| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1930 |
1,399 |
|
—
|
| 1940 |
2,139 |
|
52.9% |
| 1950 |
3,316 |
|
55.0% |
| 1960 |
5,386 |
|
62.4% |
| 1970 |
8,592 |
|
59.5% |
| 1980 |
9,805 |
|
14.1% |
| 1990 |
10,830 |
|
10.5% |
| 2000 |
14,259 |
|
31.7% |
| Est. 2006 |
15,816 |
[4] |
10.9% |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[8] |
Warren Township is a Township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 14,259.
Warren was originally inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans and was settled in the 1720s by European farmers. As early as 1900, it became a refuge for wealthy residents looking to escape nearby New York City.[9] Warren was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1806, from portions of Bernards Township and Bridgewater Township. The south-eastern half of the original township (which was close to a railroad and contained most of the population) was separated off as North Plainfield Township as of April 2, 1872.[10] Warren is named for American Revolutionary War patriot, General Joseph Warren, who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill.[9]
In July 2009, CNNMoney.com ranked Warren as #6 in its list of "Best Places to Live" in the United States[11], citing in particular its schools, June carnival (the Lions Club's annual "Expo"), "wide open spaces" (generally 1.5 acres per house), and 74 "working farms" (better, "taxed-as-farmland" tracts, but rural, nevertheless).
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 19.7 square miles (50.9 km²). All of it is land and with the exception of a few private ponds, none of the area is covered with water. The east-west Second Watchung Mountain ridge bisects Warren, with the northern half of the township sloping northward to the Passaic and Dead Rivers, and the southern half spanning the Washington Valley, between the First and Second Watchung Mountain ridges, through which runs the East Branch of the Middlebrook.
Demographics
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 14,259 people, 4,629 households, and 3,939 families residing in the township. The population density was 725.0 people per square mile (279.9/km²). There were 4,718 housing units at an average density of 239.9/sq mi (92.6/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 86.28% White, 1.26% African American, 0.04% Native American, 10.67% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.19% of the population.
There were 4,629 households out of which 45.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.3% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 12.2% 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 3.05 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the township the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $103,677, and the median income for a family was $121,264. Males had a median income of $80,231 versus $46,356 for females. The per capita income for the township was $49,475. About 0.7% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
Warren Township is governed under the Township form of government with a five-member Township Committee. The Township Committee is elected directly by the voters 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.[1] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor. Township Committee meetings are held at the municipal building on Thursdays.
As of 2009[update], Township Committee members are Mayor Carolann Garafola (term ends December 31, 2010), Deputy Mayor Vic Sordillo (2009), Gary DiNardo (2009), Mal Plager (2011), and Frank Salvato (2011).[12] Salvato, re-elected in 2008, is over 95 years old and was first elected to the Committee in the 1938 and served as mayor in 1939, the township youngest. He is believed to be the longest-serving elected official in the state of New Jersey having won re-election 25 times.[citation needed] The current five members have served together on the Committee since 2001.
In 1975 the Township Committee created the position of Township Administrator, to serve a one-year term beginning in July of each year. The current Township Administrator, Mark M. Krane, has served in that post since 1986.
The Historical Sites Committee was formed in 1971 and members are appointed by the governing body to administer municipally-owned historic landmarks. The historical landmarks they have protected are the Mount Bethel Meeting House, the Kirch-Ford House, and two small family cemeteries. The Meeting House dates back to mid-1700 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Federal, state and county representation
Warren Township is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 21st Legislative District.[13]
New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District, covering portions of Hunterdon County, Middlesex County, Somerset County and Union County, is represented by Leonard Lance (R, Clinton Township). 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 21st District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield) and in the Assembly by Jon Bramnick (R, Westfield) and Nancy Munoz (R, Summit).[14] The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).[15]
Somerset County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose members are elected at-large to three-year terms on a staggered basis, with one or two elected each year. As of 2009[update], Somerset County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director Rick Fontana (Bridgewater Township, 2009), Freeholder Deputy Director Jack Ciattarelli (Hillsborough Township, 2009), Peter S. Palmer (Bernardsville, term ends December 31, 2011),Patricia Walsh (Green Brook Township, 2010) and Robert Zaborowski (Franklin Township, 2011).[16]
Education
The Warren Township Schools serve public school students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Schools in the district (with 2005-06 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics.[17]) are four K - 5 elementary schools — Central School (386 students), Mt. Horeb School (415), Angelo L. Tomaso School (375), Woodland School (329) — and Warren Middle School (766) for grades 6-8.
Students in public school for grades 9-12 attend Watchung Hills Regional High School, which serves students from Warren as well as the neighboring communities of Watchung, Green Brook (in Somerset County), and Long Hill Township (in Morris County).[18]
Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Warren Township include:
- Dave Brown (born 1970), former quarterback for the New York Giants.[citation needed]
- Monica Crowley (born 1968), conservative radio and tv talk show personality[citation needed]
- Donald DiFrancesco (born 1944), former N.J. Senate president and Acting Governor.[citation needed]
- Mike Ferguson (born 1970), former U.S. Congressman.[citation needed]
- James L. Flanagan, electrical engineer.[19]
- Bob Franks (born 1951), former N.J. legislative leader and U.S. Congressman.[citation needed]
- Emma Fursch-Madi (1847-1894), renowned French operatic soprano.[20]
- Chris Kratt (born 1969) host of Kratts' Creatures and Zoboomafoo as well as Be the Creature, which runs on the National Geographic Channel.[21]
- Martin Kratt (born 1965), brother of Chris, and also an educational nature show host.[21]
- Gloria Gaynor (born 1949), popular music signer most noted for the song "I will survive
Points of interest
- Wagner Farm Arboretum
- Mount Bethel Meeting House, c.1770
- Kirch-Ford House, c.1770
- Vincent's (traditionally: the King George Inn), c.1820
- Springdale United Methodist Church, c.1840
- Mount Horeb United Methodist Church, 1867
References
- ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 94.
- ^ http://www.warrennj.org/
- ^ USGS GNIS: Township of Warren, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Census data for Warren township, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 20, 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.
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ a b A Brief History of Warren Township, accessed March 19, 2007.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 155.
- ^ "Best Places to Live, 2009 Edition". CNNMoney.com. 2009-07-13. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2009/snapshots/CS3476940.html.
- ^ Warren Township Committee, Warren Township. Accessed July 27, 2009.
- ^ 2008 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters, p. 65. Accessed September 30, 2009.
- ^ 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.
- ^ The Role of County Government: "What Is A Freeholder?", Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed May 23, 2009.
- ^ Data for the Warren Township Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 27, 2008.
- ^ Somerset County School Districts-Sending/Receiving/Regional, Somerset County Superintendent of Schools. Accessed April 27, 2008.
- ^ Kamin, Arthur Z. "State Becomes a Part of Celebrating Marconi's Achievements", The New York Times, October 23, 1994. Accessed July 6, 2008. "In 1992, Dr. James L. Flanagan of Warren Township received the award in Madrid."
- ^ "Mme. Fursch-Madi is dead; Greatest of Lyric Sopranos on the Operatic Stage". The New York Times. 22 September 1894. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=990DE0D91730E033A25751C2A96F9C94659ED7CF. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ^ a b Hopkins, Tom. "BROTHERS TROT GLOBE TO FILM CREATURES FOR KIDS' SHOW", Dayton Daily News, May 30, 1996. Accessed December 24, 2007. "Returning home, they edited the film in the basement of the family home in Warren, N.J., and cut five short films."
External links
