West Windsor Township, New Jersey

History

The first known European activity in the area now known as West Windsor Township dates to 1634, during the exploration of Captain Thomas Yong. Yong was an Englishman, who reportedly traded with the native Lenni Lenape population. The region was officially claimed for European settlement under the 1682 William Penn treaties, under which the Lenape conveyed vast portions of New Jersey & Pennsylvania to Quaker colonists. Through much of the 18th & 19th centuries, the area was known first as New Windsor Township, and later simply as Windsor Township, and its borders stretched to include all of present-day Princeton and East Windsor townships. In 1797, West Windsor was created and held only parts of Princeton within its boundaries. Following the 1838 formation of Mercer County, West Windsor's borders were again redefined in 1855 to reflect the township's current 26.84 square miles (69.5 km²). The town contained within it (entirely or partly) six small villages whose names & locations are still identifiable and/or in use in contemporary times. They are as follows:

After the construction of the train station in West Windsor, a seventh hamlet - Princeton Junction - was created.

Grover's Mill in West Windsor was the site Orson Welles chose for the Martian invasion in his infamous 1938 radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds.

During the later part of the 20th century the town underwent dramatic changes, driven mainly by a major boom in new housing developments. For generations, West Windsor had existed mostly as a sparsely populated agricultural community according to a 1999 article in The New York Times, the township "has grown into a sprawl of expensive houses in carefully groomed developments, and home to nearly 20,000 people", since the 1970s.

The West Windsor post office was found to be infected with anthrax during the anthrax attacks in 2001-2002.

In April 2002, a memorial was dedicated to the seven residents of West Windsor who lost their lives in the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 26.271 square miles (68.041 km²), including 25.564 square miles (66.210 km²) of land and 0.707 square miles (1.832 km²) of water (2.69%) of it is water.

Princeton Junction (with a 2010 Census population of 2,465) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within West Windsor.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Berrien City, Clarksville, Dutch Neck, Edinburg, Edinburg Park, Golf View Manor, Grover's Mill, Old Mill Farms, Penns Neck, Port Mercer, Post Corner, Princeton Colonial Park, Princeton Estates, Princeton Ivy East and Sherbrook Estates.

The township borders the municipalities of East Windsor Township, Hamilton Township, Lawrence Township, Princeton and Robbinsville Township in Mercer County; and Plainsboro Township in Middlesex County.

The Howard Hughes Corporation has proposed redevelopment of a 653-acre (264 ha) tract of land bounded by the Amtrak mainline, Route 1, and Quakerbridge Road, which includes land once owned by American Cyanamid and last used up until 2002 as an agricultural research facility by BASF; as of 2017 a plan has been proposed to create mixed-use development that would include 2,000 residences along with 1,300,000 square feet (120,000 m²) of retail and commercial space on the site, which is currently zoned for commercial use. The local school district has developed a report identifying significant potential growth in the number of students enrolling from this and other residential development in the both West Windsor and Plainsboro.

Demographics

AOL/NeighborhoodScout named West Windsor in 2009 as the best neighborhood to raise children because of its school district (top 7% in New Jersey, top 3% nationwide), prevailing family type (families with school-aged children), and neighborhood safety (safer than 97% of neighborhoods).

2010 Census

The 2010 United States Census counted 27,165 people, 9,449 households, and 7,606 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,062.6 per square mile (410.3/km²). The township contained 9,810 housing units at an average density of 383.7 per square mile (148.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 54.94% (14,924) White, 3.67% (998) Black or African American, 0.09% (25) Native American, 37.71% (10,245) Asian, 0.04% (10) Pacific Islander, 0.97% (263) from other races, and 2.58% (700) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.47% (1,213) of the population.

Out of a total of 9,449 households, 45.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.0% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the township, 28.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.6 years. For every 100 females the census counted 94.7 males, but for 100 females at least 18 years old, it was 91.4 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $137,265 (with a margin of error of +/- $12,610) and the median family income was $156,110 (+/- $6,769). Males had a median income of $120,662 (+/- $6,410) versus $71,151 (+/- $9,841) for females. The per capita income for the township was $59,946 (+/- $3,307). About 3.6% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.2% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 21,907 people, 7,282 households, and 5,985 families residing in the township. The population density was 842.4 people per square mile (325.2/km²). There were 7,450 housing units at an average density of 286.5 per square mile (110.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 71.53% White, 2.76% African American, 0.08% Native American, 22.76% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.08% from other races, and 1.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.07% of the population.

