HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY

'Hillsborough Township' is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 36,634.
Hillsborough Township was originally created by Royal Charter on September 12, 1771, from portions of Western precinct. It was incorporated as one of New Jersey's original 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Millstone (May 14, 1894) and Manville (April 1, 1929)."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 223.

Contents

Geography

Communities

Redevelopment

Demographics

History

Government

Local government

Federal, state and county representation

Education

Notable residents

References

External links

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 141.9 km² (54.8 mi²). 141.6 km² (54.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.18%) is water. In terms of area, it is the largest township in Somerset County.

Communities

Unincorporated communities located within Hillsborough Township are Belle Mead, Blackwells Mills, Flagtown, Neshanic and South Branch. Parts of Belle Mead and Blackwells Mills are located in neighboring communities adjacent to Hillsborough Township.

Redevelopment

After the three and three quarter mile US 206 bypass is completed, the town plans to design a town center along the old Business Route 206.^[3] This old section of road will become main street and will be zoned for commercial and residential use. Long-term plans for a West Trenton Line would allow for Hillsborough to have a train station downtown.^[4]

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 36,634 people, 12,649 households, and 9,802 families residing in the township. The population density was 258.6/km² (669.9/mi²). There were 12,854 housing units at an average density of 90.7/km² (235.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 85.96% White, 3.76% African American, 0.09% Native American, 7.31% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.75% of the population.
There were 12,649 households out of which 44.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 17.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.31.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $83,290, and the median income for a family was $93,933. Males had a median income of $62,273 versus $42,052 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,091. About 2.1% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

★ According to ''The Best Places to Live 2007'' in Money Magazine, Hillsborough is ranked the #23 best place to live. [1]

History

On May 31, 1771, Hillsborough was officially granted a Charter incorporating it as a Township. A revised charter was issued on September 12, 1771. The records of Hillsborough Township are complete from their inception in 1746 and there are ten volumes, each some several hundred pages, kept in the Special Collections Department of the Rutgers University Library along with the Charter.
Hillsborough Township quickly took its place in history as the path General Washington and his troops traveled from the Battle of Princeton to winter quarters in Morristown. While the British were encamped in the valley below awaiting an opportunity to attack, it is said that Washington drilled his troops on the Sourland Mountain around a spring near the top using different formations and corn stalks for guns. As the sun caught the stalks, the British thought Washington had received reinforcements and fresh supplies and the British troops, thinking that they were outnumbered, slipped off to New Brunswick leaving Washington to continue to Morristown.
Hillsborough Township was formally incorporated on February 21, 1798.
Hillsborough is also home to Duke Gardens and Duke Farms, a 2,700 acre (11 km²) estate in the north-eastern quadrant of the town. Originally owned by tobacco and electric energy tycoon, James "Buck" Duke and then passed down to daughter Doris Duke, Duke Farms is now one of the few remaining "preserved" natural areas in Hillsborough Township.

Government

Local government

Hillsborough Township is governed by a five-member Township Committee, members of which are elected for staggered three-year terms. The mayor is one of the five, chosen by the other members of the Committee, for a one-year term. The Committee holds two public meetings each month in addition to work sessions.^[5].
The members of the Hillsborough Township Committee as of 2007 are Mayor Anthony Ferrera, Deputy Mayor Lisa Nisivoccia, Paul M. Drake, Carl Suraci, and Bob Wagner.^[6]

Federal, state and county representation

Hillsborough Township is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 16th Legislative District.^[7]

Education

The Hillsborough Township School District serves students in kindergarten through twelfth grade. Students from Millstone attend the district's schools as part of a sending/receiving relationship.
Schools in the district are the six K-4 elementary schools (Amsterdam Elementary School, Hillsborough Elementary School, Sunnymead Elementary School, Triangle Elementary School, Woodfern Elementary School and Woods Road Elementary School), Auten Road Intermediate School for grades 5-6, Hillsborough Middle School for grades 7-8 and Hillsborough High School for grades 9-12.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Hillsborough Township include:

★ Michael Ian Black - Actor.^[8]

★ Doris Duke - heiress and philanthropist

★ Jaheim - R&B singer

★ Kristin Malko - Actress

★ Shawn Mayer - NFL Safety for the Cleveland Browns

★ Shaun O'Hara - NFL center for the New York Giants

★ Ricky Proehl - NFL wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts.^[9][10]

★ Peter Dumont Vroom (1791-1873) - 9th Governor of New Jersey.^[11]

★ John Bell (personality) - Radio DJ Z100 WHTZ Elvis Duran and the Z Morning Zoo.

★ Minakshi Datta and Jyotirmoy Datta - Writers originally from India who now reside in Hillsborough.

References

1. Township Administrator , Hillsborough Township. Accessed July 4, 2007.
2. , Geographic Names Information System, accessed July 4, 2007.
3. Fox unveils re-designed Hillsborough Bypass: New smart growth plan reduces sprawl, preserves more open space, New Jersey Department of Transportation press release dated December 20, 2002.
4. West Trenton Line, New Jersey Transit. Accessed December 21, 2006.
5. Hillsborough Township Form of Government, Hillsborough Township. Accessed August 20, 2006.
6. 2007 TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE, Hillsborough Township. Accessed May 4, 2007.
7. League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 58, accessed August 30, 2006.
8. Toronto International Film Festival: ''The Pleasure of Your Company'', accessed December 10, 2006
9. Indianapolis Colts player profile for Ricky Proehl, accessed December 20, 2006
10. Ricky Proehl celebrates Super Bowl championship: 'It felt awesome,' ex-Hillsborough High football standout said, ''Princeton Packet'', February 3, 2000
11. Peter D. Vroom from the New Jersey Historical Society, accessed December 16, 2006

External links

★ Hillsborough Township official web site

★ Hillsborough Township School District

★

★ National Center for Education Statistics data for the Hillsborough Township School District