Readington Township, New Jersey

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Readington Township, New Jersey
settlement_type = Township
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Map of Readington Township in Hunterdon County. Inset: Location of Hunterdon County highlighted in the State of New Jersey.


mapsize1 = 250x200px
map_caption1 = Census Bureau map of Readington Township, New Jersey

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = New Jersey
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Hunterdon
established_title = Royal Charter
established_date = July 15, 1730
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = February 21, 1798
government_type = Township (New Jersey)
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Thomas S. Auriemma (2009)

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 123.8
area_land_km2 = 123.5
area_water_km2 = 0.3
area_total_sq_mi = 47.8
area_land_sq_mi = 47.7
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 15803
population_density_km2 = 127.9
population_density_sq_mi = 331.4

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes = [Gnis|882178|Township of Readington, Geographic Names Information System, accessed January 4, 2008.]
elevation_m = 60
elevation_ft = 197
latd = 40 |latm = 34 |lats = 42 |latNS = N
longd = 74 |longm = 46 |longs = 48 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 08870
area_code = 908
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 34-62250GR|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 = 0882178GR|3
website = http://www.readingtontwp.org/
footnotes =

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. Nationwide, Readington Township ranks 87th among the Highest-income places in the United States with a population of at least 10,000.

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

Created by Royal Charter of King George II, "Reading" Township was formed July 15, 1730 from portions of Amwell Township. It was the first new township created after Hunterdon became a county. The Township was incorporated as Readingtown Township, one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships, on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were annexed by Tewksbury Township in 1832 and 1861. ["The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 157]

Containing almost forty-eight square miles, it remains the largest township in the County. Over 7,000 acres of land have been preserved. Readington Township is 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.

Geography

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

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

Cushetunk Mountain is a ring-shaped mountain located in Readington Township and Clinton Township. Once an active volcano, the diabase mountain was formed a hundred and sixty million years ago. [ [http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/depts/c&h/herald3.htm Round Valley] ] The Lenape called the mountain "Cushetunk" meaning "place of hogs" after the wild hogs found there. [ [http://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/pdf/parks/Cushetunk.pdf Cushetunk Mountain] ] In the 1960s, the valley was filled with water to create Round Valley Reservoir.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1930= 2811
1940= 2905
1950= 4080
1960= 6147
1970= 7688
1980= 10855
1990= 13400
2000= 15803
estimate= 16295
estyear=2006
estref= [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=06000US3401961920&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34019%7C06000US3401961920&_street=&_county=readington&_cityTown=readington&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=060&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry= Census data for Readington township] , United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 10, 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 15,803 people, 5,676 households, and 4,410 families residing in the township. The population density was 331.4 people per square mile (127.9/km²). There were 5,794 housing units at an average density of 121.5/sq mi (46.9/km²). 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.

Government

Local government

Readington 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 or two seats 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.] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor. The Mayor serves as chair of the Township Committee and has the powers vested in the mayor's office by general law. [ [http://www.readingtontwp.org/gov_form.html Local Form of Government] , Readington Township. Accessed March 31, 2006.]

Members of the Readington Township Committee are Mayor Thomas S. Auriemma (term ends December 31, 2009), Deputy Mayor Julia C. Allen (2008), Frank L. Gatti (2008), Beatrice Muir (2009) and Gerard J. Shamey (2010). [ [http://www.readingtontwp.org/Twp_committee.html Readington Township Committee] , Readington Township. Accessed March 10, 2008.]

Federal, state and county representation

Readington Township is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd 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

The Readington Township Public Schools serve students in grades kindergarten through grade eight. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics [ [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3413710 Data for the Readington Township Public Schools] , National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed march 9, 2008.] ) are [http://readington.schoolwires.com/threebridges/site/default.asp Three Bridges School] (K-3, 435 students), [http://readington.schoolwires.com/whitehouse/site/default.asp Whitehouse School] (K-3, 526 students), [http://readington.schoolwires.com/hollandbrook/site/default.asp Holland Brook School] (4-5, 521 students) and [http://readington.schoolwires.com/readingtonms/site/default.asp Readington Middle School] (6-8, 787 students).

Students in public school for grades 9 - 12 attend the Hunterdon Central Regional High School, which serves over 3,100 students in central Hunterdon County. Students from Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Borough, Raritan Township and Readington Township attend the high school. [ [http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/19/2300/19-2300-000.html Hunterdon Central Regional High School 2007 Report Card Narrative] , New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 9, 2008. "Located in beautiful, historic Hunterdon County in central New Jersey, Hunterdon Central Regional High School serves the five municipalities of Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Borough, Raritan Township, and Readington Township."]

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 and commercial lines of insurance of Chubb Corporation, and the Quick Chek Corporation, which operates over 100 convenience stores throughout New Jersey and New York.

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

Emergency Services

Readington Township is served by a full-time Police Department, 3 volunteer run Rescue Squads, and 4 volunteer Fire Companies.

