Hamilton Square, New Jersey

Hamilton Square, New Jersey
Census-designated place
Center of Hamilton Square
Location in Mercer County and the state of New Jersey
Hamilton Square Location in Mercer County Show map of Mercer County, New Jersey Hamilton Square Location in New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Hamilton Square Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 40.225029°N 74.650481°W / 40.225029; -74.650481
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Mercer
Township	Hamilton
Named for	Alexander Hamilton
Area [1]
• Total	4.34 sq mi (11.23 km^2)
• Land	4.28 sq mi (11.07 km^2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.15 km^2)  0.56%
Elevation [2]	102 ft (31 m)
Population  (2020)[3]
• Total	12,679
• Density	2,965.15/sq mi (1,144.90/km^2)
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	08690[4]
FIPS code	34-29370[5][6][7]
GNIS feature ID	02583998[5][8]

Hamilton Square is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP)^[9] located within Hamilton Township, in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey,^[10] that is the site of a historic colonial village. Until the 2000 census the area was part of the Mercerville-Hamilton Square CDP, which was split into two CDPs as of 2010: Mercerville and Hamilton Square.^[11]

Hamilton Square was established in 1692 and was named after Alexander Hamilton in a wave of anti-British feeling at the time of the War of 1812.^[12][13] It previously had been called "Nottingham" after the British town.^[14] As of the 2020 census, the CDP's population was 12,679.^[3]

Geography

Hamilton Square is in southern Mercer County, 5 miles (8 km) east of Trenton, the state capital. The CDP is in the eastern part of Hamilton Township and is bordered to the east by Robbinsville Township. The community of Mercerville borders Hamilton Square to the west.

New Jersey Route 33 passes through the center of Hamilton Square, leading west into Trenton and east to U.S. Route 206 and thence Hightstown. U.S. 206 forms the southeast border of the Hamilton Square CDP, while Interstate 195 forms the southern border.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Hamilton Square has a total area of 4.367 square miles (11.312 km²), including 4.343 square miles (11.249 km²) of land and 0.024 square miles (0.063 km²) of water (0.56%).^[5][15] The center of the community is on high ground which drains north toward Miry Run and south toward Pond Run, both of which are west-flowing tributaries of Assunpink Creek leading to the Delaware River in Trenton.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2010	12,784		—
2020	12,679		−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[16] 2010[17] 2020[3]

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 12,784 people, 4,532 households, and 3,703 families in the CDP. The population density was 2,943.4 per square mile (1,136.5/km²). There were 4,618 housing units at an average density of 1,063.3 per square mile (410.5/km²). The racial makeup was 92.76% (11,858) White, 1.74% (223) Black or African American, 0.08% (10) Native American, 3.57% (457) Asian, 0.02% (3) Pacific Islander, 0.64% (82) from other races, and 1.18% (151) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.81% (487) of the population.^[17]

Of the 4,532 households, 33.0% had children under the age of 18; 69.7% were married couples living together; 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 18.3% were non-families. Of all households, 15.9% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.13.^[17]

22.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 32.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.1 years. For every 100 females, the population had 93.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.6 males.^[17]

Education

All of Hamilton Township, including Hamilton Square, is served by the Hamilton Township School District.^[18]

Schools that service the Hamilton Square area are: Morgan Elementary School, Sayen Elementary School, Langtree Elementary School, Alexander Elementary School, Robinson Elementary School, Reynolds Middle School, Crockett Middle School, Nottingham High School, and Steinert High School.^{[citation needed]}

Notable people

See also: Category:People from Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Hamilton Square include:

• Jim Adams (born 1969), former professional soccer player^[19]
• Conrad Daniels (born 1941), professional darts player who was active in the 1970s and 1980s^[20]
• Dan Donigan (born 1966), retired soccer forward and former head coach of Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's soccer team^[21]
• Janice Harsanyi (1929–2007), soprano singer and college professor^[22]
• Dahntay Jones (born 1980), professional basketball player, currently playing for the Indiana Pacers^[23]
• Karin Miller (born 1977), former professional tennis player^[24]
• John K. Rafferty (1938-2021), mayor of Hamilton Township from 1976 to 1999, who represented the 14th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1986 to 1988^[25]
• George R. Robbins (1814–1875), represented New Jersey's 2nd congressional district from 1855 to 1859^[26]
• Robert "Bobby" Smith (born 1951), retired U.S. soccer defender and National Soccer Hall of Fame member^[27]
• John Taylor (1836–1909), creator of pork roll (aka Taylor Ham)^[28]

References

1. "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files: New Jersey". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hamilton Square Census Designated Place, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed November 21, 2012.
3. QuickFacts Hamilton Square CDP, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 20, 2023.
4. Cities by ZIP Code™: 08690 - Other city names recognized for addresses in this ZIP Code, United States Postal Service. Accessed June 25, 2024.
5. Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 21, 2016.
6. U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
7. Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed June 9, 2023.
8. US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
9. State of New Jersey Census Designated Places - BVP20 - Data as of January 1, 2020, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022.
10. Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed April 18, 2015.
11. New Jersey: 2010 - Population and Housing Unit Counts - 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH-2-32), P. III-4. United States Census Bureau, August 2012. Accessed November 20, 2012. "Mercer County—Name Changes: Robbinsville township name changed from Washington; New CDPs: Groveville (formed from part of deleted Yardville-Groveville CDP and additional area), Hamilton Square (formed from part of deleted Mercerville-Hamilton Square CDP and additional area), Mercerville (formed from part of deleted Mercerville-Hamilton Square CDP), Robbinsville, and Yardville (formed from part of deleted Yardville-Groveville CDP and additional area)"
12. History of Hamilton Township, Hamilton Township Historical Society, 1999
13. Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 31, 2015.
14. History of Hamilton Township, Hamilton Township Historical Society, 1999.
15. US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
16. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
17. DP-1 - Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data for Hamilton Square CDP, New Jersey Archived 2020-02-12 at archive.today, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 21, 2012.
18. 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: Mercer County, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 24, 2024.
19. Jim Adams, Monmouth Hawks men's soccer. Accessed December 19, 2024. "Hometown: Hamilton Square, NJ; Highschool: Steinert"
20. Mehlman, Peter. "Brestowski, Corcoran Nail Down Titles in Darts", The Washington Post, January 15, 1979. Accessed January 17, 2018. "Brestowski, from Hazleton, Pa., defeated 1975 champion Conrad Daniels in three legs to win the title before 800 spectators in his first U.S. Open competition.... Daniels, of Hamilton Square, N.J., thoroughly emotionless throughout the finals and semifinals, and was similarly stolid after the championship match, accepting his loss with a mildly disappointed shrug."
21. Monahan, Bob. "Palmer Star Heads For HC", The Boston Globe, March 10, 1987. Accessed August 26, 2008. "University of Connecticut sophomore soccer forward Dan Donigan from Hamilton Square, NJ, is one of 43 players nationwide picked to try out for the US National/Olympic Qualifying Team this summer."
22. Janice Harsanyi (Soprano), Bach Cantatas. Accessed December 19, 2024. "The American soprano and teacher, Janice Harsanyi [Harsányi], was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister and lived in Hamilton Square, New Jersey at an early age."
23. Battista, Judy. "College Basketball; Rutgers Could Have a Post-Season With Meaning", The New York Times, February 21, 1999. Accessed July 21, 2016. "With his first full recruiting class, one of the best in the Big East, Bannon got Dahntay Jones, a guard from Hamilton Square, N.J., and Rashod Kent, a forward from West Virginia."
24. LoPrinzi, Ann. "Hamilton Square native Karin Miller is back in tennis", The Times, October 16, 2011. Accessed September 17, 2018. "Karin Miller was a tennis phenom from Hamilton Square who learned to play at Veterans Park, then went on to the Bollettierri Academy in Florida, and eventually made her way to a top 100 world ranking and played the main draw of the US Open."
25. The Honorable John K. Rafferty, The Times, February 20, 2021. Accessed December 19, 2024. "John K. ("Jack") Rafferty, 82, of Hamilton Square, NJ, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 surrounded by his loving family."
26. George Robbins Robbins, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed December 12, 2007.
27. Bobby Smith Bio Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, SoccerNJSA.com. Accessed July 21, 2016. "Bob, his wife Claudia and their four children live in the suburban Trenton area (Hamilton Square) where he coached youth players on the N.J. Olympic Development Program."
28. Bazley Lee, Francis. Genealogical and Personal Memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey John Taylor Lewis Publishing Company, 1907