Lafayette Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lafayette Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Lafayette Village Historic District
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Map of Lafayette Township in Sussex County. Inset: Location of Sussex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
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Census Bureau map of Lafayette Township, New Jersey
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 Lafayette Township, New Jersey
Location in Sussex County, New Jersey
Lafayette Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Lafayette Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | .png){kind=small} Sussex |
| Incorporated | April 14, 1845 |
| Named for | Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette |
| Government | |
| • Type | Township |
| • Body | Township Committee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 17.97 sq mi (46.54 km2) |
| • Land | 17.88 sq mi (46.32 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2) 0.48% |
| Area rank | 159th of 565 in state 13th of 24 in county |
| Elevation | 535 ft (163 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,358 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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2,400 |
| • Rank | 473rd of 565 in state 18th of 24 in county |
| • Density | 131.9/sq mi (50.9/km2) |
| • Density rank | 529th of 565 in state 21st of 24 in county |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code |
07848
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| Area code(s) | 973 |
| FIPS code | 3403737440 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882260 |
Lafayette Township is a small community in Sussex County, New Jersey. It's located in the beautiful Skylands Region. A township is a type of local government area.
In 2020, about 2,358 people lived here. This number was a little lower than in 2010. Two main roads, Route 15 and Route 94, pass through the township.
Contents
History of Lafayette Township
Lafayette Township was officially created on April 14, 1845. This happened after the New Jersey Legislature passed a law. People in the area also voted to form the new township. It was made from parts of Frankford Township and what was then Newton Township.
Lafayette Township was the first place in the United States named after Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. He was a famous French general. He helped the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Lafayette Village Historic District
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Lafayette Village Historic District
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Lafayette Mill Complex
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| Location | NJ 15, Morris Farm Road and Meadows Road |
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| Area | 31.5 acres (12.7 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 13001024 |
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| Added to NRHP | November 15, 2013 |
The Lafayette Village Historic District is a special area. It covers about 31.5 acres. This district includes the village of Lafayette. It's found along Route 15, Morris Farm Road, and Meadows Road.
This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. It's important for its history in architecture, settlement, industry, and transportation. The district has 42 buildings, one structure, and three sites that contribute to its historical value.
Historic Buildings and Sites
The Lafayette Foundry was built in 1836. It was located where Morris Farm Road crosses the Paulins Kill river. Today, there are no visible parts of the foundry left.
The Lafayette Mill Complex is on Morris Farm Road. It used to have a flour and gristmill, a storehouse, and a distillery. On the other side of the road, there was a general store and a playhouse.
The Ludlum-Mabee House was built around 1838. It is now used by the Lafayette Center Preservation Foundation. This group helps protect the area's history.
Geography of Lafayette Township
Lafayette Township covers about 17.97 square miles (46.54 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a small part is water.
Nearby Communities
Several small communities are located within Lafayette Township. These include Branchville Junction, Harmonyvale, Hopkins Corner, Warbasse, and Warbasse Junction.
Lafayette Township shares its borders with several other towns. These are Andover Township, Frankford Township, Hampton Township, Hardyston Township, Sparta Township, and Wantage Township.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 928 | — | |
| 1860 | 919 | −1.0% | |
| 1870 | 884 | −3.8% | |
| 1880 | 781 | −11.7% | |
| 1890 | 742 | −5.0% | |
| 1900 | 717 | −3.4% | |
| 1910 | 683 | −4.7% | |
| 1920 | 634 | −7.2% | |
| 1930 | 735 | 15.9% | |
| 1940 | 803 | 9.3% | |
| 1950 | 836 | 4.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,100 | 31.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,202 | 9.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,614 | 34.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,902 | 17.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,300 | 20.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,538 | 10.3% | |
| 2020 | 2,358 | −7.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 2,400 | −5.4% | |
| Population sources: 1850–1920 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 |
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The population of Lafayette Township has changed over many years. In 1850, there were 928 people. The population slowly grew over time. By 2010, it reached 2,538 people. In 2020, the population was 2,358.
Education in Lafayette Township
Students in Lafayette Township attend public schools.
Lafayette Township School District
Younger students, from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, go to schools in the Lafayette Township School District. This district has one school. In the 2022–23 school year, about 209 students were enrolled. There were also about 24 teachers. This means there were about 8.8 students for every teacher.
High Point Regional High School
For high school, students in ninth through twelfth grades attend High Point Regional High School. This school is located in Wantage Township. It also serves students from several other nearby towns. These include Branchville, Frankford Township, Montague Township, and Sussex Borough.
In the 2022–23 school year, High Point Regional High School had 817 students. There were about 68 teachers. This means there were about 11.9 students for every teacher. The school is managed by a board of education. Lafayette Township has one seat on this board.
Transportation in Lafayette Township
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Lafayette Township has many miles of roads. In 2010, there were about 46.27 miles of roadways. The township maintains most of these roads. Sussex County and the New Jersey Department of Transportation also maintain some.
The main highways in Lafayette Township are New Jersey Route 15 and New Jersey Route 94. For a short distance, these two routes run together. However, they go in opposite directions.
Notable People from Lafayette Township
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Lafayette Township.
- Andy Albeck (1921–2010) was a movie executive. He was the president of United Artists. He also ran a Christmas tree farm in Lafayette Township.
- Cleve Backster (1924–2013) was an expert in questioning people for the CIA. He was known for his experiments with plants. He believed plants could "feel pain" and had special senses.
- Bhikkhu Bodhi (born 1944) is a Buddhist monk. He was born in the United States. He became a monk in Sri Lanka. He later became the president of the Buddhist Publication Society.
- Andrew J. Rogers (1828–1900) was a lawyer and politician. He represented New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Jay Nelson Tuck (1916–1985) was a journalist and TV critic. He was also the president of The Newspaper Guild for a few years.
Images for kids
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Stone arch bridge over the Paulins Kill
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Lafayette Foundry information
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Ludlum-Mabee House
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Lafayette (Nueva Jersey) para niños
