Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey

for other New Jersey townships with the same name see Franklin Township, New Jersey
Franklin Township, New Jersey
—  Township  —
Map of Franklin Township in Somerset County. Inset: Location of Somerset County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey
Coordinates:
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Somerset
Incorporated February 21, 1798
Government
 • Type Faulkner Act (Council-Manager)
 • Mayor Brian D. Levine (R, term ends 2011)[1]
 • Manager Craig R. Novick[2]
Area[3]
 • Total 46.85 sq mi (121.3 km2)
 • Land 46.15 sq mi (119.5 km2)
 • Water 0.70 sq mi (1.8 km2)  1.49%
Elevation 79 ft (24 m)
Population (2010)[4][5][6]
 • Total 62,300
 • Density 1,350.0/sq mi (521.2/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 08873, 08875 - Somerset / East Millstone
08823 - Franklin Park
08528 - Kingston
08540 - Princeton
08890 - Zarephath[7]
Area code(s) 732/848
FIPS code 34-24900[8][9]
GNIS feature ID 0882170[10]
Website http://www.franklintwpnj.org

Franklin Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 62,300.[4] Traditionally a farming community, it has become a fast-growing suburb with massive development in the later 20th and 21st centuries. It is also a diverse community, with a melting pot of races, religions and cultures. In 2008, Franklin Township ranked #5 on Money Magazine's list of America's Top 100 Best Places to Live.[11]

What is now Franklin Township was originally formed circa 1745 as Eastern precinct. Franklin Township 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 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).[12]

Contents

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 46.85 square miles (121.3 km2), of which 46.15 square miles (119.5 km2) is land and 0.70 square miles (1.8 km2), or 1.49%, is water.[3]

The community is three-fourths rural.[13]

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

Communities

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.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1910 2,395
—
1920 2,955 23.4%
1930 6,039 104.4%
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%
2010 62,300 22.4%
* gained territory from East Millstone
Population sources:1910-1930[14]
1930-1990[15] 2000[16][17] 2010[4][6][5]

Census 2010

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 62,300 people, 23,301 households, and 15,938 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,350.0 inhabitants per square mile (521.2 /km2). There were 24,426 housing units at an average density of 529.3 per square mile (204.4 /km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 44.76% (27,887) White, 26.55% (16,539) African American, 0.29% (183) Native American, 19.98% (12,450) Asian, 0.01% (9) Pacific Islander, 5.11% (3,183) from other races, and 3.29% (2,049) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.92% (8,050) of the population.[4]

There were 23,301 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.19.[4]

In the township the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.[4]

Census 2000

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 50,903 people, 19,355 households, and 12,987 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,088.3 people per square mile (420.2/km²). There were 19,789 housing units at an average density of 423.1 per square mile (163.4/km²). 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.[16][17]

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.[16][17]

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.[16][17]

The median income for a household in the township was $67,923, and the median income for a family was $78,177 (these figures had risen to $87,417 and $99,526 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[18]). 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.2000[16][17]

Government

Local government

The Township of Franklin is chartered under the Faulkner Act as Council-Manager, Plan D.[19][20] The Township Council consists of nine members - a Mayor elected from the Township at large, five 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.[21]

In 1998 the township voted 6,092 to 2,834 to raise their property taxes by 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation with the money to be used to preserve open space.[13]

As of 2011, members of the Township Council are Mayor Brian D. Levine (term ends December 31, 2011), Deputy Mayor *Rajiv Prasad, At-Large (2011), Kimberly Francois, At-Large (2011), Brian G. Regan, At-Large for unexpired term of Daniel Glicklich starting 3/22/11 (2011), Theodore Chase, 1st Ward (2013), Rozalyn Sherman, 2nd Ward (2013), Phillip Kramer, 3rd Ward (2013), Carl Wright, 4th Ward (2013) and James Vassanella, 5th Ward (2013).[22]

Federal, state and county representation

Franklin Township is split between the 6th and 12th Congressional Districts. New Jersey's Sixth Congressional District is represented by Frank Pallone (D, Long Branch). New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional District is represented by Rush D. Holt, Jr. (D, Hopewell Township).[23] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

Franklin Township is in the 17th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Bob Smith (D, Piscataway) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Upendra J. Chivukula (D, Somerset) and Joseph V. Egan (D, New Brunswick).[24][6]

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.[25] As of 2011, Somerset County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Robert Zaborowski (Franklin Township, term ends December 31, 2011)[26], Freeholder Deputy Director Patricia L. Walsh (Green Brook Township, 2013)[27], Jack Ciattarelli (Hillsborough Township, 2012)[28], Peter S. Palmer (Bernardsville, 2011)[29] and Patrick Scaglione (Bridgewater Township, 2012).[30][31]

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)[32] and Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ: A History,[33] 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. In 1777, near the mill on the Millstone River at Weston, the Continental Army and local militia engaged and successfully drove off a British foraging party of about 600 troops, sent out of New Brunswick by General Cornwallis. In 1783, Washington composed his farewell address to his army while staying at Rockingham near Kingston, NJ.[34]

The construction of the Delaware and Raritan Canal in the 1830s, stretching 22 miles (35 km) to connect New York and Philadelphia, led to significant growth in the township, with as much as 200,000 tons of goods shipped on barges using the canal by the 1860s. The rise of shipping commercial goods using railroads led to a substantial decline in canal traffic.[35] The area has been restored as the .[36]

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. St back behind Easton Avenue, the home adjoins the Rutgers Preparatory School and a Revolutionary War-era graveyard.[37]

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.[38]

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

Utilities

Gas and electricity are provided by PSE&G. Water comes from the Delaware and Raritan Canal from water bought from American Water and North Brunswick, New Jersey and New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 2011 the township considered privatizing the system and awarding the contract to United Water.[39]

Points of interest

  • Bunker Hill Natural Area, accessed from the north side of Bunker Hill Road near the intersection of Rt. 27 features trails through mature forest and meadows and along Ten Mile Run stream. Trails connect to the Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve and the Catalpa Farm areas.
  • Catalpa Farm, Old Vliet Road offers trails along field edges and a small forest that connect to the Bunker Hill Natural Area.
  • Environmental Education Center, 255 Bunker Hill Road (parking is available at 287 Bunker Hill Road), is a 95-area the features a deciduous forest known as Graeber Woods, a one-mile (1.6 km) self-guided nature trail and the “Glass House”, a home that has been renovated and is now used as a classroom and conference center to provide a wide range of instructional, hands-on activities in natural habitats, and a 20' climbing tower and a high ropes course adventure area. The Environmental Education Center is a cooperative effort of the Township of Franklin, the Franklin Township Board of Education, and the Green Acres Program. A trail connect to the Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve and the rest of the Ten Mile Run Greenway.
  • Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve accessed from Canal Road in Griggstown (1091 Canal Road) has over 100 acres (0.40 km2) of grassland and hundreds of acres of forest and features over 6 miles (9.7 km) of mapped trails. Trails connect to the other sections of the Ten Mile Run Greenway.
  • St. Sophia Seminary and Library, founded in 1975,
  • St. Andrew Memorial Church, completed and consecrated in 1967 in memory of the 7-14 million people who died in the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33 is a unique example of Ukrainian Cossak Baroque architecture in the area,
  • St. Andrew Cemetery, founded in 1952,
  • The Ukrainian Historical and Educational Center, founded in 1972, which contains priceless treasures of Ukrainian cultural, historical, social, religious, literary and political life including Easter eggs, lacework, hand embroidery, statuary and church vessels.
  • The Ukrainian Cultural Center, dedicated in 1985,
  • St. Andrew Ukrainian School, founded in 1962 and located in the Cultural Center,
  • St. Andrew Bookstore and Ecclesiastical Supply, founded in 1992,
  • The historic Fisher Homestead, built in 1688, the home of Hendrick Fisher, New Jersey's delegate to the Continental Congress, and the site of the Fisher Family Cemetery.

Transportation

Franklin has a variety of county routes, and other major roads that pass through. Some of the major county route that are in the township are CR 514, CR 518 and CR 527. Route 27 runs along the border between New Brunswick, and the townships of both South and North Brunswick. Interstate 287 runs through the northern part with two interchanges.

The New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) is outside in both neighboring South and New Brunswick, but the closest interchange is two towns away.

Franklin Township was to house the northern end of the Somerset Freeway at I-287 back in 1964 until it was later proposed to end in Piscataway. An additional spur, Interstate 695, was also proposed as part of the project. This road was to complete Interstate 95 at the proposed southern end in Hopewell at I-95 and I-295. However the entire project was ultimately cancelled in 1982.

Education

The Franklin Township Public Schools serve students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[43]) are six K-4 elementary schools — Conerly Road School (427 students), Elizabeth Avenue School (515), Franklin Park School (953), Hillcrest School (358), MacAfee Road School (426), Pine Grove Manor School (384) — Sampson G. Smith School for grades 5-6 (1,085), Franklin Middle School for grades 7-8 (1,113) and Franklin High School for grades 9-12 (1,922).

Rutgers Preparatory School, a prestigious private day school, is located in Franklin Township and occupies a nearly 400 acre campus between Easton Avenue and the Raritan River.

Emergency services

Fire Companies Franklin Township is served by 10 all-volunteer Fire Departments in 4 Fire Districts.

First Aid Squads Franklin Township is served by 5 First Aid and Rescue Squads

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Franklin Township include:

References

  1. ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  2. ^ Township Manager, Township of Franklin. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  3. ^ a b GCT-PH1: Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - State -- Place and (in selected states) County Subdivision from 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e f DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for Franklin township, Somerset County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2010 for Franklin township, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c 2011 Apportionment Redistricting: Municipalities sorted alphabetically, New Jersey Department of State, p. 7. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  7. ^ General Information, Township of Franklin. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  8. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  9. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  10. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  11. ^ #5 - Franklin Township, on Money Magazine's list of America's Top 100 Best Places to Live
  12. ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 223.
  13. ^ a b Cheslow, Jerry (November 15, 1998). "If You're Thinking of Living In Franklin Township, N.J.; A Town Acting to Preserve Its Farmland". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/15/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-living-franklin-township-nj-town-acting-preserve-its-farmland.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2009-07-22. "The 47-square-mile community, which is still three-fourths rural, is coming under increasing development pressure, according to Mayor Bottcher." 
  14. ^ "Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I", United States Census Bureau, p. 718. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  15. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 2, 2009. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  16. ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights: Franklin township, Somerset County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  17. ^ a b c d e Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Franklin township, Somerset County, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  18. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=06000US3402764980&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34027%7C06000US3402764980&_street=&_county=franklin+township&_cityTown=franklin+township&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=060&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=
  19. ^ 1998 Charter Study Commission Report, p. 1. Accessed August 6, 2007. "Franklin Township, since 1958, operates under the Council-Manager Plan D..."
  20. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 81.
  21. ^ Township Council, Franklin Township. Accessed July 27, 2006.
  22. ^ Mayor & Township Council, accessed January 8, 2010.
  23. ^ Municipalities, Congressman Rush D. Holt, Jr. Accessed June 29, 2008.
  24. ^ "Legislative Roster: 2010-2011 Session". New Jersey Legislature. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp. Retrieved 2010-07-01. 
  25. ^ Somerset County Government: At Your Service, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 6, 2011.
  26. ^ Robert Zaborowski, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  27. ^ Patricia Walsh, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  28. ^ Jack Ciattarelli, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  29. ^ Peter S. Palmer, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  30. ^ Patrick Scaglione, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  31. ^ 2011 Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2011.
  32. ^ William B. Brahms, Images of America: Franklin Township, Arcadia Publishing; ISBN 0-7524-0938-7
  33. ^ William B. Brahms, Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ: A History, FTPL; ISBN 0-9668586-0-3
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  36. ^ History, Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  37. ^ Van Wickle House, Meadows Foundation. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  38. ^ A pictorial account concerning the current condition and history of the Millstone Branch
  39. ^ "Deal proposed on United Water controlling Franklin Township's water system". NJ.com. February 6, 2011. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/proposed_deal_united_water_con.html. Retrieved 2011-10-17. "The township draws its water from the Delaware and Raritan Canal, as well as New Brunswick, North Brunswick and the New Jersey American Water utility. The township would still own its water system, but would pay United Water to maintain it." 
  40. ^ Colonial Park Gardens, Somerset County Park Commission. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  41. ^ Colonial Park Brochure, Somerset county Park Commission. Accessed December 16, 2011.
  42. ^ William B. Brahms, Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ: A History, FTPL; ISBN 0-9668586-0-3 p.55
  43. ^ Data for the Franklin Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed June 29, 2008.
  44. ^ "Women's track and field dominate host invitational", April 10, 2010. "...and anchor Nicole Brown (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) posted the second place time of (51.82)..."
  45. ^ [1]'Take It Back', accessed May 22, 2009
  46. ^ Clifford Philip Case, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed December 29, 2006.
  47. ^ Assembly Member Upendra J. Chivukula, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 12, 2007.
  48. ^ Edgar, Charles Leavitt American Society of Mechanical Engineers website. Accessed March 2, 2009
  49. ^ Hendrick Fisher Descendent To Read Declaration of Independence in Bound Brook, Bound Brook, New Jersey. Accessed August 21, 2008.
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  53. ^ Col Routh Goshon at Find A Grave, accessed November 29, 2006
  54. ^ "Making history in Griggstown", Princeton Packet, November 27, 2007. Accessed December 23, 2007. "Two presentations by John Allen, president of the Griggstown Historical Society, were made. Mark Alan Hewitt, project architect, received an autographed copy of “Moy Sand & Gravel” by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon, a Griggstown resident."
  55. ^ OAKEY, Peter Davis Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed March 2, 2009
  56. ^ Michael James Pappas, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed December 29, 2006
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  61. ^ Eftimiades, Maria. "Radio Personality Without Limits", The New York Times, July 2, 1989. Accessed February 20, 2008.
  62. ^ Bruce Williams Biography at Radio Village, accessed December 28, 2006. Archived October 21, 2006 at the Wayback Machine

External links

Municipalities and communities of Somerset County, New Jersey, USA
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Townships
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Communities