Princeton Township, New Jersey

"See also: the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey and Princeton, New Jersey"

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Township of Princeton, New Jersey
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Princeton Township highlighted in Mercer County. Inset



mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Princeton Township, New Jersey
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_name2 = Mercer
government_type = Township (New Jersey)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Phyllis L. Marchand
leader_title1 = Administrator
leader_name1 = James J. Pascale [ [http://www.princetontwp.org/adminmain.html Administration] , Princeton Township. Accessed June 29, 2008.]
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1683
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = April 9, 1838
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi = 16.62
area_total_km2 = 43.0
area_land_sq_mi = 16.38
area_land_km2 = 42.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.23
area_water_km2 = 0.6
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 17353
population_metro =
population_urban =
population_density_km2 = 377.7
population_density_sq_mi = 978.2
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 40 |latm = 21 |lats = 47 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 39 |longs = 41 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 62
elevation_ft = 203
elevation_footnotes =
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 08540, 08542, 08543, 08544 (Princeton University)
area_code = 609
website = http://www.princetontwp.org
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-60915GR|2 [ [http://mcdc2.missouri.edu/webrepts/commoncodes/ccc_nj.html A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey] , Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.]
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0882125GR|3
footnotes =

Princeton Township is a township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 16,027.

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 Middlesex 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."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 164.]

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.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 16.6 square miles (43.0 km²), of which, 16.4 square miles (42.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (1.38%) is water.

Princeton Township borders Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, and West Windsor Township in Mercer County; Montgomery Township in Somerset County; and Plainsboro Township and South Brunswick Township in Middlesex County.

Princeton Borough is an independent municipality completely surrounded by Princeton 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.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1910= 1178
1920= 1424
1930= 2738
1940= 3251
1950= 5407
1960= 10411
1970= 13651
1980= 13683
1990= 13198
2000= 16027
estimate= 17353
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=06000US3402160915&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C16000US3457600&_street=&_county=princeton&_cityTown=princeton&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Princeton township] , United States Census Bureau, accessed August 5, 2007.]
footnote=Population 1930 - 1990. [ [http://www.wnjpin.net/OneStopCareerCenter/LaborMarketInformation/lmi01/poptrd6.htm New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990] , Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.] As of the censusGR|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/sq mi (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.

Government

Local government

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. ["2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book", Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 103.] 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 by law. 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.

An Administrator is also empowered by ordinance to serve in an executive capacity and direct the day-to-day operations of the Township. James Pascale is the current Township Administrator.

Members of the Princeton Township Committee are
Mayor [http://www.princetontwp.org/marchand.html Phyllis L. Marchand] ,
Deputy Mayor [http://www.princetontwp.org/miller.html Bernard P. Miller] , [http://www.princetontwp.org/Bergman.html Committeewoman Vicky Bergman] , [http://www.princetontwp.org/Goerner.html Committeeman Chad Goerner] and [http://www.princetontwp.org/Liverman.html Committeeman Lance Liverman] . [http://www.princetontwp.org/govbody.html Princeton Governing Body] , Princeton Township. Accessed June 29, 2008.]

Federal, state and county representation

Princeton Township is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 15th Legislative District. [ [http://www.lwvnj.org/pubs/CG06.pdf 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government] , New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 63. Accessed August 30, 2006.]

Education

Colleges and universities

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.

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

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. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/21/4255/21-4255-000.html Princeton Regional Schools 2007 Report Card Narrative] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 9, 2008. "Students from three communities in Central Jersey (Princeton Borough, Princeton Township, and Cranbury Township) attend the schools. (Cranbury students attend only the high school.)"]

Private schools

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.

Public libraries

The [http://www.princeton.lib.nj.us/ 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.

Points of interest

*The site of the Mercer Oak, against which the dying General Hugh Mercer rested while his men around him continued to fight the Battle of Princeton in 1777. The oak is the emblem of Princeton Township [ [http://www.princetontwp.org/merceroak.html Princeton Township - Mercer Oak] ] and appears on the seal of Mercer County. The tree died in 2000, and one of its saplings now grows in its place.
*The Washington Oak - 275+ year-old white oak overlooking Princeton Battlefield State Park on the spot where British and American forces first saw each other.
*Delaware and Raritan Canal - runs along the Stony Brook and the eastern bank of Carnegie Lake.
*Stony Brook Meeting House and Cemetery - historic sites of 18th century meeting house and burial site of Richard Stockton (signer of the Declaration of Independence) and Governor of New Jersey Charles Smith Olden.

ee also

*"Town Topics"

References

External links

* [http://www.princetontwp.org/ Official township web site]
* [http://www2.prs.k12.nj.us/ Princeton Regional Schools]
*NJReportCard|21|4255|0|Princeton Regional Schools
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3413410 Data for the Princeton Regional Schools] , National Center for Education Statistics