Lake Hopatcong is a census-designated place (CDP)State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022. in Jefferson Township, in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It includes communities on the northeast side of Lake Hopatcong, the largest freshwater body in the state. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 10,232.

Geography The Lake Hopatcong CDP occupies the southwest end of Jefferson Township in western Morris County. It is bordered to the west by the borough of Hopatcong and to the north by Sparta, both in Sussex County. It is partially bordered to the south by the borough of Mount Arlington and slightly by the Lower Berkshire Valley CDP.

Lake Hopatcong, the water body, occupies part of the western boundary of the CDP, while the northernmost arm of the lake is entirely within the CDP. Lakefront communities in the CDP include Espanong, Prospect Point, Raccoon Island, Halsey Island, Woodport, and Brady Cove. Inland communities in the CDP include Hurdtown, Tierneys Corner, and Berkshire Valley. Lake Shawnee is in the northeast part of the CDP.

New Jersey Route 15 passes through the eastern side of the CDP, leading south to Interstate 80 in Wharton and north to Sparta.

Liffy Island (sometimes spelled as "Lify") is located within the CDP and has many walking trails and great views. The island was formed after the creation of the Morris Canal that raised the water by , thus detaching it from the mainland. In the 19th century, the island and surrounding lands were purchased by the Brady Brothers. They sold some of the island's trees as lumber but otherwise left it in its natural state. About of the island was bought by Richmond Boy Scout Council Executive Major Walter S. Stewart and Charles McAteer in 1922. They named it "Scout Island" and used it for the Boy Scouts program until 1982. The camp's cook, William "Pete" Peterson, was given lifetime rights to use the island. In the 1970s, William's heath declined which kept him from visiting the island which left it unattended for years.Lify Island, Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum, November 12, 2018. Accessed January 7, 2025. In the 1990s, Jefferson Township, in which Lake Hopatcong CDP is located, bought the island and established it as the Liffy Island Wildlife Preserve. There is a path from Prospect Park and the Prospect Point Road Trailhead that leads to the island. At the highest point is a firepit and sitting area.Liffy Island, Jefferson Township, New Jersey. Accessed January 7, 2025.Trails System; Existing and Proposed Trails, Jefferson Township, New Jersey. Accessed January 7, 2025.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Lake Hopatcong CDP had a total area of , of which were land and (21.34%) were water. The lake, with an outlet to the southwest into the Musconetcong River, is part of the Delaware River watershed.

Demographics

The community first appeared as an unincorporated community under the name Esponong in the 1960 U.S. census and 1970 U.S. census. It did not appear in subsequent censuses until it was listed as a census designated place under the name Lake Hopatcong in the 2020 United States census.2020 Geography Changes, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 26, 2025.

2020 census As of the 2020 census, Lake Hopatcong had a population of 10,232. The median age was 44.4 years. 19.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.0 males age 18 and over.

96.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.8% lived in rural areas.

+Lake Hopatcong CDP, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 20202020White alone (NH) 7,813 76.36%Black or African American alone (NH) 241 2.36%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)130.13%Asian alone (NH) 6946.78%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)20.02%Other race alone (NH)61 0.60%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 272 2.66%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1,136 11.10%Total10,232 100.00%

There were 3,983 households in Lake Hopatcong, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.1% were married-couple households, 18.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,466 housing units, of which 10.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.7%. Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Lake Hopatcong include: Tim Jacobus (born 1959), artist best known for illustrating the covers for nearly one hundred books in R. L. Stine's Goosebumps seriesIzzo, Michael. "Goosebumps cover artist living in Budd Lake", Daily Record, October 26, 2015. Accessed September 25, 2024. "Jacobus, 56, has been a Morris County resident his whole life, living in Denville and Lake Hopatcong before settling in Budd Lake." Jaren Sina (born 1994), professional basketball player, who played for Astoria Bydgoszcz of the Polish Basketball LeagueLestinsky, Marc. "Jefferson Student Hits Basketball Big Time; Breakout 2010-11 season has netted Jefferson resident national attention.", Jefferson, NJ Patch, August 9, 2011. Accessed October 13, 2021. "Jefferson native and bona fide basketball star-in-the-making Jaren Sina admitted to being something of an unknown to most outsiders entering his freshman year at Gill St. Bernard's School (Gladstone) in 2009.... The 17-year-old kid from little-known Lake Hopatcong can play."

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