Sparta Township is a township in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 19,722, reflecting an increase of 1,642 (+9.1%) from the 18,080 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,923 (+19.3%) from the 15,157 counted in the 1990 Census.
Sparta was organized as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 14, 1845, from portions of Byram Township, Frankford Township, Hardyston Township and (the now-defunct) Newton Township. The township was named after the existing community of Sparta, which had been settled and named years before, the name likely coming from Sparta, Greece. Ogdensburg borough was incorporated on February 26, 1914, from portions of Sparta Township.
Sparta Township had a total area of 38.965 square miles (100.920 km2), including 36.942 square miles (95.680 km2) of land and 2.023 square miles (5.240 km2) of water (5.19%).
Lake Mohawk (with 8,092 out of the CDP’s total 2010 Census population of 9,916 in the township) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) split between Byram Township and Sparta Township.[32][33][34]
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Ackerson, Edison, Hopewell, Houses Corner, Monroe, Sparta Junction, Sussex Mills, Upper Mohawk and Woodruffs Gap.
The township borders the Sussex County municipalities of Andover Township, Byram Township, Franklin borough, Hardyston Township, Hopatcong borough and Lafayette Township; and Jefferson Township in Morris County.
Sparta has been noted for the high number of pilots and their families who settle in the area. In his 1994 book The Airport: Terminal Nights and Runway Days at John F. Kennedy International, James Kaplan describes the home township of an interviewee as “thickly populated, for no particular reason, with pilots, many of whom do their flying out of Kennedy. The view out [the pilot’s] picture window is of trees … The lights and noise of Manhattan, fifty miles distant, attract flight attendants, single people mostly. Pilots like the woods.”
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 19,722 people, 6,868 households, and 5,453.192 families residing in the township. The population density was 533.9 per square mile (206.1/km2). There were 7,423 housing units at an average density of 200.9 per square mile (77.6/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 94.15% (18,569) White, 1.00% (198) Black or African American, 0.11% (22) Native American, 2.49% (491) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander, 0.70% (139) from other races, and 1.52% (299) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.34% (1,054) of the population.
Source: Wikipedia
