Alpha was incorporated as a borough from portions of
Pohatcong Township by an act of the
New Jersey Legislature passed on June 26, 1911, and signed by Governor
Woodrow Wilson, based on the results of a referendum held on May 31, 1911.[21] The borough was named for the Alpha Cement Works.[22]
History
Formally known as Vulcanite, Alpha was incorporated on June 26, 1911, but its history can be traced back to a much earlier date. At the time of the
Great Blizzard of 1888, there were only seven houses in what is now the corporate limits of Alpha. The exact date on which the first house in Alpha is uncertain. One of the first homes in the community was a two-room log cabin constructed by the Pursel family beside an old Indian Trail on the former property of the Vulcanite Portland Cement Company, now New Brunswick Avenue.[23]
Less than two years after incorporating, the community obtained a continuation of the
streetcar line from Phillipsburg and electric street lights were installed.[24]
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.72 square miles (4.44 km2), including 1.68 square miles (4.35 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.09 km2) of water (2.03%).[1][2]
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the borough include Vulcanite.[25]
The borough is completely surrounded by
Pohatcong Township,[26][27] making it part of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.[28]
Of the 964 households, 29.3% had children under the age of 18; 47.5% were married couples living together; 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.4% were non-families. Of all households, 29.1% 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 2.45 and the average family size was 3.03.[18]
22.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.7 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010
American Community Survey showed that (in 2010
inflation-adjusted dollars)
median household income was $63,953 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,724) and the median family income was $73,929 (+/− $6,822). Males had a median income of $49,461 (+/− $3,100) versus $40,859 (+/− $5,262) for females. The
per capita income for the borough was $28,567 (+/− $2,455). About 4.0% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.[33]
2000 census
As of the
2000 United States census,[15] there were 2,482 people, 989 households, and 688 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,462.0 inhabitants per square mile (564.5/km2). There were 1,034 housing units at an average density of 609.1 per square mile (235.2/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.06%
White, 0.28%
African American, 0.04%
Native American, 1.21%
Asian, 0.64% from
other races, and 0.77% from two or more races.
Hispanic or
Latino of any race were 1.89% of the population.[34][32]
There were 989 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were
married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.05.[34][32]
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.[34][32]
The median income for a household in the borough was $42,209, and the median income for a family was $45,435. Males had a median income of $39,957 versus $26,576 for females. The
per capita income for the borough was $20,104. About 5.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.[34][32]
Government
Local government
Alpha is governed under the
borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[35] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected
at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected
directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council is comprised of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[6] The borough form of government used by Alpha is a "
weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can
veto ordinances subject to an
override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[36][37]
As of 2022[update], the
mayor of Alpha Borough is
Republican Craig S. Dunwell, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Alpha Borough Council are Council President Robert J. Melick Jr. (R, 2023), Angela Bickar (
I, 2022; elected to serve an unexpired term), Louis J. Cartabona (R, 2023), Todd W. Pantuso (R, 2022), Peter Petinelli (R, 2024) and Jodie Smith (R, 2024).[3][38][39][40][41] Angela Bickar was elected to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Edward Hanics Jr.[39]
Republican councilmember Jack Preiss and Democrat Kathleen Ronan, both serving terms ending in December 2018, resigned from office in September 2016. Preiss cited time conflicts with his work duties, while Ronan expressed her frustrations with working with the rest of the council. Louis Cartabona was chosen to fill the seat held by Preiss.[42] In October, the council selected Jennifer Gable from a list of three nominees submitted by the Democratic municipal committee to fill Ronan's vacant seat.[43] In the 2017 general election, Louis J. Cartabona and Alan Singleton were elected to serve the balance of the two unexpired terms of office.[44]
Harry Zikas became the state's youngest mayor ever when he took office in 2000 at the age of 21.[45][46] Zikas announced his resignation from office in September 2014, citing his acceptance of a job in Northern New Jersey.[47] With Mayor Ed Hanics casting the tiebreaking vote, Tracy Grossman was selected in October 2014 to fill the remainder of Zikas's term of office.[48]
In January 2014, the borough council selected Millard Rooks to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2015 of Michael Savary, who had resigned after pleading guilty to disorderly tampering with public records.[49]
Federal, state and county representation
Alpha is located in the 7th Congressional district[50] and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.[51][52][53] Prior to the 2010 Census, Alpha had been part of the 5th Congressional District, a change made by the
New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.[54]
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.[60] As of 2024[update], Warren County's Commissioners are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,441 registered voters in Alpha, of which 548 (38.0% vs. 21.5% countywide) were registered as
Democrats, 296 (20.5% vs. 35.3%) were registered as
Republicans and 596 (41.4% vs. 43.1%) were registered as
Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.[72] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 60.8% (vs. 62.3% in Warren County) were registered to vote, including 78.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 81.5% countywide).[72][73]
In the
2012 presidential election, Democrat
Barack Obama received 497 votes (51.1% vs. 40.8% countywide), ahead of Republican
Mitt Romney with 436 votes (44.8% vs. 56.0%) and other candidates with 25 votes (2.6% vs. 1.7%), among the 973 ballots cast by the borough's 1,457 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.8% (vs. 66.7% in Warren County).[74][75] In the
2008 presidential election, Republican
John McCain received 470 votes (47.7% vs. 55.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 464 votes (47.1% vs. 41.4%) and other candidates with 18 votes (1.8% vs. 1.6%), among the 985 ballots cast by the borough's 1,408 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.0% (vs. 73.4% in Warren County).[76] In the
2004 presidential election, Republican
George W. Bush received 510 votes (50.1% vs. 61.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat
John Kerry with 489 votes (48.0% vs. 37.2%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.2% vs. 1.3%), among the 1,018 ballots cast by the borough's 1,369 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.4% (vs. 76.3% in the whole county).[77]
In the
2013 gubernatorial election, Republican
Chris Christie received 70.0% of the vote (442 cast), ahead of Democrat
Barbara Buono with 26.9% (170 votes), and other candidates with 3.0% (19 votes), among the 651 ballots cast by the borough's 1,471 registered voters (20 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.3%.[78][79] In the
2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 334 votes (48.2% vs. 61.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat
Jon Corzine with 251 votes (36.2% vs. 25.7%), Independent
Chris Daggett with 64 votes (9.2% vs. 9.8%) and other candidates with 21 votes (3.0% vs. 1.5%), among the 693 ballots cast by the borough's 1,397 registered voters, yielding a 49.6% turnout (vs. 49.6% in the county).[80]
Education
Students in
pre-kindergarten through
eighth grade for public school attend the
Alpha School District at Alpha School.[81][82][83] As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 179 students and 24.4 classroom teachers (on an
FTE basis), for a
student–teacher ratio of 7.3:1.[84] In the 2016–2017 school year, Alpha had the 42nd smallest enrollment of any school district in the state, with 194 students.[85]
As of May 2010[update], the borough had a total of 21.40 miles (34.44 km) of roadways, of which 17.38 miles (27.97 km) were maintained by the municipality, 2.78 miles (4.47 km) by Warren County and 1.24 miles (2.00 km) by the
Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.[92] The main road that goes through is
CR 519.
