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Kingwood Township, New Jersey

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement Kingwood Township is a township in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located on the Hunterdon Plateau. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 3,802,<ref name=LWD2020/> a decrease of 43 (−1.1%) from the 2010 census count of 3,845,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 63 (+1.7%) from the 3,782 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>

History

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File:Kingwood, NJ.jpg
Community of Kingwood located near the center of the township

Kingwood Township is one of the westernmost townships of Hunterdon County. Kingwood was originally established around 1746 when it was created from Bethlehem Township, though the exact details are uncertain.<ref name=KingwoodHistory/> Kingwood was incorporated by Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to form Franklin Township on April 7, 1845. Frenchtown borough acquired portions of the township in 1876.<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. 156. Accessed May 29, 2024.</ref>

Kingwood Township was the home of Daniel Bray, the local captain who rounded up the boats for George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War.<ref name=KingwoodHistory>Farnham, Barbara Alexander. Kingwood History - Excerpt from Kingwood Township of Yesteryear, Kingwood Township. Accessed November 19, 2019.</ref> The portion of Route 29 that runs through the township along its western edge is named for him.<ref name=NJ29SLD/>

In late 1981, Dick Siano became the first Libertarian Party candidate to win a partisan election outside of Alaska by winning a committee seat in the township. In the November election, he and the Democratic tied in the general election placing the incumbent Republican mayor in third place. Siano won the runoff election held on December 22.<ref name=LbtNewsletter1981>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=LbtWin>"Libertarian victory", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 31, 1981. Accessed November 19, 2019.</ref>

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 35.62 square miles (92.24 km2), including 35.01 square miles (90.66 km2) of land and 0.61 square miles (1.58 km2) of water (1.71%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The township borders the municipalities of Alexandria Township, Delaware Township, Franklin Township and Frenchtown in Hunterdon County; and the communities of Plumstead Township and Tinicum Township in Bucks County, across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.<ref>Areas touching Kingwood Township, MapIt. Accessed February 25, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed May 13, 2023.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref> Most of the township lies on the Hunterdon Plateau, a geologic plateau averaging Template:Convert in elevation though approaching the Delaware River, the elevation drops sharply to about Template:Convert at the banks of the river.<ref name=LUStudy>Hordon, Robert M. Ground Water Study of the Argillite Formation in Kingwood Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, pp. 2-3. Kingwood Township, November 5, 1985. Accessed November 19, 2019.</ref> Exposed rock can be seen on portions of Route 29 in the township between the River and the plateau.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Baptistown, Barbertown, Byram, Idell, Milltown, Point Breeze, Treasure Island, Tumble and Tumble Falls.<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed December 31, 2014.</ref>

Frenchtown Solar is a group of three photovoltaic arrays owned by Consolidated Edison that forms one of the largest solar farms in the state, covering Template:Convert with a total of 68,500 solar panels and a 20.1 megawatt generating capacity. Two arrays are located just outside Baptistown on Route 12.<ref>Fasanello, Teresa. "2 solar arrays rising in Kingwood along Route 12", Hunterdon County Democrat, August 2, 2011. Accessed April 21, 2015.</ref> The third and largest is to the south off County Route 519.<ref>Rojas, Cristina. "Kingwood gives preliminary OK to solar field on Route 519", Hunterdon County Democrat, October 19, 2011. Accessed April 21, 2015.</ref>

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2010 census

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The 2010 United States census counted 3,845 people, 1,446 households, and 1,103 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,569 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 96.51% (3,711) White, 0.65% (25) Black or African American, 0.03% (1) Native American, 1.09% (42) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.52% (20) from other races, and 1.20% (46) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.39% (92) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 1,446 households, 32.2% had children under the age of 18; 64.2% were married couples living together; 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.7% were non-families. Of all households, 18.1% were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.04.<ref name=Census2010/>

23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 20.8% from 25 to 44, 37.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 103.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 99.1 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $94,951 (with a margin of error of +/− $8,656) and the median family income was $101,722 (+/− $3,508). Males had a median income of $62,636 (+/− $11,644) versus $39,704 (+/− $5,890) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $38,977 (+/− $4,174). About 2.7% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% 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 Kingwood township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 15, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

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As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 3,782 people, 1,340 households, and 1,042 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,422 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 97.62% White, 0.61% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.85% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Kingwood 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 Kingwood township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.</ref>

There were 1,340 households, out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.9% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.2% were non-families. 17.6% of all households 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 2.82 and the average family size was 3.21.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $71,551, and the median income for a family was $81,642. Males had a median income of $54,107 versus $31,326 for females. The per capita income for the township was $30,219. About 2.3% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Government

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Local government

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File:Kingwood Township, NJ municipal building, May 2023.jpg
Kingwood Township Municipal Building

Kingwood Township operates under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form.<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 three 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 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> The Mayor is elected by the Committee from among its members and serves a one-year term, as does the Deputy Mayor. The Mayor serves as the Chairperson of the Committee and votes as an equal member, but has no other special powers.<ref name=Committee/><ref>History of the Township Form of Government, Kingwood Township. Accessed May 5, 2020. "Under the current township government laws as they apply to Kingwood Township, three Committee members are elected at-large in partisan elections to serve staggered three-year terms. The Mayor is elected by the Committee and serves a one-year term, as does the Deputy Mayor. The Mayor serves as the Chairperson of the Committee and votes as an equal member, but has no other special powers under our adoption of the township form of government."</ref>

Template:As of, members of the Kingwood Township Committee are Mayor Andrew Russano Jr. (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Maureen Syrnick (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2023) and Lance Riggio (R, 2025).<ref name=Committee>Township Committee, Kingwood Township. Accessed May 4, 2023.</ref><ref>2022 Municipal User Friendly Budget, Kingwood Township. Accessed August 14, 2022.</ref><ref name=HunterdonPage>Township of Kingwood, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed May 4, 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>

Federal, state and county representation

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Kingwood 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 15th state legislative district.<ref>Districts by Number for 2023-2031, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

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Template:NJ Hunterdon County Freeholders

Politics

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In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 62.5% of the vote (1,282 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 36.1% (741 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (27 votes), among the 2,066 ballots cast by the township's 2,797 registered voters (16 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 73.9%.<ref name=2012Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref>

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In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 77.9% of the vote (1,006 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 19.3% (250 votes), and other candidates with 2.8% (36 votes), among the 1,313 ballots cast by the township's 2,751 registered voters (21 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.7%.<ref name=2013Elections>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

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The Kingwood Township School District serves public school students ranging from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Kingwood Township School.<ref>Kingwood Township Board of Education Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Kingwood Township School District. Accessed June 1, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight in the Kingwood Township School District. Composition: The Kingwood Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Kingwood Township. "</ref><ref name=HunterdonSchools>2023-2024 Public School Directory, Hunterdon County Department of Education. Accessed March 1, 2024.</ref><ref>School Performance Reports for the Kingwood Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Kingwood Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 324 students and 36.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.0:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Kingwood Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Delaware Valley Regional High School,<ref>About Us, Kingwood Township School District. Accessed May 5, 2020. "Located in a beautiful rural area of Hunterdon County, the Kingwood Township School District is a preschool through eighth grade school district that served approximately 335 students during the 2015-2016 school year. The district sends its students to the Delaware Valley Regional High School District for grades 9 through 12."</ref> together with students from Alexandria Township, Frenchtown, Holland Township and Milford borough.<ref>Delaware Valley Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Delaware Valley Regional High School. Accessed May 5, 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 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 School District 2016 Report Card Narrative Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 5, 2020. "The Delaware Valley Regional High School District can be found in the heart of pastoral and beautiful Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The District serves students in grades nine through twelve who reside in the five municipalities that comprise our region: Alexandria Township, Frenchtown Borough, Holland Township, Kingwood Township, and Milford Borough."</ref><ref>About Us, Delaware Valley Regional High School District. Accessed May 5, 2020. "The Delaware Valley Regional High School District can be found in the heart of pastoral and beautiful Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The District serves students in grades nine through twelve who reside in the five municipalities that comprise our region: Alexandria Township, Frenchtown Borough, Holland Township, Kingwood Township, and Milford Borough."</ref><ref>Chief School Administrators/Sending Districts Template:Webarchive, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Superintendent of Schools. Accessed May 5, 2020.</ref> As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 722 students and 59.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1.<ref>School data for Delaware Valley Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 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 Kingwood Township.<ref>Board of Education, Delaware Valley Regional High School. Accessed June 1, 2024.</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

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File:2018-06-14 18 31 42 View east along New Jersey State Route 12 (Frenchtown-Flemington Road) east west of Hunterdon County Route 519 (Kingwood Road) in Kingwood Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.jpg
Route 12 eastbound in Kingwood 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>

The two state routes that pass through are Route 12<ref>Route 12 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated March 2016. Accessed November 19, 2019.</ref> and Route 29.<ref name=NJ29SLD>Route 29 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated July 2014. Accessed March 4, 2023.</ref> The only major county road that goes through is County Route 519.<ref>County Route 519 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, updated November 2012. Accessed March 4, 2023.</ref>

No limited access roads traverse Kingwood; the closest one is Interstate 78 in neighboring Franklin Township.<ref>Hunterdon County Highway Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed March 3, 2023.</ref>

Points of interest

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Template:Multiple image The Old Stone Church was built in 1837 and is now owned by the First Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hunterdon County. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.<ref name="nrhpnom">NRHP Nomination for Old Stone Presbyterian Church in Kingwood (Draft), National Park Service. Accessed November 20, 2019.</ref>

The Oak Summit Cemetery, across Oak Summit Road from the Old Stone Church, was established in 1754 and is now owned by the Prospect Hill Cemetery Association.<ref name=KTHistory>History of Kingwood Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed May 4, 2023. "The Old Stone Meeting House, located on the corner of Route 519 and Oak Summit Road, established in 1754, when Lawrence Hoff, the owner of an adjoining plantation, granted 1 1/4 acres to James Barcalow, Charles Hoff and Henry Cock, Trustees of Presbyterian Congregation of Kingwood."</ref>

The Oak Summit School, a one-room schoolhouse, was established in 1849 and used until 1953. It is located next to the Old Stone Church.<ref name=KTHistory/>

The Thatcher House, built in 1765, featuring patterned brickwork, was added to the NRHP in 2020.<ref name="nrhpdoc">Template:Cite web With accompanying 30 photos</ref>

The Devil's Tea Table, is a prominent landmark near Warsaw Road on Route 29. It is the focal point of a series of bluffs that contain several geological features of interest, such as the type localities for van Houghton cycles, as well as the type sections for units of the Locatong and Passaic Formations of the Triassic. These bluffs are a regional scenic attraction and are admired by many tourists who float by on the adjacent Delaware River.<ref>"Preserved Kingwood Farm a Peaceful Place Near A Devil of a Neighbor", Hunterdon Land Trust. Accessed April 7, 2021. "Perhaps the most difficult thing to believe about a place so serene is its neighbor: The farm is located next to The Devil’s Tea Table, an unusual rock formation consisting of a horizontal stone slab that sits upon a 12-foot-high stone slab. Also known as Warford Rock, the privately owned Devil’s Tea Table was a popular partying place for young people, some of whom fell from the cliff. According to newspaper accounts, at least two people died and many more were injured and had to be rescued."</ref>

Notable people

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

References

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