Location of Oxford Township in Warren County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Warren County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Oxford Township was formed from portions of Greenwich Township on May 30, 1754, while the area was still part of Sussex County. It was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature. Mansfield Township became part of the newly formed Warren County on November 20, 1824. Over the centuries since its creation, portions of the township were taken to form Knowlton Township (February 23, 1763), Franklin Township, Harmony Township and Hope Township (all on April 8, 1839), Belvidere (April 7, 1845) and White Township (April 9, 1913).[18]
The origin of the name and the exact date of the township's creation is in dispute. One source says that the township was named for the University of Oxford in England, and was formed in either 1753 or 1755,[19] but other sources claim that the township was named after an early settler named John Axford, who came to settle in the area with others between 1735 and 1739, and affirms that the township's creation was in 1755.[20][21]
Oxford Furnace, constructed in 1741, was the third furnace in Colonial New Jersey and the first constructed at a site where iron ore was mined. Other furnaces used ore extracted from bogs in South Jersey, impure deposits called bog iron. Oxford Furnace operated the longest of any of the Colonial-era furnaces, not being "blown out" until 1884. In 1835, it was the site of America's first successful use of the hot blast in which preheated air was blown into the furnace, cutting production time. Though worn down by time, much of the site still stands. Oxford Furnace is listed on the State and the National Register of Historic Places.[22]
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 6.06 square miles (15.70 km2), including 5.96 square miles (15.43 km2) of land and 0.10 square miles (0.26 km2) of water (1.67%).[1][2]
Of the 950 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18; 56.1% were married couples living together; 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 28.9% were non-families. Of all households, 22.6% were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.13.[15]
24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.7 males.[15]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,268 (with a margin of error of ± $3,864) and the median family income was $76,186 (± $8,432). Males had a median income of $56,731 (± $11,282) versus $36,816 (± $5,060) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $29,948 (± $2,220). About 1.5% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.[41]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census,[12] there were 2,307 people, 886 households, and 618 families residing in the township. The population density was 388.7 inhabitants per square mile (150.1/km2). There were 938 housing units at an average density of 158.0 per square mile (61.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 96.58% White, 1.21% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.65% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.47% of the population.[39][40]
There were 886 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.18.[39][40]
In the township the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 35.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.[39][40]
The median income for a household in the township was $53,359, and the median income for a family was $63,750. Males had a median income of $45,667 versus $31,210 for females. The per capita income for the township was $23,515. About 2.6% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.[39][40]
Government
Local government
Oxford Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.[42] The Township Committee is comprised of three 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 one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.[5][43] At an annual reorganization meeting held during the first week of January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2022[update], members of the Oxford Township Committee are Mayor Gerald S. Norton (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2022), Deputy Mayor Georgette Miller (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2022) and Linda Koufodonetes (R, 2023; elected to serve an unexpired term).[3][44][45][46][47][48]
In August 2021, the committee selected Linda Koufodontes to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Robert Nyland until he resigned from office. Koufodontes served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when she was chosen to serve the balance of the term of office.[46][49][50]
After committee member Keith Gibbons resigned in July 2014 in the wake of harassment claims,[51] Mayor Jade White and committee member Jim Williams resigned in August 2014 after realizing that Williams should have been up for election the previous November following his appointment to office. This left the township with no serving council members.[52] In September 2014, Governor Chris Christie appointed Democrat Bill Bray and Republicans Marck Pasquini and Bill Ryan to fill the three vacant seats on an interim basis until the November 2014 general election, with the committee selecting Pasquini as mayor and Ryan as deputy mayor.[53] In the November 2014 general election, Ryan was elected to serve the balance of the term expiring in December 2016.[54]
Federal, state, and county representation
Oxford Township is located in the 7th Congressional District[55] and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.[56]
Warren County is governed by a three-member Board of County Commissioners, who are chosen at-large on a staggered basis in partisan elections with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the beginning of January, the board selects one of its members to serve as Commissioner Director and other as Deputy Director.[61] As of 2025[update], Warren County's Commissioners are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,464 registered voters in Oxford Township, of which 338 (23.1% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 555 (37.9% vs. 35.3%) were registered as Republicans and 569 (38.9% vs. 43.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were two voters registered as either Libertarians or Greens.[73] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 58.2% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 76.6% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).[73][74]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 591 votes (57.4% vs. 56.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 403 votes (39.1% vs. 40.8%) and other candidates with 20 votes (1.9% vs. 1.7%), among the 1,030 ballots cast by the township's 1,495 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.9% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County).[75][76] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 662 votes (58.0% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 417 votes (36.5% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.9% vs. 1.6%), among the 1,142 ballots cast by the township's 1,517 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.3% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County).[77] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 698 votes (63.1% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 379 votes (34.3% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 19 votes (1.7% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,106 ballots cast by the township's 1,443 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.6% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).[78]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.6% of the vote (514 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 24.2% (169 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (15 votes), among the 725 ballots cast by the township's 1,516 registered voters (27 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.8%.[79][80] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 503 votes (64.0% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 176 votes (22.4% vs. 25.7%), Independent Chris Daggett with 83 votes (10.6% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.5% vs. 1.5%), among the 786 ballots cast by the township's 1,468 registered voters, yielding a 53.5% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).[81]
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 21.69 miles (34.91 km) of roadways, of which 13.02 miles (20.95 km) were maintained by the municipality, 6.47 miles (10.41 km) by Warren County and 2.20 miles (3.54 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[93]
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Oxford Township include:
Kirk Alyn (1910–1999), actor best known for being the first actor to play the DC Comics character Superman, appearing on screen in the 1948 film serial Superman, and its 1950 sequel Atom Man vs. Superman[94]
^Snell, James P. (1881) History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Vol. 2 (Centennial ed., Harmony, NJ: Harmony Press, 1981) pg. 606
^Harpster, Richard E. Historical Sites of Warren County. (Warren County Tercentenary Committee and Warren County Board of Chosen Freeholders, New Jersey, 1965) pg. 127
^Reorganization Meeting Minutes for January 5, 2022, Township of Oxford. Accessed March 2, 2022. "Richard Wenner swore in Gerald Norton as Mayor for 2022.... Richard Wenner swore in Georgette Miller as Deputy Mayor for 2021."
