Tewksbury Township, New Jersey


Tewksbury Township is a township located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey and is located within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 5,993, reflecting an increase of 452 from the 5,541 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 738 from the 4,803 counted in the 1990 Census.
The township's name is thought to be from Tewkesbury, England. Since 2003, the two communities have been twinned.

History

The area was originally settled by the Lenape Native Americans. European settlement began in 1708, when George Willocks acquired land from the Lenape in the area, followed by an acquisition by the proprietors of West Jersey of a tract covering.
The township was first mentioned as holding a township meeting on March 11, 1755, as having been formed partly from Lebanon Township, though the exact circumstances of its formation by charter are unknown. Tewksbury was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Califon borough. Portions of the township were acquired from Readington Township in 1832 and 1861, and portions were transferred to Clinton Township in 1871 and 1891.
The original settlers were of English extraction and were followed by a large German contingent who began to settle in the area around 1749 and became the strongest influence around the time Tewksbury became a township. Their community was known as New Germantown, a name that survived until World War I when prejudice against Germans led residents to change the community's name to Oldwick. The more than 100 structures and its mixture of Victorian, Federal, New England and Georgian style homes in Oldwick is protected by its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Established in 1714 and granted a Royal Charter in 1767, Zion Lutheran Church in Oldwick is the oldest German Lutheran parish in New Jersey.
Oldwick is home to Mane Stream, a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Premier Accredited Center for therapeutic horseback riding.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 31.699 square miles, including 31.526 square miles of land and 0.173 square miles of water.
Tewksbury Township borders Califon, Clinton Township, Lebanon Township and Readington Township in Hunterdon County; Chester Township and Washington Township in Morris County; and Bedminster Township in Somerset County.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Apgar's Corner, Bissell, Cokesbury, Fairmount, Farmersville, Fox Hill, Laurel Farms, Lower Fairmount, Mountainville, New Germantown, Oldwick, Pottersville, Sutton and Vernoy.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $160,224 and the median family income was $189,833. Males had a median income of $128,177 versus $90,833 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $91,644. About 0.9% of families and 1.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 5,541 people, 1,986 households, and 1,662 families residing in the township. The population density was 175.2 people per square mile. There were 2,052 housing units at an average density of 64.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 96.82% White, 0.52% African American, 1.88% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.
There were 1,996 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.2% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.3% were non-families. 12.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the township the population was spread out with 26.2% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 33.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $135,649, and the median income for a family was $150,189. Males had a median income of $100,000 versus $57,500 for females. The per capita income for the township was $65,470. About 1.6% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government

Tewksbury Township is governed under the Township form of government, one of 141 municipalities statewide governed under this form. 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. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
, members of the Tewksbury Township Committee are Mayor Peter L. Melick, Deputy Mayor Robert E. Becker, Dana D. Desiderio, Andrea B. Maranca and William J. Voyce.
In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $14,367, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.

Federal, state and county representation

Tewksbury Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, Tewksbury Township had been in the 24th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 4,425 registered voters in Tewksbury Township, of which 699 were registered as Democrats, 2,310 were registered as Republicans and 1,412 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered to other parties.
In The 2016 presidential election, Republican Donald Trump received 57.6% of the vote, compared to 38.3% for Hillary Rodham Clinton and 4.1% for all other candidates.
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 66.6% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 32.0%, and other candidates with 1.5%, among the 3,478 ballots cast by the township's 4,628 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.2%.
In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 60.7% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.4% and other candidates with 1.0%, among the 3,754 ballots cast by the township's 4,502 registered voters, for a turnout of 83.4%.
In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 66.7% of the vote, outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 33.2% and other candidates with 0.6%, among the 3,480 ballots cast by the township's 4,171 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 83.4.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 77.8% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 20.3%, and other candidates with 1.9%, among the 2,238 ballots cast by the township's 4,551 registered voters, for a turnout of 49.2%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 66.7% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 21.5%, Independent Chris Daggett with 10.4% and other candidates with 0.2%, among the 2,971 ballots cast by the township's 4,434 registered voters, yielding a 67.0% turnout.

Education

The Tewksbury Township Schools is a public school district, which serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 541 students and 60.4 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 9.0:1. Schools in the district are
Tewksbury Elementary School with 321 students in grades PreK - 4 and
Old Turnpike School with 214 students in grades 5 - 8. Tewksbury Elementary School was recognized in 2011 as a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education.
The original elementary school, Sawmill, opened in 1951 and was sold in 2003 for $1 million to the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Voorhees High School in Lebanon Township, which also serves students from Califon Borough, Glen Gardner Borough, Hampton Borough, High Bridge Borough and Lebanon Township. As of the 2018–19 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 982 students and 83.1 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1. The school is part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, which also includes students from Bethlehem Township, Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough and Union Township who attend North Hunterdon High School in Annandale.
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 township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Hunterdon County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Interstate 78 passes through the Township, and is accessible via Oldwick Road at Exit 24. County Route 517 also passes through the Township.

Notable people

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