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Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey

Hamilton Township is a township and the most populous municipality in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the largest suburb of Trenton, the state's capital, which is located to the township's west. The township is situated within the New York metropolitan area as defined by the United States Census Bureau but directly borders the Philadelphia metropolitan area and is part of the Federal Communications Commission's Philadelphia Designated Market Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 92,297, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 3,833 (+4.3%) from the 2010 census count of 88,464,  which in turn reflected an increase of 1,355 (+1.6%) from the 2000 census count of 87,109. The township was the state's ninth-largest municipality in 2010 and 2020, after having been ranked 10th in 2000.

Hamilton was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 11, 1842, from portions of the now-defunct Nottingham Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Chambersburg on April 1, 1872, and annexed by Trenton in 1888, and by Wilbur on April 24, 1891, and annexed by Trenton in 1898. Hamilton Township derives its name from the village of Hamilton Square, which might have been named for Alexander Hamilton.

In 2006, Hamilton Township was ranked by Morgan Quitno Press as the 18th-safest city in the United States, out of 369 cities nationwide. In the company's 2005 survey, the Township was ranked 15th safest of 354 cities surveyed nationwide.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 40.31 square miles (104.41 km2), including 39.44 square miles (102.14 km2) of land and 0.87 square miles (2.26 km2) of water (2.17%).

Although Hamilton is one of the largest townships in New Jersey it doesn't have a true "downtown", but a number of settlements within the township form smaller commercial centers. Groveville (with a 2010 Census population of 2,945 ), Hamilton Square (12,784 ), Mercerville (13,230 ), White Horse (9,494 ) and Yardville (7,186 ) are all census-designated places and unincorporated communities located within the township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Briar Manor, Broad Street Park, Bromley, Chewalla Park, Creston, DeCou Village, Deutzville, Duck Island, East Trenton Heights, Edgebrook, Extonville, Golden Crest, Gropps Lake, Haines Corner, Hutchinson Mills, Lakeside Park, Maple Shade, North Crosswicks, Nottingham, Oil City, Pond Run, Quaker Bridge, Quaker Gardens, Rosemont, The Orchards, Trenton Gardens, Warner Village, White City and Yardville Heights.

Van Nest Wildlife Refuge is a 98 acre wildlife management area operated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife.

The township borders the municipalities of Lawrence Township, Robbinsville Township, Trenton and West Windsor Township in Mercer County; Bordentown City, Bordentown Township, Chesterfield Township and North Hanover Township in Burlington County; Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County; and Falls Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 88,464 people, 34,534 households, and 23,759 families in the township. The population density was 2240.2 /sqmi. There were 36,170 housing units at an average density of 915.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 78.38% (69,340) White, 11.78% (10,419) Black or African American, 0.17% (149) Native American, 3.29% (2,914) Asian, 0.09% (79) Pacific Islander, 4.27% (3,775) from other races, and 2.02% (1,788) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.87% (9,613) of the population.

Of the 34,534 households, 28.0% had children under the age of 18; 51.3% were married couples living together; 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.2% were non-families. Of all households, 26.3% were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.09.

21.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 29.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $72,026 (with a margin of error of +/− $2,663) and the median family income was $87,512 (+/− $2,631). Males had a median income of $58,674 (+/− $3,519) versus $45,661 (+/− $1,733) for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,344 (+/− $701). About 3.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 87,109 people, 33,523 households, and 23,667 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,208.0 PD/sqmi. There were 34,535 housing units at an average density of 875.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 85.15% White, 8.16% African American, 0.14% Native American, 2.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.19% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.13% of the population.

There were 33,523 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the township the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $57,110, and the median income for a family was $66,986. Males had a median income of $46,360 versus $33,673 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,441. About 2.8% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
As of late 2005, much of the new residential development in Hamilton has been geared to accommodating the aging baby boomer generation. New retirement communities and assisted-living facilities outpace that of new traditional residential communities. Such construction has been spurred by several factors. The first being that the public is skeptical of growing school budgets due to its already large size. Hamilton voters have often rejected increases in school budgets in their yearly elections to keep already high taxes from growing higher. As a result, the planning board has been reluctant to authorize construction of housing that will increase the student population. Another reason is a series of improvements to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hamilton. The hospital is now a highly respected source of care in the state. It is situated next to where most of the under-developed land in the township used to be, land that is now home to the active older-adult communities.

As of October 2016, significant construction has been done to further build up the Hamilton Township area. Multiple new retirement communities have been constructed, as well as multiple new restaurants, banks, gas stations and convenience stores along Route 33. Hamilton Township continues to expand rapidly to accommodate the increase in citizens residing in the community.

Parks and recreation
Hamilton hosts one of the largest recreational parks in the state, and borders another. The municipal Veterans Park is 350 acre and is housed entirely in the township. Mercer County Park borders the township to the North and encompasses 2,500 acre of land that was shared from Hamilton Township along with neighboring Lawrence Township and West Windsor Township. The park contains Mercer Lake, one of the largest man-made lakes in the state, which was built as a result of a federal flood control project to prevent flooding in Trenton along Assunpink Creek, with gravel removed to deepen the lake basin used as part of the construction of Interstates 95 and 195.

The Grounds for Sculpture is a 42 acre sculpture park which houses more than 270 sculptures, gardens, water features, and other nature scenes. The organization's mission is to promote the appreciation of arts and sculpture.

Sayen Park Botanical Garden is named after Fredrick Sayen because it was originally his land and his home.

George Washington used Quakerbridge Road on his famous night march from the Second Battle of Trenton on his way to the Battle of Princeton.

Historic places

 * The Isaac Watson House was built in 1708 on a bluff overlooking Watson's Creek near the present-day community of White Horse; the property totaled 800 acre. Located at 151 Westcott Avenue, it is the oldest house in Mercer County. The house serves as the headquarters of the New Jersey State Society DAR. The house is on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
 * The John Abbott II House was built in 1730 by John Abbott. It is located at 2200 Kuser Road a mile south of Mercerville near Veterans Park. The house is noted as having been used as a secret repository for funds hidden from British as they advanced on Trenton in 1776. The funds were stored by John Abbott II for state treasurer Samuel Tucker inside a tub containing broken crockery. In 1969 the house was to be razed to the ground but was saved by the Hamilton Township Historical Society. The house is listed on the National Register.
 * The Isaac Pearson House was built in 1733. Isaac Pearson was elected several times to the state assembly, served on the General Committee of Correspondence appointed by the Provincial Assembly on July 21, 1774, and the first Committee of Safety in October 1775. Pearson was killed by robbers, or was suspected as having collaborated with the British and killed by Continentals. Located in White Horse in the southern part of the township, the house is listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.

