Bethlehem Township, New Jersey

Bethlehem Township, New Jersey
Bethlehem Township, New Jersey
—  Township  —
Historic Van Syckle's Tavern of Bethlehem Township
Map of Bethlehem Township in Hunterdon County. Inset: Location of Hunterdon County in New Jersey.
Census Bureau map of Bethlehem Township, New Jersey
Coordinates: 40°40′27″N 75°0′52″W / 40.67417°N 75.01444°W / 40.67417; -75.01444Coordinates: 40°40′27″N 75°0′52″W / 40.67417°N 75.01444°W / 40.67417; -75.01444
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Hunterdon
Earliest Mention 1730
Incorporated February 21, 1798
Government
 – Type Township (New Jersey)
 – Mayor John Graefe (2011)
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 (2010)[1]
 – Total 3,979
 – Density 191.3/sq mi (73.7/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 – Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 08827 - Hampton
08809 - Clinton, 08802 - Asbury
Area code(s) 908
FIPS code 34-05650[2][3]
GNIS feature ID 0882189[4]
Website http://www.bethlehemnj.org

Bethlehem Township is a Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 3,979.[1]

Bethlehem was first mention in official records dating back to 1730, though details of its formation are uncertain.[5] Bethlehem was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798.[5] 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.[6] The southwest corner of the township lies on what is known as the Hunterdon Plateau.

Contents

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 20.8 square miles (54 km2), all of it land (Though small streams exist within the township).

Bethlehem Township is considered an exurb of New York City, as Hunterdon County lies on the western fringe of the New York City Metropolitan Area. The landscape is mainly rural in nature (farms and forests), scattered with newer housing developments and older farm homes.

Transportation

Bethlehem Township remains well connected to major metropolitan areas (such as the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania and New York City) via I-78/US 22 and Route 173. While I-78/US 22 pass through without any interchanges, the nearest exit is just outside the township in bordering Bloomsbury (Exit 7) and Union (Exit 11).

Public transportation is non-existent, save for one public bus service (The LINK) which services Hunterdon County, NJ. Fares range from about $2.00 to $10.00. Funding for operation of the Hunterdon County LINK System is provided by Hunterdon County, NJ TRANSIT and the Federal Transit Administration.[7]

Mailing addresses and roads

  • Mailing

People who live in Bethlehem Township have mailing addresses to nearby towns including Clinton, New Jersey and Hampton, New Jersey (and even Asbury, New Jersey which is located in neighboring Warren County), as 'Bethlehem Township' itself is not a mailing address.

Similarly, the mailing addresses of schools and businesses located within the township operate the same way, with their addresses being listed in nearby Clinton, Hampton, and Asbury.

  • Roads

Anderson Road, located within Bethlehem Township, actually begins in neighboring Union Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey and ends in Bethlehem Township as a dead-end, or cul-de-sac.

Consequently, Anderson Road cannot be accessed internally through Bethlehem Township; it can only be accessed through Union Township. Because of this reason, the part of Anderson Road that is in Bethlehem Township may seem closer to parts of Union Township.

Wildlife and ecosystem

Various animals are native to central-western New Jersey, including red fox (vulpes vulpes),[8] black bear, groundhogs, wild turkeys, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, a variety of birds, and a plethora of insects and vegetation.

Trees include deciduous varieties and evergreen varieties.

There are also some fish in the streams of the county.

Black bears are the largest land mammals in New Jersey and are known to be most abundant in the northern-western regions of the State, including Bethlehem Township.

Climate

Climate data for Bethlehem Township, NJ
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 36.8
(2.7)
39.9
(4.4)
49.8
(9.9)
61.3
(16.3)
72.0
(22.2)
80.2
(26.8)
85.1
(29.5)
83.1
(28.4)
75.6
(24.2)
64.4
(18.0)
52.8
(11.6)
41.6
(5.3)
61.9
Average low °F (°C) 18.4
(−7.6)
20.0
(−6.7)
28.1
(−2.2)
37.0
(2.8)
46.9
(8.3)
56.0
(13.3)
61.7
(16.5)
59.9
(15.5)
52.0
(11.1)
40.0
(4.4)
32.2
(0.1)
24.0
(−4.4)
39.7
Source: <Flemington 5 NNW Weather Station= >FLEMINGTON 5 NNW Weather station (2009). "Clinton, NJ Weather". Clinton, NJ Weather Data. Open Publishing. http://www.idcide.com/weather/nj/clinton.htm. Retrieved 1 December 2009. 

Bethlehem Township falls under the 'Northern New Jersey' climate zone. According to the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist at Rutgers University, the Northern climate zone covers about one-quarter of New Jersey and consists mainly of elevated highlands and valleys which are part of the Appalachian Uplands. Surrounded by land, this region can be characterized as having a continental climate with minimal influence from the Atlantic Ocean, except when the winds contain an easterly component. Prevailing winds are from the southwest in summer and from the northwest in winter. Being in the northernmost portion of the state, and with small mountains up to 1,800 feet in elevation, the Northern Zone normally exhibits a colder temperature regime than other climate regions of the State of New Jersey. This difference is most dramatic in winter when average temperatures in the Northern Zone can be more than ten degrees Fahrenheit cooler than in the Coastal Zone. Annual snowfall averages 40 to 50 inches in the northern zone as compared with an average of 10-15 inches in the extreme south.[9]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1930 735
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%
2010 3,979 4.2%
Population 1930 - 1990.[1][10]

As of the census[2] 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 per square mile (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.

Population density: 183 people per square mile.[11]

Most common first ancestries reported in Bethlehem township:[11] German (25.2%), Italian (14.7%), Irish (14.4%), Polish (9.2%), English (7.6%), United States or American (6.1%), French (except Basque) (3.3%)

Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents:[11] India (22%), Germany (18%), United Kingdom (12%), Austria (9%), Russia (7%), Poland (5%), Netherlands (4%)

Surrounding communities

Government

Local government

Bethlehem 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.[12] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.

As of 2011, members of the Bethlehem Township Committee are Mayor John Graefe (2011), Deputy Mayor John Jimenez (2011), Greg Glazar (2013), Jennifer McClurg (2012) and John Meehan (2011).[6][13]

Mine Road is the location of the Bethlehem Township Municipal buildings.

Federal, state and county representation

Bethlehem Township is in the 7th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.[14] The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment Commission based on the results of the 2010 Census.[1]

New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District is represented by Leonard Lance (R, Clinton Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

23rd Legislative District (New Jersey) of the New Jersey Legislature, which is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Michael J. Doherty (R, Oxford Township) and in the New Jersey General Assembly by John DiMaio (R, Hackettstown) and Erik Peterson (R, Franklin Township).[15] The Governor of New Jersey is Chris Christie (R, Mendham).[16] The Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey is Kim Guadagno (R, Monmouth Beach).[17]

Hunterdon County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, who serve three-year terms of office at-large, with either one or two seats up for election each year on a staggered basis.[18] As of 2011, Hunterdon County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Matt Holt (Clinton Town), Freeholder Deputy Director Robert Walton (Hampton), William Mennen (Tewksbury Township),George B. Melick (Tewksbury Township), and Ronald Sworen (Frenchtown).[19]

Education

Students in public school for grades K through 8 attend the schools of the Bethlehem Township School District. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[20]) are Thomas B. Conley School for grades K - 5 (325 students) and Ethel Hoppock Middle School for grades 6 - 8 (298 students).

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, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough and Union Township.[21]

Points of interest

Spruce Run State Park and Reservoir is a New Jersey park located near Bethlehem Township in close-by Clinton Township. It is possible to walk or bike to Spruce Run from Bethlehem Township.

Notable residents

Notable current and former residents of Bethlehem Township include:[22]

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c d 2011 Apportionment Redistricting: Municipalities sorted alphabetically, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed June 5, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b Bethlehem Township directory, Hunterdon County. Accessed March 13, 2011.
  7. ^ LINK Hunterdon County Transportation, Hunterdon County Transportation. Accessed December 1, 2009.
  8. ^ http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/speciesinfo_fox.htm
  9. ^ ONJSC, Rutgers University. Accessed December 1, 2009.
  10. ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
  11. ^ a b c http://www.city-data.com/township/Bethlehem-Hunterdon-NJ.html
  12. ^ 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 103.
  13. ^ Governing Body, Township of Bethlehem. Accessed March 13, 2011.
  14. ^ 2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 54. Accessed June 5, 2011.
  15. ^ "Legislative Roster: 2010-2011 Session". New Jersey Legislature. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp. Retrieved 2010-07-25. 
  16. ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  17. ^ "About the Lieutenant Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/lt/. Retrieved 2010-01-21. 
  18. ^ About the Board, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 5, 2011.
  19. ^ Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed February 9, 2011.
  20. ^ Data for the Bethlehem Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed June 26, 2008.
  21. ^ About the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District. Accessed June 26, 2008. "North Hunterdon High School educates students from: Bethlehem Township, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough, Union Township"
  22. ^ a b c d e f g http://www.bethlehem-twp.org/history.html
  23. ^ Johnston Cornish biography, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed August 12, 2007.

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