Martinsville, New Jersey

Martinsville, New Jersey
Census-designated place
Martinsville, New Jersey Location of Martinsville within Somerset County, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°36′11″N 74°34′33″W / 40.602946°N 74.575794°W / 40.602946; -74.575794Coordinates: 40°36′11″N 74°34′33″W / 40.602946°N 74.575794°W / 40.602946; -74.575794[1][2]
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Somerset
Township	Bridgewater
Area[2]
• Total	12.398 sq mi (32.111 km2)
• Land	12.322 sq mi (31.914 km2)
• Water	0.076 sq mi (0.198 km2)  0.62%
Elevation[3]	259 ft (79 m)
Population (2010 Census)[4]
• Total	11,980
• Density	972.3/sq mi (375.4/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	Eastern (EDT) (UTC-4)
ZIP code	08836[5]
Area code(s)	908
FIPS code	3444430[6][2]
GNIS feature ID	02584010[7][2]

Martinsville is a census-designated place (CDP) and unincorporated area located within Bridgewater Township, in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States.^[8][9][10] As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP's population was 11,980.^[4] Martinsville is located in northeastern Bridgewater near Warren Township; the 08836 ZIP code takes in the southern extension of Bernards Township as well. It is predominantly a residential area, though it does have its own commercial center along Washington Valley Road, and its own post office.

Geography

Martinsville is located at 40°36′11″N 74°34′33″W / 40.602946°N 74.575794°W / 40.602946; -74.575794 (40.602946,-74.575794). According to the United States Census Bureau, Martinsville had a total area of 12.398 square miles (32.111 km²), of which, 12.322 square miles (31.914 km²) of it is land and 0.076 square miles (0.198 km²) of it (0.62%) is water.^[1][2]

Demographics

Census 2010

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 11,980 people, 4,331 households, and 3,491 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 972.3 per square mile (375.4 /km²). There were 4,461 housing units at an average density of 362.0 per square mile (139.8 /km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 88.45% (10,596) White, 1.31% (157) Black or African American, 0.04% (5) Native American, 8.20% (982) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.42% (50) from other races, and 1.59% (190) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.81% (457) of the population.^[4]

There were 4,331 households of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.7% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 16.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.10.^[4]

In the CDP, 24.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 18.2% from 25 to 44, 35.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.9 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.^[4]

History

The Middlebrook encampment was a seasonal encampment of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War near Martinsville that straddled the ridge of the First Watchung Mountains. Its position provided a natural fortress not only protecting the Continental Army, but also overlooking the plains towards New Brunswick where the British forces were stationed in 1777.

Tradition holds that it was at the Middlebrook encampment that the first official flag of the United States was unfurled, after a law to adopt a national flag had been passed by Congress on June 14, 1777. By special order of Congress, a Thirteen Star Flag is flown 24 hours a day at the Washington Camp Ground, part of the former Middlebrook encampment, in Bridgewater. Since 1889, the first hoisting of the flag is commemorated annually each July 4 with a changing of the flag, a reading of the United States Declaration of Independence, and the delivery of an historical address.

Points of interest

• Washington Valley Park, part of the Somerset County Park System, is located in Martinsville. The park offers extensive hiking and mountain biking opportunities. A notable hike in the park is an hour-long hike around the out-of-use reservoir that once served Bound Brook, New Jersey.
• The Mount Bethel Baptist Meetinghouse, located in Martinsville, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• The Devil's Tree is a solitary oak located in a field on Mountain Road. Legend has it that it is the property of the Devil and a gateway to Hell.
• There is a Revolutionary War cemetery in the Spring Run section of Martinsville, where soldiers of both American and British troops are buried, along with some early settlers of the area.

Education

The Pingry School's upper division for grades 6 to 12 is located in Martinsville.

Little Friends of Jesus Nursery School (preschool, non-parochial) operate under the supervision of Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.^[11]

Notable people

Notable current and former residents of Martinsville include:

• Andrea Kane – author of romance novels.^[12]
• Geraldine Laybourne – founded Oxygen Media and has served as its chairman and chief executive officer since its inception.^{[citation needed]}
• Todd Levy – Grammy Award-winning clarinetist and principal of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
• Upton Sinclair – author of The Jungle lived in Martinsville during the later years of his life.
• Adam Small – composer, producer and instrumentalist with film and television credits.^{[citation needed]}

References

v t e Municipalities and communities of Somerset County, New Jersey, United States County seat: Somerville Boroughs Bernardsville Bound Brook Far Hills Manville Millstone North Plainfield Peapack-Gladstone Raritan Rocky Hill Somerville South Bound Brook Watchung Townships Bedminster Bernards Branchburg Bridgewater Franklin Green Brook Hillsborough Montgomery Warren CDPs Belle Mead Blackwells Mills Blawenburg Bradley Gardens Clyde East Franklin East Millstone East Rocky Hill Finderne Franklin Center Franklin Park Green Knoll Griggstown Harlingen Kingston Martinsville Middlebush Pleasant Plains Six Mile Run Skillman Somerset Ten Mile Run Voorhees Weston Zarephath Communities Basking Ridge Flagtown Gladstone Lamington Liberty Corner Lyons Neshanic Neshanic Station North Branch Pottersville South Branch