Hillsborough Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
|
|
|---|---|
|
Township
|
|
| Township of Hillsborough | |
Township municipal complex
|
|
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
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County |  Somerset |
| Royal charter | September 12, 1771 |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Township |
| • Body | Township Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 55.10 sq mi (142.71 km2) |
| • Land | 54.61 sq mi (141.45 km2) |
| • Water | 0.49 sq mi (1.26 km2) 0.88% |
| Area rank | 28th of 565 in state 1st of 21 in county |
| Elevation | 108 ft (33 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 43,276 |
| • Rank | 59th of 566 in state 3rd of 21 in county |
| • Density | 785.4/sq mi (303.2/km2) |
| • Density rank | 413th of 566 in state 15th of 21 in county |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Code |
08844
|
| Area code(s) | 732 and 908 |
| FIPS code | 3403531890 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882169 |
Hillsborough Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. The township is centrally located in the Raritan Valley region within the much larger New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 38,303, reflecting an increase of 1,669 (+4.6%) from the 36,634 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 7,826 (+27.2%) from the 28,808 counted in the 1990 Census.
Hillsborough Township was originally created by Royal charter issued May 31, 1771, which was revoked and revised on September 12, 1771. It was incorporated on February 21, 1798 by the New Jersey Legislature Township Act of 1798 as one of New Jersey's original group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to form the boroughs of Millstone (May 14, 1894) and Manville (April 1, 1929). The township's name may have come from an earlier name of "Hillsbury", though it may have been named for Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire who was the Earl of Hillsborough.
Contents
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. 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.
The township was formally incorporated on February 21, 1798.
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. Efforts are under way to convert the site into a mixed recreation and R&D complex.
Hillsborough is home to Duke Gardens and Duke Farms, a 2,700 acres (11 km2) estate in the north-eastern quadrant of the town that was originally owned by tobacco and electric energy tycoon James "Buck" Duke and then passed down to daughter Doris Duke, and is now one of the few remaining "preserved" natural areas in Hillsborough Township.
In Money magazine's 2013 Best Places to Live rankings, Hillsborough was ranked 16th in the nation, the third-highest among the three places in New Jersey included in the top 50 list. In the magazine's 2007 rankings, the township was ranked as the 23rd best place to live in the nation.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 55.001 square miles (142.453 km2), including 54.536 square miles (141.248 km2) of land and 0.465 square miles (1.204 km2) of water (0.85%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Amwell,
The township borders Branchburg Township, Bridgewater Township, Franklin Township, Manville, Millstone, Montgomery Township, Raritan and Somerville in Somerset County; and East Amwell Township, Raritan Township and Readington Township in Hunterdon County.
Climate
| Climate data for Hillsborough Township, New Jersey | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (17) |
| 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 (4) |
| 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) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.59 (91) |
2.84 (72) |
3.94 (100) |
4.09 (104) |
4.33 (110) |
4.35 (110) |
4.83 (123) |
3.98 (101) |
4.26 (108) |
4.21 (107) |
3.59 (91) |
3.84 (98) |
47.85 (1,215) |
Redevelopment
After the three and three quarter mile U.S. Route 206 Bypass is completed, the town plans to design a town center along the old Business Route 206. Construction for the bypass began in 2010 and is expected to be completed by 2017, with the old section of US-206 intended to become "main street" for the township and be zoned for commercial and residential use.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 2,201 | — | |
| 1810 | 2,456 | — | |
| 1820 | 2,885 | 17.5% | |
| 1830 | 2,878 | −0.2% | |
| 1840 | 2,863 | −0.5% | |
| 1850 | 3,409 | 19.1% | |
| 1860 | 3,488 | 2.3% | |
| 1870 | 3,443 | −1.3% | |
| 1880 | 3,248 | −5.7% | |
| 1890 | 2,825 | −13.0% | |
| 1900 | 2,439 | −13.7% | |
| 1910 | 2,313 | −5.2% | |
| 1920 | 5,124 | 121.5% | |
| 1930 | 2,283 | −55.4% | |
| 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% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 39,950 | 4.3% | |
| Population sources: 1790-1920 1840 1850-1870 1850 1870 1880-1890 1890-1910 1910-1930 1930-1990 2000 2010 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
|||
Census 2010
As of the census of 2010, there were 38,303 people, 13,573 households, and 10,424 families residing in the township. The population density was 702.3 per square mile (271.2/km2). There were 14,030 housing units at an average density of 257.3 per square mile (99.3/km2)*. The racial makeup of the township was 78.61% (30,109) White, 4.59% (1,757) Black or African American, 0.12% (46) Native American, 12.38% (4,743) Asian, 0.04% (15) Pacific Islander, 2.18% (834) from other races, and 2.09% (799) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.55% (2,893) of the population.
There were 13,573 households out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the township, the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and old there were 91.4 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $105,429 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,892) and the median family income was $119,750 (+/- $2,852). Males had a median income of $81,807 (+/- $5,320) versus $52,366 (+/- $1,804) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $43,029 (+/- $1,701). About 0.8% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census 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.
There were 12,649 households, out of which 44.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them . said– 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.
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.
The median income for a household in the township was $83,290, and the median income for a family was $93,933. 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.
