In 1800, Isaac V. Coursen named the Stillwater Township area "Coursen's Corners" after establishing a post office in his store, the Coursen House, but changed the name to Fredon Village before his death in 1855.[19] Stillwater Township's Bicentennial Committee obtained information from the Postmaster General which "states that 'Fredon' is derived from the German word 'fredonia,' meaning place of freedom."[20] Fredon Township was incorporated on February 24, 1904, from portions of Andover Township, Green Township, Hampton Township and Stillwater Township.[21]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 17.92 square miles (46.40 km2), including 17.64 square miles (45.69 km2) of land and 0.28 square miles (0.71 km2) of water (1.53%).[1][2]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Hunts Pond, Muckshaw Pond and Stillwater.[22]
The New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway operated from 1872 until 1962 through the Paulinskill Valley, which runs along the border with Hampton and Stillwater Townships to the township's northwest, and was used to transport agricultural products to New York City. Today the right-of-way has been developed into the Paulinskill Valley Trail, a non-motorized multi-use trail that is part of the Kittatinny Valley State Park.[25]
Of the 1,207 households, 35.6% had children under the age of 18; 71.9% were married couples living together; 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 19.4% were non-families. Of all households, 15.8% were made up of individuals and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.18.[16]
25.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.1 males.[16]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $104,074 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,084) and the median family income was $110,000 (+/− $10,332). Males had a median income of $78,000 (+/− $7,722) versus $42,981 (+/− $6,474) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,761 (+/− $4,361). About none of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.[33]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[13] there were 2,860 people, 982 households, and 818 families residing in the township. The population density was 161.1 inhabitants per square mile (62.2/km2). There were 1,019 housing units at an average density of 57.4 per square mile (22.2/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 97.17% White, 0.52% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.56% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.17% of the population.[31][32]
There were 982 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.5% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.7% were non-families. 13.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.18.[31][32]
In the township the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.[31][32]
The median income for a household in the township was $75,710, and the median income for a family was $84,038. Males had a median income of $52,396 versus $34,205 for females. The per capita income for the township was $31,430. About 0.7% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.[31][32]
Government
Local government
Fredon Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.[34] The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.[6][35] At an annual reorganization meeting held during the first week of January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2024[update], members of the Fredon Township Committee are Mayor Glenn Dietz (R, term on township committee ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Christopher Nichols (R, 2026), Erin Corcella (R, 2024), Carl Lazzaro (R, 2025) and George Plock (R, 2024).[3][36][37][38][39]
In December 2015, the Township Committee appointed Keith Smith to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by former mayor Carl F. Lazzaro until he resigned to run for and win a seat as a Sussex County Freeholder; Smith will serve on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters will select a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.[40]
Federal, state, and county representation
Fredon Township is located in the 7th Congressional District[41] and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district.[42][43][44]
Sussex County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners whose five members are elected at-large in partisan elections on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects a Commissioner Director and Deputy Director from among its members, with day-to-day supervision of the operation of the county delegated to a County Administrator.[50] As of 2024[update], Sussex County's Commissioners are
Director Jill Space (R, Wantage Township, 2025),[51]
Deputy Director Chris Carney (R, Frankford Township, 2024),[52]
Jack DeGroot (R, Sussex, 2026),[53]
William Hayden (R, Branchville, 2025)[54] and
Earl Schick (R, Newton, 2024).[55][56]
Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are
Clerk Jeffrey M. Parrott (R, Wantage Township, 2026),[57]
Sheriff Michael F. Strada (R, Hampton Township, 2025)[58] and
Surrogate Gary R. Chiusano (R, Frankford Township, 2028).[59]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,394 registered voters in Fredon Township, of which 316 (13.2% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,136 (47.5% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 941 (39.3% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[60] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 69.7% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 93.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% countywide).[60][61]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 1,237 votes (65.6% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 610 votes (32.3% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 33 votes (1.7% vs. 2.1%), among the 1,887 ballots cast by the township's 2,478 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.2% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County).[62] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,269 votes (64.4% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 654 votes (33.2% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 40 votes (2.0% vs. 1.5%), among the 1,970 ballots cast by the township's 2,405 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.9% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County).[63] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,202 votes (67.5% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 553 votes (31.1% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 21 votes (1.2% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,780 ballots cast by the township's 2,150 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.8% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).[64]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 76.9% of the vote (864 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 19.7% (221 votes), and other candidates with 3.4% (38 votes), among the 1,138 ballots cast by the township's 2,464 registered voters (15 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.2%.[65][66] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 911 votes (67.7% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 297 votes (22.1% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 120 votes (8.9% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 15 votes (1.1% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,346 ballots cast by the township's 2,370 registered voters, yielding a 56.8% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).[67]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 51.38 miles (82.69 km) of roadways, of which 31.94 miles (51.40 km) were maintained by the municipality, 13.13 miles (21.13 km) by Sussex County and 6.31 miles (10.15 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[74]
New Jersey Route 94 is the main highway serving Fredon Township. County Route 519 is the only other significant road traversing the township.
