Lafayette Township, New Jersey


Lafayette Township is a township located in the Skylands Region of Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 2,538, reflecting an increase of 238 from the 2,300 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 398 from the 1,902 counted in the 1990 Census.
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, 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.
The township is crossed by Route 15 and Route 94.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 18.049 square miles, including 17.962 square miles of land and 0.087 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

Census 2010

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.

Census 2000

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 127.6 people per square mile. There were 799 housing units at an average density of 44.3 per square mile. 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 of 565 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 Alan R. Henderson, Richard Bruning, Gregory J. Corcoran, Richard Hughes and Kevin K. O'Leary.

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 23, 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 to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 68.5% were registered to vote, including 89.4% of those ages 18 and over.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 867 votes, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 431 votes and other candidates with 18 votes, among the 1,319 ballots cast by the township's 1,815 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.7%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 921 votes, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 417 votes and other candidates with 18 votes, among the 1,368 ballots cast by the township's 1,740 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.6%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 883 votes, ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 404 votes and other candidates with 18 votes, among the 1,311 ballots cast by the township's 1,583 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.8%.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 76.5% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 20.4%, and other candidates with 3.1%, among the 855 ballots cast by the township's 1,824 registered voters, for a turnout of 46.9%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 635 votes, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 214 votes, Independent Chris Daggett with 94 votes and other candidates with 14 votes, among the 959 ballots cast by the township's 1,702 registered voters, yielding a 56.3% turnout.

Education

Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Lafayette Township School District. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprising one school, had an enrollment of 227 students and 25.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 9.1:1.
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 2017–18 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 917 students and 84.3 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1. 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: