Byram Township, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Byram Township — "The Township of Lakes" — is a Township
in Sussex County
, New Jersey
, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 8,350. Lake Mohawk
is a census-designated place
and unincorporated area located in parts of both Byram Township and Sparta Township.
on February 5, 1798, from portions of the now-defunct Newton Township
, and was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. Byram Township was named in honor of patriarch Jephthah Byram and his family, who are believed to have emigrated to the area after the American Revolutionary War
. Before being named Byram, the community had been called Lockwood. In fact, the Lockwood Tavern still holds this as evidence. In 1829, a section of Green Township
was incorporated into the township. Portions of the township have been taken to form Sparta Township
(April 14, 1845), Brooklyn borough (March 24, 1898, now called Hopatcong
) and Stanhope borough
(March 24, 1904).
There are many historical sites located in Byram. The Roseville Schoolhouse, built in 1853, was recently moved from its original location on Lackawanna Drive to Mansfield Drive. The Leport House, built in 1802, is Byram's oldest remaining house. The house is located right by the Byram General Store on Sparta-Stanhope Road. The Lockwood Cemetery, Byram's most recognizable cemetery, was built circa 1818. The cemetery consists of about 30 gravestones, with slight remnants of the foundation of a church.
In 1911, the Lackawanna Cut-Off rail line opened through Byram Township, with a station stop near the current sub-division neighborhood of Forest Lakes. The Cut-Off was part of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
's mainline from Hoboken
, New Jersey
to Buffalo
, New York
. The railroad was important in providing transportation for mines in Northern Jersey. It passes through Byram for a long distance. It runs mainly along Roseville, but as Roseville veers north, the tracks still head West. The line was abandoned in 1980 and the tracks were removed four years later. There is a proposal to reactivate passenger service via New Jersey Transit
in the future.
from the rocks of southwestern Byram. The mine closed in the 1950s, but many remnants are still visible.
, the township has a total area of 22.2 square miles (57.5 km²), of which, 21.1 square miles (54.6 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it (5.00%) is water. It is divided into several sections. They include the neighborhoods of Forest West, East and West Brookwood, Forest Lakes, Lackawanna, Cranberry Lake, and the Lake Mohawk area.
The township is known as the "Township of Lakes" because of the community's nearly two dozen lakes and ponds.
Streams
Residents of Byram are served by adjacent post offices in Stanhope
, Andover Township
and Sparta Township
.
of 2000, there were 8,254 people, 2,833 households, and 2,317 families residing in the township. The population density
was 391.8 people per square mile (151.3/km²). There were 3,078 housing units at an average density of 146.1 per square mile (56.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.77% White, 0.97% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.41% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races
, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.94% of the population.
There were 2,833 households out of which 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.9% were married couples
living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 13.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $81,532, and the median income for a family was $89,500. Males had a median income of $59,722 versus $40,396 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $30,710. About 0.9% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 1.1% of those age 65 or over.
Council-Manager
plan. Byram Township has a Mayor and four Council Members. The Mayor and all Council Members are elected at-large in nonpartisan
elections for four-year staggered terms. Elected Officials enter office on January 1. Byram Township's elections are held on Election Day in odd number years (e.g., November 2011, 2013, etc.)
The Township Council passes ordinances and resolutions. It maintains the Administrative Code. The Council appoints the Township Manager. It appoints the Municipal Clerk, the Tax Assessor and Members of all boards, commissions and authorities. It votes on the municipal budget after it has been prepared by the township manager.
, the Mayor of Byram Township is James Oscovitch (term ends December 31, 2013). Other members of the Byram Township Council are Scott Olson (2011), Marie Raffay (2013), Daniel Rafferty (2011) and Brian Thompson (2011).
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
, 1,957 (33.7% vs. 39.3% countywide) were registered as Republicans
and 2,714 (46.8% vs. 44.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared
. There were six voters registered to other parties (two Constitution Partiers
, one Green
and three Libertarians
).
In recent years, on the national level, Byram is a stronghold for the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election
, Republican George W. Bush
received 63% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry
, who received 36%. In the 2008 presidential election
, Republican John McCain
received 60% of the vote here, defeating Democrat Barack Obama
, who received 38%. This gives Byram Township a Cook PVI of R+14.
contains two public schools for grades K - 8, run by the Byram Township Board of Education. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are
Byram Lakes Elementary School serves grades K - 4 (547 students) and
Byram Township Intermediate School serves grades 5 - 8 (535 students).
