| East Windsor Township, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| East Windsor Township highlighted in Mercer County. Inset map: Mercer County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of East Windsor Township, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Mercer |
| Formed | February 9, 1797 |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Type | Faulkner Act (Council-Manager) |
| • Mayor | Janice S. Mironov |
| Area | |
| • Total | 15.7 sq mi (40.7 km2) |
| • Land | 15.6 sq mi (40.5 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation[2] | 121 ft (37 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 27,190 |
| • Density | 1,742.9/sq mi (671.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08520 |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-19780[3][4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882123[5] |
| Website | http://www.east-windsor.nj.us |
East Windsor Township is a Township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 27,190.
East Windsor Township was formed when Windsor Township was split on February 9, 1797, with West Windsor Township formed at the same time, all while the area was still part of Middlesex County. It was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Hightstown borough (March 5, 1853, within East Windsor; became independent c. 1894) and Robbinsville Township (March 11, 1860, and known as Washington Township until 2007).[6]
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 15.7 square miles (41 km2), of which, 15.6 square miles (40 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (0.32%) is water.
Twin Rivers (2000 Census population of 7,422) is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within East Windsor Township.
| Plainsboro Twp | Cranbury Twp | Monroe Township | ||
| West Windsor Twp | ||||
| East Windsor Township | ||||
| Robbinsville Township | Upper Freehold Township | Millstone Township |
Also: East Windsor surrounds Hightstown.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 922 |
|
|
| 1940 | 845 | −8.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,284 | 52.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,298 | 79.0% | |
| 1970 | 11,736 | 410.7% | |
| 1980 | 21,041 | 79.3% | |
| 1990 | 22,353 | 6.2% | |
| 2000 | 24,919 | 11.5% | |
| 2010 | 27,190 | 9.1% | |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[7] | |||
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 24,919 people, 9,448 households, and 6,556 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,592.8 people per square mile (614.8/km²). There were 9,880 housing units at an average density of 631.5 per square mile (243.8/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 74.42% White, 8.90% African American, 0.20% Native American, 9.55% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 4.61% from other races, and 2.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.28% of the population. However, there is a significant population of undocumented Hispanic immigrants in the thousands which is not captured by census counts. School studies show that up to 20% of the total population in the school system is made up of undocumented immigrants.
There were 9,448 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.12.
The population of the township was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $63,616, and the median income for a family was $73,461. Males had a median income of $50,875 versus $35,260 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,695. About 2.8% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
East Windsor has a few bus stops. The line which runs through East Windsor proceeds to stop in Monroe, and then makes its way to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
A number of county routes, such as CR 539, 571, 535 pass through the township. Route 33 goes through East Windsor, and then through Robbinsville Township and Monroe Township. U.S. Route 130 also goes through East Windsor which then goes through Robbinsville and Cranbury. Interstate 195 is outside the municipality in neighboring Robbinsville, Upper Freehold, and Millstone Townships.
In the late 1990s, the "Hightstown Bypass" (Route 133) was constructed. It starts at County Route 571 and terminates at 33. The entire highway is in East Windsor; there is a half-diamond interchange with One Mile Road, and a three-quarter cloverleaf interchange with U.S. Route 130. Both ends of the bypass are handled with traffic signals instead of grade separated interchanges. The township also houses a 5-lane toll gate for Exit 8 of the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95).
At the present time, the Turnpike is being widened from three lanes to a six-lane turnpike. This is part of a major widening project that would extend the "dual-dual" roadways to Exit 6 (Mansfield Township) from its current end at Exit 8A (Monroe Township). This project is anticipated to be finished by 2014.
On January 1, 2007, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority announced its plans for Exit 8. Prior to this plan being released, some thought that a new Exit 8 would connect directly with the Hightstown Bypass. There seems to be ample space (between mile markers 67.89 and 68.12) to build a new interchange because there's a large piece of land that would accommodate a toll gate and interchange ramps for 133. The plan that was released indicated that the current Interchange 8 will be demolished and replaced with a new interchange which would end at the intersection with Route 33, Milford Road, and the Hightstown Bypass (on the east side of the expressway in lieu of the west). It would also grant direct access to the bypass (without going through any traffic lights), as well as to 33 using a grade separated interchange. The new toll gate would also feature a total of 12 lanes at the gate. However, the interchange and the toll gate would run near some residential houses located right off of 33, and would disturb Twin Rivers. The Authority released 3 configuration options at the intersection of Milford, 33, and the bypass.
East Windsor Township has a Council-Manager form of government as provided under the Faulkner Act. The Council is made up of seven members elected at large for four-year staggered terms. Elections for Council are held in November of every other year.[1]
Members of the East Windsor Township Council are Mayor Janice S. Mironov, Deputy Mayor Perry M. Shapiro, Walter T. Daniels, Hector Duke, Marc Lippman, Alan Rosenberg and Marsha Weinstein.[9]
Citizens of East Windsor are served by East Windsor Rescue Squad Districts I & II, as well as East Windsor volunteer Fire Departments #1 and 2. The Township is split for faster response times, with Rescue Squad District II and Fire Department 2 serving Twin Rivers and the Eastern portion of the Township.
The East Windsor Police Department, Located on One Mile Road, is led by Police Chief William Spain, and employs 37 Uniformed Patrol and Traffic Enforcement Officers, 9 Detectives, 7 Dispatchers and Communications Officers and one Animal Control Officer, for a total of 47 Sworn Police Officers.
East Windsor Township is in the 4th Congressional district. New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District is represented by Christopher Smith (R). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
East Windsor Township is in the 12th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Jennifer Beck (R, Red Bank) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Caroline Casagrande (R, Colts Neck Township) and Declan O'Scanlon (R, Little Silver).[10]
Under Mercer County's form of government, the County Executive performs executive functions and oversees the day-to-day operations of the county and a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders acts in a legislative capacity, setting policy. As of 2011, the County Executive is Brian M. Hughes.[11] Members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders are elected at-large to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two or three seats coming up for election each year. A Freeholder Chair and Vice-Chair are selected on an annual basis from among its members.[12] County Freeholders are Freeholder Chair Pasqual "Pat" Colavita, Jr. (term ends December 31, 2012; Lawrenceville)[13], Freeholder Vice Chair Lucylle R. S. Walter (2011; Ewing Township)[14], Samuel T. Frisby (2011; Trenton)[15], Ann M. Cannon (2012; East Windsor Township)[16], Anthony P. Carabelli (2013; Trenton)[17], John Cimino (2011; Hamilton Township)[18] and Andrew Koontz (2013; Princeton Borough)[19][20]
Students in Kindergarten through 12th grade attend the East Windsor Regional School District, a comprehensive public school district serving students from East Windsor Township and Hightstown Borough, along with students in grades 7 - 12 from Roosevelt Borough as part of a sending / receiving relationship.[21]
The district has four K-5 elementary schools — Walter C. Black Elementary School with 581 students, Perry L. Drew Elementary School with 692 students, Ethel McKnight Elementary School with 572 students, Grace N. Rogers Elementary School with 502 students — Melvin H. Kreps School grades 6 - 8 with 1,139 students and Hightstown High School with 1,370 students in grades 9 - 12.
The Meadow Lakes continuing care retirement community occupies a 100-acre site that spans the East Windsor-Hightstown boundary line.
Notable current and former residents of East Windsor Township include:
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