Bloomsbury, New Jersey


Bloomsbury is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 870, reflecting a decline of 16 from the 886 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 4 from the 890 counted in the 1990 Census.
Bloomsbury was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 30, 1905, from portions of Bethlehem Township.
The Borough of Bloomsbury was once known as "Johnson's Iron Works", owned by Robert Johnson, on the north bank of the river. The current name is derived either from the Bloom family, influential in the early history of the town, or from the iron ore processed into masses of wrought iron that are known as "blooms".

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.910 square miles, including 0.877 square miles of land and 0.033 square miles of water.
The borough borders the municipalities of Bethlehem Township in Hunterdon County; and Franklin Township, Greenwich Township and Pohatcong Township in Warren County. Bloomsbury is located on the south side of the Musconetcong River in the northwest corner of Hunterdon County and is the third-smallest municipality in Hunterdon County.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $98,571 and the median family income was $106,324. Males had a median income of $71,000 versus $50,417 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $42,141. About 2.6% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.3% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 886 people, 322 households, and 252 families residing in the borough. The population density was 975.5 people per square mile. There were 342 housing units at an average density of 376.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 98.19% White, 0.34% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.47% of the population.
There were 322 households, out of which 45.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 38.4% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $64,375, and the median income for a family was $67,500. Males had a median income of $51,053 versus $33,750 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,392. About 4.8% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Bloomsbury is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 of 565 municipalities statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey. The governing body is comprised of a Mayor and a Borough Council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council is comprised of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by Bloomsbury is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.
, the Mayor of Bloomsbury is Republican Vicky Papics, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Todd Dangelo, Louise Gerace, Scott McClaymont, Chris Smith, Al Stiehler and Eric Weger.

Federal, state and county representation

Bloomsbury is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 546 registered voters in Bloomsbury, of which 120 were registered as Democrats, 227 were registered as Republicans and 199 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were no voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 55.3% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.7%, and other candidates with 2.0%, among the 404 ballots cast by the borough's 561 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.0%. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 55.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.6% and other candidates with 1.7%, among the 462 ballots cast by the borough's 551 registered voters, for a turnout of 83.8%. In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 64.1% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 33.5% and other candidates with 1.6%, among the 471 ballots cast by the borough's 563 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 83.7.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 73.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 25.1%, and other candidates with 1.9%, among the 260 ballots cast by the borough's 551 registered voters, for a turnout of 47.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.1% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 22.2%, Independent Chris Daggett with 12.4% and other candidates with 1.8%, among the 338 ballots cast by the borough's 549 registered voters, yielding a 61.6% turnout.

Education

The Bloomsbury School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Bloomsbury Public School. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 94 students and 11.3 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 8.4:1. In the 2016–17 school year, the district had the 11th-smallest enrollment of any school district in the state. The district participates in the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program, having been approved on November 2, 1999, as one of the first ten districts statewide to participate in the program. Seats in the program for non-resident students are specified by the district and are allocated by lottery, with tuition paid for participating students by the New Jersey Department of Education.
Public school students from Bloomsbury in ninth through twelfth grades attend Phillipsburg High School in Phillipsburg in Warren County, as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Phillipsburg School District. The high school also serves students from four other sending communities: Alpha, Greenwich Township, Lopatcong Township and Pohatcong Township. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,650 students and 126.5 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 13.0:1.
Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Hunterdon County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Several major roads run through the borough. Interstate 78 / U.S. Route 22 pass through the north and connects Bloomsbury at Exit 7 with Route 173.
The major county road that passes through is CR 579.

Public transportation

Public transportation is limited to The LINK, a public bus service which serves Hunterdon County. Funding for operation of the Hunterdon County LINK System is provided by Hunterdon County, NJ Transit and the Federal Transit Administration.

Rail / Lehigh Line

's Lehigh Line, runs through the southwest part of Bloomsbury along the border with Bethlehem Township on its way to Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

Notable people

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