For public school students in grades 9 - 12, the township shares Lenape Valley Regional High School
, which also serves Netcong
in Morris County
and the Sussex County community of Stanhope
.
The Consolidated School,a former public school building that had been used to serve K-2, has been leased to a private special needs school named Celebrate the Children.
There are a few private schools close by. Reverend Brown in Sparta serves grades K-8. Hilltop Country Day School
, which also serves K-8, also has students from Byram. Byram has students in various private high schools, but all but one school are located outside of Sussex County. Pope John XXIII Regional High School
, in Sparta Township
, is the location of the only private high school in Sussex County, which has around 10 students from Byram.
Sussex Branch Trail extends 21.2 miles from Netcong to Branchville, following the route of the old Sussex Branch Railroad. This line was in service under various ownerships from 1848 - 1966. Today trail users can explore the route once used by steam locomotives and long freight trains.
C.O Johnson Park has parks for younger and older children. It includes a football field, baseball field, and a track for walking. People can ride bikes here and watch games. There is also a tennis court. It has restrooms and a refreshment~snack area. It has a picnic area - carry-in, carry-out - near the skateboard park and bocce ball court. The picnic area has five tables with attached benches and two handicapped accessible tables. The picnic tables were built and installed by local Girl Scout gold recipient Addison Rice. The park was named for C.O. Johnson,a mayor for about 25 years in Byram Township who helped the community greatly along with his wife.
Riverside Park is located at the intersection of River Road and Waterloo Road in Byram Township. Opening ceremonies were held late summer of 2001, making it Byram's newest park. The park has the Musconetcong River
running right behind it and features beautiful walking paths, fishing and canoeing. The park features a brand new, state of the art playground, picnic tables, a gazebo and basketball courts.
Tomahawk Park is a small park located on Tomahawk Trail in Byram Township. It is located right across from Tomahawk Lake.
Parts of Allamuchy Mountain State Park
are located in the township. Access to the State Park can be gained via State Trails.
Neil Gylling Memorial Park has two softball fields. A soccer field is also set up between the softball fields during the fall season. There are also two tennis courts. This is the traditional location for Byram Day which is celebrated the 2nd Saturday in September of every year.
Brookside Park is a small park that contains a basketball court in East Brookwood.
exhibits many different time periods from a 400 year old Lenape
(Delaware) Native American
village to a bustling port along the once prosperous Morris Canal
. The early 19th-century village contains a working mill with gristmills and sawmills, a general store, a blacksmith shop and restored houses. Classical and popular music programs are available to the public during the summer months. Waterloo Village was shut down to preserve the artifacts inside, though plans have been made to restore the buildings on the site.
. A small portion of Interstate 80
passes through the southern tip of Byram Township but without any interchanges.
Township (New Jersey)
A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village, collecting property taxes and providing...
in Sussex County
Sussex County, New Jersey
The County of Sussex is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 Federal decennial census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 8,350. Lake Mohawk
Lake Mohawk, New Jersey
Beaches are provided along the edge of the lakes, spaced to enable residents to walk to the nearest one. Membership in the club is required for owners and renters alike. An issue of exclusion was raised at one point legally, but membership remains a requirement for residents...
is a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
and unincorporated area located in parts of both Byram Township and Sparta Township.
History
Byram Township was created by an act by the New Jersey General AssemblyNew Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
on February 5, 1798, from portions of the now-defunct Newton Township
Newton Township, Sussex County, New Jersey
Newton Township is a defunct township that existed within Sussex County, New Jersey, United States, from 1751 through 1864.Newton Township was created on March 27, 1751, while the area was still part of Morris County and became part of the newly-created Sussex County upon its creation June 8, 1753...
, and was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. Byram Township was named in honor of patriarch Jephthah Byram and his family, who are believed to have emigrated to the area after the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. Before being named Byram, the community had been called Lockwood. In fact, the Lockwood Tavern still holds this as evidence. In 1829, a section of Green Township
Green Township, New Jersey
- History :On November 20, 1824, the southern portion of Sussex County was set off to create Warren County. The northern portions of both Hardwick and Independence Townships, remained in Sussex County and were incorporated as Green Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 27,...
was incorporated into the township. Portions of the township have been taken to form Sparta Township
Sparta Township, New Jersey
Sparta Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 19,722...
(April 14, 1845), Brooklyn borough (March 24, 1898, now called Hopatcong
Hopatcong, New Jersey
Hopatcong is a Borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 15,147.The area had been called "Brookland" in the 19th century and the lake that was expanded to become Lake Hopatcong had been known as "Great Pond" or "Brookland...
