Borough of Princeton, New Jersey

Geography

Princeton borough was located at 40°21′02″N 74°39′34″W (40.350461,-74.659371). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.843 square miles (4.774 km²), all of which was land.

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 12,307 people, 3,161 households, and 1,644 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,679.2 per square mile (2,578.9/km²). The borough contained 3,488 housing units at an average density of 1,893.0 per square mile (730.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 72.07% (8,870) White, 6.44% (793) Black or African American, 0.18% (22) Native American, 13.51% (1,663) Asian, 0.16% (20) Pacific Islander, 4.13% (508) from other races, and 3.50% (431) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 10.30% (1,268) of the population.

Out of a total of 3,161 households, 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.0% were non-families. 39.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the borough, 11.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 43.7% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22.9 years. For every 100 females the census counted 104.5 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 103.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $104,234 (with a margin of error of +/- $20,004) and the median family income was $148,295 (+/- $34,644). Males had a median income of $96,225 (+/- $29,348) versus $82,572 (+/- $28,930) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $45,566 (+/- $5,208). About 2.5% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 14,203 people, 3,326 households, and 1,692 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,686.3 people per square mile (2,964.2/km²). There were 3,495 housing units at an average density of 1,891.4 per square mile (729.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 80.26% White, 6.39% African American, 0.28% Native American, 7.46% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 2.50% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.10% of the population. Most of the Hispanic population consists of Mexican and Guatemalan immigrants.

There were 3,326 households out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.1% were non-families. 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the borough the population was spread out with 10.1% under the age of 18, 40.9% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 12.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females there were 108.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.8 males. The borough's unusually low median age and high concentration of 18- to 24-year-olds is influenced by Princeton University.

The median income for a household in the borough was $67,346, and the median income for a family was $102,957. Males had a median income of $60,341 versus $52,900 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,292. About 2.9% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Local government

The Borough of Princeton was governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consisted of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor was elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consisted of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.

The Mayor served as the borough's Chief Executive Officer and nominated appointees to various boards and commissions subject to approval of the Borough Council. The Mayor presided at the Borough Council meetings and voted in the case of a tie or a few other specific cases.

The Borough Council had administrative powers and was the policy-making body of the Borough. The Council had six members; two were elected each year and they served three-year terms. The Council approved appointments made by the Mayor. Council Members served on various boards and committees and acted as liaison's to certain Departments, Committees or Boards. The Mayor of the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey was Yina Moore (D, term ended on December 31, 2012). Members of the Borough Council were Jo Butler (D, 2012), Jenny Crumiller (D, 2012), Heather Howard (D, 2012), Roger Martindell (D, 2012), Barbara Trelstad (D, 2012) and Kevin Wilkes (D, 2012).

Merger of Borough and Township

On November 8, 2011, the residents of both the Borough of Princeton and the Township of Princeton voted to merge the two municipalities into one. In Princeton Borough 1,385 voted for, 902 voted against while in Princeton Township 3,542 voted for and 604 voted against. Proponents of the merger asserted that when the merger is completed the new municipality of Princeton will save $3.2 million as a result of some scaled-down services, including layoffs of 15 government workers, including 9 police officers (however, the measure itself does not mandate such layoffs). Opponents of the measure challenged the findings of the report, citing cost savings as unsubstantiated, and noted that voter representation would be reduced in a smaller government structure. The consolidation took effect in 2013. December 31, 2012 was the last day the Borough of Princeton existed as a municipality.

Federal, state and county representation

The Borough of Princeton was in the 12th Congressional district and was part of New Jersey's 16th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Princeton Boro had been in the 15th state legislative district.

New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional District is represented by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, Ewing Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Cory Booker (D, Newark, term ends 2021) and Bob Menendez (D, Paramus, 2019).

For the 2016–2017 session (Senate, General Assembly), the 16th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Christopher Bateman (R, Branchburg) and in the General Assembly by Jack Ciattarelli (R, Hillsborough Township) and Andrew Zwicker (D, South Brunswick). The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham Township). The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).

Mercer County is governed by a County Executive who oversees the day-to-day operations of the county and by a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders that acts in a legislative capacity, setting policy. All officials are chosen at-large in partisan elections, with the executive serving a four-year term of office while the freeholders serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for election each year. As of 2014, the County Executive is Brian M. Hughes (D, term ends December 31, 2015; Princeton). Mercer County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chair Andrew Koontz (D, 2016; Princeton), Freeholder Vice Chair Samuel T. Frisby, Sr. (2015; Trenton), Ann M. Cannon (2015; East Windsor Township), Anthony P. Carabelli (2016; Trenton), John A. Cimino (2014, Hamilton Township), Pasquale "Pat" Colavita, Jr. (2015; Lawrence Township) and Lucylle R. S. Walter (2014; Ewing Township) Mercer County's constitutional officers are County Clerk Paula Sollami-Covello (D, 2015), Sheriff John A. Kemler (D, 2014) and Surrogate Diane Gerofsky (D, 2016).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 6,561 registered voters in the Borough of Princeton, of which 3,493 (53.2%) were registered as Democrats, 620 (9.4%) were registered as Republicans and 2,440 (37.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 8 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 80.4% of the vote here (3,880 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 17.0% (819 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (51 votes), among the 4,828 ballots cast by the borough's 7,679 registered voters, for a turnout of 62.9%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 73.0% of the vote here (3,475 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 21.9% (1,043 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (67 votes), among the 4,763 ballots cast by the borough's 6,938 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 68.7.

In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 69.4% of the vote here (1,786 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 23.6% (608 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 5.4% (139 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (18 votes), among the 2,572 ballots cast by the borough's 7,026 registered voters, yielding a 36.6% turnout.

Colleges and universities

Two thirds of the buildings of Princeton University was located within the borough (the rest of Princeton University, aside from a small enclave and the Plasma Physics Laboratory in West Windsor Township and land in East Windsor Township, was in the township). However, the university owns more land in West Windsor than in the two Princeton municipalities combined.

Westminster Choir College (part of Rider University) and most of Princeton Theological Seminary were located in the borough.

The Institute for Advanced Study was in the township.

Public schools

For grades K through 12, public school students attend the Princeton Regional Schools, a regional school district shared with Princeton Township that also serves students from Cranbury Township, as part of a sending/receiving relationship. Schools in the district (with 2010-11 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Community Park Elementary School (grades K-5, 321 students; located in Princeton Township), Johnson Park Elementary School (K-5, 372; Princeton Township), Littlebrook Elementary School (K-5, 335; Princeton Township), Riverside Elementary School (K-5, 276; Princeton Township), John Witherspoon Middle School (6-8, 664; Princeton Township) and Princeton High School (9-12, 1,420; Borough of Princeton).

All of the district's schools through eighth grade were in Princeton Township, with Community Park School being the closest primary school to the borough. The district's high school was located within the borough of Princeton.

The Princeton Charter School, located in the township, opened in September 1997 and serves students from the borough and township who are selected by lottery from among applicants.

Private schools

Private schools located in the borough include St. Paul School.

Public libraries

The Princeton Public Library, located in the borough, serves the borough and the township.

Popular culture

Princeton is the setting for the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in the TV series House

Sister city

Notable people