Municipalities of Somerset County
The Township of Bedminster
Bedminster is located in the rolling hills of northern Somerset County The Township' s 26 square miles conveys a rural ambiance with numerous stables, miles of equestrian trails, and private estates hidden along quiet dirt roads while at its eastern end, The Hills is home to office parks, a small shopping center, and 3,600 town homes, condominiums, and small lot-line houses.
The Township was incorporated in 1749 and played a part in the American Revolution. By the end of 19th century, wealthy families from the city attracted by the beauty of the area, built expansive estates for enjoyment of the country life. Bedminster remained a low-key place for the next century, After World War II AT & T built the first of many other corporate offices in the Township, and in the the late 1960's, I-78 opened along its southern edge, and I-287 was soon constructed along its eastern border.
The Township of Bernards
Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Somerset Hills, semi-rural Bernards Township includes the communities of Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, Lyons, and West Millington. The township is dotted with the estates and residences of New York City executives. Offering a rare blend of historic interest and rural ambiance, Bernards features easy access to urban amenities, an attractive setting, and unspoiled wetlands and woodlands. In recent years, a number of businesses have settled in this area. Recreational amenities include 300 acres of parks and preserves, athletic fields, tennis courts, and swimming pools. Adjacent Bernardsville Borough adds a recreation center and a private golf club.
The Borough of Bernardsville
A borough with roots in the Revolutionary War era, Bernardsville has managed to maintain its smalltown charm in the face of modern-day development pressures.
Bernardsville was originally a section of Bernards Township know as Vealtown. In 1840, Vealtown became Bernardsville, named after Sir Francis Bernard, Colonial governor of New Jersey from 1758 to 1760. Nestled in the northern most part of Somerset County, just 12 miles south of Morristown, New Jersey, this rustic community sits in some of the last vestiges of the Great Eastern Forest.
After the Civil War, many wealthy and prominent New Yorkers moved into the area, first as summer visitors, then as permanent residents of the Bernardsville Mountain.
The railroad line was built through Bernardsville in 1872 and played an important role in the borough’s development. Bernardsville did not become a separate borough until 1924, when it split from Bernards Township.
Bernardsville has a land area of 12.85 square miles and 7,345 residents. The town is governed by a mayor and six-member Borough Council.
Borough Hall, a circa 1800 building, formerly was known as Bunn’s Mill. It was operated as a grist mill, sawmill, cider mill and distillery in the mid 1800s.
The Borough of Bound Brook
The town was first settled in 1681, and was established near the Bound Brook stream of the same name, which flows into the Raritan River via the Green Brook on the east side of the borough.
Bound Brook was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the NJ Legislature within portions of Bridgewater. On February 11th, 1891, it was incorporated as a borough, based on the results of a referendum held on the previous day.
The Township of Branchburg
The Township of Branchburg is located in Somerset County, New Jersey. The Township includes the communities of North Branch and Neshanic Station. It is bordered on the west by Hunterdon County, on the north by Bedminster and on the south by Bridgewater Township and Hillsborough Township. Branchburg covers a total area of 20.2 square miles, being eleven miles long and approximately 2 miles across at its widest point. The main water courses are the Lamington River on the north, the North Branch of the Raritan River on the east and the South Branch of the Raritan River on the east and south.
The land now known as Branchburg Township was originally inhabited by the Raritan Indians, a tribe of the Lenni-Lenape Indians. By 1686 most of the land was purchased from the Indians by the Lords Proprietors of East Jersey. These Proprietors sold the land in small parcels to numerous settlers, mostly of Dutch or English extraction. Branchburg at that time was located in a large area called East Jersey, but more specifically, it encompassed parts of Essex and Middlesex Counties as well as Somerset County. County boundaries were a subject of controversy until 1741 when Somerset County acquired parts of Middlesex and Essex Counties, nearly doubling it's size. Due to the expansion of Somerset County, Branchburg finally lay entirely within the County where it is presently located.
Today, Branchburg Township is a semi-rural area. A strict zoning plan has been actively enforced since 1948. The zoning ordinance provides for residential, business, industrial, office, manufacturing, office building and office laboratory uses. There is a touch of a small village flavor in North Branch and Neshanic Station.
