Readington Township, New Jersey

Updated on Nov 03, 2023

Edit

Comment

Country United States County Hunterdon Incorporated February 21, 1798 Elevation 65 m Population 15,803 (2000)		State New Jersey Royal charter July 15, 1730 Named for John Reading Area 124.4 km² Local time Saturday 2:10 PM

Weather 16°C, Wind E at 3 km/h, 60% Humidity

Readington Township is a township located in the easternmost portion of Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 16,126, reflecting an increase of 323 (+2.0%) from the 15,803 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,403 (+17.9%) from the 13,400 counted in the 1990 Census. Nationwide, Readington Township ranked 87th in 2000 among the Highest-income places in the United States with a population of at least 10,000.

Map of Readington Township, NJ, USA

Created by Royal charter of King George II, "Reading" Township was formed on July 15, 1730, from portions of Amwell Township. It was the first new township created after Hunterdon became a county. The township was incorporated as Readingtown Township, one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships, on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were annexed by Tewksbury Township in 1832 and 1861. The township was named for John Reading, the first native-born governor of the British Province of New Jersey.

Covering more than 48 square miles (120 km²), it is the largest township in the county, covering almost 11% of the county's area. Over 8,000 acres (32 km²) of land have been preserved. Readington Township is bounded on the north by the Lamington River and Rockaway Creek; to the east by Somerset County, which existed as the boundary between East and West Jersey from 1688–1695; to the south, the South Branch of the Raritan River; and to the west by the old West Jersey Society's line which crosses the Cushetunk Mountains.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 48.039 square miles (124.421 km²), including 47.736 square miles (123.636 km²) of land and 0.303 square miles (0.784 km²) of water (0.63%).

Whitehouse Station (2010 Census population of 2,089) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located within Readington Township.

The township borders Clinton Township, Raritan Township and Tewksbury Township in Hunterdon County; and Branchburg and Hillsborough Township in Somerset County.

Cushetunk Mountain is a ring-shaped mountain located in Clinton Township. Once an active volcano, the diabase mountain was formed 160 million years ago. The Lenape called the mountain "Cushetunk" meaning "place of hogs". In the 1960s, the valley was filled with water to create Round Valley Reservoir, at 180 feet (55 m) in depth the second-deepest in the state.

Communities

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Backers Island, Higginsville, McCrea Mills, Riverside, Rockfellows Mills, Round Mountain, Stovers Mills and Wood Church, as well as the following:

Barley Sheaf, a former hamlet within Readington Township, also known as Campbellsville and Farmersville

Centerville, a hamlet that was located on the halfway point on the Swift Sure Stage route between New York City and Philadelphia

Cushetunk was a village near Cushetunk Mountain and the railroad line

Darts Mills, a hamlet centered around a former mill complex on the South Branch Raritan River

Dreahook, a former community near Readington Road and Main Street that was taken from the Dutch word for triangle because of the configuration of the roads at the time

Holcomb Mills was a community along the South Branch Raritan River

Mechanicsville, the eastern section of Whitehouse Village on the Jersey Turnpike

New Bromley, was a small community on the Rockaway Creek that was once home to William Paterson

Pleasant Run, a small community along Pleasant Run (formerly Campbell's Brook)

Potterstown, a small community at the western edge of the township

Readington Village, the oldest settled community in the township, along Holland Brook

Rowland's Mills, a deserted community on the South Branch Raritan River

Stanton, a small community near Round Mountain that has carried the names of Mount Pleasant, Housel's Hill, Waggoner's Hill and Stanton

Stilwells, a hamlet one and a half miles south of Whitehouse Station named after the Stilwell family

Three Bridges, small community that once had a passenger rail station

Whitehouse, a community on the old Jersey Turnpike, north of Whitehouse Station

Whitehouse Station, a community in the western section of Readington near Cushetunk Mountain and the location of the township's railroad station

Census 2010

The 2010 United States Census counted 16,126 people, 5,971 households, and 4,496 families residing in the township. The population density was 337.8 per square mile (130.4/km²). The township contained 6,191 housing units at an average density of 129.7 per square mile (50.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 93.09% (15,011) White, 1.33% (214) Black or African American, 0.11% (18) Native American, 3.60% (581) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.77% (124) from other races, and 1.10% (177) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.93% (633) of the population.

Out of a total of 5,971 households, 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the township, 25.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 35.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.4 years. For every 100 females the census counted 96.2 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 94.1 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $120,821 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,180) and the median family income was $138,171 (+/- $10,232). Males had a median income of $100,647 (+/- $11,576) versus $61,372 (+/- $6,196) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $55,493 (+/- $4,019). About 1.3% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 15,803 people, 5,676 households, and 4,410 families residing in the township. The population density was 331.4 people per square mile (127.9/km²). There were 5,794 housing units at an average density of 121.5 per square mile (46.9/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.14% White, 0.76% African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.56% Asian, 0.53% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.05% of the population.

There were 5,676 households out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.3% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $95,356, and the median income for a family was $106,343. Males had a median income of $66,778 versus $48,385 for females. The per capita income for the township was $41,000. About 0.7% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Readington Township is home to the global headquarters of Merck & Co., one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the country. It is also home to the personal and commercial lines of insurance of Chubb Corp., and the Quick Chek Corporation, which operates over 100 convenience stores throughout New Jersey and New York.

Readington's business climate benefits from its proximity to major highways, Princeton, Bridgewater Township and other centers of business in central New Jersey.

Arts and culture

Readington is home to several museums and offers many programs for adults and children. The Bouman-Stickney Homestead is located off of Dreahook Road in the hamlet of Stanton. Coldbrook School, the site of living history programs for the township's elementary school children, is in the northern section of town, and the Eversole-Hall House is located on Route 523, next to the Municipal building. Taylor's Mill was built around 1760 by John Taylor. The township plans to make Taylor's Mill a fourth township museum because it is the only remaining pre-revolutionary mill in the town; the mill provided troops with food during the Revolutionary War.

Local government

Readington Township is governed under the Township form of government. The five-member Township Committee is elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor. The Mayor serves as chair of the Township Committee and has the powers vested in the mayor's office by general law.

As of 2017, members of the Readington Township Committee are Mayor Benjamin A. Smith (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2018; term as mayor ends 2017), Deputy Mayor Betty Ann Fort (R, term on committee ends 2019; term as deputy member ends 2017), John D. Broten (R, 2017), M. Elizabeth Duffy (R, 2018) and Samuel D. Tropello (R, 2017).

In the 2014 general election, Republicans Sam Tropello (46.5% with 2,807 votes) and John Broten (48.0% with 2,902 votes) prevailed against a write-in campaign waged by incumbents Julia Allen (39.5% with 2,386 votes) and Frank Gatti (39.3% with 2,372 votes), who had lost the Republican primary in June, and 266 undisclosed write-in votes. The factions on the all-Republican council split on the leadership roles at the 2015 reorganization meeting, choosing Betty Ann Fort as mayor and Tom Auriemma as deputy mayor.

In December 2014, the Township Council selected M. Elizabeth Duffy from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Beatrice Muir, who had resigned the previous month from a term of office ending in December 2015.

In the 2015 general election, Republicans M. Elizabeth Duffy (61.2%, 2,472 votes) and Benjamin A. Smith (60.6%, 2,447 votes) prevailed against Independents Scott Scammell III (33,8%, 1,366 votes), John Kalinich Jr. (9.3%, 374 votes), and Tanya Rohrbach (6.2%, 252 votes).

In the 2016 general election, Republican incumbent Betty Ann Fort (66.6% with 5,616 votes cast) prevailed against Independent Scott Scammell III (33.3% with 2,813 votes cast) and 9 write-in votes to retain her seat on the Township Committee.

Federal, state and county representation

Readington Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 16th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Readington Township had been in the 23rd state legislative district.

New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District is represented by Leonard Lance (R, Clinton 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).

Hunterdon County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who serve three-year terms of office at-large on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the freeholders select one member to serve as the board's Director and another to serve as Deputy Director. As of 2015, Hunterdon County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director John King (R; Raritan Township, 2015), Freeholder Deputy Director Suzanne Lagay (R; Holland Township, 2016), J. Matthew Holt (R; Clinton Town, 2015), John E. Lanza (R; Flemington, 2016) and Robert G. Walton (R; Hampton, 2017). Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Mary H. Melfi (R; Flemington, 2017), Sheriff Fredrick W. Brown (R; Alexandria Township, 2016) and Surrogate Susan J. Hoffman (R; Kingwood Township, 2018).

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 11,223 registered voters in Readington Township, of which 1,745 (15.5%) were registered as Democrats, 5,118 (45.6%) were registered as Republicans and 4,354 (38.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 6 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 63.8% of the vote (5,537 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 35.0% (3,039 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (103 votes), among the 8,730 ballots cast by the township's 11,700 registered voters (51 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 74.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 61.1% of the vote (5,646 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.0% (3,425 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (100 votes), among the 9,245 ballots cast by the township's 11,302 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.8%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 63.5% of the vote (5,566 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 35.7% (3,127 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (91 votes), among the 8,767 ballots cast by the township's 10,679 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 82.1.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 79.1% of the vote (4,524 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 19.5% (1,114 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (83 votes), among the 5,812 ballots cast by the township's 11,669 registered voters (91 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.8%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 70.4% of the vote (4,771 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 20.6% (1,395 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.3% (495 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (46 votes), among the 6,777 ballots cast by the township's 11,169 registered voters, yielding a 60.7% turnout.

