Branchburg Township, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Branchburg Township is a township
in Somerset County
, New Jersey
, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 14,459.
Branchburg Township has a history antedating the American Revolutionary War
, and was incorporated on April 5, 1845, from portions of Bridgewater Township
.
Branchburg ranks seventh in size among Somerset County's 21 municipalities, and covers a total area of 20.3 square miles (52.6 km²), being 11 miles (17.7 km) long and approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) across at its widest point. The hamlets of North Branch
and Neshanic Station
are included within Branchburg Township.
. By 1686 most of the land was purchased from the Lenape by the Lords Proprietors of East Jersey
, who sold the land in small parcels to numerous settlers, mostly of Dutch
or English
extraction. With the 1688 redrawing of the boundary between East and West Jersey
, the Branchburg region was split between Essex County
to the north and the newly-formed Somerset County to the south. With Somerset's acquisition of territory from Essex and Middlesex Counties
in 1741, Branchburg lay entirely within the County where it is presently located.
Bridgewater Township
was chartered in 1749. In 1845 the residents of the part of Bridgewater west of the Raritan River
petitioned the New Jersey State Legislature for incorporation as a separate township, which was granted by an act dated April 5 of that year.
The first town meeting was held April 14, 1845, in White Oak Tavern, a stagecoach stop and local meeting place along the Old York Road
.
, the township has a total area of 20.3 square miles (52.6 km²), all of it land.
The Township is bordered on the west by Hunterdon County
; on the north by Bedminster Township
and on the south by Bridgewater Township
and Hillsborough Township
. The main watercourses are the Lamington River
on the north, the North Branch of the Raritan River
on the east and the South Branch of the Raritan River
on the east and south. These rivers along with small streams and brooks are excellent for fishermen who enjoy trout stocked streams and rivers. Branchburg is in Raritan Valley ( a line of cities in central NJ). Branchburg lies in the western division of Raritan Valley along with Bridgewater and Raritan.
of 2000, there were 14,566 people, 5,272 households, and 4,064 families residing in the township. The population density
was 719.1 people per square mile (277.6/km²). There were 5,405 housing units at an average density of 266.8 per square mile (103.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.44% White, 1.95% African American, 0.10% Native American, 6.17% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races
, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.69% of the population.
There were 5,272 households out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples
living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $96,864, and the median income for a family was $110,268. Males had a median income of $70,726 versus $47,786 for females. The per capita income
for the township was $41,241. About 1.1% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. A mayor and deputy mayor are selected from among the council from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting.
, members of the Township Committee are Mayor
Thomas Young, Deputy Mayor
John Sanford, Robert Bouwman, Jim Leonard and Kate Sarles.
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
, and a traditional red-and-white Middle Eastern headdress. He was charged on multiple state and federal weapons charges. Branchburg Police Chief Brian Fitzgerald awarded the Exceptional Duty Award to three Branchburg police officers who responded to the Woodson report: patrolmen Steven Cronce, Robert Farrigan, and Robert Stober, during a township committee meeting, for what he referred to as the most significant arrest in the department's history. “It was good to see something we had done had made the national news media for all the right reasons,” Stober said.
(BLS/EMS), NFPA Technician Level:
Vehicle Extrication, Water Rescue, Confined Space, Rope Rescue, High Angle Rescue NFPA Operations Level: Ice Rescue NFPA Awareness Level: Trench Collapse, Building & Structural Collapse. Operating out of Station 74 Rescue at 113 River Road are 3 BLS Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue Services Unit, 1 Rescue Services Unit, 1 First Responder/Command Unit and 2 Inflatable Rescue Boats.
and U.S. Route 22
travel through the township with easy passage to Interstate 78
, Interstate 287
and Route 206
, enabling residents to travel to New York City and Philadelphia within one hour.
Bus service between New York City and Allentown
, Pennsylvania
on the Transport of New Jersey bus line is available on a daily service. New Jersey Transit
offers bus service to Newark
on the 65 line, with local service on the 884 bus route.
Service between Clinton
, New Jersey
and New York City, at the North Branch
station (located on Station Road) offers limited daily service and no weekend trains. New Jersey Transit
's Raritan Valley Line
has weekly service from North Branch Station to Newark
. At Newark Penn Station
, connections can be made to Pennsylvania Station
in Midtown Manhattan
.
There is also bus service between New Hope
, Pennsylvania
and New York City, with a stop at the Municipal Park-and-Ride facility on Route 202 North on a daily basis.
