East Amwell Township is located in the southeastern corner of Hunterdon County where it borders both Somerset and Mercer counties, within the heart of the Amwell Valley and Raritan Valley regions. It includes the unincorporated community of Ringoes, the oldest known settlement in Hunterdon County, as well as the communities of Larison's Corner, Weert's Corner and part of Reaville.[20]
History
Amwell Township was established by a royal patent from Queen Anne in 1708. Its territory comprised 200 square miles (520 km2) and included present day Delaware Township, Raritan Township, Readington Township, East Amwell Township and West Amwell Township and portions of Clinton, Lebanon and Tewksbury Townships. Both East Amwell Township and West Amwell Township were formed on April 6, 1846, when Amwell Township was split in two. Territory was gain in 1854 from Delaware Township, Raritan Township and West Amwell Township, and again from those same three townships in 1897.[21] The township was named for Amwell Township, which in turn was named for Great Amwell/Little Amwell, Hertfordshire in England.[22]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 28.56 square miles (73.96 km2), including 28.46 square miles (73.70 km2) of land and 0.10 square miles (0.27 km2) of water (0.36%).[1][2]
Of the 1,518 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18; 67.2% were married couples living together; 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.9% were non-families. Of all households, 17.9% were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.01.[17]
22.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 18.2% from 25 to 44, 39.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 106.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 101.0 males.[17]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $105,846 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,725) and the median family income was $124,659 (+/− $16,916). Males had a median income of $87,727 (+/− $15,438) versus $53,491 (+/− $7,390) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $46,986 (+/− $4,981). About 0.8% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[38]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[14] there were 4,455 people, 1,581 households, and 1,305 families residing in the township. The population density was 155.3 inhabitants per square mile (60.0/km2). There were 1,624 housing units at an average density of 56.6 per square mile (21.9/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 96.97% White, 0.72% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.[36][37]
There were 1,581 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 13.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.07.[36][37]
In the township the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 31.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.[36][37]
The median income for a household in the township was $85,664, and the median income for a family was $90,000. Males had a median income of $60,945 versus $39,306 for females. The per capita income for the township was $37,187. About 1.8% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[36][37]
Government
Local government
East Amwell Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.[39] The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.[6][40] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.[41]
As of 2023[update], members of the East Amwell Township Committee are Mayor Jenna Casper-Bloom (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Dante DiPirro (D, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Mike Dendis (D, 2025), John Mills (R, 2023) and Tara Ramsey (R, 2023).[3][42][43][44][45][46][47]
Federal, state and county representation
East Amwell Township is located in the 7th Congressional District[48] and is part of New Jersey's 15th state legislative district.[49][50][51]
Hunterdon County is governed by a Board of Chosen Commissioners composed of five members who are elected at-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the commissioners select one member to serve as the board's Director and another to serve as Deputy Director, each for a one-year term.[57][58] As of 2024[update], Hunterdon County's Commissioners are:
Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:
Clerk Mary H. Melfi (R; Flemington, 2026),[65][66]
Sheriff Fredrick W. Brown (R; Alexandria Township, 2025)[67][68] and
Surrogate Heidi Rohrbach (R; Lebanon Township, 2028).[69][70]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,059 registered voters in East Amwell Township, of which 875 (28.6%) were registered as Democrats, 956 (31.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,224 (40.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[71]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 57.3% of the vote (1,346 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 40.9% (961 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (41 votes), among the 2,364 ballots cast by the township's 3,135 registered voters (16 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 75.4%.[72][73] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 54.8% of the vote (1,405 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.4% (1,088 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (44 votes), among the 2,564 ballots cast by the township's 3,180 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.6%.[74] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 57.3% of the vote (1,452 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 41.8% (1,059 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (30 votes), among the 2,534 ballots cast by the township's 3,043 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 83.3.[75]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 71.6% of the vote (1,223 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.2% (448 votes), and other candidates with 2.2% (37 votes), among the 1,770 ballots cast by the township's 3,088 registered voters (62 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 57.3%.[76][77] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.2% of the vote (1,196 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 29.2% (571 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.4% (145 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (20 votes), among the 1,953 ballots cast by the township's 3,094 registered voters, yielding a 63.1% turnout.[78]
Education
The East Amwell Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at East Amwell Township School.[79][80] As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 356 students and 41.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.6:1.[81]
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Hunterdon Central High School, part of the Hunterdon Central Regional High School District in central Hunterdon County, which serves students from Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Borough, Raritan Township and Readington Township.[82][83] As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 2,575 students and 225.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.4:1.[84] Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based in the population of the five constituent municipalities who participate in the school district, with one seat allocated to East Amwell Township.[85]
Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.[86]
Transportation
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 68.03 miles (109.48 km) of roadways, of which 42.84 miles (68.94 km) were maintained by the municipality, 17.15 miles (27.60 km) by Hunterdon County and 8.04 miles (12.94 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[87]
Route 31 passes through mostly along the western border with West Amwell Township.[88]Route 179[89] and U.S. Route 202[90] pass through near Ringoes, with Route 31 becoming concurrent with U.S. 202 where they intersect.[91]
East Amwell is home to an experimental renewable energy project called The Hopewell Project, which uses solar power to generate hydrogen that is used to provide 100% of a home's heating, cooling and electrical needs. The Hopewell Solar-Hydrogen Residence was dedicated on October 20, 2006.[94]
^ a bMayor and Township Committees, East Amwell Township. Accessed March 8, 2023. "The Township Committee organizes annually at their Reorganization Meeting during the first week in January, at which time it elects a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among its members."