Route 122 runs through briefly in the north.
While
Interstate 78 passes through the southern portion of the borough, the closest access point is at
US 22 in neighboring Pohatcong.
Jennie Somogyi (born 1977/78), ballet dancer who joined the
New York City Ballet in 1993, at age 15, became a principal dancer in 2000, and retired in 2015[96]
^DeMarco, Megan.
"Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.
^Novak, Steve.
"Another Warren County town dealing with elected officials' resignations", The Express-Times, October 4, 2016. Accessed February 2, 2018. "Jack Preiss on Sept. 14 and Kathleen Ronan on Sept. 23. Preiss felt he could not devote the time necessary to his appointed role as the public works director, according to his letter to the borough. Ronan in her letter accused Mayor Craig Dunwell's administration of 'a total lack of respect for the will of council along with an inability to effectively communicate with members of the governing body.'... Louis Cartabona, who lost re-election last year, is back on council in place of the Republican Preiss, and is on the November ballot as a write-in for a full three-year term.
^Borough Council Meeting Minutes October 11, 2016, Borough of Alpha. Accessed February 2, 2018. "Mayor Dunwell began the meeting with discussion of a Council vacancy. The Democratic Party met and provided three names.... Mrs. Jennifer Gable was then sworn in on Council to fill the vacancy."
^"Longtime Alpha councilman and former mayor announces resignation", The Express-Times, September 9, 2014. Accessed June 15, 2017. "...he started his service to the borough when he was a 19-year-old member of the Board of Education. In 2000, he was sworn in as mayor... Zikas decided not to run for re-election in 2007, when he won a seat on council."
^Peters, Sarah.
"Longtime Alpha councilman and former mayor announces resignation", The Express-Times, September 9, 2014. Accessed September 15, 2014. "Alpha Borough Councilman Harry Zikas Jr. formally announced his resignation in a letter to fellow officials late Monday night. His resignation is effective Sept. 20. Zikas accepted a promotion at work and plans to move to Paterson, New Jersey, he said."
^Peters, Sarah.
"New Alpha councilman takes office; appointment was a surprise to some officials", The Express-Times, January 12, 2014. Accessed November 16, 2015. "Instead, council appointed Millard Rooks Jr. to fill the vacancy left by Councilman Michael Savary's resignation, following Rooks' nomination by Schwar.... Savary's term didn't expire until December 2015, but the former councilman resigned after pleading guilty in September to disorderly tampering with public records."
^Biography of Bob Menendez,
United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^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.
^Alpha Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Alpha School District. Accessed February 25, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Alpha School District. Composition: The Alpha School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Alpha."
^Guion, Payton.
"These 43 N.J. school districts have fewer than 200 students", NJ Advance Media for
NJ.com, September 2017. Accessed January 30, 2020. "Based on data from the state Department of Education from the last school year and the Census Bureau, NJ Advance Media made a list of the smallest of the small school districts in the state, excluding charter schools and specialty institutions.... 42. Alpha Borough; Enrollment: 194; Grades: K-8; County: Warren; Town population: 2,369"
^Superintendent's Message, Phillipsburg School District. Accessed June 21, 2020. "The district serves students from the Town of Phillipsburg and five sending communities at the secondary level: Alpha, Bloomsbury, Greenwich, Lopatcong and Pohatcong Townships."
^About PSD, Phillipsburg School District. Accessed June 21, 2020. "The district serves students from the Town of Phillipsburg and five sending communities at the secondary level: Alpha, Bloomsbury, Greenwich, Lopatcong and Pohatcong Townships. Phillipsburg is the largest community in Warren County."
^F.A.Q., Ridge and Valley Charter School. Accessed January 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."
^Smith, Dinitia.
"Dance; Two Rising Stars, On Different Arcs", The New York Times, February 11, 1996. Accessed January 3, 2021. "There is little in her background to make Ms. Somogyi a candidate for the role of classical ballerina. She was raised in Alpha, a small town in central New Jersey, where her father is a mechanic, her mother a receptionist."