Alpha, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alpha, New Jersey
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Borough
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Alpha Volunteer Fire Company
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Location of Alpha in Warren County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Warren County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
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Census Bureau map of Alpha, New Jersey
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 Alpha, New Jersey
Location in Warren County, New Jersey
Alpha, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Alpha, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Warren |
| Incorporated | June 26, 1911 |
| Named for | Alpha Cement Works |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough |
| • Body | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.72 sq mi (4.44 km2) |
| • Land | 1.68 sq mi (4.35 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.09 km2) 2.03% |
| Area rank | 431st of 565 in state 21st of 22 in county |
| Elevation | 269 ft (82 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,328 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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2,348 |
| • Rank | 475th of 565 in state 19th of 22 in county |
| • Density | 1,385.2/sq mi (534.8/km2) |
| • Density rank | 347th of 565 in state 5th of 22 in county |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code |
08865
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| Area code(s) | 908 |
| FIPS code | 3404101030 |
| GNIS feature ID | 885138 |
| School district | Phillipsburg School District |
Alpha is a small town, called a borough, located in Warren County, in the state of New Jersey. In 2020, about 2,328 people lived there.
Alpha became an official borough on June 26, 1911. This happened after the New Jersey Legislature passed a law, and people voted for it. The town got its name from the Alpha Cement Works, a local factory.
Contents
Discovering Alpha: A Look Back at Its History
Alpha, originally known as Vulcanite, became a borough on June 26, 1911. But its story started much earlier. In 1888, during a huge snowstorm called the Great Blizzard of 1888, there were only seven houses in the area that is now Alpha.
One of the first homes was a two-room log cabin. It was built by the Pursel family near an old Indian trail. This area is now called New Brunswick Avenue. Less than two years after Alpha became a borough, it got a streetcar line from Phillipsburg. Electric street lights were also installed, making the town brighter and easier to get around.
Alpha's Location: Understanding Its Geography
Alpha is a small borough, covering about 1.72 square miles (4.44 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
A unique fact about Alpha is that it's completely surrounded by Pohatcong Township. This makes Alpha one of 21 "doughnut towns" in New Jersey. A "doughnut town" is when one town completely wraps around another, like a doughnut around its hole!
Who Lives in Alpha: Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 2,140 | — | |
| 1930 | 2,374 | 10.9% | |
| 1940 | 2,301 | −3.1% | |
| 1950 | 2,117 | −8.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,406 | 13.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,829 | 17.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,644 | −6.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,530 | −4.3% | |
| 2000 | 2,482 | −1.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,369 | −4.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,328 | −1.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 2,348 | −0.9% | |
| Population sources: 1920 1920–1930 1940–2000 2010 2020 |
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In 2010, Alpha had 2,369 people living in 964 homes. About 29% of these homes had children under 18. Many homes were families, with married couples being the most common.
The average age of people in Alpha in 2010 was about 40.6 years old. About 22.7% of the population was under 18, and 15.6% were 65 or older.
Learning in Alpha: School Information
Students in Alpha attend public schools based on their grade level.
Elementary and Middle School
Younger students, from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, go to the Alpha School District. This district has one school, Alpha School. In the 2022–23 school year, there were 179 students and about 24 teachers. This means there were about 7 students for every teacher.
High School Education
For high school, students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Phillipsburg High School. This school is in Phillipsburg. Students from Alpha go there as part of a special agreement with the Phillipsburg School District. Phillipsburg High School also welcomes students from other nearby towns.
Other School Options
Students from Alpha and all of Warren County have other choices too. They can attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Blairstown for grades K–8. For grades 9–12, they can go to Warren County Technical School in Washington borough. This school offers special training for different jobs.
Getting Around Alpha: Transportation
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Alpha has many roads for getting around. As of 2010, the borough had over 21 miles of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the town itself.
The main road that goes through Alpha is CR 519. Route 122 also passes through a small part of the northern area.
While a big highway called Interstate 78 runs through the southern part of Alpha, you can't get on it directly from Alpha. The closest entrance is in the neighboring town of Pohatcong. A railway line, the Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line, also runs through Alpha.
Notable people
Here are some famous people who have lived in or are connected to Alpha:
- Joe Buzas (1919–2003), a baseball executive who played one season with the New York Yankees.
- Hector A. Cafferata Jr. (1929–2016), a U.S. Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his brave actions during the Korean War.
- Jack Orchulli (born 1946), a politician.
- Jennie Somogyi (born 1977/78), a talented ballet dancer. She joined the New York City Ballet at age 15 and became a main dancer in 2000.
See also
In Spanish: Alpha (Nueva Jersey) para niños
