Bethlehem Township, New Jersey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bethlehem, New Jersey | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Hunterdon |
| Area | |
| - Total | 20.8 sq mi (54.0 km²) |
| - Land | 20.8 sq mi (54.0 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 630 ft (192 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 3,820 |
| - Density | 183.3/sq mi (70.8/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| FIPS code | 34-05650[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882189[2] |
Bethlehem Township is a Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,820.
Bethlehem was first mention in official records dating back to 1730, though details of its formation are uncertain.[3] Bethlehem was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798.[3] Portions of the township were taken to form Kingwood Township (1749, date uncertain), Alexandria Township (March 5, 1765), Union Township (February 17, 1853) Junction borough (February 20, 1895, now known as Hampton borough), Bloomsbury (March 30, 1905) and Glen Gardner (March 26, 1919). The Musconetcong River forms its northern border with Warren County. The northern half of the Township consists of the Musconetcong Valley while the southern half is covered by the Musconetcong Mountains.[4]
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 20.8 square miles (54.0 km²), all of it land.
Bethlehem Township borders Hampton Borough, Glen Gardner Borough, Lebanon Township, Union Township, Alexandria Township, and Bloomsbury Borough. Bethlehem Township also borders Warren County.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 735 |
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| 1940 | 791 | 7.6% | |
| 1950 | 857 | 8.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,090 | 27.2% | |
| 1970 | 1,385 | 27.1% | |
| 1980 | 3,045 | 119.9% | |
| 1990 | 3,104 | 1.9% | |
| 2000 | 3,820 | 23.1% | |
| Est. 2006 | 4,008 | [5] | 4.9% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[6] | |||
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,820 people, 1,266 households, and 1,092 families residing in the township. The population density was 183.3 people per square mile (70.8/km²). There were 1,303 housing units at an average density of 62.5/sq mi (24.1/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.51% White, 0.86% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.62% of the population.
There were 1,266 households out of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.3% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.7% were non-families. 10.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $88,048, and the median income for a family was $92,768. Males had a median income of $69,063 versus $41,806 for females. The per capita income for the township was $35,298. None of the families and 1.0% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 10.0% of those over 64.
[edit] Government
[edit] Local government
Members of the Bethlehem Township Committee are Mayor John Graefe, Deputy Mayor Greg Glazar, Steven Kucinski, John Meehan and John Jimenez.[4][7]
[edit] Federal, state and county representation
Bethlehem Township is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District.[8]
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 Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 23rd District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Leonard Lance (R, Clinton Township) and in the Assembly by Michael J. Doherty (R, Oxford Township) and Marcia A. Karrow (R, Raritan Township).[9] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[10]
Hunterdon County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis. As of 2008, Hunterdon County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Erik Peterson (Milford), Freeholder Deputy Director William Mennen (Tewksbury Township), Matt Holt (Clinton Town), George B. Melick (Tewksbury Township) and Ronald Sworen (Frenchtown).[11]
[edit] Education
Students in public school for grades K through 8 attend the schools of the Bethlehem Township School District. Thomas B. Conley School serves grades K - 4 and Ethel Hoppock Middle School is for grades 5 - 8.
Public school students in grades 9 through 12 attend North Hunterdon High School in Annandale as part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District. North Hunterdon High School serves students from Bethlehem Township (261 students), Clinton Town (132 students), Clinton Township (743 students), Franklin Township (146 students), Lebanon Borough (45 students) and Union Township (245 students).
[edit] Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Bethlehem Township include:
- Johnston Cornish (1858-1920), represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1893-1895.[12]
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ a b "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 153.
- ^ a b Bethlehem Township directory, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 16, 2007.
- ^ Census data for Bethlehem township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 12, 2007.
- ^ Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ 2006 Municipal Directory, Bethlehem Township. Accessed March 16, 2007.
- ^ 2006 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 54. Accessed August 30, 2006.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ About the Governor, New Jersey. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders, accessed February 22, 2008.
- ^ Johnston Cornish biography, United States Congress. Accessed August 12, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Official Municipal Website
- Hunterdon County page for Bethlehem Township
- Bethlehem Township School District
- Bethlehem Township School District's 2006-07 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- National Center for Education Statistics data for the Bethlehem Township School District
- North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District
- Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance
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