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Bethlehem Township, New Jersey

Bethlehem Township is a township in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 3,745, a decrease of 234 (−5.9%) from the 2010 census count of 3,979, which in turn reflected an increase of 159 (+4.2%) from the 3,820 counted in the 2000 census.

History
Before European settlement, the land was settled by the Lenape Native Americans, whose presence remains in the names of places and bodies of water in the township.

Bethlehem was first mentioned in official records dating back to 1730, though details of its formation are uncertain. Bethlehem was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Kingwood Township (1749, date uncertain), Alexandria Township (March 5, 1765), Union Township (February 17, 1853), Junction borough (February 20, 1895, now known as Hampton borough), Bloomsbury (March 30, 1905) and Glen Gardner (March 26, 1919).

The township was named for the city of Bethlehem.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 20.80 square miles (53.87 km2), including 20.68 square miles (53.57 km2) of land and 0.12 square miles (0.30 km2) of water (0.56%). The township is an exurb of New York City, lying on the western fringe of the New York metropolitan area, as part of the Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division, which is in turn a part of the New York City Metropolitan Area.

The Musconetcong River forms the township's northern border with Warren County. The northern half of the Township consists of the Musconetcong Valley while the southern half is covered by the Musconetcong Mountains. The southwest corner of the township lies on what is known as the Hunterdon Plateau. The landscape is mainly rural in nature, featuring farms and forests, scattered with newer housing developments and older farm homes.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Charlestown, Jugtown, Ludlow, Polktown, Swinesburg, Valley and West Portal.

The township borders the municipalities of Alexandria Township, Bloomsbury, Glen Gardner, Hampton, Holland Township, Lebanon Township, Union Township in Hunterdon County; and Franklin Township, Pohatcong Township and Washington Township in Warren County.

Mailing addresses
Residents and businesses in Bethlehem Township have mailing addresses to nearby towns including Bloomsbury, Clinton, Glen Gardner, Hampton, and even Asbury (which is located in neighboring Warren County), as "Bethlehem Township" itself is not a mailing address.

Climate
Bethlehem Township falls under the "Northern New Jersey" climate zone. According to the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist at Rutgers University, the Northern climate zone covers about one-quarter of New Jersey and consists mainly of elevated highlands and valleys which are part of the Appalachian Uplands. Surrounded by land, this region can be characterized as having a continental climate with minimal influence from the Atlantic Ocean, except when the winds contain an easterly component. Prevailing winds are from the southwest in summer and from the northwest in winter. Being in the northernmost portion of the state, and with small mountains up to 1800 ft in elevation, the Northern Zone normally exhibits a colder temperature regime than other climate regions of the State of New Jersey. This difference is most dramatic in winter when average temperatures in the Northern Zone can be more than ten degrees Fahrenheit cooler than in the Coastal Zone. Annual snowfall averages 40 to 50 in in the northern zone as compared with an average of 10 to 15 in in the extreme south.

Bethlehem Township falls under the USDA 6a Plant Hardiness zone.

Wildlife and ecosystem
Various animals are native to central-western New Jersey, including red fox (vulpes vulpes), black bear, groundhogs, wild turkeys, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, a variety of birds, and a wide variety of insects and vegetation. There are also some fish in the streams of the county.

Trees include deciduous varieties and evergreen varieties.

Black bears are the largest land mammals in New Jersey and are known to be most abundant in the northern-western regions of the state, including Bethlehem Township.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 3,979 people, 1,344 households, and 1,148 families in the township. The population density was 192.1 per square mile (74.2/km2). There were 1,386 housing units at an average density of 66.9 per square mile (25.8/km2). The racial makeup was 95.65% (3,806) White, 0.98% (39) Black or African American, 0.10% (4) Native American, 1.88% (75) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.50% (20) from other races, and 0.88% (35) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.02% (160) of the population.

Of the 1,344 households, 41.1% had children under the age of 18; 77.0% were married couples living together; 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 14.6% were non-families. Of all households, 11.9% were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.22.

27.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 18.1% from 25 to 44, 38.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $127,540 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,090) and the median family income was $130,580 (+/− $16,200). Males had a median income of $95,694 (+/− $16,468) versus $70,069 (+/− $27,112) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $44,477 (+/− $4,087). About 0.6% of families and 1.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 3,820 people, 1,266 households, and 1,092 families residing in the township. The population density was 183.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,303 housing units at an average density of 62.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 97.51% White, 0.86% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.62% of the population.

There were 1,266 households, out of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.3% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.7% were non-families. 10.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the township the population was spread out, with 29.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $88,048, and the median income for a family was $92,768. Males had a median income of $69,063 versus $41,806 for females. The per capita income for the township was $35,298. None of the families and 1.0% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 10.0% of those over 64.

Most common first ancestries reported in Bethlehem Township were German (25.2%), Italian (14.7%), Irish (14.4%), Polish (9.2%), English (7.6%), United States or American (6.1%), French (except Basque) (3.3%).

The most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents were India (22%), Germany (18%), United Kingdom (12%), Austria (9%), Russia (7%), Poland (5%), Netherlands (4%).

Parks and recreation
Covering more than 2000 acres, Spruce Run State Park and Reservoir, part of the New Jersey State Park system, is located near Bethlehem Township in close by Clinton Township. It is possible to walk or bike to Spruce Run from Bethlehem Township.

Local government
Bethlehem Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. 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 and another as Deputy Mayor.

, members of the Bethlehem Township Committee are Mayor Paul J. Muir (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2023), Deputy Mayor Judy Nelson (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2023), Steve Keefe (R, 2024), Robert G. Kenny (R, 2025) and Paul Lenzi Jr. (R, 2024).

At a special meeting in July 2015, The Township Committee selected Jose Medeiros to fill the seat expiring in December 2017 that was vacated earlier that month following the resignation of John Graefe, who was moving out of the township.

Bethlehem Township's municipal buildings are located on Mine Road.

Federal, state and county representation
Bethlehem Township 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 2,814 registered voters in Bethlehem Township, of which 514 (18.3%) were registered as Democrats, 1,113 (39.6%) were registered as Republicans and 1,186 (42.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There was one voter registered to another party.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 61.2% of the vote (1,323 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.0% (800 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (38 votes), among the 2,172 ballots cast by the township's 2,954 registered voters (11 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.5%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 58.9% of the vote here (1,380 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 38.2% (896 votes) and other candidates with 2.2% (51 votes), among the 2,343 ballots cast by the township's 2,927 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.0%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 61.6% of the vote here (1,380 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 37.1% (830 votes) and other candidates with 1.3% (36 votes), among the 2,239 ballots cast by the township's 2,692 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 83.2.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.8% of the vote (985 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 23.1% (309 votes), and other candidates with 3.1% (41 votes), among the 1,349 ballots cast by the township's 2,934 registered voters (14 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.0%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.4% of the vote here (1,130 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 21.9% (373 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.9% (151 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (20 votes), among the 1,703 ballots cast by the township's 2,855 registered voters, yielding a 59.6% turnout.

Education
Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the schools of the Bethlehem Township School District. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 368 students and 38.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.6:1. Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics ) are Thomas B. Conley Elementary School with 283 students in grades PreK-6 and Ethel Hoppock Middle School with 81 students in grades 7-8.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend North Hunterdon High School in Annandale, which also serves students from Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough and Union Township. As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,358 students and 119.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.4:1. The school is part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, which also includes students from Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township and Tewksbury Township, who attend Voorhees High School.

Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Roads and highways
, the township had a total of 57.76 mi of roadways, of which 42.26 mi were maintained by the municipality, 7.86 mi by Hunterdon County and 7.64 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Bethlehem Township is well-connected to major metropolitan areas and cities (such as the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania and New York City) via Interstate 78 / U.S. Route 22 and Route 173. While I-78/US 22 pass through without any interchanges, the nearest exit is just outside the township in bordering Bloomsbury (Exit 7) and Union Township (Exit 11).

Anderson Road, located within Bethlehem Township, begins in neighboring Union Township and ends in Bethlehem Township as a dead-end, or cul-de-sac. Consequently, Anderson Road cannot be accessed internally through Bethlehem Township; it can only be accessed through Union Township.

Public transportation
Public transportation is limited to The LINK, a public bus service which serves Hunterdon County. Fares range from about $2.00 to $10.00. Funding for operation of the Hunterdon County LINK System is provided by Hunterdon County, NJ Transit and the Federal Transit Administration.

Rail / Lehigh Line
The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line (formerly the mainline of the Lehigh Valley Railroad), runs through Bethlehem Township on its way to Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

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

 * John T. Bird (1829–1911), member of the United States House of Representatives from 1869 to 1873
 * Johnston Cornish (1858–1920), represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1893 to 1895
 * Anne Marie Letko (born 1969), two-time Olympian, in 1996 and 2000
 * Daniel Morgan (1736–1802), Revolutionary War general and a United States Representative from the State of Virginia
 * James Parker (1776–1868), member of the House of Representatives from New Jersey
 * Bennet Van Syckel (1830–1921), Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1869 to 1904

title: Bethlehem Township, New Jersey


text:
Bloomsbury, New Jersey

Bloomsbury is a borough in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 792, a decrease of 78 (−9.0%) from the 2010 census count of 870, which in turn reflected a decline of 16 (−1.8%) from the 886 counted in the 2000 census.