) and Stanhope borough
Stanhope, New Jersey
-Transportation:Route 183 is the main access road that serves the borough. U.S. Route 206 also passes through in the western section and is partially a limited access road which connects to I-80 in neighboring Mount Olive.-Demographics:...
(March 24, 1904).
There are many historical sites located in Byram. The Roseville Schoolhouse, built in 1853, was recently moved from its original location on Lackawanna Drive to Mansfield Drive. The Leport House, built in 1802, is Byram's oldest remaining house. The house is located right by the Byram General Store on Sparta-Stanhope Road. The Lockwood Cemetery, Byram's most recognizable cemetery, was built circa 1818. The cemetery consists of about 30 gravestones, with slight remnants of the foundation of a church.
In 1911, the Lackawanna Cut-Off rail line opened through Byram Township, with a station stop near the current sub-division neighborhood of Forest Lakes. The Cut-Off was part of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
The Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company was a railroad connecting Pennsylvania's Lackawanna Valley, rich in anthracite coal, to Hoboken, New Jersey, , Buffalo and Oswego, New York...
's mainline from Hoboken
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
to Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The railroad was important in providing transportation for mines in Northern Jersey. It passes through Byram for a long distance. It runs mainly along Roseville, but as Roseville veers north, the tracks still head West. The line was abandoned in 1980 and the tracks were removed four years later. There is a proposal to reactivate passenger service via New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
in the future.
Mining
Byram Township had a very large mining industry in the past. There are so many mineral mines in Byram that there is one almost walking distance from anywhere. The biggest mine, The Roseville Mine, is located on the current Roseville Road. The mine is in a quadrilateral plot of land, with the southwestern corner created by Roseville Road and Amity Road. The southeastern corner is created by an intersection between Roseville Road and the Lackawanna Cut-off. The Roseville Mine was first excavated in the early 1850s. It was well worked during its life, with production in 1880 alone documented as 67,000 tons. Most of the work was done via a large open cut. This cut as it exists today, is water filled, however its massive size was impressive, its vertical walls being probably over 80 to 90 feet high. Another popular mine is the Charlotte Uranium mine. The mine extracted uraniumUranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
from the rocks of southwestern Byram. The mine closed in the 1950s, but many remnants are still visible.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 22.2 square miles (57.5 km²), of which, 21.1 square miles (54.6 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it (5.00%) is water. It is divided into several sections. They include the neighborhoods of Forest West, East and West Brookwood, Forest Lakes, Lackawanna, Cranberry Lake, and the Lake Mohawk area.
The township is known as the "Township of Lakes" because of the community's nearly two dozen lakes and ponds.
Streams
- Lubbers RunLubbers RunLubbers Run is a creek running through Byram and Sparta Townships in Sussex County in northwestern New Jersey.-See also:*List of rivers of New Jersey...
runs through the township, intersecting Mansfield Drive. The run is monitored monthly by the Byram Intermediate School's Environmental Club. - Punkhorn CreekPunkhorn CreekPunkhorn Creek is a small stream in the middle of Byram Township, Sussex County, New Jersey in the United States.Punkhorn Creek flows southwest from Lake Bottom, on the north side of and parallel with Amity Road, to Roseville Pond....
runs through the township, flowing southwest from Lake Bottom, on the north side of and parallel with Amity Road, to Roseville Pond.
Residents of Byram are served by adjacent post offices in Stanhope
Stanhope, New Jersey
-Transportation:Route 183 is the main access road that serves the borough. U.S. Route 206 also passes through in the western section and is partially a limited access road which connects to I-80 in neighboring Mount Olive.-Demographics:...
, Andover Township
Andover Township, New Jersey
Andover Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 6,319....
and Sparta Township
Sparta Township, New Jersey
Sparta Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 19,722...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,254 people, 2,833 households, and 2,317 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 391.8 people per square mile (151.3/km²). There were 3,078 housing units at an average density of 146.1 per square mile (56.4/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.77% White, 0.97% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.41% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.94% of the population.
There were 2,833 households out of which 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.2% were non-families. 13.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the township the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.4 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $81,532, and the median income for a family was $89,500. Males had a median income of $59,722 versus $40,396 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the township was $30,710. About 0.9% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 1.1% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
The Township of Byram is chartered under the Faulkner ActFaulkner Act (New Jersey)
The Optional Municipal Charter Law or Faulkner Act provides New Jersey municipalities with a variety of models of local government. This legislation is called the Faulkner Act in honor of the late Bayard H...
