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Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey

Peapack-Gladstone (also written as Peapack and Gladstone) is a borough in the Somerset Hills region of northern Somerset County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 2,558, a decrease of 24 (−0.9%) from the 2010 census count of 2,582, which in turn reflected an increase of 149 (+6.1%) from the 2,433 counted in the 2000 census.

Peapack-Gladstone was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 28, 1912, from portions of Bedminster, subject to the results of a referendum held on April 23, 1912. It is part of the New York metropolitan area, as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY-New Jersey-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area and it is located within the Raritan Valley region.

Peapack is home to historic Natirar as well as the Essex Hunt Club and Fox Hounds. In operation until the mid-1930s, the Moses Craig Lime Kilns are located at the center of Peapack.

Gladstone is home to the Hamilton Farm Golf Club, the Stronghold Soccer Club and the United States Equestrian Team. Gill St. Bernard's School, established in 1900, is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory day school, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, located on a 208 acres campus that straddles the borders of Gladstone and neighboring Chester Township in Morris County.

In the Forbes magazine 2017 ranking of the Most Expensive ZIP Codes in the United States, Gladstone was ranked as the 457th most expensive in the country, with its median home sale price of $938,042. In 2018, New Jersey Business Magazine listed Gladstone at 46th in its listing of "The Most Expensive ZIP Codes in New Jersey", with a median sale price 2017 of $627,500.

Formation
In 1912, the communities of Peapack and Gladstone found themselves in conflict with the rest of Bedminster. Residents of the two communities wanted electric lights, telephones and fire hydrants and resented being forced to pay for rural roads elsewhere in the township. Residents petitioned the state legislature for the creation of the borough and the Legislature voted to do so on April 23, 1912.

Village names
Peapack is believed to have been derived from "Peapackton,” a Lenape Native American term meaning "marriage of the waters", a reference to the confluence of the Peapack Brook and Raritan River in the area. Gladstone was named in honor of William Ewart Gladstone, who served as British Prime Minister several times between 1868 and 1894.

Natirar
Natirar is an estate spanning 404 acres in Peapack-Gladstone, Far Hills and Bedminster that was sold by Hassan II of Morocco, to Somerset County and is now administered by the Somerset County Park Commission, including the 247 acres in Peapack-Gladstone.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 5.80 square miles (15.03 km2), including 5.73 square miles (14.85 km2) of land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) of water (1.21%).

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Gladstone, Peapack and Ravine Lake.

Peapack-Gladstone borders other Somerset Hills communities in Somerset and Morris counties including: Bedminster to the southwest, Bernardsville to the east, Far Hills to the southeast, Chester Township to the northwest, and Mendham Township to the northeast.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 2,582 people, 887 households, and 676 families in the borough. The population density was 444.5 per square mile (171.6/km2). There were 949 housing units at an average density of 163.4 per square mile (63.1/km2). The racial makeup was 90.09% (2,326) White, 4.07% (105) Black or African American, 0.12% (3) Native American, 1.94% (50) Asian, 0.04% (1) Pacific Islander, 1.74% (45) from other races, and 2.01% (52) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.88% (281) of the population.

Of the 887 households, 37.7% had children under the age of 18; 64.5% were married couples living together; 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.8% were non-families. Of all households, 19.6% were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.13.

26.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 33.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 97.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $123,875 (with a margin of error of +/− $16,668) and the median family income was $145,333 (+/− $23,674). Males had a median income of $86,379 (+/− $16,014) versus $60,833 (+/− $16,980) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $61,841 (+/− $12,910). About none of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 2,433 people, 840 households, and 646 families residing in the borough. The population density was 419.5 PD/sqmi. There were 871 housing units at an average density of 150.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 94.45% white, 3.12% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.70% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.78% of the population.

There were 840 households, out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.5% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $99,499, and the median income for a family was $118,770. Males had a median income of $62,446 versus $46,500 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $56,542. About 1.9% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
The Peapack-Gladstone Bank was established on September 21, 1921, originally named the Peapack-Gladstone Trust Company. It operates as the local bank for the greater region, specializing in private banking and wealth management, and is publicly traded under NASDAQ with the ticker symbol PGC.

Film and television
The Gladstone train station building was re-labeled "Boston," and its surroundings were supplied with peat-moss dirt, period vehicles and extras in Victorian dress, for a 1962 movie shoot. In the Oscar-winning film The Miracle Worker, Anne Bancroft in the role of Annie Sullivan boards a long-distance steam train there to take the job as Helen Keller's teacher.

The borough was a major shooting location of the CBS soap opera Guiding Light from 2007 until the show's conclusion in 2009.

Sports
Horseback riding is very popular throughout the area. The United States Equestrian Team (USET) has its home in Gladstone.

Hamilton Farm Golf Club has been the site of the Sybase Match Play Championship since its inception in 2010, which is the only match play format event on the LPGA Tour.

The borough is home to Stronghold Soccer Club, which plays its matches at Mount St. John's on the grounds of Montgomery Academy.

Emergency services
Policing is provided by the Peapack and Gladstone Police Department, which has a staff of nine officers and a Chief.

Fire service has been provided since 1905 by the all-volunteer Peapack and Gladstone Volunteer Fire Company, known in the Somerset County Radio System as "51 Fire". The department operates out of the fire station located on Dewey Avenue. The department operates a 2010 Pierce Arrow Pumper known as 51-102 which acts as primary attack engine; a 1995 Marion Heavy Rescue known as 51-151, equipped with rescue equipment for emergencies such as confined space rescue and vehicle extrication; a 1999 Pierce Dash 2000, which acts as primary water supply truck as it is equipped with 3000 ft of 5 in hose, and known as 51-103; and a 2001 Ford F-250 Brush Truck known as 51-141, which responds to all brush fires in and around the borough and is equipped with foam. The department retired a 1988 Pierce Lance in 2010 after many years of service.

Emergency medical services are provided by the non-profit, all-volunteer Peapack Gladstone First Aid Squad, known as "51 Rescue", based at a newly renovated location on St. Lukes Avenue. The Squad operates 2007 and 2005 Ford MedTec ambulances. Retired in 2007 was a 1993 Ford MedTec ambulance. The Squad provides around-the-clock service at no cost to its patients.

Emergency medical services are bolstered by Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICU) with paramedics from the local hospitals of Morristown Medical Center (also a regional trauma center) in Morristown and from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset (formerly Somerset Medical Center) in Somerville. In the event of a serious trauma accident, as occurs occasionally on Route 206 which runs through the borough, the services of the New Jersey State Police North Shock Trauma Air Rescue (NorthSTAR), which is based in neighboring Bedminster, may be called upon to provide medical evacuation to a trauma center.

