Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Franklin Township is a township in central Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 3,267,<ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 72 (+2.3%) from the 2010 census count of 3,195,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 205 (+6.9%) from the 2,990 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> Most of the township lies on the Hunterdon Plateau with only the eastern section along the South Branch Raritan River being on the lower part of the Newark Basin.

History

Long populated by the Lenape (Delaware) Native Americans, the first European settlement of present-day Franklin was around 1700, when it became a Quaker community of settlers who came from Burlington County. The most reliable records that are available about the early days of the Township are found in the minutes of the Friends' Meeting in Quakertown.<ref name=HunterdonPage/><ref name=History>A Brief History, Franklin Township. Accessed July 18, 2022.</ref>

Franklin Township was established by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1845, when it was created from portions of Kingwood Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. Portions of the township were taken to form Clinton town on April 5, 1865.<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. 155. Accessed October 25, 2012.</ref> The township was named for Benjamin Franklin.<ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.</ref>

The rich soil made the township a center of agriculture for hundreds of years. While Franklin Township had long hosted a major dairy farming industry, in modern times, the primary crops have been corn, hay and soybeans.<ref name=History/>

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 23.18 square miles (60.02 km²), including 23.04 square miles (59.66 km²) of land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km²) of water (0.60%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Allens Corner, Alvater Corner,Template:Citation needed Cherryville (previously known as Dogtown), Grandin,Template:Citation needed Kingtown, Lansdowne, Littletown, Oak Grove, Pittstown, Quakertown (previously known as Fairview), Sidney and Sunnyside.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref><ref>Location, Franklin Township. Accessed November 18, 2019.</ref> Pittstown, previously known as Hoffs, is also spread across Alexandria Township and Union Township.<ref name=History/>

The Capoolong Creek, which runs through Pittstown, was an attraction to early settlers and they soon established three of the oldest churches in present-day Hunterdon: Thomas Episcopal, established in 1723, Bethlehem Presbyterian, organized in 1730 and the Quaker Church in 1733.

The township borders the Hunterdon County municipalities of Alexandria Township, Clinton, Clinton Township, Delaware Township, Kingwood Township, Raritan Township and Union Township.<ref>Areas touching Franklin Township, MapIt. Accessed November 18, 2019.</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 3,195 people, 1,137 households, and 908 families in the township. The population density was 140.1 per square mile (54.1/km²). There were 1,204 housing units at an average density of 52.8 per square mile (20.4/km²). The racial makeup was 96.84% (3,094) White, 0.69% (22) Black or African American, 0.16% (5) Native American, 1.25% (40) Asian, 0.09% (3) Pacific Islander, 0.44% (14) from other races, and 0.53% (17) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.44% (110) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 1,137 households, 34.6% had children under the age of 18; 71.0% were married couples living together; 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 20.1% were non-families. Of all households, 15.1% were made up of individuals and 6.9% 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 3.13.<ref name=Census2010/>

24.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 19.4% from 25 to 44, 34.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.0 years. For every 100 females, the population had 98.1 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.9 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $104,500 (with a margin of error of +/− $19,534) and the median family income was $118,182 (+/− $16,643). Males had a median income of $72,303 (+/− $13,313) versus $52,202 (+/− $5,525) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $46,892 (+/− $5,196). About 1.7% of families and 1.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Franklin township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 2,990 people, 1,091 households, and 890 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,125 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 97.53% White, 0.40% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.24% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Franklin township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.</ref><ref name=Census2000SF1>DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Franklin township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.</ref>

There were 1,091 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.4% were non-families. 14.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.04.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 30.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $91,364, and the median income for a family was $96,320. Males had a median income of $66,667 versus $44,779 for females. The per capita income for the township was $39,668. About 1.5% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

File:Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, NJ municipal building, July 2023.jpg

Franklin Township Municipal Building

Local government

Franklin Township is governed under the Township form of government, which is used by 141 of the state's 564 municipalities.<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 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.<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.<ref>Mayor and Town Committee: About, Franklin Township. Accessed May 3, 2023. "Franklin Township utilizes the traditional Township form of government. As such, 5 committee members are elected at-large in partisan elections to serve staggered three year terms. The Committee appoints a Mayor and Deputy Mayor at the annual Re-organization Meeting and each serves a one year term."</ref>

Template:As of, members of the Franklin Township Committee are Mayor Philip J. Koury (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2023), Deputy Mayor Michael Homulak (R, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Sebastian Donaruma (R, 2025), Craig A. Repmann (R, 2024) and Deanna Seiple (R, 2025).<ref name=Committee>Elected Officials, Franklin Township. Accessed May 3, 2023.</ref><ref>2023 Municipal Data Sheet, Franklin Township. Accessed May 3, 2023.</ref><ref name=HunterdonPage>Township of Franklin, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed May 3, 2023.</ref><ref name=HunterdonDirectory>2022 County and Municipal Directory, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed May 1, 2023.</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><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>

