Sparta, New Jersey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sparta Township, New Jersey
Township
Township of Sparta
Lake Mohawk Boardwalk in Sparta
Map of Sparta Township in Sussex County. Inset: Location of Sussex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Sparta Township, New Jersey
Sparta Township, New Jersey Location in Sussex County, New Jersey Show map of Sussex County, New Jersey Sparta Township, New Jersey Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Sparta Township, New Jersey Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Sussex
Incorporated	April 14, 1845
Government
• Type	Faulkner Act (council–manager)
• Body	Township Council
Area
• Total	38.80 sq mi (100.50 km2)
• Land	36.79 sq mi (95.28 km2)
• Water	2.02 sq mi (5.22 km2)  5.20%
Area rank	60th of 565 in state 5th of 24 in county
Elevation	620 ft (190 m)
Population  (2020 Census)
• Total	19,600
• Rank	131st of 566 in state 2nd of 24 in county
• Density	533.9/sq mi (206.1/km2)
• Density rank	441st of 566 in state 9th of 24 in county
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	07871
Area code(s)	973 exchanges: 726, 729
FIPS code	3403769690
GNIS feature ID	0882265

Sparta Township is a township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 19,600, reflecting a decrease of 122 (-0.6%) from the 2010 United States Census, when the township's population was 19,722, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,642 (+9.1%) from the 18,080 counted in the 2000 Census.

Sparta was organized as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 14, 1845, from portions of Byram Township, Frankford Township, Hardyston Township and (the now-defunct) Newton Township. The township was named after the existing community of Sparta, which had been settled and named years before, the name likely coming from Sparta, Greece. Ogdensburg borough was incorporated on February 26, 1914, from portions of Sparta Township.

History

Overview

Pre-colonial Sparta was inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans. In the 1750s, Dutch explorers discovered red ores in the area and attempted to mine copper. No permanent settlers arrived until 1778, when Robert Ogden and his wife built their home and constructed an iron forge on lands he had acquired and "called their house and farm Sparta." The first public building in Sparta was the Presbyterian Church which was incorporated in 1786. Schools were established in Ogdensburg by 1806 and in Sparta by 1812.

Iron, zinc, and limestone supported a mining industry for over 100 years, but today the mining operations have ceased and the township is now a residential community served by retail, professional, and service small businesses. According to the 2000 census, 65% of Sparta Township workers commute to jobs outside of the county.

Mining industry

Iron

Robert Ogden settled in 1778 near the present town of Ogdensburg and built an iron forge, utilizing local ore from his Ogden Mine on Sparta Mountain. The Horseshoe mine was opened in 1772 by the Englishmen Spargo and Harvey who shipped ore by horse and mule to the forges at Sparta and Hopewell. It wasn't until 1868 that the Ogden Mine Railroad began operations and made it economical to ship zinc and iron ore to Nolan's Point on Lake Hopatcong where the Morris Canal had a marine terminal that could ship ore to Newark. In 1872, the New Jersey Midland Railroad (later known as the New York, Susquehanna & Western) extended to Ogdensburg and captured the zinc ore traffic.

In 1836, Henry Decker, along with Nelson Hunt and Lewis Sherman, began the manufacture of anchors at their forges in Sparta. Their success led to a small industry of forging anchors in Sparta, but by the end of the Civil War the forge industry in Sparta had come to an end.

In 1889, Thomas Edison invested $3.5 million in his Edison Ore-Milling Company to build iron operations on 2,500 acres (10 km²) of Sparta Mountain. Edison hoped to concentrate the mountain's vast quantities of low-grade ore and supply East Coast mills with raw material. At its peak Edison's operation employed 500 people, but after a 10 year effort he abandoned his attempt to compete with more economical ores from Minnesota's Mesabi Iron Range. The availability of the cheap Minnesota ores put an end to iron mining in Sparta.

Zinc

In 1848 the New Jersey Zinc Company began operations at Sterling Hill. Earlier attempts to obtain iron from the mineral rich ore of the Sterling Hill failed because of manganese contamination, but zinc was recoverable and the ores at Sterling Hill were rich with it.

In 1856 the Passaic Zinc Company started operations at the Sterling Hill Mine and constructed large ore crushers, shipping the ores to the company's plant in Jersey City.

By 1868, both iron and zinc operations were in progress at Sterling Hill, but the numerous companies and claims were embroiled in continuous legal battles, the largest of which was a 12-year dispute between the New Jersey Zinc Company and the Franklin Iron Company over rights to mixed ores, each company having purchased the right to mine zinc and iron, respectively. In 1880 the Franklin Iron Company acquired the New Jersey Zinc Company's operations at Sterling Hill mine, ending the dispute. Large scale operations began in 1897 when the claims were consolidated under the New Jersey Zinc Company and by 1900 its mill was processing 1,500 tons of ore daily.

Zinc operations continued until 1986 when the Sterling Hill mine ceased operation. The Sterling Hill mine site is currently occupied by the Sterling Hill Mining Museum and is open to the public for tours.

