Ewing Township is a Township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 35,707. The Census Bureau's 2006 population estimate for Ewing Township is 36,916.[4]
Ewing Township was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 22, 1834, from portions of Trenton Township, while the area was still part of Hunterdon County. It became part of the newly-created Mercer County on February 22, 1838.[8]
Although Ewing Township was officially established in 1834, the history of the region ranges back thousands of years. The earliest inhabitants of the land area today known as Ewing Township were the Lenni Lenape Native Americans. These migratory people ranged throughout New Jersey along the banks of the Delaware River, and the Township's many creeks provided rich natural resources for hunting, fishing, pottery-making, and simple farming.
When the region was first settled by European colonists around 1699, it was part of Hopewell Township, and continued under that name until the City of Trenton was established in 1719. From 1719 until 1834, the area was named Trenton Township. On February 22, 1834, the name was changed from Trenton Township to Ewing Township in honor of Charles Ewing, who was posthumously honored for his work as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1824-1832.
Geography
Ewing is located at 40°15′36″N 74°47′20″W / 40.259958°N 74.788842°W / 40.259958; -74.788842 (40.259958, -74.788842).[9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 15.6 square miles (40.4 km2), of which, 15.3 square miles (39.7 km2) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km2) of it is water, mostly consisting of the Delaware River. The total area is 1.73% water.
The highest elevation in Ewing Township is 225 feet (69 m) AMSL just east of I-95 and just west of Trenton-Mercer Airport[10], while the lowest point is just below 20 feet (6.1 m) AMSL near the Delaware River[11].
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1910 |
1,889 |
|
—
|
| 1920 |
3,475 |
|
84.0% |
| 1930 |
6,942 |
|
99.8% |
| 1940 |
10,146 |
|
46.2% |
| 1950 |
16,840 |
|
66.0% |
| 1960 |
26,628 |
|
58.1% |
| 1970 |
32,831 |
|
23.3% |
| 1980 |
34,842 |
|
6.1% |
| 1990 |
34,185 |
|
−1.9% |
| 2000 |
35,707 |
|
4.5% |
| Est. 2006 |
36,916 |
[4] |
3.4% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[12] |
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 35,707 people, 12,551 households, and 8,208 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,328.6 people per square mile (899.3/km2). There were 12,924 housing units at an average density of 842.8/sq mi (325.5/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 69.02% White, 24.82% African American, 0.15% Native American, 2.27% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.83% from other races, and 1.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.44% of the population.
There were 12,551 households out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the township the population was spread out with 18.0% under the age of 18, 17.3% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $57,274, and the median income for a family was $67,618 (these figures had risen to $68,399 and $81,714 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[13]). Males had a median income of $44,531 versus $35,844 for females. The per capita income for the township was $24,268. About 3.3% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Township layout
Ewing Township was originally farmland punctuated by hamlets, including Ewingville, West Trenton, and Wilburtha. Since the beginning of the 20th Century, the township has developed as a suburb of Trenton. The sections near the city border are distinctly urban, but most of the township is suburban residential development. The main commercial district extends along North Olden Avenue Extension (County Route 622), originally constructed to connect north Trenton residences with the now-closed General Motors plant. Ewing Township is also the location of the The College of New Jersey, New Jersey State Police headquarters, the Jones Farm State Correction Institute, the Trenton Psychiatric Institute, the New Jersey Department of Transportation headquarters, Katzenbach School for the Deaf, and Trenton-Mercer Airport (KTTN), the location of Trenton, New Jersey's weather observations.
The town formerly had the General Motors plant that became Eastern Aircraft. Eastern Aircraft produced the Navy Avenger Torpedo Bomber during World War II. The Reading Railroad was used to transport other assembly materials to the Ewing plant. The plant, formerly located on Parkway Avenue, was knocked down. Meanwhile, the town also formerly had the Naval Air Warfare Center on Parkway Avenue, which developed major aeronautical defense weapons for the United States Navy.
