Hunterdon County, New Jersey

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Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Seal of Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Map of New Jersey highlighting Hunterdon County
Location in the state of New Jersey
Map of the U.S. highlighting New Jersey
New Jersey's location in the U.S.
Seat Flemington
Largest city Raritan Township
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
438 sq mi (1,134 km²)
430 sq mi (1,114 km²)
8 sq mi (21 km²), 1.79%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density
121,989
285/sq mi (110/km²)
Founded 1714
Website www.co.hunterdon.nj.us

Hunterdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 121,989. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington[1].

Hunterdon County ranks as the 4th among the highest-income counties in the United States with a per capita income of $36,370. It ranks fourth among U.S. counties for household income according to the most recent U.S. Census. Hunterdon County's median household income was $93,342, behind only Fairfax County and Loudoun County, Virginia and Howard County, Maryland. As of 2005, Hunterdon had the third-highest median property tax of any county in the nation at $6,988, the highest in New Jersey[2][3]. As of the Tax Foundation's rankings based on 2006 data, Hunterdon had taken the top spot for highest median property tax at $7,999.[4][5]

Contents

[edit] General

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Transitioning from rural to suburban, Hunterdon County is an exurb on the western edge of New Jersey and home to commuters to New York City and Philadelphia. The county seat, Flemington, is noted for the Lindbergh kidnapping trial which convicted Bruno Hauptmann of the murder of aviator Charles Lindbergh's son. With growing towns and shopping areas, as well as relaxing rural areas, Hunterdon County is a far stretch from the urban areas stereotypically associated with New Jersey.

[edit] Politics

Hunterdon County is fiscally conservative and socially moderate. In the 2004 U.S. Presidential election, George W. Bush carried the county by a 20.8% margin over John Kerry, with Kerry carrying the state by 6.7% over Bush.[6] Hunterdon County is represented exclusively by Republican Freeholders and the majority of township committee and borough council seats are held by Republicans. In the 2008 U.S. Presedential election, John McCain defeated Barack Obama by a 13.3% margin, but Obama defeated McCain in New Jersey by a 15.5% margin.[7] This represents an 8.5% swing toward the Democratic nominee from 2004.

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 438 square miles (1,134 km²), of which, 430 square miles (1,114 km²) of it is land and 8 square miles (20 km²) of it (1.79%) is water.

Much of the county is hilly, the ground rising up slowly from the Delaware River. The highest points are two areas in Lebanon Township, one on the Morris County line, both reaching at least 1,060 feet (323 m) above sea level. The lowest elevation is where the Mercer County line reaches the Delaware River, approximately 40 feet (12 m) above sea level.

[edit] Adjacent counties

Warren County Morris County
Bucks County, Pennsylvania North Somerset County
West   Hunterdon County, New Jersey    East
South
Mercer County

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1790 20,153
—
1800 21,261 5.5%
1810 24,556 15.5%
1820 28,604 16.5%
1830 31,060 8.6%
1840 24,789 * −20.2%
1850 28,990 16.9%
1860 33,654 16.1%
1870 36,963 9.8%
1880 38,570 4.3%
1890 35,355 −8.3%
1900 34,507 −2.4%
1910 33,569 −2.7%
1920 32,885 −2.0%
1930 34,728 5.6%
1940 36,766 5.9%
1950 42,736 16.2%
1960 54,107 26.6%
1970 69,718 28.9%
1980 87,361 25.3%
1990 107,776 23.4%
2000 121,989 13.2%
Est. 2006 130,783 [8] 7.2%
* lost territory
historical census data source: [9][10]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 121,989 people, 43,678 households, and 32,845 families residing in the county. The population density was 284 people per square mile (110/km²). There were 45,032 housing units at an average density of 105 per square mile (40/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.91% White, 2.25% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.92% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 2.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.7% were of Italian, 17.3% German, 14.5% Irish, 8.4% English, 7.3% Polish and 5.1% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 43,678 households out of which 37.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.30% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 20.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

Hunterdon County's median income for a household was $79,888, which makes it the fourth highest county in the country based on median household income. Median income for a family was $91,050 (these figures had risen to $97,793 and $113,280 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[12]). Males had a median income of $61,888 versus $40,852 for females. The per capita income for the county was $36,370, which ranks as the thirteenth highest county in the country based on per capita income. About 1.60% of families and 2.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.10% of those under age 18 and 4.20% of those age 65 or over. As of October 2007, Hunterdon County now has the highest median property taxes in the United States.

