Independence Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Independence Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Pequest River Valley farms in Independence Township, April 2013
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Location of Independence Township in Warren County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Warren County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
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Census Bureau map of Independence Township, New Jersey
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 Independence Township, New Jersey
Location in Warren County, New Jersey
Independence Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Independence Township, 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 |  Warren |
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| Formed | November 11, 1782 | |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 | |
| Named for | American independence | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 19.98 sq mi (51.75 km2) | |
| • Land | 19.83 sq mi (51.36 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.39 km2) 0.76% | |
| Area rank | 143rd of 565 in state 10th of 22 in county |
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| Elevation | 518 ft (158 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,469 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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5,519 | |
| • Rank | 365th of 565 in state 9th of 22 in county |
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| • Density | 275.8/sq mi (106.5/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 482nd of 565 in state 10th of 22 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
07838 – Great Meadows
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| Area code(s) | 908 exchange: 637 | |
| FIPS code | 3404133930 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882244 | |
| Website | ||
Independence Township is a community located in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It's called a "township," which is a type of local government area. In 2020, about 5,469 people lived here. This number was a little less than in 2010.
Contents
History of Independence Township
Independence Township was first formed on November 11, 1782. At that time, it was part of Sussex County. Later, on February 21, 1798, it officially became one of New Jersey's first 104 townships.
Most of Independence Township became part of the new Warren County in 1824. The township was named to honor American independence. Over the years, some parts of the township were used to create other towns. These include Hackettstown in 1853 and Allamuchy Township in 1873.
The township's land has many streams and valleys. The Pequest River flows through the area, eventually reaching the Delaware River. Some eastern parts of the land drain into the Musconetcong River. The hills here are rocky, but the valleys have rich soil left by ancient glaciers. Sometimes, old bones from huge animals like mastodons are found. You might also spot deer and other small animals.
Long ago, this area was mostly farmland for growing hay and grain. People also cut down trees for wood. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, some iron ore was mined from the Jenny Jump Mountain area. Over time, the iron mines and many early industries closed. The Morris Canal and railroads, which were used for shipping goods, also disappeared. Today, the Great Meadow area is used for growing vegetables. Goods are now shipped by large trucks.
Geography of Independence Township
Independence Township covers about 19.98 square miles (51.75 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Two main communities within the township are Great Meadows and Vienna. These are called "unincorporated communities" or "census-designated places" (CDPs). This means they are recognized areas but don't have their own separate local government like a city or town.
Independence Township shares its borders with several other towns in Warren County. These include Allamuchy Township, Frelinghuysen Township, Hackettstown, Liberty Township, and Mansfield Township.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 1,224 | — | |
| 1820 | 1,850 | 51.1% | |
| 1830 | 2,126 | 14.9% | |
| 1840 | 2,140 | 0.7% | |
| 1850 | 2,621 | 22.5% | |
| 1860 | 1,871 | * | −28.6% |
| 1870 | 1,766 | −5.6% | |
| 1880 | 1,018 | * | −42.4% |
| 1890 | 904 | −11.2% | |
| 1900 | 805 | −11.0% | |
| 1910 | 867 | 7.7% | |
| 1920 | 933 | 7.6% | |
| 1930 | 964 | 3.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,046 | 8.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,169 | 11.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,509 | 29.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,057 | 36.3% | |
| 1980 | 2,829 | 37.5% | |
| 1990 | 3,940 | 39.3% | |
| 2000 | 5,603 | 42.2% | |
| 2010 | 5,662 | 1.1% | |
| 2020 | 5,469 | −3.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 5,519 | −2.5% | |
| Population sources: 1810–1920 1840 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade |
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In 2010, there were 5,662 people living in Independence Township. There were 2,234 households, with 1,506 of them being families. The population density was about 286.8 people per square mile.
Most people in the township were White (93.43%). There were also smaller numbers of Black or African American, Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander residents. About 5.42% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Looking at age groups, about 23.4% of the people were under 18 years old. About 33.0% were between 45 and 64 years old. The average age in the township was 41.0 years.
Education in Independence Township
Students in Independence Township attend public schools from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. They go to schools in the Great Meadows Regional School District. This district also serves students from Liberty Township. There are two schools in the district:
- Central Elementary School (PreK-3)
- Great Meadows Middle School (grades 4-8)
For high school, students in grades nine through twelve attend Hackettstown High School. This high school serves students from Hackettstown, Allamuchy, and Liberty townships.
Students in Warren County can also choose to attend special schools. These include Ridge and Valley Charter School for grades K-8. There is also Warren County Technical School for grades 9-12, which offers career and technical programs.
Transportation in Independence Township
_in_Independence_Township,_Warren_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
As of 2010, Independence Township had about 46.85 miles of roads. The township maintains most of these roads. Warren County and the New Jersey Department of Transportation maintain the rest.
Major roads that go through the township include County Route 517 in the east. U.S. Route 46 crosses the southern part of the township.
Interstate 80, a major highway, is very close to the township. You can easily get on it from nearby Allamuchy Township or Hope Township.
The Great Meadows Railroad Station is a historic site in the township. It was part of the old Lehigh and Hudson Railway. This station is special because it's the only one from the 1800s that still has all its original buildings. It was added to the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
Notable People from Independence Township
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Independence Township. Some of them include:
- Bobby Caldwell (1951–2023): A famous singer, songwriter, and musician. He was known for his song "What You Won't Do for Love."
- Christina Desiderio (born 2000): A talented artistic gymnast.
- Chuck Haytaian (born 1938): He used to be the speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, which is part of the state's government.
- Cole Kimball (born 1985): A former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Washington Nationals.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Independence (Nueva Jersey) para niños