Council-Manager
Faulkner Act (Council-Manager)
The Faulkner Act, or Optional Municipal Charter Law, provides for New Jersey municipalities to adopt a Council-Manager government.The council consists of 5, 7, or 9 members elected by the public...
plan. Byram Township has a Mayor and four Council Members. The Mayor and all Council Members are elected at-large in nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
elections for four-year staggered terms. Elected Officials enter office on January 1. Byram Township's elections are held on Election Day in odd number years (e.g., November 2011, 2013, etc.)
The Township Council passes ordinances and resolutions. It maintains the Administrative Code. The Council appoints the Township Manager. It appoints the Municipal Clerk, the Tax Assessor and Members of all boards, commissions and authorities. It votes on the municipal budget after it has been prepared by the township manager.
, the Mayor of Byram Township is James Oscovitch (term ends December 31, 2013). Other members of the Byram Township Council are Scott Olson (2011), Marie Raffay (2013), Daniel Rafferty (2011) and Brian Thompson (2011).
Federal, state and county representation
Byram Township is in the 11th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 24th state legislative district. The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment CommissionNew Jersey Apportionment Commission
The New Jersey Apportionment Commission is a constitutionally-created ten-member commission responsible for apportioning the forty districts of the New Jersey Legislature. The commission is convened after each decennial U.S. Census, and the districts are to be in use for the legislative elections...
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
Politics
As of March 23, 2011, out of a 2010 Census population of 8,350 in Byram, there were 5,805 registered voters (69.5% of the population, vs. 65.8% in all of Sussex County). Of registered voters, 1,128 (19.4% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as DemocratsDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, 1,957 (33.7% vs. 39.3% countywide) were registered as Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and 2,714 (46.8% vs. 44.1% countywide) were registered as Undeclared
Undeclared (New Jersey)
Unaffiliated is a status for registered voters in New Jersey. Those voters who do not specify a political party affiliation when they register to vote are listed as unaffiliated....
. There were six voters registered to other parties (two Constitution Partiers
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
, one Green
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
and three Libertarians
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
).
In recent years, on the national level, Byram is a stronghold for the Republican Party. In the 2004 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2004
The United States presidential election of 2004 was the United States' 55th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate and incumbent President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate John Kerry, the then-junior U.S. Senator...
, Republican George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
received 63% of the vote here, defeating Democrat John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
, who received 36%. In the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
, Republican John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
received 60% of the vote here, defeating Democrat Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, who received 38%. This gives Byram Township a Cook PVI of R+14.
Education
The Byram Township School DistrictByram Township School District
The Byram Township School District is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade from Byram Township, in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States....
contains two public schools for grades K - 8, run by the Byram Township Board of Education. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are
Byram Lakes Elementary School serves grades K - 4 (547 students) and
Byram Township Intermediate School serves grades 5 - 8 (535 students).
For public school students in grades 9 - 12, the township shares Lenape Valley Regional High School
Lenape Valley Regional High School
Lenape Valley Regional High School is a four-year regional public high school and school district in New Jersey serving approximately 900 students from two municipalities in Sussex County and one in Morris County....
, which also serves Netcong
Netcong, New Jersey
Netcong is a Borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,580. Its estimated population in 2006 was 3,292...
in Morris County
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
and the Sussex County community of Stanhope
Stanhope, New Jersey
-Transportation:Route 183 is the main access road that serves the borough. U.S. Route 206 also passes through in the western section and is partially a limited access road which connects to I-80 in neighboring Mount Olive.-Demographics:...
.
The Consolidated School,a former public school building that had been used to serve K-2, has been leased to a private special needs school named Celebrate the Children.
There are a few private schools close by. Reverend Brown in Sparta serves grades K-8. Hilltop Country Day School
Hilltop Country Day School
Hilltop Country Day School is a private, nonsectarian coeducational day school located in Sparta, in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. The school serves students in preschool through eighth grade. The school is divided into a Lower school and Upper School...
, which also serves K-8, also has students from Byram. Byram has students in various private high schools, but all but one school are located outside of Sussex County. Pope John XXIII Regional High School
Pope John XXIII Regional High School
Pope John XXIII Regional High School is a Roman Catholic high school in Sparta Township, New Jersey. The school was founded in 1956, originally as Our Lady Of The Lake School, and is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson...
, in Sparta Township
Sparta Township, New Jersey
Sparta Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 19,722...
, is the location of the only private high school in Sussex County, which has around 10 students from Byram.