Newark Liberty International Airport
is located approximately 35 miles (56.3 km) northeast of Branchburg. Also within driving distance are Lehigh Valley International Airport
(ABE, formerly Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton International Airport) near Allentown
, Pennsylvania
, John F. Kennedy International Airport
and La Guardia Airport in New York, as well as the Trenton-Mercer Airport
near Trenton
and Princeton
in Mercer County
.
serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade, Schools in the district (with 2005–06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
) are:
Whiton Elementary School (644 students) for grades K-3
Stony Brook School (329) for grades 4–5 and
Branchburg Central Middle School (657) for grades 6–8.
The public secondary school serving Branchburg for grades 9–12 is Somerville High School
, which students attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship
with the Somerville Public Schools
.
Midland School
is a non-profit special education school serving the individual social, emotional, academic and career needs of children with developmental disabilities. The school serves 245 students, ranging in age from 5 to 21 years old, from central and northern New Jersey.
Branchburg Township is the home of the main campus of Raritan Valley Community College
which serves as the corporate headquarters for Ferreira Construction, the Ferreira Group, and Noveda Technologies. The 42000 square feet (3,901.9 m²) office and shop building was constructed in 2006 and is the 1st building in the state of New Jersey to meet New Jersey's Executive Order 54. The building is also the first Net Zero
Electric Commercial Building in the United States.
Branchburg Township is also home to the Little Red Schoolhouse located on South Branch Road. This one room schoolhouse was built in 1873. "This school house is noteworthy for being the last one-room school house in use in Somerset County." Its purpose was to educating children in grades 1-8 from Branchburg and Hillsborough townships. It was closed down in 1965. In 2007 the schoolhouse was renovated to add the bell tower back onto the top of the building. The Little Red Schoolhouse is now owned by the township of Branchburg. Famous people who attended the Little Red Schoolhouse include opera star and Edison protégé, Anna Case and Marion Van Fleet, the mother of actor Lee Van Cleef.
Township (New Jersey)
A township, in the context of New Jersey local government, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government. As a political entity, a township is a full-fledged municipality, on par with any town, city, borough, or village, collecting property taxes and providing...
in Somerset County
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 14,459.
Branchburg Township has a history antedating the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, and was incorporated on April 5, 1845, from portions of Bridgewater Township
Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. , the township population was 44,464.Bridgewater Township was originally created by Royal Charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of...
.
Branchburg ranks seventh in size among Somerset County's 21 municipalities, and covers a total area of 20.3 square miles (52.6 km²), being 11 miles (17.7 km) long and approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) across at its widest point. The hamlets of North Branch
North Branch, New Jersey
North Branch is an unincorporated area and hamlet located mostly within Branchburg Township, in Somerset County, New Jersey. A portion of North Branch is located in Bridgewater Township...
and Neshanic Station
Neshanic Station, New Jersey
Neshanic Station is a section of Branchburg Township, Somerset County, New JerseyNeshanic Station comes from Algonquian, meaning "double stream". Neshanic Station is situated at a latitude of 40.508N and a longitude of -74.73W. It is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone with an elevation of 92...
are included within Branchburg Township.
History
The land that is now known as Branchburg Township was originally inhabited by the Raritans, a tribe of the Lenni Lenape Native AmericansNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. By 1686 most of the land was purchased from the Lenape by the Lords Proprietors of East Jersey
East Jersey
The Province of East Jersey and the Province of West Jersey were two distinct, separately governed parts of the Province of New Jersey that existed as separate provinces for 28 years, between 1674 and 1702. East Jersey's capital was located at Perth Amboy...
, who sold the land in small parcels to numerous settlers, mostly of Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
or English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
extraction. With the 1688 redrawing of the boundary between East and West Jersey
West Jersey
West Jersey and East Jersey were two distinct parts of the Province of New Jersey. The political division existed for 28 years, between 1674 and 1702...
, the Branchburg region was split between Essex County
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
to the north and the newly-formed Somerset County to the south. With Somerset's acquisition of territory from Essex and Middlesex Counties
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
in 1741, Branchburg lay entirely within the County where it is presently located.
Bridgewater Township
Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. , the township population was 44,464.Bridgewater Township was originally created by Royal Charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of...
was chartered in 1749. In 1845 the residents of the part of Bridgewater west of the Raritan River
Raritan River
The Raritan River is a major river of central New Jersey in the United States. Its watershed drains much of the mountainous area of the central part of the state, emptying into the Raritan Bay on the Atlantic Ocean.-Description:...
petitioned the New Jersey State Legislature for incorporation as a separate township, which was granted by an act dated April 5 of that year.
