Lafayette Township, New Jersey


Lafayette Township is a township located in the Skylands Region of Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 2,358, a decrease of 180 from the 2010 census count of 2,538, which in turn reflected an increase of 238 from the 2,300 counted in the 2000 census. The township is crossed by Route 15 and Route 94.
WWW lafayettetwp.org

History

Lafayette was formed as a Township based on an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 14, 1845, from part of Frankford Township and [Newton Township, Sussex County, New Jersey|Sussex County, New Jersey|Newton Township], based on the results of a referendum held that same day. The township was the first in the country to be named for Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, the French general and statesman who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Historic district

The Lafayette Village Historic District is a historic district encompassing the village of Lafayette along NJ 15, Morris Farm Road and Meadows Road. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 15, 2013 for its significance in architecture, exploration/settlement, industry, and transportation. The district includes 42 contributing buildings, a contributing structure, and three contributing sites.
The Lafayette Foundry was built where Morris Farm Road crosses the Paulins Kill in 1836 by Alexander Boyles. There are no visible remains at the site. The Lafayette Mill Complex on Morris Farm Road includes a flour and gristmill, storehouse and distillery on the south side; a general
store and playhouse on the north side. The Ludlum-Mabee House was built and is now used by Lafayette Center Preservation Foundation.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 17.97 square miles, including 17.88 square miles of land and 0.09 square miles of water.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Branchville Junction, Harmonyvale, Hopkins Corner, Warbasse and Warbasse Junction.
Lafayette Township borders the municipalities of Andover Township, Frankford Township, Hampton Township, Hardyston Township, Sparta Township and Wantage Township.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 2,538 people, 875 households, and 721 families in the township. The population density was 141.3 per square mile. There were 919 housing units at an average density of 51.2 per square mile. The racial makeup was 95.43% White, 1.58% Black or African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.08% of the population.
Of the 875 households, 34.2% had children under the age of 18; 69.6% were married couples living together; 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 17.6% were non-families. Of all households, 13.1% were made up of individuals and 4.8% 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 3.12.
23.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 35.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.7 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.5 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $96,369 and the median family income was $98,750. Males had a median income of $71,607 versus $56,964 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,364. About 6.4% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,300 people, 771 households, and 647 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 799 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the township was 97.04% White, 1.04% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.
There were 771 households, out of which 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.0% were non-families. 12.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the township the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $82,805, and the median income for a family was $87,650. Males had a median income of $61,307 versus $38,816 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,491. About 1.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Lafayette Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. 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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.
, members of the Lafayette Township Committee are Mayor Alan R. Henderson, Deputy Mayor Kevin K. O'Leary, Lisa Carlson, Patrick Geaney and Richard Hughes.

Federal, state and county representation

Lafayette Township is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,738 registered voters in Lafayette Township, of which 228 were registered as Democrats, 781 were registered as Republicans and 727 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 2 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 68.5% were registered to vote, including 89.4% of those ages 18 and over.

Education

Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Lafayette Township School District. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 209 students and 23.9 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 8.8:1.
For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend High Point Regional High School, which also serves students from Branchville, Frankford Township, Montague Township, Sussex Borough and Wantage Township. As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 817 students and 68.4 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.9:1. The district is governed by a nine-member board of education; seats on the board are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with one seat assigned to Lafayette Township.

Transportation

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Sussex County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
The main highways serving Lafayette Township are New Jersey Route 15 and New Jersey Route 94. The two routes run concurrently in opposite directions for a short stretch in Lafayette Township.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Lafayette Township include: