Bernards Township, New Jersey
On the 24th of May 1760, King George II signed a royal charter creating Bernardston Township from the northern precinct of Somerset County. The new municipality took its name to honor Sir Francis Bernard, who served as governor of New Jersey from 1758 until 1760. Residents later shortened the official title to Bernards Township when the state legislature incorporated it on the 21st of February 1798. This legislative act placed the community among the first 104 townships established in New Jersey history. Portions of the original land were carved away over time to form Warren Township in 1806 and Far Hills in 1921. A final slice became the borough of Bernardsville on the 6th of March 1924. The township celebrated its 250th anniversary with a special tea event in May 2010.
The township occupies 24.33 square miles within the eastern end of the Somerset Hills region. Its physical borders include Second Watchung Mountain to the southwest and the Dead River swamp to the south. The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge marks part of the eastern boundary alongside the Passaic River. Millington Gorge also defines the eastern edge where the township meets Morris County. Neighboring municipalities include Bedminster Township and Far Hills to the west. Bernardsville lies to the northwest while Bridgewater Township sits to the southwest. Warren Township borders the southeast corner and Harding Township touches the northeast. Unincorporated communities like Basking Ridge and Liberty Corner exist entirely within these municipal lines. The area contains 24.20 square miles of land and only 0.13 square miles of water.
Census data shows population growth from 24,575 residents in 2000 to 27,830 people by 2020. This represents an increase of 2,077 individuals or 8.5 percent over two decades. The racial composition shifted significantly between 2000 and 2010 when Asian residents rose from 7.85 percent to 13.80 percent. White residents decreased from 89.20 percent to 81.83 percent during that same period. Hispanic or Latino populations grew from 2.63 percent to 3.95 percent. Median household income reached $123,285 according to 2006-2010 survey data adjusted for inflation. Family structures changed as married couples living together dropped from 63.0 percent to 61.7 percent. The median age increased from 39 years in 2000 to 43.1 years by 2010. Household sizes averaged 2.58 people in 2000 before rising slightly to 2.65 in the following decade.
Major corporate headquarters anchor the local economy including Barnes & Noble College Booksellers and Hitachi Power Systems USA. Verizon Wireless maintains operations within township boundaries while Verizon Communications keeps major business units in former AT&T buildings. These companies contribute to a high median family income of $153,906 recorded between 2006 and 2010. Male workers earned a median of $123,390 compared to $86,272 for female workers. Per capita income stood at $67,809 during that same period. Only about 2.1 percent of families lived below the poverty line. The township serves as a bedroom suburb for New York City commuters traveling through the Raritan Valley region. Interstate highways connect these businesses directly to metropolitan markets across the Northeast corridor.
The Township Committee governs Bernards under a form used by only 141 municipalities statewide out of 564 total options. Five members serve three-year terms elected at-large in partisan elections with one or two seats up each year. Mayor Ana Duarte McCarthy and Deputy Mayor John Tompkins lead the committee as of recent records. Registered voters numbered 18,377 as of March 2011 with Republicans comprising 38.2 percent and Democrats making up 19.3 percent. Unaffiliated voters represented 42.5 percent of the electorate. Republican Mitt Romney won 59.2 percent of votes cast in the 2012 presidential election while Democrat Barack Obama received 40.1 percent. On the 22nd of November 2016, the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit alleging zoning violations against the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge. The township hired Burton Trent Public Affairs in January 2017 for up to $45,000 to manage public relations regarding that legal dispute.
Ridge High School earned the National Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence during the 2009-10 school year from the U.S. Department of Education. This institution had previously received the same honor in 1986-87 before earning it again in 2015 when Newsweek ranked it 37th best in America. Mount Prospect Elementary School joined the list of recognized schools in 2014 among eleven statewide recipients. Liberty Corner School became one of fifteen New Jersey schools honored as exemplary high performers in 2015. The district serves 4,874 students across six schools with a student-teacher ratio of 10.7 to 1. Cedar Hill Elementary School houses 483 children while Oak Street Elementary accommodates 406 pupils. William Annin Middle School educates 1,201 students and Ridge High School teaches 1,794 young adults. Private institutions like Pingry School operate upper campuses for grades six through twelve within Basking Ridge boundaries.
William Alexander Lord Stirling served as a Continental Army major general during the American Revolutionary War from 1726 until his death in 1783. Scott Fischer climbed Lhotse as the first American to reach that peak before dying during an attempt on Mount Everest in 1996. Jared Isaacman dropped out of Ridge High School over twenty years ago to pursue business ventures that eventually led him into space as a commercial astronaut. Tobin Heath won gold medals as the youngest member of the U.S. women's national soccer team at the 2008 Olympics. Page McConnell plays keyboards for the rock band Phish after growing up in the Basking Ridge section. LaDainian Tomlinson played running back for the New York Jets before settling in Bernards Township. Zip the Pinhead born William Henry Johnson performed as a sideshow act in Liberty Corner until his death in 1926.
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Common questions
When was Bernards Township, New Jersey officially created by royal charter?
King George II signed a royal charter creating Bernardston Township on the 24th of May 1760. The state legislature later incorporated it as Bernards Township on the 21st of February 1798.
What is the total land area and population of Bernards Township, New Jersey in recent years?
Bernards Township occupies 24.33 square miles with 24.20 square miles of land and 0.13 square miles of water. Census data recorded 27,830 residents living within these boundaries by 2020.
Who are notable people who have lived or worked in Bernards Township, New Jersey?
Notable figures include LaDainian Tomlinson who settled there after playing for the New York Jets and Jared Isaacman who dropped out of Ridge High School to pursue business ventures. Page McConnell grew up in Basking Ridge while Tobin Heath won gold medals at the 2008 Olympics.
How does the government structure work for Bernards Township, New Jersey?
The township uses a form of government employed by only 141 municipalities statewide where five members serve three-year terms elected at-large. Mayor Ana Duarte McCarthy and Deputy Mayor John Tompkins lead the committee as of recent records.
Which schools receive recognition in the Bernards Township, New Jersey school district?
Ridge High School earned the National Blue Ribbon School Award during the 2009-10 school year and again in 2015 when Newsweek ranked it 37th best in America. Mount Prospect Elementary School joined recognized schools in 2014 among eleven statewide recipients.