^July 7, 2021 Council Meeting Minutes, Oxford Township. Accessed October 27, 2021. "Bob Nyland submitted and read his letter of resignation from the Township Committee effective August 1, 2021."
^August 4, 2021 Council Meeting Minutes, Oxford Township. Accessed October 27, 2021. "Georgette Miller moved to nominate Linda Koufodontes as Committee Member. Seconded by Mayor Norton and passed unanimously on roll call vote. Ayes: 2, Nays: 0, Abstain: 0, Absent: 0. Swearing in of new Committee Member: Rich Wenner swore in Linda Koufodontes as Committee Member."
^Sieger, Edward. "Oxford Township committeeman resigns amid harassment allegations", The Express-Times, July 21, 2014. Accessed April 5, 2015. "Oxford Township Committeeman Keith Gibbons said his decision to resign was all but made earlier this summer. But the township's handling of harassment allegations leveled against him by employees at Oxford Furnace Lake sealed the deal, he said."
^Cummins, Emily. Oxford officials resign, leaving all Township Committee seats vacant", The Warren Reporter, August 26, 2014. Accessed April 8, 2015. "Following the discovery that Committeeman Jim Williams, who was appointed to Oxford Township Committee in June 2013, should have run for the position last November, Williams and Mayor Jade White have stepped down from their positions. Already one member short after Committeeman Keith Gibbons resigned in July, the three-person committee is now entirely vacant, with no candidates on the ballot for November, according to Warren County Democratic Committee Chair Tom Palmieri."
^Cummins, Emily. "Newly appointed Oxford Twp. Committee tackles OxWall cleanup", The Warren Reporter, October 2, 2014. Accessed April 8, 2015. "The governor's office announced that Christie appointed two Republicans, Marc Pasquini and Bill Ryan, and a Democrat, Bill Bray, on Thursday, Sept. 24, after the resignations of all three committeemen this summer.... Nominated by Ryan, the committee voted unanimously for Pasquini to serve as mayor during the temporary term and Pasquini in turn nominated Ryan to serve as deputy mayor, which was also approved unanimously."
^Governmental Structure, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022. "Warren County operates under the County Commissioner form of county government. The Board of County Commissioners consists of three Commissioners each elected at large for staggered terms of three years. The Commissioner Director is chosen by the full board at the board's annual reorganization meeting in January. The Commissioners supervise, direct, and administer all county services and functions through the various departments, autonomous boards, agencies, and commissions. Reporting to the Board of County Commissioners is an appointed County Administrator."
^Jason J. Sarnoski, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
^Lori Ciesla, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
^James R. Kern III, Warren County, New Jersey. Accessed February 22, 2022.
^Warren Hills Regional School District 2014 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 10, 2020. "At Warren Hills Regional, we provide our students with a strong academic foundation. From the receiving districts of Franklin Township, Mansfield Township, Oxford (high school tuition students), Washington Borough and Washington Township, students progress along the academic continuum led by a faculty committed to planning and implementing a variety of instructional strategies and activities that facilitate the preparation of our students for the challenge of mastering the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and the Common Core State Standards."
^Oxford Township School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 10, 2020. "Currently we have approximately 450 students in our district. Three hundred and ten Pre-School - Eighth grade students attend the Oxford Central School, and the remaining students attend Warren Hills Regional High School, Warren County Vocational-Technical School and schools outside of our district."
^F.A.Q., Ridge and Valley Charter School. Accessed July 17, 2017. "Enrollment is open, on a space available basis, to all K-8 students residing in N.J. with priority given to students residing in the districts of Blairstown, Hardwick, Knowlton, Frelinghuysen, and North Warren Regional School."