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Sparta Township, New Jersey

Sparta Township, New Jersey
Township
Township of Sparta
Lake Mohawk Boardwalk in Sparta
Lake Mohawk Boardwalk in Sparta
Map of Sparta Township in Sussex County. Inset: Location of Sussex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Map of Sparta Township in Sussex County. Inset: Location of Sussex County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Sparta Township, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Sparta Township, New Jersey
Coordinates: 41°03′08″N 74°37′40″W / 41.052354°N 74.62788°W / 41.052354; -74.62788Coordinates: 41°03′08″N 74°37′40″W / 41.052354°N 74.62788°W / 41.052354; -74.62788
Country  United States
State  New Jersey
County Sussex
Incorporated April 14, 1845
Government
 • Type Faulkner Act (Council-Manager)
 • Body Township Council
 • Mayor Christine Quinn (term ends December 31, 2016)
 • Manager William E. Close
 • Clerk Mary Coe
Area
 • Total 38.965 sq mi (100.920 km2)
 • Land 36.942 sq mi (95.680 km2)
 • Water 2.023 sq mi (5.240 km2)  5.19%
Area rank 58th of 566 in state
5th of 24 in county
Elevation 620 ft (190 m)
Population (2010 Census)
 • Total 19,722
 • Estimate (2015) 19,159
 • Rank 131st of 566 in state
2nd of 24 in county
 • Density 533.9/sq mi (206.1/km2)
 • Density rank 441st of 566 in state
9th of 24 in county
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4)
ZIP code 07871
Area code(s) 973 exchanges: 726, 729
FIPS code 3403769690
GNIS feature ID 0882265
Website www.spartanj.org

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.

Pre-colonial Sparta was inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans. In the 1750s, Dutch explorers discovered red ores in the area and attempted to mine copper. No permanent settlers arrived until 1778, when Robert Ogden and his wife built their home and constructed an iron forge on lands he had acquired and "called their house and farm Sparta." The first public building in Sparta was the Presbyterian Church which was incorporated in 1786. Schools were established in Ogdensburg by 1806 and in Sparta by 1812.


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