[edit] Government

Hunterdon County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. The members are elected at large on a staggered basis to serve three-year terms of office, with the three-year term of office starts (and ends) on January 1.

The Freeholder Board is the center of legislative and administrative responsibility and, as such, performs a dual role. As legislators they draw up and adopt a budget, and in the role of administrators they are responsible for spending the funds they have appropriated.

As of 2008, Hunterdon County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Erik Peterson (Milford), Freeholder Deputy Director William Mennen (Tewksbury Township), Matt Holt (Clinton Town), George B. Melick (Tewksbury Township) and Ronald Sworen (Frenchtown).[13]

[edit] Municipalities

Index map of Hunterdon County municipalities (click to see index key)

The following municipalities are located in Hunterdon County. The municipality type is listed in parentheses after the name, except where the type is included as part of the name. Census-designated places and other unincorporated communities are listed separately.

[edit] Townships

  • The township form is the oldest form of municipal government in New Jersey.

Designed to parallel the New England Township meeting, the Township Act of 1899 abolished the township meeting and replaced it with a township committee with all municipal powers. This act, with a handful of amendments, served until it was repealed by the Township Act of 1989, which cleared up many of ambiguities of the previous law.

  • Under the current township government laws, the township committee remains the backbone of the municipality’s government. Voters elect, at-large, the township committee comprising three or five members. The elections are partisan, and the committee members serve staggered three-year terms. The township committee elects the mayor for a one-year term. The mayor serves as chair of the township committee and has powers vested in the mayor’s office by general law.
  • Under the township form, all legislative powers are concentrated in the committee. The committee also has all executive powers not placed in the mayor either by general law or the revised Township act. Additionally, all municipalities under the traditional form, including the township form, may appoint a municipal administration and “delegate to him all or a portion of the executive responsibilities of the municipality”.

As of 2006, 144 New Jersey municipalities operate under the Township form.

[edit] Towns

The Town Form of New Jersey municipal government dates back to the Town Act of 1895, which was amended and revised by the Town Act of 1988.

Voters elect the mayor and council in partisan elections. The mayor is elected at large and is known as the councilman at large. The mayor serves a two-year term, though voters can through petition and referendum change the term to three years. The mayor retains all executive responsibilities placed in the position by general law or the Town Act. All other executive authority lies with the town council.

The council consists of eight members serving two-year terms. Two council members are elected from each of four wards and they serve staggered two-year terms. Therefore, every year one seat from each ward is up for election. The mayor chairs the town council, and may vote on legislation and veto ordinances. The council can appoint, through ordinance, any subordinate officer with the exceptions of the municipal clerk, tax assessor and tax collector, which are appointed by mayor and council. Like the other traditional forms, the town council may appoint an administrator pursuant to NJSA 40A:9-136.

As of 2006, Nine New Jersey municipalities operate under the Town form.


[edit] Cities

The City Form of New Jersey municipal government dates back to a series of laws passed by the state legislature between 1897 and 1899. The City Form was last revised by PL 1987, Chapter 314.

Under this form, mayor and council are elected in partisan elections. The mayor serves a four-year term, unless a two or three-year term preceded the passage of the 1997 law.

The mayor is the chief executive, may participate in council meetings and can vote to break ties. The mayor can veto ordinances and serves as the head of the police department.

