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Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey

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Franklin Township is a township in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is centrally located in the Raritan Valley region within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 68,364,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> an increase of 6,064 (+9.7%) from the 2010 census count of 62,300,<ref name=Census2010/><ref name=LWD2010/> which in turn reflected an increase of 11,397 (+22.4%) from the 50,903 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> The township was the state's 19th most-populous municipality in 2020, after being ranked 22nd in 2010.<ref name=Largest2020>Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref>

Traditionally a farming community, it has become a fast-growing suburb with massive development in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, fostering a diverse blend of races, religions, and cultures. In 2008, Franklin Township ranked #5 on Money magazine's list of America's Top 100 Best Places to Live.<ref>#5 – Franklin Township; America's Top 100 Best Places to Live, Money. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>

What is now Franklin Township was originally formed circa 1745 as Eastern precinct. Franklin Township was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature. Portions of the township were taken to form South Bound Brook (formed within Township, became an independent municipality as of April 11, 1907) and East Millstone (formed on February 18, 1873, and returned to Franklin Township on December 31, 1949).<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. 223. Accessed October 28, 2012.</ref>

History

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It has been unclear if the township was named for founding father Benjamin Franklin or for his illegitimate son William Franklin, a Loyalist and the last Royal Governor of New Jersey (from 1763 to 1776). In 2000, after considering the evidence set forth by William B. Brahms in his books Images of America: Franklin Township (1997)<ref>Brahms, William B., Images of America: Franklin Township, Arcadia Publishing; Template:ISBN</ref> and Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ: A History,<ref>Brahms, William B., Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ: A History, FTPL; Template:ISBN</ref> and The Case for William Franklin and The Case for Benjamin Franklin, the Township Council chose the theory that the township was indeed named for Benjamin Franklin.<ref>History Template:Webarchive, Township of Franklin. Accessed March 31, 2020. "After considering the evidence set forth in Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ: A History, William B. Brahm, Commissioned by the Franklin Township Library, 1998, Chapter 12, Municipal Government, The Case for William Franklin and The Case for Benjamin Franklin, the Township Council determined to espouse the theory that the Township was named for Benjamin Franklin."</ref><ref>Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.</ref>

Franklin Township was very much a part of Revolutionary War history and the scene of many raiding parties along Route 27, then known as the King's Highway. Two British generals, Cornwallis and DeHeister, tried to lure General George Washington and his Continental Army into battle on the plains of Middlebush and East Millstone. Washington, however, kept his troops at Chimney Rock, just north of Franklin, until the British withdrew. Several of the prosperous Middlebush farms were destroyed by the British soldiers during their retreat. In 1777, near the mill on the Millstone River at Weston, the Continental Army and local militia engaged and successfully drove off a British foraging party of about 600 troops, sent out of New Brunswick by General Cornwallis. On November 2, 1783, Washington composed his farewell address to the army while staying at Rockingham near Rocky Hill.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The construction of the Delaware and Raritan Canal in the 1830s, stretching Template:Convert to connect New York City and Philadelphia, led to significant growth in the township, with as much as 200,000 tons of goods shipped on barges using the canal by the 1860s. The rise of shipping commercial goods using railroads led to a substantial decline in canal traffic.<ref name=History>History Template:Webarchive, Township of Franklin. Accessed March 31, 2020.</ref> The area has been restored as the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park<ref>History. Accessed March 31, 2020.</ref>

The Van Wickle House, located next to the Delaware and Raritan Canal in the Somerset section of the township, in between New Brunswick and South Bound Brook, was built in 1722 by Dutch settlers and is now owned by Franklin Township and leased by the Meadows Foundation. Set back behind Easton Avenue, the home adjoins the Rutgers Preparatory School and a Revolutionary War-era graveyard.<ref name=VanWickle>Van Wickle House 1722, Meadows Foundation. Accessed March 31, 2020.</ref>

Passenger and freight railroad service was available in Franklin Township during the later half of the 19th century via the Millstone and New Brunswick Railroad (M&NB) which opened in 1854. The railroad was built and operated by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR), from a junction with the PRR mainline at Jersey Avenue in New Brunswick to East Millstone. The M&NB is now known as the Conrail Millstone Secondary Branch. The branch line was still operated by Conrail up to just west of Clyde Road in Somerset for a time, serving local industry in the industrial section of Somerset.<ref>A pictorial account concerning the current condition and history of the Millstone Branch Template:Webarchive</ref> As of 2011, Hermann Warehouse Corp re-located out of the Clyde Road facility and there has not been rail service into that building since then. A bumper was placed east of the Somerset Road/Route 27 crossing, with Clyde Road, Veronica Avenue and Route 27 crossings currently out of service. Jersey Avenue/Route 91 remains the sole active crossing on the line.

In 1922, the infamous Hall-Mills Murder took place in Franklin Township, in the area adjacent to New Brunswick known as Somerset.<ref>The Changing Landscape of North Brunswick, Rutgers University. Accessed February 12, 2013. "Yorston is best remembered for his work in removing the 520 bodies from the New Brunswick Presbyterian Church's cemetery to Van Liew Cemetery to make way for new construction, for his around-the-clock service during the 1918 deadly influenza epidemic, and for his service in connection with the autopsy involving the infamous Hall-Mills murder in neighboring Franklin Township."</ref>

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 46.88 square miles (121.43 km2), including 46.17 square miles (119.58 km2) of land and 0.71 square miles (1.85 km2) of water (1.52%).<ref name=CensusArea/><ref name=GR1 />

The community is approximately 75% rural.<ref name=Thinking>Cheslow, Jerry. "If You're Thinking of Living In Franklin Township, N.J.; A Town Acting to Preserve Its Farmland", The New York Times, November 15, 1998. Accessed August 23, 2012. "The 47-square-mile community, which is still three-fourths rural, is coming under increasing development pressure, according to Mayor Bottcher."</ref>

The township borders the municipalities of Bridgewater Township, Hillsborough Township, Manville, Millstone, Montgomery Township, Rocky Hill and South Bound Brook in Somerset County; Princeton in Mercer County; New Brunswick, North Brunswick, Piscataway and South Brunswick in Middlesex County.<ref>Areas touching Franklin Township, MapIt. Accessed March 31, 2020.</ref><ref>Municipalities, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed March 31, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.</ref>

Communities

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File:Griggstown.jpg
The D&R Canal in Griggstown during the Autumn months

The following are unincorporated communities and census-designated places (CDPs) located within Franklin Township:<ref>GCT-PH1 – Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County -- County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Somerset County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref><ref>2006-2010 American Community Survey Geography for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref><ref name=CPH232>New Jersey: 2010 – Population and Housing Unit Counts – 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>

Other unincorporated communities, localities, and place names located partially or completely within the township include Hamilton Park and Rockingham.Template:Citation needed<ref>Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 21, 2015.</ref>

Ecology

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According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Franklin Township would have an Appalachian Oak (104) vegetation type with an Eastern Hardwood Forest (25) vegetation form.<ref name="Conservation Biology Institute">U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions), Data Basin. Accessed November 5, 2020.</ref>

Demographics

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Template:US Census population

2020 census

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Franklin township, Somerset County, New Jersey – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity Pop 1990<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref> % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 28,823 26,226 24,198 21,405 67.37% 51.52% 38.84% 31.28%
Black or African American alone (NH) 8,916 12,888 15,888 16,531 20.84% 25.32% 25.50% 24.18%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 62 65 102 95 0.14% 0.13% 0.16% 0.14%
Asian alone (NH) 3,001 6,475 12,410 15,835 7.01% 12.72% 19.93% 23.13%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) N/A 12 8 13 N/A 0.02% 0.01% 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 65 214 223 483 0.15% 0.42% 0.36% 0.71%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) N/A 896 1,421 2,064 N/A 1.76% 2.28% 3.02%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,913 4,127 8,050 11,938 4.47% 8.11% 12.92% 17.53%
Total 42,780 50,903 62,300 68,364 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010 census

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The 2010 United States census counted 62,300 people, 23,301 households, and 15,938 families in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 24,426 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 44.76% (27,887) White, 26.55% (16,539) Black or African American, 0.29% (183) Native American, 19.98% (12,450) Asian, 0.01% (9) Pacific Islander, 5.11% (3,183) from other races, and 3.29% (2,049) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.92% (8,050) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 23,301 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18; 53.3% were married couples living together; 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present and 31.6% were non-families. Of all households, 25.7% were made up of individuals and 8.3% 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 3.19.<ref name=Census2010/>

22.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 92.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 88.5 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $89,992 (with a margin of error of +/− $2,918) and the median family income was $103,060 (+/− $3,429). Males had a median income of $66,178 (+/− $2,448) versus $54,733 (+/− $2,427) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $40,036 (+/− $1,203). About 3.2% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref>DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 23, 2012.</ref>

2000 census

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File:Somerset, NJ - Hamilton and Franklin.jpg
The Somerset neighborhood, one of the largest neighborhoods in the township

As of the 2000 United States census<ref name="GR2" /> there were 50,903 people, 19,355 households, and 12,987 families residing in the township. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 19,789 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the township was 55.11% White, 25.98% African American, 0.18% Native American, 12.74% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.56% from other races, and 2.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.11% of the population.<ref name=Census2000>Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Franklin Township, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed October 31, 2016.</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, Somerset County, New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed August 23, 2012.</ref>

There were 19,355 households, out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.14.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

In the township, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

The median income for a household in the township was $67,923, and the median income for a family was $78,177. Males had a median income of $52,351 versus $41,101 for females. The per capita income for the township was $31,209. About 3.1% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref name=Census2000/><ref name=Census2000SF1/>

Parks and recreation

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Parks in the township include:

  • The William L. Hutcheson Memorial Forest is a Template:Convert natural preserve administered by Rutgers University that includes a Template:Convert virgin old-growth forest designated a National Natural Landmark, and is located at 2150 Amwell Road (Route 514) about Template:Convert east of East Millstone.<ref>William L. Hutcheson Memorial Forest, Rutgers University. Accessed February 12, 2013. "The Hutcheson Memorial Forest (HMF) is a unique area consisting of one of the last uncut forests in the Mid-Atlantic states, along with the surrounding lands devoted to protection of the old forest and research into ecological interactions necessary to understand the forest."</ref>
  • Colonial Park, part of the Somerset County Park System, is a Template:Convert facility located in the western portion of Franklin Township near East Millstone with entrances off Mettlers Lane and Elizabeth Avenue. The park offers many recreational activities, including picnicking, hiking, biking, fishing, paddle boating, golf, and tennis. It features a Template:Convert Arboretum, "a living tree museum" that provides a wide range of examples of trees and shrubs that grow well in the Central Jersey environment.<ref>Colonial Park Gardens, Somerset County Park Commission. Accessed December 16, 2011.</ref> The park also offers a Template:Convert leash-free dog area, a Template:Convert fitness parcourse, paddleboat rentals, an 18-hole putting course, the 18 hole championship Spooky Brook Golf Course, 3 stocked fishing ponds, softball fields, a tennis center, playground, nature trail, a Template:Convert Perennial Garden, the Rudolf W. van der Goot Rose Garden, an accredited All-America Rose Selections (AARS) display garden, and the Fragrance and Sensory Garden, designed to be of special interest to visitors who are visually or physically impaired.<ref>Colonial Park Brochure, Somerset county Park Commission. Accessed December 16, 2011.</ref>
  • A portion of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park runs for Template:Convert along much of the northern and western borders of Franklin Township eventually making its way as far south as Trenton with a feeder canal following the Delaware River north for another Template:Convert to Bull's Island near Frenchtown. The canal and adjacent tow path offer many recreational activities, from hiking and biking to fishing and boating. Access points with parking can be found near most road crossings of the canal, via bridges at Colonial Park (see above) and the Van Wickle House (see below) in Franklin Township as well as at many of the locks on the canal.<ref>General Information Template:Webarchive, Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>
  • The John W. Flemer Preserve is a Template:Convert preserve adjacent to the Delaware and Raritan Canal in Kingston that features a Template:Convert trail on the east bank of the Canal that offers a connection to the tow path on the west side of the Canal for a round trip hike.<ref>Template:Usurped, nynjctbotany.org. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>
  • The Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve is a Template:Convert preserve located between Bennets Lane and Skillmans Lane in the Somerset section that features Template:Convert of grassland, forest, and scrubland and a Template:Convert wetland attracting migratory birds and amphibians with over Template:Convert of pedestrian trails, bird boxes and interpretive signage.<ref>Negri-Nepote Native Grassland Preserve, The Native Plant Society of New Jersey. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>
  • Six Mile Run Reservoir Site, part of the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry, is located in the central portion of Franklin Township. The Template:Convert park consists of land that was set aside in c. 1970 for water resource needs that still remains largely undeveloped and that offers numerous multi-use recreational trails. Access is provided via the former D&R Canal Main Office parking area off Canal Road just south of Blackwells Mills Road.<ref>Six Mile Run Reservoir Site, New York–New Jersey Trail Conference. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>
  • Ten Mile Run Greenway is a Template:Convert greenway over Template:Convert in length running between Canal Road south of Bunker Hill Road in Griggstown and S. Middlebush Road near Old Vliet Road in Franklin Park. It runs along the Ten Mile Run. It features four sections including:
    • Bunker Hill Natural Area, accessed from the north side of Bunker Hill Road near the intersection of Route 27, features trails through mature forest and meadows and along Ten Mile Run stream. Trails connect to the Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve and the Catalpa Farm areas.
    • Catalpa Farm, on Old Vliet Road, offers trails along field edges and a small forest that connect to the Bunker Hill Natural Area.
    • Environmental Education Center, 255 Bunker Hill Road (parking is available at 287 Bunker Hill Road), is a Template:Convert area that features a deciduous forest known as Graeber Woods, a one-mile (1.6 km) self-guided nature trail, the "Glass House", a home that has been renovated and is now used as a classroom and conference center to provide a wide range of instructional, hands-on activities in natural habitats, and a 20' climbing tower and a high ropes course adventure area. The Environmental Education Center is a cooperative effort of the Township of Franklin, the Franklin Township Board of Education, and the Green Acres Program. A trail connect to the Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve and the rest of the Ten Mile Run Greenway.
    • Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve accessed from Canal Road in Griggstown (1091 Canal Road) has over Template:Convert of grassland and hundreds of acres of forest and features over Template:Convert of mapped trails. Trails connect to the other sections of the Ten Mile Run Greenway.<ref>Griggstown Native Grassland Preserve, Franklin Township. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref>

Government

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Local government

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The Township of Franklin is chartered under the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, within the Council-Manager, Plan D.<ref name=DataBook>2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 81.</ref><ref>"Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 12. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>1998 Charter Study Commission Report Template:Webarchive, p. 1. Accessed August 6, 2007. "Franklin Township, since 1958, operates under the Council-Manager Plan D..."</ref> The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<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 Council is comprised of nine members, including one from each of the five wards, three elected from the township at-large, and the mayor. The mayor is the Chief Legislative Officer of the township and is directly elected from the township at-large to serve a four-year term. The Township Manager is the chief executive officer overseeing the township's daily operations and is hired by and serves at the pleasure of the Township Council. Councilmembers are chosen for a four-year term in partisan elections held at the June Primary and November General Elections in odd-numbered years, with the five ward seats coming up for election together and the mayoral and at-large seats up for election two years later.<ref>The Council-Manager Plan (NJSA 40:69A-81 to 40:69A-98), Franklin Township. Accessed June 6, 2022. "Under the Faulkner Act, the following options are followed by the Township of Franklin: 1. Basis of Election: Partisan Elections in November. 2. Election of Mayor: By the voters. 3. Size and Structure of the Council: Nine Members: 1-Mayor; 3-At-Large Council Members; 5-Ward Council Members. Terms of Office: 4-years terms staggered."</ref>

Template:As of, the Mayor of Franklin Township is Democrat Phillip Kramer, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Township Council are Deputy Mayor Crystal Pruitt (D; At-Large, 2023), Sivaraman Anbarasan (D; At-Large, 2023), Kimberly Francois (D; At-Large, 2023), Charles Onyejiaka (D; 3rd Ward, 2025), Ed Potosnak (D; 1st Ward, 2025), Shepa Uddin (D; 2nd Ward, 2025), James Vassanella (D; 5th Ward, 2025) and Carl R.A. Wright (D; 4th Ward, 2025).<ref name=Council>Council Members, Township of Franklin. Accessed June 6, 2022.</ref><ref>2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Township of Franklin. Accessed June 6, 2022.</ref><ref name=SomersetDirectory>2023 Directory of County & Municipal Offices, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed April 10, 2024.</ref><ref name="TemplateSomerset2021">2021 General Election Winning Candidates, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Somerset2020>Somerset County General Election November 3, 2020 Final Certified Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, dated December 3, 2020. Accessed January 19, 2021.</ref><ref name=Somerset2019>General Election November 5, 2019 Final Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

In the November 2015 general election, Phillip Kramer became the first Democrat directly elected as mayor in the township's history, resulting in the mayor and entire council being from the Democratic Party.<ref>Staff. "Kramer Leads Democratic Sweep Of Mayor, Council Races", Franklin Reporter & Advocate, November 4, 2015. Accessed May 22, 2016. "With the win, the mayor and council seats will all be held by Democrats come January. The Democrats will have to pick a replacement for Kramer's council seat after he is sworn in as mayor. Kramer is also the first Democrat to be elected mayor since the position was directly chosen by voters."</ref> This marked a transition that started in 1995, when the council was controlled 8 to 1 by the Republican Party.Template:Citation needed In January 2016, the Township Council selected Charles Onyejiaka from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the Third Ward seat expiring in December 2017 that was vacated by Philip Kramer when he took office as mayor; Onyejiaka will serve on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election, when voters will select a candidate to fill the one-year balance of the term of office.<ref>Staff. "Charles Onyejiaka Newest Township Council Member; Picked by Township Council from a slate of three candidates.", Franklin Reporter & Advocate, January 13, 2016. Accessed May 22, 2016. "Charles Onyejiaka, a 14-year township resident, was chosen from a field of three to fill the Ward 3 seat vacated when Philip Kramer was sworn in as mayor on Jan. 1."</ref>

In January 2015, the Township Council chose Chris Kelly from among three candidates offered by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Brian D. Levine, who had resigned from his council seat to take office on the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders.<ref>Staff. "Chris Kelly Sworn In As Township Mayor", Franklin Reporter & Advocate, January 13, 2015. Accessed January 17, 2015. "Township native Chris Kelly was sworn in as mayor at the Jan. 13 Township Council meeting, replacing Brian Levine, who has moved on to the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders."</ref>

In 1998, the township approved a referendum by a better than 2–1 margin to raise property taxes by 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, with the money to be used to preserve open space.<ref name=Thinking/>

Federal, state and county representation

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Franklin Township is located in the 12th 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 17th 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 split between the Template:Ushr and the 12th Congressional District, 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>

Template:NJ Congress 12 Template:NJ Senate

Template:NJ Legislative 17

Template:NJ Somerset County Commissioners

Politics

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As of March 2011, there were a total of 36,240 registered voters in Franklin Township, of which 13,993 (38.6% vs. 26.0% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 4,962 (13.7% vs. 25.7%) were registered as Republicans and 17,262 (47.6% vs. 48.2%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 23 voters registered to the Libertarian Party or other parties.<ref name=VoterRegistration>Voter Registration Summary – Somerset, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 58.2% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 74.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 – State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey Template:Webarchive, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>

In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 71.2% of the vote (19,611 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 27.7% (7,640 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (288 votes), among the 27,718 ballots cast by the township's 39,291 registered voters (179 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 70.5%.<ref name="2012Elections">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="2012VoterReg">Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 19,442 votes (70.0% vs. 52.1% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 7,951 votes (28.6% vs. 46.1%) and other candidates with 246 votes (0.9% vs. 1.1%), among the 27,776 ballots cast by the township's 35,508 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2% (vs. 78.7% in Somerset County).<ref>2008 Presidential General Election Results: Somerset County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref> In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 14,737 votes (64.2% vs. 47.2% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 7,913 votes (34.5% vs. 51.5%) and other candidates with 211 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 22,962 ballots cast by the township's 28,743 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.9% (vs. 81.7% in the whole county).<ref>2004 Presidential Election: Somerset County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 51.7% of the vote (8,178 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 46.9% (7,420 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (209 votes), among the 16,108 ballots cast by the township's 40,155 registered voters (301 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.1%.<ref name="2013Elections">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="2013VoterReg">Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 9,369 ballots cast (53.0% vs. 34.1% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 6,842 votes (38.7% vs. 55.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 1,180 votes (6.7% vs. 8.7%) and other candidates with 137 votes (0.8% vs. 0.7%), among the 17,679 ballots cast by the township's 36,033 registered voters, yielding a 49.1% turnout (vs. 52.5% in the county).<ref>2009 Governor: Somerset County Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>

Franklin vote by party
in presidential elections<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2024 align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|67.1% 20,829 align="center" Template:Party shading/Republican|29.3% 9,107 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|3.2% 1,007
align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2020 align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|72.8% 25,587 align="center" Template:Party shading/Republican|25.7% 9,040 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|1.1% 396
align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2016 align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|71.1% 21,375 align="center" Template:Party shading/Republican|26.0% 7,818 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|2.9% 860
align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2012 align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|71.2% 19,611 align="center" Template:Party shading/Republican|27.7% 7,640 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|1.0% 288
align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2008 align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|70.0% 19,442 align="center" Template:Party shading/Republican|28.6% 7,951 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|0.9% 246
align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2004 align="center" Template:Party shading/Democratic|64.2% 14,737 align="center" Template:Party shading/Republican|34.5% 7,913 align="center" Template:Party shading/Independent|0.9% 211

Education

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The Franklin Township Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade.<ref>Franklin Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed June 26, 2020. "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 twelve in the Franklin Township School District. Composition The Franklin Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Franklin Township."</ref> As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of 10 schools, had an enrollment of 7,150 students and 703.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.2:1.<ref name=NCES>District information for Franklin Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref> Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics<ref>School Data for the Franklin Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>) are Claremont Elementary School<ref>Claremont Elementary School, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref> (665 students; in grades Pre-K–5), Conerly Road School<ref>Conerly Road School, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref> (400; Pre-K–5), Elizabeth Avenue School<ref>Elizabeth Avenue School, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref> (493; Pre-K–5), Franklin Park School<ref>Franklin Park School, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref> (664; Pre-K–5), Hillcrest School<ref>Hillcrest School, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref> (436; Pre-K–5), MacAfee Road School<ref>MacAfee Road School, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref> (381; Pre-K–5), Pine Grove Manor School<ref>Pine Grove Manor School, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref> (331; Pre-K–5), Franklin Middle School at Hamilton Street Campus<ref>Franklin Middle School At Hamilton Street Campus, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref> (706; 6–8), Franklin Middle School at Sampson G. Smith Campus<ref>Franklin Middle School At Sampson G. Smith Campus, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref> (797; 6–8) and Franklin High School<ref>Franklin High School, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref> (2,146; 9–12).<ref>School Information Template:Webarchive, Franklin Township Public Schools. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref><ref>2019-2020 Somerset County Public School Directory Template:Webarchive, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 26, 2020.</ref><ref>New Jersey School Directory for the Franklin Township Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.</ref>

Central Jersey College Prep Charter School is a comprehensive public charter middle school / high school serving students in grades 6–12 that aims to prepare all graduates for admission to a four-year university.<ref>Our Mission, Central Jersey College Prep Charter School. Accessed November 13, 2016.</ref> In 2016, the school was one of ten schools in New Jersey, and the only charter school, recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education.<ref>2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Non-Public, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed November 13, 2016.</ref> As of the 2018–2019 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 820 students and 73.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.2:1.<ref>School data for Central Jersey College Prep Charter School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.</ref>

Rutgers Preparatory School, a private day school founded in 1766, is located in Franklin Township and occupies a 35-acre campus between Easton Avenue and the Raritan River. The state's oldest independent school, RPS moved to Franklin Township in 1957.<ref>RPS Facts Template:Webarchive, Rutgers Preparatory School. Accessed February 8, 2012.</ref>

Saint Matthias School is a parochial elementary school founded in 1962 that serves students in preschool through eighth grade and operates under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen.<ref>History, Saint Matthias School. Accessed August 19, 2015.</ref><ref>Find a school Template:Webarchive, Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Accessed August 19, 2015.</ref>

Cedar Hill Preparatory School, a Pre-K–8 school founded in 2003 as Oakcrest Academy,<ref>Our History, Cedar Hill Preparatory School. Accessed October 18, 2017. "Cedar Hill Prep School was founded in 2003 under the name Oakcrest Academy."</ref> was one of eight private schools recognized in 2017 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program as an Exemplary High Performing School by the United States Department of Education.<ref>Pries, Allison. 17 "New Jersey schools earn National Blue Ribbon Award", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 29, 2017. Accessed October 18, 2017.</ref>

Historic district

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The Kingston Mill Historic District is a Template:Convert historic district encompassing the community of Kingston, New Jersey (which is bounded by Franklin Township in Somerset County, Princeton in Mercer County, and South Brunswick in Middlesex County). In 1683, Henry Greenland built the first tavern here for travelers between New York City and Philadelphia. The current Kingston Mill, also known as the Kingston Gristmill, was built in 1888, the third one at this site. In 1755, Jacob Skilman built a gristmill and sawmill here on the Millstone River, located along the historic King's Highway. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1986 for its significance in engineering, exploration/settlement, industry, and transportation. The district includes 16 contributing buildings and 2 contributing structures.<ref name="nrhpdoc">Template:Cite web With Template:NRHP url</ref>

Infrastructure

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Emergency services

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Fire companies

Franklin Township is served by 10 all-volunteer Fire Departments in four fire districts.<ref>Fire Services, Township of Franklin. Accessed March 31, 2020.</ref>

  • Community Fire Company / Station 25 (District 3)<ref>Home Page, Community Fire Company. Accessed July 31, 2013.</ref>
  • Elizabeth Ave. Fire Company / Station 26 (District 1)<ref>Home Page, Elizabeth Ave. Fire Company. Accessed July 31, 2013.</ref>
  • East Franklin Fire Department / Station 27 (District 3)<ref>Home Page, East Franklin Fire Department. Accessed July 31, 2013.</ref>
  • Middlebush Fire Department / Station 44 (District 1)<ref>Home Page, Middlebush Fire Department. Accessed July 31, 2013.</ref>
  • Millstone Valley Fire Company / Station 28 (District 1)<ref>Home Page, Millstone Valley Fire Company. Accessed July 31, 2013.</ref>
  • Franklin Park Volunteer Fire Company / Station 31 (District 2)<ref>Home Page, Franklin Park Fire Department. Accessed July 31, 2013.</ref>
  • Griggstown Volunteer Fire Company / Station 35 (District 2)<ref>Home Page, Griggstown Fire Company. Accessed July 31, 2013.</ref>
  • Rocky Hill Fire Department / Station 53 (District 4) As of April 1, 2025
  • Little Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Company / Station 41 (District 2)<ref>Home Page, Little Rocky Hill Fire Company. Accessed July 31, 2013.</ref>
  • Somerset Fire & Rescue Company #1 / Station 56 (District 1)<ref>Home Page, Somerset Fire & Rescue Company #1. Accessed July 31, 2013.</ref>
First aid squads

Franklin Township is served by four volunteer First Aid and Rescue Squads and one hospital-based EMS provider<ref>First Aid, Township of Franklin. Accessed April 28, 2021.</ref>

  • East Millstone First Aid Squad<ref>Home page, East Millstone First Aid Squad. Accessed September 20, 2014.</ref> / Station 52
  • Franklin Somerset First Aid Squad<ref>Home page, Franklin Somerset First Aid Squad. Accessed September 20, 2014.</ref> / Station 71 (Permanently closed)
  • Rocky Hill First Aid & Rescue Squad<ref>A Rich History of Service, Rocky Hill First Aid & Rescue Squad. Accessed September 20, 2014.</ref> / Station 53
  • Kendall Park First Aid & Rescue Squad<ref>Home page, Kendall Park First Aid & Rescue Squad. Accessed September 20, 2014.</ref>
  • Kingston First Aid & Rescue Squad / Station 72
  • Robert Wood Johnson EMS (Paid EMS through Municipal Contract)<ref>[1], Robert Johnson EMS Basic Life Support Services. Accessed April 28, 2021.</ref>

Transportation

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Roads and highways

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File:2021-06-23 11 13 48 View north along Interstate 287 from the overpass for Davidson Avenue in Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey.jpg
Interstate 287 northbound 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 Somerset County and Template:Convert by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.<ref>Somerset County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2010. Accessed July 18, 2014.</ref>

Interstate 287 is the most significant highway within the township. It runs through the northern part of the township with two interchanges.<ref>Interstate 287 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, June 2015. Accessed August 1, 2016.</ref> Route 27 runs along the border between New Brunswick, and the townships of South Brunswick and North Brunswick.<ref>State Route 27 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, May 2014. Accessed August 1, 2016.</ref> Some of the major county routes that are in the township are CR 514,<ref>County Route 514 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, October 2012. Accessed August 1, 2016.</ref> CR 518<ref>County Route 518 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, October 2012. Accessed August 1, 2016.</ref> and CR 527.<ref>County Route 527 Straight Line Diagram, New Jersey Department of Transportation, November 2012. Accessed August 1, 2016.</ref>

The New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) passes outside the township in both neighboring South Brunswick and New Brunswick, but the closest interchanges are two towns away in Edison (Exit 10), East Brunswick Township (Exit 9) and Monroe Township (Exit 8A).

Franklin Township was to house the northern end of the Somerset Freeway at I-287 back in 1964 until it was later proposed to end in Piscataway. An additional spur, Interstate 695, was also proposed as part of the project. This road was to complete Interstate 95 at the proposed southern end in Hopewell Township at I-95 and I-295. However the entire project was ultimately cancelled in 1982.

Public transportation

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Somerset County offers DASH routes 851 and 852, providing service to Franklin Township from Bound Brook, New Brunswick and North Brunswick.<ref>DASH, Ridewise. Accessed August 19, 2015.</ref> Additionally, the CAT 1R provides service to Raritan Valley Community College, passing through Bound Brook, Somerville, and Raritan.<ref>County Shuttle Schedules, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed December 31, 2017.</ref><ref>CAT 1R Schedule, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed December 31, 2017.</ref>

Commuter bus service to Midtown Manhattan is offered by commuter transportation company OurBus, during peak hours, with service at Kendall Park to and from New York City.<ref>Knapp, Krystal. "New Company Offers Express Bus Service from Kendall Park to New York City", Planet Princeton, July 29, 2016. Accessed December 31, 2017. "A new company called OurBus is offering weekday express bus trips from Kendall Park to New York City at about half the cost of traditional bus fares. OurBus offers a one-seat ride from the Kendall Park Roller Skating Rink lot on Route 27 to New York, making one other stop in Franklin Township along the way."</ref>

Utilities

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Gas and electricity are provided by PSE&G. Water comes from the Delaware and Raritan Canal from water bought from American Water and neighboring North Brunswick and New Brunswick in Middlesex County. In 2011, the township considered privatizing the system and awarding the contract to United Water.<ref>Paik, Eugene. "Deal proposed on United Water controlling Franklin Township's water system", The Star-Ledger, February 6, 2011. Accessed September 20, 2014. "The township draws its water from the Delaware and Raritan Canal, as well as New Brunswick, North Brunswick and the New Jersey American Water utility. The township would still own its water system, but would pay United Water to maintain it."</ref> Sewerage service is provided by the Township of Franklin Sewerage Authority.

Points of interest

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  • The Blackwells Mills Canal House, located at Blackwells Mills Road and Canal Road (598 Canal Road, Somerset) on the Delaware and Raritan Canal, was built Template:Circa, at the same time as the canal. It was constructed to house the bridge tender, who would open the swing bridge when canal boats came through, then close it to allow traffic to cross over the canal. The building is leased from the State and is maintained and operated by the Blackwells Mills Canal House Association in conjunction with the Meadows Foundation.<ref>Blackwells Mills Canal House Template:Webarchive, Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>
  • The Franklin Inn, at 2371 Amwell Road (Route 514), East Millstone, NJ a farmhouse built Template:Circa by Cornelius Van Liew, it has also been known as Annie Van Liew's House and, after being remodeled into a tavern and inn, the Franklin House Hotel.<ref>Brahms, William B., Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ: A History, FTPL; Template:ISBN p.55</ref>
  • The Hageman Farm, at 209 South Middlebush Road, is a Template:Circa historic farm. Owned by Franklin Township, the farm is under the stewardship of the Meadows Foundation.<ref>Hageman House (1861) and Barns (1876), The Meadows Foundation. Accessed January 5, 2017.</ref>
  • Rockingham State Historic Site, near Kingston on CR 603 (Somerset County), adjacent to the Delaware and Raritan Canal. George Washington wrote his Farewell Address to the Revolutionary Army while staying here in the fall of 1783.<ref>Rockingham State Historic Site, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref><ref>Tours Template:Webarchive, Rockingham State Historic Site. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>
  • Spieden & Hoebel Farms, Little Valley Natural Area is a Template:Convert area at 1327 and 1345 Canal Road with several miles of trails through forest and along field edges. Across Canal Road is access to the Delaware and Raritan Canal tow path and the Millstone River and flood plain.
  • Tulipwood, at 1165 Hamilton Street, is a Template:Circa designed by J. August Lienau, the son of Detlef Lienau for his brother-in-law Stephen Guion Williams whose family owned the Williams & Guion Black Star Line. The home is owned by Franklin Township.<ref>Tulipwood House, New Jersey Historic Trust. Accessed January 5, 2017. "Tulipwood is notable for its Colonial Revival architecture and was likely designed in 1892 by architect, J. August Lienau, son of the famed Danish architect Detlaf Lienau."</ref>
  • The Ukrainian Cultural Center at 135 Davidson Avenue, serves as the headquarters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and includes the following at the site (some open by appointment only):
    • St. Sophia Seminary and Library, founded in 1975
    • St. Andrew Memorial Church, completed and consecrated in 1967 in memory of the 7-14 million people who died in the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33 is a unique example of Ukrainian Cossack Baroque architecture in the area<ref>St. Andrew Memorial Church, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA. Accessed January 5, 2017. "Dominating the property of the St. Andrew Center is the unique edifice of the St. Andrew Memorial Church. Soaring skyward, the church is a monument to Ukrainian Cossack Baroque architecture. A result of years of planning and the sacrifices, labors and donations of countless faithful, the church is dedicated to all who perished in the Stalinist famine of 1932-33 and who have given their lives for the cause of freedom and justice."</ref>
    • St. Andrew Cemetery, founded in 1952
    • The Ukrainian Historical and Educational Center, founded in 1972, which contains treasures of Ukrainian cultural, historical, social, religious, literary and political life including Easter eggs, lacework, hand embroidery, statuary and church vessels.<ref>About Us, The Ukrainian Historical and Educational Center. Accessed January 5, 2017.</ref>
    • The Ukrainian Cultural Center, dedicated in 1985
    • St. Andrew Ukrainian School, founded in 1962 and located in the Cultural Center
    • St. Andrew Bookstore and Ecclesiastical Supply, founded in 1992
  • The historic Fisher Homestead, built in 1688, the home of Hendrick Fisher, New Jersey's delegate to the Continental Congress, and the site of the Fisher Family Cemetery.
  • The Van Liew-Suydam House, at 280 South Middlebush Road, was built in the 18th century by Peter Van Liew. Joseph Suydam later built the part of the house that is visible today. The newest and largest portion of the house was built in 1875. Although the most recent long term owner of the house was named French, the house has been named after its two initial owners. Owned by Franklin Township, the farm is under the stewardship of the Meadows Foundation.<ref>Van Liew-Suydam House Template:Webarchive, Meadows Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>
  • The Van Wickle House, at 1289 Easton Avenue is a historic house built Template:Circa by Symen Van Wickle. Operated by the Meadows Foundation which holds special annual events here.<ref name=VanWickle/>
  • The Wyckoff-Garretson House, at 215 South Middlebush Road, was built in 1730 by Cornelius Wyckoff. The house was restored by the Meadows Foundation under the direction of architect Mark Alan Hewitt.<ref>Wyckoff-Garretson House Template:Webarchive, Meadows Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2013.</ref>

Notable people

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

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References

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