Hunterdon County
County
A view of Clinton, New Jersey with Red Mill (in the foreground) and the downtown district across the Raritan River (in the background)
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°34′N 74°55′W / 40.57°N 74.92°W / 40.57; -74.92
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
Founded	1714
Named for	Robert Hunter
Seat	Flemington[1]
Largest municipality	Raritan Township (population) Readington Township (area)
Government
• Commission Director	Zachary T. Rich (R, term ends December 31, 2023)
Area [2]
• Total	437.40 sq mi (1,132.9 km2)
• Land	427.84 sq mi (1,108.1 km2)
• Water	9.56 sq mi (24.8 km2)  2.2%
Population  (2020)[3][4]
• Total	128,947
• Estimate  (2023)[3][5]	130,183
• Density	301.4/sq mi (116.4/km2)
Congressional district	7th
Website	www.co.hunterdon.nj.us

Interactive map of Hunterdon County, New Jersey

Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. At the 2020 census, the county was the state's 18th-most populous county,^[6] with a population of 128,947,^[3][4] its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 598 (+0.5%) from the 2010 census count of 128,349,^[7] which in turn reflected an increase of 6,360 (5.2%) from the 121,989 counted in the 2000 census.^[8] Its county seat is Flemington.^[1] The county is part of the Central Jersey region of the state.^[9][10]

In 2015, the county had a per capita personal income of $80,759, the third-highest in New Jersey and ranked 33rd of 3,113 counties in the United States.^[11][12] The Bureau of Economic Analysis ranked the county as having the 19th-highest per capita income of all 3,113 counties in the United States (and the highest in New Jersey) as of 2009.^[13] In 2011, Hunterdon County had the second-lowest level of child poverty of any county in the United States.^[14]

Geographically, much of the county lies in the Delaware Valley. Local businesses and the Delaware Valley Regional High School carry the name. However, it is part of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and part of the larger New York-Newark Combined Statistical Area (CSA).^[15]

Hunterdon County was established on March 11, 1714, separating from Burlington County, at which time it included all of present-day Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties.^[16] The rolling hills and rich soils which produce bountiful agricultural crops drew Native American tribes and then Europeans to the area.

History

Etymology

Hunterdon County was named for Robert Hunter, a colonial governor of New Jersey.^[17] Language changes over time and location, so by stemming of , and a → lenition of the name of his family seat of "Hunterston" in Ayrshire, Scotland, the name "Hunterdon" was derived.^[18][19]

Paleo Indians and Native Americans

Paleo Indians moved into Hunterdon County between 12,000 BCE and 11,000 BCE. The area was warming due to climate change. The Wisconsin Glacier in Warren and Sussex County was retreating northward. The area was that of Taiga/Boreal forests. Paleo Indians traveled in small groups in search of game and edible plants. They used spears made of bone, jasper or black chert. Their camp sites are difficult to find as they are many feet below the present surface.^{[citation needed]}

Native Americans moved into the area but the time they arrived is unknown. Most have come from the Mississippi River area. Many tribes of the Delaware Nation lived in Hunterdon County especially along the Delaware River and in the Flemington area. These tribes were agricultural in nature, growing corn, beans and squash. Those that lived along the South Branch of the Raritan River fished and farmed. There was a Native American trail that went along the South Branch of the Raritan River (Philhower 1924).

European settlement

Land purchases from Native Americans occurred from 1688 to 1758. Large land purchases from Native Americans occurred in 1703, 1709 and 1710. Over 150,000 acres (610 km²) were bought with metal knives and pots, clothing, blankets, barrels of rum or hard cider, guns, powder and shot. This allowed for European settlers to enter into Hunterdon County in the early 18th century. After 1760, nearly all Native Americans left New Jersey and relocated to eastern Canada or the Mississippi River area.^{[citation needed]}

The first European settlers were Col. John Reading who settled in Reading Township in 1704 they called him Sir Reading of Readington and John Holcombe who settled in Lambertville in 1705.^[18]

Hunterdon County was separated from Burlington County on March 11, 1714. At that time Hunterdon County was large, going from Assunpink Creek near Trenton to the New York State line which at that time was about 10 miles (16 km) north of Port Jervis, New York.^[16]

On March 15, 1739, Morris County (which at the time included what would later become Sussex County and Warren County) was separated from Hunterdon County.^[16] The boundary between Hunterdon and Somerset counties is evidence of the old Keith Line which separated the provinces of West Jersey and East Jersey. Hunterdon County was reduced in area on February 22, 1838, with the formation of Mercer County from portions of Burlington County, Hunterdon County and Middlesex County. In February 1839, the remaining portion of Hopewell Township was annexed to Mercer County. On March 13, 1844, Hopewell Township returned to Hunterdon County while Tewksbury Township was annexed by Somerset County but in February 1845 both of these changes were repealed. Since then, the county boundaries have remained the same.^[16]

