Hopatcong, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hopatcong, New Jersey
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Borough
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Lake Hopatcong as seen from Hopatcong
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Map of Hopatcong Borough in Sussex County. Inset: Location of Sussex County in the State of New Jersey.
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Census Bureau map of Hopatcong, New Jersey
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 Hopatcong, New Jersey
Location in Sussex County, New Jersey
Hopatcong, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Hopatcong, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County | .png){kind=small} Sussex |
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| Incorporated | April 2, 1898 as Brooklyn | |
| Renamed | March 22, 1901 as Hopatcong | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Borough | |
| • Body | Borough Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 12.41 sq mi (32.16 km2) | |
| • Land | 10.88 sq mi (28.19 km2) | |
| • Water | 1.53 sq mi (3.97 km2) 11.83% | |
| Area rank | 186th of 565 in state 16th of 24 in county |
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| Elevation | 997 ft (304 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 14,362 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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14,622 | |
| • Rank | 183rd of 565 in state 3rd of 24 in county |
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| • Density | 1,318.9/sq mi (509.2/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 353rd of 565 in state 6th of 24 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07843
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| Area code(s) | 973 | |
| FIPS code | 3403732910 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885259 | |
Hopatcong (/hoʊˈpætkɒŋ/ hoh-PAT-kong) is a borough in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 14,362, a decrease of 785 (−5.2%) from the 2010 census count of 15,147, which in turn reflected a decline of 741 (−4.7%) from the 15,888 counted in the 2000 census.
Contents
History
The town of Hopatcong has a rich history, given its relationship with New York City. It borders Lake Hopatcong, a partially man-made lake that is now a source of much recreation and desirable real estate, and is the biggest lake in New Jersey. The community, 40 miles (64 km) west of New York City, began as a summer getaway for the wealthy in NYC who primarily sought access to the lake. An amusement park, called "Bertrand's Island", sprang up and was accessible via the lake, trolley or by car through Mount Arlington. The construction of Interstate 80, a highway that stretches from Teaneck, New Jersey, all the way across the country to San Francisco, California, triggered rapid growth in New York City's suburbs and led to Hopatcong becoming a permanent residential community. The area had been called "Brookland" in the 19th century and the lake that was expanded to become Lake Hopatcong had been known as "Great Pond" or "Brookland Pond". During the 1830s, the name of the community had been modified to "Brooklyn", to match the spelling of the city on New York's Long Island. Hopatcong was originally established as the Town of Brooklyn on April 2, 1898, from portions of Byram Township. On March 22, 1901, the Borough of Hopatcong replaced Brooklyn. In 1922, residents of Byram Cove, Northwood, and other areas to the west of the original land area of the borough, voted to leave Byram Township and join Hopatcong, leaving the Borough with its current borders.
While the origin of the borough's name is unclear, it is said to derive from Native American phrases variously meaning "stone over water" or "pipestone", among other variations.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 12.35 square miles (31.99 km2), including 10.89 square miles (28.21 km2) of land and 1.46 square miles (3.78 km2) of water (11.83%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Bear Pond, Byram Cove, Cow Tongue Point, Davis Cove, Glasser, Hendersons Cove, Roseville, Sharps Rock and Sperry Springs.
Hopatcong borders Byram Township, Sparta Township and Stanhope in Sussex County; and Jefferson Township, Mount Arlington and Roxbury Township in Morris County.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 75 | — | |
| 1910 | 146 | 94.7% | |
| 1920 | 179 | 22.6% | |
| 1930 | 534 | 198.3% | |
| 1940 | 660 | 23.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,173 | 77.7% | |
| 1960 | 3,391 | 189.1% | |
| 1970 | 9,052 | 166.9% | |
| 1980 | 15,531 | 71.6% | |
| 1990 | 15,586 | 0.4% | |
| 2000 | 15,888 | 1.9% | |
| 2010 | 15,147 | −4.7% | |
| 2020 | 14,362 | −5.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 14,622 | −3.5% | |
| Population sources: 1800–1920 1900–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 15,147 people, 5,653 households, and 4,110 families in the borough. The population density was 1,395.5 per square mile (538.8/km2). There were 6,296 housing units at an average density of 580.0 per square mile (223.9/km2). The racial makeup was 91.07% (13,794) White, 2.91% (441) Black or African American, 0.11% (16) Native American, 2.25% (341) Asian, 0.02% (3) Pacific Islander, 1.76% (266) from other races, and 1.89% (286) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.32% (1,714) of the population.
Of the 5,653 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18; 58.0% were married couples living together; 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.3% were non-families. Of all households, 21.0% were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13.
22.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 32.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 101.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 101.5 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $85,730 (with a margin of error of +/− $4,570) and the median family income was $95,962 (+/− $5,996). Males had a median income of $60,533 (+/− $5,094) versus $47,515 (+/− $7,133) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,033 (+/− $2,406). About 1.6% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade are served by the Hopatcong Public Schools. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of four schools, had an enrollment of 1,449 students and 146.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.9:1. To address a significant reduction in state aid, Hudson Maxim School, which had served grades Pre-K–1, was closed at the end of the 2018–19 school year. For the 2019–2020 school year, the grades were reconfigured across the remaining four school facilities. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Tulsa Trail Elementary School with 249 students in grades Pre-K–1, Durban Avenue School with 227 students in grades 2–3, Hopatcong Middle School with 459 students in grades 4–7 and Hopatcong High School with 499 students in grades 8–12.
Transportation
_at_Sussex_County_Route_607_(Maxim_Drive)_in_Hopatcong,_Sussex_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 78.70 miles (126.66 km) of roadways, of which 65.33 miles (105.14 km) were maintained by the municipality and 13.37 miles (21.52 km) by Sussex County.
No Interstate, U.S., state or major county highways enter Hopatcong. The only roads serving the borough are minor county routes, such as County Route 605 and County Route 607, and municipally-maintained streets.
Events
Hopatcong holds annual American Power Boat Association (APBA) boat races that attract the local residents to a day at the lake. Hopatcong is also known for its yearly "Hopatcong Days" that offer a weekend of events that include a parade, and an array of festivities in Modick Park, sponsored by the local Business Association and including an annual Soap Box Derby and Car Show.
The Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum holds a variety of local historical artifacts.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hopatcong include:
- Joe Cook (1890–1959), vaudeville actor who lived on the shores of Lake Hopatcong in a house he named "Sleepless Hollow"
- Lotta Crabtree (1847–1924), actress
- Joe Martinek (born 1989), leading football rusher in New Jersey high school history
- Hudson Maxim (1853–1927), inventor and chemist who is the namesake of the district's Hudson Maxim School
- Zach Rey (born 1989), former wrestler who represented the United States at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships
- Dave Yovanovits (born 1981), former NFL offensive lineman
See also
In Spanish: Hopatcong para niños