Local government
Hamilton Township has been governed under the Faulkner Act Mayor-Council system of New Jersey municipal government since January 1, 1976, based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission. The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form. The township's government is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member Township Council, with all elected representatives chosen at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election in odd-numbered years and serving four-year terms of office. Elections alternate in a four-year cycle, with the mayor and two township council members up for election and then the three other township council seats coming up for vote two years later. At an annual reorganization meeting, the council selects a president and vice president from among its members for a one-year term.

, the Mayor of Hamilton Township is Democrat Jeffrey S. Martin, serving a term of office that ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Township Council are Council President Charles F. "Chuddy" Whalen III (D, 2025), Council Vice President Anthony P. Carabelli Jr. (D, 2025), Pasquale "Pat" Papero Jr. (D, 2023), Nancy Phillips (D, 2023) and Richard L. Tighe (D, 2025).

In January 2020, the Township Council chose Charles Whalen from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Jeffrey Martin until he stepped down to take office as mayor. Whalen served on an interim basis until the November 2020 general election, when he was chosen to serve the balance of the term of office.

Emergency services
Starting in January 2021, fire protection is provided by a consolidated professional fire department, which replaced eight separate fire districts each of which served a separate of the township and had its own tax assessments. The new combined department operates on an annual budget of $28 million, with 135 firefighters in four engine companies, two ladder companies and two squad companies.

Mayoral history
On April 27, 2012, Mayor John Bencivengo was charged by the U.S. Attorney's office for corruption in the extortion of payments in exchange for influencing the awarding of a health insurance contract for the Township's Board of Education. On June 22, 2012 he was indicted by a federal grand jury on five criminal counts including extortion, attempted extortion, money laundering and two counts related to the federal travel act.

On June 29, 2012, Rob Warney, a former Hamilton Township Director in Mayor John Bencivengo's cabinet, pleaded guilty before US District Court Judge Peter Sheridan to laundering money related to the federal bribery indictment against Mayor Bencivengo. Warney also admitted to accepting a bribe in 2006 in exchange for his vote and influence over a health insurance broker's contract.

On November 19, 2012, Bencivengo was found guilty on all counts of corruption, extortion and bribery. He submitted his resignation effective November 21, 2012. Councilman Kevin J. Meara was sworn in as Acting Mayor, replacing Bencivengo following his resignation.

On March 24, 2013, Bencivengo was sentenced to a 38-month prison term, which he served at a minimum security federal prison at Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. On September 23, 2013, his attorney filed an appeal with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which was denied in April 2014. He was released to a half-way house in December 2014, and completed his sentence while under house arrest in June 2015.

Federal, state, and county representation
Hamilton Township is located in the 3rd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 14th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 56,202 registered voters in Hamilton Township, of which 18,266 (32.5%) were registered as Democrats, 10,402 (18.5%) were registered as Republicans and 27,508 (48.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 26 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.1% of the vote (23,434 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 41.7% (17,114 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (510 votes), among the 44,558 ballots cast by the township's 58,973 registered voters (3,500 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 75.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.5% of the vote here (23,658 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 43.9% (19,422 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (679 votes), among the 44,201 ballots cast by the township's 58,979 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.9%.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.0% of the vote (17,434 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.3% (10,217 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (478 votes), among the 29,111 ballots cast by the township's 57,809 registered voters (982 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 50.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 47.4% of the vote here (14,234 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 45.0% (13,490 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.4% (1,629 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (324 votes), among the 29,999 ballots cast by the township's 57,543 registered voters, yielding a 52.1% turnout.

Education
The Hamilton Township School District serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district is one of the state's ten largest and consists of 17 elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools along with an alternative program. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of 23 schools, had an enrollment of 11,816 students and 969.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.2:1. Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Alexander Elementary School (with 351 students; in grades K-5), Greenwood Elementary School (236; K-5), Kisthardt Elementary School (231; K-5), Klockner Elementary School (234; PreK-5), Kuser Elementary School (398; PreK-5), Lalor Elementary School (317; K-5), Langtree Elementary School (393; PreK-5), McGalliard Elementary School (250; K-5), Mercerville Elementary School (328; K-5), Morgan Elementary School (276; K-5), Robinson Elementary School (401; K-5), Sayen Elementary School (260; K-5), Sunnybrae Elementary School (275; K-5), University Heights Elementary School (336; PreK-5), George E. Wilson Elementary School (418; PreK-5), Yardville Elementary School (302; PreK-5), Yardville Heights Elementary School (261; K-5), Richard C. Crockett Middle School (999; 6-8), Albert E. Grice Middle School (941; 6-8), Emily C. Reynolds Middle School (914; 6-8), Nottingham High School (North) (985; 9-12), Hamilton High School West (1,447; 9-12), Steinert High School (East) (1,280; 9-12) and Hamilton Educational Program (HEP) High School (NA; 9-12).

Pace Charter School of Hamilton is a charter school serving students in Kindergarten through fifth grade, operating under a charter granted by the New Jersey Department of Education. The school was one of 11 in the state to be recognized in 2014 by the United States Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

Eighth grade students from all of Mercer County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Mercer County Technical Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its Health Sciences Academy, STEM Academy and Academy of Culinary Arts, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

St. Gregory the Great Academy is a Catholic school serving students in preschool through eighth grade that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. The school was also recognized in 2014 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

Roads and highways
Situated next to the New Jersey state capital of Trenton, and New Jersey's eighth-largest municipality, Hamilton Township is 65 mi away from New York City and 35 mi away from Philadelphia. Hamilton is also close to most points along the Jersey Shore. By car, Hamilton is about 80 minutes from New York City and 50 minutes from Philadelphia. The train ride to New York is slightly shorter than the drive into New York while the train ride to Philadelphia is slightly longer than the drive into Philadelphia. With nearly 90,000 residents and 40 sqmi of land, it offers modern train station and major roads passing through.

, the township had a total of 369.10 mi of roadways, of which 304.98 mi were maintained by the municipality, 33.49 mi by Mercer County and 27.93 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 2.70 mi by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

Several major roads and highways traverse the township. These include the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95), Interstate 295, Interstate 195, U.S. Route 130, U.S. Route 206, Route 29, Route 33 and Route 156. Hamilton is the only municipality in the state that hosts Interstate 95 and both of its auxiliary routes, Interstates 195 and 295.