The Township of Bridgewater
The thirty-three square mile area which is now the Township of Bridgewater was originally purchased from a local Indian tribe. Chartered by King George II of England in 1749, and incorporated in 1899, Bridgewater is a modern suburban municipality with a balance of residential and commercial uses. In the early years, Bridgewater was known as a farming town. What is now Somerville and Raritan were once part of Bridgewater Township until they broke away years after the chartering.
Today, as was said, Bridgewater is a diverse and thriving township with a mix of both rural and suburban life.Township is prime ground for many new and large businesses, including Sanofi-Aventis, J&J, MetLife, and Phillips-Van Heusen. Bridgewater has progressed rapidly from its rural roots, and will continue to grow in the future.
The Borough of Far Hills
The borough spans just 5 square miles in Somerset County, encircled by equally upscale communities: Bedminster, Peapack-Gladstone, Bernards Township and Bernardsville, with which is shares a public library, a first aid squad, a fire department, a community pool, athletic programs, civic organizations and top-notch schools. The prestigious locale maintains its ambiance through 10-acre zoning laws, whereby private, sprawling properties and homes surround a small village, which was the creation of a wealthy New York businessman in the late 1800s.
The Township of Franklin
Franklin Township is a diverse community of approximately 46 square miles. It has rural, agricultural, suburban and urban residential areas, as well as substantial industrial and commercial areas. The Township is located between New Brunswick and Princeton Township in Somerset County, named as one of 16 of the "most liveable communities" in the United States by the Partners for Liveable communities.
One of Franklin's unique qualities is its distinctive communities, each with its own flavor and history. the Township's earliest development and important historical heritage was in villages which still exist today. There the majopr portion of the population lived until the post World War II suburban development. In the villages of East Millstone, Middlebush, Griggstown, Franklin Park, Kingston, Zeraphath, Weston, Blackwells Mills, and Little Rocky Hill, there are numerous examples of homes built in the 18th and 19th centuries.
It was not until the building boom of the 1950s that the Township started changing its traditional rural character. The Somerset area received substantial growth due to its proximity to major transportation facilities and New Brunswick. In the 1960s, the sewers were extended into the more rural areas and large subdivisions were developed. Additionally, during this period the agricultural land decline started as small subdivisions and farmland sales became increasingly frequent. Franklin went through a significant transformation in the 1980s. Within its 46 quare miles, modern offices and industrial parks prospered. Housing developments also contributed to Franklin's growth with construction of luxury homes and townhouse developments.
Today, the Township's population is estimated to be slightly in excess of 45,000 residents.
The Township of Green Brook
In 1872 a tract of land was subdivided off from Warren Township. Thirteen years later in 1885 the Borough of North Plainfield was created from a section of the subdivided land. The land at that time was designated as North Plainfield. Many years later in 1926 the Borough of Watchung was carved out of North Plainfield Township. The remaining land continued until 1932 when the name changed to Green Brook Township.
The Green Brook and Green Brook Township took its name from the powerful stream that flows from up in the mountains several miles away , feeding from many smaller brooks and ponds along the way, in a southwesterly direction for a distance of fifteen miles, into the Bound Brook then into the Raritan River.
"Small Enough to Know You, Large Enough to Get Things Done" is the unofficial motto of this Municipality known as the Township of Green Brook. Green Brook currently has a population of about 5,600 residents in a 4.6 square mile radius. Within the Township there are two schools, the Irene E. Feldkirchner Elementary School which proudly carries a Blue Ribbon Designation and the Green Brook Middle School.
Also contained within the boundaries of this community is Washington Rock State Park, which commemorates the spot where George Washington and Marquis De Lafayette watched the movement of the British soldiers during the Revolutionary war, mainly the months of May and June 1777. Washington Rock State Park was commissioned on March 17, 1913 and is about 34 acres in size.
The Township of Hillsborough
Hillsborough and the surrounding area were first explored by the Dutch in the middle 17th century. At that time the area was occupied by the Unami Indians who were a part of the Lenapi Tribe. Because they spoke the Algonquin language they were considered part of the Algonquin Nation.