Hunterdon County was being affected by industrialization in the state and nation, mining speculation in northwest New Jersey, and competitors constructing railroads. The Elizabethtown and Somerville Railroad leased a section to White House just south of Tewksbury Township in 1848.^{[citation needed]}

Recent history

Transitioning from rural to suburban, Hunterdon County is an exurb on the western edge of New Jersey and home to commuters to New York City and Philadelphia. The county seat, Flemington, is noted as the site of the Lindbergh kidnapping trial which convicted Bruno Hauptmann of the murder of aviator Charles Lindbergh's son. With growing towns and shopping areas, as well as relaxing rural areas, Hunterdon County is a far stretch from the urban areas stereotypically associated with New Jersey. Due to the presence of natural habitats with many homes in wooded settings, Hunterdon County was recently found to have the third highest case rate of Lyme disease out of all counties in the United States.^[20]

On December 24, 2020, The Hunterdon County Library System announced that the library system will be joining the MAIN Library System which covers libraries in Morris County and parts of Somerset and Warren counties, this merger was completed on January 11, 2021.^[21]

Geography and geology

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of 437.4 square miles (1,133 km²), of which 427.84 square miles (1,108.1 km²) was land (97.8%) and 9.56 square miles (24.8 km²) was water (2.2%).^[2]

Much of the county is hilly, with several hills rising to one thousand foot in elevation. The highest points are two areas in Lebanon Township, one on the Morris County line, both reaching approximately 1,060 feet (320 m) above sea level.^[22] The first is at Smith on the Morris County line and the second is north of the area called Little Brook. This area is known as the Highlands of New Jersey. The lowest elevation is where the Mercer County line reaches the Delaware River, approximately 50 feet (15 m) above sea level. The county is drained by the Musconetcong River in the north. The river flows in a southwest direction. The Lamington River drains the county in the east. The central portion of the county is drained by the South Branch of the Raritan River. The Delaware River drains the western side of the county.

Geology

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Around 500 million years ago, a chain of volcanic islands shaped like an arch collided with proto North America and rode over the top of the North American plate. The rock from the islands created the highlands of Hunterdon County as there was a shallow sea where Hunterdon County is now located. Then around four hundred million B.C., a small continent that was long and thin, collided with proto North America. This collision created compression, which caused heat. The Paleozoic sediment of shale and sandstone folded and faulted. The heat allowed the igneous rock to bend, thus Hunterdon County was born.

The African plate which later collided with North America created more folding and faulting, especially in the southern Appalachians. Then the African and North America plates tore and drifted away from each other.

The Wisconsin glacier that entered into New Jersey around 21,000 BCE and then melted around 13,000 BCE did not reach Hunterdon County. However, there are glacial outwash deposits from streams and rivers that flowed from the glacier southward depositing rock and sediment.

Hunterdon County has two geophysical provinces. The first is the Highlands which is the western section of the county. The other is the Piedmont which is the eastern and southern section of the county. The Highlands account for one-third of the area and Piedmont accounts for two-thirds of the county. The Highlands are part of the Reading Prong. Limestone and shale over igneous rock comprise the Highlands. Piedmont includes the Hunterdon Plateau and the Raritan Valley Lowlands which are 150 to 300 feet (46 to 91 m) above sea level. Piedmont is made up of shale and sandstone.

Climate

Hunterdon has a humid continental climate which is hot-summer (Dfa) except in some higher northern areas where it is warm-summer (Dfb). The hardiness zone is mainly 6b except for some 6a in higher northern areas and 7a along the Delaware River in West Amwell Township. Average monthly temperatures in Clinton range from 29.0 °F in January to 74.0 °F in July, while in Flemington they range from 30.0 °F in January to 74.8 °F in July and in Lambertville they range from 31.1 °F in January to 75.7 °F in July.

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Flemington have ranged from a low of 19 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −18 °F (−28 °C) was recorded in January 1984 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3.16 inches (80 mm) in February to 5.16 inches (131 mm) in July.^[23]

Demographics

2020 census

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2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 128,349 people, 47,169 households, and 34,339 families in the county. The population density was 300 per square mile (120/km²). There were 49,487 housing units at an average density of 115.7 per square mile (44.7/km²). The racial makeup was 91.36% (117,264) White, 2.69% (3,451) Black or African American, 0.13% (167) Native American, 3.26% (4,181) Asian, 0.03% (37) Pacific Islander, 1.22% (1,570) from other races, and 1.31% (1,679) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.24% (6,722) of the population.^[7]

Of the 47,169 households, 33.4% had children under the age of 18; 62.8% were married couples living together; 7% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.2% were non-families. Of all households, 22% were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.1.^[7]

23.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 34.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 98.1 males.^[7]

Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the county's gross domestic product was $7.1 billion in 2021, which was ranked 16th in the state and was a 5.3% increase from the prior year.^[26]

Hunterdon County ranked as the 19th among the highest-income counties in the United States with a 2010 per capita income of $67,053. It ranks fourth among U.S. counties for household income according to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Hunterdon County's median household income was $105,186, behind only Loudoun County and Fairfax County in Virginia, and Howard County, Maryland.

Transportation

Roads and highways

As of May 2010^[update], the county had a total of 1,412.33 miles (2,272.92 km) of roadways, of which 1,059.23 miles (1,704.67 km) were maintained by the local municipality, 237.73 miles (382.59 km) by Hunterdon County and 114.79 miles (184.74 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and 0.58 miles (0.93 km) by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission.^[27]

Many important roads pass through the county. They include state routes, such as Route 12, Route 29, Route 31, Route 173 and Route 179. Two U.S. Routes pass through the county, which are U.S. Route 22 and U.S. Route 202. The only limited access road that passes through is Interstate 78.

Public transportation

Limited rail service to the northern part of the county from Newark Penn Station/Pennsylvania Station is provided to High Bridge, Annandale, Lebanon and Whitehouse Station by NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line.^[28]

The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line (formerly the mainline of the Lehigh Valley Railroad), runs through Hunterdon County.^[29]

In addition, The Hunterdon County LINK operates demand-response service across the county, as well as fixed-route service in Flemington.^[30] Trans-Bridge Lines also provides service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, as well as several towns/cities west in Pennsylvania.^[31] Stops include Clinton, Flemington, Lambertville, and Frenchtown.

Government

County governmentedit

Hunterdon County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners composed of five members who serve three-year terms of office at-large on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the Commissioners select one member to serve as the board's director and another to serve as deputy director. The Commissioner Board is the center of legislative and administrative responsibility and, as such, performs a dual role. As legislators, they draw up and adopt a budget, and in the role of administrators they are responsible for spending the funds they have appropriated.^[32][33] As of 2024^[update], Hunterdon County's Commissioners are (with terms for director and deputy director ending every December 31):

Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).^[40] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are:

The Hunterdon County Prosecutor is Renée M. Robeson, who was nominated by Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy in 2021.^[47][48] Hunterdon County is a part of Vicinage 13 of the New Jersey Superior Court (along with Somerset County and Warren County), which is seated at the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville, the county seat of Somerset County; the Assignment Judge for Vicinage 15 is Yolanda Ciccone. The Hunterdon County Courthouse is in Flemington.^[49]

In June 2022, the commissioners appointed Jeff Kuhl to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Mike Holt until he resigned from office. Kuhl will serve on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office. Democrats have not won a countywide office in Hunterdon County since 1982.^[50]

Federal representativesedit

Hunterdon County falls entirely within the 7th congressional district.^[51][52] For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented by Thomas Kean Jr. (R, Westfield).^[53]

State representativesedit

The 26 municipalities of Hunterdon County are represented by three Legislative Districts.

Law enforcementedit

The Hunterdon County Sheriff's Office includes about 43 sworn officers.^[55] The current sheriff is Frederick Brown, who was reelected to a second three-year term in 2013.^[56] He was preceded by Republican Deborah Trout who served one term starting in November 2007.^[57]

On December 22, 2008, state investigators seized computers and other records related to Sheriff Deborah Trout's hiring of undersheriffs and other personnel without the usual background checks and qualifications.^[57] In 2010, a grand jury indicted then-sheriff Deborah Trout and two under-sheriffs on 43 counts of official misconduct and other charges. The indictment was later suppressed when new state officials were appointed by incoming Governor Chris Christie. The propriety of the investigation, the indictment and its aftermath are the subject of a number of legal actions.^[58][59][60]

Politicsedit

Hunterdon County is considered a Republican stronghold and has traditionally elected some of the most conservative members of the New Jersey legislature. It has also provided big votes for independent conservative third party candidates opposing liberal and moderate Republicans, particularly in 1997, when 13% of county voters backed two conservative independent candidates against the incumbent Governor Christine Todd Whitman. All five County Commissioners are Republicans, as are all countywide elected officers and the majority of township committee and borough council members. The county has only gone Democratic in a presidential election twice since 1920, in the national Democratic landslides of 1936 and 1964. As of October 1, 2021, there were a total of 107,101 registered voters in Hunterdon County, of whom 29,256 (27.3%) were registered as Democrats, 41,836 (39.1%) were registered as Republicans and 35,077 (32.8%) were registered as unaffiliated. There were 932 voters (0.9%) registered to other parties.^[61]

In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama defeated John McCain by a 7.2% margin nationally, but Obama defeated McCain in New Jersey by a 15.5% margin.^[62] Republican John McCain received 55.5% of the vote (39,092 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 42.3% (29,776 votes) and other candidates with 1.4% (981 votes), among the 70,409 ballots cast by the county's 87,460 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.5%.^[63] However, in 2016, the margin of victory for Republican presidential candidates decreased 17.8 percent in 2012 to 13.7 percent, despite the Democrats national popular vote margin shrinking from 3.9 points to 2.1 points. In 2020, Joe Biden came closer than any Democratic nominee to carrying the county since Lyndon B. Johnson’s win in 1964, losing by 4.4 percent to Donald Trump.