Limestone

After closing his iron operations, Thomas Edison recouped his losses by opening a quarry called Limecrest near Sparta in 1919. The lime quarry fed Edison's Portland cement operations, and was in continuous operation under various owners for more than 80 years until closed in 2003. During the years of its operation the limestone quarry was an important source of employment and tax revenue for Sparta. Limestone is no longer mined, but a limited amount of granite continues to be quarried by a handful of employees.

Tourism

The former New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad station in Sparta, as viewed from a nearby business in November 2011. The station depot burned in an early morning fire on September 3, 2012.

The New Jersey Midland Railroad opened to Ogdensburg in 1872 for zinc ore traffic, but in 1882 the line was extended to Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and a station was built at Sparta, giving tourists easy access to the many boarding houses that served summer residents from the cities. Passenger service ended in 1935, but by then Sparta was well established as a summer destination. In 1926, the Arthur D. Crane Company along with developer and designer Herbert L. Closs constructed a 600-foot (180 m) dam across the Wallkill River to form 300-acre (1.2 km²) Lake Mohawk in 1928. The private resort community created by the Crane Company consisted primarily of summer homes, but the homes began to be winterized in the 1940s and the current membership of 2,600 families are largely year-round residents.

Geography

The township borders the municipalities of Andover Township, Byram Township, Franklin borough, Hardyston Township, Hopatcong borough Lafayette Township and Ogdensburg, New Jersey Ogdensburg Borough in Sussex County; and Jefferson Township in Morris County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 38.80 square miles (100.50 km²), including 36.79 square miles (95.28 km²) of land and 2.02 square miles (5.22 km²) of water (5.20%).

Lake Mohawk (with 8,092 out of the CDP's total 2010 Census population of 9,916 in the township) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) split between Byram Township and Sparta Township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ackerson, Edison, Hopewell, Houses Corner, Monroe, Sparta Junction, Sussex Mills, Upper Mohawk and Woodruffs Gap.

Sparta Junction

Sparta Junction was where the tracks of the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railroad and the Lehigh and Hudson River Railway crossed, near the western boundary of Sparta. A railroad telegraph office and a train order station, that controlled train signalling semaphores, was located there. It is located at 41°03′51″N 74°40′17″W / 41.06426°N 74.67127°W / 41.06426; -74.67127.

Geology

Sparta is in the Highlands which is composed of igneous and metamorphic rock. Folding and faulting occurred when a continent struck the North American Plate. This is what created the mountains through Sparta and northwards. The Wisconsin Glacier created all the lakes and streams. The Franklin Marble goes through the township from Lime Crest Quarry to the New York line.

Demographics

Sparta has been noted for the high number of pilots and their families who settle in the area. In his 1994 book The Airport: Terminal Nights and Runway Days at John F. Kennedy International, James Kaplan describes the home township of an interviewee as "thickly populated, for no particular reason, with pilots, many of whom do their flying out of Kennedy. The view out [the pilot's] picture window is of trees ... The lights and noise of Manhattan, fifty miles distant, attract flight attendants, single people mostly. Pilots like the woods."

Census 2010

As of the census of 2010, there were 19,722 people, 6,868 households, and 5,453 families residing in the township. The population density was 533.9 per square mile (206.1/km²). There were 7,423 housing units at an average density of 200.9 per square mile (77.6/km²)^*. The racial makeup of the township was 94.15% (18,569) White, 1.00% (198) Black or African American, 0.11% (22) Native American, 2.49% (491) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander, 0.70% (139) from other races, and 1.52% (299) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.34% (1,054) of the population.

There were 6,868 households out of which 41.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the township, the population was spread out with 28.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 95.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $112,699 (with a margin of error of +/- $6,658) and the median family income was $127,669 (+/- $8,981). Males had a median income of $89,118 (+/- $5,949) versus $60,590 (+/- $5,416) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $50,115 (+/- $3,064). About 2.3% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 18,080 people, 6,225 households, and 5,029 families residing in the township. The population density was 483.5 people per square mile (186.7/km²). There were 6,590 housing units at an average density of 176.2 per square mile (68.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 96.7% White, 0.3% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.54% of the population.

There were 6,225 households, out of which 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.9% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.28.

In the township the population was spread out, with 30.6% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $89,835, and the median income for a family was $100,658. Males had a median income of $74,293 versus $39,349 for females. The per capita income for the township was $36,910. About 1.0% of families and 1.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 2.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Sparta is home to many small businesses. Lake Mohawk houses many boutiques and gift shops that cater to a wide variety of shoppers. As well as these smaller businesses, Sparta home to multiple family-owned pizzerias and delis.

Rockaway Townsquare is located about 15 minutes away from Sparta and allows residents to find a wider variety of shops.

Education

The Sparta Township Public School District serves students in public school from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 3,203 students and 275.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Alpine Elementary School with 695 students in grades PreK-2, Mohawk Avenue School with 207 students in grade 3, Helen Morgan School with 439 students in grades 4-5, Sparta Middle School with 759 students in grades 6-8 and Sparta High School with 1,074 students in grades 9-12.

