Stillwater Township, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
History timeline
- 1741, Casper Shafer built the Stillwater gristmill about half a mile from the present mill site.
- 1764, the Stillwater gristmill was moved to its present location and commercially operated there until 1955. This makes the Casper and Abraham Shafer Grist Mill Complex one of the oldest, continuously operating, water-powered gristmills in the State of New Jersey.
- December 27, 1824, the township was created by an act passed by the New Jersey LegislatureNew Jersey LegislatureThe New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
. - 1844, the gristmill is rebuilt and powered by water from the Paulins KillPaulins KillThe Paulins Kill is a tributary of the Delaware River in northwestern New Jersey in the United States...
. Casper's son, Nathan Armstrong Shafer lived in Whitehall Manor, which he built near what is now the center of the village. Aline Murray KilmerAline Murray KilmerAline Murray Kilmer , was an American poet, children's book author, and essayist, and the wife and widow of poet and journalist Joyce Kilmer .- Biography :...
, the widow of poet Joyce KilmerJoyce KilmerAlfred Joyce Kilmer was an American journalist, poet, literary critic, lecturer, and editor. Though a prolific poet whose works celebrated the common beauty of the natural world as well as his religious faith, Kilmer is remembered most for a short poem entitled "Trees" , which was published in...
, lived the last decade of her life at Whitehall, passing away there on October 1, 1941. - Early 1900s, Swartswood Lake became a major resort. Weekenders took the train into nearby Blairstown through the 1940s to stay at such places as the North Shore Inn, The Casino, and The Dove Island Inn (now a private home). Later, summer cabins became popular with Brooklyn weekenders.
- 1910, the Stillwater creamery was built. Borden, Inc. later took control of the creamery.
- 1920s, the Paulinskill River was dammed to create Paulinskill Lake and many summer residences sprang up. These summer cottages have grown into what is now a year-round community.
Today the Presbyterian Church is the most prominent feature in Stillwater village. Opposite the church is the former Stillwater Academy, an old schoolhouse. The old schoolhouse is now home to the Stillwater Historical Museum. Stillwater was, and still is, primarily agricultural. The area is dotted with lime kilns, which used to burn lime to enrich the soil, but are now obsolete, becoming lost to history and the overgrowth of vegetation. An intact kiln still exists on Millbrook Road, a little more than two miles from Stillwater village.
Local government
Stillwater is governed under the TownshipTownship (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...
form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Stillwater Township Committee are Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
George Scott (2012), Deputy Mayor Timmy Fisher (2013), Charles Gross (2013), William Morrison (2011) and Anita Straway (serving until November 2011 for the unexpired term ending in 2012).
Emergency services
As of 2010, the Township Committee disbanded the Stillwater Police Department. Pending a lawsuit against the township, the New Jersey State Police assumed police coverage 24/7.The Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Company, and the Swartswood Volunteer Fire Department provide fire and rescue services to the township. The Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Company also provides services to Hardwick Township, in Warren County, along with Blairstown Hose Company #1. Stillwater also provides Ice Rescue services to the western portion of the county.
Stillwater Station houses CAFS Pumper 42-62, Rescue-Pumper 42-61, Tanker/Pumper 42-71, and utility and special operations 42-81.
Swartswood Station houses Pumper 45-62, Tanker 45-71, and Utility 45-81.
Stillwater Emergency Rescue Squad provides Emergency Medical Services to the township, utilizing two full-size ambulances, and first response vehicles. EMS coverage is supplemented by The Stillwater Area Volunteer Fire Company's First Responder Division.
Federal, state and county representation
Stillwater Township is in the 5th Congressional district.Stillwater Township is in the
Politics
As of March 23, 2011, out of a 2010 Census population of 4,099 in Stillwater, there were 3,009 registered voters (73.4% of the population, vs. 65.8% in all of Sussex County). Of registered voters, 468 (15.6% 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...
, 1,354 (45.0% 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 1,183 (39.3% 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 four voters registered to other parties (three Greens
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 one Libertarian
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...
).
On the national level, Stillwater 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 65% 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 33%. 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 37%. This gives Stillwater Township a Cook PVI of R+15.
Education
The Stillwater Township School DistrictStillwater Township School District
The Stillwater Township School District is a community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade from Stillwater Township, in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States....
serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. The Stillwater Township School had an enrollment of 401 students as of the 2008-09 school year.
The students of middle and high school age in public school for grades 7-12 attend Kittatinny Regional High School
Kittatinny Regional High School
The Kittatinny Regional High School is a six-year comprehensive regional public high school and school district in Sussex County, New Jersey, serving students in grades 7 - 12 from five municipalities in the northwest area of the county...
located in Hampton Township, which serves students who reside in Fredon Township
Fredon Township, New Jersey
Fredon Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 2,860....
, Hampton Township
Hampton Township, New Jersey
Hampton Township is a Township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 4,943....
, Sandyston Township
Sandyston Township, New Jersey
- Local government :Sandyston Township is governed under the Township form of government with a three-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for...
, Stillwater Township and Walpack Township
Walpack Township, New Jersey
-Local government:Walpack Township is governed under the Township form of government with a three-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election...
. The high school is located in Hampton, about seven minutes outside of the County seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Newton
Newton, New Jersey
Newton is a town in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 8,244. It is the county seat of Sussex County....
.
See also
- Harmony Hill Methodist Church (Stillwater, New Jersey)Harmony Hill Methodist Church (Stillwater, New Jersey)Harmony Hill Methodist Church is a Methodist Episcopal house of worship affiliated with the United Methodist Church and located about one mile north of the village of Stillwater in Stillwater Township, in the County of Sussex, New Jersey, United States....
- Paulins KillPaulins KillThe Paulins Kill is a tributary of the Delaware River in northwestern New Jersey in the United States...
- Stillwater Cemetery (Stillwater, New Jersey)
- Stillwater Presbyterian Church (Stillwater, New Jersey)Stillwater Presbyterian Church (Stillwater, New Jersey)The Stillwater Presbyterian Church is a house of worship affiliated with the Presbyterian Church located in the village of Stillwater in Stillwater Township, in the County of Sussex, New Jersey...
Reading List
McCabe, Wayne T. and Kate Gordon. A Penny A View...An Album of Postcard Views...Stillwater, N.J. (Newton, NJ: Historic Preservation Alternatives, 1995).External links
- Stillwater Township web site
- Stillwater Township School
- Data for the Stillwater Township School, 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...
- Kittatinny Regional High School
- Skylands Guide to Stillwater
- Skylands Guide to Stone Mills
- Virtual tour of the village of Stillwater
- The Township Journal, community newspaper
- Historical Society of Stillwater Township