In the 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 56.8% of the vote (5,565 cast), ahead of Democrat Hillary Clinton with 36.6% of the vote (3,590 cast), Libertarian Gary Johnson with 2.8% of the vote (278 cast), Green Party Jill Stein with 1% of the vote (100 cast), 27 votes for other candidates and 97 write-in votes for a total of 9,657 votes cast. Turnout was 77.5%, with 9,803 of 12,659 registered voters casting votes that day.

Education

The Readington Township Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2014-15 school year, the district's four schools had an enrollment of 2,734 students and 167.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 16.3:1. Schools in the district (with 2014-15 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Three Bridges School (PreK-3; 334 students), Whitehouse School (K-3; 343), Holland Brook School (4-5; 379) and Readington Middle School (6-8; 688).

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend the Hunterdon Central High School, part of the Hunterdon Central Regional High School District, which serves students in central Hunterdon County from Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Borough, Raritan Township and Readington Township. As of the 2014-15 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 3,043 students and 236.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.9:1.

Emergency services

Readington Township is served by a full-time Police Department, two ambulances staffed by the Whitehouse Rescue Squad, and four volunteer Fire Companies.

EMS and rescue services

The Whitehouse First Aid & Rescue Squad Station 22 Rescue was formed in 1950 and provides the lead EMS & Rescue coordination for the Township under the leadership of Chief Jeff Herzog. They are a blended department, with over 50 EMTs. The squad has a rescue services division led by volunteers for rescue operations such as automobile extrication, confined space and water rescue. 22 Rescue has two stations, one at the Three Bridges Fire Department, and one in Whitehouse Station.

Fire departments

The following volunteer fire departments serve the Township:

East Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Co., organized in December 1923 (Station 31 Fire)

Readington Volunteer Fire Co., established in 1958 (Station 32 Fire)

Three Bridges Volunteer Fire Co., established in 1927 (Station 33 Fire)

Whitehouse Station Volunteer Fire Co. #1 (Station 22 Fire)

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, the township had a total of 178.01 miles (286.48 km) of roadways, of which 145.39 miles (233.98 km) were maintained by the municipality, 19.33 miles (31.11 km) by Hunterdon County and 13.29 miles (21.39 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Interstate 78, U.S. Route 202, Route 22 and Route 31 all pass through the township.

Rail and Bus transportation

The township is also served by NJ Transit's White House station, offering service on the Raritan Valley Line to Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal, with connecting service to Penn Station New York in Midtown Manhattan.

The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line (formerly the mainline of the Lehigh Valley Railroad), runs through Readington Township.

The Black River & Western Railway runs from Lambertville via Ringoes and Flemington to Three Bridges (Readington) where it connects to the Norfolk Southern Railway.

NJ Transit provides local bus service on the 884 route.

Community

The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2012. The event held at Solberg-Hunterdon Airport is the largest summertime hot air balloon festival in North America.

FBI shootout

On April 5, 2007, a shootout near a PNC Bank branch on U.S. Route 22 in Readington resulted in the death of an FBI agent. FBI Agent Barry Lee Bush, assigned to the Newark FBI Office, was investigating a string of bank robberies in central New Jersey, was airlifted to a New Brunswick hospital where he was pronounced dead. All three suspects were caught.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Readington Township include:

Emma Bell (born 1986), actress.

William Cheswick (born c. 1952), computer security and networking researcher, co-author of Firewalls and Internet Security and started the Internet Mapping Project.

Jack Cust (born 1979), a professional baseball player who played for the Oakland Athletics.

Bergen Davis (1869–1958), physicist.

John De Mott (1790–1870), US Congressman from New York State from 1845–1847.

Isaac G. Farlee (1787–1855), member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District from 1843–1845.

Taissa Farmiga (born 1994), actress.

J. C. Furnas (1906–2001), freelance writer and social historian.

Robert Greifeld (born 1957), CEO NASDAQ OMX Group.

John Knowles Herr (1878–1955), Major General and career American soldier who served for 40 years in the United States Cavalry

Jonathan Jennings (1784–1834), first Governor of Indiana, serving from 1816–1822.

Robyn Kenney (born 1979), field hockey player.

George H. Large (1850–1939), President of the New Jersey Senate who was the last survivor of the first collegiate football game, played in 1869.

Howard Lindsay (1889-1968), theatrical producer, playwright, librettist, director and actor.

William Marchant (1923–1995), playwright and screenwriter, best known for writing the play that served as the basis for the 1957 Walter Lang movie, The Desk Set.

James N. Pidcock (1836–1899), politician who represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1885–1889.

Martha M. Place (1849–1899), first woman to die in the electric chair.

Donna Simon (born 1960), politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2012, representing the 16th Legislative District.

Dorothy Stickney (1896–1998), Broadway actress.

References

Readington Township, New Jersey Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents