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 * NOW: Sussex County, New Jersey (rewrite) / estimated completion 1 October 2015.

Outline
12 See also 13 References 14 External links
 * Lede section
 * 1 History
 * 2 Geology and geography
 * 2.1 Physical geography
 * 2.2 Physiographic provinces
 * 2.3 Watersheds and hydrology
 * 2.4 Soils
 * 3 Climate and weather
 * 4 Demographics
 * 4.1 Census 2010
 * 4.2 Census 2000
 * 4.3 Affluence and poverty
 * 5 Government
 * 5.1 County government
 * 5.2 Municipalities
 * 5.3 State and federal representation
 * 5.4 Politics
 * 5.5 Taxation
 * 6 Public safety and services
 * Fire departments
 * Law enforcement
 * Crime statistics
 * 7 Economy
 * 7.1 Employment and labor force
 * 7.2 Bedroom communities
 * 7.3 Agriculture
 * 7.4 Major industries
 * 7.5 Large employers
 * 8 Education
 * 8.1 Higher education
 * 8.2 Elementary and secondary education
 * 9 Transportation and infrastructure
 * 10 Environment and ecology
 * 10.1 Wildlife
 * 10.2 Protected areas
 * 11 Recreation and tourism
 * 11.1 Major parks and cultural institutions
 * 11.2 Notable festivals and parades, with dates
 * 11.3 Sporting teams in county

USCOUNTIES Wikiproject Suggestion

 * Lede Section
 * 1 History
 * 1.1 Origin of its name
 * 1.2 Circumstances of the county's establishment
 * 1.3 Major historical events that occurred in county


 * 2 Geography
 * County seat -- see complete list of county seats at http://www.campbellslist.com/county_seats/select_county_seat.php
 * Physical geography (area, unique features)
 * Geographic center and bounds, polygonal outline (latitude and longitude points)
 * List of contiguous counties


 * 3 Demographics
 * Religious makeup


 * 4 Government
 * County government
 * Municipalities
 * State and federal representation
 * Politics
 * Law enforcement and public safety
 * County taxes


 * 5 Economy
 * Major industries/products
 * Largest employers


 * 6 Education
 * Colleges/Universities in county


 * 7 Recreation
 * Major parks and cultural institutions
 * Notable festivals and parades, with dates
 * Sporting teams in county


 * 8 Communities
 * Census-recognized cities and towns in the county
 * List of municipalities
 * List of adjacent counties

A link to a list of counties in that county's state
 * 9 See also
 * 10 References
 * 11 External links

Climate and weather
Because of its location in the higher elevations of northwestern New Jersey's Appalachian mountains, Sussex County has a cooler humid continental climate or microthermal climate (Köppen Dfb) which indicates patterns of significant precipitation in all seasons and at least four months where the average temperature rises above 10 °C This differs from the rest of the state which is generally a humid mesothermal climate, in which temperatures range between -3 °C (27 °F) and 18 °C (64 °F) during the year's coldest month. Sussex County is part of USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6.

During winter and early spring, New Jersey in some years is subject to "nor'easters"—significant storm systems that have proven capable of causing blizzards or flooding throughout the northeastern United States. Hurricanes and tropical storms, tornadoes, and earthquakes are relatively rare. The Kittatinny Valley to the north of Newton, part of the Great Appalachian Valley, experiences a snowbelt phenomenon and has been categorized as a microclimate region known as the "Sussex County Snow Belt." This region receives approximately forty to fifty inches of snow per year and generally more snowfall that the rest of Northern New Jersey and the Northern Climate Zone. This phenomenon is attributed to the orographic lift of the Kittatinny Ridge which impacts local weather patterns by increasing humidity and precipitation, providing the ski resorts of Vernon Valley in the northeastern part of this region with increased snowfall.

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Newton have ranged from a low of 17 °F in January to a high of 84 °F in July. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.86 in in February to 4.76 in in June.

According to the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service soil survey, the area receives sunshine approximately 62% of the time in summer and 48% in winter. Prevailing winds are typically from the southwest for most of year; but in late winter and early spring come from the northwest. The lowest recorded temperature was −26 °F on January 21, 1994. The highest recorded temperature was 104 °F on September 3, 1953. The heaviest one-day snowfall was 24 inches recorded on January 8, 1996 (combined with the next day, total snowfall was 40 inches). The heaviest one-day rainfall—6.70 inches— was recorded on August 19, 1955.

Census 2010
The 2010 United States census counted 149,265 people, 54,752 households, and 40,626 families in the county. The population density was 287.6 per square mile (111.0/km2). There were 62,057 housing units at an average density of 119.6 per square mile (46.2/km2). The racial makeup was 93.46% (139,504) White, 1.79% (2,677) Black or African American, 0.16% (234) Native American, 1.77% (2,642) Asian, 0.02% (36) Pacific Islander, 1.19% (1,783) from other races, and 1.60% (2,389) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.44% (9,617) of the population.

