Princeton Township, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See also: the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey and Princeton, New Jersey
| Township of Princeton, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: 40°21′47″N 74°39′41″W / 40.36306°N 74.66139°W | |
| Country | United States |
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| State | New Jersey |
| County | Mercer |
| Incorporated | April 9, 1838 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| - Mayor | Bernard P. Miller (term expires 2010) |
| - Administrator | James J. Pascale[1] |
| Area | |
| - Total | 16.62 sq mi (43.0 km2) |
| - Land | 16.38 sq mi (42.4 km2) |
| - Water | 0.23 sq mi (0.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 203 ft (62 m) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| - Total | 17,353 |
| - Density | 978.2/sq mi (377.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 08540, 08542, 08543, 08544 (Princeton University) |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-60915[3][4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882125[5] |
| Website | http://www.princetontwp.org |
Princeton Township is a township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 16,027.
Princeton was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1838, from portions of West Windsor Township in Middlesex County and Montgomery Township in Somerset County. The Borough of Princeton — created on February 11, 1813 within the area that later became Princeton Township — became a fully independent municipality circa 1894. Portions of territory were ceded to the Borough of Princeton on January 4, 1928 and August 21, 1951.[6]
The township is the home of the Institute for Advanced Study, a private research institution that has been an academic home to Albert Einstein, Kurt Gödel, and many other famous and prize-winning scientists. Princeton University is located mostly within the Borough of Princeton, but parts of the campus extend into Princeton Township.
Areas within the Borough of Princeton and the Princeton Township have "Princeton, New Jersey" mailing addresses. Together the two municipalities are thought of as "Princeton." The township is home to the majority of affluent neighborhoods in the Princetons, such as the Western Section and Princeton Ridge, though the borough does play host to streets with historic mansions, such as Library Place and Hodge Road.
Drumthwacket, the residence of the Governor of New Jersey, is at 344 Stockton Street in the Township.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 16.6 square miles (43.0 km²), of which, 16.4 square miles (42.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.38%) is water.
Princeton Township borders Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, and West Windsor Township in Mercer County; Montgomery Township in Somerset County; and Plainsboro Township and South Brunswick Township in Middlesex County.
Princeton Borough is an independent municipality completely surrounded by Princeton Township.
Princeton North is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Princeton Township.
The Princeton Airport is situated less than a mile across the Somerset County border, located in Montgomery Township, New Jersey, though it is within Princeton's postal district.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,178 |
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| 1920 | 1,424 | 20.9% | |
| 1930 | 2,738 | 92.3% | |
| 1940 | 3,251 | 18.7% | |
| 1950 | 5,407 | 66.3% | |
| 1960 | 10,411 | 92.5% | |
| 1970 | 13,651 | 31.1% | |
| 1980 | 13,683 | 0.2% | |
| 1990 | 13,198 | −3.5% | |
| 2000 | 16,027 | 21.4% | |
| Est. 2006 | 17,353 | [2] | 8.3% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[7] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 16,027 people, 6,044 households, and 4,357 families residing in the township. The population density was 978.2 people per square mile (377.8/km²). There were 6,224 housing units at an average density of 379.9/sq mi (146.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 79.91% White, 5.32% African American, 0.12% Native American, 9.98% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.11% from other races, and 2.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.28% of the population.
There were 6,044 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.3% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the township the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $94,580, and the median income for a family was $123,098. Males had a median income of $77,845 versus $41,563 for females. The per capita income for the township was $56,360. About 4.2% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Princeton 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 seat coming up for election each year.[8] A Mayor and Deputy Member are elected by the Committee from among its members and serve a one-year term. The Mayor serves as the Chairperson of the Committee and exercises executive powers vested in the Mayor's Office bylaw. All legislative powers are assigned to the Committee. 105 of the 566 municipalities in New Jersey operate with a five-member Committee form of local government.[9]
An Administrator is also empowered by ordinance to serve in an executive capacity and direct the Township's day-to-day operations. James Pascale is the current Township Administrator.
