, federal office says.", The Morning Call, June 22, 2003. Accessed February 15, 2022. "This time, new rules for defining MSAs determined that because the Phillipsburg area was the biggest cluster of people in Warren County, the whole county should be lumped with the nearby Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro area."
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 2,230 people, 760 households, and 615 families in the township. The population density was 95.6 per square mile (36.9/km2). There were 826 housing units at an average density of 35.4 per square mile (13.7/km2). The racial makeup was 97.22% (2,168) White, 0.63% (14) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.54% (12) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.58% (13) from other races, and 1.03% (23) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.56% (57) of the population.
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.
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.
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.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Frelinghuysen township, Warren County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 3, 2013.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census, there were 2,083 people, 722 households, and 578 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 755 housing units at an average density of . 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.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Frelinghuysen township, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 4, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Frelinghuysen township, Warren County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 4, 2013.
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.
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.
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.
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.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 103."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. 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.
, 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).Township Committee, Township of Frelinghuysen. Accessed March 1, 2022.2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of Frelinghuysen. Accessed June 21, 2022.Summary Results Report 2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.Warren County 2020 General Election November 20, 2020 Official Results, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.General Election November 5, 2019, Warren County Official Tally, Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 12, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.
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.Amended Minutes of Regular Meeting of January 19, 2022, Frelinghuysen Township. Accessed February 28, 2022. "The Oath of Office was given to Committeeman Robert Stock by the Municipal Clerk, Donna Zilberfarb."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."
Federal, state, and county representation Frelinghuysen Township is located in the 7th Congressional District2022 Redistricting Plan, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 8, 2022. and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed September 1, 2023.
Politics 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.Voter Registration Summary - Warren, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed June 3, 2013. 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).GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 3, 2013.