The Sparta Education Foundation was founded in 2006 to help with budgetary issues in the Sparta school district and to bring extra funds to the public school district from concerned private citizens and groups. In 2009, the Foundation provided technology money for SMART boards and projectors in Alpine and Helen Morgan schools. The Board of Education office is located in the Mohawk Avenue School. Dr. Michael A. Rossi Jr. is the Superintendent of Schools.

Sparta is also home to Sussex County Technical School, a county-wide technical high school.

Private schools

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson is responsible for Rev. George A. Brown Elementary and Pope John XXIII High School.

Sparta is home of Hilltop Country Day School, a private school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Veritas Christian Academy, a small private school, educates students in grades 9-12.

Transportation

Route 15 northbound in Sparta Township

Roads and highways

As of May 2010^[update], the township had a total of 132.81 miles (213.74 km) of roadways, of which 97.07 miles (156.22 km) were maintained by the municipality, 20.05 miles (32.27 km) by Sussex County and 15.69 miles (25.25 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

New Jersey Route 15 is the primary highway serving Sparta Township. Much of the original stretch of this highway within Sparta has been bypassed by a freeway, with the old route now designated New Jersey Route 181. New Jersey Route 94 and County Route 517 also pass through the township.

Public transportation

Sparta is served by the Skylands Connect bus, which provides service to Newton, Hamburg and Sussex. Lakeland Bus Lines provides commuter service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan from the Sparta police station and Blue Heron Road park and rides on the Route 80 route.

Emergency services

Emergency Medical Services

The Sparta Ambulance Squad was founded on July 11, 1947, by the Sparta VFW post #7248. Today, the squad is staffed by a combination of volunteers and paid EMTs. During weekdays, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., ambulances are staffed by two paid EMTs. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and all day on weekends, Volunteer crews are on call to handle emergencies. If a crew is not found in Sparta, mutual aid agreements exist with area volunteer and hospital based EMS agencies. The squad and its more than 60 members operate three ambulances (4191, 4192, 4193), an off road utility vehicle, and an Emergency Response Unit (4195). Sparta Ambulance Squad's headquarters is located at 14 Sparta Avenue. In 2013, the squad responded to 1,425 calls.

Fire

The Sparta Fire Department serves the township, providing firefighting services along with vehicle extrication and HazMat services. The department's headquarters is located at 141 Woodport Road but it also has substations on Glen Road and Sparta Stanhope Road.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Sparta Township include:

• Mary Vail Andress (1883–1964), banker, World War I relief worker in France
• Greg Baty (born 1964), former NFL player.
• Mike Budnik (born 1974), former professional inline skater, and professional mixed martial arts fighter.
• Cassidy, a musician who was the lead singer for the band Antigone Rising from 1999 through 2008.
• Deal Casino, four-member pop-rock band.
• Frank Dolce (born 1996), actor who appeared in Sons of Tucson on television and on Broadway in the role of Michael in Billy Elliot the Musical.
• Charles Joseph Fletcher (1922-2011), inventor and the owner and chief executive of an aeronautical equipment manufacturing and engineering company, Technology General Corporation.
• Archimedes Giacomantonio (1906–1988), sculptor who was best known for his busts of noted figures.
• Bob Gunderman (born 1934), NFL football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Frank Herbert (born 1931), Politician who served in the New Jersey Senate and the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
• Chris Jent (born 1970), former NBA basketball player and current coach.
• F. Ross Johnson (born 1931), Canadian businessman and former CEO of RJR Nabisco.
• Jordan Lawlor (born 1992), musician, who has toured with the band M83.
• Jeff Lenosky (born 1971), US National Mountain Bike Champion and World Record Holder.
• Sean Maguire (born 1994), football quarterback.
• Wendy Mass (born 1967), author.
• Dan Miller (born 1981), mixed martial artist who is a UFC Contender, CFFC Middleweight Champion and IFL Middleweight Champion.
• Jim Miller (born 1984), mixed martial artist who is a UFC Contender, CFFC Lightweight Champion and Reality Fighting Featherweight Champion.
• Troy Murphy (born 1980), NBA basketball player.
• Sylvia Pressler (1934-2010), New Jersey court judge whose rulings included one allowing girls to participate in Little League Baseball.
• Tom Raney, Comics artist known for his work on Uncanny X-Men and The Outsiders.
• J. Allyn Rosser (born 1957), poet.
• Jack Thomas Smith, (born 1969), horror filmmaker.
• Tim Sweeney (born 1980), former professional baseball player who became a sports agent and participated in The Amazing Race 23.
• Arthur Tipton (1882-1942), football player and United States Army officer.
• Russ Van Atta (1906-1986), former Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees and the Saint Louis Browns who served as Sheriff of Sussex County and as a county freeholder.
• Harry Wright (1919-1993), football player and coach who played for the New York Giants and served as the mayor of the township.

See also

In Spanish: Municipio de Sparta (Nueva Jersey) para niños