Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey

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Not to be confused with Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey.
Hamilton Township, New Jersey
—  Township  —
Nickname(s): New Jersey's Shining Star
Hamilton Township highlighted in Mercer County. Inset: Location of Mercer County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°12′30″N 74°40′29″W / 40.20833°N 74.67472°W / 40.20833; -74.67472Coordinates: 40°12′30″N 74°40′29″W / 40.20833°N 74.67472°W / 40.20833; -74.67472
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Mercer
Incorporated April 11, 1842
Government
 • Type Faulkner Act Mayor-Council
 • Mayor John F. Bencivengo
 • Administrator John Ricci[1]
Area
 • Total 40.4 sq mi (104.6 km2)
 • Land 39.5 sq mi (102.2 km2)
 • Water 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2)  2.28%
Elevation[2] 98 ft (30 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 88,464
 • Density 2,208.0/sq mi (852.5/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 08609, 08610, 08611, 08619, 08620, 08629, 08690, 08691
Area code(s) 609
FIPS code 34-29310[3][4]
GNIS feature ID 0882127[5]
Website http://www.hamiltonnj.com/

Hamilton Township is a Township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 88,464. The township is located immediately east of the city of Trenton, the capital of New Jersey.

Hamilton was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 11, 1842, from portions of the now-defunct Nottingham Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Chambersburg borough (April 1, 1872, annexed by Trenton in 1888) and Wilbur borough (April 24, 1891, annexed by Trenton in 1898).[6] Hamilton Township derives its name from the village of Hamilton Square, which was named for Alexander Hamilton.[7]

In 2006, Hamilton Township was ranked by Morgan Quitno as the eighteenth safest "city" in the United States, out of 369 cities nationwide.[8] In the company's 2005 survey, the Township was ranked 15th safest of 354 cities surveyed nationwide.[9]

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 40.4 square miles (105 km2), of which, 39.5 square miles (102 km2) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2) of it (2.28%) is water.

Although Hamilton is one of the largest townships in New Jersey it doesn't have a true "downtown", but a number of former "villages" from smaller commercial centers. These include Hamilton Square, Mercerville, Yardville, White Horse and Groveville. Mercerville-Hamilton Square, White Horse and Yardville-Groveville are all census-designated places and unincorporated areas located within Hamilton Township.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1910 7,899
—
1920 14,580 84.6%
1930 27,121 86.0%
1940 30,219 11.4%
1950 41,156 36.2%
1960 65,035 58.0%
1970 79,609 22.4%
1980 82,801 4.0%
1990 86,553 4.5%
2000 87,109 0.6%
2010 88,464 1.6%
Population 1930–1990.[10]
Populastion 2010[11]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 87,109 people, 33,523 households, and 23,667 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,208.0 people per square mile (852.5/km²). There were 34,535 housing units at an average density of 875.4 per square mile (338.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 85.15% White, 8.16% African American, 0.14% Native American, 2.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.19% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.13% of the population.

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

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

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

As of late 2005, much of the new residential development in Hamilton has been geared to accommodating the aging baby boomer generation. Retirement communities and assisted-living facilities outpace that of traditional residential communities. Such construction has been spurred by several factors. The first being that school budgets have always been kept low. Hamilton voters have a proven track record for vetoing school budgets in their yearly elections to keep taxes low. As a result, the planning board has been reluctant to authorize construction of housing that will increase the student population. Another reason is a series of improvements to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. The hospital is now a highly respected source of care in the state. It is situated next to where most of the under-developed land in the township used to be, land that is now home to the active older-adult communities.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Hamilton Township is governed under the Mayor-Council system of New Jersey municipal government under the Faulkner Act.[12]

As of 2011, the Mayor of Hamilton Township is John F. Bencivengo.[13] Members of the Township Council are Council President Dennis Pone, Council Vice-President Kevin Meara, Edward Gore, David Kenny and Kelly Yaede.[14]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Hamilton Township is in the 4th Congressional district. New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District is represented by Christopher Smith (R). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

Hamilton Township is in the The 14th district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Linda R. Greenstein (D, Plainsboro Township and in the General Assembly by Daniel R. Benson (D, Hamilton Township, Mercer County) and Wayne DeAngelo (D, Hamilton Township, Mercer County).[15]

Under Mercer County's form of government, the County Executive performs executive functions and oversees the day-to-day operations of the county and a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders acts in a legislative capacity, setting policy. As of 2011, the County Executive is Brian M. Hughes.[16] Members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders are elected at-large to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. A Freeholder Chair and Vice-Chair are selected on an annual basis from among its members.[17] County Freeholders are Freeholder Chair Pasqual "Pat" Colavita, Jr. (term ends December 31, 2012; Lawrenceville)[18], Freeholder Vice Chair Lucylle R. S. Walter (2011; Ewing Township)[19], Samuel T. Frisby (2011; Trenton)[20], Ann M. Cannon (2012; East Windsor Township)[21], Anthony P. Carabelli (2013; Trenton)[22], John Cimino (2011; Hamilton Township)[23] and Andrew Koontz (2013; Princeton Borough)[24][25]

[edit] Education

The Hamilton Township Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[26] are 17 K-5 elementary schools: Alexander (401 students), Greenwood (225), Kisthardt (247), Klockner (266), Kuser (354), Lalor (283), Langtree (425), McGalliard (284), Mercerville (408), Morgan (418), Robinson (432), Sayen (277), Sunnybrae (360), University Heights (397), Wilson (367), Yardville (341) and Yardville Heights (276); Three middle schools serving grades 6-8: Crockett Middle School (961), Grice Middle School (963) and Reynolds Middle School (1,201); Three high schools for grades 9-12: Steinert High School (East; 2,200), Nottingham High School (North; 1,608) and Hamilton High School (West; 1,405); and the Hamilton Educational Program (HEP) at Willey Campus.

[edit] Transportation

Hamilton, NJ station

Situated right next to the New Jersey state capital of Trenton, Hamilton is a strategic town in New Jersey. As New Jersey's eighth-largest municipality, Hamilton Township is 65 miles (105 km) away from New York City and 35 miles (56 km) away from Philadelphia. Hamilton is also close to most points along the Jersey Shore. By car, Hamilton is about 80 minutes from New York City and 50 minutes from Philadelphia. The train ride to New York is slightly shorter than the drive into New York while the train ride to Philadelphia is slightly longer than the drive into Philadelphia. With nearly 90,000 residents and 40 square miles (100 km2) of land, it is contains a rich mix of neighborhoods. With a bustling, modern train station and major roads passing through, such as the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95), Interstate 295, Interstate 195, U.S. Route 130, U.S. Route 206, Route 33 and U.S. Route 1 (which actually is immediately outside the township), it is a transportation hub. By chance, Hamilton is the only municipality in the state that hosts Interstate 95 and all its auxiliary routes: Interstates 295 and 195.

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

With the addition of the modern Hamilton train station located on Sloan Avenue just off I-295 at Exit 65B on New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor Line, the township has attracted more New York City-based commuters to the area. The station offers service to Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan and to Trenton station. In Trenton station, there is a SEPTA Trenton Line Regional Rail train to and from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Located in Hamilton Township is the neighborhood of White Horse, which includes the White Horse Circle, a traffic circle on U.S. Route 206.

The Turnpike's Woodrow Wilson service area is located between Interchanges 7 and 7A northbound at milepost 58.7.[27] The Richard Stockton service area is located between Interchanges 7A and 7 southbound at milepost 58.7.[28] No turnpike interchange is located in the township, but the closest exit is at Interchange 7A along I-195 in neighboring Robbinsville Township.

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTPA) is planning to widen the Turnpike (with the "dual-dual" configuration) between Exit 6 (in Mansfield Township) and Exit 8A (in Monroe Township). This widening would probably require the condemnation of part of the Richard Stockton Service Area and the Woodrow Wilson Service Area. New entrance & exit ramps would be constructed as well to access the service areas.

New Jersey Transit also provides public bus service in Hamilton Township.

[edit] In the news

  • The Megan Kanka case, for whom Megan's Law was named, occurred in Hamilton Township.[29]
  • Some letters involved in the 2001 anthrax attacks were processed through the United States Postal Service Regional Mail Facility in Hamilton Township. The building was closed for four years while it was decontaminated, but an improvised post office was made from tents and canopys in the buildings vicinity.
  • The annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree chosen for 2008 was grown in Hamilton. It is a 77 year old Norway Spruce weighing 8 tons and rising 72 feet (22 m) that was located off the side of Klockner Road at the Tree King Tree Mart.

[edit] Points of interest

  • Hamilton hosts one of the largest recreational parks in the state, and borders another. Veterans Park is 350 acres (1.4 km2) and is housed entirely in the township. Mercer County Park borders the township to the North and encompasses 2,500 acres (10 km2) of land that was shared from Hamilton Township along with neighboring Lawrence Township and West Windsor Township.[30] This park contains one of the largest man-made lakes in the state. The lake was built as a result of a Princeton University grant as a place for the University's crew team to practice and compete.[citation needed]
on the Grounds For Sculpture, located in Hamilton, NJ
  • The Grounds for Sculpture is a 35-acre (140,000 m2) sculpture park which houses more than 230 sculptures, gardens, water features, and other nature scenes. The organization's mission is to promote the appreciation of arts and sculpture.
  • Sayen Park Botanical Garden

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Hamilton Township include:

[edit] References

  1. ^ Department of Administration, Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Accessed April 12, 2008.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Hamilton, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.
  3. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  5. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  6. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 162.
  7. ^ History of Hamilton Township, Hamilton Township Historical Society, 1999
  8. ^ Morgan Quitno 12th Annual Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall, Morgan Quitno. Accessed June 4, 2006.
  9. ^ Morgan Quitno 11th Annual Safest (and Most Dangerous) Cities: Top and Bottom 25 Cities Overall, accessed June 4, 2006.
  10. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930–1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  11. ^ "The Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships in 2010 in New Jersey: 2000 and 2010". U.S. Census Bureau. 2011-02-03. http://2010.census.gov/news/xls/st34-final_newjersey.xls. Retrieved 2011-02-05. 
  12. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 70.
  13. ^ Office of the Mayor, Hamilton Township. Accessed February 22, 2011.
  14. ^ Hamilton Township Council, Hamilton Township. Accessed February 22, 2011.
  15. ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
  16. ^ County Executive, Mercer County, New Jersey. Accessed January 5, 2011.
  17. ^ What is a Freeholder?, Mercer County, New Jersey. Accessed January 5, 2011.
  18. ^ Pasquale "Pat" Colavita, Jr., Mercer County. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  19. ^ Lucylle R. S. Walter, Mercer County. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  20. ^ Samuel T. Frisby, Mercer County. Accessed August 1, 2011.
  21. ^ Ann M. Cannon, Mercer County. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  22. ^ Anthony P. Carabelli, Mercer County. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  23. ^ John Cimino, Mercer County. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  24. ^ Andrew Koontz, Mercer County. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  25. ^ Meet the Freeholders, Mercer County. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  26. ^ Data for the Hamilton Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed July 27, 2008.
  27. ^ New Jersey Turnpike: Woodrow Wilson Service Area, New Jersey Turnpike. Accessed May 31, 2006.
  28. ^ New Jersey Turnpike: Richard Stockton Service Area, New Jersey Turnpike. Accessed May 31, 2006.
  29. ^ Pristin, Terry. "Trial to Begin in Girl's Killing", The New York Times, January 2, 1997. Accessed March 11, 2008. "More than two years after 7-year-old Megan Kanka was abducted from her Hamilton Township home and raped and killed, the trial of the man accused of killing her is about to begin."
  30. ^ Mercer County Park, Mercer County, New Jersey. Accessed December 21, 2006.
  31. ^ Barone, Michael. "It's inspiring to see Alito's background come to foreground: Alito", Chicago Sun-Times, January 18, 2006. Accessed September 7, 2007. "In his opening statement to the Judiciary Committee, Judge Samuel Alito told the senators where he comes from. First, Hamilton Township, N.J., the modest-income suburb of Trenton, where he grew up."
  32. ^ via Associated Press. "Hamilton's Bill Baroni tapped for Port Authority job", The Trentonian, February 19, 2010. Accessed February 22, 2011.
  33. ^ Monahan, Bob. "PALMER STAR HEADS FOR HC", The Boston Globe, March 10, 1987. Accessed August 26, 2008. "University of Connecticut sophomore soccer forward Dan Donigan from Hamilton Square, NJ, is one of 43 players nationwide picked to try out for the US National/Olympic Qualifying Team this summer."
  34. ^ Colin Ferrell, Indianapolis Colts. Accessed August 11, 2008.
  35. ^ Giase, Frank. "Hamilton native Gaven will face Red Bulls, his former team, in MLS Cup", The Star-Ledger, November 19, 2008. Accessed February 22, 2011.
  36. ^ Russakoff, Dale. "Outside Cities, Response Differs; Anthrax Scenario in N.J. Exposes Hole in Bioterror Safety Net", The Washington Post, October 29, 2001. Accessed February 22, 2011. "An impending [Cipro] free-for-all was averted here only when a high- energy suburban mayor, Glen Gilmore of Hamilton Township (population: 90,000), called the local community hospital, arranged for it to become a central treatment point and dispatched a police cruiser to Southern New Jersey to pick up 14,000 Cipro tablets from the hospital's private distributor."
  37. ^ Staff. "Garden Staters will be among the nearly one million deer hun(ters)", Daily Record (Morristown), November 27, 2002. Accessed February 22, 2011. "A bill to allow Sunday hunting in our state, S-2013, has been introduced in the Senate, sponsored by Peter Inverso of Hamilton Township."
  38. ^ Battista, Judy. "COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Rutgers Could Have a Post-Season With Meaning", The New York Times, February 21, 1999. Accessed December 12, 2007. "With his first full recruiting class, one of the best in the Big East, Bannon got Dahntay Jones, a guard from Hamilton Square, N.J., and Rashod Kent, a forward from West Virginia."
  39. ^ Glaberson, William. "Jury Selection Under Way In Megan Kanka's Killing", The New York Times, January 14, 1997. Accessed August 26, 2008. "The Kanka family lived in Hamilton Township in Mercer County, about 25 miles south of here."
  40. ^ CFL.ca Player Profile. Accessed December 17, 2007. "Thaddeus was An All-County and All-Area selection at Hamilton High School West in Trenton [sic], New Jersey"
  41. ^ Assemblyman Paul Kramer, New Jersey Legislature, backed up by the Internet Archive as of February 25, 1998. Accessed June 8, 2010.
  42. ^ Staff. "Draft fulfills an officer's dream", Contra Costa Times, June 17, 2007. Accessed February 22, 2011. "Chris Pittaro, the A's national field coordinator, is a fellow native of Hamilton Township and has known of Johnston since his days in American Legion ball."
  43. ^ George Robbins Robbins, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 25, 2007.
  44. ^ Cannon, Kathleen. "Challenger questions Smith on vets' issues", Burlington County Times, October 10, 2004. Accessed February 22, 2011. "As U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-4th of Hamilton Township, this weekend is due to receive an award from the Vietnam Veterans of America, his Democratic challenger, Amy Vasquez of Burlington City, issued a statement criticizing his record on veterans issues."

[edit] External links

Trenton Lawrence Township West Windsor Twp
Delaware River Robbinsville Township
   Hamilton Twp    
Falls Twp, PA Bordentown city and Twp,
Chesterfield Twp		 Upper Freehold Township and
North Hanover Twp
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