As of the 2000 Census, 8.31% of West Windsor Township's residents identified themselves as being of Chinese ancestry. This was the fourth highest percentage of people with Chinese ancestry in any place in New Jersey with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.

There were 7,282 households out of which 50.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.3% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 14.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the township the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $116,335, and the median income for a family was $127,877. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $56,002 for females. The per capita income for the township was $48,511. About 2.0% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

NRG Energy has its corporate headquarters in West Windsor Township.

Arts and culture

The West Windsor Arts Center is the junction where the arts and community meet. They offer performances, classes, workshops, exhibitions, literary arts events and various other special events. It is located in the historic Princeton Junction Firehouse.

The Mercer County Italian-American Festival is held annually in West Windsor and celebrated its 15th annual event in September 2014.

Parks and recreation

Richard J. Coffee Mercer County Park is located on Old Trenton Road. administered by the Mercer County Park Commission and located primarily in West Windsor Township, it has athletic fields, a dog park, picnic grounds, a newly renovated boathouse and marina, bike trails and an ice skating rink that is home to the Mercer Bulldogs special hockey team.

The West Windsor Community Park is a 123-acre (50 ha) public park which serves as the primary park for active recreation. Facilities include a playground, jogging/bicycling paths, basketball courts, dog parks, a skate park and tennis courts. The park is also home to the West Windsor Waterworks Family Aquatics Center.

Duck Pond Park is a 123-acre (50 ha) park under construction located off Meadow Road between the intersections with Clarksville Road and Bear Brook Road, bordering Duck Pond Run. It is designed to be a "second community park" for the township. As of 2015, lighted soccer fields have been completed and in use by the West Windsor - Plainsboro Soccer Association, as well as tennis, volleyball and basketball courts. Future plans include a playground, picnic areas, an amphitheater, and a fishing pond.

Local government

West Windsor Township is governed under the Faulkner Act (formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law) within the Mayor-Council form of New Jersey municipal government (Plan 6), implemented based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission as of July 1, 1993. From the time of its formation in 1798, until 1993, the Township had been governed by a Township Committee, which combined both executive and legislative authority. In May 1993, West Windsor Township residents voted to change their form of government to a Faulkner Act form of government.

Under the township's Mayor-Council form of government, the Mayor and Council function as independent branches of government. The Mayor is the Chief Executive of the Township and heads its Administration. The Mayor is elected in a non-partisan election and serves for a four-year term. The Mayor may attend Council meetings but is not obligated to do so. The Council is the legislative branch. The five members of the Township Council are elected on a non-partisan basis for four-yearterms on a staggered basis, with either two seats (and the mayoral seat) or three setas up for vote in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election. At the annual organizational meeting held during the first week of January of each year, the Council elects a President and Vice President to serve for one-year terms. The Council President chairs the meetings of the governing body. Starting in 2011, the township's elections were shifted from May to November as part of an effort to lower costs and increase participation.

As of 2016, the Mayor of West Windsor Township is Shing-Fu Hsueh, whose term of office ends December 31, 2017. Members of the West Windsor Township Council are Council President Linda Geevers (2017), Council Vice-President Hemant Marathe (2019), Ayesha Krishnan Hamilton (2019), Peter Mendonez Jr. (2017) and Alison H. Miller (2019).

In June 2015, the Township Council selected Hermant Marathe to fill the vacant seat expiring December 2015 of Kristina Samonte, who had resigned from office in the previous month as she was relocating out of the township.

Federal, state and county representation

West Windsor Township is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 15th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, West Windsor Township had been in the 14th 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 15th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Shirley Turner (D, Lawrence Township, Mercer County) and in the General Assembly by Reed Gusciora (D, Trenton) and Elizabeth Maher Muoio (D, Pennington). 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 16,034 registered voters in West Windsor Township, of which 5,384 (33.6%) were registered as Democrats, 2,968 (18.5%) were registered as Republicans and 7,672 (47.8%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 10 voters registered to other parties.

