Holland Township, New Jersey


Holland Township is a township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 5,291, reflecting an increase of 167 from the 5,124 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 232 from the 4,892 counted in the 1990 Census.
Holland Township is located in the northwestern part of Hunterdon County. The Delaware River forms its boundary with Pennsylvania and the Musconetcong River its boundary with Warren County. It was created from Alexandria Township on April 13, 1874, before being dissolved and reabsorbed into Alexandria Township on March 4, 1878. The township was reformed and separated as a municipality of its own again on March 11, 1879. Milford was created on April 15, 1911, from portions of Holland Township, based on the results of a referendum held on May 8, 1911. The township was named by Dutch settlers for Holland.
The Volendam Windmill Museum is a working mill driven by wind, used for grinding raw grain into flour. The structure is seven stories high with sail arms from tip to tip. The windmill is located on the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Farm, a property that has been preserved, though the windmill itself is not part of the preservation agreement.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 24.024 square miles, including 23.515 square miles of land and 0.509 square miles of water.
The township borders the municipalities of Alexandria Township, Bethlehem Township and Milford in Hunterdon County; Pohatcong Township in Warren County; and Bridgeton Township, Durham Township, Nockamixon Township and Riegelsville in Bucks County across the Delaware River in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Amsterdam, Finesville, Hughesville, Little York, Mount Joy, Riegel Ridge, Spring Mills and Warren Paper Mills.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $85,190 and the median family income was $99,535. Males had a median income of $77,951 versus $56,719 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $43,162. About 1.9% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,124 people, 1,881 households, and 1,523 families residing in the township. The population density was 216.2 people per square mile. There were 1,942 housing units at an average density of 81.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 98.09% White, 0.43% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.39% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.70% of the population.
There were 1,881 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.2% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.0% were non-families. 15.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the township the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $68,083, and the median income for a family was $71,925. Males had a median income of $50,737 versus $35,615 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,581. About 1.6% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

The Musconetcong Gorge Nature Preserve is an undeveloped park managed by the Hunterdon County Parks and Recreational System, with steeply wooded terrain overlooking the Musconetcong River. The gorge includes many spring-fed streams, a variety of plant species and wildlife. While much of the area offers challenging hikes, a variety of trails are being developed to offer access to less-seasoned hikers.

Government

Local government

Holland Township is governed under the Township form of government, one of 141 of 565 municipalities statewide that use this form. The Township Committee has five 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 either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.
, members of the Holland Township Committee are Mayor Dan Bush, Deputy Mayor Ray Krov, Lisa Pezzano Mickey, Robert Thurgarland and Scott Wilhelm.
In April 2019, the Township Committee selected Lisa Mickey from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to the fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Thomas Scheibener until he resigned from office earlier that month.
In March 2016, the Township Committee selected Robert Thurgarland from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the term expiring December 2016 of Tony Roselle, who had resigned from office the previous month.

Federal, state and county representation

Holland Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 3,699 registered voters in Holland Township, of which 669 were registered as Democrats, 1,537 were registered as Republicans and 1,490 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 60.8% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.7%, and other candidates with 1.6%, among the 2,785 ballots cast by the township's 3,867 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.0%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 57.5% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 39.9% and other candidates with 1.6%, among the 2,955 ballots cast by the township's 3,723 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 62.9% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 36.1% and other candidates with 1.1%, among the 2,871 ballots cast by the township's 3,612 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 79.5.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 74.4% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.9%, and other candidates with 1.7%, among the 1,849 ballots cast by the township's 3,836 registered voters, for a turnout of 48.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 65.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 24.2%, Independent Chris Daggett with 8.4% and other candidates with 1.0%, among the 2,274 ballots cast by the township's 3,693 registered voters, yielding a 61.6% turnout.

Education

The Holland Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Holland Township Elementary School. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprising one school, had an enrollment of 530 students and 57.3 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 9.3:1.
Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Delaware Valley Regional High School, together with students from Alexandria Township, Frenchtown, Kingwood Township and Milford. The school is part of the Delaware Valley Regional High School District. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 721 students and 68.4 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 10.5:1. Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with three seats assigned to Holland Township.
Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Transportation

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality and by Hunterdon County.
The only major road that passes through the township is County Route 519.
The closest limited access road is Interstate 78/U.S. Route 22 in neighboring Pohatcong Township in Warren County.

Notable people

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