| Robbinsville Township, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Nickname(s): Washington Township, Washington | |
| Robbinsville Township highlighted in Mercer County. Inset map: Mercer County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Washington Township, Mercer County, New Jersey. | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Mercer |
| Incorporated | March 15, 1859 as Washington Twp. |
| Renamed | January 1, 2008 as Robbinsville Twp. |
| Government | |
| • Type | Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council) |
| • Mayor | David Fried |
| Area | |
| • Total | 20.5 sq mi (53.1 km2) |
| • Land | 20.5 sq mi (53.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2) |
| Elevation | 112 ft (34 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 13,642 |
| • Density | 501.8/sq mi (193.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 08691 |
| Area code(s) | 609 |
| FIPS code | 34-77210[1][2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882122[3] |
| Website | http://www.robbinsville-twp.org |
Robbinsville Township is a township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 13,642.
Prior to November 6, 2007, the township was known as Washington Township. On that date, voters approved 1816 to 693[4] a measure that changed the township's name from Washington Township, which is the name of five other municipalities in New Jersey, to Robbinsville, named after a settlement within the township. The official changeover took place January 1, 2008, as signs and other items with Washington on them began to be changed.[5]
Robbinsville Township was incorporated as Washington Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 15, 1859, from portions of East Windsor Township.[6]
Windsor is an unincorporated area located within Robbinsville Township. Founded in 1818 as Centerville, this historic community has remained mostly unchanged for nearly 200 years.
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 20.5 square miles (53 km2), of which, 20.5 square miles (53 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.10%) is water.
| West Windsor Twp | East Windsor Township | |||
| Hamilton Twp | Millstone Township | |||
| Robbinsville Township | ||||
| Allentown and Upper Freehold Township |
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,347 |
|
|
| 1940 | 1,365 | 1.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,843 | 35.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,156 | 17.0% | |
| 1970 | 3,311 | 53.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,487 | 5.3% | |
| 1990 | 5,815 | 66.8% | |
| 2000 | 10,275 | 76.7% | |
| 2010 | 13,642 | 32.8% | |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[7] | |||
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 10,275 people, 4,074 households, and 2,815 families residing in the township. The population density was 501.8 people per square mile (193.7/km²). There were 4,163 housing units at an average density of 203.3 per square mile (78.5/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 91.00% White, 2.89% African American, 0.14% Native American, 4.31% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72% of the population.
There were 4,074 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 37.9% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $71,377, and the median income for a family was $90,878. Males had a median income of $61,589 versus $44,653 for females. The per capita income for the township was $35,529. About 2.5% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
In November 2004, township residents voted to change their form of government from a Township Committee to a Mayor-Council form under the Faulkner Act. The new form of government took effect as of July 1, 2005.[8]
In the new Mayor-Council form of government, the Mayor and Council function as independent branches of government. The Mayor is the Chief Executive of the Township and heads its Administration. The Mayor is elected in a non-partisan election and serves for a four-year term. The Mayor may attend Council meetings but is not obliged to do so.[8]
The Council is the legislative branch. The five members of the Township Council are elected on a non-partisan basis for four-year, staggered terms. At the annual organizational meeting held during the first week of July of each year, the Council elects a President and Vice President to serve for one-year terms. The Council President chairs the meetings of the governing body.[8]
As of 2011[update], the Mayor of Robbinsville Township is David Fried, whose term of office ends June 30, 2013.[9] Members of the Township Council are Council President Sheree McGowan (four-year term ends June 30, 2013), Council Vice President Rich Levesque (2011), David L. Boyne (2011), Vincent J. Calcagno (2013) and Christine Ciacco (2011).[8]
Mayor Fried was re-elected in May 2009, with 64% percent of the vote, while Sheree McGowan and Vince Calcagno were elected to four-year terms on the Township Council.[10] Rich Levesque was elected by the council to serve as Council President in 2009.
Robbinsville Township is in the 4th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 30th Legislative District.[11]
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).
