Lebanon Township, New Jersey


Lebanon Township is a township located at the northernmost point of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 6,588, reflecting an increase of 772 from the 5,816 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 137 from the 5,679 counted in the 1990 Census.
Lebanon Township is the extreme northern township of Hunterdon County. It borders both Warren and Morris Counties. When Lebanon Township was created in 1731, its original borders extended from the Musconetcong River to Readington Township.

History

Lebanon Township was first mentioned on October 26, 1731, as having been formed partly from the now-defunct Amwell Township, though the exact circumstances of its formation are unknown. Lebanon Township was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township have been taken to form Tewksbury Township, Clinton Township, High Bridge borough, Junction borough, Califon borough and Glen Gardner borough.
Spruce Run Evangelical Lutheran Zion Church, a member of the New Jersey Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, was established in 1774 by a group of 13 families. The church's current facility was constructed in 1870.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 31.696 square miles, including 31.458 square miles of land and 0.238 square miles of water.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Anthony, Bunnvale, Changewater, Hampton Junction, Hoffmans, Little Brook, Lower Valley, Mount Lebanon, New Hampton, Newport, Penwell, Red Mill, Saint Nicholas Village, Scrappy Corner, Spruce Run, Stone Mill, The Point and Woodglen.
The township borders Bethlehem Township, Califon, Clinton Township, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Tewksbury Township and Union Township in Hunterdon County; Washington Township in Morris County; and Mansfield Township and Washington Township in Warren County.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $96,489 and the median family income was $110,893. Males had a median income of $78,056 versus $56,346 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $43,424. About 4.4% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,816 people, 1,963 households, and 1,556 families residing in the township. The population density was 183.5 people per square mile. There were 2,020 housing units at an average density of 63.7 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 96.97% White, 0.81% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.
There were 1,963 households out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.1% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.7% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the township the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% 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 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $77,662, and the median income for a family was $86,145. Males had a median income of $58,306 versus $40,474 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,793. About 1.0% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Lebanon Township is governed under the Township form of government, a form used by 141 of the 565 municipalities statewide. The Township Committee, with five members, is 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 held during the first week of January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, the Lebanon Township Committee consists of Mayor Michael Schmidt, Deputy Mayor Marc Laul, Beverly Koehler, Thomas R. McKee and Brian K. Wunder.

Federal, state and county representation

Lebanon Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 4,366 registered voters in Lebanon Township, of which 723 were registered as Democrats, 1,759 were registered as Republicans and 1,881 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 63.3% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 35.3%, and other candidates with 1.4%, among the 3,250 ballots cast by the township's 4,543 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.5%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 60.4% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.2% and other candidates with 1.7%, among the 3,507 ballots cast by the township's 4,450 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.8%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 63.9% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 34.7% and other candidates with 1.2%, among the 3,370 ballots cast by the township's 4,249 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 79.3.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 74.6% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.0%, and other candidates with 2.5%, among the 2,118 ballots cast by the township's 4,499 registered voters, for a turnout of 47.1%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 70.3% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 20.5%, Independent Chris Daggett with 7.9% and other candidates with 0.6%, among the 2,633 ballots cast by the township's 4,396 registered voters, yielding a 59.9% turnout.

Education

The Lebanon Township Schools serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprising two schools, had an enrollment of 624 students and 64.6 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 9.7:1. Schools in the district are
Valley View School with 310 students in grades PreK-4 and
Woodglen School with 320 students in grades 5-8. Both schools are located in Lebanon Township, but have a Califon mailing address.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Voorhees High School, which also serves students from Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge and Tewksbury Township. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 982 students and 83.1 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1. The school is part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, which also includes students from Bethlehem Township, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough and Union Township who attend North Hunterdon High School in Annandale.
Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.
Lebanon Township is also home to the Hunterdon Learning Center, an alternative education school founded by James Butters in 1975.

Points of interest

The New Hampton Historic District, including the New Hampton Pony Pratt Truss Bridge, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Lebanon Township Museum, built, is a contributing property of the district. It includes a memorial to General Daniel Morgan, who was born here and served in the American Revolutionary War.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Hunterdon County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Route 31 passes through the township, providing access to Interstate 78.

Public transportation

Local bus service is provided by NJ Transit on the 884 route, with train service on the Raritan Valley Line available at the High Bridge station.
The Hunterdon County LINK provide bus service on Routes 17 and 18, which operate between Milford and Clinton.

Notable people

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