Of the 54,752 households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18; 61% were married couples living together; 9% had a female householder with no husband present and 25.8% were non-families. Of all households, 21% were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14.

24% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 32.6% from 45 to 64, and 12% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 96.9 males.

Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 144,166 people, 50,831 households, and 38,784 families residing in the county. The population density was 277 people per square mile (107/km²). There were 56,528 housing units at an average density of 108 per square mile (42/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.70% White, 1.0% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 3.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Among those residents listing their ancestry, 24.5% were of Italian, 22.9% German, 22.2% Irish, 10.7% English, 8.1% Polish and 5.2% Dutch ancestry according to Census 2000.

In 2000 there were 50,831 households out of which 39.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

Affluence and poverty
Sussex County is considered an affluent area as many of its residents are college-educated, employed in professional or service jobs, and earn above the state's average per capita income and household income statistics. , the Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked the county as having the 131st-highest per capita income of all 3,113 counties in the United States (and the ninth-highest in New Jersey). Average per capita income was $49,207 and was 23.2% above the national average.

, there were a total of 54,881 households enumerated in the 2010 census, with a reported median household income of $84,115, or mean household income of $96,527. Males had a median income of $50,395 versus $33,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,992. About 2.8% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over. Comparatively, in the 2000 Census, the median household income was $65,266 and the median family income was $73,335. Males had a median income of $44,544 compared with $32,487 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,992. About 6.30% of families and 8.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.50% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2006–2010 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, 3.6% of county residents were living below the poverty line which the government defined as an annual household income under $22,350 for a family of four. However, recent surveys indicate that in the county's town centers, Sussex Borough (15.1%), Newton (12.8%) and Andover Borough (12.7%), poverty levels reach double-digits. Of these poverty-level residents, an estimated 44% are employed, many of them underemployed despite working multiple jobs.

Municipalities
When Sussex County was established in 1753 (and included the territory of present-day Warren County), it was created with four large townships—Walpack (before 1731), Greenwich (1738), Hardwick (1750), and Newtown (1751). The county's southern half would be ceded to create Warren County in 1824. A line of division between the two counties drawn from Flatbrookville in Walpack to the Musconetcong River. Territory to the north of the line, that divided Hardwick and Walpack townships in half, would be within Sussex County. The four original townships of Sussex County would be divided over the next two centuries to form the 45 present-day municipalities in Sussex and Warren counties.

There are 24 incorporated municipalities within the borders of Sussex County. Of these, there are fifteen incorporated as townships, eight as boroughs, and one, Newton, as a town. Since 1762, Newton has been the county seat of Sussex County. Hardyston, although incorporated as a township, operates its municipal government under a special charter. Four municipalities, Byram, Newton, Sparta, and Vernon, operate their municipal government under the alternative council-manager structure permitted by the Faulkner Act, also known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law.

State and federal representation
All of Sussex County's land area is in the state's 24th Legislative District, along with portions of Morris and Warren counties.

Neither of New Jersey's two allotted federal senators is from Sussex County. The land area of Sussex County is divided amongst two federal congressional districts. The 5th congressional district represents residents in roughly four-fifths of Sussex County (its northern and western area), as well as residents in all of Warren County, and parts of Passaic and Bergen counties. The 11th congressional district represents residents in the southeastern corner of Sussex County (Byram Township, Hopatcong Borough, Ogdensburg Borough, Stanhope Borough, and Sparta Township), as well as parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.

Politics and recent elections
Sussex County is a predominantly Republican area, as among registered voters, affiliations with the Republican Party outpace those of the Democratic Party by a ratio of about five to two. All five members of the county board of Chosen Freeholders, all three county-wide constitutional officers, and all except a few of the 108 municipal offices among the county's 24 municipalities are held by Republicans.

In the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, George W. Bush carried the county by a 29.6% margin over John Kerry, the largest margin for Bush in any county in New Jersey, with Kerry carrying the state by 6.7% over Bush. In 2008, John McCain carried Sussex County by a 20.6% margin over Barack Obama, McCain's best showing in New Jersey, with Obama winning statewide by 15.5% over McCain. Sussex County is the home county of Scott Garrett, who is by far the most conservative congressman from New Jersey. He represents almost all of Sussex County along with Warren County, northern Passaic County, and northern Bergen County. The southeast corner of Sussex County is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen.