Public works
The Peapack-Gladstone Department of Public Works (DPW) is responsible for maintenance for the borough's buildings, snow removal, sewer inspection, as well as the general maintenance of roads and other services.

Local government
Peapack-Gladstone 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 Peapack-Gladstone 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 Peapack-Gladstone is Independent Gregory Skinner, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Mark A. Corigliano (R, 2022), GianPaolo Caminiti (R, 2022), Amy Dietrich (D, 2023), Donald Lemma (R, 2023), Jamie Murphy (D, 2024), and John Sweeney (R, 2024).

Borough offices are located at the former school building, in the same facility as the local library and police department. Municipal court is shared with Bedminster and Bernardsville. Court sessions are held in Bedminster.

Federal, state and county representation
Peapack-Gladstone is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 21st state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 1,743 registered voters in Peapack & Gladstone, of which 283 (16.2% vs. 26.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 957 (54.9% vs. 25.7%) were registered as Republicans and 502 (28.8% vs. 48.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 67.5% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 91.8% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 62.3% of the vote (796 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 36.3% (464 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (18 votes), among the 1,279 ballots cast by the borough's 1,865 registered voters (1 ballot was spoiled), for a turnout of 68.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 790 votes (58.6% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 526 votes (39.0% vs. 52.1%) and other candidates with 21 votes (1.6% vs. 1.1%), among the 1,349 ballots cast by the borough's 1,681 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.2% (vs. 78.7% in Somerset County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 860 votes (65.4% vs. 51.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 430 votes (32.7% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 18 votes (1.4% vs. 0.9%), among the 1,314 ballots cast by the borough's 1,566 registered voters, for a turnout of 83.9% (vs. 81.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 79.2% of the vote (662 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 19.3% (161 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (13 votes), among the 847 ballots cast by the borough's 1,924 registered voters (11 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.0%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 657 votes (64.9% vs. 55.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 205 votes (20.3% vs. 34.1%), Independent Chris Daggett with 140 votes (13.8% vs. 8.7%) and other candidates with 5 votes (0.5% vs. 0.7%), among the 1,012 ballots cast by the borough's 1,712 registered voters, yielding a 59.1% turnout (vs. 52.5% in the county).

Education
Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the schools of the Somerset Hills Regional School District, a regional school district serving students from Bernardsville, Far Hills and Peapack-Gladstone, along with those from Bedminster who attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,797 students and 155.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Marion T. Bedwell Elementary School with 471 students in grades Pre-K–4, Bernardsville Middle School with 474 students in grades 5–8 and Bernards High School with 819 students in grades 9–12. The district's board of education is comprised of nine elected members (plus one appointed member representing Bedminster) who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. The nine elected seats on the board are allocated to the constituent municipalities based on population, with two seats allocated to Peapack-Gladstone.

Gill St. Bernard's School is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational day school, serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The Cottage School and Cottage Elementary Schools serve students in preschool through the early elementary grades.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 25.45 mi of roadways, of which 18.20 mi were maintained by the municipality, 5.17 mi by Somerset County and 2.08 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

U.S. Route 206 is the most prominent highway directly serving the borough, connecting to points north and south. County Route 512 also serves the borough, extending east–west through the area. Interstate 287 and Interstate 78 are both accessible in neighboring Bedminster.

Public transportation
NJ Transit's Gladstone station is the terminus of the Gladstone Branch of the Morris and Essex Lines, taking many of the borough's commuters to Hoboken and New York Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan daily. Peapack has its own station 1 mi before the terminus.

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

 * Charles E. Apgar (1865–1950), business executive and amateur radio operator best known for making early recordings of coded German radio transmissions at the start of World War I
 * Phillip R. Bennett (born 1948), convicted financial fraudster
 * C. Ledyard Blair (1867–1949), investment banker and yachtsman
 * Susane Colasanti (born 1973), author of realistic, contemporary teen novels
 * William R. Cox (1901–1988), prolific writer of short stories and Western and mystery novels mainly for the pulp and paperback markets written under multiple pseudonyms
 * Meg Donnelly (born 2000), actress who appeared in the ABC sitcom American Housewife and in the 2018 Disney Channel Original Movie Zombies and its 2020 sequel, Zombies 2
 * Louise Fatio (1904–1993), writer of children's books, best known for her picture book The Happy Lion, with her illustrator husband Roger Duvoisin
 * Jason Gore (born 1974), PGA Tour professional golfer who is the Senior Director of Player Relations for the United States Golf Association
 * Hassan II of Morocco (1929–1999), King of Morocco
 * Sarah Hirshland (born 1975), chief executive officer of the United States Olympic Committee
 * Thomas Kiernan (1933-2003), writer who was the author of a biographies that featured figures including Laurence Olivier, Jane Fonda, John Steinbeck, and Yasser Arafat.
 * Kate Macy Ladd (1863–1945), philanthropist who founded and endowed the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation in honor of her father
 * Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929–1994), former First Lady of the United States
 * Holly Ponichtera, immunologist who competed as a figure skater at Dartmouth College
 * Orin R. Smith, former chairman and CEO of Engelhard Corporation
 * Richard B. Sellars (1915–2010), Chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson
 * Kate Whitman Annis (born c. 1998), general manager of the Metropolitan Riveters of the National Women's Hockey League

title: Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey


text:
Raritan, New Jersey

Raritan is a borough in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,835, its highest decennial census count ever and an increase of 954 (+13.9%) from the 2010 census count of 6,881,  which in turn had reflected an increase of 543 (+8.6%) from the 6,338 counted at the 2000 census.

The borough's name is derived from the Raritans, a Native American group of Lenape. The name of the tribe is said to mean "forked river", "stream overflows", or "point on a tidal river".

History
Raritan town was originally established as a subdivision within Bridgewater Township by act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 3, 1868. Despite its size, the town has an extensive history, that encompasses local, national, and even global history.

Raritan Woolen Mills
The town's location on the Raritan River, a major artery for the use of trading goods into New York City, contributed it in being a bustling mill town during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Raritan Woolen Mills was established in 1846, as a major producer of textiles, known throughout the United States. Its name changed to the Somerset Manufacturing Company in 1882, employing as many as 400 people during its peak at the turn of the century. The mill created uniforms and blankets for the Union Army during the Civil War, along with uniforms for the United States Army during World War I.

End of World War I
The Knox–Porter Resolution ending United States involvement in World War I was signed by President Harding at the estate of New Jersey Senator Joseph S. Frelinghuysen Sr. on July 2, 1921. That Memorial plaque marking of the Frelinghuysen estate is located in the borough.