In January 2019, the Township Committee selected Sebastian Donaruma from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2019 that was vacated in December 2018 by Susan Soloway before she was sworn into the Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders.<ref>January 24, 2019 Regular Session Minutes, Franklin Township. Accessed November 18, 2019. "Motion to accept the nomination of Sebastian Donaruma by the Republican Party Committee to fill the unexpired term of office expiring on December 31, 2019."</ref>

Federal, state and county representation

Franklin 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> Prior to the 2010 Census, Franklin Township had been part of the Template:Ushr, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.<ref name=LWV2011>2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government Template:Webarchive, p. 57, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed May 22, 2015.</ref>

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 2,253 registered voters in Franklin Township, of which 382 (17.0%) were registered as Democrats, 1,021 (45.3%) were registered as Republicans and 850 (37.7%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.<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 65.8% of the vote (1,166 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 33.2% (588 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (18 votes), among the 1,781 ballots cast by the township's 2,362 registered voters (9 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 75.4%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 61.0% of the vote (1,118 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 36.6% (670 votes) and other candidates with 1.7% (31 votes), among the 1,833 ballots cast by the township's 2,228 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.3%.<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 63.3% of the vote (1,130 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 35.3% (630 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (24 votes), among the 1,784 ballots cast by the township's 2,133 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 83.6.<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 77.8% of the vote (861 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 20.3% (225 votes), and other candidates with 1.9% (21 votes), among the 1,132 ballots cast by the township's 2,279 registered voters (25 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.7%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 69.5% of the vote (977 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 21.6% (303 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 8.0% (112 votes) and other candidates with 0.3% (4 votes), among the 1,406 ballots cast by the township's 2,215 registered voters, yielding a 63.5% 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 Franklin Township School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Franklin Township School.<ref>2019-2020 Public School Directory Template:Webarchive, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed November 17, 2019.</ref> As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 283 students and 29.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.8:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Franklin Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>

Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend North Hunterdon High School in Annandale together with students from Bethlehem Township, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Lebanon Borough and Union Township.<ref>About the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District. Accessed February 17, 2015. "North Hunterdon High School educates students from: Bethlehem Township, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough, Union Township; Voorhees High School educates students from: Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township, Tewksbury Township"</ref><ref>Information Regarding Choice of District School, North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District. Accessed February 17, 2015. "In the past, parents and students of the North Hunterdon High School sending districts were able to select either North Hunterdon High School or Voorhees High School as their school of choice.... As our student population continued to grow and our two high schools reached, and exceeded, 90% capacity, the option of choosing Voorhees was eliminated in the 2005-2006 school year for the North Hunterdon sending districts (Bethlehem Township, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough and Union Township – Clinton Town students still have choice as they are classmates at Clinton Public School with Glen Gardner students, who attend Voorhees)."</ref><ref>About the District North Hunterdoon-Voorhees Regional High School District. Accessed February 17, 2015. "North Hunterdon High School educates students from: Bethlehem Township, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough, Union Township; Voorhees High School educates students from: Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township, Tewksbury Township"</ref> As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,584 students and 123.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.9:1.<ref>School data for North Hunterdon High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref> The school is part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, which also includes students from Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township and Tewksbury Township, who attend Voorhees High School in Lebanon Township.<ref>Voorhees High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 3, 2016. "Voorhees High School has consistently ranked among the top high schools in New Jersey and was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2015. With an enrollment of 1,095 students in grades 9-12, the school serves the communities of Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township, and Tewksbury Township."</ref><ref>Public School Directory 2015-2016 Template:Webarchive, p. 55. Hunterdon County Department of Education. Accessed June 3, 2016.</ref><ref>About the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, updated November 16, 2015. Accessed June 3, 2016. "North Hunterdon High School educates students from: Bethlehem Township, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough, Union Township; Voorhees High School educates students from: Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township, Tewksbury Township"</ref>

Transportation

File:2018-06-14 14 42 06 View east along Interstate 78 and U.S. Route 22 (Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway) just east of Exit 15 in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.jpg

Interstate 78/U.S. Route 22 eastbound in Franklin Township

Template:As of, the township had a total of Template:Convert of roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the municipality, Template:Convert by Hunterdon County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Hunterdon County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