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 98,158 registered voters in Sussex, of which 16,150 (16.5% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 38,583 (39.3% vs. 39.3%) were registered as Republicans and 43,311 (44.1% vs. 44.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 114 voters registered to other parties. Among the county's 2010 Census population, 65.8% were registered to vote, including 86.5% of those ages 18 and over.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 40,625 votes here (59.4%), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 26,104 votes (38.2%) and other candidates with 1,465 votes (2.1%), among the 68,404 ballots cast by the county's 100,152 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.3%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 44,184 votes here (59.2%), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 28,840 votes (38.7%) and other candidates with 1,130 votes (1.5%), among the 74,593 ballots cast by the county's 96,967 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.9%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 44,506 votes here (63.9%), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 23,990 votes (34.4%) and other candidates with 900 votes (1.3%), among the 69,649 ballots cast by the county's 89,679 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.7%.

In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 31,749 votes here (63.3%), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 12,870 votes (25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 4,563 votes (9.1%) and other candidates with 663 votes (1.3%), among the 50,137 ballots cast by the county's 95,941 registered voters, yielding a 52.3% turnout.

Healthcare

 * Newton Medical Center

Fire and first responders
Sussex County does not have a county-wide fire department.

Sussex County is entirely within the primary response area of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service's Division A. The largest firefighting agency in New Jersey, the Forest Fire Service is responsible for wildfire suppression and fire protection, and enforces the state's laws on forest and wildland fires, agricultural burning, and recreational fires.

Employment and labor force
As of the 2010 Census, the county's unemployment rate was 11.0%. The Census Bureau reported a population of 118,420 persons (above age 16) available for the labor force of which 82,449 (69.6%) were actively employed in civilian labor, and 35,971 (30.4%) were not in the labor force.

Large employers
Agriculture and tourism are two important components of Sussex County’s economy. Seasonal farm fresh produce, the opportunity to pick your own vegetables, cut your own Christmas tree, purchase flowers, honey, eggs, value added products, local meat and local wineries all can be found in Sussex County.

Primary and secondary education
Before 1942, Sussex County had over 100 school districts. Most of these districts were in rural townships that each had several districts—each district operating a one-room schoolhouse that served their small neighborhoods. During the forty-year tenure (1903–1942) of County School Superintendent Ralph Decker, the local government began to consolidate these small districts into larger municipality-wide or regional school districts. The public school system in Sussex County offers a "thorough and efficient" education for children between the ages of five and eighteen years (grades K–12), as required by state constitution, through nine local and regional public high school districts, and twenty public primary or elementary school districts. Several of the county's schools are highly ranked by both state and federal education departments; some of which have achieved the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School Award. The county's Board of Chosen Freeholders oversees the Sussex County Technical School (formerly Sussex County Vocational-Technical School), a county-wide technical high school in Sparta Township.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson operates a private parochial high school, Pope John XXIII Regional High School in Sparta; and three K-8 schools in the county Immaculate Conception Regional School in Franklin, Saint Joseph Regional School in Newton and Rev. George A. Brown Regional School in Sparta. There are several other private schools in the county.

Sussex County's 10 high schools compete in interscholastic sports and other athletic activities sanctioned by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). In 2009, the NJSIAA reorganized state-wide athletic leagues into regional conferences. Prior to this reorganization, these schools competed under the auspices of the Sussex County Interscholastic League (SCIL), a now-defunct county-wide conference affiliated with NJSIAA. SCIL and other Morris and Warren County high schools compete under the NJSIAA's Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference.

Roadways
Sussex County is served by a number of roads connecting it to the rest of the state and to both Pennsylvania and New York. According to the county government, "a vast majority of residents who use single occupant vehicles to travel outside the county for employment. Thus, the demand for public transportation in the county is minimal." Interstate 80 passes through the extreme southern tip of Sussex County solely in Byram. Interstate 84 passes just yards north of Sussex County, but never enters New Jersey. New Jersey's Route 15, Route 23, Route 94, Route 181, Route 183, and Route 284 pass through the County, as does U.S. Route 206.

, the county had a total of 1313.67 mi of roadways, of which 888.54 mi were maintained by the local municipality, 313.29 mi by Sussex County and 111.35 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.49 mi by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.

Sussex County has two toll-bridge crossings over the Delaware River. Operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge (also known as the US 206 Toll Bridge) carries U.S. Route 206 over the Delaware connecting Montague Township and Milford, Pennsylvania. The current bridge was opened in 1954, replacing a series of bridges located here beginning in 1826. Route 206 merges with U.S. Route 209 on the Pennsylvania side of the crossing approximately one mile (1.6 km) south of the Milford village center. Tolls are collected only from motorists traveling westbound, into Pennsylvania. The Dingman's Ferry Bridge is the last privately owned toll bridge on the Delaware River and one of the last few in the United States. It is owned and operated by the Dingmans Choice and Delaware Bridge Company which has operated bridges here since 1836. The bridge connects the village of Dingmans in Delaware Township in Pike County, Pennsylvania and State Route 2019 with County Route 560 and the Old Mine Road in Sandyston Township, New Jersey.