Creation of the borough
After a series of bitter lawsuits between Raritan and Bridgewater in the 1930s and 1940s, the Legislature allowed Raritan to become a fully independent borough by an Act on May 12, 1948, based on the results of a referendum passed on June 12, 1948. The new borough incorporated the old town and an additional portion of Bridgewater Township.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.03 square miles (5.27 km2), including 1.99 square miles (5.16 km2) of land and 0.04 square miles (0.11 km2) of water (2.02%).

The borough borders the Somerset County municipalities of Bridgewater Township, Hillsborough Township, and Somerville. Raritan is in the western division of the Raritan Valley region (a line of municipalities in central New Jersey), along with Branchburg and Bridgewater.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 6,881 people, 2,673 households, and 1,748 families in the borough. The population density was 3,452.2 per square mile (1,332.9/km2). There were 2,847 housing units at an average density of 1,428.3 per square mile (551.5/km2). The racial makeup was 76.40% (5,257) White, 2.09% (144) Black or African American, 0.16% (11) Native American, 14.29% (983) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 4.59% (316) from other races, and 2.46% (169) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.39% (1,128) of the population.

Of the 2,673 households, 31.2% had children under the age of 18; 48.5% were married couples living together; 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 34.6% were non-families. Of all households, 27.8% were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.16.

23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $70,116 (with a margin of error of +/− $10,294) and the median family income was $79,813 (+/− $8,715). Males had a median income of $54,130 (+/− $7,617) versus $44,125 (+/− $12,260) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $34,617 (+/− $5,703). About 6.3% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.4% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 6,338 people, 2,556 households, and 1,671 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,113.8 PD/sqmi. There were 2,644 housing units at an average density of 1,299.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 87.74% White, 0.93% African American, 0.08% Native American, 8.17% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.64% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.41% of the population.

There were 2,556 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $51,122, and the median income for a family was $59,962. Males had a median income of $46,071 versus $35,704 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,420. About 5.5% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation
Frelinghuysen Park is a public park dedicated to General John Frederick Frelinghuysen. This is one of the public parks in Raritan, along with Basilone Park and Elizabeth Avenue Park, and it includes two little league baseball fields, two full-sized outdoor basketball courts, two full sized tennis courts and a playground. During the summer months Frelinghuysen Park and Basilone Park have recreational pools open to children. The parks offers tables for picnicking. It is located at the end of Sherman Avenue before getting onto Highway 206.

Local government
Raritan 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 Raritan 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 Raritan is Republican Nicolas Carra, whose term of office expires December 31, 2027. Members of the Raritan Borough Council are Council President Donald Tozzi (R, 2026), Michael Patente (R, 2026), Adam Armahizer (D, 2025), Kenneth DiGraziano (R, 2024, appointed to fill an unexpired term), David Fritzinger (R, 2024) and Umesh Agrawal (R, 2024, appointed to fill an unexpired term).

In January 2024, the borough council appointed Republican Umesh Agrawal to fill the seat expiring in December 2025 that became vacant when Nicolas J. Carra took office as mayor earlier that month; Agrawal will serve on an interim basis until the November 2024 general election.

In May 2024, the borough council appointed Republican Kenneth DiGraziano to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that became vacant when Joyce Melitsky resigned earlier that month.

Rocco Miele was Raritan's first mayor, serving from its founding in 1948 to 1953.

Federal, state and county representation
Raritan is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,926 registered voters in Raritan, of which 1,122 (28.6% vs. 26.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 882 (22.5% vs. 25.7%) were registered as Republicans and 1,917 (48.8% vs. 48.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 57.1% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 74.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 50.0% of the vote (1,360 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 48.7% (1,323 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (35 votes), among the 2,759 ballots cast by the borough's 4,159 registered voters (41 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 66.3%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 1,514 votes (52.6% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,287 votes (44.7% vs. 52.1%) and other candidates with 42 votes (1.5% vs. 1.1%), among the 2,879 ballots cast by the borough's 3,830 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.2% (vs. 78.7% in Somerset County). In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 1,497 votes (53.4% vs. 51.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat John Kerry with 1,239 votes (44.2% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 33 votes (1.2% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,802 ballots cast by the borough's 3,606 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.7% (vs. 81.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.0% of the vote (1,249 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.0% (451 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (34 votes), among the 1,759 ballots cast by the borough's 4,253 registered voters (25 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 41.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,292 votes (60.9% vs. 55.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 562 votes (26.5% vs. 34.1%), Independent Chris Daggett with 202 votes (9.5% vs. 8.7%) and other candidates with 22 votes (1.0% vs. 0.7%), among the 2,120 ballots cast by the borough's 3,948 registered voters, yielding a 53.7% turnout (vs. 52.5% in the county).

Education
Students from Raritan attend the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, together with students from Bridgewater Township. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of 11 schools, had an enrollment of 8,254 students and 754.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.9:1. One of the largest suburban districts statewide, the district is the largest in Somerset County. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Adamsville Primary School (532 students; in grades PreK–4), Bradley Gardens Primary School (263; PreK–4), Crim Primary School (342; K–4), Hamilton Primary School (477; K–4), John F. Kennedy Primary School (427; K–4), Milltown Primary School (402; PreK–4), Van Holten Primary School (334; K–4), Eisenhower Intermediate School (704; 5–6), Hillside Intermediate School (574; 5–6), Bridgewater–Raritan Middle School (1,384; 7–8) and Bridgewater–Raritan High School (2,747; 9–12). The overwhelming majority of students in the district are from Bridgewater, with approximately 1,000 students from Raritan. All schools in the district are in Bridgewater except for Kennedy, which is in Raritan.

During the 1999–2000 school year, Bridgewater-Raritan High School was recognized with the National Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive from the federal government.

Public high school students also have the option to attend the Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School, a four-year magnet school located in Bridgewater that provides occupational and academic training to students from all of Somerset County.

St. Ann Classical Academy is a classical, liberal-arts Catholic school for students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade that operates under the supervision of the Raritan Oratory of St. Philip Neri and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 24.34 mi of roadways, of which 18.26 mi were maintained by the municipality, 2.85 mi by Somerset County and 3.23 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

U.S. Route 202 traverses the borough from east to west. U.S. Route 206 follows the border with Somerville. New Jersey Route 28 has one side of the roadway within the borough as it follows the border with Bridgewater Township. The northern terminus of County Route 567 is in Raritan.

