| Township of Princeton, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Princeton Township highlighted in Mercer County. Inset map: Mercer County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Princeton Township, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Mercer |
| Incorporated | April 9, 1838 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Chad Goerner |
| • Administrator | James J. Pascale[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 16.62 sq mi (43.0 km2) |
| • Land | 16.38 sq mi (42.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.23 sq mi (0.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 203 ft (62 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 16,265 |
| • Density | 978.2/sq mi (377.7/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 08540, 08542, 08543, 08544 (Princeton University) |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-60915[2][3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882125[4] |
| Website | http://www.princetontwp.org |
Princeton Township is a township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 16,265.
Princeton was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1838, from portions of West Windsor Township in Mercer County and Montgomery Township in Somerset County. The Borough of Princeton — created on February 11, 1813 within the area that later became Princeton Township — became a fully independent municipality circa 1894. Portions of territory were ceded to the Borough of Princeton on January 4, 1928 and August 21, 1951.[5] On November 8, 2011, voters in Princeton Township voted to consolidate with Princeton Borough.[6]
The township is the home of the Institute for Advanced Study, a private research institution that has been an academic home to Albert Einstein, Kurt Gödel, and many other famous and prize-winning scientists. Princeton University is located mostly within the Borough of Princeton, but parts of the campus extend into Princeton Township.
Areas within the Borough of Princeton and the Princeton Township have "Princeton, New Jersey" mailing addresses. Together the two municipalities are thought of as "Princeton." The township is home to the majority of affluent neighborhoods in the Princetons, such as the Western Section and Princeton Ridge, though the borough does play host to streets with historic mansions, such as Library Place and Hodge Road.
Drumthwacket, the official residence of the Governor of New Jersey, is at 344 Stockton Street in the Township.
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 16.6 square miles (43 km2), of which, 16.4 square miles (42 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (1.38%) is water.
| Montgomery Twp | Franklin Township | |||
| Hopewell Twp | Plainsboro and South Brunswick |
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| Princeton Twp | ||||
| Lawrence Township | West Windsor Twp |
Also Princeton Borough is an independent municipality completely surrounded by the township.
Princeton North is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Princeton Township.
The Princeton Airport is situated less than a mile across the Somerset County border, located in Montgomery Township, New Jersey, though it is within Princeton's postal district.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,178 |
|
|
| 1920 | 1,424 | 20.9% | |
| 1930 | 2,738 | 92.3% | |
| 1940 | 3,251 | 18.7% | |
| 1950 | 5,407 | 66.3% | |
| 1960 | 10,411 | 92.5% | |
| 1970 | 13,651 | 31.1% | |
| 1980 | 13,683 | 0.2% | |
| 1990 | 13,198 | −3.5% | |
| 2000 | 16,027 | 21.4% | |
| 2010 | 16,265 | 1.5% | |
| Population 1910 - 2010.[7] | |||
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 16,027 people, 6,044 households, and 4,357 families residing in the township. The population density was 978.2 people per square mile (377.8/km²). There were 6,224 housing units at an average density of 379.9 per square mile (146.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 79.91% White, 5.32% African American, 0.12% Native American, 9.98% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.11% from other races, and 2.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.28% of the population.
There were 6,044 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.3% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the township the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $94,580, and the median income for a family was $123,098. Males had a median income of $77,845 versus $41,563 for females. The per capita income for the township was $56,360. About 4.2% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
The township is listed 25th out of all incorporated areas and census-designated places in New Jersey ranked by per capita income.
Princeton 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 seat coming up for election each year.[8] A Mayor and Deputy Member are elected by the Committee from among its members and serve a one-year term. The Mayor serves as the Chairperson of the Committee and exercises executive powers vested in the Mayor's Office bylaw. All legislative powers are assigned to the Committee. 105 of the 566 municipalities in New Jersey operate with a five-member Committee form of local government.[9]
An Administrator is also empowered by ordinance to serve in an executive capacity and direct the Township's day-to-day operations. James Pascale is the current Township Administrator.[1]
As of 2011[update], members of the Princeton Township Committee are Mayor Chad Goerner, Deputy Mayor Sue Nemeth, Liz Lempert, Lance Liverman and Bernard P. Miller.[9]
On November 8, 2011 the residents of both the Borough of Princeton and the Township of Princeton voted to merge the two municipalities into one. In Princeton Borough 1,385 voted for, 902 voted against while in Princeton Township 3,542 voted for and 604 voted against. Proponents of the consolidation measure asserted that when the merger is completed the new municipality of Princeton will save $3.2 million dollars as a result of some scaled down services including layoffs of 15 government workers including 9 police officers (however, the measure itself does not create any line item cost reduction or layoffs). Opponents to the consolidation measure asserted that cost savings alleged by a widely circulated report were incorrect and/or unsubstantiated and that individual voter representation would be diluted by the merged municipal structure.[6] The consolidation is to take effect in 2013.[10]
Princeton Township is in the 12th Congressional district. New Jersey's Twelfth Congressional District is represented by Rush D. Holt, Jr. (D, Hopewell Township).[11] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
Princeton is in the 15th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Shirley Turner (D, Lawrenceville) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Reed Gusciora (D, Trenton) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, Ewing Township).[12]
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.[13] 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.[14] County Freeholders are Freeholder Chair Pasqual "Pat" Colavita, Jr. (term ends December 31, 2012; Lawrenceville)[15], Freeholder Vice Chair Lucylle R. S. Walter (2011; Ewing Township)[16], Samuel T. Frisby (2011; Trenton)[17], Ann M. Cannon (2012; East Windsor Township)[18], Anthony P. Carabelli (2013; Trenton)[19], John Cimino (2011; Hamilton Township)[20] and Andrew Koontz (2013; Princeton Borough)[21][22]
Part of Princeton University, including most of the athletic facilities, is in the township. Most university buildings are in the borough. The rest of the university's land is across Carnegie Lake in West Windsor Township.
The Princeton Theological Seminary and the Institute for Advanced Study are in the township.
Westminster Choir College is located mainly in the borough; a small part is in the township.
Mercer County Community College serves residents of the township.
For grades K through 12, public school students attend the Princeton Regional Schools, a regional school district shared with the Borough of Princeton, or the Princeton Charter School (grades K-8), located in the township.
Four elementary schools (Johnson Park, Community Park, Littlebrook, and Riverside) and John Witherspoon Middle School are located in the township and serve the borough and township.
Princeton High School is located in the borough of Princeton and serves the borough and the township, and Cranbury Township, New Jersey, as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[23]
Several private schools are located in the Township, including the American Boychoir School, Hun School of Princeton, Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart, Princeton Day School, Princeton Friends School, and Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart.
The Princeton Public Library, located in the borough, serves the borough and the township. The library was entirely rebuilt in 2004 at its downtown location at the corner of Witherspoon Street and Wiggins Street and opened its doors in April of that year.
New Jersey Transit operates the "Dinky", a small train that connects Princeton to the Princeton Junction station in West Windsor.
Princeton Township hosts U.S. Route 206 and Route 27 as its main roads. CR 583, CR 571 (commonly known as Washington Rd), and CR 533 also pass through the township.
Other major roads that are accessible outside the municipality include U.S. Route 1 (in Lawrence, West Windsor & South Brunswick), Interstate 287 (in Franklin), Interstate 95 (the section north of Trenton) and Interstate 295 (both in Lawrence) and the New Jersey Turnpike (also designated as Interstate 95 in South Brunswick). The closest Turnpike interchange is Exit 8A located nine miles away in Monroe Township. But it is also accessible from Exit 9 in East Brunswick, Exit 8 in East Windsor and Exit 7A in Robbinsville.
A couple of proposed highways around the township have been canceled. The Somerset Freeway (Interstate 95) was to pass just outside the township before ending in Hopewell (to the south) and Franklin (to the north). This project was canceled in 1980. Route 92 was supposed to remedy the lack of limited-access highways to the greater Princeton area. The road would've started at Route 1 near Ridge Road in South Brunswick and ended at Exit 8A of the turnpike. However, that project was killed in 2006.
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