Alexandria Township, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Alexandria Township is a township in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 4,809,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 129 (−2.6%) from the 2010 census count of 4,938,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 240 (+5.1%) from the 4,698 counted in the 2000 census.<ref>Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref>

Alexandria was formed by Royal charter on March 5, 1765, from portions of Bethlehem Township, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Frenchtown (April 4, 1867), Holland Township (April 13, 1874, restored to Alexandria on March 4, 1878, and recreated on March 11, 1879) and Milford (April 15, 1911).<ref name=Story>Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 153. Accessed May 30, 2024.</ref> The township was named for James Alexander, a surveyor who served as New Jersey Attorney General and who had acquired Template:Convert of land in the area in 1744.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 26, 2015.</ref><ref name=HunterdonPage/>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 27.75 square miles (71.87 km²), including 27.53 square miles (71.31 km²) of land and 0.22 square miles (0.56 km²) of water (0.79%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Everittstown, Little York, Mechlings Corner, Mount Pleasant, Mount Salem, Palmyra and Swinesburg.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2015.</ref> Pittstown is an unincorporated community that is also spread across Franklin Township and Union Township.<ref>A Brief History, Township of Franklin. Accessed May 5, 2023. "Villages and hamlets in Franklin are Cherryville (Dogtown until 1856), Quakertown (sometimes called Fairview between 1834 and 1856) and Pittstown (Hoffs until the late 1700s), which also is partly in Alexandria and Union Townships."</ref>

The township borders the municipalities of Bethlehem Township, Franklin Township, Frenchtown, Holland Township, Kingwood Township, Milford and Union Township in Hunterdon County; and both Bridgeton Township and Tinicum Township in Bucks County across the Delaware River border with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.<ref>Areas touching Alexandria Township, MapIt. Accessed March 17, 2020.</ref><ref>Map of County Municipalities, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 4,938 people, 1,758 households, and 1,384 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,865 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 94.80% (4,681) White, 2.00% (99) Black or African American, 0.04% (2) Native American, 1.82% (90) Asian, 0.02% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.63% (31) from other races, and 0.69% (34) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.22% (159) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 1,758 households, 35.7% had children under the age of 18; 71.4% were married couples living together; 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.3% were non-families. Of all households, 16.7% were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.16.<ref name=Census2010/>

25.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 16.8% from 25 to 44, 38.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.9 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $117,404 (with a margin of error of +/− $11,426) and the median family income was $137,821 (+/− $24,473). Males had a median income of $101,927 (+/− $22,844) versus $60,875 (+/− $7,233) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $47,777 (+/− $5,059). About 3.0% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Alexandria township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 21, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 4,698 people, 1,535 households, and 1,290 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,598 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 97.02% White, 0.79% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Alexandria township, Hunterdon County, New JerseyTemplate:Dead link, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 13, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Alexandria township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 13, 2012.</ref>

There were 1,535 households, out of which 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.9% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.9% were non-families. 13.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.25.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $92,730, and the median income for a family was $93,619. Males had a median income of $70,996 versus $39,904 for females. The per capita income for the township was $34,622. About 4.3% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

Local government

Alexandria 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.<ref>Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of a five-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 103.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as mayor and another as deputy mayor.

In the November 2020 general election, voters approved a ballot question that asked if they wanted to expand the township committee from three members to five.<ref name=Hunterdon2020>November 3, 2020 District Report Hunterdon County Official Results, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref>Township Committee Meeting Minutes for June 10, 2020, Alexandria Township. Accessed May 4, 2022. "The Township Clerk shall send this resolution and the following question to the Hunterdon County Clerk to be placed upon the ballot in November in the following form, which is the form of question required at N.J.S.A. 40A:63-3 (c): 'Shall the membership of the Township Committee of the Township of Alexandria be increased from three to five members?'"</ref> In November 2021, voters chose two candidates to serve three-year terms and one to serve a two-year term, so that there were five members elected to the Township Committee starting in January 2022.<ref name=Hunterdon2021/>

Template:As of, members of the Alexandria Township Committee are Mayor James Kiernan (R, term as mayor ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Jay M. Arancio (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2024), Tom Hudanish (R, 2025), Robert Mortara (R, 2026) and Rudolph C. "Chris" Pfefferle (R, 2024).<ref name=Directory>Mayor and Township Committee, Township of Alexandria. Accessed October 10, 2024.</ref><ref name=Budget>2024 Municipal Data Sheet, Alexandria Township. Accessed October 10, 2024.</ref><ref name=HunterdonPage>Township of Alexandria, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed October 10, 2024.</ref><ref name=HunterdonDirectory>2023 County and Municipal Directory, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed October 10, 2024.</ref><ref name=Hunterdon2023>2023 Official Statement of Results General Election November 7, 2023, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, November 17, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Hunterdon2022>Hunterdon County District Canvass November 8, 2022, General Election, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Hunterdon2021>November 2, 2021 District Report Hunterdon County Official Results, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 12, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