There are several major roads in Franklin Township.<ref>Hunterdon County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed March 2, 2023.</ref> The most significant is Interstate 78/U.S. Route 22,<ref>Interstate 78 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2016. Accessed March 2, 2023.</ref> which traverses through for a fifth of a mile with an interchange (Exit 15) at the northern tip of the township (which is the eastern overlapping end of Route 173).<ref>Route 173 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated May 2018. Accessed March 2, 2023.</ref> Route 12 also passes through for just less than Template:Convert.<ref>Route 12 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2016. Accessed March 2, 2023.</ref>

County roads that pass through include CR 513<ref>County Route 513 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated November 2012. Accessed March 2, 2023.</ref> and CR 579.<ref>County Route 579 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2012. Accessed March 2, 2023.</ref>

The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line (formerly the mainline of the Lehigh Valley Railroad), runs through the northern part of Franklin Township.<ref>Hunterdon County Short Line Rail Study Template:Webarchive, p. 9. Hunterdon County Planning Board, September 1998. Accessed November 15, 2019. "The Lehigh Line is a major regional line that connects the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton (PA) metropolitan hub with the Newark (NJ) metropolitan area. The Lehigh Line enters the County at the Borough of Bloomsbury and passes through the Townships of Bethlehem, Union, Franklin, Clinton, and Raritan before exiting the County at the southern tip of Readington Township."</ref>

Points of interest

File:LANSDOWN, PITTSTOWN, HUNTERDON COUNTY.JPG

Lansdown

• Lansdown, a historic house in Lansdowne, was owned by Commissary-General Charles Stewart during the American Revolution. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.<ref name="nrhpdoc">Template:Cite web With Template:NRHP url</ref>
• Quaker Meeting House, a Quaker meeting house in Quakertown, was listed on the NRHP in 1990<ref name="nrhpdoc2">Template:Cite web With Template:NRHP url</ref>

Notable people

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

• Christian Bauman (born 1970), novelist, essayist, and lyricist<ref>Bauman, Christian. "Our Father", Identity Theory, February 18, 2009. Accessed October 17, 2018. "It was about this time that we moved—my mother, my step-father, and me—from Doylestown, Pennsylvania to Quakertown, New Jersey. In New Jersey I entered the fourth grade at the Franklin Township School."</ref>
• Hiram Deats (1810–1887), businessman, agricultural manufacturing<ref name=History/>
• Chris Kappler (born 1967), Olympic gold and silver medalist in equestrian events<ref>Editorial. "Editorial: Hunterdon can be proud of residents who have competed in the Olympics, Culley is next", Hunterdon County Democrat, July 26, 2012. Accessed May 29, 2013. "Two equestrians have ridden for the U.S. show jumping team. In 2000, Nona Garson, then of Tewksbury Township, went to Australia and in 2004, Chris Kappler of Franklin Township won the team gold and individual silver in Athens."</ref>
• John J. Myers (born 1941), prelate of the Catholic Church and former Archbishop emeritus of Newark, New Jersey<ref>Mueller, Mark. "Newark Archbishop John J. Myers poised to retire", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 24, 2016. Accessed October 17, 2018. "Once Myers' retirement is approved, Goodness said, he is expected to move to the Hunterdon County home that has served as his weekend residence since 2002. The five-bedroom house, on 8.2 acres in Franklin Township, became a source of controversy for Myers in February 2014 when The Star-Ledger reported the archdiocese was spending more than $500,000 to build a three-story, 3,000-square-foot wing on the structure, complete with a small indoor exercise pool, three fireplaces and an elevator."</ref>
• Erik Peterson (born 1966), politician who serves in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 23rd Legislative District<ref>Staff. "Erik Peterson sworn in early to two-year term in New Jersey Assembly", The Express-Times, December 7, 2009. Accessed October 17, 2018. "Peterson, of Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, has been active in local politics for nearly two decades and began his career as an elected official in 2006 as a county freeholder."</ref>
• Toshiko Takaezu (1922–2011), ceramic artist and painter<ref>Kahn, Eve M. "Ceramist’s Students Keep Studio and Spirit Alive", The New York Times, May 10, 2012. Accessed October 17, 2018. "Quakertown, N.J. — The Japanese-American ceramist Toshiko Takaezu, who died last year at 88, filled her home and studio in this village with eager assistants."</ref>

External links

• Official Franklin Township, Hunterdon County Site
• Hunterdon County webpage for Franklin Township
• Franklin Township School
• Template:NJReportCard
• School Data for the Franklin Township School, National Center for Education Statistics
• North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District
• Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance
• Rural Awareness, Inc. – Preserving Franklin Township's Rich History and Rural Character