Hillsborough Township, New Jersey

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Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
—  Township  —
Map highlighting Hillsborough Township's location within Somerset County. Inset: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°32′00″N 74°39′59″W / 40.5333333°N 74.66639°W / 40.5333333; -74.66639Coordinates: 40°32′00″N 74°39′59″W / 40.5333333°N 74.66639°W / 40.5333333; -74.66639
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Somerset
Royal Charter September 12, 1771
Incorporated February 21, 1798
Government
 • Type Township
 • Mayor Gloria McCauley (term ends 2011)[1]
 • Administrator Michael Merdinger[2]
Area
 • Total 54.8 sq mi (141.9 km2)
 • Land 54.7 sq mi (141.6 km2)
 • Water 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation[3] 105 ft (32 m)
Population (2010 Census)[4]
 • Total 38,303
 • Density 699/sq mi (269.9/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 08844
Area code(s) 908
FIPS code 34-31890[5][6]
Website http://hillsborough-nj.org

Hillsborough Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 38,303.[4]

Hillsborough Township was originally created by Royal Charter on September 12, 1771, from portions of Western precinct. It was incorporated as one of New Jersey's original 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Millstone (May 14, 1894) and Manville (April 1, 1929).[7]

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 54.8 square miles (142 km2); 54.7 square miles (142 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.18%) is water. In terms of area, it is the largest township in Somerset County.

[edit] Communities

Unincorporated communities located within Hillsborough Township are Belle Mead, Blackwells Mills, Flagtown, Neshanic, and South Branch.[8] Part of Blackwells Mills is located in Franklin Township.

Branchburg Twp
and Readington Twp		 Raritan, Somerville and
Bridgewater Township		 Manville
East Amwell Twp Franklin Township
   Hillsborough Twp    
Montgomery Twp

[edit] Climate

Climate data for Hillsborough Township, NJ
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 74
(23)		 76
(24)		 86
(30)		 94
(34)		 99
(37)		 101
(38)		 104
(40)		 105
(41)		 105
(41)		 92
(33)		 84
(29)		 73
(23)		 105
(41)
Average high °F (°C) 38
(3)		 41
(5)		 50
(10)		 61
(16)		 72
(22)		 80
(27)		 85
(29)		 83
(28)		 76
(24)		 64
(18)		 54
(12)		 42
(6)		 62.2
(16.8)
Average low °F (°C) 18
(−8)		 20
(−7)		 27
(−3)		 36
(2)		 46
(8)		 56
(13)		 61
(16)		 60
(16)		 52
(11)		 40
(4)		 31
(−1)		 23
(−5)		 39.2
(4.0)
Record low °F (°C) −16
(−27)		 −12
(−24)		 −1
(−18)		 16
(−9)		 26
(−3)		 34
(1)		 44
(7)		 38
(3)		 29
(−2)		 12
(−11)		 5
(−15)		 −10
(−23)		 −16
(−27)
Precipitation inches (mm) 3.59
(91.2)		 2.84
(72.1)		 3.94
(100.1)		 4.09
(103.9)		 4.33
(110)		 4.35
(110.5)		 4.83
(122.7)		 3.98
(101.1)		 4.26
(108.2)		 4.21
(106.9)		 3.59
(91.2)		 3.84
(97.5)		 47.85
(1,215.4)
Source: [9]

[edit] Redevelopment

After the three and three quarter mile US 206 bypass is completed, the town plans to design a town center along the old Business Route 206.[10] Construction for the bypass is expected to begin in 2009 and be complete by 2012.[11] The old section of US-206 will become the main street for the township and will be zoned for commercial and residential use.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1930 2,283
—
1940 2,645 15.9%
1950 3,875 46.5%
1960 7,584 95.7%
1970 11,061 45.8%
1980 19,061 72.3%
1990 28,808 51.1%
2000 36,634 27.2%
2010 38,303 4.6%
Population sources:
1930-1990[12] 2000[13] 2010[4]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 36,634 people, 12,649 households, and 9,802 families residing in the township. The population density was 669.9 people per square mile (258.6/km²). There were 12,854 housing units at an average density of 235.0 per square mile (90.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 85.96% White, 7.31% Asian, 3.76% African American, 0.09% American Indian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.75% of the population.[13]

There were 12,649 households out of which 44.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them – 67.6% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88, and the average family size was 3.31.[13]

In the township, the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.[13]

The median income for a household in the township was $83,290, and the median income for a family was $93,933. These figures had risen to $100,674 and $113,055 respectively as of a 2007 estimate.[14] Males had a median income of $62,273 versus $42,052 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,091. About 2.1% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.[13]

[edit] History

On May 31, 1771, Hillsborough was officially granted a Charter incorporating it as a Township. A revised charter was issued on September 12, 1771.[7] The records of Hillsborough Township are complete from their inception in 1746 and there are ten volumes, each some several hundred pages, kept in the Special Collections Department of the Rutgers University Library along with the Charter.

Hillsborough Township quickly took its place in history as the path General George Washington and his troops traveled from the Battle of Princeton to winter quarters in Morristown. While the British were encamped in the valley below awaiting an opportunity to attack, it is said that Washington drilled his troops on the Sourland Mountain around a spring near the top using different formations and corn stalks for guns. As the sun caught the stalks, the British thought Washington had received reinforcements and fresh supplies. The British troops, thinking that they were outnumbered, slipped off to New Brunswick leaving Washington to continue to Morristown.

Hillsborough Township was formally incorporated on February 21, 1798.[7]

Hillsborough is the home of the Belle Mead GSA depot, or Belle Mead General Depot, which was a storage site for materials during World War II, along with housing Italian and German prisoners of war. It continued storing materials until the 1980s, and various contaminants have leaked into the ground and surrounding area during that time, said Tom Miller, counsel for Somerset County.

Hillsborough is also home to Duke Gardens and Duke Farms, a 2,700 acres (11 km2) estate in the north-eastern quadrant of the town. Originally owned by tobacco and electric energy tycoon James "Buck" Duke and then passed down to daughter Doris Duke, Duke Farms is now one of the few remaining "preserved" natural areas in Hillsborough Township.

In 2007, Hillsborough was ranked as the No. 23 best place to live in the United States by Money magazine.[15]

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Hillsborough Township is governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[16] The mayor and deputy mayor are chosen by the Township Committee from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting, each serving a one-year term.

As of 2011, members of the Hillsborough Township Committee are Mayor Gloria McCauley (term ends December 31, 2011), Deputy Mayor Carl Suraci (2012), Frank DelCore (2013), Anthony Ferrera (2011) and Bob Wagner (2012).[17]

Based on the results of a Charter Study Commission, a recommendation was listed on the November 2007 general election ballot proposing that the township adopt a Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) form of government.[18] At the election, 58% of those voting chose to reject the proposed change, leaving the longtime Township form of government unchanged.[19]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Hillsborough Township is in the 7th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 16th state legislative district.[20]

New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District is represented by Leonard Lance (R, Clinton Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 16th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Christopher Bateman (R, Somerville) and in the General Assembly by Jack Ciattarelli (R, Hillsborough Township).[21] Peter J. Biondi won re-election to an eighth term in the Assembly but died days after the November 2011 election; He will be replaced by a Republican Party convention of district delegates and the remaining year on his seat will be filled in a November 2012 special election.[22] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[23] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[24]

Somerset County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[25] As of 2012, Somerset County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Patricia L. Walsh (Green Brook Township, term ends December 31, 2013),[26] Freeholder Deputy Director Peter S. Palmer (Bernardsville, 2014),[27] Mark Caliguire (Montgomery Township, 2012),[28] Patrick Scaglione (Bridgewater Township, 2012).[29] and Robert Zaborowski (Franklin Township, 2014),[30][31]

[edit] Transportation

U.S. Route 206 is the main road that passes through the township. (A new alignment of US 206 is being built to bypass the current congested stretch of the road.)

Main county roads that pass through are CR 514 and CR 533.

I-287 is outside the municipality in bordering Bridgewater and Franklin Townships.

[edit] Education

The Hillsborough Township School District serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Students from Millstone attend the district's schools as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[32]

Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics):[33]

There are six elementary schools for Kindergarten to 4th grade.

  • Auten Road Intermediate School currently houses grades 5 and 6 (1,137 students). Auten Road Intermediate School began as an elementary school, but was made into an intermediate school in 2002 housing all 5th and 6th graders in the district. The school's mascot is the Mini Raiders, modeled after the high school mascot of the Raiders.
  • Hillsborough Middle School for grades 7–8 (1,235 students).

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Hillsborough Township include:

[edit] References

  1. ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed November 17, 2011.
  2. ^ Administrator/Municipal Clerk, Hillsborough Township. Accessed May 26, 2011.
  3. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Hillsborough, Geographic Names Information System, accessed July 4, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c DP-1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 - 2010 Demographic Profile Data, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 17, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  6. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  7. ^ a b c "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 223.
  8. ^ Our Towns, Hillsborough Township. Accessed May 26, 2011.
  9. ^ "Monthly Averages for Hillsborough, NJ (08844)". Weather.com. http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/wxclimatology/monthly/08844. Retrieved November 17, 2011. 
  10. ^ Fox unveils re-designed Hillsborough Bypass: New smart growth plan reduces sprawl, preserves more open space, New Jersey Department of Transportation press release dated December 20, 2002.
  11. ^ Hillsborough reorganization set for Monday, Courier News January 2, 2008
  12. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 2, 2009. Accessed November 17, 2011.
  13. ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Hillsborough township, Somerset County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 17, 2011.
  14. ^ 2007 American Community Survey for Hillsborough township, Somerset County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau.
  15. ^ Best Places to Live: Top 100 for 2007 – 23. Hillsborough, N.J.", Money (magazine), July 2007. Accessed March 30, 2008.
  16. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 77.
  17. ^ Township Committee, Hillsborough Township. Accessed May 26, 2011.
  18. ^ Charter Study Commission Report Available On Hillsborough Website, Hillsborough Township, August 15, 2007. Accessed May 26, 2011.
  19. ^ "Voters Give Township Committee Form A Vote of Confidence", Hillsborough Township, November 7, 2007. Accessed May 26, 2011.
  20. ^ 2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 59. Accessed May 26, 2011.
  21. ^ Legislative Roster 2012-2013 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2012.
  22. ^ Megerian, Chris. "Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi (R-Somerset), dies at 69, days after re-election", The Star-Ledger, November 10, 2011. Accessed January 11, 2012. "Assemblyman Peter Biondi, who on Tuesday was elected to his eighth term in the state Legislature representing the 16th District covering parts of Somerset and Morris Counties, died tonight after a battle with cancer, the Assembly Republican office said."
  23. ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  24. ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  25. ^ Somerset County Government: At Your Service, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
  26. ^ Patricia Walsh, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
  27. ^ Peter S. Palmer, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
  28. ^ Mark Caliguire, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
  29. ^ Patrick Scaglione, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
  30. ^ Robert Zaborowski, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
  31. ^ Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 25, 2012.
  32. ^ Somerset County School Districts-Sending/Receiving/Regional, Somerset County Superintendent of Schools. Accessed August 2, 2008.
  33. ^ Data for the Hillsborough Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 17, 2011.
  34. ^ Gola, Hank. "Where are they now? Former Giant Brad Benson's motor in overdrive", Daily News (New York), December 20, 2008. Accessed May 26, 2011. "Benson would play just one more year, purchasing the land for his first dealership during the 1987 season. Now Benson lives on a 40-acre farm in Hillsborough, N.J., with his wife, two sons and daughter."
  35. ^ The Pleasure of Your Company, Toronto International Film Festival. Accessed December 10, 2006.
  36. ^ http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/Indian_Americans_film_is_surprise_of_US_festival___-nid-21947-cid-Top.html
  37. ^ via Associated Press. "DORIS DUKE, 80", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 29, 1993. Accessed March 30, 2008. "Doris Duke, 80, the tobacco heiress whose father's fortune made her the richest girl in the world and propelled her into an international circle of celebrities, died yesterday.... Her main residence was Duke Farms in Hillsborough, N.J."
  38. ^ Deak, Michael. "R&B singer Jaheim can appeal drug conviction", Home News Tribune, February 20, 2008. Accessed March 30, 2008.
  39. ^ Staff. "LIONS SAFETY MAYER INJURED, WILL MISS SEASON", The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 15, 2000. Accessed March 30, 2008. "Safety Shawn Mayer, who had figured heavily in Penn State's plans this year, will miss the football season because of a knee injury suffered in practice.... The 6-foot, 197-pounder from Hillsborough, N.J., played in every game last season."
  40. ^ O'Gorman, George. "Giants Stadium celebration gives Big Blue chance to celebrate at home for the first time in months", Trentonian, February 6, 2008. Accessed March 30, 2008. "For two of the Giants' three Jersey guys, the salute by their home state wasn't a surprise. 'They always do things right in New Jersey,' said center Shaun O'Hara, a Rutgers grad who grew up in Hillsborough and now lives in Rutherford."
  41. ^ Player profile for Ricky Proehl, Indianapolis Colts. Accessed December 20, 2006.
  42. ^ Ricky Proehl celebrates Super Bowl championship: 'It felt awesome,' ex-Hillsborough High football standout said, Princeton Packet, February 3, 2000.
  43. ^ Peter D. Vroom, New Jersey Historical Society. Accessed December 16, 2006.

[edit] External links

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