Major county routes that traverse through include CR 524, CR 533 and CR 535.

The Turnpike's Woodrow Wilson service area is located between Interchanges 7 and 7A northbound at milepost 58.7. The Richard Stockton service area is located between Interchanges 7A and 7 southbound at milepost 58.7. No turnpike interchange is located in the township, but the closest exit is at Interchange 7A along I-195 in neighboring Robbinsville Township.

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority widened the turnpike between Exit 6 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County and Exit 8A in Monroe Township, Middlesex County. Two new carriageways were built to accommodate the outer roadway (or truck lanes). In Hamilton, new sound barriers and overpasses were built, as well as new entrance & exit ramps to the service areas. The project was announced in December 2004 and completed in early November 2014.

Public transportation
With the addition in 1999 of the Hamilton train station located on Sloan Avenue just off I-295 at Exit 65B, the township has attracted more New York City-based commuters to the area. The station offers service on NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line to New York Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan and to Trenton station where the SEPTA Trenton Line Regional Rail line provides service to and from Philadelphia.

NJ Transit provides public bus service between the township and Philadelphia on the 409 route and to Trenton on the 601, 603, 606, 607, 608 and 609 routes.

The Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association offers service between Hamilton and Matrix Business Park on the ZLine route to the Amazon sorting center in Robbinsville Township on the ZLine2; and on the Route 130 Connection between the Trenton Transit Center and South Brunswick.

OurBus offers intercity bus service between Hamilton and Tysons, Virginia.

In the news

 * The Megan Kanka case, for whom Megan's Law was named, occurred in Hamilton Township in 1994.
 * Some letters involved in the 2001 anthrax attacks were processed through the United States Postal Service Regional Mail Facility in Hamilton Township. The building was closed for more than four years while it was decontaminated at a cost of $65 million, but an improvised post office was made from tents and canopies in the building's vicinity.
 * The annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree chosen for 2008 was grown in Hamilton. It was a 77-year-old Norway Spruce weighing 8 tons and rising 72 ft that was located off the side of Klockner Road at the Tree King Tree Mart.

Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Hamilton Township has a Humid subtropical climate (Cfa).

Ecology
According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Hamilton Township would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hamilton Township include:
 * Samuel Alito (born 1950), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
 * Bill Baroni (born 1971), former Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, State Senator, and Assemblyman
 * Daniel R. Benson (born 1975), member of the New Jersey General Assembly and former Hamilton Township Councilman
 * David Bird (c. 1959–2014), journalist who covered energy markets for The Wall Street Journal
 * Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. (born 1944), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from the 14th Legislative District from 1982 to 1988
 * Erin Bowman (born 1990), pop singer-songwriter
 * Christian Burns (born 1985), professional basketball player for Germani Basket Brescia of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A
 * Conrad Daniels (born 1941), professional darts player who was active in the 1970s and 1980s
 * Wayne DeAngelo (born 1965), member of the New Jersey General Assembly and former Hamilton Township Councilman
 * Jayson DiManche (born 1990), outside linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League
 * Dan Donigan (born 1967), retired soccer forward and current head coach of Rutgers University Men's Soccer team
 * Colin Ferrell (born 1984), defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts, who played collegiate football at Kent State University
 * Dave Gallagher (born 1960), former MLB outfielder
 * Eddie Gaven (born 1986), soccer player who plays for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer
 * Lisa Gmitter-Pittaro (born 1965), former soccer player who played as a forward, making twelve appearances for the United States women's national team
 * Tom Goodwin (born 1951), politician who served briefly in the New Jersey Senate representing the 14th Legislative District from March to November 2010
 * Gary Guear (born 1951), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2000–2004, where he represented the 14th Legislative District
 * Eric Hamilton (born 1953), retired American football coach who was head football coach at The College of New Jersey from 1977 through 2012, where he had a record of 212–144–6
 * Janice Harsanyi (1930–2007), soprano singer and college professor
 * Alejandro Hernandez, actor who has appeared in New Amsterdam and The Horror of Dolores Roach
 * Peter Inverso (born 1938), former member of the New Jersey Senate
 * Brad Jenkins, producer who is the managing director and executive producer of Funny or Die DC and is the former associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement
 * Dahntay Jones (born 1980), former professional basketball player, current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers
 * Tyler Kliem (born 2002), Yiddishist, translator and researcher
 * Tad Kornegay (born 1982) defensive back for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League
 * Paul Kramer (1933–2020), member of the New Jersey General Assembly
 * Jim McKeown (born 1956), defender who played in the North American Soccer League for the Tulsa Roughnecks and Philadelphia Fury
 * Francis J. McManimon (1926–2020), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1972 to 1982 and in the New Jersey Senate from 1982 to 1992
 * Zack Mesday (born 1994), American football rookie free agent defensive end/linebacker who played college football for Temple University
 * Karin Miller (born 1977), former professional tennis player
 * Chris Pittaro (born 1961), former Major League Baseball infielder
 * Bruce Ritter (1927–1999), Catholic priest and one-time Franciscan friar who founded the charity Covenant House in 1972 for homeless teenagers and led it until he was forced to resign in 1990
 * George R. Robbins (1814–1875), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1855 to 1859
 * Robert "Bobby" Smith (born 1951), retired U.S. soccer defender and National Soccer Hall of Fame member
 * Chris Smith (born 1953), member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey's 4th congressional district


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Hightstown, New Jersey

Hightstown is a borough in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Nestled within the Raritan Valley region, Hightstown is an historic, commercial, and cultural hub of Central New Jersey, along with being a diverse outer-ring commuter suburb of New York City in the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 5,900, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 406 (+7.4%) from the 5,494 recorded at the 2010 census,  which in turn reflected an increase of 278 (+5.3%) from the 5,216 counted in the 2000 census.

Hightstown was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1853, within portions of East Windsor Township. The borough became fully independent around 1894. Additional portions of East Windsor Township were annexed in 1913, 1915, and 1927. The traditional explanation is that the borough was named for John and Mary Hight, who established a tavern in the area in the 1750s.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.27 square miles (3.28 km2), including 1.23 square miles (3.19 km2) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.09 km2) of water (2.60%).

The borough is an independent municipality surrounded entirely by East Windsor, making it part one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.

Hightstown is at the central-most point of New Jersey and is roughly equidistant from Philadelphia and New York City.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 5,494 people, 1,976 households, and 1,352 families in the borough. The population density was 4,536.0 per square mile (1,751.4/km2). There were 2,108 housing units at an average density of 1,740.4 per square mile (672.0/km2). The racial makeup was 69.44% (3,815) White, 8.05% (442) Black or African American, 0.56% (31) Native American, 4.08% (224) Asian, 0.15% (8) Pacific Islander, 13.56% (745) from other races, and 4.17% (229) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.29% (1,664) of the population.

