Mount Olive Township, New Jersey


Mount Olive Township is a township in western Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 28,886, its highest decennial census count ever and an increase of 769 from the 2010 census count of 28,117, which in turn reflected an increase of 3,924 from the 24,193 counted in the 2000 census.
The Township of Mount Olive was formed by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 22, 1871, from portions of Roxbury Township. Netcong was formed from portions of the township on October 23, 1894. The township was named for Benjamin Olive, a colonial-era Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey who donated land for the site of churches constructed in the area.
The township comprises the unincorporated communities of Budd Lake and Flanders. Located within the Raritan Valley region, Mount Olive is situated in western Morris County bordering both Sussex and Warren counties along the Musconetcong River.
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Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 31.24 square miles, including 29.62 square miles of land and 1.63 square miles of water.
Budd Lake and Flanders are unincorporated communities and census-designated places located within Mount Olive Township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Bartley, Saxton Falls and Waterloo.
The township borders the municipalities of Chester Township, Netcong, Roxbury, and Washington Township in Morris County; Stanhope in Sussex County; and Allamuchy and Hackettstown in Warren County.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 28,117 people, 10,690 households, and 7,323 families in the township. The population density was. There were 11,244 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup was 80.66% White, 5.74% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 8.23% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.86% from other races, and 2.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.51% of the population.
Of the 10,690 households, 36.9% had children under the age of 18; 55.7% were married couples living together; 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.5% were non-families. Of all households, 25.8% were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.22.
26.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $77,243 and the median family income was $102,448. Males had a median income of $70,532 versus $52,205 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,758. About 3.8% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 24,193 people, 9,068 households, and 6,374 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 9,311 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the township was 86.69% White, 3.79% African American, 0.17% Native American, 6.00% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.53% from other races, and 1.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.97% of the population.
There were 9,068 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.7% were non-families. 23.7% of all households 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 2.66 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the township the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 37.6% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.3 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $64,515, and the median income for a family was $75,189. Males had a median income of $50,653 versus $35,882 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,691. About 1.7% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Effective January 1, 1972, the voters in the Township approved a change to a Mayor-Council form of government, governed by a directly elected mayor and a seven-member Township Council elected on an at-large basis. The mayor operates the government with the assistance of a Township Administrator, with the Council performing a legislative role. Starting from its inception in 1871, Mount Olive had been governed under the Township form of municipal government, by a three-person Township Committee, which was expanded to five members in 1968.
Mount Olive Township is governed under the Optional Municipal Charter Law's Mayor-Council form of government, enacted based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the Township Council and provides for a "strong mayor", with a separately elected mayor and council. The township is one of 71 municipalities statewide that use this form of government. The mayor, who is elected directly by the voters, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Township. The Mayor is responsible for carrying out all Council decisions and for the day-to-day operation of all functions of the municipality. The Township Council is comprised of seven members, who are elected on an at-large basis with staggered terms in elections held in odd-numbered years with either three seats or four seats coming up for vote; the mayor is up for election the same year that three council seats are up for vote. The Township Council is the legislative branch of the government and is responsible for approving the municipal budget and enacting ordinances. The council elects a Council President from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting. The Council President presides at all council meetings.
, the Mayor of Mount Olive Township is Republican Robert Greenbaum, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Township Council are Council President Joe Nicastro, Council Vice President Alex Roman, Charles Aaron Jr., John Ferrante, Colleen Labow, John Mania and Gregory Stewart.
In January 2023, Chuck Aaron was sworn in to fill the seat expiring in December 2025 that became vacant following the death of Daniel Amianda the previous November. Aaron will serve on an interim basis until the November 2023 general election, when voters will select a candidate to fill the balance of the term of office.
In July 2015, the Township Council selected Gregory Stewart from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Ray Perkins until his resignation from office to move out of the township, after having served 13 years in office; Stewart will serve on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the one year remaining on the term of office.
Serving a term ending December 2013, Patrick Walsh resigned from office in February 2013, citing internal conflicts in the township's Republican Party government.

Federal, state and county representation

Mount Olive Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.

Education

The Mount Olive Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 4,583 students and 405.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1. Schools in the district are
Mountain View Elementary School with 488 students in grades PreK-5,
Sandshore Elementary School with 462 students in grades K-5,
Chester M. Stephens Elementary School with 655 students in grades K-5,
Tinc Road Elementary School with 404 students in grades K-5,
Mount Olive Middle School with 1,098 students in grades 6-8 and
Mount Olive High School with 1,468 students in grades 9-12.

Public library

The Mount Olive Public Library serves the informational, educational, cultural, and recreational resource of the township. It is the objective of the Library to serve the community with programs, books and other media. The Mount Olive Township Library Association was incorporated in 1976. In 1979, a major addition was added to the original octagon. In 1985, the township held a referendum with voters overwhelmingly in favor of municipalization. The Library officially became a municipal library in 1986. In 1991, a second addition was added to include an administrative area and the periodical/reading room. In January 2005 the new library which was built on Flanders-Drakestown Road opened for residents.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Morris County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
The major roads that pass through include U.S. Route 46 through the center, U.S. Route 206 in the east and northeast part and Interstate 80 in the north.

Public transportation

Commuter rail service is offered by NJ Transit at the Mount Olive station along its Morris & Essex Lines and Montclair-Boonton Line, offering service to Hoboken Terminal in Hoboken, New Jersey, Newark Broad Street Station, Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.
NJ Transit local bus service had been offered on the MCM5 route until 2010, when subsidies offered to the local service provider were eliminated as part of budget cuts.
Bus service is provided along Route 46 between Netcong and Dover on the Morris On the Move route.

Points of interest

The Seward Mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 24, 2013, for its significance in architecture.
The Mount Olive Village Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 3, 2015 It includes the Mount Olive Baptist Church and Schoolhouse.
Vasa Park is a community of summer and retirement homes operated by District 6 of the Vasa Order of America, a Swedish cultural society. Established in 1936 on a former farm covering, the park includes picnic and recreational facilities, a banquet hall and a research library.
Pax Amicus Castle Theatre is a community theater on Budd Lake built in 1970 and designed to look like a medieval castle.

Notable people

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