Commuter rail and bus service


, Sussex County's sole currently operating railroad line is dedicated to freight service in Sparta, Vernon and Hardyston townships. It is operated by the New York, Susquehanna & Western railroad and CSX Transportation. Commuter rail service has not been offered in the county since the 1960s. However, commuter rail service is available from nearby stations along New Jersey Transit's Morris and Essex Lines in Hackettstown, Mount Olive, Netcong, Lake Hopatcong, Mount Arlington and Dover, which are easily accessible to Sussex County residents by driving or through bus services contracted by New Jersey Transit. This line was part of the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad system. Service is available directly to Hoboken Terminal or via the Kearny Connection (opened in 1996) to Secaucus Junction and Pennsylvania Station in Midtown Manhattan. Passengers can transfer at Newark Broad Street Station or Summit to reach either New York or Hoboken.

New Jersey Transit is planning to re-open commuter service through the Lackawanna Cut-Off route which passes through Andover and Green Townships in the southern part of the county. Service from a planned station in Andover into New York City and Hoboken is scheduled to begin in 2016. Construction of the portion of the Lackawanna Cut-Off route west of Andover heading toward Blairstown, New Jersey, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and points beyond to Scranton, Pennsylvania has been neither planned, funded, nor scheduled.

Lakeland Bus Lines, a privately operated commuter bus company based in Dover, in Morris County offers service under contract with New Jersey Transit between Newton and Sparta to New York City's Midtown Port Authority Bus Terminal.

New Jersey Transit in partnership with the county government offers bus service in Sussex County, limited to weekday service on the "Skylands Connect" route. The county government's Office of Transit also operates a ParaTransit bus service on weekdays to local senior citizens, veterans, people with disabilities, and the general public. It offers service within the county for local errands (nutrition, medical appointments, shopping, hairdresser appointments, banking, community services, education/training, and employment) and outside the county for non-emergency medical appointments (dialysis, therapy, radiation treatment, mental health, specialized hospitals, and Veterans facilities).

Airports
there are three general aviation public-use airports in Sussex County that cater to recreational pilots. They include: Newton Airport (FAA LID 3N5) which is located in Andover Township, was purchased by Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) and was closed in 2013. While in operation, it had one 2546 ft runway with a 6/24 designation located at an elevation of 620 ft above mean sea level.
 * Aeroflex-Andover Airport (FAA LID 12N) also in Andover Township. This airport is located in Kittatinny Valley State Park and is owned and operated by the New Jersey Forest Fire Service.  It has one 1981 ft runway designated 3/21 and is located at and elevation of 583 ft above mean sea level.
 * Sussex Airport (FAA LID FWN) located in Wantage Township and is privately owned. It has a 3499 ft runway with a 3/21 designation and is located at an elevation of 421 ft above mean sea level.
 * Trinca Airport (FAA LID 13N) located in and owned by Green Township, which has a 1924 ft grass runway with a 6/24 designation and located at an elevation of 600 ft above mean sea level.

Parks and outdoor recreation

 * area's rural character and Appalachian terrain
 * Protected areas, parks, conservation efforts (List of New Jersey wildlife management areas, List of New Jersey state parks
 * Hunting, fishing, hiking

Agricultural tourism

 * Agritourism (farms, nurseries, pick-your-own, wineries, etc.)
 * New Jersey State Fair / Sussex County Farm and Horse Show

Theme and water parks

 * Mountain Creek and Action Park

Skiing and winter sports
In the 1960s, Vernon Township became a location for skiing and winter sports.
 * Mountain Creek
 * Hidden Valley

Sports franchises
Sussex County has one large venue for professional sports, Skylands Park, a 4,200-seat baseball stadium located in Frankford Township. Skylands Park is home to the Sussex County Miners, a minor league team affiliate of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball (or Can-Am League) founded in 2014. They played their inaugural season in 2015.

Skylands Park was developed with the rise of professional minor league baseball in the 1990s. Sussex County became the home to the New Jersey Cardinals, a short-season Class-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's St. Louis Cardinals franchise in 1994. The Cardinals, previously the Glens Falls Redbirds (1981–1993) from upstate New York, won the New York-Penn League's championship in their 1994 inaugural season at Skylands Park. After a modest success, the Cardinals had one other winning season (in 2002). Following the 2005 season, after the owners sold the team, the Cardinals announced they were relocating their New York-Penn League affiliate to University Park, Pennsylvania, where it became known as the State College Spikes. The Spikes are affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise. In 2006, Skylands Park became the home of the minor league Sussex Skyhawks an affiliate of the Can-Am League. The Skyhawks won the league championship in their 2008 season and ceased operations after the 2010 season. Skylands Park was also a temporary home for the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball in their inaugural season; the Bears played their first twenty home games there while Riverfront Stadium in Newark was being built.