Of the 1,976 households, 32.0% had children under the age of 18; 51.2% were married couples living together; 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.6% were non-families. Of all households, 24.6% were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.23.

23.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $66,250 (with a margin of error of ± $8,281) and the median family income was $72,583 (± $13,355). Males had a median income of $49,861 (± $9,561) versus $42,361 (± $14,837) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $32,976 (± $3,402). About 8.2% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 1.1% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 5,216 people, 2,001 households, and 1,300 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,251.9 PD/sqmi. There were 2,081 housing units at an average density of 1,696.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 76.53% White, 8.51% African American, 0.36% Native American, 2.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 9.64% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.05% of the population.

There were 2,001 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 36.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $64,299, and the median income for a family was $72,092. Males had a median income of $46,375 versus $35,428 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,605. About 4.3% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

As of the 2000 Census, 6.31% of Hightstown's residents identified themselves as being of Ecuadorian ancestry, which was the second highest of any municipality in New Jersey and the sixth highest percentage of Ecuadorian people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

Economy
Downtown Hightstown, located at the intersection of Route 33 and County Route 571, is the central business district for the borough. It features restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and historical sites. Downtown Hightstown, Inc., established in 2008, is an organization of businesses owners and stakeholders in the community of Hightstown, dedicated to promoting the "unique ability to be a town big enough to provide a diverse offering of business services while being small enough to offer excellent personal service to residents, visitors and customers." Numerous businesses are also dotted along U.S. Route 130 in neighboring East Windsor.

Local government
Hightstown 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. 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 includes six members, who are elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The borough form of government used by Hightstown 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.

, the mayor of the Borough of Hightstown is Democrat Susan Bluth, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2026. Borough Council members are Council President Joshua Jackson (D, 2025), Joseph Cicalese (D, 2023), Cristina Fowler (D, 2023), Todd Frantz (D, 2025), Jeet Gulati (D, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term) and Fred Montferrat (D, 2024).

The borough council appointed Jeet Gulati in February 2023 to fill the council seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Susan Bluth until she resigned the previous month to take office as mayor; Gulati will serve on an interim basis until the November 2023 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to fill the balance of the term of office.

In January 2019, the borough council selected Patricia Egan from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that became vacant the previous month following the resignation of Connor Montferrat. At that same meeting, the council chose Joshua Jackson from a list of three Democrats to fill the seat scheduled to expire in December 2019 that had been held by Denise "Denny" Hansen until she resigned from office in December 2018. In the November 2019 general election, Democrat Joseph Cicalese was elected to serve the balance of the term of office through December 2020.

In January 2015, the council selected former council president Susan Bluth to fill the vacant council seat expiring in December 2015 of Larry Quattrone, who left office when he was sworn in as mayor.

Seth Kurs was appointed in April 2014 from among three prospective candidates to fill the vacant seat expiring in 2015 of Gail Doran, who had resigned earlier in the month, citing personal reasons. The term of the appointment ran through November 14, 2014, after which Seth Kurs was elected in the general election to complete the remaining unexpired term through December 31, 2015.

Federal, state, and county representation
Hightstown is located in the 3rd Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 14th state legislative district.

Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 census, Hightstown had been in the 12th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Hightstown had been part of the NJ's 4th 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.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,891 registered voters in Hightstown, of which 1,105 (38.2%) were registered as Democrats, 542 (18.7%) were registered as Republicans and 1,241 (42.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 64.6% of the vote (1,369 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 33.4% (707 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (42 votes), among the 2,308 ballots cast by the borough's 3,062 registered voters (190 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 75.4%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 66.8% of the vote (1,504 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 30.4% (685 votes) and other candidates with 1.6% (36 votes), among the 2,253 ballots cast by the borough's 2,962 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 59.3% of the vote (1,254 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 36.4% (771 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (25 votes), among the 2,116 ballots cast by the borough's 2,776 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.2.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 57.9% of the vote (765 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 38.8% (512 votes), and other candidates with 3.3% (44 votes), among the 1,341 ballots cast by the borough's 2,961 registered voters (20 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 46.2% of the vote (700 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 44.8% (679 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.1% (107 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (16 votes), among the 1,514 ballots cast by the borough's 2,908 registered voters, yielding a 52.1% turnout.

Education
Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the East Windsor Regional School District, which serves students from East Windsor and Hightstown. As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 5,138 students and 450.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.4:1. Public school students in seventh through twelfth grades from Roosevelt Borough (in Monmouth County) are sent to the district's schools as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Roosevelt Public School District. The seats on the nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with two seats assigned to Hightstown.

Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Walter C. Black Elementary School with 480 students in grades K-2, Ethel McKnight Elementary School with 589 students in grades K-2, Perry L. Drew Elementary School with 579 students in grades 3-5, Grace N. Rogers Elementary School with 611 students in grades PreK / 3-5, Melvin H. Kreps Middle School with 1,176 students in grades 6-8 and Hightstown High School with 1,644 students in grades 9-12.

Eighth grade students from all of Mercer County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Mercer County Technical Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its Health Sciences Academy, STEM Academy and Academy of Culinary Arts, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Hightstown is also home to the Peddie School, a coeducational, independent high school founded in 1864.

Historic district
The Stockton Street Historic District covers both sides of Stockton Street (County Route 571), from Railroad Avenue to Summit Street, and a portion of Rogers Avenue. It is notable for its Victorian homes, First Methodist Church, and the Hightstown Civil War monument. It is also significant for its association with the introduction of rail service to New Jersey, as the first railroad in the United States to connect two major cities, New York and Philadelphia. With the historical significance of Hightstown, in July 2015 it became a Preserve America community, aimed at enriching the community's historic preservation efforts.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 16.74 mi of roadways, of which 12.70 mi were maintained by the municipality, 2.74 mi by Mercer County and 1.30 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Hightstown is located at the cross-roads of several major roads. The main highway through the borough is Route 33, which is also concurrent with County Route 539 (CR 539) and County Route 571 (CR 571). A small portion of U.S. Route 130 passes through the northwest corner and is accessible by Route 33, CR 571 and CR 539. Highways located just outside the borough include the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) and the "Hightstown Bypass" (Route 133), which both intersect with Route 33 at Exit 8 of the turnpike.