U.S. Routes 202 and 206 intersect with NJ Route 28 at the Somerville Circle on the borders with Bridgewater Township and Somerville, with the eastern half of the circle located in Raritan. As part of an ongoing effort to improve traffic safety at the circle, the New Jersey Department of Transportation has made a series of changes to the structure of the traffic circle, originally constructed during the 1930s. With the suburbanization of the area, the circle was handling an average of 70,000 vehicles each day. In 1994, an overpass was completed to allow traffic on Route 202 between Flemington and Interstate 78 and Interstate 287 to avoid the circle, though the rate of accidents grew from 195 in 1991 before the project started to 302 for the year after the overpass was open to traffic. After yield signs were added in February 1995, the accident rate increased again, to an annualized rate above 400 per year.

Public transportation
The Raritan train station offers NJ Transit service on the Raritan Valley Line to Newark Penn Station. The station is north of the town center on Thompson Street. The station building is south of the tracks in the main parking lot and was built in the early 1890s. There are also three other small lots for this station. Raritan is usually the most frequent terminus of the Raritan Valley Line. There is limited service farther west to High Bridge.

The borough is served by the CAT-1R, 2R, and 3R routes (which all continue to Raritan Valley Community College on the western end. On the eastern end, buses continue to New Brunswick, North Plainfield, and Bridgewater Commons respectively), operated by Community Access Transit.

Community
The Raritan Public Library is located in what was originally the homestead of General John Frederick Frelinghuysen.

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

 * John Basilone (1916–1945), awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Guadalcanal
 * Tony Bongiovi (born 1947), record producer and recording engineer
 * Isaac Brokaw (1746–1826), clockmaker
 * Ben Carnevale (1915–2008), basketball coach inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970
 * Jack Ciattarelli (born 1961), member of the New Jersey General Assembly who represented the 16th Legislative District from 2011 to 2018
 * Joseph S. Frelinghuysen Sr. (1869–1948), U.S. Senator representing New Jersey
 * Mike Grosso (born 1947), former professional basketball player who played in the American Basketball Association
 * Terry Matalas (born 1975), screenwriter, grew up near Raritan
 * Frank Perantoni (1923–1991), American football center who played professional football for the New York Yankees
 * Elvira Woodruff (born 1951), children's writer known for books that include elements of fantasy and history

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

title: Raritan, New Jersey


text:
Rocky Hill, New Jersey

Rocky Hill is a borough in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Named for the Rocky Hill Ridge, this historic village is nestled within the heart of the Raritan Valley region, located alongside the course of the Millstone River.

As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 743, an increase of 61 (+8.9%) from the 2010 census count of 682, which in turn reflected an increase of 20 (+3.0%) from the 662 counted in the 2000 census.

History
The earliest European settlement in the area began after John Harrison negotiated the purchase of land in 1701 from the Lenape Native Americans. Speaking an Algonquian language, they had occupied the area for centuries prior to the arrival of European settlers. Bands of Lenape lived along the coast from Connecticut through New York and New Jersey and south to Maryland and Delaware.

In 1783, during the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington camped at Rockingham, the house owned by the Berrien family. He passed through the area again in 1789 on his way to New York City for his inauguration as President of the United States. Before roads were improved, it was known as the Devil's Featherbed because it was difficult to travel the rocky terrain by horse and wagon.

Rocky Hill was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 18, 1889, from portions of Montgomery Township. This was based on the results of a referendum held four days earlier.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.61 square miles (1.59 km2), including 0.61 square miles (1.58 km2) of land and <0.01 square miles (0.01 km2) of water (0.49%). A large portion of Rocky Hill is taken up by Van Horne Park.

The borough borders the Somerset County municipalities of Franklin Township and Montgomery Township.

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

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 682 people, 280 households, and 189 families in the borough. The population density was 1,101.4 per square mile (425.3/km2). There were 292 housing units at an average density of 471.6 per square mile (182.1/km2). The racial makeup was 91.64% (625) White, 1.47% (10) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 2.35% (16) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.47% (10) from other races, and 3.08% (21) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.84% (33) of the population.

Of the 280 households, 29.3% had children under the age of 18; 56.4% were married couples living together; 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.5% were non-families. Of all households, 26.4% were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.95.

23.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 103.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $88,929 (with a margin of error of +/− $14,448) and the median family income was $102,917 (+/− $21,668). Males had a median income of $88,333 (+/− $16,491) versus $57,083 (+/− $7,607) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $47,582 (+/− $7,276). About none of families and 3.3% 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 662 people, 284 households, and 189 families residing in the borough. The population density was 982.0 PD/sqmi. There were 295 housing units at an average density of 437.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 95.17% White, 1.36% African American, 0.45% Asian, 0.60% Pacific Islander, 0.91% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.93% of the population.

There were 284 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $79,469, and the median income for a family was $100,314. Males had a median income of $54,375 versus $50,357 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $48,357. About 2.5% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Rocky Hill 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 Rocky Hill is a "weak mayor / strong council" government, in which council members act as the legislative body. The mayor presides at meetings and votes 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 Rocky Hill is Democrat Robert Uhrik, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Edgar L. "Trey" Delaney (D, 2024), Susan P. Bristol (I, 2023), Jonathan Lee (D, 2022; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Catherine Plunkett (D, 2022), Ken Rizzi (D, 2023; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Denise Varga (D, 2024).

In January 2022, the borough council selected Jonathan Lee from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Rasheeda Pretto until she resigned from office.

Rasheeda Pretto was appointed to fill the borough council seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Robert Uhrik until he stepped down to take office as mayor, though she chose to run for a full three-year term rather than to run for the remainder of the term. In November 2019, Amy Kirtland won a write-in campaign to fill the balance of Uhrik's council term.

At the January 2015 reorganization meeting, the borough council selected Robert Ashbaugh to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2015 of Jeffrey Donohue, who vacated the seat when he took office as mayor.

Federal, state, and county representation
Rocky Hill is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 16th state legislative district

Politics
Rocky Hill is considered to be the most Democratic-leaning municipality in Somerset County. It was Democratic in 2004 when most of the area was not, but like other municipalities in the region, it shifted further to the left since then, giving Joe Biden more than 76% of the vote, a plurality of more than 50%, in the 2020 presidential election.

