Location of Hopewell Township in Mercer County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Mercer County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
Census Bureau map of Hopewell Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
The township dates back to February 20, 1700, when the area was still part of Burlington County. One of the earliest European settlers before 1710 was George Woolsey, formerly of Jamaica, Queens (in present-day New York City), whose father was one of the earliest pre-1650 settlers of what was New Amsterdam. His descendants maintained the family farm for over 200 years.[24]
The township was formerly the name for one of two portions of 800 acres (3.2 km2) of land purchased in 1714 by William Trent, and was formally set off to Hunterdon County, when that county was created on March 11, 1714. Trenton Township was formed out of this estate on June 3, 1719, later to become the City of Trenton. Hopewell Township was incorporated by Royal charter on March 1, 1755, and was re-incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of the state's initial group of 104 townships. Hopewell Township became part of Mercer County at its creation on February 22, 1838. Portions of the township were taken to form Marion Township (February 22, 1838, reverted to Hopewell Township on February 14, 1839), the Borough of Pennington (January 31, 1890) and Hopewell Borough (April 14, 1891), with additional portions of the township transferred to both Pennington and Hopewell Borough in 1915.[25]
Hopewell Township was also the location where—two months after being abducted from his home in neighboring East Amwell—the body of Charles Lindbergh Jr. was discovered on May 12, 1932.[27]
In May 2023, a home in the township had its roof pierced by a stony chondritemeteorite weighing 986 grams (34.8 oz). After analysis, it was found to be one of 1,100 known meteorites with an unusually low iron content.[28]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 58.95 square miles (152.67 km2), including 58.07 square miles (150.40 km2) of land and 0.87 square miles (2.26 km2) of water (1.48%).[1][2]
The topography of the township is one of rolling hills and small mountains, with The Sourlands encompassing the northern and western portions of the township and flatter terrain further southeast. Baldpate Mountain, in the western part of the township, is the highest hill, at 480 feet (150 m) above sea level.[29] The lowest elevation is between 20 and 40 feet, located where Jacobs Creek joins the Delaware River in the southwestern corner of the township.
The 2010 United States census counted 17,304 people, 6,282 households, and 4,925 families in the township. The population density was 298.2 inhabitants per square mile (115.1/km2). There were 6,551 housing units at an average density of 112.9 per square mile (43.6/km2). The racial makeup was 86.74% (15,010) White, 2.10% (364) Black or African American, 0.07% (12) Native American, 8.89% (1,539) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.52% (90) from other races, and 1.66% (288) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.31% (573) of the population.[21]
Of the 6,282 households, 39.0% had children under the age of 18; 69.1% were married couples living together; 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.6% were non-families. Of all households, 17.8% were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.14.[21]
26.4% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 34.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.4 males.[21]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $132,813 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,634) and the median family income was $151,394 (+/− $9,062). Males had a median income of $106,431 (+/− $9,830) versus $66,285 (+/− $11,820) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $55,219 (+/− $3,466). About 0.6% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.[47]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[16] there were 16,105 people, 5,498 households, and 4,431 families residing in the township. The population density was 277.1 inhabitants per square mile (107.0/km2). There were 5,629 housing units at an average density of 96.9 per square mile (37.4/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 77.30% White, 15.83% African American, 0.12% Native American, 3.97% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.[45][46]
There were 5,498 households, out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.6% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 16.0% of all households 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 2.77 and the average family size was 3.11.[45][46]
In the township the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.3 males.[45][46]
The median income for a household in the township was $93,640, and the median income for a family was $101,579. Males had a median income of $66,849 versus $47,701 for females. The per capita income for the township was $43,947. About 0.9% of families and 1.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.[45][46]
Washington Crossing State Park is a state park covering 3,575 acres (1,447 ha) in portions of both Hunterdon County and Mercer County that commemorates "one of the pivotal events of the American Revolution."[26]
St. Michaels Farm Preserve, which was first preserved in 2010, is a 400-acre (160 ha) area of farm fields and forested land.[49]
Woolsey Park
Government
Local government
Hopewell Township is governed under the Township form of government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form.[50] 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.[7][51] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor.[3]
As of 2024[update], the members of the Hopewell Township Committee are Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2025; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Urmila "Uma" Purandare (D, term on committee and as Deputy Mayor ends 2024), David Chait (D, 2025), Kevin D. Kuchinski (D, 2026) and Michael Ruger (D, 2026).[3][52][53][54][55][56]
In December 2022, David Chait was selected from a list of three prospective candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Kristin McLaughlin until she left office to take a seat in the Mercer County Board of County Commissioners.[57]
Citing differences with local party leadership, Mayor Harvey Lester changed his party affiliation in March 2015 from Democrat to Republican.[58] In the November 2015 general election, Democrat Julie Blake defeated incumbent Mayor Harvey Lester, with affordable housing, development and taxes as key issues in the race.[59]
Hopewell Township is served by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station & Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, located in Trenton.[60]
Federal, state and county representation