The first town meeting was held April 14, 1845, in White Oak Tavern, a stagecoach stop and local meeting place along the Old York Road
Old York Road
Old York Road or King's Highway is a roadway that was built in the 18th century to connect Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with New York City, New York. Through New Jersey it was built along the Raritan "Naraticong Trail"...
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the township has a total area of 20.3 square miles (52.6 km²), all of it land.
The Township is bordered on the west by Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
; on the north by Bedminster Township
Bedminster Township, New Jersey
Bedminster Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 8,165....
and on the south by Bridgewater Township
Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. , the township population was 44,464.Bridgewater Township was originally created by Royal Charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of...
and Hillsborough Township
Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
Hillsborough Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 38,303....
. The main watercourses are the Lamington River
Lamington River
The Lamington River, known as the Black River upstream of Pottersville, is a tributary of the North Branch Raritan River in central New Jersey in the United States.-Tributaries:*Bamboo Brook*Cold Brook* Rockaway Creek*Tanners Brook-External links:*...
on the north, the North Branch of the Raritan River
North Branch Raritan River
The North Branch Raritan River is a tributary of the Raritan River in central New Jersey in the United States.The North Branch Raritan River rises in central Morris County south of Dover and flows generally southward into Somerset County, around the southern end of the Watchung Mountains...
on the east and the South Branch of the Raritan River
South Branch Raritan River
The South Branch Raritan River is a tributary of the Raritan River in central New Jersey in the United States.The source of the South Branch is the outflow from Budd Lake, a glacial remnant located a few miles northeast of Hackettstown...
on the east and south. These rivers along with small streams and brooks are excellent for fishermen who enjoy trout stocked streams and rivers. Branchburg is in Raritan Valley ( a line of cities in central NJ). Branchburg lies in the western division of Raritan Valley along with Bridgewater and Raritan.
Surrounding Towns
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 14,566 people, 5,272 households, and 4,064 families residing in the township. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 719.1 people per square mile (277.6/km²). There were 5,405 housing units at an average density of 266.8 per square mile (103.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.44% White, 1.95% African American, 0.10% Native American, 6.17% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.69% of the population.
There were 5,272 households out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the township the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $96,864, and the median income for a family was $110,268. Males had a median income of $70,726 versus $47,786 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the township was $41,241. About 1.1% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Local government
Branchburg Township is governed by a five-member Township Council. Councilmembers are elected at-largeAt-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. A mayor and deputy mayor are selected from among the council from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting.
, members of the Township Committee are Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Thomas Young, Deputy Mayor
Deputy Mayor
Deputy mayor is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official in many local governments. Many elected deputy mayors are members of the city council who are given the title and serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence...
John Sanford, Robert Bouwman, Jim Leonard and Kate Sarles.
Federal, state and county representation
Branchburg Township is in the 7th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 16th state legislative district. The legislative district was kept unchanged by the New Jersey Apportionment CommissionNew Jersey Apportionment Commission
The New Jersey Apportionment Commission is a constitutionally-created ten-member commission responsible for apportioning the forty districts of the New Jersey Legislature. The commission is convened after each decennial U.S. Census, and the districts are to be in use for the legislative elections...
based on the results of the 2010 Census.
Emergency services
Branchburg Township is served by three major Emergency Services; a full-time Police Department, an all-volunteer Emergency Medical & Rescue Services department, and four all-volunteer Fire Departments.Police Department
The Branchburg Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian R. Fitzgerald, was started on June 16, 1980. The Department currently has 26 full-time sworn officers, two civilian employees, seven crossing guards, and 13 Emergency Management volunteers. The Department has specialized units of officers who have taken on duties in addition to their patrol or detective work. These include the Detective Bureau, Juvenile Officer, School Resources, Traffic Safety, Community Policing, Services, Bike Patrol, First-Aid, Explorers program and Emergency Management.Most significant arrest
A clerk called officers about a suspicious person at the Quick Chek store at 1296 Easton Turnpike in Branchburg on January 26, 2010. Officers arrested Lloyd Woodson, and found in his possession and in his motel room a large weapons cache that included illegal weapons and ammunition, a detailed map of Fort DrumFort Drum
Fort Drum is a United States Army base in New York near the Canadian border.Fort Drum may also refer to:*Fort Drum, Florida, a nearly-uninhabited town in the United States*Fort Drum , Philippines...
, and a traditional red-and-white Middle Eastern headdress. He was charged on multiple state and federal weapons charges. Branchburg Police Chief Brian Fitzgerald awarded the Exceptional Duty Award to three Branchburg police officers who responded to the Woodson report: patrolmen Steven Cronce, Robert Farrigan, and Robert Stober, during a township committee meeting, for what he referred to as the most significant arrest in the department's history. “It was good to see something we had done had made the national news media for all the right reasons,” Stober said.
EMS & Rescue Squad
Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Services are provided throughout the Township by the Branchburg Rescue Squad. The Squad was formed in October 1955 and continues to serve the residents and business on an all-volunteer basis. 2011 officers include President Liz Davis and Chief Bucky Buchanan. The Branchburg volunteers rely solely on donations received from the community. Services provided include Basic Life Support Emergency Medical ServicesEmergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
(BLS/EMS), NFPA Technician Level:
Vehicle Extrication, Water Rescue, Confined Space, Rope Rescue, High Angle Rescue NFPA Operations Level: Ice Rescue NFPA Awareness Level: Trench Collapse, Building & Structural Collapse. Operating out of Station 74 Rescue at 113 River Road are 3 BLS Ambulances, 1 Heavy Rescue Services Unit, 1 Rescue Services Unit, 1 First Responder/Command Unit and 2 Inflatable Rescue Boats.
Fire Departments
The Township of Branchburg is covered by four volunteer Fire Departments. In the North, North Branch Vol Fire Company, to the West, Readington Vol Fire Department, South, Neshanic Vol Fire Department, and Central area is covered by the Country Hills Vol Fire Department.Transportation
Branchburg Township is centrally located with access to major roadways and highways. U.S. Route 202U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202 is a highway stretching from Delaware to Maine, also passing through the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire....
and U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22
U.S. Route 22 is a west–east route and is one of the original United States highways of 1926, running from Cincinnati, Ohio, at US 27, US 42, US 127, and US 52 to Newark, New Jersey, at U.S. Route 1/9 near the Newark Liberty International Airport.US 22 also carries the names of the William...
travel through the township with easy passage to Interstate 78
Interstate 78
Interstate 78 is an Interstate Highway in the Northeast United States, running 144 miles from Interstate 81 northeast of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, through Allentown, Pennsylvania, and western and northern New Jersey to the Holland Tunnel and Lower Manhattan in New York City.I-78 is a major road...
, Interstate 287
Interstate 287
Interstate 287 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway in the U.S. states of New Jersey and New York. It is a partial beltway around New York City, serving the northern half of New Jersey and the counties of Rockland and Westchester in New York...
and Route 206
U.S. Route 206
U.S. Route 206 is a long north–south United States highway in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, United States. Only about a half a mile of its length is in Pennsylvania; the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge carries it over the Delaware River into New Jersey, where it is the remainder of the route...
, enabling residents to travel to New York City and Philadelphia within one hour.
Bus service between New York City and Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
on the Transport of New Jersey bus line is available on a daily service. New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
offers bus service to Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
on the 65 line, with local service on the 884 bus route.
Service between Clinton
Clinton, New Jersey
Clinton is a Town in Hunterdon County, New Jersey on the South Branch of the Raritan River. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 2,719....
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and New York City, at the North Branch
North Branch (NJT station)
North Branch is a New Jersey Transit railroad station on the Raritan Valley Line, in the hamlet of North Branch in Branchburg Township, New Jersey. The station is in a residential area, a mile to the south of North Branch center. The station has a small shelter with no facilities and is across...
station (located on Station Road) offers limited daily service and no weekend trains. New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
's Raritan Valley Line
Raritan Valley Line
The Raritan Valley Line is a diesel-engine-powered commuter rail service operated by New Jersey Transit , originating out of Pennsylvania Station, located in Newark, New Jersey, with most trains terminating at the Raritan station, located in Raritan, New Jersey.Some weekday trains continue further...
has weekly service from North Branch Station to Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. At Newark Penn Station
Pennsylvania Station (Newark)
Pennsylvania Station is a major transportation hub in Newark, New Jersey. Located at Raymond Plaza, between Market Street and Raymond Boulevard, Newark Penn Station is served by the Newark Light Rail, New Jersey Transit commuter rail, Amtrak long distance trains, the PATH rapid transit system, and...
