Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey

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for other New Jersey townships with the same name see Franklin Township, New Jersey
Map of Franklin Township in Somerset County
Map of Franklin Township in Somerset County
Blackwells Mills Canal House in the Somerset section of Franklin Township
Blackwells Mills Canal House in the Somerset section of Franklin Township

Franklin Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 50,903. Traditionally a farming community, it has become a fast-growing suburb with massive development in the later 20th Century and into the 21st Century. It is also quite a diverse community, even by New Jersey's rather liberal standards, with a melting pot of races, religions and cultures.

What is now Franklin Township was originally formed circa 1745 as Eastern precinct. Franklin Township was incorporated as a one of New Jersey's 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form South Bound Brook (formed within township, became independent municipality as of April 11, 1907) and East Millstone (February 18, 1873, returned to Franklin Township on December 31, 1949).[1]

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 121.3 km² (46.8 mi²). 121.1 km² (46.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.15%) is water.

Franklin Township borders New Brunswick, North Brunswick Township, Piscataway Township, South Brunswick , Princeton Township, Rocky Hill, Millstone, Montgomery Township, Hillsborough Township, South Bound Brook, Manville and Bridgewater Township.

[edit] Communities of Franklin Township

The following are census-designated places, unincorporated enclaves, and historical communities located within Franklin Township. While they have their own separate identities, they are all unincorporated areas.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1930 6,039
–
1940 6,299 4.3%
1950 9,601 * 52.4%
1960 19,858 106.8%
1970 30,389 53.0%
1980 31,358 3.2%
1990 42,780 36.4%
2000 50,903 19.0%
Est. 2005 58,461 [2] 14.8%
* gained territory from East Millstone
Population 1930 - 1990.[3]

As of the census² of 2000, there were 50,903 people, 19,355 households, and 12,987 families residing in the township. The population density was 420.2/km² (1,088.3/mi²). There were 19,789 housing units at an average density of 163.4/km² (423.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 55.11% White, 25.98% African American, 0.18% Native American, 12.74% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.56% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.11% of the population.

There were 19,355 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 25.7% 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 2.58 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the township the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $67,923, and the median income for a family was $78,177. Males had a median income of $52,351 versus $41,101 for females. The per capita income for the township was $31,209. About 3.1% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

The Township of Franklin is chartered under the Faulkner Act as Council-Manager, Plan D. The Township Council consists of nine members - one Mayor elected from the Township at large, one elected for each of the five wards and three elected from the Township at large.

The Mayor is the Chief Legislative Officer of the Township and is elected by the voters to serve for a four-year term. The Township Manager is the Chief Executive Officer of the Township, provides for the administration of the Township's daily operations, and is hired by and serves at the pleasure of the Township Council. Council elections are held at the June Primary and November General Elections in odd numbered years[4].

Members of the Township Council are:[5]

  • Brian Levine, Mayor (term ends December 31, 2007)
  • Ellen E. Ritchie, Deputy Mayor, 3rd Ward (2009)
  • Daniel Glicklich, At-Large (2007)
  • Fred A. McKenzie, At-Large (2007)
  • Rajiv Prasad, At-Large (2007)
  • Shirley Eberle, 1st Ward (2009)
  • Teresa Danile, CPA, 2nd Ward (2009)
  • Willis "Rickey" Sumter, 4th Ward (2009)
  • James Vassanella, 5th Ward (2009)

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Franklin Township is split between the 6th and 12th Congressional Districts and is part of New Jersey's 17th Legislative District.[6]

New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District, covering portions of Middlesex County and Monmouth County, is represented by Frank Pallone (D). New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional District, covering all of Hunterdon County and portions of Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, and Somerset County, is represented by Rush D. Holt Jr. (D). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 17th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Bob Smith (D, Piscataway) and in the Assembly by Upendra J. Chivukula (D, Somerset) and Joseph V. Egan (D, New Brunswick). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).

Somerset County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Somerset County's Freeholders are: Freeholder Director Rick Fontana, Freeholder Deputy Director Ken Scherer, Denise Coyle, Peter S. Palmer and Robert Zaborowski.

[edit] Culture and history

It has been unclear if the Township was named for founding father Benjamin Franklin or for his illegitimate son William Franklin, a Loyalist and the last Royal Governor of New Jersey (from 1763 to 1776). In 2000, after considering the evidence set forth by William B. Brahms in his books Images of America: Franklin Township (1997)[7] and Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ: A History [8], commissioned by the Franklin Township Public Library, 1998, Chapter 12, Municipal Government, The Case for William Franklin and The Case for Benjamin Franklin), the Township Council chose the theory that the Township was indeed named for Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin Township was very much a part of Revolutionary War history and the scene of many raiding parties along Route 27, then known as the King's Highway. In fact, two British generals, Cornwallis and DeHeister, tried to lure General George Washington and his Continental Army into battle on the plains of Middlebush and East Millstone. Washington, however, kept his troops at Chimney Rock, just north of Franklin, until the British withdrew. Several of the prosperous Middlebush farms were destroyed by the British soldiers during their retreat. Washington's farewell address was delivered to his army in Rocky Hill in 1783.

One of the most important developments for Franklin was the building of the Delaware & Raritan Canal in 1834. Twenty-two miles of this continuous water route from New York to Philadelphia run through the Township. During the Civil War, up to 200,000 tons of freight were hauled by mule and horse-drawn barges, a great economic boon for the area. The building of the railroads led to the decline of this once successful mode of transportation. Today the canal is the source of drinking water and provides recreation for area residents and visitors to the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park.

The Van Wickle House, located next to the Delaware and Raritan Canal in the Somerset section of the township, in between New Brunswick and South Bound Brook, was built in 1722 by Dutch settlers and is now owned and maintained by The Meadows Foundation. The lovely old home sits peacefully next to Rutgers Preparatory School, away from busy Easton Avenue behind some trees and a Revolutionary War-era graveyard.

Franklin Township enjoyed passenger and freight railroad service during the later half of the 19th century via the Millstone and New Brunswick Railroad (M&NB) which opened in 1854. The railroad was built and operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR), from a junction with the PRR mainline at Jersey Avenue in New Brunswick, New Jersey to East Millstone, New Jersey. The M&NB is now known as the Conrail Millstone Secondary Branch. The branch line is still operated by Conrail up to just west of Clyde Road in Somerset, New Jersey, serving local industry in the industrial section of Somerset[9].

In 1922, the infamous Hall-Mills Murder took place in Franklin Township, in the area adjacent to New Brunswick known as Somerset.

[edit] Points of interest

  • The Blackwells Mills Canal House, located at Blackwells Mills Road and Canal Road on the Delaware and Raritan Canal, was built around 1835, at the same time as the canal. It was constructed to house the bridge tender, who would open the swing bridge when canal boats came through, then close it to allow traffic to cross over the canal.
  • Rockingham State Historic Site, near Kingston on CR 603 (Somerset County), adjacent to the Delaware and Raritan Canal. George Washington wrote his Farewell Address to the Revolutionary Army while staying here in the fall of 1783.
  • The Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park runs along much of the western and northern border of Franklin Township. The canal offers many recreational activities, from hiking and biking to boating.
  • Colonial Park, part of the Somerset County Park System is located in the western portion of Franklin Township. The park offers many recreational activities, including picnicking, hiking and biking. Also of note is the rose garden located in the park.
  • Six Mile Reservoir Site, part of the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry is located in the central portion of Franklin Township. The park is largely undeveloped and consists of land that is set aside for future water resource needs, and offers numerous hiking trails. Assess is provided via the former D&R Canal Main Office parking area off Canal Road just south of Blackwells Mills Road.
  • Hageman Farm, at 209 South Middlebush Road is a c. 1861 historic farm. Owned by Franklin Township, the farm is under the stewardship of the Meadows Foundation which holds an open house the second Sunday of the month.

[edit] Education

The Franklin Township Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district consist of six K-4 elementary schools ( Conerly Road School, Elizabeth Avenue School, Franklin Park School, Hillcrest School, MacAfee Road School, Pine Grove Manor School), Sampson G. Smith School (grades 5-6), Franklin Middle School (grades 7-8) and Franklin High School (grades 9-12).

[edit] Emergency Services

Franklin Township is served by 11 all-volunteer Fire Departments in 4 Fire Districts.

[edit] Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Franklin Township include:

[edit] References

  1. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 223.
  2. ^ Census data for Franklin township, United States Census Bureau, accessed March 1, 2007
  3. ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, accessed March 1, 2007
  4. ^ Township Council, accessed July 27, 2006
  5. ^ Mayor & Township Council, accessed March 20, 2007
  6. ^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 57, accessed August 30, 2006
  7. ^ William B. Brahms, Images of America: Franklin Township, Arcadia Publishing; ISBN 0-7524-0938-7
  8. ^ William B. Brahms, Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ: A History, FTPL; ISBN 0-9668586-0-3
  9. ^ A pictorial account concerning the current condition and history of the Millstone Branch
  10. ^ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress -- Clifford Philip Case, accessed December 29, 2006
  11. ^ Databasebasketball web site, accessed December 12, 2006
  12. ^ Col Routh Goshon at Find A Grave, accessed November 29, 2006
  13. ^ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress -- Michael James Pappas, accessed December 29, 2006]
  14. ^ Dr. Randal Pinkett web site, accessed December 12, 2006
  15. ^ University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site, accessed December 28, 2006
  16. ^ Helen Westley on Internet Movie Database (IMDb), accessed December 28, 2006
  17. ^ Alma White Bibliography, accessed December 28, 2006.
  18. ^ Bruce Williams Biography at Radio Village, accessed December 28, 2006.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities of Somerset County, New Jersey
(County seat: Somerville)
Boroughs Bernardsville | Bound Brook | Far Hills | Manville | Millstone | North Plainfield | Peapack-Gladstone | Raritan | Rocky Hill | Somerville | South Bound Brook | Watchung
Townships Bedminster | Bernards | Branchburg | Bridgewater | Franklin | Green Brook | Hillsborough | Montgomery | Warren
Communities Basking Ridge | Belle Mead | Blackwells Mills | Blawenburg | East Millstone | Flagtown | Griggstown | Harlingen | Lamington | Martinsville | Middlebush | Neshanic | North Branch | Pleasant Plains | Six Mile Run | Somerset | South Branch | Zarephath
Historic houses Meadows Foundation | Old Dutch Parsonage | Wallace House
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