EMS & Rescue Services

*The [http://www.22rescue.com Whitehouse First Aid & Rescue Squad] Station 22 Rescue was formed in 1950 and provides the lead EMS & Rescue coordination for the Township under the leadership of 2008 Chief George Liothake. They are a blended department, led by volunteers, and have staff EMT's to cover the Basic Life Support Ambulances during times when volunteers are unavailable.

*The [http://www.frfars.org Flemington-Raritan First Aid & Rescue Squad] Station 49 Rescue provides both EMS & Rescue Services to the Three Bridges section of the Township. Also a blended organization, the Squad has been serving since 1952. 2008 Chief Tom Hoffman

*The [http://www.branchburgrescue.org Branchburg Rescue Squad] Station 74 Rescue is an all-volunteer EMS & Rescue Squad serving the Hillcrest section of the Township out of their Branchburg based headquarters. 2008 Chief Paul Malarcher

Fire Departments

The following volunteer fire departments serve the Township:
*East Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Co. (Station 31 Fire)
*Readington Volunteer Fire Co. (Station 32 Fire)
*Three Bridges Volunteer Fire Co. (Station 33 Fire)
* [http://www.whitehousefirecompany.com Whitehouse Station Volunteer Fire Co. #1] (Station 22 Fire)

Transportation

Interstate 78, U.S. Route 202, Route 22 and Route 31 all pass through the township. The township is also served by the New Jersey Transit in White House, offering service on the Raritan Valley Line to Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal, with connecting service to Penn Station New York in Midtown Manhattan.

Community

The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2007. [Seidel, Bobbi. [http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/LIFE/706130376/1006 "Up, up and away"] , "Asbury Park Press", June 13, 2007. Accessed June 15, 2007. "The Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, in association with PNC Bank, is offering the free balloon ride and a bottle of champagne as part of the festival's celebration of its 25th birthday."] The event held at Solberg-Hunterdon Airport is the largest summertime hot air balloon festival in North America. [ [http://www.nj.com/news/independentpress/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1179937159160460.xml&coll=18 "Quick Chek Festival of Ballooning celebrates 25th year with three days of family entertainment"] , "Independent Press", May 23, 2007. Accessed June 15, 2007. "Today, the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning in association with PNC Bank is the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America, attracting upwards of 175,000 people over the three-day weekend."]

FBI Shootout

On April 5, 2007, a shootout near a PNC Bank branch on U.S. Route 22 in Readington resulted in the death of an FBI agent. FBI Agent Barry Lee Bush, assigned to the Newark FBI Office, was investigating a string of bank robberies in Central New Jersey, was airlifted to a New Brunswick hospital where he was pronounced dead. All three suspects were caught. [ [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/05/national/main2652024.shtml?source=mostpop_story FBI Agent Killed In New Jersey Shootout: Agent May Have Been Shot Accidentally By Colleague During Bank Robbery Stakeout] , "CBS News", April 5, 2007.]

Museums

Readington is home to several museums and offers many programs for adults and children. The Stickney Homestead is located off of Dreahook Road in the hamlet of Stanton. Coldbrook School, the site of living history programs for the township's elementary school children is in the northern section of town, and the Eversole-Hall House is located on Route 523, next to the Municipal building. [ [http://www.state.nj.us/dca/njht/funded/sitedetails/eversole_hall_house.html Eversole-Hall House] , New Jersey Historic Trust. Accessed July 28, 2008.]

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Readington Township include:
*Jack Cust (born 1979), a professional baseball player with the Oakland Athletics, currently resides in Readington Township.
*Jonathan Jennings (1784-1834), first Governor of Indiana, serving from 1816 to 1822.
*Robyn Kenney (born 1979), field hockey player. [ [http://www.usfieldhockey.com/teams/women/u20/kenney.htm Robyn Kenney] , USA Field Hockey. Accessed December 20, 2007.]
*William Marchant (1923-1995), playwright and screenwriter, best known for writing the play that served as the basis for the 1957 Walter Lang movie, "The Desk Set". [Gussow, Mel. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D02E5D91439F933A15751C1A963958260 "William Marchant, 72, 'Desk Set' Playwright"] , "The New York Times", December 20, 1995. Accessed December 1, 2007. "Mr. Marchant had been a resident of the Actors Fund of America Nursing and Retirement Home in Englewood, N.J., before moving to the hospital last year. Before that, he lived in Stanton, N.J., in a house owned by the actress Dorothy Stickney, said Kenneth Stadnik, a neighbor."]

References

External links

* [http://www.readingtontwp.org/ Readington Township website]
* [http://www.readington.k12.nj.us/ Readington Township Public Schools]
*NJReportCard|19|4350|0|Readington Township Public Schools
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3413710 Data for the Readington Township Public Schools] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/ Hunterdon Central Regional High School District]
*NJReportCard|19|2300|050|Hunterdon Central Regional High School
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3407590 Data for Hunterdon Central Regional High School] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.hlta.org Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance]
* [http://www.branchburgrescue.org Branchburg Rescue Squad]
* [http://www.frfars.org Flemington-Raritan First Aid & Rescue Squad]
* [http://www.whitehouserescue.com Whitehouse First Aid & Rescue Squad]