Hardyston 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 8,125, a decrease of 88 (−1.1%) from the 2010 census count of 8,213, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,042 (+33.1%) from the 6,171 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

History Hardyston Township was set off from portions of Newton Township by Royal charter on February 25, 1762.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 230. Accessed May 28, 2024.Snell, James P. (1881) History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. (Centennial ed., Harmony, NJ: Harmony Press, 1981, p. 335) It was named after Josiah Hardy, who was royal governor of New Jersey from 1761 to 1763.Haines, Alanson A. Hardyston Memorial: A History of The Township and the North Presbyterian Church, Hardyston, Sussex County, New Jersey. (New Jersey Herald Print, Newton, N.J., 1888, p. 19)Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015. The original British spelling of Hardiston was Americanized to Hardyston after the American Revolutionary War.History of Sussex County, Sussex County Gen Web. Accessed September 30, 2007. "Hardyston is the American spelling of the British Hardiston, which was changed after the American Revolutionary War."

Hardyston was incorporated on February 21, 1798, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature as one of New Jersey's original group of 104 townships. Over the centuries, portions of the township were taken to form Vernon Township (April 8, 1793), Sparta (April 14, 1845), Franklin (March 18, 1913) and Hamburg (March 19, 1920).

Hardyston was serviced first by the New Jersey Midland Railway, which built the station in Stockholm. However, there was a dispute over the name as that area was known as Snufftown because of the snuff factory along the Pequannock River, which provide the water power. Through a series of events between the residents of Stockholm and the railroad, the area eventually changed the name from Snufftown to Stockholm. Later, it was the New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway, who provided service into the early 1960s when a mud slide removed a large section of trackage in West Milford Township and coupled with low productivity, the line was not repaired and service was disconnected. Today, the New York Susquehanna and Western Railway runs freight through Hardyston. The main highways are Route 23 and Route 94.

A large eastern portion of the township is owned by the City of Newark, Essex County, for their Pequannock River Watershed, which provides water to the city from an area of that also includes portions of Jefferson Township, Kinnelon, Rockaway Township, Vernon Township and West Milford.Primerano, Jane. "Newark appealing watershed taxes against Jefferson", AIM Jefferson, May 8, 2015. Accessed July 2, 2015. "Besides West Milford and Jefferson, Newark owns watershed land in Hardyston, Vernon, and Rockaway Townships and Kinnelon Borough, Leach said."City Of Newark v. Vernon Tp., Leagle from Tax Court of New Jersey, April 1, 1980. Accessed July 2, 2015. "Generally, the lands are part of the 35,000-acre Pequannock Watershed (approximately two times the size of Newark), which was purchased by Newark at the turn of the century to provide a water supply. The watershed, which contains five major bodies of water, is located in Vernon and Hardyston in Sussex County, Jefferson, Rockaway and Kinnelon in Morris County, and West Milford in Passaic County."

Cemetery The township contains North Church Cemetery / North Hardyston Cemetery. Notable burials there include: Samuel Fowler (1779–1844), who served in the House of Representatives from 1833 to 1837.Samuel Fowler (1779–1844), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 12, 2007. Samuel Fowler (1851–1919), represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district from 1893 to 1895.Samuel Fowler (1851–1919), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 12, 2007. Daniel Haines (1801–1877) 14th Governor of New Jersey, from 1843 to 1845, and from 1848 to 1851.New Jersey Governor Daniel Haines, National Governors Association. Accessed August 12, 2007. John Linn (1763–1821) was a U.S. Representative from New Jersey from 1817 to 1821.John Linn, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 12, 2007.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 32.65 square miles (84.56 km2), including 31.99 square miles (82.84 km2) of land and 0.66 square miles (1.72 km2) of water (2.03%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Beaver Lake, Beaver Run, Big Springs, Bradys Pond, Hamburg, Hardistonville, Holland, Lake Stockholm, Monroe, North Church, Rudeville, Rudstown, Silver Lake, Stockholm, Summit Lake and Tamarack Lake.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.

Postal ZIP Codes covering Hardyston Township include 07460 Stockholm, 07416 Franklin Borough, 07419 Hamburg Borough, and a small part of 07848 Lafayette Township.

The township borders the municipalities of Franklin, Hamburg, Lafayette Township, Ogdensburg, Sparta, Vernon Township and Wantage Township in Sussex County; Jefferson Township in Morris County; and West Milford in Passaic County.Sussex County Map, Sussex County, New Jersey. Accessed February 23, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

In terms of physical geography, nearly all of Hardyston (excluding the portion of the township west of Hamburg along Route 94) lies within the New York – New Jersey Highlands, part of the greater Crystalline Appalachians that extend as far south as the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hardyston is home to portions of Hamburg Mountain (east of Franklin) and Pochuck Mountain (near Scenic Lakes) within this region. The remaining northwestern portion of the township lies within the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians. The prominent feature in the ridge-and-valley portion of the Township is the Wallkill Valley, through which the Wallkill River flows northeast to New York state.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 8,213 people, 3,255 households, and 2,376 families in the township. The population density was . There were 3,783 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 91.65% (7,527) White, 2.61% (214) Black or African American, 0.17% (14) Native American, 3.01% (247) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.21% (99) from other races, and 1.35% (111) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.56% (457) of the population.

Of the 3,255 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18; 59.9% were married couples living together; 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.0% were non-families. Of all households, 22.1% 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 2.52 and the average family size was 2.97.

21.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 32.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $81,655 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,575) and the median family income was $93,657 (+/− $14,035). Males had a median income of $70,592 (+/− $9,771) versus $42,899 (+/− $4,944) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,383 (+/− $2,894). About 3.5% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Hardyston township, Sussex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 7, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 6,171 people, 2,319 households, and 1,716 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 2,690 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 95.56% White, 0.84% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.57% Asian, 0.49% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.22% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Hardyston township, Sussex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 7, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Hardyston township, Sussex County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 7, 2012.

There were 2,319 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the township the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $65,511, and the median income for a family was $72,199. Males had a median income of $51,503 versus $32,319 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,457. About 2.7% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government Hardyston Township operates under a special charter granted by the New Jersey Legislature. The township is one of 11 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use a special charter.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 15. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the five-member Township Council, whose members are elected 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. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the first week of January, the council selects a mayor and a deputy mayor from among its members.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 110.Form of Government, Hardyston Township. Accessed October 7, 2012. "In 1985, Hardyston Township voted by referendum to adopt the council-manager form of government, which combines the strong political leadership of an elected council with the managerial expertise of an appointed manager or administrator."