Trails and Hiking
Byram Township is known as the "Gateway to New Jersey Trails".Sussex Branch Trail extends 21.2 miles from Netcong to Branchville, following the route of the old Sussex Branch Railroad. This line was in service under various ownerships from 1848 - 1966. Today trail users can explore the route once used by steam locomotives and long freight trains.
Parks
Parks in Byram Township include:C.O Johnson Park has parks for younger and older children. It includes a football field, baseball field, and a track for walking. People can ride bikes here and watch games. There is also a tennis court. It has restrooms and a refreshment~snack area. It has a picnic area - carry-in, carry-out - near the skateboard park and bocce ball court. The picnic area has five tables with attached benches and two handicapped accessible tables. The picnic tables were built and installed by local Girl Scout gold recipient Addison Rice. The park was named for C.O. Johnson,a mayor for about 25 years in Byram Township who helped the community greatly along with his wife.
Riverside Park is located at the intersection of River Road and Waterloo Road in Byram Township. Opening ceremonies were held late summer of 2001, making it Byram's newest park. The park has the Musconetcong River
Musconetcong River
The Musconetcong River is a tributary of the Delaware River in northwestern New Jersey in the United States. It flows through the rural mountainous country of northwestern New Jersey. Part of it is a National Wild and Scenic River....
running right behind it and features beautiful walking paths, fishing and canoeing. The park features a brand new, state of the art playground, picnic tables, a gazebo and basketball courts.
Tomahawk Park is a small park located on Tomahawk Trail in Byram Township. It is located right across from Tomahawk Lake.
Parts of Allamuchy Mountain State Park
Allamuchy Mountain State Park
Allamuchy Mountain State Park is located in Byram Township, New Jersey, United States. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry. There are more than of unmarked trails in the northern section of Allamuchy, and of marked multi-use trails.The park is in...
are located in the township. Access to the State Park can be gained via State Trails.
Neil Gylling Memorial Park has two softball fields. A soccer field is also set up between the softball fields during the fall season. There are also two tennis courts. This is the traditional location for Byram Day which is celebrated the 2nd Saturday in September of every year.
Brookside Park is a small park that contains a basketball court in East Brookwood.
Waterloo Village
Waterloo VillageWaterloo Village
Waterloo Village is a restored 19th Century canal town in Byram Township, Sussex County in northwestern New Jersey and was approximately the half-way point in the roughly 102-mile trip along the Morris Canal, which ran from Jersey City to Phillipsburg, New Jersey Waterloo Village is a restored...
exhibits many different time periods from a 400 year old Lenape
Lenape
The Lenape are an Algonquian group of Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands. They are also called Delaware Indians. As a result of the American Revolutionary War and later Indian removals from the eastern United States, today the main groups live in Canada, where they are enrolled in the...
(Delaware) Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
village to a bustling port along the once prosperous Morris Canal
Morris Canal
The Morris Canal was an anthracite-carrying canal that incorporated a series of water-driven inclined planes in its course across northern New Jersey in the United States. It was in use for about a century — from the late 1820s to the 1920s....
. The early 19th-century village contains a working mill with gristmills and sawmills, a general store, a blacksmith shop and restored houses. Classical and popular music programs are available to the public during the summer months. Waterloo Village was shut down to preserve the artifacts inside, though plans have been made to restore the buildings on the site.
Transportation
The township is bisected by U.S. Route 206U.S. Route 206
U.S. Route 206 is a long north–south United States highway in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, United States. Only about a half a mile of its length is in Pennsylvania; the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge carries it over the Delaware River into New Jersey, where it is the remainder of the route...
. A small portion of Interstate 80
Interstate 80 in New Jersey
Interstate 80 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States, running from the New York City Metropolitan Area westward to San Francisco, California...
passes through the southern tip of Byram Township but without any interchanges.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Byram Township include:- Rob FreemanRob FreemanRobert Andrew Freeman is the former guitarist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter for the pop punk/post-hardcore group Hidden in Plain View...
(born 1981), of the group Hidden in Plain ViewHidden in Plain ViewHidden in Plain View was a five-piece Pop Punk band from northern New Jersey. They formed in 2000 and disbanded in 2007. During their six and a half year run, the group released records with four different record labels , including two full-length albums and three EPs...
.
External links
- Byram Township website
- Sussex County webpage for Byram Township
- Byram Township School District
- Data for the Byram Township School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Lenape Valley Regional High School
- The Township Journal, community newspaper