Public transportation
The Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association offers service on the Route 130 Connection between the Trenton Transit Center and South Brunswick. The Princeton Junction Shuttle connects East Windsor and Hightstown with the Princeton Junction Rail Station.

There is also direct service to New York, as well as other New Jersey communities on the Suburban Coach route 300 to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Grand Central Terminal and other destinations in Midtown Manhattan and the 600 route to and from Downtown Manhattan / Wall Street.

Railroads
Hightstown was formerly served by the Camden & Amboy Railroad (C&A), the first chartered railway company in the state and the third-oldest in the United States. Service to Hightstown began in December 1831 using the British-built John Bull locomotive. C&A was acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) in 1871 after consolidating it with the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company. Ownership was later transferred to Penn Central (PC) in 1968, following by Conrail in 1976 after PC went bankrupt.

In early 1982, Conrail ended freight service to Hightstown on what was known as the Hightstown Industrial Track and filed for abandonment that fall. Trackage was removed in March 1983.

Healthcare
Hightstown is served by CentraState Healthcare System, a 287-bed regional hospital affiliated with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, located in nearby Freehold Township. CentraState Healthcare system also provides healthcare through its various family practices in communities across central New Jersey. One of those six family practices has an office located in neighboring East Windsor on U.S. Route 130.

The next closest hospitals to the borough include the Hamilton Division of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton Township and Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center in Plainsboro Township.

Ecology
According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Hightstown would have an Appalachian Oak (104) vegetation type with an Eastern Hardwood Forest (25) vegetation form.

Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Hightstown has a hot-summer, wet all year, humid continental climate (Dfa). Dfa climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature at or below 32.0 F, at least four months with an average mean temperature at or above 50.0 F, at least one month with an average mean temperature at or above 71.6 F, and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months, episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values at or above 100.0 F. On average, the wettest month of the year is July which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values below 0.0 F. The plant hardiness zone is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 0.0 F. The average seasonal (November–April) snowfall total is 24 to 30 in, and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hightstown include:

 * Kay B. Barrett (1902–1995), Hollywood talent scout who acquired the movie rights to the book Gone with the Wind
 * Estelle Brodman (1914–2007), medical librarian and academic, lived in Hightstown after her retirement
 * Howard Haycraft (1905–1991), writer, editor and publisher
 * Hilly Kristal (1931–2007), founder and owner of the New York City music club CBGB
 * Larry Kelley (1915–2000), football player who won the Heisman Trophy in 1936
 * Desiree Lubovska (1893–1974), founded the American National Ballet School at Hightstown in 1921
 * Doug Mastriano (born 1964), politician who is a retired Colonel of the United States Army and the state senator for Pennsylvania's 33rd District
 * Worrall Frederick Mountain (1909–1992), Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1971 to 1979
 * Elizabeth Greenleaf Pattee (1893–1991), architect, landscape architect and architecture professor
 * Randal Pinkett (born 1971), business consultant who in 2005 was the winner of season four of the reality television show, The Apprentice
 * Jonathan Sprout (born 1952), songwriter, performer and recording artist
 * Martin Waldron (1925–1981), winner of the 1964 Pulitzer Prize for reporting on unchecked spending on the Florida Turnpike
 * Charles L. Walters (c. 1862–1894), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly
 * Paul Watkins (born 1964), novelist
 * John Archibald Wheeler (1911–2008), physicist
 * Nick Williams (born 1990), wide receiver who has played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins
 * John Woodruff (1915–2007), Gold Medalist at 800 metres at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Hightstown, New Jersey


text:
Hopewell, New Jersey

Hopewell is a borough in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Centrally located within the Raritan Valley region, this historical settlement (and its neighboring township of the same name) is an exurban commuter suburb of New York City in the New York metropolitan area as defined by the United States Census Bureau. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,918, a decrease of 4 (−0.2%) from the 2010 census count of 1,922, which in turn had reflected a decline of 113 (−5.6%) from the 2,035 counted in the 2000 census.

Hopewell was incorporated as by the New Jersey Legislature on April 14, 1891, from portions of Hopewell Township, based on the results of a referendum held on March 21, 1891. Additional portions of Hopewell Township were annexed in 1915 and the borough was reincorporated in 1924.

Colonial era
The Lenape tribe of Native Americans were the original inhabitants of the area that would later become Hopewell. The first Colonial influence in Hopewell by European settlers was the purchase of a 30000 acre tract of land by Daniel Coxe a Royal British governor of West Jersey, in the latter half of the 17th century. All land in Hopewell can be traced back to this purchase. In 1691 Coxe, transferred his land to a company called The West Jersey Society of England, who intended to sell the land. The society appointed an agent, Thomas Revell, to preside over the land and sell it to prospective buyers. Revell then attracted settlers from New England, Long Island, and New Jersey falsely claiming that the land was fertile, and tame. However, the families that arrived in Hopewell only found vast stretches of wilderness. The first settler in Hopewell Valley was Thomas Tindall who on November 10, 1699, bought a 300 acre tract of land from The West Jersey Society of England through Revell, for "ten pounds per hundred acres". Other early settlers in Hopewell are said to be the Stouts, who immigrated from Holmdel to Hopewell in 1706, including Jonathan Stout, who had hunted in the area together with the Lenape. Perhaps the first conflict between colonists in Hopewell was the dispute between Revell and the early inhabitants of Hopewell, who realized that their deeds were worthless due to Revell's false claims. Fifty settlers then organized a class action lawsuit against Revell and the West Jersey Society. A lengthy trial was held in Burlington and the court ultimately ruled against the settlers, who were forced to repurchase their land or relocate. Many settlers weren't able to repay and moved north into North Jersey and New York.

On April 23, 1715, the settlers who stayed in Hopewell, most notably the Stout family, organized the Old School Baptist Church, and what is now known as Hopewell was then referred to as "Baptist Meetinghouse". One of the most valued members of the meeting house was Declaration of Independence signer John Hart who in 1740 purchased 193 acre of land in the north of current day Hopewell, and in 1747 as a sign of Hart's devotion to the Church, donated a plot of his land to the Baptists. The next year the Baptists made good use of this land and in 1748 erected their Old School Baptist Church meeting house on West Broad Street. The meeting house brought in Baptists from miles around to Hopewell and encouraged Hopewell's early growth. Numerous lumber mills were established in and around Hopewell at this time to process the lumber that was generated from the clearing of forests for farms.

In 1756, Isaac Eaton the first pastor of the Old School Baptist Church established the Hopewell Academy. One of his students, James Manning, would go on to establish Brown University in 1765.