As of March 2011, there were a total of 527 registered voters in Rocky Hill, of which 183 (34.7% vs. 26.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 190 (36.1% vs. 25.7%) were registered as Republicans and 151 (28.7% vs. 48.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered to other parties. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 77.3% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 100% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 63.6% of the vote (252 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 34.6% (137 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (7 votes), among the 397 ballots cast by the borough's 532 registered voters (1 ballot was spoiled), for a turnout of 74.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 258 votes (61.0% vs. 52.1% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 154 votes (36.4% vs. 46.1%) and other candidates with 8 votes (1.9% vs. 1.1%), among the 423 ballots cast by the borough's 511 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.8% (vs. 78.7% in Somerset County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 241 votes (56.3% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 181 votes (42.3% vs. 51.5%) and other candidates with 6 votes (1.4% vs. 0.9%), among the 428 ballots cast by the borough's 501 registered voters, for a turnout of 85.4% (vs. 81.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 54.0% of the vote (150 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 42.8% (119 votes), and other candidates with 3.2% (9 votes), among the 282 ballots cast by the borough's 535 registered voters (4 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 52.7%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 153 votes (50.2% vs. 55.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 122 votes (40.0% vs. 34.1%), Independent Chris Daggett with 23 votes (7.5% vs. 8.7%) and other candidates with 2 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 305 ballots cast by the borough's 522 registered voters, yielding a 58.4% turnout (vs. 52.5% in the county).

Education
The Montgomery Township School District is a comprehensive public school district, consisting of five school facilities in Montgomery Township, that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from both Montgomery Township and Rocky Hill. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 4,498 students and 403.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.2:1. Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Orchard Hill Elementary School with 727 students in grades Pre-K–2, Village Elementary School with 634 students in grades 3–4, Montgomery Lower Middle School with 743 students in grades 5–6, Montgomery Upper Middle School with 776 students in grades 7–8 and Montgomery High School with 1,577 students in grades 9–12. Rocky Hill had been a non-operating school district that had sent all of its students to the Montgomery Township School District, as part of a sending/receiving relationship. With the termination of the non-operating district, Rocky Hill operates as part of the Montgomery district.

Rocky Hill is home to the Rocky Hill Cooperative Nursery School, which was established in 1957.

Historic district
Rocky Hill Historic District is a 176 acre historic district encompassing the historic core of the borough of Rocky Hill in Somerset County, New Jersey. The village is approximately one square mile and traces its beginnings to the 18th century, when George Washington stayed at Rockingham, and its major growth period to the second quarter of the 19th century, as a stop between Princeton and New Brunswick. The district encompasses a total of 145 buildings, most notable of being the Dutch Reformed Church that was built in 1856 in the Carpenter Gothic style. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 8, 1982, for its significance in archeology, architecture and commerce. The historic villages of Kingston and Harlingen are also located relatively close by to the village of Rocky Hill.

Emergency services
Police coverage is provided by the New Jersey State Police, from the Kingwood Station in Kingwood Township in Hunterdon County.

Fire protection is offered by the Rocky Hill Hook & Ladder Co #1/Station 53 Fire.

Emergency Medical Services are provided by the Rocky Hill First Aid and Rescue Squad (53 Rescue), which had been temporarily decommissioned as of March 2011 by Resolution 2011–33. An aggressive recruitment and training program under new operational and executive leadership led to Rocky Hill First and Rescue Squad returning to full primary EMS coverage in October 2012, covering all shifts on a scramble basis and offering mutual aid to squads based in Franklin Township, Kingston, and Princeton.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 4.38 mi of roadways, of which 2.88 mi were maintained by the municipality and 1.50 mi by Somerset County.

The major road that passes through is County Route 518, which runs for 1 mi through the borough and provides access to U.S. Route 206 to the west and Route 27 to the east. The nearest limited access roads are at least 25 minutes away, such as Interstate 287, Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95).

Airport
Princeton Airport, serving the neighboring borough of Princeton, is located in Montgomery Township, just west of Rocky Hill.

Healthcare
Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center is a 355-bed regional non-profit, tertiary and academic medical center located in nearby Plainsboro Township. The hospital services the greater Princeton region in central New Jersey. It is owned by the Penn Medicine Health System and is the only such hospital in the state of New Jersey.

Other nearby regional hospitals and healthcare networks that are accessible to Rocky Hill, include the Somerville division and the New Brunswick division of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), along with Saint Peter's University Hospital, also in New Brunswick.

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

 * John Berrien (1711–1772), justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court and trustee of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University
 * John Berrien Jr. (1759–1815), army officer during the Revolutionary War
 * John Macpherson Berrien (1781–1856), served as United States Attorney General and represented Georgia in the United States Senate
 * Anthony Cassar (born 1996), freestyle wrestler who was the NCAA Division I champion
 * Tom Malinowski (born 1965), diplomat and politician who represents New Jersey's 7th congressional district
 * Stephen F. Voorhees (1878–1965), architect in practice in New York City from 1910 until 1959, who was president of the American Institute of Architects from 1935 to 1937.
 * George Washington, stayed in Rockingham, the house of the Berrien family, in the late summer of 1783, while Congress was in session in Princeton

title: Rocky Hill, New Jersey


text:
Somerset, New Jersey

Somerset is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Franklin Township, in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 22,083.

Somerset housed one of the first Marconi Wireless Stations in the United States.

History
New Brunswick Marconi Station was located at JFK Boulevard and Easton Avenue just a few minutes from the New Brunswick border. Today it is the site of Marconi Park. It was an early radio transmitter facility built in 1913 and operated by the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America. After the interruption of transatlantic telegraph cables by enemy action, the facility was confiscated by the United States Navy on April 7, 1917, to provide transatlantic communications during World War I. The New Brunswick Naval Radio Station was the principal wartime communication link between the United States and Europe, using the callsign NFF. President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points speech was transmitted from the site in 1918. After the war, ownership of the station, along with Marconi's other US assets, was transferred from the navy to RCA. The antenna masts were demolished in 1952 to make room for what is now a small mall containing a Kmart, but the buildings on the other side of JFK Boulevard were spared. All but one of the brick buildings were demolished around 2004 to make way for a storage locker facility. The bricks and tiles were saved for use in any future restoration of the spared building, and the Marconi facility in Belmar, New Jersey.

During World War I, the original Marconi spark-gap transmitter was replaced with an Alexanderson alternator, the invention of the famous General Electric engineer, with an output power of 200 kilowatts and looking like an ordinary power station generator. Its frequency was around 17 kHz, which made its wavelength around 17,500 meters. The station used a huge 5000 ft antenna supported by eight 400 ft tall steel masts, similar to the AT&T long wave telephone transmitter at RCA's Rocky Point, Long Island, transmitter facility.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 6.444 square miles (16.692 km2), including 6.327 square miles (16.388 km2) of land and 0.117 square miles (0.304 km2) of water (1.82%).

Climate
The climate in the area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cool to cold winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Somerset has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

Census 2010
The 2010 United States census counted 22,083 people, 8,594 households, and 5,552 families in the CDP. The population density was 3490.1 /sqmi. There were 8,883 housing units at an average density of 1403.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 47.04% (10,387) White, 28.88% (6,378) Black or African American, 0.23% (50) Native American, 17.59% (3,885) Asian, 0.01% (3) Pacific Islander, 2.98% (659) from other races, and 3.26% (721) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.47% (2,092) of the population.