Bloomsbury was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 30, 1905, from portions of Bethlehem Township.

Bloomsbury was once known as "Johnson's Iron Works", owned by Robert Johnson, on the north bank of the river. The current name is derived either from the Bloom family, influential in the early history of the town, or from the iron ore processed into masses of wrought iron that are known as "blooms".

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.49 km2), including 0.93 square miles (2.41 km2) of land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) of water (3.23%). The borough borders the municipalities of Bethlehem Township in Hunterdon County; and Franklin Township, Greenwich Township and Pohatcong Township in Warren County. Bloomsbury is located on the south side of the Musconetcong River in the northwest corner of Hunterdon County and is the third-smallest municipality in Hunterdon County.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 870 people, 337 households, and 237 families in the borough. The population density was 991.9 per square mile (383.0/km2). There were 358 housing units at an average density of 408.1 per square mile (157.6/km2). The racial makeup was 95.40% (830) White, 1.03% (9) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 1.84% (16) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.34% (3) from other races, and 1.38% (12) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.02% (35) of the population.

Of the 337 households, 38.6% had children under the age of 18; 57.3% were married couples living together; 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 29.7% were non-families. Of all households, 24.0% 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 2.58 and the average family size was 3.09.

27.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 105.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 101.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $98,571 (with a margin of error of +/− $19,026) and the median family income was $106,324 (+/− $11,687). Males had a median income of $71,000 (+/− $9,149) versus $50,417 (+/− $7,595) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $42,141 (+/− $6,038). About 2.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 886 people, 322 households, and 252 families residing in the borough. The population density was 975.5 PD/sqmi. There were 342 housing units at an average density of 376.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 98.19% White, 0.34% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.47% of the population.

There were 322 households, out of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 38.4% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males. The median income for a household in the borough was $64,375, and the median income for a family was $67,500. Males had a median income of $51,053 versus $33,750 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,392. About 4.8% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

Local government
Bloomsbury 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 a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A 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 Bloomsbury 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 Bloomsbury is Republican Vicky Papics, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Todd Dangelo (R, 2025), Megan Henry (R, 2024), Scott McClaymont (R, 2025), Chris Smith (R, 2024), Daniel Smith (R, 2023; appointed to serve an unexpired term) and Eric Weger (R, 2023).

Federal, state and county representation
Bloomsbury 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 546 registered voters in Bloomsbury, of which 120 (22.0%) were registered as Democrats, 227 (41.6%) were registered as Republicans and 199 (36.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 55.3% of the vote (223 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.7% (172 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (8 votes), among the 404 ballots cast by the borough's 561 registered voters (1 ballot was spoiled), for a turnout of 72.0%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 55.0% of the vote (254 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.6% (197 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (8 votes), among the 462 ballots cast by the borough's 551 registered voters, for a turnout of 83.8%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 64.1% of the vote (302 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 33.5% (158 votes) and other candidates with 1.6% (9 votes), among the 471 ballots cast by the borough's 563 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 83.7.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.0% of the vote (189 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 25.1% (65 votes), and other candidates with 1.9% (5 votes), among the 260 ballots cast by the borough's 551 registered voters (1 ballot was spoiled), for a turnout of 47.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.1% of the vote (210 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 22.2% (75 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 12.4% (42 votes) and other candidates with 1.8% (6 votes), among the 338 ballots cast by the borough's 549 registered voters, yielding a 61.6% turnout.

Education
The Bloomsbury School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Bloomsbury Public School. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 103 students and 16.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 6.3:1. In the 2016–2017 school year, the district had the 11th-smallest enrollment of any school district in the state. The district participates in the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, having been approved on November 2, 1999, as one of the first ten districts statewide to participate in the program. Seats in the program for non-resident students are specified by the district and are allocated by lottery, with tuition paid for participating students by the New Jersey Department of Education.

Public school students from Bloomsbury in ninth through twelfth grades attend Phillipsburg High School in Phillipsburg in Warren County, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Phillipsburg School District. The high school also serves students from four other sending communities: Alpha, Greenwich Township, Lopatcong Township and Pohatcong Township. As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,809 students and 133.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.6:1.

Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Roads and highways
, the borough had a total of 6.77 mi of roadways, of which 4.99 mi were maintained by the municipality, 0.49 mi by Hunterdon County and 1.29 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Several major roads run through the borough. Interstate 78 / U.S. Route 22 pass through the north and connects Bloomsbury at Exit 7 with Route 173.

The major county road that passes through is County Route 579.

Public transportation
Public transportation is limited to The LINK, a public bus service which serves Hunterdon County. Funding for operation of the Hunterdon County LINK System is provided by Hunterdon County, NJ Transit and the Federal Transit Administration.

Rail / Lehigh Line
Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line (formerly the mainline of the Lehigh Valley Railroad), runs through the southwest part of Bloomsbury along the border with Bethlehem Township on its way to Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

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

 * John T. Bird (1829–1911), represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from 1869 to 1873
 * Carla Katz (born 1959), attorney who served as president of Local 1034 of the Communications Workers of America from 1999 to 2008
 * Jen Ponton (born 1984), actress, screenwriter and producer, best known for portraying Rubi in the AMC series Dietland

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

title: Bloomsbury, New Jersey


text:
Califon, New Jersey

Califon is a borough in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 1,005, a decrease of 71 (−6.6%) from the 2010 census count of 1,076, which in turn reflected an increase of 21 (+2.0%) from the 1,055 counted in the 2000 census.

The town was originally called California starting in 1849, but the name was shortened to Califon around 1875 in order to fit on a sign being painted at the train station. Alternatively, the name was related to a bright yellow cattle feed sold during the Gold Rush.

History
Califon was a station on the High Bridge Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The station was built in 1875 and is now used as a museum by the Califon Historical Society. The rail line was abandoned in 1976 and now serves as a Hunterdon County-administered rail trail called Columbia Trail, which runs south to High Bridge and north to points in Morris County.

Though the mills were present in the area of Califon for some time prior to its incorporation as a town, it was quite a while before growth became evident in the mid-nineteenth century. The J. K. Apgar Farmhouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, exemplifies the early stone farmhouses constructed in the region in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The area that would become Califon was first called California, from Jacob Neighbor's enthusiasm in the milling business about the time the California Gold Rush broke out. The borough was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature from portions of both Lebanon and Tewksbury Townships on April 2, 1918.

Local legend has it that California became a regular stop for weekend excursion trains through the countryside. When riders bought their tickets they were issued a voucher good for an ice cream; the train would stop so tourists could wander around and cash in their ice cream coupons. Anxious to exploit this source of outside revenue, residents petitioned the railroad to let them build a real station, which they did as a community project. Citing the local account again, two sign painters who came to letter the sign rode the train from Dunellen, but the background paint wasn't dry when they arrived. They sat and drank at the hotel, which later burned down. By the time the sign was ready for their artistic touch, the local tale says, "Califon" was as close to California as the inebriated painters could manage.

Califon is situated just north of the Ken Lockwood Gorge on the South Branch of the Raritan River; this pristine stretch of clear water and forest is a well-known treasure for New Jersey trout fishermen. It is regularly restocked by the state fisheries service.

The center of Califon is the historic iron bridge spanning the South Branch of the Raritan River, which divides the borough. Recently the State of New Jersey announced that the bridge would be replaced because a loaded school bus represented more weight than the aging bridge could safely carry. Incensed citizens objected, protective of the landmark, and found a colorful but simple solution; the school bus stops at one end of the bridge unloading the students, who then walk across to the other side. Then the empty bus, within imposed weight limits, drives across and the students get back on the bus to continue their ride. Thus the bridge was saved. (Account featured on Califon website).

The 1943 short story, "The Greatest Gift," was set in a town inspired by Califon and adapted into the 1946 classic film It's a Wonderful Life. Author Philip Van Doren Stern said in a 1946 interview, "Incidentally, the movie takes place in Westchester County. Actually, the town I had in mind was Califon, N.J." The historic iron bridge in Califon is similar to the bridge that George Bailey considered jumping from in the movie.

Califon became a regional household name when frequently mentioned by Merv Griffin on his TV show during the 1970s. He and his wife Juliette owned a home in nearby Lebanon Township, which had a Califon mailing address, and, while they were married, they were often seen visiting the village in a fringed-top Bermuda-style resort cart, though they lived over 2 miles away. Califon Productions created all of his television ventures.

Hoffman's Crossing was named for Issac Hoffman, who farmed land that lies just south of Califon Bridge, along present day County Route 513.