In September 2015, the Township Committee selected Michelle Garay from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Harry Swift until his death in office earlier that month.<ref>Alexandria Township Committee Meeting Minutes September 9, 2015 Template:Webarchive, Alexandria Township. Accessed July 7, 2016.</ref><ref>Alexandria Township Special Committee Meeting Minutes September 28, 2015, Alexandria Township. Accessed July 7, 2016. "Comm. Pfefferle made a motion, seconded by Mayor Abraham to nominate Michelle Garay for Township Committee. ROLL CALL: Comm. Pfefferle; yes, Mayor Abraham, yes."</ref><ref>Staff. "Michelle Garay sworn in as Alexandria Township Committeewoman", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 30, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2016. "Michelle Garay is sworn in as an Alexandria Township Committeewoman by township clerk Michelle Bobrowski as she replaces recently deceased Committeeman Harry Swift."</ref>

Christian Pfefferle took office in November 2014 after running unopposed to fill the 14 months remaining in the term of the seat that had been vacated by Gabe Plummer when he resigned after he had moved outside of the township in January 2014; Curtis Schick had filled the seat on an interim basis.<ref>Epstein, Rick. "Pfefferle sworn in as Alexandria Township committeeman", Hunterdon County Democrat, November 10, 2014. Accessed January 1, 2015. "Christian Pfefferle has taken office as the township's newest township committeeman.He fills a seat that had been vacated last January when Gabe Plumer resigned because he had moved to Clinton."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Alexandria Township is located in the 7th Congressional district<ref name=PCR2012>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Politics

Like most municipalities in Hunterdon County, the township leans very strongly towards the Republican Party on the national and state levels. As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,411 registered voters in Alexandria Township, of which 533 (15.6%) were registered as Democrats, 1,458 (42.7%) were registered as Republicans and 1,417 (41.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.<ref>Voter Registration Summary - Hunterdon, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 14, 2012.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 64.4% of the vote (1,695 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 34.1% (899 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (39 votes), among the 2,651 ballots cast by the township's 3,571 registered voters (18 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 74.2%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 60.2% of the vote here (1,643 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.4% (1,019 votes) and other candidates with 1.8% (48 votes), among the 2,728 ballots cast by the township's 3,378 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.8%.<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Hunterdon County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 14, 2012.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 65.9% of the vote here (1,665 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 36.2% (916 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (28 votes), among the 2,528 ballots cast by the township's 3,030 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 83.4.<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Hunterdon County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 14, 2012.</ref>

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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 78.7% of the vote (1,332 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 19.6% (332 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (28 votes), among the 1,726 ballots cast by the township's 3,588 registered voters (34 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.1%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.3% of the vote here (1,520 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 18.5% (388 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.7% (140 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (25 votes), among the 2,102 ballots cast by the township's 3,386 registered voters, yielding a 62.1% turnout.<ref>2009 Governor: Hunterdon County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 14, 2012.</ref>

Education

The Alexandria Township School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.<ref>Alexandria Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Alexandria Township School District, adopted June 25, 2009. Accessed December 24, 2024. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-K through eight in the Alexandria Township School District. Composition The Alexandria Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Alexandria Township."</ref><ref name=HunterdonSchools>2023–2024 Public School Directory, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2024.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Alexandria Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Alexandria Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 428 students and 47.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.1:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Alexandria Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref>