, connections can be made to Pennsylvania Station
Pennsylvania Station (New York City)
Pennsylvania Station—commonly known as Penn Station—is the major intercity train station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inbound and outbound railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also...
in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
.
There is also bus service between New Hope
New Hope, Pennsylvania
New Hope, formerly known as Coryell's Ferry, is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 2,528 at the 2010 census. The borough lies on the west bank of the Delaware River at its confluence with Aquetong Creek. A two-lane bridge carries automobile and foot traffic across the...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and New York City, with a stop at the Municipal Park-and-Ride facility on Route 202 North on a daily basis.
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
is located approximately 35 miles (56.3 km) northeast of Branchburg. Also within driving distance are Lehigh Valley International Airport
Lehigh Valley International Airport
Lehigh Valley International Airport , formerly Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton International Airport, is a public airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania....
(ABE, formerly Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton International Airport) near Allentown
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
and La Guardia Airport in New York, as well as the Trenton-Mercer Airport
Trenton-Mercer Airport
Trenton-Mercer Airport , formerly known as Mercer County Airport, is a public airport located in Ewing, New Jersey, four miles northwest of the central business district of Trenton, a city in Mercer County, New Jersey...
near Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
and Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
in Mercer County
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
.
Education
The Branchburg Township School DistrictBranchburg Township School District
The Branchburg Township School District is a community public school district serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade from Branchburg Township, in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States....
serves public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade, Schools in the district (with 2005–06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
) are:
Whiton Elementary School (644 students) for grades K-3
Stony Brook School (329) for grades 4–5 and
Branchburg Central Middle School (657) for grades 6–8.
The public secondary school serving Branchburg for grades 9–12 is Somerville High School
Somerville High School (New Jersey)
Somerville High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school of the Somerville Public Schools serving students from Somerville and Branchburg Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States....
, which students attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship
Sending/receiving relationship
A sending/receiving relationship is one in which a public school district sends some or all of its students to attend the schools of another district. This is often done to achieve costs savings in smaller districts or continues after districts have grown as part of a historical relationship...
with the Somerville Public Schools
Somerville Public Schools
The Somerville Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade from Somerville, in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States....
.
Midland School
Midland School, North Branch, New Jersey
Midland School, located in North Branch , in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States, is a non-profit special education school serving the individual social, emotional, academic and career needs of children with developmental disabilities. The school serves 245 students, ranging in age from 5...
is a non-profit special education school serving the individual social, emotional, academic and career needs of children with developmental disabilities. The school serves 245 students, ranging in age from 5 to 21 years old, from central and northern New Jersey.
Branchburg Township is the home of the main campus of Raritan Valley Community College
Raritan Valley Community College
Raritan Valley Community College is an accredited, coeducational, two-year, public, community college located in North Branch , New Jersey...
Points Of interest
Branchburg Township is the home to the 31 Tannery Project31 Tannery Project
The 31 Tannery Project, located in Branchburg, New Jersey, serves as the corporate headquarters for Ferreira Construction, the Ferreira Group, and Noveda Technologies. The office and shop building was constructed in 2006 and is the 1st building in the state of New Jersey to meet...
which serves as the corporate headquarters for Ferreira Construction, the Ferreira Group, and Noveda Technologies. The 42000 square feet (3,901.9 m²) office and shop building was constructed in 2006 and is the 1st building in the state of New Jersey to meet New Jersey's Executive Order 54. The building is also the first Net Zero
Zero energy building
A zero-energy building, also known as a zero net energy building, Net-Zero Energy Building , or Net Zero Building, is a popular term to describe a building with zero net energy consumption and zero carbon emissions annually. Zero energy buildings can be independent from the energy grid supply...
Electric Commercial Building in the United States.
Branchburg Township is also home to the Little Red Schoolhouse located on South Branch Road. This one room schoolhouse was built in 1873. "This school house is noteworthy for being the last one-room school house in use in Somerset County." Its purpose was to educating children in grades 1-8 from Branchburg and Hillsborough townships. It was closed down in 1965. In 2007 the schoolhouse was renovated to add the bell tower back onto the top of the building. The Little Red Schoolhouse is now owned by the township of Branchburg. Famous people who attended the Little Red Schoolhouse include opera star and Edison protégé, Anna Case and Marion Van Fleet, the mother of actor Lee Van Cleef.
External links
- Branchburg Township official web site
- Branchburg Rescue Squad's official web site
- Branchburg Township School District
- Data for the Branchburg Township School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...