30th District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Robert Singer (R, Lakewood Township) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Ronald S. Dancer (R, New Egypt) and Joseph R. Malone (R, Bordentown).[12] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[13] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[14]
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.[15] 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.[16] County Freeholders are Freeholder Chair Pasqual "Pat" Colavita, Jr. (term ends December 31, 2012; Lawrenceville)[17], Freeholder Vice Chair Lucylle R. S. Walter (2011; Ewing Township)[18], Samuel T. Frisby (2011; Trenton)[19], Ann M. Cannon (2012; East Windsor Township)[20], Anthony P. Carabelli (2013; Trenton)[21], John Cimino (2011; Hamilton Township)[22] and Andrew Koontz (2013; Princeton Borough)[23][24]
The Robbinsville Public School District now serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Schools in the district (with 2009-10 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[25]) are Sharon Elementary School (927 students; grades K-3), Windsor Elementary School (enrollment not listed), Pond Road Middle School (1,074; 4-8) and Robbinsville High School (740 in grades 9-12)
Prior to the 2006-07 school year, high school students from here were sent to Lawrence High School in Lawrence Township as part of a now-ended sending/receiving relationship with the Lawrence Township Public Schools. Robbinsville High School serves all of Robbinsville Township's high school students on site and graduated its first class of 150 students in June 2008.[26]
Robbinsville Town Center, near the intersection of U.S. Route 130 and Route 33, is a mix of about one thousand housing units, including loft-style condominiums, townhouses, duplexes, single family homes, and real estate space.[27] Plans are currently underway to redevelop the portion of the township which lies to the south of Route 33, between the Hamilton Township border and U.S. Route 130.[28] In December 2010, the state approved designating this property as an area in need of development, which allows the township to draft a plan and appoint a redeveloper to revive stalled construction projects there.[29]
A proposal to build a large industrial warehouse on Meadowbrook Road has met with opposition from local residents.[30] A lawsuit filed by a resident challenging zoning approvals for the warehouse is currently pending.[31]
A proposal to build a Burger King restaurant at the corner of U.S. Route 130 south and Main Street has similarly generated concerns from neighbors.[32]
County routes that pass through include County Route 524, County Route 526 and County Route 539 (Old York Road). Four major U.S./State/Interstate routes pass through the Township: U.S. Route 130, Route 33, Interstate 195 (the Central Jersey Expressway), and the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95).
The Central Jersey Expressway (commonly known as I-195) is a major artery that connects Trenton to "Shore Points" and the New Jersey Turnpike. Interchange 7A (for the Turnpike) is located in the township, with a 10-lane toll gate. 7A is well known for leading to not only Trenton, but to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township. In addition, Exit 7A is the connector between the free Interstate 295 versus the tolled Turnpike. Trucks and many other vehicles are now beginning to shunpike by using 295 north to 195 east, to the Turnpike northbound (and vice versa). Furthermore, the turnpike interchange gives access to motorists who wish to continue on I-95 (by using I-295) since I-95 (the section north of Trenton) "abruptly" ends in Lawrence Township. (All signage directs drivers wishing to continue on I-95 north to take I-295 south to I-195 east to the Turnpike, I-95 at Exit 7A.)
In November 2006, a bypass of Route was proposed to be constructed near the intersection at CR 526 to the intersection of U.S. Route 130 and Gold Drive in the township of Hamilton.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is currently working on a major widening project that would extend the "dual-dual" configuration to Exit 6 (Mansfield Township) from its current southern beginning at Exit 8A (Monroe Township). This would require some extensive construction in the township. The current Exit 7A ramps (for the turnpike access) will be demolished and replaced with new ramp movements: two high speed ramps to the turnpike north and from the turnpike south, and a single lane ramp from the turnpike north and to the turnpike south. The ramps that provide movements to Interstate 195 will be widened to two lanes (from the current single lane). The 7A toll gate will be expanded by constructing 3 more booths at the toll gate. Also, all the overpasses that cross over and pass underneath the turnpike (especially 195 expressway's overpasses) will be reconstructed. Finally, south barriers will be constructed at various locations along the turnpike. The entire project is slated to be completed by late 2014.
Due to vehicular noise, residents in the Woods of Washington want sound barriers to be installed along the Turnpike. During peak hours, the decibel levels can reach over 90 (an unacceptable amount which can cause health problems). The residents in this development are situated immediately north of the bridges carrying Interstate 195 over the Turnpike. However, sound barriers may not be built until 2014, when the widening between Mansfield Township and Monroe Township is completed.[33]
Robbinsville Township is also home to Trenton-Robbinsville Airport (identifier N87), an uncontrolled general aviation airport, with a 4,275-foot (1,303 m) long runway. The airport averages 30,000 aircraft operations per year.[34]
Notable current and former residents of Robbinsville Township include:
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