| Bedminster Township, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Map of Bedminster Township in Somerset County. Inset: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Bedminster Township, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Somerset |
| Royal Charter | April 4, 1749 |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Robert F. Holtaway |
| • Administrator | Judith A. Sullivan[2] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 26.5 sq mi (68.6 km2) |
| • Land | 26.5 sq mi (68.6 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation[3] | 213 ft (65 m) |
| Population (2010 Census)[4] | |
| • Total | 8,165 |
| • Density | 308.1/sq mi (119.0/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07921 |
| Area code(s) | 908 |
| FIPS code | 34-04450[5][6] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882176[7] |
| Website | http://www.bedminster.us |
Bedminster Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 8,165.[4]
Bedminster Township was created by Royal Charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct. It was formally incorporated by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken on March 28, 1912, to form Peapack-Gladstone.[8] The village of Pluckemin is also part of the township as is part of Pottersville. It is bordered on the north by Chester Township and on the northeast by Peapack-Gladstone.
Bedminster was the corporate headquarters of AT&T, prior to its merger with SBC Communications (the combined company is now known as AT&T Inc.). AT&T's Global Network Operations Center is currently located in Bedminister. It was also the corporate headquarters for Verizon Wireless before it was relocated to nearby Basking Ridge in 2006.
Bedminster Township is noted for having one of the most historic revolutionary war sites in the United States at what is known as the Pluckemin Continental Artillery Cantonment Site, recently added to the National Register of Historic Sites. Formed by General Henry Knox, chief of the Continental Army artillery was the leader responsible for building what is known as America's first military artillery training academy, the forerunner to West Point.
Contents |
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 26.5 square miles (69 km2), all of it land.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,374 |
|
|
| 1940 | 1,606 | 16.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,613 | 0.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,322 | 44.0% | |
| 1970 | 2,597 | 11.8% | |
| 1980 | 2,469 | −4.9% | |
| 1990 | 7,086 | 187.0% | |
| 2000 | 8,302 | 17.2% | |
| 2010 | 8,165 | −1.7% | |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[4][9] | |||
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 8,302 people, 4,235 households, and 2,100 families residing in the township. The population density was 313.6 people per square mile (121.1/km²). There were 4,467 housing units at an average density of 168.7 per square mile (65.2/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.05% White, 1.75% African American, 0.11% Native American, 6.41% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.84% of the population.
There were 4,235 households out of which 20.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.4% were non-families. 44.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.96 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the township the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 40.3% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $71,550, and the median income for a family was $96,890. Males had a median income of $71,136 versus $48,589 for females. The per capita income for the township was $53,549. About 1.9% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Bedminster Township is governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[1] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.[10]
As of 2011[update], members of the Bedminster Township Committee (with their term end dates listed) are Mayor Robert F. Holtaway (term ends 2012), Bernie Pane (2013), Steven (Steve) Parker (2012), Sally Rubin (2011) and Katherine (Katy) Rupert (2013).[11]
Bedminster Township is in the 7th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 16th state legislative district.[12] The borough was relocated to the 23rd state legislative district by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[4] The new district will be in effect for the June 2011 primary and the November 2011 general election, with the state senator and assembly members elected taking office in the new district as of January 2012.[12]
New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District is represented by Leonard Lance (R, Clinton Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
16th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Christopher "Kip" Bateman (R, Neshanic Station) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Peter J. Biondi (R, Hillsborough Township) and Denise Coyle (R, Basking Ridge).[13] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[14] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[15]
Somerset County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year.[16] As of 2011, Somerset County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Robert Zaborowski (Franklin Township, term ends December 31, 2011)[17], Freeholder Deputy Director Patricia L. Walsh (Green Brook Township, 2013)[18], Jack Ciattarelli (Hillsborough Township, 2012)[19], Peter S. Palmer (Bernardsville, 2011)[20] and Patrick Scaglione (Bridgewater Township, 2012).[21][22]
The Bedminster Township School District serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2005-06 school year, Bedminster Township Public School had an enrollment of 585 students.[23]
Public school students in grades 9-12 attend Bernards High School, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Somerset Hills Regional School District, a K - 12 district serving students from Bernardsville, Far Hills and Peapack-Gladstone.[24]
Bedminster is traversed by Interstate 287, which runs through the eastern section, while Interstate 78 runs mostly through the center of the township. U.S. Route 202 and U.S. Route 206 also pass through running parallel to I-287 from the Bridgewater area to Pluckemin.
Major county roads that pass through include CR 512 and CR 523.
Notable current and former residents of Bedminster Township include:
| Washington Twp | Chester Twp | Peapack and Gladstone | ||
| Tewksbury Twp | Far Hills and Bernards Twp |
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| Bedminster Twp | ||||
| Readington Twp | Branchburg Twp | Bridgewater Township |
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