Sparta, New Jersey

Sparta, New Jersey
Township
Lake Mohawk Boardwalk
Lake Mohawk Boardwalk
Official seal of Sparta, New Jersey
Seal
Location of Sparta in Sussex County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Sussex County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Location of Sparta in Sussex County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Sussex County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Census Bureau map of Sparta, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Sparta, New Jersey
Sparta is located in Sussex County, New Jersey
Sparta
Sparta
Location in Sussex County
Sparta is located in New Jersey
Sparta
Sparta
Location in New Jersey
Sparta is located in the United States
Sparta
Sparta
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 41°03′08″N 74°37′40″W / 41.052283°N 74.627906°W / 41.052283; -74.627906[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Sussex
IncorporatedApril 14, 1845
Government
[6]
 • TypeFaulkner Act (council–manager)
 • BodyTownship Council
 • MayorNeill Clark (term ends December 31, 2024)[3][4]
 • Municipal clerkRoxanne Landy[5]
Area
[1]
 • Total38.80 sq mi (100.50 km2)
 • Land36.79 sq mi (95.28 km2)
 • Water2.02 sq mi (5.22 km2)  5.20%
 • Rank60th of 565 in state
5th of 24 in county[1]
Elevation
[7]
620 ft (190 m)
Population
 (2020)[8][9]
 • Total19,600
 • Estimate 
(2023)[8][10]
20,195
 • Rank141st of 565 in state
2nd of 24 in county[11]
 • Density532.8/sq mi (205.7/km2)
  • Rank440th of 565 in state
9th of 24 in county[11]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
07871[12][13]
Area code(s)973 exchanges: 726, 729[14]
FIPS code3403769690[1][15][16]
GNIS feature ID0882265[1][17]
Websitewww.spartanj.org

Sparta is a township in Sussex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 19,600,[8][9] a decrease of 122 (−0.6%) from the 2010 census count of 19,722,[18][19] which in turn reflected an increase of 1,642 (+9.1%) from the 18,080 counted in the 2000 census.[20]

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.[21] The township was named after the existing community of Sparta, which had been settled and named years before,[22] the name likely coming from Sparta, Greece.[23] Ogdensburg borough was incorporated on February 26, 1914, from portions of Sparta Township.[21]

The township was listed as the safest place in New Jersey[24] as well as the seventh safest municipality in the nation according to a 2022 crime statistic compilation from Safewise.com.[25]

  1. ^ a b c d e 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.
  2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference TownshipCouncil was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ 2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Township Clerk, Sparta Township. Accessed May 20, 2024.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference DataBook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Sparta, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 14, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Census2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference LWD2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference PopEst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed March 1, 2023.
  12. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Sparta, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed February 25, 2013.
  13. ^ Zip Codes, State of New Jersey. Accessed November 5, 2013.
  14. ^ Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Sparta, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed November 6, 2013.
  15. ^ U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  16. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  17. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference LWD2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  21. ^ a b Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 232. Accessed May 30, 2024.
  22. ^ Snell, James P. (1881) History of Sussex and Warren Counties, New Jersey, With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. (Centennial ed., Harmony, NJ: Harmony Press, 1981, p. 407)
  23. ^ Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed October 8, 2015.
  24. ^ Edwards, Rebecca. New Jersey’s 50 Safest Cities of 2022, SafeWise, September 29, 2022. Accessed February 3, 2023.
  25. ^ Edwards, Rebecca. 100 Safest Cities in the US, SafeWise, March 30, 2022. Accessed February 3, 2023.