Branchville, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Branchville, New Jersey
settlement_type = Borough
nickname =
motto =

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 07826, 07827, 07890
area_code = 973
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-07300GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0874904GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Branchville is a borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 845. The borough is located in the northernmost region of Sussex County.

Branchville was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 9, 1898, from portions of Frankford Township. An additional portion of Frankford Township was annexed as of March 1, 1951."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 229.]

History

Branchville was settled by immigrants from Connecticut in the 1700s. It grew quickly and in the 1820s the town was divided into building lots. By the year 1844 Branchville was a well established community with 32 dwellings, mills, blacksmiths, an academy, a church and a variety of other factories and businesses.

The addition of two water-powered mills and a dam in 1855 furthered the town's prosperity. Energy would later be harnessed from this dam and a second one that was built to supply Branchville with electricity and its own power company.

Extension of rail service to Branchville in 1869 brought and even greater boon to the village's economic market growth. From 1869-1871 forty new homes were built. The railroad had made it possible to ship products from the local mills and creameries to larger urban areas to the east. With lake communities nearby the tourism was also spurred by the railroad. Up to six trains a day would bring people from the larger cities to enjoy a country vacation.

Geography

Branchville is located at 41°8'48" North, 74°44'57" West (41.146748, -74.749243)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930=665
1940=715
1950=810
1960=963
1970=911
1980=870
1990=851
2000=845
estimate= 839
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=06000US3403701360&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34037%7C06000US3403701360&_street=&_county=branchville&_cityTown=branchville&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=060&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Branchville borough] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 29, 2007.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 845 people, 354 households, and 225 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,421.6 people per square mile (553.0/km²). There were 377 housing units at an average density of 634.3/sq mi (246.7/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.46% White, 0.12% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% of the population.

There were 354 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the borough the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $45,855, and the median income for a family was $60,909. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $27,159 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,748. About 4.2% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Branchville is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year."2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 110.]

The Mayor of Branchville Borough is Gerald W. Van Gorden (term ends December 31, 2007). Members of the Branchville Borough Council are William Bathgate (2008), Joseph Codella (2007), Katieanne Harrison (2008), Wayne Howell (2006), Kyle Orr (2006) and Richard VanStone (2007). [ [http://www.sussex.nj.us/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=7&TPID=4533 Sussex County webpage for Branchville Borough] , Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed August 29, 2007. Website still shows 2006 term-end dates as of date accessed.]

Federal, state and county representation

Branchville Borough is in the Fifth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 55. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

Students in public school for Kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Frankford Township School, located in Branchville, as part of a sending/receiving relationship.

Public school students in grades 9 - 12 attend High Point Regional High School, located in Sussex. Attending the school are students from Branchville, Frankford Township, Lafayette Township, Sussex Borough and Wantage Township. [ [http://www.hpregional.org/hpindexv4res1000.htm School Info] , High Point Regional High School. Accessed May 26, 2008. "High Point Regional High School is located in rural Sussex County, New Jersey, where approximately 1,300 students attend from the five municipalities of Branchville, Frankford, Lafayette, Sussex and Wantage."]

References

External links

* [http://www.sussex.nj.us/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=7&TPID=4533 Sussex County webpage for Branchville Borough]
* [http://www.branchville-nj.com/ Branchville Borough history]
* [http://www.frankfordschool.org/ Frankford Township School]
*NJReportCard|37|1560|0|Frankford Township School
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3405340 Data for the Frankford Township School] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.hpregional.org/ High Point Regional High School]