Califon, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Califon is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 1,055.
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[edit] History
Califon was a station on the High Bridge Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The rail line was abandoned in 1976 and now serves as a Hunterdon County-administered rail trail called Columbia Trail, which runs south to High Bridge and north to points in Morris County.
Though the mills were present in the area of Califon for some time prior to its incorporation as a town, it was quite a while before growth became evident in the mid-nineteenth century. It was first called California, from Jacob Neighbor's enthusiasm in the milling business about the time the California Gold Rush broke out. The Borough was incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature from portions of both Lebanon and Tewksbury Townships on April 2, 1918.[1]
The Califon Historical Society has registered 170 structures with the National Register of Historic Places. Califon is a Victorian-style enclave where the houses are marked with the names of the builders and their dates of establishment rather than with street numbers.
[edit] Geography
Califon is located at (40.720250, -74.836533)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²). 2.5 km² (1.0 mi²) of it is land and 1.02% is water.
Califon borders Lebanon Township and Tewksbury Township.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 534 |
|
|
| 1940 | 572 | 7.1% | |
| 1950 | 623 | 8.9% | |
| 1960 | 777 | 24.7% | |
| 1970 | 970 | 24.8% | |
| 1980 | 1,023 | 5.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,073 | 4.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,055 | -1.7% | |
| Est. 2005 | 1,055 | [2] | 0.0% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[3] | |||
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,055 people, 401 households, and 301 families residing in the borough. The population density was 419.9/km² (1,093.2/mi²). There were 410 housing units at an average density of 163.2/km² (424.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.67% White, 0.76% Asian, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 401 households out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the borough the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $76,657, and the median income for a family was $85,963. Males had a median income of $59,167 versus $41,125 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,064. About 3.3% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
The Mayor of Califon Borough is Walter 'Bud' Burnett replacing R. Merwin Grimes, whose term of office ended December 31, 2006. Members of the Califon Borough Council are Richard Baggstrom (2006), Robert Jepson (2006), Steven Stanaback (2007), Julie Stine (2007), Gill Smith (2006) and Charles Daniel (2005).[4]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Califon Borough is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th Legislative District.[5]
New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District, covering portions of Hunterdon County, Middlesex County, Somerset County and Union County, is represented by Mike Ferguson (R). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
The 24th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Robert Littell (R, Franklin) and in the Assembly by Guy R. Gregg (R, Flanders) and Alison Littell McHose (R, Sparta). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Hunterdon County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. As of 2007, Hunterdon County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director George D. Muller, Freeholder Deputy Director Erik C. Peterson, Matthew Holt, George B. Melick and Ronald Sworen.
[edit] Education
Students in kindergarten through eighth grade attend the Califon Public School. Enrollment for the 2004-05 school year was 140 students.[6] Dr. Kathleen Prystash is the chief principal.
Students in grades 9 through 12 in Glen Gardner as part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District. Voorhees High School serves students from Califon Borough, Glen Gardner Borough, Hampton Borough, High Bridge Borough, Lebanon Township and Tewksbury Township.
[edit] References
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 154
- ^ Census data for Califon borough, United States Census Bureau, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, accessed March 1, 2007
- ^ Califon Borough Council, accessed January 30, 2007 - not updated to reflect correct term end dates for 2007
- ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 55, accessed August 30, 2006
- ^ National Center for Education Statistics data for the Califon Public School, accessed March 17, 2007
[edit] External links
- Official Borough website
- Hunterdon County webpage for Califon Borough
- Califon Public School website
- Califon Public School's 2005-06 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Califon Public School
- North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District
- Califon Area Merchants and Professionals Association
- Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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(County seat: Flemington) |
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| Boroughs | Bloomsbury | Califon | Flemington | Frenchtown | Glen Gardner | Hampton | High Bridge | Lebanon | Milford | Stockton |  |
| City | Lambertville | |
| Town | Clinton | |
| Townships | Alexandria | Bethlehem | Clinton | Delaware | East Amwell | Franklin | Holland | Kingwood | Lebanon | Raritan | Readington | Tewksbury | Union | West Amwell | |
| CDPs and communities |
Annandale | Raven Rock | Ringoes | White House Station | |