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Delaware Valley Regional High School, together with students from Frenchtown, Holland Township, Kingwood Township and Milford. The school is part of the Delaware Valley Regional High School District.<ref>Delaware Valley Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Delaware Valley Regional High School, adopted June 28, 2021. Accessed December 24, 2024. "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 Delaware Valley Regional High School District. Composition: The Delaware Valley Regional High School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Alexandria Township, Frenchtown Borough, Holland Township, Kingwood Township, and Milford Borough."</ref><ref>Delaware Valley Regional High School 2016-2017 School Performance Report, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed October 22, 2018. "Delaware Valley Regional High School is located in pastoral and beautiful Hunterdon County. The district serves approximately 800 students in grades 9-12 who reside in the townships of Alexandria, Holland and Kingwood, and the boroughs of Frenchtown and Milford."</ref><ref>Our Story, Delaware Valley Regional High School District. Accessed December 24, 2024. "Delaware Valley Regional High School was the third high school created in Hunterdon County. Supported by voters and bond money from the five municipalities of Alexandria, Holland, and Kingwood townships; Frenchtown, and Milford, it was in the 'geographic center of the region it serves,' according to news accounts."</ref><ref>Chief School Administrators/Sending Districts Template:Webarchive, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Superintendent of Schools. Accessed June 6, 2016.</ref> As of the 2023–24 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 692 students and 61.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.<ref>School data for Delaware Valley Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.</ref> Seats on the high school district's nine-member board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with two seats assigned to Alexandria Township.<ref>Board of Education, Delaware Valley Regional High School. Accessed December 24, 2024.</ref>

The Alexandria Township Education Foundation, is a non-profit organization established in 1997, whose mission is to help achieve and maintain an extra margin of excellence by employing private resources to supplement traditional school district funding.<ref>What We're About, Alexandria Township Education Foundation. Accessed April 13, 2011.</ref>

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.<ref>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."</ref>

Transportation

Alexandria Field Airport is a privately owned public-use general aviation airport located in the geographic center of the township.<ref>History, Alexandria Field. Accessed March 2, 2023.</ref>

Roads and highways

File:2018-06-13 15 06 57 View north along Hunterdon County Route 513 (Everittstown Road) just north of Hunterdon County Route 519 (Little York-Mount Pleasant Road-Palmyra Corner Road) in Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.jpg

County Route 513 (Everittstown Road) in Alexandria Township

Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality and Template:Convert by Hunterdon County.<ref>Hunterdon County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed November 13, 2013.</ref>

No Interstate, U.S. or State routes pass through the township.<ref>Hunterdon County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed March 2, 2023.</ref> The most significant roads to pass through Alexandria are County Route 513 (Everittstown Road),<ref>County Route 513 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated November 2012. Accessed March 2, 2023.</ref> CR 519<ref>County Route 519 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated November 2012. Accessed March 2, 2023.</ref> and CR 579 (which only runs along the northeast border).<ref>County Route 579 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated October 2012. Accessed March 2, 2023.</ref>

Interstate 78 is the closest limited access road which is accessible outside the municipality in bordering Union and Franklin Townships.

Wineries

• Beneduce Vineyards
• Mount Salem Vineyards
• Van Houten Vineyards

Notable people

Template:Category see also People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Alexandria Township include:

• Mary DeChambres, film and television editor<ref>"Esteemed TV editor visits DVRHS", Hunterdon County Democrat, March 26, 2018. Accessed April 7, 2024. "Students in Delaware Valley High School's Advanced TV-Media class got a peek into a vocational reality on Friday, March 23, when Mary (Taylor) DeChambres returned to her alma mater.... 'I grew up on a farm on Gallmeier Road (in Alexandria Township),' she said."</ref>
• Carla Katz (born 1959), union leader<ref>Kocieniewski, David. "G.O.P. Wants More Details Of Corzine Aid", The New York Times, August 5, 2005. Accessed September 1, 2013. "Senator Jon S. Corzine forgave a $470,000 mortgage on this house in Alexandria Township, N.J., owned by Carla Katz."</ref>
• Frank Muehlheuser (1926–2006), American football fullback and linebacker who played in the NFL for the Boston Yanks and the New York Bulldogs<ref>Obituary of Frank P. Muehlheuser Jr., Martin Funeral Home. Accessed June 29, 2020. "Frank P. Muehlheuser Jr. - 79, of the Pittstown Section of Alexandria Twp., NJ died Saturday, April 22nd at home."</ref>
• Jayson Williams (born 1968), former NBA player with the New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, who owned an estate that featured a private basketball court, a personalized movie theatre and many other features<ref>Hanley, Robert. "Reporter's Notebook; At Former Nets Star's Trial, A Tangle of Contradictions", The New York Times, February 29, 2004. Accessed August 20, 2013. "Five friends and four Harlem Globetrotters were in various parts of Jayson Williams's country home in Alexandria Township, N.J., when a chauffeur, Costas Christofi, was killed two years ago by a blast from a shotgun held by Mr. Williams."</ref>

External links

• Official Township website
• Alexandria NJ website
• Alexandria Township School District
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the Alexandria Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• Delaware Valley Regional High School District
• Hunterdon Land Trust