Of the 8,594 households, 27.7% had children under the age of 18; 51.1% were married couples living together; 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present and 35.4% were non-families. Of all households, 29.0% were made up of individuals and 9.9% 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 3.14.

20.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 91.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 87.2 males.

Census 2000
At the 2000 United States Census there were 23,040 people, 8,238 households and 5,799 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,322.7 PD/sqmi. There were 8,424 housing units at an average density of 1,580.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 43.94% White, 38.55% African American, 0.26% Native American, 8.23% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.04% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.00% of the population.

There were 8,238 households, of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.29.

24.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median household income was $65,831 and the median family income was $73,040. Males had a median income of $50,309 versus $36,162 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $26,798. About 4.9% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
SHI International and Catalent are headquartered in Somerset.

PIM Brands (Division of The Promotion In Motion Companies and Makers of Welch's Fruit Snacks) operates a manufacturing plant in Somerset.

Meda Pharmaceuticals' U.S. home office is located in Somerset.

Based on 2011 data from the United States Census Bureau, The Washington Post named Somerset County as having sixth-highest median household income of any county in the United States.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Somerset include:
 * Carlton Agudosi (born 1994), wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL.
 * Anthony Bartholomay (1919–1975), mathematician who introduced molecular set theory.
 * Upendra J. Chivukula (born 1950), politician who represented the 17th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly, and served on the Franklin Township Council from 1997–2005, serving as its mayor in 2000 and its deputy mayor in 1998.
 * Margit Feldman (1929–2020), public speaker, educator, activist and Holocaust survivor.
 * Krystyna Freda (born 1993), footballer who plays as a forward for Cypriot First Division club Apollon Ladies FC.
 * Roy Hinson (born 1961), first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1983 who played for eight seasons in the NBA.
 * Leeroy Wilfred Kabs-Kanu (born 1954), Sierra Leonean-American reverend, journalist and newspaper publisher who served as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of Sierra Leone to the United Nations.
 * Mekhi Lewis, freestyle and folkstyle wrestler, first NCAA wrestling national champion for Virginia Tech
 * Christopher Massimine, former CEO of the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene.
 * Judy Melick (born 1954), former competition swimmer who participated as part of the U.S. team at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
 * Jeanette Mundt (born 1982), painter, best known for her works in the 2019 Whitney Biennial.
 * Joe Pace (born 1953), played for the NBA Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets from 1972 to 1978.
 * Randal Pinkett (born 1971), winner of season four of the reality television show, The Apprentice.
 * Jeff Porter (born 1985), track and field athlete who competes in the 110-meter hurdles and was named as part of the U.S. team at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
 * Breein Tyree (born 1998), point guard / shooting guard for the Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team.
 * Jan Zaprudnik (1926–2022), Belarusian-American historian and publicist, one of the leaders of the Belarusian community in the United States.

title: Somerset, New Jersey


text:
Somerville, New Jersey

Somerville is a borough and the county seat of Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough is located in the heart of the Raritan Valley region within the New York Metropolitan Area, located about 33 mi from Manhattan and 20 mi from Staten Island. The borough has grown to become a commercial hub for central New Jersey and commuter town of New York City.

As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 12,346, an increase of 248 (+2.0%) from the 2010 census count of 12,098,  which in turn reflected a decline of 325 (-2.6%) from the 12,423 counted in the 2000 census.

Somerville was originally formed as a town on March 25, 1863, within a portion of Bridgewater Township. Somerville was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 16, 1909, based on the results of a referendum held on May 4, 1909, at which point it was fully set off from Bridgewater Township. It is home of the oldest competitive bicycle race in the United States.

The borough is named for Somerset in England.

Early development
Somerville was settled in colonial times primarily by the Dutch who purchased land from the English proprietors of the colony. The Dutch established their church near what is today Somerville and a Dutch Reformed minister or Domine lived at the Old Dutch Parsonage from about 1754. The early village grew up around a church, courthouse and a tavern built at a crossroads shortly after the American Revolution. The name "Somerville" was taken from four brothers of the Somerville family, Edward, John and James from Drishane and Castlehaven, County Cork, Ireland, who first founded the town in the 1750s. Somerville was originally a sparsely populated farming community, but rapidly grew after the completion of the railroad in the 1840s and development of water power along the Raritan River in the 1850s. Early industry included brick making from the plentiful red clay and shale on which Somerville is built. While much of the borough features distinctive Victorian architecture in several neighborhoods and along its Main Street, other periods are represented. National Register sites in Somerville include the white marble 1909 Somerville Court House and the wooden and stone colonial Wallace House (today a museum) where George Washington spent a winter during the American Revolutionary War. Near the Wallace House is the Old Dutch Parsonage, where Reverend Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, a founder and first president of Rutgers University, then called Queens College, lived. Register listed Victorian structures include the James Harper Smith Estate (privately owned), St. John's Episcopal Church and rectory, and the Fire Museum (a vintage fire house). Other notable, register eligible structures are the Victorian train station (privately owned) and the municipal building, the former Robert Mansion.

Originally the center of local commerce, the borough has evolved into a destination for boutique retail and dining. Modern highways today surround and traverse Somerville, including U.S. Route 22, U.S. Route 202, U.S. Route 206 and Route 28 and is within 5 mi of Interstate 287 and Interstate 78, making it an important hub in central New Jersey.

Tour of Somerville
In 1940, the first competitive bicycle race, called the Tour of Somerville was established by bicycle shop owner, Fred Kugler, to showcase his son, Furman, who was a national cycling champion, and who won the initial men's competition. His daughter, Mildred won the women's. The 50-mile race is held annually and has since become the oldest competitive bicycle race in the U.S. It carries a purse of $10,000 for each winner of the women's and men's races.

Downtown today
Main Street Somerville maintains most of its historical buildings, although many are now boutique specialty shops and second-hand shops. Somerville has quite a diverse and large selection of restaurants that draw people from the surrounding area. In many ways, Somerville remains Somerset County's downtown, and is the heart of its designated Regional Center. Several of the factories in Somerville were abandoned and replaced with modern office buildings or remodeled as apartments. Somerville today and historically has had an important African American community, a distinguished member of which was Paul Robeson. Another famous Somerville native was famed character actor Lee Van Cleef. One of the founders of modern American Dance, Ruth St. Denis, made her professional debut at Somerset Hall, once a vaudeville theatre and today a local restaurant. The mix of modern amenities and an interesting and diverse past make Main Street, Somerville a unique destination for dining, strolling and visiting.