Hopewell Township is located in the 12th Congressional District[61] and is part of New Jersey's 15th state legislative district.[62][63][64]
Mercer County is governed by a County Executive who oversees the day-to-day operations of the county and by a seven-member Board of County Commissioners that acts in a legislative capacity, setting policy. All officials are chosen at-large in partisan elections, with the executive serving a four-year term of office while the commissioners serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for election each year as part of the November general election.[71] As of 2024[update], the County Executive is Daniel R. Benson (D, Hamilton Township) whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.[72] Mercer County's Commissioners are:
Mercer County's constitutional officers are:
Clerk Paula Sollami-Covello (D, Lawrence Township, 2025),[82][83]
Sheriff John A. Kemler (D, Hamilton Township, 2026)[84][85] and
Surrogate Diane Gerofsky (D, Lawrence Township, 2026).[86][87][88]
Politics
As of March 2011, there were a total of 12,218 registered voters in Hopewell Township, of which 3,949 (32.3%) were registered as Democrats, 3,088 (25.3%) were registered as Republicans and 5,178 (42.4%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[89]
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 54.9% of the vote (5,223 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 43.8% (4,171 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (123 votes), among the 10,697 ballots cast by the township's 12,983 registered voters (1,180 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 82.4%.[92][95] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 56.5% of the vote here (5,517 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 41.4% (4,042 votes) and other candidates with 1.4% (133 votes), among the 9,765 ballots cast by the township's 12,615 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.4%.[93] In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 51.3% of the vote here (4,974 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 46.2% (4,476 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (80 votes), among the 9,698 ballots cast by the township's 11,780 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 82.3.[94]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 61.8% of the vote (3,826 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.5% (2,257 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (107 votes), among the 6,322 ballots cast by the township's 12,818 registered voters (132 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 49.3%.[98][101] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 48.9% of the vote here (3,503 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 42.9% (3,074 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.9% (497 votes) and other candidates with 0.5% (36 votes), among the 7,158 ballots cast by the township's 12,441 registered voters, yielding a 57.5% turnout.[99]
Education
Public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the Hopewell Valley Regional School District.[102] The comprehensive regional public school district serves students from Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township and Pennington Borough.[103][104] As of the 2019–20 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 3,467 students and 351.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.9:1.[105] Schools in the district (with 2019–20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[106]) are
Bear Tavern Elementary School[107] with 397 students in grades Pre-K–5,
Hopewell Elementary School[108] with 400 students in grades Pre-K–5,
Stony Brook Elementary School[109] with 378 students in grades K–5,
Toll Gate Grammar School[110] with 306 students in grades K–5,
Timberlane Middle School[111] with 820 students in grades 6–8 and
Hopewell Valley Central High School[112] with 1,097 students in grades 9–12.[113][114] The district's Board of Education is comprised of nine members, which are allocated to each of the three municipalities based on population, with Hopewell Township assigned seven seats.[115]
Eighth grade students from all of Mercer County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Mercer County Technical Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its Health Sciences Academy, STEM Academy and Academy of Culinary Arts, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.[116][117]
Central to the district is the Howell Living History Farm, which is a 130-acre (53 ha) living open-air museum located just north of Titusville.[118][119] The farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 1977, for its significance in agriculture and architecture.[118] The farm was included in the Pleasant Valley Historic District on June 14, 1991.[120] The farm was first created by Joseph Phillips, a blacksmith, who purchased 125 acres (51 ha) from William Bryant in 1732. By 1800, Henry Phillips, Joseph's son, had enlarged the farm by 100 acres (40 ha). The current buildings on the property date to the 19th century, primarily before the American Civil War.[118] The final private owner of the farm was the Howell family, who donated the land to Mercer County in 1974 for use as a museum. The museum shows farm life from the year 1900.[121]
Joseph Phillips Farmhouse
Barn on Joseph Phillips Farm
Historic colonial
Privately-owned colonial along Woodens Lane
Transportation
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 189.67 miles (305.24 km) of roadways, of which 136.96 miles (220.42 km) are maintained by the municipality, 36.68 miles (59.03 km) by Mercer County and 16.03 miles (25.80 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.[122]
Hopewell Township was supposed to be where the Somerset Freeway would have started in the south, ending in the north in either Piscataway or Franklin Township. This would have completed Interstate 95 in New Jersey. The cancellation of this project led to having the New Jersey Turnpike carry the interstate numbering instead. Originally, I-295 had extended into Hopewell Township and ended where the supposed Somerset Freeway interchange was to be built. Ultimately, the Somerset Freeway was canceled in 1982. I-295 was redesignated I-95 from the canceled interchange to the exit at U.S. Route 1 in 1993. In March 2018, I-95 through Hopewell Township became I-295 as part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike/Interstate 95 Interchange Project that completed the gap in I-95.[132]
Suthan Suthersan (1956–2017), environmental engineer who served as the Chief Technical Officer and Executive Vice President of Arcadis North America[149]
^ abcMayor & Township Committee, Hopewell Township. Accessed May 14, 2024. "Hopewell Township has a Township Committee form of municipal government. All Committee members are elected at large for three year terms. Each year, the Township Committee elects one of its members as Mayor."