Charles Joseph Fletcher (1922–2011), inventor and the owner / CEO of Technology General Corporation who developed an early version of the hovercraft[77]
^Paulinskill & Sussex Branch Trails, Liberty Water Gap Trail. Accessed September 8, 2013. "The Paulinskill Valley Trail extends 27 miles from Knowlton in Warren County eastward through Blairstown, Frelinghuysen, Hardwick, Stillwater, Fredon, Hampton, and Lafayette, to its eastern terminus at Sparta Junction in Sussex County."
^Comstock, Lori. "Fredon Committee elects chairman, swears in incumbents", New Jersey Herald, January 5, 2016. Accessed August 2, 2016. "Carl Lazzaro gave his farewell speech as the outgoing mayor of Fredon Monday night before the governing body elected Committeeman George Green as the new mayor."It's been my privilege and honor to serve the citizens of Fredon," said Lazzaro, who left the committee to run, successfully, for the Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders.... In addition, Keith Smith, who was appointed in December to fill Lazzaro's one-year unexpired term on the Township Committee, was sworn in with his wife and two daughters nearby."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^About County Government, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed May 20, 2024. "Sussex County is governed by five (5) Commissioners who are elected by the voters of Sussex County. Each serves on the county’s Board of County Commissioners for a term of three (3) years, after which time they can seek re‐election or retire.... The Commissioners are elected at‐large to serve three‐year staggered terms. The five Commissioners elect a director from among themselves to run their meetings and to serve as a spokesperson for the board."
^Fredon Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Fredon Township School District. Accessed August 26, 2022. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through six in the Fredon Township School District. Composition: The Fredon Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Fredon Township in the County of Sussex."
^Kittatiny Regional School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 28, 2016. "Located in beautiful, rural Sussex County in northwest New Jersey, Kittatinny Regional School District serves the five municipalities of Fredon Township, Hampton Township, Sandyston Township, Stillwater Township and the Township of Walpack. The District is comprised of 125 square miles and has a school population of approximately 1100 students."
^Bouchal, Lyndsay Cayetana. "Delicate Steve frontman happy to be home"Archived January 13, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Herald, April 22, 2011. Accessed January 12, 2017. "The Fredon resident began taking private piano lessons as child, but when he was given a toy guitar by his grandmother one Christmas, the young musician quickly switched to guitar.... His first brush with the professional world of music came in 2004 when his high school band was signed by Warner Brothers. Marion was a 2005 Pope John graduate."
^Staff. "Charles J. Fletcher: Obituary", New Jersey Herald, April 22, 2011. Accessed August 31, 2020. "Charles J. Fletcher, 88, died Wednesday, April 20, 2011, at Saint Clare's Hospital, in Sussex.... He had resided in Sparta for 37 years before moving to Fredon 13 years ago."