Future redevelopment
The shopping center on the west side of the downtown area was demolished and a new shopping center, town homes and other amenities will be built on the shopping center land and on adjacent land in the former borough landfill to the south. Ground was broken for a new "world class" ShopRite supermarket in March 2011 and opened in November 2011. Borough planners envision a transit village style redevelopment centered around the Somerville train station.

Hurricane Floyd
Somerville was hit hard by Hurricane Floyd in September 1999, despite its having been downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it impacted the vicinity. The borough received a record 13.34 in of rain over three days during the slow moving storm, causing significant flooding and considerable damage.

Regulation concerns
Numerous local and national media publications reported on how the state of New Jersey had eased regulations allowing for home baked goods to be made and sold from a home, but how Somerville in particular still suffers from, "...[a] draconian ordinance that creates a contradiction between Somerville's zoning policies and New Jersey's home baking law..." making it difficult for a small business owner or entrepreneur to try and earn a living in this fashion in Somerville. In order to be able to make her cookies and sell them from her home kitchen was required "... to pay a $1,000 application fee and put $4,000 into a borough escrow account", in addition to notifying neighbors, placing a public notice advertisement and having a public hearing on the application.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.37 square miles (6.13 km2), including 2.34 square miles (6.06 km2) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.07 km2) of water (1.18%). The borough's territory is flat land. Somerville borders the Raritan River to the south and is crossed by Peters Brook, a tributary.

The borough borders Bridgewater Township, Hillsborough Township and Raritan.

Climate
Somerville's climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 80s, and 90s and cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 20s and 30s.

The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 84.40 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 19.10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 22 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 19 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at Somerville is 45.93 in. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is July with an average rainfall of 4.81 in.

The climate is hot-summer humid continental (Dfa). January averages below freezing, six months average above 50 F, and July and August average above 71.6 F. The hardiness zone has increased from 6b to 7a.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 12,098 people, 4,591 households, and 2,778 families in the borough. The population density was 5,189.5 per square mile (2,003.7/km2). There were 4,951 housing units at an average density of 2,123.8 per square mile (820.0/km2). The racial makeup was 65.64% (7,941) White, 12.15% (1,470) Black or African American, 0.34% (41) Native American, 11.37% (1,375) Asian, 0.07% (9) Pacific Islander, 6.34% (767) from other races, and 4.09% (495) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.75% (2,873) of the population.

Of the 4,591 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18; 43.7% were married couples living together; 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 39.5% were non-families. Of all households, 30.8% were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.20.

21.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 107.3 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 106.7 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $69,836 (with a margin of error of +/− $5,384) and the median family income was $80,461 (+/− $9,281). Males had a median income of $45,929 (+/− $5,005) versus $46,540 (+/− $3,751) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,272 (+/− $2,145). About 3.6% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 12,423 people, 4,743 households, and 2,893 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,262.4 PD/sqmi. There were 4,882 housing units at an average density of 2,068.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 71.21% White, 12.93% African American, 0.19% Native American, 7.35% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 5.10% from other races, and 3.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.00% of the population.

There were 4,743 households, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18, 44.5% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.15.

The borough population consists of 21.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 35.8% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $51,237, and the median income for a family was $60,422. Males had a median income of $40,585 versus $32,697 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,310. About 4.8% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Somerville 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 Somerville 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 borough council elects a member to serve as Council President to act in the absence of the mayor. Each council member is appointed by the mayor to one of six standing committee's during the Annual Reorganization Meeting held on January 1 of each year.

, the mayor of Somerville is Republican Brian Gallagher, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Somerville Borough Council are Council President Roger Vroom III (D, 2025), Theresa Bonner (D, 2026), Glen Denys (D, 2026), Thompson H. Mitchell (D, 2024), RanD Pitts (D, 2024) and Gina Stravic (D, 2025).

In January 2022, the borough council appointed Gina Stravic to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Jane C. Kobuta until she resigned from office.

Federal, state, and county representation
Somerville is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.

Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 6,565 registered voters in Somerville, of which 1,848 (28.1% vs. 26.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,358 (20.7% vs. 25.7%) were registered as Republicans and 3,349 (51.0% vs. 48.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 10 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 54.3% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 69.0% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 62.0% of the vote (2,779 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 36.4% (1,631 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (75 votes), among the 4,516 ballots cast by the borough's 6,952 registered voters (31 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 65.0%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 2,847 votes (59.9% vs. 52.1% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 1,814 votes (38.2% vs. 46.1%) and other candidates with 52 votes (1.1% vs. 1.1%), among the 4,751 ballots cast by the borough's 6,547 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.6% (vs. 78.7% in Somerset County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 2,485 votes (53.6% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 2,019 votes (43.6% vs. 51.5%) and other candidates with 58 votes (1.3% vs. 0.9%), among the 4,633 ballots cast by the borough's 5,974 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.6% (vs. 81.7% in the whole county).

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 59.0% of the vote (1,707 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 38.8% (1,123 votes), and other candidates with 2.2% (64 votes), among the 2,972 ballots cast by the borough's 7,019 registered voters (78 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.3%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 1,465 votes (46.8% vs. 55.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 1,265 votes (40.4% vs. 34.1%), Independent Chris Daggett with 334 votes (10.7% vs. 8.7%) and other candidates with 33 votes (1.1% vs. 0.7%), among the 3,128 ballots cast by the borough's 6,605 registered voters, yielding a 47.4% turnout (vs. 52.5% in the county).

Education
The Somerville Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 2,198 students and 212.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.3:1. Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Van Derveer Elementary School with 712 students in grades PreK-5, Somerville Middle School with 314 students in grades 6-8 and Somerville High School with 1,142 students in grades 9-12. Students from Branchburg Township attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Branchburg Township School District. For many years, Branchburg has accounted for 60–65% of the high school's enrollment.

Immaculata High School is a private, coeducational, Roman Catholic high school, founded in 1962. The school enrolls approximately 850 students in grades 9 to 12. Immaculate Conception School is a Catholic private coeducational day school, founded in 1957, for students in grades Pre-K through 8. Both schools operate under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 36.16 mi of roadways, of which 30.96 mi were maintained by the municipality, 1.90 mi by Somerset County and 3.30 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

U.S. Route 22 runs along the northern boundary of Somerville and offers connections to the state highway network. U.S. Route 202 and U.S. Route 206 runs along the western boundary of Somerville, via the Somerville Circle, and provides north–south connections to nearby towns.

Interstate 287 is in neighboring Bridgewater Township and is accessible via US Routes 22 and 202/206.