Government
Local government
Ewing Township is governed under a Mayor-Council form of New Jersey municipal government, under the Faulkner Act.[1] The Governing Body of the township consists of five Council members and a Mayor, all of whom are elected by the residents of the community. The Mayor is elected to a four-year term. Members of the Council are elected to staggered four-year terms.[14]
The Mayor of Ewing Township is Jack Ball (term ends December 31, 2010). Members of the Ewing Township Council are Council President Les Summiel (2008), Council Vice President Bert Steinmann (2008), Kathy Wollert (2010), Joe Murphy (2008), and Don Cox (2010).[15][16]
Federal, state and county representation
Ewing Township is in the Twelfth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 15th Legislative District.[17]
New Jersey's 12th congressional district, covering portions of Hunterdon County (8 municipalities), Mercer County (9), Middlesex County (12), Monmouth County (14) and Somerset County (1), is represented by Rush D. Holt Jr. (D).[18] New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
For the 2008-2009 Legislative Session, the 15th District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Shirley Turner (D, Lawrenceville) and in the Assembly by Reed Gusciora (D, Borough of Princeton) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D, Ewing Township).[19] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[20]
Mercer County has a County Executive form of government, in which the County Executive performs executive functions and a seven-member Board of Chosen Freeholders acts in a legislative capacity. As of 2008[update], the County Executive is Brian M. Hughes.[21] Members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders are elected at-large to serve three-year staggered terms, with a Freeholder Chair and Vice-Chair selected on an annual basis from among its members.[22] County Freeholders are Freeholder Chair Lucylle R. S. Walter (term ends December 31, 2008; Ewing Township), Freeholder Vice Chair Elizabeth Maher Muoio (2009; Pennington Borough), Ann M. Cannon (2009; East Windsor Township), Anthony P. Carabelli (2010; Trenton), Pasquale "Pat" Colavita, Jr. (2009; Lawrenceville), Keith V. Hamilton (2010; Hamilton Township) and Tony Mack (2008; Trenton).[23]
Education
The Ewing Township Board of Education oversees the Ewing Public Schools. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[24]) are three K-5 elementary schools — Antheil (724 students), Lore (609) and Parkway (494) — Fisher (949) for grades 6-8 and Ewing High School (1,178) for grades 9-12. An adult school is also administered.
Independent from the School District, but a major proponent of programs, the Ewing Public Education Foundation [Ewing Public Education Foundation http://epef.org], established in 1995, is an independent, not-for-profit citizen’s organization whose mission is to mobilize community support, concern, commitment and resources to help improve the quality of education in Ewing Township. EPEF provides grants to Ewing Township Schools for innovative educational programs through fund-raising activities, and corporate and institutional sponsorship. The Foundation also seeks to match corporate and organizational donors with teachers to fund additional projects of mutual interest. These programs enhance the educational experience without the use of additional taxpayer dollars.
The College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State College) is located within the Ewingville section of the township.
Thomas J. Rubino Academy (formerly Mercer County Alternative High School) is one of Mercer County's only alternative schools, offering an alternative educational program for students who have struggled in the traditional school environment, featuring smaller classes, mentoring and counseling.[25]
Transportation
Ewing Township is traversed by multiple main roadways, as well as by a passenger rail line and is the location of an airport.
Route 29 (Daniel Bray Highway and River Road) extends north-south along the western edge of the township, along the Delaware River. The southern section, Daniel Bray Highway, is a 55 mph (90 km/h), divided 4-lane facility with at-grade intersections and traffic lights, and was constructed in the 1950s. The northern section, River Road, is a 45 mph (70 km/h), undivided 2-lane facility whose construction as a state highway dates from the 1930s. NJ 29 connects southwards to Trenton, and northwards to Lambertville and Frenchtown.
Route 31 (Pennington Road) extends north-south towards the eastern side of the township. It is a 35-45 mph (60–70 km/h), undivided 4-lane facility whose construction as a state highway also dates to the 1930s. It once also carried a trolley line, but it has long since been removed. It was once proposed to be bypassed by a freeway, but this plan has since been cancelled. NJ 31 also connects south to Trenton, and connects north to Pennington, Flemington, and Clinton.
U.S. Route 206 (Princeton Avenue) skirts the southeastern section of the township. It is a 25 mph (40 km/h), undivided 4-lane[26] facility. Although part of US 206, it was not constructed and is not maintained by the state. US 206 also connects south to Trenton, and connects north to Princeton and Somerville.
Interstate 95 (the Scudder Falls Freeway and Bridge) crosses the northwestern section of the township. It is a 55-65 mph (90-100 km/h), 4-6 lane divided freeway facility. It was constructed as a 4-lane facility in the 1960s, and widened to 6 lanes in the 1990s, with the exception of the Scudder Falls Bridge over the Delaware River. It connects south with Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and connects north to U.S. 1, where this branch of Interstate 95 ends. It becomes Interstate 295. From there, travelers use U.S. 1 or Interstate 195 and the New Jersey Turnpike to reach the next major destination northwards, New York City. The Ewing portion of Interstate 95 will eventually be redesignated as "Interstate 195 Extension" when a direct interchange between Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Turnpike is completed, re-routing Interstate 95 onto the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 6 (in Mansfield Township).
