Oxford Township, New Jersey


Oxford Township is a township in Warren County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 2,514, reflecting an increase of 207 from the 2,307 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 517 from the 1,790 counted in the 1990 Census. It part of the eastern-most region of the Lehigh Valley.
Oxford Township was formed from portions of Greenwich Township on May 30, 1754, while the area was still part of Sussex County. It was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature. Mansfield Township became part of the newly formed Warren County on November 20, 1824. Over the centuries since its creation, portions of the township were taken to form Knowlton Township, Franklin Township, Harmony Township and Hope Township, Belvidere and White Township.
The origin of the name and the exact date of the township's creation is in dispute. One source says that the township was named for the University of Oxford in England, and was formed in either 1753 or 1755, but other sources claim that the township was named after an early settler named John Axford, who came to settle in the area with others between 1735 and 1739, and affirms that the township's creation was in 1755.
Oxford Furnace, constructed in 1741, was the third furnace in Colonial New Jersey and the first constructed at a site where iron ore was mined. Other furnaces used ore extracted from bogs in South Jersey, impure deposits called bog iron. Oxford Furnace operated the longest of any of the Colonial-era furnaces, not being "blown out" until 1884. In 1835, it was the site of America's first successful use of the hot blast in which preheated air was blown into the furnace, cutting production time. Though worn down by time, much of the site still stands. Oxford Furnace is listed on the State and the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 5.887 square miles, including 5.786 square miles of land and 0.101 square miles of water.
Oxford CDP is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within the township. Oxford CDP and Oxford Township are not coextensive, with the CDP covering 11.7% of the of the township as a whole.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Pequest.
The township borders the Warren County municipalities of Mansfield Township, Washington Township and White Township.

Climate

Being in the Northeast, Oxford experiences all four seasons with hot humid summers and cold, snowy winters.

Demographics

The Township's economic data is calculated by the US Census Bureau as part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $66,268 and the median family income was $76,186. Males had a median income of $56,731 versus $36,816 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,948. About 1.5% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 2,307 people, 886 households, and 618 families residing in the township. The population density was 388.7 inhabitants per square mile. There were 938 housing units at an average density of 158.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 96.58% White, 1.21% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.65% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.47% of the population.
There were 886 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $53,359, and the median income for a family was $63,750. Males had a median income of $45,667 versus $31,210 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,515. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Oxford Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 of 565 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. The Township Committee is comprised of three 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 one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. 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 to serve as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Oxford Township Committee are Mayor Robert F. Nyland, Deputy Mayor Gerald Norton and Georgette Miller.
After committee member Keith Gibbons resigned in July 2014 in the wake of harassment claims, Mayor Jade White and committee member Jim Williams resigned in August 2014 after realizing that Williams should have been up for election the previous November following his appointment to office. This left the township with no serving council members. In September 2014, Governor Chris Christie appointed Democrat Bill Bray and Republicans Marck Pasquini and Bill Ryan to fill the three vacant seats on an interim basis until the November 2014 general election, with the committee selecting Pasquini as mayor and Ryan as deputy mayor. In the November 2014 general election, Ryan was elected to serve the balance of the term expiring in December 2016.

Federal, state and county representation

Oxford Township is located in the 5th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Oxford Township had been in the 23rd state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 1,464 registered voters in Oxford Township, of which 338 were registered as Democrats, 555 were registered as Republicans and 569 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were two voters registered to other parties. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 58.2% were registered to vote, including 76.6% of those ages 18 and over.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 591 votes, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 403 votes and other candidates with 20 votes, among the 1,030 ballots cast by the township's 1,495 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 662 votes, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 417 votes and other candidates with 22 votes, among the 1,142 ballots cast by the township's 1,517 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.3%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 698 votes, ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 379 votes and other candidates with 19 votes, among the 1,106 ballots cast by the township's 1,443 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.6%.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.6% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.2%, and other candidates with 2.1%, among the 725 ballots cast by the township's 1,516 registered voters, for a turnout of 47.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 503 votes, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 176 votes, Independent Chris Daggett with 83 votes and other candidates with 12 votes, among the 786 ballots cast by the township's 1,468 registered voters, yielding a 53.5% turnout.

Education

The Oxford Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Oxford Central School. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 275 students and 30.0 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 9.2:1.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades are served by the Warren Hills Regional School District, which is a district for grades 7-12 that also serves students from the municipalities of Franklin Township, Mansfield Township, Washington Borough and Washington Township, with students from Oxford Township attending on a tuition basis as part of a sending/receiving relationship. Schools in the district are
Warren Hills Regional Middle School with 542 students in grades 7 and 8 and
Warren Hills Regional High School with 1,205 students in grades 9 - 12.
Students from the township and from all of Warren County are eligible to attend Ridge and Valley Charter School in Frelinghuysen Township or Warren County Technical School in Washington borough, with special education services provided by local districts supplemented throughout the county by the Warren County Special Services School District in Oxford Township.

Transportation

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Warren County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
The main road that passes through is Route 31.
The closest limited access roads are at least 20 minutes away.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Oxford Township include: