Report: Hopatcong More Diverse Than in 2000

Looks like Hopatcong's becoming slightly more diverse.

Hopatcong's white non-Hispanic population has dropped by more than 6 percent since 2000, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau Tuesday.

The 2000 Census counted 14,792 white people living in the borough, representing 93.1 percent of Hopatcong's overall population (then 15,888 people). But American Community Survey estimates for 2005-2009 show the white population falling to 13,478—or 86.3 percent of the current borough population (15,625 people).

The estimate shows more representation of each minority group it counts in the borough as well. The Hispanic population remained the largest minority group, but grew from 952 people (6 percent) in 2000 to an estimated 1,538 (9.8 percent) in 2005-2009. The black population rose from 310 people (2 percent) to an estimated 864 (5.5 percent). The Asian population grew from 286 (2.2 percent) to an estimated 626 (4 percent).

The United States Census Bureau conducts the American Community Survey yearly to provide up-to-date information about social and economic needs of communities. The figures reflected in the ACS estimates are not official Census counts; the Census is conducted once every 10 years, and data from the 2010 count will be available in the coming months. But the ACS and Census do examine similar demographic data (and in some cases, the ACS provides more detailed information).

Other facts about Hopatcong, from the American Community Survey:

• HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES: In 2005-2009 there were 6,415 households in Hopatcong. The average household size was 2.69 people. Families made up 74.6 percent of the households in Hopatcong. This figure includes both married-couple families (62.1 percent) and other families. Non-family households made up 25.4 percent of all households in Hopatcong. Most of the non-family households were people living alone, but some were composed of people living in households in which no one was related to the householder.
• NATIVITY AND LANGUAGE: About 10 percent of the people living in Hopatcong in 2005-2009 were foreign born. Ninety percent were native. Among people at least 5 years old in Hopatcong in 2005-2009, 15.6 percent spoke a language other than English at home and 4.9 percent said they spoke English less than "very well". Of those speaking a language other than English at home, 46 percent spoke Spanish.
• GEOGRAPHIC MOBILITY: In 2005-2009, 94.6 percent of people at least one year old in Hopatcong were living in the same residence a year earlier; 4.5 percent had moved in from another residence from a different county; 4.4 percent had moved in from a different residence in New Jersey; and .7 percent had moved in from another residence in Sussex County.
• EDUCATION: In 2005-2009, 92.2 percent of people 25 years and older had at least graduated from high school and 27.3 had a bachelor's degree or higher. About 8 percent were dropouts; they were not enrolled in school and had not graduated from high school. The total school enrollment in Hopatcong was 4,210 in 2005-2009. Nursery school and kindergarten enrollment was about 500 and elementary or high school enrollment was about  2,500 children. College or graduate school enrollment was about 1,200.
• INDUSTRIES: In 2005-2009, for the employed population 16 years and older, the leading industries in Hopatcong were educational services, and health care and social assistance, 20.7 percent; and retail trade, 15.2 percent.
• OCCUPATIONS AND TYPE OF EMPLOYER: Among the most common occupations were: management, professional and related occupations, 33.4 percent; sales and office occupations 31.1 percent; service occupations 15 percent; production, transportation and material moving occupations, 10.9 percent; and construction, extraction, maintenance and repair occupations, 9.6 percent. 81 percent of the people employed were private wage and salary workers; 13.7 percent were government workers; 4.8 percent were self-employed workers; and .6 percent were unpaid family workers.
• TRAVEL TO WORK: 85.3 percent of Hopatcong workers drove to work alone in 2005-2009, 7.2 percent carpooled, 2.2  percent took public transportation; 3.9 percent worked at home; and 1 percent used other means. Among those who commuted to work, it took them on average 36.6 minutes to get there.
• INCOME: The median income of households in Hopatcong was $83,814. Nintey percent of the households received earnings and 19.8 percent received retirement income other than Social Security. About 22 percent of the households received Social Security. The average income from Social Security was $17,535. These income sources are not mutually exclusive; that is, some households received income from more than one source.
• POVERTY AND PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS: In 2005-2009, 3 percent of Hopatcong residents were in poverty. About 4 percent of related children under 18 were below the poverty level, compared with about 6 percent of people 65 years old or older. About 3 percent of all families and 4 percent of families with a female householder and no husband present had incomes below the poverty level.
• POPULATION: In 2005-2009, Hopatcong had a total population of 15,625—7,989 males (51.1 percent) and 7,636 females (48.9 percent). The median age was 39.6 years. About 23 percent of the population was under 18 years and about 9 percent was 65 years and older. For people reporting one race alone, 86.3 percent were white; 5.5 were black or African American; 0 percent were American Indian and Alaska Native; 4 percent were Asian; 0 percent were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 3 percent were some other race. About 10 percent of the people in Hopatcong were Hispanic. About 80 percent of the people in Hopatcong were white non-Hispanic. People of Hispanic origin may be of any race.
• HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS: In 2005-2009, Hopatcong had a total of 6,415 housing units, 9.3 percent of which were vacant. Of the total housing units, about 97 percent were in single-unit structures, about 2 percent were in multi-unit structures, and less than 1 percent were mobile homes. About 9 percent of the housing units were built since 1990.
• OCCUPIED HOUSING UNIT CHARACTERISTICS: In 2005-2009, Hopatcong had  occupied 5,816 housing units—5,239 (90.1 percent) owner-occupied and 577 (9.9 percent) renter-occupied. About 3 percent of the households did not have telephone service and about 2 percent of the households did not have access to a car, track or van for private use. About 46 percent had two vehicles and another 28.1 percent had three or more.

More data on Hopatcong's demographics is available here.