Bethlehem Township, New Jersey

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Bethlehem Township is a Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 3,820.

Bethlehem was first mention in official records dating back to 1730, though details of its formation are uncertain.^[1] Bethlehem was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798.^[1] Portions of the township were taken to form Kingwood Township (1749, date uncertain), Alexandria Township (March 5, 1765), Union Township (February 17, 1853) Junction borough (February 20, 1895, now known as Hampton borough), Bloomsbury (March 30, 1905) and Glen Gardner (March 26, 1919). The Musconetcong River forms its northern border with Warren County. The northern half of the Township consists of the Musconetcong Valley while the southern half is covered by the Musconetcong Mountains.^[2]

Contents 1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 Government 3.1 Local government 3.2 Federal, state and county representation 4 Education 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 54.0 km² (20.8 mi²), all land.

Bethlehem Township borders Hampton Borough, Glen Gardner Borough, Lebanon Township, Union Township, Alexandria Township, and Bloomsbury Borough. Bethlehem Township also borders Warren County.

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1930	735		–
1940	791		7.6%
1950	857		8.3%
1960	1,090		27.2%
1970	1,385		27.1%
1980	3,045		119.9%
1990	3,104		1.9%
2000	3,820		23.1%
Est. 2005	3,993	[3]	4.5%
Population 1930 - 1990.[4]

As of the census² of 2000, there were 3,820 people, 1,266 households, and 1,092 families residing in the township. The population density was 70.8/km² (183.3/mi²). There were 1,303 housing units at an average density of 24.1/km² (62.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the township was 97.51% White, 0.86% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.62% of the population.

There were 1,266 households out of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.3% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.7% were non-families. 10.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the township the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $88,048, and the median income for a family was $92,768. Males had a median income of $69,063 versus $41,806 for females. The per capita income for the township was $35,298. None of the families and 1.0% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 10.0% of those over 64.

[edit] Government

[edit] Local government

Members of the Bethlehem Township Committee are Mayor Steve Kucinski, Deputy Mayor John Meehan, Paul Glazar, John Graefe and John Jimenez.^[2][5]

[edit] Federal, state and county representation

Bethlehem Township is in the Seventh Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 23rd Legislative District.^[6]

New Jersey's Seventh Congressional District, covering portions of Hunterdon County, Middlesex County, Somerset County and Union County, is represented by Mike Ferguson (R). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).

The 23rd legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Leonard Lance (R, Flemington) and in the Assembly by Michael J. Doherty (R, Oxford) and Marcia A. Karrow (R, Raritan Township). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).

Hunterdon County is governed by a five-member Board of Chosen Freeholders. As of 2007, Hunterdon County's Freeholders are Freeholder Director George D. Muller, Freeholder Deputy Director Erik C. Peterson, Matthew Holt, George B. Melick and Ronald Sworen.

[edit] Education

Students in grades K through 8 attend the schools of the Bethlehem Township School District. Thomas B. Conley School serves grades K - 4 and Ethel Hoppock Middle School is for grades 5 - 8.

Students in grades 9 through 12 attend North Hunterdon High School in Annandale as part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District. North Hunterdon High School serves students from Bethlehem Township (261 students), Clinton Town (132 students), Clinton Township (743 students), Franklin Township (146 students), Lebanon Borough (45 students) and Union Township (245 students).

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Hunterdon County page for Bethlehem Township
• Bethlehem Township School District
• Bethlehem Township School District's 2005-06 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• National Center for Education Statistics data for the Bethlehem Township School District
• North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District
• Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance

v • d • e Municipalities of Hunterdon County, New Jersey (County seat: Flemington)
Boroughs	Bloomsbury | Califon | Flemington | Frenchtown | Glen Gardner | Hampton | High Bridge | Lebanon | Milford | Stockton
City	Lambertville
Town	Clinton
Townships	Alexandria | Bethlehem | Clinton | Delaware | East Amwell | Franklin | Holland | Kingwood | Lebanon | Raritan | Readington | Tewksbury | Union | West Amwell
CDPs and communities	Annandale | Raven Rock | Ringoes | White House Station