Readington Township, New Jersey

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Map of Readington Township in Hunterdon County

Readington Township is a Township located in the easternmost portion of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 15,803.

White House Station is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Readington Township.

Created by Royal Charter of King George II, "Readings" Township was formed July 15, 1730. It was the first new township created after Hunterdon became a county. Containing almost forty-eight square miles, it remains the largest township in the County. Bounded on the north by the Lamington River and Rockaway Creek; to the east by Somerset County; to the south, the South Branch of the Raritan River; and to the west by the old West Jersey Society's line which crosses the Cushetunk Mountains.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Government
- 3.1 Local government
- 3.2 Federal, state and county representation
4 Education
5 Business
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 123.9 km² (47.8 mi²). 123.5 km² (47.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.25%) is water.

Readington Township borders Raritan Township, Clinton Township, and Tewksbury Township. Readington Township also borders Somerset County.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 15,803 people, 5,676 households, and 4,410 families residing in the township. The population density was 127.9/km² (331.4/mi²). There were 5,794 housing units at an average density of 46.9/km² (121.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 95.14% White, 0.76% African American, 0.06% Native American, 2.56% Asian, 0.53% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.05% of the population.

There were 5,676 households out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.3% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the township the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $95,356, and the median income for a family was $106,343. Males had a median income of $66,778 versus $48,385 for females. The per capita income for the township was $41,000. About 0.7% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Readington Township uses the Township form of government which is one of the oldest forms of government in New Jersey. The original Township Act of 1798 incorporated 104 townships. The Township Act of 1899 established governance by a township committee with all municipal powers. This act, with a handful of amendments, served until it was repealed by the Township Act of 1989, which cleared up many ambiguities of the previous law.

Under the current township government laws, the township committee remains the backbone of the municipality's government. Voters elect, at-large, the township committee comprising of five members. The elections are partisan and the committee members serve staggered three-year terms. The Township Committee elects the mayor and deputy mayor each January from its members for a one-year term. The Mayor serves as chair of the Township Committee and has the powers vested in the mayor's office by general law^[1].

Members of the Readington Township Committee are Mayor Gerard J. Shamey (term as Mayor ends December 31, 2006; term as Committee Member ends 2007), Deputy Mayor Thomas Auriemma (2006), Julia C. Allen (2008), Frank L. Gatti (2008) and Beatrice Muir (2006)^[2].

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Readington Township is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District.^[3]

New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District, covering portions of Hunterdon County, Middlesex County, Somerset County and Union County, is represented by Mike Ferguson (R). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Robert Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 23rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Leonard Lance (R, Flemington) and in the Assembly by Michael J. Doherty (R, Oxford) and Marcia A. Karrow (R, Raritan Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).

Hunterdon County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. Hunterdon County's Freeholders are: Freeholder Director Nancy I. Palladino, Freeholder Deputy Director Marcia A. Karrow, George B. Melick, George D. Muller, Erik C. Peterson.

[edit] Education

The Readington Township Public Schools serve students in grades kindergarten through grade eight. Schools in the district are Whitehouse School (K-3), Three Bridges School (K-3), Holland Brook School (4-5) and Readington Middle School (6-8).

Students in grade 9 - 12 attend the Hunterdon Central Regional High School, which serves almost 2,800 students in central Hunterdon County. Students from Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Borough, Raritan Township and Readington Township attend the high school.

[edit] Business

Readington Township is home to the global headquarters of Merck & Co., one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the country. It is also home to the personal lines and commercial lines of insurance of Chubb Corporation.

Readington's business climate benefits from its proximity to Interstate 78, Princeton, Bridgewater Township and other centers of business in central New Jersey.

[edit] References

^ Local Form of Government, accessed March 31, 2006
^ Readington Township Committee, accessed March 31, 2006
^ League of Women Voters: 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, p. 63, accessed August 30, 2006

[edit] External links

v • d • e Municipalities of Hunterdon County, New Jersey (County Seat: Flemington)
Boroughs	Bloomsbury \| Califon \| Flemington \| Frenchtown \| Glen Gardner \| Hampton \| High Bridge \| Lebanon \| Milford \| Stockton
City	Lambertville
Town	Clinton
Townships	Alexandria \| Bethlehem \| Clinton \| Delaware \| East Amwell \| Franklin \| Holland \| Kingwood \| Lebanon \| Raritan \| Readington \| Tewksbury \| Union \| West Amwell
CDPs and Communities	Annandale \| Raven Rock \| Ringoes \| White House Station