Members of the Princeton Township Committee are Mayor Bernard P. Miller, Deputy Mayor Chad Goerner, Committeeman Lance Liverman, Committeewoman Sue Nemeth and Committeewoman Liz Lempert.[9]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Princeton Township is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 15th Legislative District.[10]
New Jersey's 12th congressional district, covering portions of Hunterdon County (8 municipalities), Mercer County (9), Middlesex County (12), Monmouth County (14) and Somerset County (1), is represented by Rush D. Holt Jr. (D).[11] New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 15th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Shirley Turner (D, Lawrenceville) and in the Assembly by Reed Gusciora (D, Borough of Princeton) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, Ewing Township).[12] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[13]
Mercer County has a County Executive form of government, in which the County Executive performs executive functions and a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders acts in a legislative capacity. As of 2008[update], the County Executive is Brian M. Hughes.[14] Members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders are elected at-large to serve three-year staggered terms, with a Freeholder Chair and Vice-Chair selected on an annual basis from among its members.[15] County Freeholders are Freeholder Chair Lucylle R. S. Walter (term ends December 31, 2008; Ewing Township), Freeholder Vice Chair Elizabeth Maher Muoio (2009; Pennington Borough), Ann M. Cannon (2009; East Windsor Township), Anthony P. Carabelli (2010; Trenton), Pasquale "Pat" Colavita, Jr. (2009; Lawrenceville), Keith V. Hamilton (2010; Hamilton Township) and Tony Mack (2008; Trenton).[16]
[edit] Education
[edit] Colleges and universities
Part of Princeton University, including most of the athletic facilities, is in the township. Most university buildings are in the borough. The rest of the university's land is across Carnegie Lake in West Windsor Township.
The Princeton Theological Seminary and the Institute for Advanced Study are in the township.
Westminster Choir College is located mainly in the borough; a small part is in the township.
Mercer County Community College serves residents of the township.
[edit] Primary and secondary schools
[edit] Public schools
For grades K through 12, public school students attend the Princeton Regional Schools, a regional school district shared with the Borough of Princeton, or the Princeton Charter School (grades K-8), located in the township.
Four elementary schools (Johnson Park, Community Park, Littlebrook, and Riverside) and John Witherspoon Middle School are located in the township and serve the borough and township.
Princeton High School is located in the borough of Princeton and serves the borough and the township, and Cranbury Township, New Jersey, as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[17]
[edit] Private schools
Several private schools are located in the Township, including the American Boychoir School, Hun School of Princeton, Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, Princeton Day School, Princeton Friends School, and Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart.
[edit] Public libraries
The Princeton Public Library, located in the borough, serves the borough and the township. The library was entirely rebuilt in 2004 at its downtown location at the corner of Witherspoon Street and Wiggins Street and opened its doors in April of that year.
[edit] Transportation
New Jersey Transit has the "Dinky," a small train that connects Princeton to the "Princeton Junction" Station in West Windsor.
Princeton Township hosts U.S. Route 206 and Route 27 as its main roads. CR 583, CR 571 (commonly known as Washington Rd), and CR 533 also pass through the township.
While Princeton doesn't house any limited access roads, it is served by US Route 1, Interstate 95 (the section north of Trenton), and Interstate 295. The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) is at least 6 to 7 miles away, and serves Princeton usually at Exit 9 in East Brunswick, but also from Exit 8A in Monroe Township, 7A (Robbinsville) and 8 (East Windsor).
[edit] Points of interest
- The site of the Mercer Oak, against which the dying General Hugh Mercer rested while his men around him continued to fight the Battle of Princeton in 1777. The oak is the emblem of Princeton Township[18] and appears on the seal of Mercer County. The tree died in 2000, and one of its saplings now grows in its place.
- The Washington Oak - 275+ year-old white oak overlooking Princeton Battlefield State Park on the spot where British and American forces first saw each other.
- Delaware and Raritan Canal - runs along the Stony Brook and the eastern bank of Carnegie Lake.
- Stony Brook Meeting House and Cemetery - historic sites of 18th century meeting house and burial site of Richard Stockton (signer of the Declaration of Independence) and Governor of New Jersey Charles Smith Olden.
[edit] Gallery
 Drumthwacket, the residence of the Governor of New Jersey |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Administration, Princeton Township. Accessed June 29, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Princeton township, United States Census Bureau, accessed August 5, 2007.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 164.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 103.
- ^ a b Princeton Governing Body, Princeton Township. Accessed June 29, 2008.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 63. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Municipalities, Congressman Rush D. Holt Jr. Accessed June 29, 2008.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved on 6 June 2008.
- ^ County Executive, Mercer County, New Jersey. Accessed March 11, 2008.
- ^ What is a Freeholder?, Mercer County, New Jersey. Accessed March 11, 2008.
- ^ Meet the Freeholders, Mercer County. Accessed March 11, 2008.
- ^ Princeton Regional Schools 2007 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 9, 2008. "Students from three communities in Central Jersey (Princeton Borough, Princeton Township, and Cranbury Township) attend the schools. (Cranbury students attend only the high school.)"
- ^ Princeton Township - Mercer Oak
[edit] External links
- Official township web site
- Princeton Regional Schools
- Princeton Regional Schools's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Princeton Regional Schools, National Center for Education Statistics
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