^ a bAnnual Estimates of the Resident Population for Minor Civil Divisions in New Jersey: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023, United States Census Bureau, released May 2024. Accessed May 16, 2024.
^ a b c d eDP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 for East Amwell township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.
^Demographics Archived 2012-07-16 at the Wayback Machine, Township of East Amwell. Accessed November 14, 2012. "East Amwell is at the base of the Sourland Mountains. Its 28.68 square miles encompasses the communities of Ringoes, Weert's Corner, Larison's Corner and a portion of Reaville."
^Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 154. Accessed October 25, 2012.
^Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 29, 2015.
^ a bGill, Barbara. "Lindbergh kidnapping rocked the world 50 years ago" Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, The Hunterdon County Democrat, 1981. Accessed May 22, 2015. "So while the world's attention was focused on Hopewell, from which the first press dispatches emanated about the kidnapping, the Democrat made sure its readers knew that the new home of Col. Charles A. Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh was in East Amwell Township, Hunterdon County."
^Areas touching East Amwell Township, MapIt. Accessed September 20, 2019.
^Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed March 15, 2015.
^Compendium of censuses 1726-1905: together with the tabulated returns of 1905, New Jersey Department of State, 1906. Accessed September 4, 2013.
^Raum, John O. The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 267, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed September 4, 2013. "East Amwell was formed from Amwell in 1856; in 1860 it contained a population of 1,865; and in 1870, 1,802. The Sourland Mountains are partly in this township and partly in Hillsborough township, Somerset county." Note that the establishment date is listed as 1856 (not 1846) and that no population is provided for 1850.
^Debow, James Dunwoody Brownson. The Seventh Census of the United States: 1850, p. 139. R. Armstrong, 1853. Accessed September 4, 2013. No population is provided.
^Staff. A compendium of the ninth census, 1870, p. 258. United States Census Bureau, 1872. Accessed September 4, 2013.
^Porter, Robert Percival. Preliminary Results as Contained in the Eleventh Census Bulletins: Volume III - 51 to 75, p. 98. United States Census Bureau, 1890. Accessed November 14, 2012.
^Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910: Population by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions, 1910, 1900, 1890, United States Census Bureau, p. 337. Accessed November 14, 2012.
^Fifteenth Census of the United States : 1930 - Population Volume I, United States Census Bureau, p. 716. Accessed November 14, 2012.
^Table 6: New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1940 - 2000, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network, August 2001. Accessed May 1, 2023.
^ a b c d eCensus 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for East Amwell township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey[permanent dead link], United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.
^ a b c d eDP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for East Amwell township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.
^DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for East Amwell township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.
^Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.
^"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.
^of the Township Committee, East Amwell Township. Accessed July 16, 2022. "The Township Committee form of government is formed under the State of New Jersey Statute NJSA:40A:63-1 et. seq. In this form of municipal government voters select five Committee members, elected at-large for staggered, three year terms. Elections are partisan with the governing body holding a reorganization meeting the first week in January. Mayor: Elected by Township Committee for 1 year term."
^2023 Municipal Data Sheet, East Amwell Township. Accessed May 3, 2023.
^Hunterdon County District Canvass November 8, 2022, General Election, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.
^November 2, 2021 District Report Hunterdon County Official Results, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 12, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.
^November 3, 2020 District Report Hunterdon County Official Results, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
^"Congressman Malinowski Fights For The Corporate Transparency Act", Tom Malinowski, press release dated October 23, 2019. Accessed January 19, 2022. "My name, Tom Malinowski. My address, 86 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553."
^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."
^Biography of Bob Menendez, United States Senate, January 26, 2015. "Menendez, who started his political career in Union City, moved in September from Paramus to one of Harrison's new apartment buildings near the town's PATH station.."
^Home, sweet home: Bob Menendez back in Hudson County. nj.com. Accessed April 30, 2021. "Booker, Cory A. - (D - NJ) Class II; Menendez, Robert - (D - NJ) Class I"
^Board of County Commissioners, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023. "As top governing officials of Hunterdon County, the five Commissioners are chosen by popular vote in the November general elections. The term of office is for two or three years and the current compensation is $16,000 a year, with an extra $1,000 for the Director. One or two of the five members is elected each year."
^Elected and Appointed Officials, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.
^Zachary T. Rich, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.
^Jeff Kuhl, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.
^John E. Lanza, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.
^Susan Soloway, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.
^Shaun C. Van Doren, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2025.
^2022 County Data Sheet, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.
^Clerk Mary H. Melfi, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.
^Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.
^Meet the Sheriff, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.
^Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.
^Surrogate Susan J. Hoffman, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.
^Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.
^Voter Registration Summary - Hunterdon, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 14, 2012.
^"Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Hunterdon County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. March 15, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^"Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Hunterdon County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. March 15, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^2008 Presidential General Election Results: Hunterdon County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 14, 2012.
^2004 Presidential Election: Hunterdon County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 14, 2012.
^"Governor - Hunterdon County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. January 29, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^"Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Hunterdon County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Elections. January 29, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
^Hunterdon Central Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Accessed April 17, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades nine through twelve in the Hunterdon Central Regional High School District. Composition: The Hunterdon Central Regional High School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Delaware Township, East Amwell, Flemington Boro, Raritan Township, and Readington Township."
^Hunterdon Central Regional High School District 2016 Report Card Narrative Archived September 26, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 17, 2020. "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. The District is comprised of 152.5 square miles and has a population of approximately 51,468 residents."
^Board of Education, Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Accessed July 31, 2023. "The Hunterdon Central Regional High School Board of Education is comprised of nine elected volunteers from our five sending districts who are committed to working together in a collaborative, cooperative, and respectful manner to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all HCRHS students and staff."
^Heyboer, Kelly. "How to get your kid a seat in one of N.J.'s hardest-to-get-into high schools", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 2017. Accessed November 18, 2019. "Hunterdon County's vo-tech district has three academies for high-achieving students, all operating in partnerships with local high schools.... The academies are open to all students in the county. Students in the 8th grade are required to submit an application, schedule an interview and take a placement exam."
^Lovett, Jackie. "Top 10: Local Players at the NFL Combine", New York Jets, February 26, 2016. Accessed May 3, 2016. "Matt Ioannidis, DT; Hometown: Ringoes, NJ; High School: Hunterdon Central Regional"
^Brown, William Mawbey; and Lee, Francis Bazley. Biographical, Genealogical and Descriptive History of the State of New Jersey, p. 284. New Jersey Historical Publishing Company, 1900. Accessed November 14, 2012.
^Donnelly, James J. "A New Jersey racing legend is restarting at age 77", Jim Donnelly On Wheels, May 16, 2021. Accessed March 22, 2024. "The product of a dairy farm in Ringoes, not far from Flemington, Ploski stepped into a stock car for the first time in the early 1960s, won his first Modified feature in 1965 at long-gone Hatfield Speedway in Pennsylvania, and went on to a Hall of Fame career that resulted in 182 career Modified feature wins."
^Myers, William S. Prominent Families of New Jersey, p. 1078. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1945. ISBN 0806350369. Accessed November 14, 2012.
^Kiriluk-Hill, Renée. "N.J. Olympic gold medalist Jason Read says Team U.S.A. thrives on community support", NJ.com, February 4, 2014. Accessed November 10, 2016. "'The dreams of representing your country as an athlete' are fully recognized by those who gather behind their countries' flags and join the parade of nations, Olympic gold medalist Jason Read of East Amwell Township said today, leading to emotions that are written all over their faces."
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to East Amwell Township, New Jersey.
East Amwell Township website
Hunterdon County web page for East Amwell Township