Christians are called to live their religion
wherever they happen to be at the time.
Life Lines
Hackettstown was incorporated in 1833, only a few
years before the establishment of St. James' parish.
For most of its history, the town was the center
of a rich agricultural and dairy economy in northwestern
New Jersey. Several buildings in Hackettstown are
registered landmarks. The town was a popular stopover
point for travelers between New York City and points
west.
Hackettstown is home to several corporations, most
notably M&M/MARS. The International Trade Zone of
New Jersey is located in nearby Mt. Olive Township.
Hackettstown has two elementary schools, a middle
school and a high school, which also serves students
from adjacent communities.
The local population comes from a wide diversity
of ethnic and religious backgrounds. There is a
growing number of families moving to the area due
to the easy access to Routes 80, 287, 46, 78. Historic
Morristown is just a 35-minute drive. Bus and train
transportation are available into Newark (the new
home to the New Jersey Symphony at the beautiful
NJPAC) and New York City. Newark International Airport
and Lehigh Valley International Airport (Pennsylvania)
are each only one hour away.
According to Mayor Roger Hines, "We pride ourselves
on 'open government' . . . the town of Hackettstown
is a great place to live, work and visit. Our Municipal
services are second to none, and our recreation
programs offer everyone an opportunity to participate.
Hackettstown boasts a fine public library noted
for its friendly staff and a Community Center/Recreation
Dept. which organizes, promotes and administrates
recreational programs, including the municipal pool,
sports programs and senior center for the Hackettstown
community.
Hackettstown is also a college town, the home of
Centenary College, an independent, co-educational
liberal arts and career studies college offering
Associate, Baccalaureate and Masters degrees. The
College features accomplished teaching faculty,
small class size and a diverse student body. Centenary
College is also within walking distance to St. James.
The County College of Morris and Warren County Community
College are within 20 minutes of Hackettstown.
Northwest New Jersey is among the most scenic areas
of the mid-Atlantic states. Numerous parks and recreational
facilities add to the richness of life in this region.
Camping, fishing, and other outdoor family activities
are within easy access. The Minebrook Golf Course
is situated on the border of Hackettstown. St. James'
steeple can be viewed from various locations on
this scenic course. Excellent skiing is less than
an hour's drive in the Pocono mountains of northeast
Pennsylvania.
Cultural activities abound both in northern New
Jersey and in nearby New York City. The "Big Apple",
an hour's drive, is the world's center of theater,
museum, and cultural events. The Meadowlands Sports
Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is host
to the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets,
the New Jersey Nets and the New Jersey Devils .
. . in addition to numerous concerts, and premiere
horse racing.