^Harrison, Andrew. "Township Committee appoints Chait to fill McLaughlin’s seat", Hopewell Valley News, January 12, 2022. Accessed June 14, 2022. "The Hopewell Township Committee has appointed David Chait to the governing body after the swearing-in of Kristin McLaughlin to the Mercer County Board of County Commissioners left her seat vacant on the Township Committee. Chait was appointed at a Township Committee meeting on Jan. 10 after nominations and a vote was taken by the remaining Township Committee members.... The Township Committee needed to select and vote on one out of the three nominated and appoint them to finished out the rest of McLaughlin’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2022."
^Rojas, Cristina. "Hopewell Township mayor switches party affiliation to Republican", NJ.com, March 11, 2015. Accessed August 16, 2015. "Hopewell Township Mayor Harvey Lester announced this week he is switching his party affiliation to Republican, citing ongoing disagreements with township Democratic Party officials."
^Biography, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. Accessed January 3, 2019. "Watson Coleman and her husband William reside in Ewing Township and are blessed to have three sons; William, Troy, and Jared and three grandchildren; William, Kamryn and Ashanee."
^Government, Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023. "Mercer County is governed by an elected County Executive and a seven-member Freeholder Board."
^Meet the County Executive, Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023. "Brian M. Hughes continues to build upon a family legacy of public service as the fourth person to serve as Mercer County Executive. The voters have reaffirmed their support for Brian's leadership by re-electing him three times since they first placed him in office in November 2003."
^Hopewell Valley Regional School District 2016 Report Card NarrativeArchived September 25, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed September 25, 2017. "Hopewell Valley serves the two boroughs of Pennington and Hopewell and the much larger Hopewell Township, and encompasses a total area of nearly 60 square miles with a population that exceeds 20,000. There are six schools that comprise the district. (Four elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.) District enrollment is currently 3,750 students."
^About UsArchived September 24, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Hopewell Valley Regional High School. Accessed September 25, 2017. "Hopewell Valley Regional School District, as it functions today, has been a regionalized operation since 1965 when voters of Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough and Pennington Borough approved a plan to consolidate their schools. But the first consolidation of local schools actually occurred in 1894 when the 14 separate districts, operating one-room schoolhouses throughout the valley, agreed to merge and be governed by a single school board."
^About the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of EducationArchived November 8, 2019, at the Wayback Machine, Hopewell Valley Regional School District. Accessed February 24, 2020. "The Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education is a nine-member body elected by the residents of Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough and Pennington Borough. Seats are apportioned by population. Hopewell Township has seven representatives; each borough is represented by one seat.... The Hopewell Valley Regional School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of the Borough of Pennington, Hopewell Borough, and Hopewell Township."
^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. "Mercer County has a stand-alone specialized high school for top students: a Health Sciences Academy at the district's Assunpink Center campus. The district also offers a STEM Academy at Mercer County Community College. How to apply: Students can apply online in the fall of their 8th grade year."
^La Gorce, Tammy (September 30, 2007). "Time Stands Still on Living History Farm". The New York Times. Retrieved July 26, 2008. At the boundary of Mercer and Hunterdon Counties, near the gurgle of the Delaware River and a sprinkling of farm stands selling apple-cider doughnuts, sits the Howell Living History Farm. Here the fields sprawl, the grass is verdant and the whine of weed-whackers has yet to pierce the tranquility of crisp autumn afternoons. That's because at Howell, a 130-acre (0.53 km2) farm that has been tending to the public's pastoral needs for more than 20 years, the year is 1900.
^Grabell, Michael. "Exploring Einstein's Brain"Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, The Daily Princetonian, September 13, 2000. Accessed December 13, 2014. "Paterniti, a young journalist who won a 1998 National Magazine Award for feature writing, chauffeured Harvey in his rented Buick on the journey from Harvey's ranch home in Titusville, just outside of Princeton, to Berkeley, Calif."
^"Joyce Carol Oates: One Minute Interview", The Independent, January 28, 2015. Accessed March 7, 2024. "We live about four miles outside Princeton, New Jersey in a township called Hopewell which is populated by more white-tailed Virginia deer than by people."
^Justice Anne M. PattersonArchived 2017-05-30 at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Courts. Accessed May 11, 2017. "Justice Patterson was born in Trenton on April 15, 1959, and raised in Hopewell Township and Princeton."
^"Suthan Sabaratnam Suthersan", Tributes.com. Accessed May 11, 2017. "Suthan was a resident of Hopewell Township, New Jersey at the time of passing."
^"Verrelli Sworn in to Represent 15th District"Archived August 15, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Assembly Democrats, press release dated August 6, 2018. Accessed August 14, 2018. "Verrelli, who resides in Hopewell Township with his wife and daughter, graduated from Notre Dame High School in Lawrence before working as a carpenter."
^Johnson, Greg. "Hopewell native Brandon Wagner hits walk-off single for Thunder", The Trentonian, July 28, 2018, updated August 25, 2021. Accessed November 10, 2021. "In only his fourth game since being called up from High-A Tampa, the Hopewell Twp. native came through in the moment every young baseball player dreams of – in the bottom of the ninth with two outs."