Frog war
The first railroad to reach Hopewell was the Mercer and Somerset Railway, which was backed by the Pennsylvania Railroad. It was created largely to protect the monopoly the Pennsylvania Railroad had on New Jersey, by cutting off the first separately owned railroad in New Jersey, the Delaware and Bound Brook Railroad, by being built in the way of it. It was completed in 1874. The Delaware and Bound Brook reached Hopewell in 1876, but the railroad had to cross the Mercer and Somerset's track just to the northwest of Hopewell. A dispute occurred at the crossing, known as a frog, and escalated into each company parking locomotives over the crossing to prevent the other company from moving trains over it. Eventually, militia had to be called in to keep the peace, and the Delaware and Bound Brook prevailed. Soon after the Frog War the Mercer and Somerset was liquidated having failed at its purpose. Some of the abandoned right of way for the Mercer and Somerset in Hopewell became Model Avenue. The Delaware and Bound Brook was leased by the Philadelphia and Reading in 1879 for 999 years and has become the CSX Trenton Line and is still in use today. The Frog is also what gives Hopewell Elementary school its mascot, "Freddy the Frog" in honor of the Hopewell frog war.

The Hopewell Herald
The main source of news for Hopewell Township prior to the 1960s was the Hopewell Herald, which was owned, operated, and published by the Savidge family of Hopewell.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.72 square miles (1.87 km2), all of which was land.

The borough is an independent municipality surrounded entirely by Hopewell Township, making it part one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 1,922 people, 778 households, and 532 families in the borough. The population density was 2,735.2 per square mile (1,056.1/km2). There were 817 housing units at an average density of 1,162.7 per square mile (448.9/km2). The racial makeup was 95.06% (1,827) White, 1.51% (29) Black or African American, 0.10% (2) Native American, 0.68% (13) Asian, 0.05% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.51% (29) from other races, and 1.09% (21) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.69% (71) of the population.

Of the 778 households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18; 54.6% were married couples living together; 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.6% were non-families. Of all households, 25.4% were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.

24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 36.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.7 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $105,417 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,866) and the median family income was $125,066 (+/− $15,420). Males had a median income of $91,375 (+/− $14,302) versus $55,357 (+/− $11,473) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $50,910 (+/− $5,465). About none of families and 0.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,035 people, 813 households, and 561 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,963.7 PD/sqmi. There were 836 housing units at an average density of 1,217.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.43% White, 1.08% African American, 0.49% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 1.23% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.31% of the population.

There were 813 households, out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% 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 3.01.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $77,270, and the median income for a family was $91,205. Males had a median income of $52,656 versus $47,315 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,413. None of the families and 2.1% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 5.2% of those over 64.

Local government
Hopewell 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. 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 includes 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. The borough form of government used by Hopewell 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. All legislative powers of the Borough of Hopewell are exercised by the borough council in the form of a resolution, ordinance or proclamation.

, the mayor of Hopewell is Democrat Paul Anzano, whose term expires December 31, 2023. Members of the borough council are Council President Charles Schuyler "Sky" Morehouse (R, 2023), Ryan Kennedy (D, 2023), David Mackie (D, 2025), Samara McAuliffe (D, 2024), Debra Stuhler (D, 2024) and Krista Weaver (D, 2025).

Public library
The Hopewell Public Library was founded March 14, 1914, and was originally located at Broad and Mercer Streets in an old harness shop. The Hopewell Post Office had replaced the old bank building in 1915 and the Hopewell Public Library moved to its current location in the old Hopewell National Bank building in 1965.

In 2014, the library began looking for a new space, citing the lack of a parking lot and non-ADA compliant steps an issue with serving the general public. The library estimated that it needed to raise $1.2 million to cover the cost of the new building.

Federal, state and county representation
Hopewell Borough is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 15th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,473 registered voters in Hopewell Borough, of which 664 (45.1%) were registered as Democrats, 264 (17.9%) were registered as Republicans and 544 (36.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to the Green Party.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 71.4% of the vote (815 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 27.4% (313 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (13 votes), among the 1,256 ballots cast by the borough's 1,530 registered voters (115 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 82.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 71.7% of the vote (841 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 26.0% (305 votes) and other candidates with 1.3% (15 votes), among the 1,173 ballots cast by the borough's 1,493 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.6%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 65.0% of the vote (789 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 32.6% (395 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (9 votes), among the 1,213 ballots cast by the borough's 1,437 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 84.4.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 53.3% of the vote (416 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 44.0% (344 votes), and other candidates with 2.7% (21 votes), among the 792 ballots cast by the borough's 1,518 registered voters (11 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 52.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 56.7% of the vote (511 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 32.3% (291 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 10.0% (90 votes) and other candidates with 0.6% (5 votes), among the 902 ballots cast by the borough's 1,466 registered voters, yielding a 61.5% turnout.

Education
Public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the Hopewell Valley Regional School District. The comprehensive regional public school district serves students from Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township and Pennington Borough. As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 3,467 students and 351.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.9:1. Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Bear Tavern Elementary School with 397 students in grades Pre-K–5, Hopewell Elementary School with 400 students in grades Pre-K–5, Stony Brook Elementary School with 378 students in grades K–5, Toll Gate Grammar School with 306 students in grades K–5, Timberlane Middle School with 820 students in grades 6–8 and Hopewell Valley Central High School with 1,097 students in grades 9–12. Elementary school students from Hopewell Borough attend Hopewell Elementary School. The district's board of education is comprised of nine members allocated to each of the three municipalities based on population, with Hopewell assigned a single seat.

Eighth grade students from all of Mercer County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Mercer County Technical Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its Health Sciences Academy, STEM Academy and Academy of Culinary Arts, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 9.35 mi of roadways, of which 7.56 mi were maintained by the municipality and 1.79 mi by Mercer County.

Hopewell has four major roads that travel through it.
 * County Route 518 enters Hopewell from due west having come from Lambertville and then turns slightly northward, joining West Broad Street. Route 518 then runs through Hopewell and exits Hopewell in the East and heads towards Rocky Hill.
 * Pennington Hopewell Road (County Route 654) enters Hopewell from roughly the southwest, and immediately becomes West Broad Street when it enters Hopewell. It connects Hopewell with Pennington to the south.
 * Princeton Avenue, County Route 569 starts at Broad Street and continues south and becomes Hopewell-Princeton Road, and connects Hopewell with Princeton.
 * Greenwood Avenue runs north out of Hopewell and connects Hopewell with East Amwell Township.

