| Warren Township, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| — Township — | |
| Map of Warren Township in Somerset County. Inset: Location of Somerset County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
| Census Bureau map of Warren Township, New Jersey | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Somerset |
| Incorporated | March 5, 1806 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Type | Township (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Gary DiNardo (term ends 2011)[2] |
| • Administrator | Mark M. Krane |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19.7 sq mi (50.9 km2) |
| • Land | 19.7 sq mi (50.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation[3] | 289 ft (88 m) |
| Population (2010 Census) | |
| • Total | 15,311 |
| • Density | 777.2/sq mi (300.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 07059 |
| Area code(s) | 908, 732/848 |
| FIPS code | 34-76940[4][5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882173[6] |
| Website | http://www.warrennj.org |
Warren Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 15,311.
Warren was originally inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans and was settled in the 1720s by European farmers. As early as 1900, it became a refuge for wealthy residents looking to escape nearby New York City.[7] Warren was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1806, from portions of Bernards Township and Bridgewater Township. The south-eastern half of the original township (which was close to a railroad and contained most of the population) was separated off as North Plainfield Township on April 2, 1872.[8] Warren is named for American Revolutionary War patriot, General Joseph Warren, who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill.[7]
In July 2009, CNNMoney.com ranked Warren #6 in its list of "Best Places to Live" in the United States,[9] citing in particular its schools, June carnival (the Lions Club's annual "Expo"), "wide open spaces" (generally 1.5 acres (6,100 m2) per house), and 74 "working farms" ("taxed-as-farmland" tracts, but rural, nevertheless).
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 19.7 square miles (51 km2). All of it is land and with the exception of a few private ponds, none of the area is covered with water. The east-west Second Watchung Mountain ridge bisects Warren, with the northern half of the township sloping northward to the Passaic and Dead Rivers, and the southern half spanning the Washington Valley, between the First and Second Watchung Mountain ridges, through which runs the East Branch of the Middlebrook.
Warren Township is named for the hero of Bunker Hill, Joseph Warren. The town was formed in 1806 from parts of Bernards and Bridgewater Townships. Warren celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2006. Parts of the town are designated populated places and are commonly known as Coontown, Dockwatch Hollow, Mount Bethel, Round Top, Smalleytown, Springdale, Union Village,[10] and Warrenville,[10] although these place names have fallen into disuse.
| Bernards Twp | Long Hill | Berkeley Heights Twp | ||
| Watchung | ||||
| Warren Township | ||||
| Bridgewater Township | Green Brook Twp |
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 1,399 |
|
|
| 1940 | 2,139 | 52.9% | |
| 1950 | 3,316 | 55.0% | |
| 1960 | 5,386 | 62.4% | |
| 1970 | 8,592 | 59.5% | |
| 1980 | 9,805 | 14.1% | |
| 1990 | 10,830 | 10.5% | |
| 2000 | 14,259 | 31.7% | |
| 2010 | 15,311 | 7.4% | |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[11] | |||
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 14,259 people, 4,629 households, and 3,939 families residing in the township. The population density was 725.0 people per square mile (279.9/km²). There were 4,718 housing units at an average density of 239.9 per square mile (92.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.28% White, 1.26% African American, 0.04% Native American, 10.67% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.19% of the population.
There were 4,629 households out of which 45.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.3% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 12.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $103,677, and the median income for a family was $121,264. Males had a median income of $80,231 versus $46,356 for females. The per capita income for the township was $49,475. About 0.7% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.
Warren 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. Township Committee meetings are held at the municipal building on Thursdays.
As of 2011[update], Township Committee members are Mayor Gary DiNardo (term ends December 31, 2012), Deputy Mayor Carolann Garafola (2013), Mal Plager (2011), and Frank Salvato (2011) and Victor J. Sordillo (2012).[12] Salvato, re-elected in 2008, is over 95 years old and was first elected to the Committee in the 1938 and served as mayor in 1939, the township youngest. He is believed to be the longest-serving elected official in the state of New Jersey having won re-election 25 times. The current five members have served together on the Committee since 2001.
In 1975 the Township Committee created the position of Township Administrator, to serve a one-year term beginning in July of each year. The current Township Administrator, Mark M. Krane, has served in that post since 1986.
The Historical Sites Committee was formed in 1971 and members are appointed by the governing body to administer municipally owned historic landmarks. The historical landmarks they have protected are the Mount Bethel Meeting House, the Kirch-Ford House, and two small family cemeteries. The Meeting House dates back to mid-1700 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Warren Township is in the 7th Congressional district. 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).
Warren is in the 21st Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Thomas Kean, Jr. (R, Westfield) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by Jon Bramnick (R, Westfield) and Nancy Munoz (R, Summit).[13]
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.[14] As of 2011, Somerset County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Robert Zaborowski (Franklin Township, term ends December 31, 2011)[15], Freeholder Deputy Director Patricia L. Walsh (Green Brook Township, 2013)[16], Jack Ciattarelli (Hillsborough Township, 2012)[17], Peter S. Palmer (Bernardsville, 2011)[18] and Patrick Scaglione (Bridgewater Township, 2012).[19][20]
On the national and state levels, Warren Township leans strongly toward the Republican Party. In the 2008 Presidential Election, Republican John McCain received 59% of the vote, defeating Democrat Barack Obama, who received around 40%. In the 2009 Gubernatorial Election, Republican Chris Christie received 67% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jon Corzine, who received around 24%.
The Warren Township Schools serve public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics.[21]) are four K - 5 elementary schools — Central School (343 students), Mt. Horeb School (373), Angelo L. Tomaso School (374), and Woodland School (357) — along with Warren Middle School (758) for grades 6-8.
Students in public school for grades 9-12 attend Watchung Hills Regional High School, which serves students from Warren as well as the neighboring communities of Watchung, Green Brook (in Somerset County), and Long Hill Township (in Morris County).[22]
Notable current and former residents of Warren Township include:
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