Ewing Township also boasts a commuter rail facility, West Trenton Station, at the terminus of SEPTA's R3 Regional Rail line. This facility mainly serves commuter traffic to and from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Ewing Township is also the site of the Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN). This facility currently offers no commercial flights, but does serve as a public recreational and private corporate airport.
Ewing Township is also traversed by the Delaware and Raritan Canal near the Delaware River. Originally important to commerce and trade, the advent of railroads caused the canal's commercial demise. The strip of land along the canal is currently part of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park.
Ewing Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
Ewing Presbyterian Church
Ewing Presbyterian Church is an historic building dated 1867 and set within the American Revolution era Ewing Church Cemetery. The church has recently been under threat of demolition by the Presbyterian Session of New Jersey which claims the roof trusses are buckling and beyond the point of cost effective repair. Numerous preservation groups say that the structural problems are much easier to resolve than the Session claims. Various organizations have endeavored to raise funds to secure the stability of the original church structure. The matter has become an issue of significant debate as the Presbyterian Session continues to support the razing of the church. Comparisons have been made to the demolition of Penn Station (New York) in the 1960s; an action which prompted great interest in historic preservation and continues to be a symbol for preservationist causes.
Points of interest
The Delaware River forms the western border of Ewing Township.
- Delaware and Raritan Canal - Runs along the eastern bank of the Delaware River in western Ewing Township.
- Washington Victory Trail - Documents the trail taken by George Washington's army during the American Revolution on Christmas Day, 1776. This led to a successful surprise attack on the Hessian troops occupying Trenton, New Jersey. Victory trail begins in nearby Washington Crossing State Park, enters Ewing Township at Jacobs Creek Road and continues along Bear Tavern Road. General Sullivan's route follows Grand Avenue and Sullivan Way to Trenton. General Greene's route follows Parkway Avenue to Trenton.[27][28]
- Our Lady of Good Counsel Church [3],located on W. Upper Ferry Road, is a Roman Catholic church built in the early 1960s to meet the growing needs of the rapidly expanding township. Its architecture is similar to Saint Paul's Church in Princeton NJ. The Church is a major worship center for the Catholic community in what is called the "West Trenton" section of the township.
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Ewing Township include:
References
- ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 73.
- ^ Telephone & Email Directory, Ewing Township. Accessed June 29, 2008.
- ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Ewing, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed June 13, 2008.
- ^ a b c Census data for Ewing township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 22, 2007.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 161.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ [1] USGS Topographic map of the highest point in Ewing
- ^ [2] USGS Topographic map of the lowest point in Ewing
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=06000US3402122185&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US34%7C05000US34013%7C06000US3401306260&_street=&_county=ewing&_cityTown=ewing&_state=04000US34&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null®=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=
- ^ Ewing Township Demographics, Ewing Township. Accessed October 20, 2006.
- ^ Candidates Wanted Ewing Observer, February 2006
- ^ Government Representatives, accessed January 5, 2007 contains incorrect data that has not been updated to reflect the current composition of the Council.
- ^ 2008 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 57. Accessed September 30, 2009.
- ^ Municipalities, Congressman Rush D. Holt Jr. Accessed June 29, 2008.
- ^ Legislative Roster: 2008-2009 Session, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed June 6, 2008.
- ^ "About the Governor". New Jersey. http://www.nj.gov/governor/about/. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
- ^ County Executive, Mercer County, New Jersey. Accessed March 11, 2008.
- ^ What is a Freeholder?, Mercer County, New Jersey. Accessed March 11, 2008.
- ^ Meet the Freeholders, Mercer County. Accessed March 11, 2008.
- ^ Data for the Ewing Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed June 29, 2008.
- ^ Thomas J. Rubino Academy, Mercer County Technical Schools. Accessed August 25, 2008.
- ^ Google Map of Route 206 in Ewing, accessed November 1, 2006.
- ^ Old Barracks Museum
- ^ Ten Crucial Days
- ^ Emanski, Joe. "Catching up with the Copelands", Ewing Observer, March 2004. Accessed June 20, 2007. "One moment, Ewing High grad Hollis Copeland was negotiating a new contract as a member of the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association.... After his career ended, they moved to Yonkers, where they lived for 13 years. They’ve lived back in Ewing since 1994."
- ^ Corzine Names Secretary of State and Military and Veterans Affairs Adjutant General, press release dated January 3, 2006.
- ^ "Pierre Bernard's Recliner Of Rage", "I WANT TO EAT A NUT OF LAERMA!", November 12, 2004. Accessed October 30, 2008. "Pierre often visits a shopping center in New Jersey called the Mercer Mall....or he has to go two miles to an interchange and turn around."
External links
