Green Township in southwestern Sussex County is a rural municipality measuring just over 16 square miles. The pastoral setting is dotted with cornfields, farm stands, grazing cows and winding country roads. While the bucolic natural beauty of Green is apparent, it's actually a well-kept secret that this picturesque setting is only about ten minutes from Interstate 80 for commuters and about 20 minutes from charming downtown Hackettstown for extensive shopping, dining, Centenary College and the M & M Mars manufacturing and research facility. According to the 2010 Census, Green's population was 3,601.

History

Green Township was named after Ephraim Green, who settled near Greendell in 1770. Local lore says he built a tannery and several other buildings in his hamlet which was also the center of a small shoe producer that may have provided footwear for Continental Army soldiers during the American Revolution. Other sections of the township retain an identity apart from Green Township, including Huntsville, Yellow Frame and Tranquility.

Tranquility was originally known as Kennedytown, named for Amos H. Kennedy who built a mill, general store and a few homes in the early to mid-1800s. The Pequest River and Kennedy Road/County Route 611 run through this part of the township. When the location for the Tranquility Methodist Church was being decided, a disagreement arose about whether to build it in Allamuchy or Kennedytown. As a compromise, the church was erected halfway between those two points. To memorialize this agreement, the church was named Tranquility. Later, Kennedytown took the church's name as its own.

Huntsville was settled in the mid-1700s and was originally known as Pettit's Mills, after a mill established by Thomas Woolverton was sold to Nathaniel Pettit. Judge Abram Hunt, who kept a store there for many years, became the new owner and the town became known as Huntsville.

Areas located around the circa 1887 Yellow Frame Church became known as Yellow Frame based on their proximity to that community's focal point sited high atop a ridge along Route 94.

Community Life

The township's active Recreation Department holds events for all ages, from an annual egg hunt each spring to a card-playing group in the Municipal Building. The Green Township Sporting Club oversees youth and adult athletic activities, many in conjunction with area schools, such as youth basketball, girls' softball, youth soccer, football, cheerleading, wrestling, Little League baseball, lacrosse, youth roller hockey, the Tranquility Thunderbolts swim team at Lake Tranquility and Newton Sharks Swim Team and adult volleyball.

EverGreen Park on Kennedy Road includes a playground, pavilion, soccer fields, baseball field, softball fields, basketball court and the new County Connector walking trail. Wesley Field, also on Kennedy Road, is home to Little League Baseball. Papa Park is located in Lake Tranquility and offers a small field and playground.

Locals flock to Pub 517, a cash-only establishment featuring taxidermy-lined walls and cornfield views from its cozy inside rooms or outdoor patio. Tranquility Farms on Decker Pond Road is open all year long in a charming building that offers seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as farm-raised beef and pork, a garden center, on-site bakery, to-go meals and homemade ice cream. The corn maze each fall, a petting zoo and children's parties are all part of the fun at this local landmark.

Education

Two public schools serve Green Township students. The Green Hills Elementary School has classrooms for kindergarten through eighth grade. Located at 69 Mackerly Road in the Greendell section of the township, the school's approach to education is the focus of an award-winning educational documentary titled Re: Thinking. This documentary followed three innovative American public schools where students are learning how to think instead of what to think. Additionally, the school won Project Self-Sufficiency's Stuff the Stocking contest for three years running, an achievement that highlights their compassionate attitude.

The Green Township School District continuously leverages technology to improve student learning, enhance teaching practices and offer its students a more personalized learning experience to meet their needs and their interests. A 1:1 Chromebook initiative was instituted in grades 3-8, while classrooms in kindergarten through grade 2 are also equipped with Chromebooks and iPads used throughout the day. In addition, Green Hills School offers programs in STEM education, Design Thinking, Robotics and Coding to all students in K-8. As a New Jersey Department of Education School of Choice, this elementary school has 49 students attending from various other towns throughout Sussex and Warren Counties.

Students from Green Hills move on to Newton High School for grades 9-12 together with students from Andover Borough and Andover Township. As of the 2017-18 school year, the enrollment was 719 students and a student-teacher ratio of 10.6:1. Recent achievements include a College Board AP Honor Roll designation for significant gains in student access and performance; the highest graduation and college attendance rates in district history; and recognition for having the best high school community service organization.

Another highlight was achieving SAT college readiness averages that significantly exceeded state-wide averages in both English and math. The school also added to concurrent agreements and virtual courses with multiple colleges, universities and online providers. Additionally, Newton High School developed award-winning business and technology programs modeled on their nationally-recognized agriculture program.

Transportation

Exit 19 of Interstate 80 is located about five miles from Green Township in Allamuchy. Lakeland Bus offers daily trips to New York City leaving from Andover or Springdale stops along Route 206. The nearest NJ Transit train stations are in Netcong or Hackettstown, each about ten miles away.

Newark Liberty International Airport is about 52 miles from Green, and Trinca Airport at 93 Airport Road is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset for private planes.

Local Sites / Attractions

The Lake Tranquility Community Club holds events year-'round on the shores of this pristine lake. Members enjoy a 4th of July party with fireworks, Memorial Weekend pig roast, autumn clam bake and year-round access to the lake. Memberships are open to the public and amenities include use of the clubhouse, non-motor boat access, fishing and a youth swim team.

The Tranquility Store at 97 Kennedy Road has been in business for over 167 years. Sited in an historic 1844 building, offerings like antiques, artisanal products, herbal remedies and an extensive breakfast and lunch menu are served seven days a week in an authentic general store setting.

The Lackawanna Cutoff is a marvel of engineering that can be seen -and driven through-- on Route 517 when leaving Andover Borough and heading toward Tranquility. Built in the early 1900s, the Pequest Fill is a man-made mountain that stands 110 feet tall and was at one time the largest landfill in the country taking 6 ½ million cubic yards of fill to create. There is talk of restoring passenger service on the line in the future.

Fun Fact #1: On July 20, 1969, the crew of Apollo 11 successfully landed their spacecraft on the Moon in the Sea of Tranquility. To honor of that event, the U.S. Postal Service arranged for the Tranquility post office to issue a special commemorative cancellation on select envelopes; the post office was chosen since it was the country's only post office named Tranquility.

Fun Fact #2: Author Michael Griffo, whose pen name is J.D. Griffo, was inspired by Tranquility to use it as the setting for his ongoing series of mystery books including "Murder on Memory Lake" and "Murder in Tranquility Park."

Real Estate

Home buyers will find a wide variety of home styles, price ranges and land opportunities in Green Township. Recent listings included newer luxury homes on expansive lots, classic Colonials, ranches, waterfront properties on Lake Tranquility, the Pequest River or one of the area's many ponds, as well as antique homes, working farms, residential acreage for sale and equestrian estates.