Hopatcong, New Jersey | |
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Borough | |
Borough of Hopatcong | |
Map of Hopatcong Borough in Sussex County. |
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Census Bureau map of Hopatcong, New Jersey |
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Coordinates: 40°57′09″N 74°39′35″W / 40.952432°N 74.65966°WCoordinates: 40°57′09″N 74°39′35″W / 40.952432°N 74.65966°W | |
Country | United States |
State | New Jersey |
County | Sussex |
Incorporated | April 2, 1898 as Brooklyn |
Renamed | March 22, 1901 as Hopatcong |
Government | |
• Type | Borough |
• Body | Borough Council |
• Mayor | Sylvia Petillo (R, term ends December 31, 2019) |
• Administrator | Robert Elia |
• Clerk | Catherine Schultz |
Area | |
• Total | 12.248 sq mi (31.722 km2) |
• Land | 10.854 sq mi (28.113 km2) |
• Water | 1.394 sq mi (3.609 km2) 11.318% |
Area rank | 188th of 566 in state 16th of 24 in county |
Elevation | 997 ft (304 m) |
Population (2010 Census) | |
• Total | 15,147 |
• Estimate (2015) | 14,510 |
• Rank | 167th of 566 in state 3rd of 24 in county |
• Density | 1,395.5/sq mi (538.8/km2) |
• Density rank | 347th of 566 in state 6th of 24 in county |
Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
• Summer (DST) | Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4) |
ZIP code | 07843 |
Area code(s) | 973 |
FIPS code | 3403732910 |
GNIS feature ID | 0885259 |
Website | www |
Hopatcong /hoʊpætkɑːnɡ/ is a borough in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 15,147, reflecting a decline of 741 (-4.7%) from the 15,888 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 302 (+1.9%) from the 15,586 counted in the 1990 Census.
The town of Hopatcong has a rich history, given its relationship with New York City. It borders Lake Hopatcong, a partially man-made lake that is now a source of much recreation and desirable real estate, and is the biggest lake in New Jersey. The community, 40 miles (64 km) west of New York City, began as a summer getaway for the wealthy in NYC who primarily sought access to the lake. An amusement park, called "Bertrand's Island", sprang up and was accessible via the lake, trolley or by car through Mount Arlington. The construction of Interstate 80, a highway that stretches from Teaneck, New Jersey, all the way across the country to San Francisco, California, triggered rapid growth in New York City's suburbs and led to Hopatcong becoming a permanent residential community.
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 Pond". During the 1830s, the name of the community had been modified to "Brooklyn", to match the spelling of the city on New York's Long Island. Hopatcong was originally established as the Town of Brooklyn on April 2, 1898, from portions of Byram Township. On March 22, 1901, the Borough of Hopatcong replaced Brooklyn. In 1922, residents of Byram Cove, Northwood, and other areas to the west of the original land area of the borough, voted to leave Byram Township and join Hopatcong, leaving the Borough with its current borders.