Lake Mohawk, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake Mohawk, New Jersey
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White Deer Plaza Business District
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Map of Lake Mohawk in Sussex County. Inset: Location of Sussex County in New Jersey.
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 Lake Mohawk, New Jersey
Location in Sussex County, New Jersey
Lake Mohawk, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Lake Mohawk, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Sussex |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.19 sq mi (16.03 km2) |
| • Land | 5.02 sq mi (13.00 km2) |
| • Water | 1.17 sq mi (3.03 km2) 18.91% |
| Elevation | 869 ft (265 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 9,759 |
| • Density | 1,943.6/sq mi (750.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| Area code(s) | 862/973 |
| FIPS code | 34-15610 |
| GNIS feature ID | 02389370 |
Lake Mohawk is a special community in New Jersey. It is located in Sussex County, split between two towns: Byram Township and Sparta Township. In 2020, about 9,759 people lived here.
Contents
About Lake Mohawk
Lake Mohawk is a planned community built around a large artificial lake. It is known for its unique "alpine" style buildings. Many homes and the town center look like little castles or chalets. This special look helped Lake Mohawk get listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Where is Lake Mohawk?
Lake Mohawk is mostly in Sparta Township. A smaller part of it is in Byram Township. The community covers about 6 square miles (16 square kilometers). About 1.17 square miles (3 square kilometers) of this area is water.
How Lake Mohawk Was Created
Lake Mohawk was created in the 1920s. In 1924, a company bought a large area of farmland. They built a dam across streams that flowed into the Wallkill River. The dam was finished in 1926. It took until 1928 for the lake to completely fill with water.
Life in the Lake Mohawk Community
The community is built around Lake Mohawk, which is a private lake. It is the largest artificial lake in New Jersey. Besides the main lake, there is also the Alpine Pool. Both the lake and the pool are fed by natural springs.
Town Center and Boardwalk
The town center is called White Deer Plaza. It has restaurants, a post office, and a few shops. A tiered boardwalk runs along the northern edge of the lake. A country club building stands out near the dam.
In the 1950s, a movie theater was built nearby. It was on Route 15, which leads to the town of Sparta.
Views and Surroundings
Most of the community is reached by going down from the surrounding mountains. Roads to homes are accessed from the main road around the lake. From the Alpine Pool, you can see a wide view of the county. You can see almost the entire lake and mountains that reach into Pennsylvania and New York.
The Marine Pool
At the southern end of the lake is a swimming pool and tennis area. It was originally called the "Marine Pool." It looks like the deck of a large ocean liner or cruise ship. It even has a restaurant designed like a ship's kitchen.
The pool is Olympic-size (50 meters long). It has a tower for diving events. The deepest part is ten feet. There is also a shallow area for younger kids. This pool was the first in the United States to use a special ozone system to clean its water without chlorine.
In the 1960s, a giant water slide at the pool was even shown in TV commercials. Beyond the pool, there are several tennis courts.
Sports and Celebrities
The Marine Pool hosts many swimming competitions. Famous swimmers like Buster Crabbe and Esther Williams used to visit in the 1940s and 1950s.
Past Attractions
In the 1940s and 1950s, there was an "Indian village" with a souvenir shop. It was on the opposite side of the lake's southern end. This added to the "Indian tribe" theme used in early promotions for Lake Mohawk.
Boating and Homes
Many homes along the water have boathouses and docks. Sail boats and motor boats are popular ways to travel on the lake. There is also a marina called the "Marine Base." It is built in the same style as the country club.
Seasonal Living to Year-Round Homes
Lake Mohawk used to be a place for summer homes. Not many people lived there all year. Many houses did not have good insulation or heating. But some people stayed for the snowy holidays and winter sports. In winter, driving across the frozen lake was a common shortcut.
In the past, many residents were involved in horse shows. The Lake Mohawk Horse Show attracted competitors from New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
After new Interstate Highways were built, it became easier to travel to Lake Mohawk from the New York area. This led to more people living there all year round. Many entertainers, airline workers, and commuters moved to the community.
Lake Mohawk Golf Club
In the 1920s, land was set aside for a golf course. The first nine holes opened in 1929. Today, the Lake Mohawk Golf Club has an 18-hole course. It also has a driving range and a clubhouse.
Lake Mohawk Yacht Club
The Lake Mohawk Yacht Club started in 1938. However, organized sailing on the lake began even earlier, in 1933. The club chose the Snipe boat as the best for the lake. By 1939, there were 52 Snipe boats in the fleet. Later, Lightning boats also became popular.
Lake Mohawk (Body of Water)
| Lake Mohawk | |
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Lake shore view
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Lake Mohawk
Location in Sussex County, New Jersey
Lake Mohawk
Location in New Jersey
Lake Mohawk
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sussex County, New Jersey |
| Coordinates | 41°0′52″N 74°39′46″W / 41.01444°N 74.66278°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary outflows | Wallkill River |
| Surface area | 800 acres (320 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 725 ft (221 m) |
Lake Mohawk is an 800-acre (320-hectare) reservoir. It is mainly in Sparta Township and partly in Byram Township. The lake is the starting point of the Wallkill River.
The lake was created in 1924 by a company that bought land where the river began. A 600-foot (180-meter) dam was started in 1926. The lake was full by 1928. The developers built and controlled the lake and the community around it.
A Sunken Seaplane
In the 1930s, an architect and his family were staying on the lake in a seaplane. A fire started on the plane. They escaped safely, but the plane sank to the bottom of the lake. In the late 1990s, a team tried to recover it. However, the plane was too damaged to be brought up.
Historic White Deer Plaza and Boardwalk
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White Deer Plaza and Boardwalk District
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Boardwalk by Lake Mohawk
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| Location | White Deer Plaza, Winona Parkway, and West Shore Trail |
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| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival, Lake Mohawk Tudor |
| NRHP reference No. | 88001012 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | July 11, 1988 |
The White Deer Plaza and Boardwalk District is a 13-acre (5.3-hectare) historic district. It includes the Lake Mohawk area along White Deer Plaza, Winona Parkway, and West Shore Trail. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This was because of its important architecture, businesses, and community planning. The district has 18 important buildings and 8 structures.
Population of Lake Mohawk
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 4,647 | — | |
| 1970 | 6,262 | 34.8% | |
| 1980 | 8,498 | 35.7% | |
| 1990 | 8,930 | 5.1% | |
| 2000 | 9,755 | 9.2% | |
| 2010 | 9,916 | 1.7% | |
| 2020 | 9,759 | −1.6% | |
| Population sources: 1960-1980 1990-2010 2000 2010 2020 |
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In 2010, there were 9,916 people living in Lake Mohawk. Most of the people were White (95.91%). About 4.77% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average household had 2.62 people. About 26.4% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age of people in Lake Mohawk was 42.7 years.
Images for kids
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Lake Mohawk Country Club
See also
In Spanish: Lake Mohawk para niños