Route 31 is accessible via Route 518 and Route 654.

Rail
NJ Transit is planning to restore passenger commuter rail service to Hopewell on the West Trenton Line. NJ Transit plans to use the existing one-track right of way that CSX owns through Hopewell, the former four-track Reading Company Trenton Line. The proposed plan includes double tracking most of the CSX line to increase capacity and construction of a new rail station on Somerset Street. The use of the historic Hopewell Station is not under consideration in this current proposal. The line would connect Hopewell with New York City, as well as Philadelphia via a SEPTA connection in West Trenton and restore service to Hopewell, which ended in 1982.

Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Hopewell Borough has a Hot-summer Humid continental climate (Dfa).

Ecology
According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Hopewell Borough would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hopewell include:

 * Danielia Cotton (born 1967), singer-songwriter
 * John Hart (c. 1711–1779), signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. His grave is located in the First Baptist Church graveyard on Broad Street
 * Amy Locane (born 1971), television and film actress who appeared in John Waters' 1990 musical comedy Cry-Baby and in the first season of the prime time soap opera Melrose Place
 * Josiah Lincoln Lowe (1905–1997), mycologist who served as president of the Mycological Society of America
 * Leo Halpin Mahony (born 1931), architect of Mahony & Zvosec
 * James W. Marshall (1810–1885), sawmill operator, whose 1848 find of gold in the American River in California was the impetus for the California Gold Rush
 * Richard Preston (born 1954), author of The Hot Zone
 * Keith Robertson (1914–1991), author of children's literature
 * Jonathan Williams (born 1984/85), politician who has represented the Washington-3 district in the Vermont House of Representatives since 2023

title: Hopewell, New Jersey


text:
Hopewell Township, Mercer County, New Jersey

Hopewell Township is a township in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Located at the cross-roads between the Delaware Valley region to the southwest and the Raritan Valley region to the northeast, the township considered an exurb of New York City in the New York metropolitan area as defined by the United States Census Bureau, while also directly bordering the Philadelphia metropolitan area, being a part of the Federal Communications Commission's Philadelphia Designated Market Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 17,491, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 187 (+1.1%) from the 2010 census count of 17,304,  which in turn reflected an increase of 1,199 (+7.4%) from the 16,105 counted in the 2000 census.

The township dates back to February 20, 1700, when the area was still part of Burlington County. One of the earliest European settlers before 1710 was George Woolsey, formerly of Jamaica, Queens (in present-day New York City), whose father was one of the earliest pre-1650 settlers of what was New Amsterdam. His descendants maintained the family farm for over 200 years.

The township was formerly the name for one of two portions of 800 acre of land purchased in 1714 by William Trent, and was formally set off to Hunterdon County, when that county was created on March 11, 1714. Trenton Township was formed out of this estate on June 3, 1719, later to become the City of Trenton. Hopewell Township was incorporated by Royal charter on March 1, 1755, and was re-incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships. Hopewell Township became part of Mercer County at its creation on February 22, 1838. Portions of the township were taken to form Marion Township (February 22, 1838, reverted to Hopewell Township on February 14, 1839), the Borough of Pennington (January 31, 1890) and Hopewell Borough (April 14, 1891), with additional portions of the township transferred to both Pennington and Hopewell Borough in 1915.

History
Hopewell Township includes the location (now known as Washington Crossing) along the east side of the Delaware River to which George Washington and the Continental Army crossed from Pennsylvania. Once in Hopewell Township, the army marched to Trenton on December 26, 1776. The Battle of Trenton followed. Today, Washington Crossing State Park commemorates this important milestone in American history.

Hopewell Township was also the location where—two months after being abducted from his home in neighboring East Amwell—the body of Charles Lindbergh Jr. was discovered on May 12, 1932.

In May 2023, a home in the township had its roof pierced by a stony chondrite meteorite weighing 986 g. After analysis, it was found to be one of 1,100 known meteorites with an unusually low iron content.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 58.95 square miles (152.67 km2), including 58.07 square miles (150.40 km2) of land and 0.87 square miles (2.26 km2) of water (1.48%).

The township completely surrounds Hopewell Borough and Pennington, making it part of two of the 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another, and the only municipality that surrounds two others. The township borders Ewing Township, Lawrence Township and Princeton in Mercer County; East Amwell Township and West Amwell Township in Hunterdon County; Montgomery Township in Somerset County; and Solebury Township and Upper Makesfield Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, across the Delaware River.

Ackors Corner, Baldwins Corner, Bear Tavern, Centerville, Coopers Corner, Federal City, Glenmoore, Harbourton, Harts Corner, Marshalls Corner, Moore, Mount Rose, Pleasant Valley, Stoutsburg, Titusville, Washington Crossing and Woodsville are unincorporated communities, localities and place names located within Hopewell Township. Some neighborhoods in the township include Hopewell Hunt, Brandon Farms and Elm Ridge.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 17,304 people, 6,282 households, and 4,925 families in the township. The population density was 298.2 PD/sqmi. There were 6,551 housing units at an average density of 112.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 86.74% (15,010) White, 2.10% (364) Black or African American, 0.07% (12) Native American, 8.89% (1,539) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.52% (90) from other races, and 1.66% (288) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.31% (573) of the population.

Of the 6,282 households, 39.0% had children under the age of 18; 69.1% were married couples living together; 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.6% were non-families. Of all households, 17.8% were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.14.

26.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 34.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $132,813 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,634) and the median family income was $151,394 (+/− $9,062). Males had a median income of $106,431 (+/− $9,830) versus $66,285 (+/− $11,820) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $55,219 (+/− $3,466). About 0.6% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 16,105 people, 5,498 households, and 4,431 families residing in the township. The population density was 277.1 PD/sqmi. There were 5,629 housing units at an average density of 96.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 77.30% White, 15.83% African American, 0.12% Native American, 3.97% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.

There were 5,498 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.6% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $93,640, and the median income for a family was $101,579. Males had a median income of $66,849 versus $47,701 for females. The per capita income for the township was $43,947. About 0.9% of families and 1.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation

 * Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association
 * Washington Crossing State Park is a state park covering 3575 acres in portions of both Hunterdon County and Mercer County that commemorates "one of the pivotal events of the American Revolution."
 * St. Michaels Farm Preserve, which was first preserved in 2010, is a 400 acres area of farm fields and forested land.
 * Woolsey Park

Local government
Hopewell Township is governed under the Township form of government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.

