Walpack Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walpack Township, New Jersey
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Township
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The downtown of Wallpack Center, New Jersey facing National Park Service Route 615
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Oldest Municipality in Sussex County
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Location in Sussex County, New Jersey and of Sussex County in New Jersey (upper right)
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Census Bureau map of Walpack Township, New Jersey
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 Walpack Township, New Jersey
Location in Sussex County, New Jersey
Walpack Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Walpack Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | .png){kind=small} Sussex |
| Earliest mention | October 26, 1731 |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Township |
| • Body | Township Committee |
| Area | |
| • Total | 24.88 sq mi (64.45 km2) |
| • Land | 24.24 sq mi (62.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0.65 sq mi (1.68 km2) 2.60% |
| Area rank | 109th of 565 in state 10th of 24 in county |
| Elevation | 436 ft (133 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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6 |
| • Rank | 565th of 565 in state 24th of 24 in county |
| • Density | 0.3/sq mi (0.1/km2) |
| • Density rank | 565th of 565 in state 24th of 24 in county |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code |
07881 – Walpack Center
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| Area code(s) | 908 |
| FIPS code | 3403776640 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882259 |
Walpack Township is a township in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 7, a decrease of 9 (−56.3%) from the 2010 census count of 16, which in turn reflected a decline of 34 (−82.9%) from the 41 counted in the 2000 census. Walpack Township was the smallest municipality by population and one of only four municipalities in New Jersey with a population under 100 as of the 2020 Census; it had the state's third-smallest population in the 2010 census, behind Tavistock (population 5) and the now-defunct Pine Valley (population 12), both in Camden County.
The township is named from a corruption of the Lenape Native American content word "wahlpeck," which means "turn-hole," or an eddy or whirlpool, a compound of two Native American words, "woa-lac" (a hole), and "tuppeck" (a pool), though other sources attribute the name to mean "very deep water" or "sudden bend of a stream around the base of a rock".
Contents
History
Walpack Township dates back to October 26, 1731, when it was first mentioned as Walpake in Hunterdon County. The area covered by the present-day township was set off to Morris County upon that county's creation in 1739, and became part of the newly formed Sussex County in 1753. As of April 15, 1754, Walpack's boundaries were defined as a "precinct". Walpack was formally incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Montague Township (March 26, 1759), Sandyston Township (February 26, 1762) and the now-defunct Pahaquarry Township in Warren County (December 27, 1824). Territory was gained from Stillwater Township in 1935.
The Andrew Snable House was built in 1801 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 23, 1979. The Wallpack Center Historic District was added to the NRHP on July 17, 1980.
In 1955 a proposal was made by Congress for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to alleviate flooding on the Delaware River by constructing a dam at the site of Tocks Island. This dam, 10 miles (16 km) south of Walpack, would have created a lake roughly 40 miles (64 km) long and 1 mile (1.6 km) wide. Approximately 72,000 acres (29,000 ha) of the surrounding land, including Walpack, were claimed under eminent domain by the government for this project and thousands of area residents were forced to move out. Although the dam was never actually constructed, the township's population has been on the decline ever since.
Judge Joseph Stamler of New Jersey Superior Court rejected a proposal for a six-day rock festival to be held in the summer of 1970 on a 400-acre (160 ha) site in the township, leading to the passage of standards for similar events that requires planning for traffic and safety between the organizers and local authorities, and sets limits on duration. Stamler stated that any positive benefits from such an event must be weighed against the "health, safety and welfare of the young, and the potential harm to the public".
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 24.88 square miles (64.45 km2), including 24.24 square miles (62.77 km2) of land and 0.65 square miles (1.68 km2) of water (2.60%). The township is located in the Minisink Valley that extends from the Delaware Water Gap north to Port Jervis, New York.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Dry Pond, Flat Brook, Flatbrookville, Haneys Mill, Harding Lake, Long Pond and Walpack Center.
The township is bordered by the municipalities of Sandyston Township and Stillwater Township in Sussex County; and by Hardwick Township in Warren County.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 591 | — | |
| 1820 | 822 | 39.1% | |
| 1830 | 660 | * | −19.7% |
| 1840 | 728 | 10.3% | |
| 1850 | 783 | 7.6% | |
| 1860 | 851 | 8.7% | |
| 1870 | 647 | −24.0% | |
| 1880 | 575 | −11.1% | |
| 1890 | 436 | −24.2% | |
| 1900 | 371 | −14.9% | |
| 1910 | 286 | −22.9% | |
| 1920 | 258 | −9.8% | |
| 1930 | 178 | −31.0% | |
| 1940 | 207 | * | 16.3% |
| 1950 | 204 | −1.4% | |
| 1960 | 248 | 21.6% | |
| 1970 | 384 | 54.8% | |
| 1980 | 150 | −60.9% | |
| 1990 | 67 | −55.3% | |
| 2000 | 41 | −38.8% | |
| 2010 | 16 | −61.0% | |
| 2020 | 7 | −56.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 6 | −62.5% | |
| Population sources: 1810–1920 1840 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Territorial change in previous decade. |
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2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 16 people, 8 households, and 4 families in the township. The population density was 0.7 inhabitants per square mile (0.27/km2). There were 15 housing units at an average density of 0.6 per square mile (0.23/km2). The racial makeup was 93.75% (15) White, 0.00% (0) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.00% (0) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.00% (0) from other races, and 6.25% (1) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.00% (0) of the population.
Of the 8 households, 12.5% had children under the age of 18; 37.5% were married couples living together; 0.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 50.0% were non-families. Of all households, 50.0% were made up of individuals and 25.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 3.00.
12.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 12.5% from 18 to 24, 18.8% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $108,333 (with a margin of error of +/− $155,555) and the median family income was $127,500 (+/− $88,897). Males had a median income of $ (+/− $) versus $57,813 (+/− $26,023) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $36,663 (+/− $14,435). About none of families and none of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Education
Students in kindergarten through sixth grade attend the schools of the Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District, together with students from Sandyston Township. The school is located in the Layton section of Sandyston Township. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 120 students and 14.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.1:1. In the 2016–17 school year, Sandyston-Walpack had the 26th smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 149 students.
Students in seventh through twelfth grade from Sandyston and Walpack Townships for public school attend Kittatinny Regional High School located in Hampton Township, which also serves students who reside in Fredon Township and Stillwater Township. The high school is located on a 96-acre (39 ha) campus in Hampton Township, about seven minutes outside of the county seat of Newton. Kittatinny Regional High School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 1997–98. As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 781 students and 79.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.8:1.
Transportation
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As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 20.01 miles (32.20 km) of roadways, all of which were maintained by the municipality.
Signed routes in the township include National Park Service Route 615.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Walpack Township include:
- Frank Chapot (1932–2016), Olympic silver medalist equestrian
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Walpack para niños