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 63.1% of the vote (7,769 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 35.7% (4,401 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (148 votes), among the 14,045 ballots cast by the township's 17,891 registered voters (1,727 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 78.5%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 64.3% of the vote (7,895 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 33.3% (4,092 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (125 votes), among the 12,273 ballots cast by the township's 16,548 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.2%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 57.8% of the vote (6,753 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 39.3% (4,596 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (79 votes), among the 11,684 ballots cast by the township's 14,577 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 80.2.

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 63.0% of the vote (4,983 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 35.3% (2,793 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (137 votes), among the 8,181 ballots cast by the township's 17,648 registered voters (268 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 46.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 49.5% of the vote (3,918 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 43.4% (3,436 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.0% (474 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (34 votes), among the 7,914 ballots cast by the township's 16,267 registered voters, yielding a 48.7% turnout.

Colleges and universities

West Windsor is the site of the West Windsor Campus of the Mercer County Community College.

Princeton University's satellite campus is located in West Windsor.

Public

Plainsboro Township and West Windsor are part of a combined school district, the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, which serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from the two communities in four elementary schools (grades K - 3), two upper elementary schools (grades 4 and 5), two middle schools (grades 6 - 8) and two high schools (grades 9 - 12). As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's 10 schools had an enrollment of 9,804 students and 716.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.69:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Dutch Neck Elementary School (located in Princeton Junction: serving grades K-3; with 748 students), Maurice Hawk Elementary School (Princeton Junction: K-3; 877), Town Center Elementary School (Plainsboro Township: K-3; 667), J.V.B. Wicoff Elementary School (Plainsboro Township: K-3; 471), Millstone River Elementary School (Plainsboro Township: 4&5, 843), Village Elementary School (Princeton Junction: 4&5; 628), Community Middle School (Plainsboro Township: 6-8; 1,166), Thomas Grover Middle School (Princeton Junction: 6-8; 1,100), West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North (Plainsboro Township: 9-12; 1,659) and West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South (Princeton Junction: 9-12; 1,645).

Three of the district's schools have been recognized by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South was recognized during the 1992-93 school year and Maurice Hawk Elementary School was recognized in 1993-94, while West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North was recognized in the 2006-07 school year.

Private

The Wilberforce School, a K-12 Classical Christian school founded in 2005, moved to new facilities in the township in 2014.

Roads and highways

As of 2010, the township had a total of 151.84 miles (244.36 km) of roadways, of which 123.43 miles (198.64 km) were maintained by the municipality, 24.16 miles (38.88 km) by Mercer County and 4.25 miles (6.84 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

U.S. Route 1 serves the township, as does Route 64 (which is part of CR 571).

CR 533 (Quakerbridge Road) passes along the western border with Lawrence. CR 526 and CR 571 are multiplexed together from the northwestern part until they split in the center of the municipality. CR 535 passes through in the south and serves Mercer County College.

Other major roads that are accessible outside the municipality are Interstate 295 (in Hamilton and Lawrence), Interstate 195 (in Hamilton and Robbinsville), and the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) (in Robbinsville (Exit 7A) and East Windsor (Exit 8)).

Public transportation

Princeton Junction station, a Northeast Corridor stop on Amtrak and NJ Transit, is located within West Windsor. Amtrak's Keystone Service and Northeast Regional routes stop at Princeton Junction which is ranked as one of the ten busiest train stations in the Northeast. The station had 6,800 average weekday boardings in 2012, the fourth-highest of any New Jersey Transit station in the state.

Running between the Princeton Junction station and the Princeton station is what is known to locals as the "Dinky." The Dinky is a one-car train that shuttles back and forth many times a day between the two stations. Traveling 2.7 miles (4.3 km) each way, it is the shortest and most expensive regularly scheduled passenger route in the United States.

NJ Transit bus service to Trenton is provided via the 600, 603, 609, with other area service on the 605 route.

Notable people

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