The council is the legislative body of the municipality and appoints most of the subordinate officers of the city. Generally, the city council consists of seven members with six elected from wards for three-year terms and one elected at-large for a four-year term[14]. Like the other traditional forms, a city may delegate all or a portion of the executive authorities to an administrator.

As of 2006, 15 New Jersey municipalities operate under the form.

[edit] Boroughs

The Borough form remains the single most popular form of local government in New Jersey.

This form dates back to the Borough Act of 1878 and was revised in 1897 and by the Borough Act of 1987.

The Borough mayor is elected at-large to a four-year term. Six council members are elected at-large[15] to staggered three-year terms.

The Borough form is often referred to as a “weak mayor-strong council” form. The mayor retains all general law authority, presides over council meetings and can vote in the case of a tie. The mayor appoints, with the advice and consent of council, all subordinate officers of the municipality. The council is the legislative body of the Borough. All executive responsibilities not placed in the office of the Mayor by general law or the Borough law remain with the council. Like the other traditional forms, a Borough may appoint an administrator and delegate all or a portion of the executive responsibilities to him/her. The council may also adopt an administrative code, prescribing how the council shall perform it duties.

As of 2006, 218 New Jersey municipalities operate under this form.


[edit] Unincorporated Places

There are currently nine unincorporated places within Hunterdon County, though each is within an incorporated municipality.

[edit] Parks

The Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation manages these parks:

  1. Point Mountain Section
  2. Mountain Farm/Teetertown Preserve
  3. Tower Hill Park
  4. Charlestown Reserve
  5. Union Furnace Nature Preserve
  6. Columbia Trail Section
  7. Cold Brook Reserve
  8. Musconetcong Gorge Section
  9. Schick Reserve
  10. Hoffman Park
  11. South Branch Reservation
  12. Landsdown Trail Section
  13. Cushetunk Mountain Nature Preserve
  14. Arboretum
  15. Deer Path Park and Round Mountain Section
  16. Uplands Reserve
  17. Clover Hill Park
  18. Heron Glen Golf Course
  19. Wescott Nature Preserve
  20. South County Park
  21. Future Park
  22. Laport Reserve
  23. Sourland Mountain Nature Preserve
  24. Jugtown Mountain Nature Preserve

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ Suburbs Near NYC Have Highest Tax Bills, Newsday, October 4, 2006[dead link]
  3. ^ Property Taxes on Owner Occupied Housing by County, 2005, Tax Foundation, accessed October 4, 2006
  4. ^ Woolsey, Matt. "America's Priciest Property Taxes", Forbes, October 3, 2007. Accessed January 11, 2008. "The hardest hit? Homeowners in western New Jersey's Hunterdon County. Last year, the median yearly property tax bill amounted to a whopping $7,999 here, according to the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan research group in Washington, D.C, which compiled data based on 2006 figures."
  5. ^ New York, New Jersey Homeowners Nation's Hardest Hit by Property Taxes, Tax Foundation press release dated September 12, 2007. Accessed January 11, 2008.
  6. ^ New Jersey Presidential Election Returns by County 2004, Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. Accessed August 31, 2008.
  7. ^ U.S. Election Atlas
  8. ^ "QuickFacts: Hunterdon County, New Jersey". U.S. Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/34/34019.html. Retrieved 2007-10-27. 
  9. ^ "New Jersey Resident Population by County: 1880 - 1930". http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd5.htm. 
  10. ^ "Geostat Center: Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/. Retrieved 2007-03-02. 
  11. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  12. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=05000US34027&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34027&_street=&_county=hunterdon&_cityTown=hunterdon&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=050&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=
  13. ^ Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders, accessed February 22, 2008.
  14. ^ The number of council members can vary. For instance, the City of Linden currently has eleven council members, a provision which preceded the 1987 revisions.
  15. ^ The Boroughs of Roselle and Roselle Park elect council members from wards.
  16. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963. 

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
County seat: Flemington
City
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Town
Townships
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Coordinates: 40°34′N 74°55′W / 40.57°N 74.92°W / 40.57; -74.92

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