, the members of the Hopewell Township Committee are Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2025; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Urmila "Uma" Purandare (D, term on committee and as Deputy Mayor ends 2024), David Chait (D, 2025), Kevin D. Kuchinski (D, 2026) and Michael Ruger (D, 2026).

In December 2022, David Chait was selected from a list of three prospective candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Kristin McLaughlin until she left office to take a seat in the Mercer County Board of County Commissioners.

Citing differences with local party leadership, Mayor Harvey Lester changed his party affiliation in March 2015 from Democrat to Republican. In the November 2015 general election, Democrat Julie Blake defeated incumbent Mayor Harvey Lester, with affordable housing, development and taxes as key issues in the race.

Hopewell Township is served by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station & Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, located in Trenton.

Federal, state and county representation
Hopewell Township is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 15th state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 12,218 registered voters in Hopewell Township, of which 3,949 (32.3%) were registered as Democrats, 3,088 (25.3%) were registered as Republicans and 5,178 (42.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 54.9% of the vote (5,223 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 43.8% (4,171 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (123 votes), among the 10,697 ballots cast by the township's 12,983 registered voters (1,180 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 82.4%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 56.5% of the vote here (5,517 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 41.4% (4,042 votes) and other candidates with 1.4% (133 votes), among the 9,765 ballots cast by the township's 12,615 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 51.3% of the vote here (4,974 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 46.2% (4,476 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (80 votes), among the 9,698 ballots cast by the township's 11,780 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 82.3.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.8% of the vote (3,826 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.5% (2,257 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (107 votes), among the 6,322 ballots cast by the township's 12,818 registered voters (132 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 48.9% of the vote here (3,503 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 42.9% (3,074 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.9% (497 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (36 votes), among the 7,158 ballots cast by the township's 12,441 registered voters, yielding a 57.5% turnout.

Education
Public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the Hopewell Valley Regional School District. The comprehensive regional public school district serves students from Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township and Pennington Borough. As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 3,467 students and 351.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.9:1. Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Bear Tavern Elementary School with 397 students in grades Pre-K–5, Hopewell Elementary School with 400 students in grades Pre-K–5, Stony Brook Elementary School with 378 students in grades K–5, Toll Gate Grammar School with 306 students in grades K–5, Timberlane Middle School with 820 students in grades 6–8 and Hopewell Valley Central High School with 1,097 students in grades 9–12. The district's Board of Education is comprised of nine members, which are allocated to each of the three municipalities based on population, with Hopewell Township assigned seven seats.

Eighth grade students from all of Mercer County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Mercer County Technical Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its Health Sciences Academy, STEM Academy and Academy of Culinary Arts, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Historic district
The Pleasant Valley Historic District is a 1565 acre historic district located along Pleasant Valley Road, Valley Road, Woodens Lane and Hunter Road in the community of Pleasant Valley within Hopewell Township and extending into West Amwell Township in Hunterdon County. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 1991, for its significance in agriculture, architecture, and exploration/settlement. It includes 52 contributing buildings, 7 contributing structures, and 22 contributing sites.

Central to the district is the Howell Living History Farm, which is a 130 acre living open-air museum located just north of Titusville. The farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 1977, for its significance in agriculture and architecture. The farm was included in the Pleasant Valley Historic District on June 14, 1991. The farm was first created by Joseph Phillips, a blacksmith, who purchased 125 acre from William Bryant in 1732. By 1800, Henry Phillips, Joseph's son, had enlarged the farm by 100 acre. The current buildings on the property date to the 19th century, primarily before the American Civil War. The final private owner of the farm was the Howell family, who donated the land to Mercer County in 1974 for use as a museum. The museum shows farm life from the year 1900.

Roads and highways
, the township had a total of 189.67 mi of roadways, of which 136.96 mi are maintained by the municipality, 36.68 mi by Mercer County and 16.03 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Several major highways pass through the township. Route 29 passes through the southwestern part of Hopewell alongside the Delaware and Raritan Canal. Route 31 is the main north–south road that goes through the township. Interstate 295 also passes through in the southern part; the highway has two interchanges in the Township: Exits 73 (Scotch Road) and 72 (Route 31). Major county roads that go through are County Route 518, County Route 546, County Route 569 and County Route 579.

Hopewell Township was supposed to be where the Somerset Freeway would have started in the south, ending in the north in either Piscataway or Franklin Township. This would have completed Interstate 95 in New Jersey. The cancellation of this project led to having the New Jersey Turnpike carry the interstate numbering instead. Originally, I-295 had extended into Hopewell Township and ended where the supposed Somerset Freeway interchange was to be built. Ultimately, the Somerset Freeway was canceled in 1982. I-295 was redesignated I-95 from the canceled interchange to the exit at U.S. Route 1 in 1993. In March 2018, I-95 through Hopewell Township became I-295 as part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike/Interstate 95 Interchange Project that completed the gap in I-95.

Public transportation
NJ Transit provides bus service between the township and Trenton on the 624.

Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Hopewell Township has a Hot-summer Humid continental climate (Dfa).

Ecology
According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Hopewell Township would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).

Media

 * Hopewell Valley News
 * Pennington Post
 * Town Topics
 * The Hopewell Sun

Winery

 * Hopewell Valley Vineyards

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hopewell Township include:

 * John Gano (1727–1804), Baptist minister who is said to have baptized George Washington
 * Fred Green (1933–1996), former MLB relief pitcher who played most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates
 * John Hart (c. 1711–1779), signer of the United States Declaration of Independence
 * Thomas Stoltz Harvey (1912–2007), pathologist who conducted the autopsy on Albert Einstein in 1955
 * Rush D. Holt Jr. (born 1948), former U.S. Congressman for New Jersey's 12th congressional district, who represented the district from 1999 to 2015
 * Robyn Jones (born 1985), professional soccer goalkeeper who played two years for the Philadelphia Independence of Women's Professional Soccer
 * James W. Marshall (1810–1885), sawmill operator, whose 1848 find of gold in the American River in California was the impetus for the California Gold Rush
 * Lyle and Erik Menéndez, convicted of killing their parents in 1989
 * Joyce Carol Oates (born 1938), writer
 * Anne M. Patterson (born 1959), Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court
 * Debbie Ryan (born 1952), former head coach of the women's basketball team at the University of Virginia, who was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008
 * Suthan Suthersan (1956–2017), environmental engineer who served as the Chief Technical Officer and Executive Vice President of Arcadis North America
 * Anthony Verrelli (born 1964), carpenter, union leader and politician, who represents the 15th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly
 * Brandon Wagner (born 1995), professional baseball player