Historic district
The Califon Historic District is a 164 acre historic district encompassing much of the borough. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1976, for its significance in commerce. The district includes 154 contributing buildings, three contributing structures, and one contributing site. It was created through the efforts of the Califon Historical Society. Califon is a Victorian-style enclave where the houses are marked with the names of the builders and their dates of establishment rather than with street numbers.

The Joseph Tiger House was built of stone in 1846. A stone raceway runs under the former Beatty's Store, indicating a possible mill site. The mid-19th century house at 1 First Street features a gable roof with an intersecting dormer. The Califon Main Street Bridge is a Pratt thru truss design built in 1887 by I. P. Bartley & Co. of Morris County.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.98 square miles (2.54 km2), including 0.96 square miles (2.48 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (2.04%).

Califon borders the Hunterdon County municipalities of Lebanon Township and Tewksbury Township.

Lower Valley is an unincorporated community located along the border of Califon and Lebanon Township.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 1,076 people, 394 households, and 309 families in the borough. The population density was 1,133.3 per square mile (437.6/km2). There were 419 housing units at an average density of 441.3 per square mile (170.4/km2). The racial makeup was 96.10% (1,034) White, 0.28% (3) Black or African American, 0.09% (1) Native American, 0.84% (9) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.09% (1) from other races, and 2.60% (28) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.30% (14) of the population.

Of the 394 households, 40.1% had children under the age of 18; 67.8% were married couples living together; 7.6% 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 5.6% 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 3.14.

28.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 34.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $108,375 (with a margin of error of +/− $9,026) and the median family income was $110,365 (+/− $5,782). Males had a median income of $95,536 (+/− $13,555) versus $73,958 (+/− $14,845) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $42,975 (+/− $5,250). About 1.7% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census there were 1,055 people, 401 households, and 301 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,093.2 PD/sqmi. There were 410 housing units at an average density of 424.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 98.67% White, 0.76% Asian, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 401 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.8% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 30.6% 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 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $76,657, and the median income for a family was $85,963. Males had a median income of $59,167 versus $41,125 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $31,064. About 3.3% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation
Califon hosts part of a rail trail that was created out of the former Central Railroad of New Jersey High Bridge Branch. The trail is maintained by Hunterdon County Parks and Recreation and is called the Columbia Trail, which includes a scenic area known as the Ken Lockwood Gorge.

Local government
Califon 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 a mayor and a borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A 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 Califon 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 Califon Borough is Democrat Charles Daniel, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Califon Borough Council are Council President Michael P. Medea (D, 2024), Richard Baggstrom (R, 2023), Ed Haversang (R, 2023), Leo M. Janas (D, 2024), Jason Ruggiero (R, 2025) and Cathy Smith (D, 2025).

Police coverage in the borough is provided by the Washington Township (Morris County) Police Department under the terms of a shared services agreement between the two municipalities.

Federal, state and county representation
Califon 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 723 registered voters in Califon, of which 214 (29.6%) were registered as Democrats, 252 (34.9%) were registered as Republicans and 257 (35.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.0% of the vote (290 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 47.3% (269 votes), and other candidates with 1.8% (10 votes), among the 573 ballots cast by the borough's 773 registered voters (4 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 74.1%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 51.1% of the vote (324 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 46.4% (294 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (11 votes), among the 634 ballots cast by the borough's 792 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.1%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 51.2% of the vote (330 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 47.2% (304 votes) and other candidates with 1.3% (10 votes), among the 644 ballots cast by the borough's 796 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 80.9.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.4% of the vote (237 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.3% (134 votes), and other candidates with 2.4% (9 votes), among the 383 ballots cast by the borough's 774 registered voters (3 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 55.4% of the vote (251 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 30.5% (138 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 12.1% (55 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (4 votes), among the 453 ballots cast by the borough's 772 registered voters, yielding a 58.7% turnout.

Education
The Califon School District serves students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Califon Public School. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 83 students and 14.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 5.6:1. In the 2016–2017 school year, Califon had the seventh-smallest enrollment of any school district in the state.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Voorhees High School, which also serves students from Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township and Tewksbury Township. As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 780 students and 76.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.2:1. The school is part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, which also includes students from Bethlehem Township, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough and Union Township who attend North Hunterdon High School in Annandale.

Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with tuition covered by local taxes.

Places of worship
The Califon United Methodist Church was founded in 1867, but the oldest part of the building was built in 1824 at Oldwick and moved here. The newer sanctuary facing River Road was built in 1891. The Lower Valley Presbyterian Church was built in 1871. Both are noted by the Califon Historical Society.

