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Montgomery Township, New Jersey

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Map of Montgomery Township in Somerset County

Montgomery Township is a Township located in Somerset County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 17,481. The Census Bureau's 2004 population estimate for Montgomery Township is 22,287, which represents growth of over 130% since the 1990 Census population figure of 9,612

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 84.5 km² (32.6 mi²). 84.5 km² (32.6 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there are 17,481 people, 5,803 households, and 4,781 families residing in the township. The population density is 206.9/km² (535.9/mi²). There are 6,130 housing units at an average density of 72.6/km² (187.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the township is 84.55% White, 2.07% African American, 0.09% Native American, 11.50% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 2.21% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 5,803 households out of which 51.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.5% are married couples living together, 5.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 17.6% are non-families. 14.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.99 and the average family size is 3.33.

In the township the population is spread out with 32.9% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township is $118,850, and the median income for a family is $129,150. 70.20% of the residents have a college education or better, and 89.8% are white collar. Males have a median income of $86,687 versus $55,441 for females. The per capita income for the township is $48,699. 1.5% of the population and 1.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.2% of those under the age of 18 and 1.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Rocky Hill, a separately incorporated borough of Montgomery, has a population of 658 people. The median age is 44 years. The median household income is $79,469 per year. 25% are single housholds, while 66.3% are married households. The percentage of families (housholds with children) is 69.1%. The average houshold size is 2.28 people. 59.7% are college or better, and 79.8% are white collar.

Government

Local government

Members of the Montgomery Township Committee are Mayor Louise Wilson, Deputy Mayor Karen Wintress, Mark Caliguire, Cecilia Xie Birge and John Warms.

Federal, state and county representation

Montgomery Township is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 16th Legislative District.

For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 12th congressional district is represented by Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, Ewing Township).[1][2] New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027)[3] and George Helmy (Mountain Lakes, term ends 2024).[4][5]

For the 2024-2025 session, the 16th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Andrew Zwicker (D, South Brunswick) and in the General Assembly by Mitchelle Drulis (D, East Amwell Township) and Roy Freiman (D, Hillsborough Township).[6] Template:NJ Governor

Template:NJ Somerset County Freeholders

History

The area of present day Montgomery Township was a part of Lenni Lenape Native American lands, later was a rural farmland during colonial times and during the American Revolutionary War was a crossroads of history. The area was named Montgomery Township after General Brigadier Richard Montgomery. It is located in the southern tip of Somerset County in New Jersey and is situated between the Millstone River Valley and the Sourland Mountains. The Township is approximately 60 minutes from New York City, 90 minutes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and 15 minutes from Princeton.

The Township has a rich, varied history and culture as a number of English, Dutch, German and other settlers settled in the area. There were several prominent Montgomery residents who served as "Freeholders of the Western Precinct" in the 1790s with names of families such as Voorhees, Blew, Stryker, Stockton, Hageman, Skillman, Sutpen, Updike, Stout, Beekman, Trehune, VanPelt, Duryea and Hunt with Dr.Witherspoon as head of the Council.

The Township first became involved in the military movements of the American Revolutionary War as General George Washington travelled across this part of New Jersey in the first week of December, 1776. Between 1776 and 1783, General Washington spent considerable amount of time around this area and he frequently visited his friend John Van Horne at his manor house just west of present Montgomery Avenue. Rockingham in Rocky Hill was Washington's headquarters in 1783 while he attended the Continental Congress session in Princeton. The Township is also the home of many of the farms, dwellings and houses that were built around the 1800s. The Montgomery Center for the Arts is located in one of these houses called 'The 1860 House' which was constructed in the late Greek Revival architecture style. Of particular importance are the rustic stone bridges that exist in the area.

In the late 20th Century, Montgomery Township evolved into a primarily residential community, along with industrial zones and corporate office properties while retaining large tracts of open spaces and "Green Acres." There are several hamlets within the Township: Belle Mead, Blawenburg, Dutchtown, Harlingen, Rocky Hill, Skillman and Zion. Rocky Hill, which was the first village in the Township, is now a separately incorporated borough, and its children attend Montgomery Township schools.

  1. ^ Directory of Representatives: New Jersey, United States House of Representatives. Accessed January 3, 2019.
  2. ^ Biography, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Watson Coleman and her husband William reside in Ewing Township and are blessed to have three sons; William, Troy, and Jared and three grandchildren; William, Kamryn and Ashanee."
  3. ^ U.S. Sen. Cory Booker cruises past Republican challenger Rik Mehta in New Jersey, PhillyVoice. Accessed April 30, 2021. "He now owns a home and lives in Newark's Central Ward community."
  4. ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/23/nyregion/george-helmy-bob-menendez-murphy.html
  5. ^ Tully, Tracey (August 23, 2024). "Menendez's Senate Replacement Has Been a Democrat for Just 5 Months". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  6. ^ Legislative Roster for District 16, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 18, 2024.
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