Transportation
_from_the_overpass_for_Somerset_County_Route_514_(Amwell_Road)_in_Hillsborough_Township,_Somerset_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 211.92 miles (341.05 km) of roadways, of which 185.42 miles (298.40 km) were maintained by the municipality, 19.79 miles (31.85 km) by Somerset County and 6.71 miles (10.80 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
U.S. Route 206 is the main road that passes through the township. Construction of a new alignment of US 206, the 3.75-mile (6.04 km) US 206 Bypass began in 2010 to bypass the congested stretch of the road. Built in two phases, the first 1.66-mile (2.67 km) phase, between Hillsborough and Amwell Roads, was opened in October 2013. The second phase was originally expected to be completed by 2015, but was delayed multiple times due to a lack of state funding. Construction finally resumed in 2017 and the roadway was completed in 2021. The road is named for Peter J. Biondi, a former Hillsborough mayor and member of the General Assembly.
Now that construction of the Bypass is completed, the intention is for the existing US-206 to become a downtown "main street" for the township and be zoned for commercial and residential use.
Main county roads that pass through are CR 514 which runs for 10.24 miles (16.48 km) through the township, and CR 533. Interstate 287 is outside the municipality in bordering Bridgewater and Franklin Townships. Part of the proposed routing of Interstate 95 through central New Jersey included Hillsborough; this project was ultimately canceled in the 1980s.
Rail
NJ Transit has proposed a new West Trenton Line that would stretch for 27 miles (43 km) from the West Trenton station in Ewing Township to a connection with the Raritan Valley Line at Bridgewater Township, and from there to Newark Penn Station in Newark. The plan would include stations at both Belle Mead and Hillsborough. The plan was canceled due to lack of funding and NJ Transit has no plans to restore the project.
The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line (formerly the mainline of the Lehigh Valley Railroad), runs through Hillsborough Township.
Bus
Hillsborough is served by SCOOT buses, providing service to Manville, Bridgewater Township and Somerville, with service continuing to Bedminster during rush hour.
Coach USA offers weekday express service across 42nd Street to the United Nations in Midtown Manhattan from Hillsborough operated by Suburban Transit. There are four morning buses Monday through Friday with a reduced schedule on some Holidays.
Education
The Hillsborough Township School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Students from Millstone attend the district's schools, originally as part of a sending/receiving relationship; the New Jersey Commissioner of Education merged Millstone's non-operating school district with the Hillsborough Township School District effective July 1, 2009. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district, comprised of nine schools, had an enrollment of 7,393 students and 639.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.6:1. Schools in the district (with 2017-18 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Amsterdam Elementary School (512 students; in grades K-4), Hillsborough Elementary School (499; K-4), Sunnymead Elementary School (461; K-4), Triangle Elementary School (389; K-4), Woodfern Elementary School (343; K-4), Woods Road Elementary School (481; PreK-4), Auten Road Intermediate School (1,138; 5–6), Hillsborough Middle School (1,196; 7–8) and Hillsborough High School (2,327; 9-12).
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hillsborough Township include:
- John Bell, former radio DJ on Z100 WHTZ Elvis Duran and the Z Morning Zoo.
- Brad Benson (born 1955), former New York Giants offensive lineman from 1977 to 1987, owner of Rainbow Run Farm.
- Peter J. Biondi (1942–2011), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly and was Mayor of Hillsborough from 1986 to 1993.
- Michael Ian Black (born 1971), actor, comedian, member of The State and Stella.
- Jeannette Brown (born 1934), organic medicinal chemist, historian and author.
- Jack Ciattarelli (born 1961), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly and as a Somerset County Freeholder, and was a 2017 gubernatorial candidate.
- Jyotirmoy Datta (born 1936), Bengali writer, journalist, poet and essayist.
- Doris Duke (1912–1993), heiress and philanthropist.
- Roy Freiman (born 1959), politician who has represented the 16th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2018.
- Jessica Galli (born 1983), female wheelchair racing athlete.
- Eugene Harvey, Magic: The Gathering player.
- Abraham Hoagland (1797-1872), early Mormon leader, pioneer, and one of the founders of Royal Oak, Michigan, and Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Jaheim (born 1978), R&B singer.
- Joe Lis (1946-2010, class of 1964), Major League Baseball player.
- Adam Mamawala (born 1987), stand-up comic.
- Shawn Mayer (born 1979), NFL safety who played for the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns.
- Shaun O'Hara (born 1977), NFL center who played for the New York Giants.
- Ricky Proehl (born 1968), NFL wide receiver who has played for the Indianapolis Colts and is currently the wide receiver coach of the Carolina Panthers.
- Dustin Sheppard (born 1980), MLS forward who played for the MetroStars.
- Elliott F. Smith (1931-1987), politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1978 to 1984, where he represented the 16th Legislative District.
- Yannick Smith (born 1990), professional soccer forward.
- Rich Vos (born 1957), comedian.
- Peter Dumont Vroom (1791–1873), 9th Governor of New Jersey.
Images for kids
-
The Manor at Duke Farms, now the park's Orientation Center
-
Creek in Hillsborough
-
Residents walking in Duke Farms
-
The Orchid Range
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Hillsborough (Nueva Jersey) para niños