Transportation
, the borough had a total of 11.50 mi of roadways, of which 9.50 mi were maintained by the municipality and 2.00 mi by Hunterdon County.

The most prominent roads passing through Califon are County Route 512 and 513.

Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Califon include:
 * W. Carl Burger (1925–2023), abstract expressionist painter
 * Thomas W. Greelish (1939–1991), United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey from 1985 to 1987. Greelish moved to Califon with his family when he was seven years old
 * Merv Griffin (1925–2007), television producer, once owned a farm a few miles outside of Califon. When he created the game show Wheel of Fortune, he gave a nod to Califon when naming the show's production company. To this day, Califon Productions, Inc. is the copyright holder for all episodes of Wheel of Fortune to date, although the show is owned by Sony Pictures Television
 * Asher Grodman (born 1987), actor and producer who stars in the CBS series Ghosts
 * Francis Burton Harrison (1873–1957), member of the United States House of Representatives and Governor-General of the Philippines under Woodrow Wilson who retired to Califon a few months before his death in 1957
 * Teddy Schneider (born 1988), soccer player for the New York Red Bulls

title: Califon, New Jersey


text:
Clinton, New Jersey

Clinton is a town in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located on the South Branch of the Raritan River in the Raritan Valley region. As of the 2020 United States census, the town's population was 2,773, an increase of 54 (+2.0%) from the 2010 census count of 2,719, which in turn reflected an increase of 87 (+3.3%) from the 2,632 counted in the 2000 census. Despite its relatively small population, Clinton is the predominant control city for Interstate 78 traveling westbound from Newark.

History
When the Clinton post office was established in 1829, it was named for DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York and the primary impetus behind the then-newly completed Erie Canal.

Clinton was incorporated as a town by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 5, 1865, within portions of Clinton, Franklin and Union Townships. Clinton gained full independence from its three parent townships in 1895.

The town is perhaps best known for its two mills which sit on opposite banks of the South Branch Raritan River. The Red Mill, with its historic village, dates back to 1810 with the development of a mill for wool processing. Across the river sits the Stone Mill, home of the Hunterdon Art Museum, located in a former gristmill that had been reconstructed in 1836 and operated continuously until 1952. In 1952, a group of local residents conceived of a plan to convert the historic building into an art museum, which is still in operation today.

On October 30, 1891, a major fire destroyed 23 buildings and 17 businesses on Main Street. This is known here as the Great Fire of 1891.

Described by The New York Times in 1988 as having "conquered the worst residential radon hotspot known in the United States" which resulted from uranium in the limestone under sections of the town, Clinton and mayor-at-the-time Robert A. Nulman received state, national, and international attention for the town's successful efforts to combat the radon using ventilation systems in affected homes.

The Clinton Historic District encompassing much of the town was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 for its significance in architecture, commerce, engineering, industry and exploration/settlement. The district includes 270 contributing buildings.

In 1998, Republican Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll proposed to honor former president Ronald Reagan by changing the town's name to Reagan, New Jersey, and renaming Clinton Township to Reagan Township.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town had a total area of 1.44 square miles (3.72 km2), including 1.35 square miles (3.49 km2) of land and 0.09 square miles (0.24 km2) of water (6.39%).

The town borders the Hunterdon County municipalities of Clinton Township, Franklin Township and Union Township.

Clinton is considered an exurb of New York City, as Hunterdon County lies on the western fringe of the New York City Metropolitan Area, which is mainly rural with scattered housing developments and old farm homes. Clinton is part of the Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area of Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. It serves as a bedroom community for many commuters working in and around Northern New Jersey and New York City, often younger residents who have supplanted long-time residents of Clinton.

Climate
Clinton falls under the North Jersey climate zone. According to the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist at Rutgers University, the Northern climate zone covers about one-quarter of New Jersey and consists mainly of elevated highlands and valleys which are part of the Appalachian Uplands. Surrounded by land, this region can be characterized as having a continental climate with minimal influence from the Atlantic Ocean, except when the winds contain an easterly component. Prevailing winds are from the southwest in summer and from the northwest in winter. Being in the northernmost portion of the state, and with small mountains up to 1800 ft in elevation, the Northern Zone normally exhibits a colder temperature regime than other climate regions of the State of New Jersey. This difference is most dramatic in winter when average temperatures in the Northern Zone can be more than ten degrees Fahrenheit cooler than in the Coastal Zone. Annual snowfall averages 40 to 50 in in the northern zone as compared with an average of 10 to 15 in in the extreme south.

Clinton falls under the USDA 6b Plant Hardiness zone.

2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 2,719 people, 1,057 households, and 727 families in the town. The population density was 2,032.6 per square mile (784.8/km2). There were 1,098 housing units at an average density of 820.8 per square mile (316.9/km2). The racial makeup was 89.52% (2,434) White, 1.32% (36) Black or African American, 0.22% (6) Native American, 6.66% (181) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.63% (17) from other races, and 1.66% (45) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.22% (169) of the population.

Of the 1,057 households, 37.0% had children under the age of 18; 55.2% were married couples living together; 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.2% were non-families. Of all households, 25.4% were made up of individuals and 8.8% 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 3.14.

26.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $83,850 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,019) and the median family income was $109,375 (+/− $19,698). Males had a median income of $62,697 (+/− $9,258) versus $67,014 (+/− $13,316) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $43,354 (+/− $4,395). About 2.6% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census, there were 2,632 people, 1,068 households, and 724 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,916.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,095 housing units at an average density of 797.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 92.06% White, 1.33% African American, 0.46% Native American, 3.72% Asian, 1.37% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.10% of the population.

There were 1,068 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.2% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $78,121, and the median income for a family was $88,671. Males had a median income of $61,442 versus $46,397 for females. The per capita income for the town was $37,463. About 0.4% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.6% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture
The Red Mill Museum Village is located on the South Branch of the Raritan River in the town center of Clinton. Built in 1810, the Red Mill originally served as a woolen mill. Over the next 100 years, the Mill was used at different times to process grains, plaster, talc and graphite. The Mill was also used to produce peach baskets, as well as to generate electricity and pump water for the town. Every October, the mill is transformed into a haunted house called the Red Mill Haunted Village. The Haunted Village tends to attract visitors from all over the east coast to the small town. The Red Mill Museum Village was featured on an episode of Ghost Hunters in 2008.

The Hunterdon Art Museum presents changing exhibitions of contemporary art, craft and design in the 19th century Dunham's Mill, the Stone Mill, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Founded in 1952, the Museum showcases works by internationally recognized and emerging contemporary artists. It also offers a dynamic schedule of over 300 art classes and workshops for children and adults, as well as a summer camp program.

Parks and recreation

 * Landsdown Trail, a spur line constructed for the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1881 that is now a graded rail trail starting about 2 mi south of Clinton on Landsdown Road that enters Clinton town center near the lumber yard.
 * Spruce Run Recreation Area (Van Syckel's Road, Clinton, NJ): 1961 acre, picnicking, boating, fishing and seasonal camping. Open year-round.
 * Round Valley Recreation Area (Lebanon-Stanton Road, Lebanon, NJ) offers wilderness camping, beaches, trails, fishing and boating.

Local government
Clinton is governed under the Town form of municipal government. The town is one of nine municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this traditional form of government. The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the six-member Town Council, all of whom are chosen at-large in partisan elections held as part of the November general election. The Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. Members of the Town Council are elected to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The primary responsibilities of the council are to serve as the legislative body of the town, approve the annual budget presented by the Mayor, approve payment of bills and serve as Liaisons to several Boards and Committees.

, the mayor of Clinton Town is Democrat Janice Kovach, whose fourth term of office ends on December 31, 2027; she first took office as mayor in 2012. Members of the Clinton Town Council are Nick Bruno (R, 2024), John Kashwick (D, 2026), Mary "Molly" Padmos (D, 2025), Kyle Perloff (R, 2024), Kim Stentz (D, 2026) and Ross Traphagen (R, 2025).

Fire department
Clinton Fire Department (CFD) is located on the corner of New Street / Old Route 22 in Clinton. About 15% of the department's calls annually involve actual fire, while the rest of the CFD's calls are roughly broken down to 15% motor vehicle accidents, 15% hazardous conditions, 5% service calls, 25% good intent calls with no fire found and 25% alarm activations/false alarms, averaging about 190 calls annually. The department offers three types of membership to prospective members: Active firefighter, Junior firefighter and Associate membership. The department runs mutual aid calls with Annandale Hose Company, High Bridge Fire Department, Quakertown Fire Company, Lebanon Fire Company and Pattenburg Fire Company and other fire departments in Hunterdon Country, which work together as part of the North Hunterdon Fire Alliance.

Federal, state and county representation
Clinton Town is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 16th state legislative district.

Politics
As of June 2023, there were a total of 2,283 registered voters in Clinton, of which 785 (34.4%) were registered as Democrats, 764 (33.5%) registered as Republicans, and 734 (32.2%) as unaffiliated or members of other parties. This compares to March 2011, when there were a total of 1,671 registered voters in Clinton, of which 439 (26.3%) were registered as Democrats, 529 (31.7%) were registered as Republicans and 700 (41.9%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.

In the 2020 presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden received 959 votes (54%), Donald Trump received 774 votes (44%), and 41 votes going to others.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 52.0% of the vote (693 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 46.7% (623 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (17 votes), among the 1,351 ballots cast by the town's 1,780 registered voters (18 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 75.9%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 49.4% of the vote (704 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 48.7% (694 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (17 votes), among the 1,426 ballots cast by the town's 1,732 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.3%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 54.8% of the vote (761 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 44.0% (611 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (12 votes), among the 1,389 ballots cast by the town's 1,671 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 83.1.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.2% of the vote (577 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 28.1% (234 votes), and other candidates with 2.8% (23 votes), among the 840 ballots cast by the town's 1,757 registered voters (6 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 60.5% of the vote (620 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 27.7% (284 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 9.5% (97 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (7 votes), among the 1,025 ballots cast by the town's 1,711 registered voters, yielding a 59.9% turnout.

Education
Clinton-Glen Gardner School District is school district based in the Town of Clinton, that serves students from Clinton Town and Glen Gardner Borough in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Clinton Public School. Before Glen Gardner, a non-operating district, was consolidated into the district, students from the borough had attended the district's school as part of a sending/receiving relationship. Other students attend the school on a tuition basis. Formerly known as the Town of Clinton School District, the district's board of education voted in November 2009 to revise the name to Clinton-Glen Gardner School District to reflect the merger. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 427 students and 38.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.1:1.

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades have two choices: North Hunterdon High School or Voorhees High School, both of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District. Clinton residents began to select which high school they wished to attend in 2014. Pre-2014, Clinton Town students were zoned to North Hunterdon High.

Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Roads and highways
, the town had a total of 12.21 mi of roadways, of which 8.72 mi were maintained by the municipality and 3.49 mi by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Several roadways pass through the town. The most major road passing through Clinton is Interstate 78/U.S. Route 22, which run concurrently through the area. Direct access is provided by New Jersey Route 31 at Exit 17 and at Exit 15 for Route 173 and County Road 513. Route 173 and CR 513 run through the center of town, while Route 31 skims the northeast edge. Access to Interstate 78 provides Clinton with a route to and from New York City and the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia can also be accessed from Clinton via New Jersey Route 31 to Interstate 295 south.

Public transportation
Trans-Bridge Lines offers buses on a route that provides service from Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan and New York City-area airports at a stop at the park-and-ride on Route 31 in Clinton. Limited NJ Transit Rail is also accessible at the Annandale station on the Raritan Valley Line.

The LINK, which serves Hunterdon County is the primary traditional publicly funded mode of transportation. Fares range from about $2.00 to $10.00. Funding for operation of the Hunterdon County LINK System is provided by Hunterdon County, NJ Transit and the Federal Transit Administration. Additionally, Warren County operates a shuttle along Route 31 Monday–Friday to Oxford Township.

In film

 * Several movies have used the town as a backdrop, including In and Out with Kevin Kline, One True Thing with Renée Zellweger and Meryl Streep, My Giant with Billy Crystal, and Turbulence with Ray Liotta. A music video for Sharon Van Etten's single "Seventeen" was partially filmed in the town, as well as at nearby Round Valley Reservoir.

In television

 * The CBS-TV daytime drama As the World Turns taped scenes at businesses along Main Street in 2008 and 2009.

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

 * John T. Bird (1829–1911), represented New Jersey's 3rd congressional district from 1869 to 1873
 * William Bonnell (1804–1865), portrait painter whose works are generally placed in the folk art category
 * Gregg Cagno (born 1969), songwriter and touring performer in the singer-songwriter and folk genres
 * Anna Case (1888–1984), soprano who recorded with Thomas Edison
 * William J. Connell (born 1958), historian
 * Kyp Malone (born 1973), multi-instrumentalist and member of the band TV on the Radio
 * Barbara McClintock (born 1955), children's book illustrator and author
 * Terry R. McGuire, former professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Genetics at Rutgers University
 * Kyle Merber (born 1990), middle-distance runner specializing in the mile and the 1500 meters
 * James Valenti (born 1977), operatic tenor
 * Sharon Van Etten (born 1981), singer-songwriter
 * Foster McGowan Voorhees (1856–1927), Governor of New Jersey from 1899 to 1902
 * Jessica Vosk (born 1983), Broadway actress who starred as Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked

title: Clinton, New Jersey