Public transportation
The Somerville train station offers service on New Jersey Transit's Raritan Valley Line, with frequent service to Newark Penn Station, with connecting service to Penn Station New York in Midtown Manhattan.

The closest airport with scheduled service is Newark Liberty International Airport, located 26 mi north (about 35 minutes drive) from Somerville.

Healthcare
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset is located in the borough, and provides healthcare for Greater Somerset. The hospital was originally founded as Somerset Hospital in 1901, and since has grown into a major university medical center. Since June 1, 2014, the 355 bed facility has been affiliated with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, the largest healthcare network in the state.

Points of interest
The following locations in Somerville are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

 * Wallace House, New Jersey State Historic House Museum – Washington's Headquarters during the second Middlebrook encampment (1778–79).
 * Old Dutch Parsonage, New Jersey State Historic Site – First parsonage of the Dutch Reformed Church in Somerset County and home of Reverend Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, a founder and later first president of Queens College (now Rutgers University).
 * Daniel Robert House, Somerville Borough Hall – Based on Alexander Jackson Davis design, classic example of American Gothic architecture.
 * J. Harper Smith Mansion – Library designed by Horace Trumbauer.
 * St. John's Episcopal Church – Built in 1895 and designed by Horace Trumbauer.
 * West End Hose Company Number 3 – the Somerville Fire Department Museum.

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

 * Alicia Albe (born 1977), competitor in rhythmic gymnastics
 * Mary Ellicott Arnold (1876–1968), social activist, teacher and writer best known for her memoir In the Land of the Grasshopper Song
 * Nicole Arendt (born 1969), professional tennis player
 * Frank Asch (born 1946), author of children's literature
 * Christopher "Kip" Bateman (born 1957), politician who has served in the New Jersey Senate from 2008-2022, where he represented the 16th Legislative District
 * Raymond Bateman (1927–2016), politician who served in the New Jersey Senate in the 1960s and 1970s, who was the Republican nominee for Governor of New Jersey in 1977
 * Daniel H. Beekman (1874–1951), Judge of the Somerset County Court of Common Pleas, President of the Second National Bank of Somerville, and Democratic politician
 * James J. Bergen (1847–1924), politician who served as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly and an Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court
 * Nicholas L. Bissell Jr. (1947–1996), county prosecutor of Somerset County who fled to Laughlin, Nevada, and took his own life after being charged with embezzlement, tax fraud and abuse of power
 * George H. Brown (1810–1865), represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1853 to 1855
 * Tony Camillo (1928–2018), record producer and arranger
 * Clarence E. Case (1877–1961), politician who served as acting Republican Governor of New Jersey in 1920, succeeding William Nelson Runyon
 * Jack M. Ciattarelli (born 1961), entrepreneur and politician who represented the 16th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2011 to 2018
 * Alvah A. Clark (1840–1912), represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1877 to 1881
 * Kate Claxton (1848–1924), stage actress
 * Christine Danelson (born 1987), actress best known as the understudy for the role of Tracy in the national tour of the Broadway musical Hairspray
 * Royal Page Davidson (1870–1943), educator and inventor
 * John G. Demaray (1930–2015), medievalist
 * Don Elliott (1926–1984), jazz trumpeter, vibraphonist, vocalist, and mellophone player
 * David Felmley (1857–1930), educator who served for 30 years as president of Illinois State University, then known as Illinois State Normal University
 * Lewis Van Syckle Fitz Randolph (1838–1921), businessman and politician
 * Kevin Foley (born 1987), professional golfer
 * Gene Freed (1930–2009), bridge player and physician
 * Frederick Frelinghuysen (1753–1804), lawyer, soldier, and senator from New Jersey
 * Mary Exton Gaston (1855–1956), first female physician in Somerville and a "major force in the borough's development"
 * Frederick Wilson Hall (1908–1984), Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1959 to 1975
 * Reggie Harrison (born 1951), former professional American football running back for four seasons in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers and St. Louis Cardinals
 * Mort Herbert (1925–1983), jazz bassist and lawyer
 * Naomi Jakobsson (born 1941), member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 103rd District since 2003
 * Walter J. Kavanaugh (1933–2008), member of the State Senate who represented New Jersey's 16th Legislative District who had been a successful businessman in Somerville and a life member of the Somerville First Aid & Rescue Squad
 * Joyce Kozloff (born 1942), artist whose politically engaged work has been based on cartography since the early 1990s
 * Joe Lis (born 1946), Major League Baseball player who played for Philadelphia, Minnesota, Cleveland and Seattle
 * John Mack (1926–2006), principal oboist with the Cleveland Orchestra
 * Eric Murdock (born 1968), NBA player for the Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks, Vancouver Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers
 * Michael J. Newman (born 1960), United States magistrate judge in the Southern District of Ohio
 * Steven J. Ostro (1946–2008), scientist specializing in radar astronomy
 * Frank Perantoni (1923–1991), American football center who played professional football for the New York Yankees and later served on the Somerville borough council
 * Arnold F. Riedhammer (born 1947), German-American musician, composer, and songwriter
 * Helen Riehle (born 1950), politician who serves in the Vermont Senate, representing most of Chittenden County
 * Paul Robeson (1898–1976), actor, athlete, bass-baritone concert singer, writer, civil rights activist, Fellow traveler, Spingarn Medal winner, and Stalin Peace Prize laureate
 * Brian E. Rumpf (born 1964), politician who represents the 9th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly
 * Theodore Runyon (1822–1896), politician, diplomat, and American Civil War brigadier general in the New Jersey Militia
 * Skinnyfromthe9 (born 1995), rapper and singer
 * Frank Snook (born 1949), former relief pitcher who played for the San Diego Padres
 * Ruth St. Denis (1879–1968), modern dance pioneer
 * William Gaston Steele (1820–1892), represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from 1861 to 1865
 * Douglas Urbanski, film producer
 * Lee Van Cleef (1925–1989), actor who was featured in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, For a Few Dollars More, Escape from New York and many other films and TV series
 * Fred Van Eps (1878–1960), banjoist and early recording artist
 * Jeffrey Vanderbeek, former owner of the New Jersey Devils
 * Mauricio Vargas (born 1992), soccer goalkeeper who plays for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the United Soccer League
 * Frederica von Stade (born 1945), mezzo-soprano
 * Daniel Spader Voorhees (1852–1935), New Jersey State Treasurer from 1907 to 1913
 * Jon Williams (born 1961), NFL player for the New England Patriots
 * Elvira Woodruff (born 1951), children's writer known for books that include elements of fantasy and history
 * Elinor Wylie (1885–1928), poet and novelist, author of Angels and Earthly Creatures, The Orphan Angel and other works

title: Somerville, New Jersey