Records of the Proprietors and Reeds map of 1685 show that large tracts of land were patented to shareholders in the Proprietorship at a very early date. Some of the earliest land transactions found in the records of Hillsborough begin around 1700 and include the names John Royce, Peter DuMont and Hendrik Beekman. Some of this land lies along what is now South Branch River Road. A short time later farms were carved out of a tract patented to Thomas Barker, whose land was along the Millstone River.
In 1676 West Jersey, including the area of Neshanic and South Branch, was sold to William Penn. In 1710 a large interior tract, known as the "Harlingen Tract," was sold to Dutch investors by Peter Sonmans. A parcel of this tract was set aside for a parsonage lot, but was not used until after the Harlingen Church organized in 1727. Grist mills were one of the earliest industries. Records of mills in the Neshanic area go back to 1692 and perhaps earlier. As early as 1746 a mill was recorded along the Millstone River.
Hillsboroughs roads got their names from early records, Hillsborough was also known as Hillsbury and although the records are obscure, some believe the Township was named for Lord Hillsborough.
Hillsborough received its Charter on May 29, 1771, and officially became Hillsborough Township. Before that date it was known as the "Westering Precinct of Somerset County".
Hillsborough is a collection of small villages, each of which has left its own imprint on the Townships history:
The Borough of Millstone
Once known as Somerset Courthouse, Millstone Borough was home to the county seat in 1738 and remained so until the courthouse and jail were destroyed by British raiders. It is the smallest municipality in Somerset County and possesses the distinction of a National Historic Site.
The Township of Montgomery
Montgomery is a thriving community with a rich history, excellent schools (#1 rank in avg. S.A.T. scores of all N.J. public school systems in 2004-5), diverse recreation opportunities and a collective commitment to preserving open land and protecting natural resources. The community has successfully merged rural and suburban lifestyles in a cosmopolitan region. According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates available for 2006, there are approximately 23243 people who call Montgomery home.
Established in 1702 by Dutch and English Settlers, Montgomery Township continues to combine a unique convenience of location with the lifestyle features sought by residents and businesses. Located in the southern portion of Somerset County – six miles from Princeton University and roughly half way between New York City and Philadelphia – the Township is an historic 32 square mile community with an agricultural heritage.
The Borough of North Plainfield
The Borough of North Plainfield was settled by dutch families before the American Revolution. Among them were the Vermeule and Cadmus families. You will find many members of these families buried both in the cemetery behind Vermeule Mansion and in the cemetery on Brook Avenue. These families were just two of the handful that received 1,200 acres apiece from the ridge of "first mountain" downward from King George of England. Some of these homes still exist--among them the Vermeule Mansion, which serves as the current-day community center.
Long before it was called "North Plainfield", our town was referred to as "Blue Hills" and was a part of Warren Township. In 1872, North Plainfield Township was incorporated and included current-day North Plainfield, Watchung and Green Brook.
North Plainfield, a 2.9 square mile area at the base of New Jersey’s Watchung Mountains, was originally a cluster of farms. Steady growth as a commuter center began with the extension of the Central Jersey Railroad and continued with the advent of motorized transportation. Just twenty-three miles from Manhattan, the borough retains many small-town qualities yet is convenient to Routes 22, 78, and 287, contemporary roads to diversified employment opportunities.
Tree-lined streets, the Washington Park Historic District, Green Acres parklands, sports and playground facilities, a 4H center, Vermeule Arts Center, and a Senior Citizens Center are among the attributes which lend to North Plainfield’s self-description as "A Proud Community." The central businesses continue to utilize a Main Street New Jersey grant to foster economic growth, and the numerous enterprises along Route 22 form the primary commercial sectors.
The 2000 census figures place North Plainfield’s diverse population at 21,103. Residents of North Plainfield’s single family homes, multi-unit dwellings, and modern apartment complexes benefit from extensive borough-sponsored recreation, youth services, and cultural affairs opportunities. Local churches, community organizations, and service clubs offer many events which celebrate the blend of cultures common to the region.
Proximity to New York City, New Brunswick, Trenton, and Princeton affords easy access to major museums, concerts, theater, and sports events. Area colleges and universities also enrich the options for higher education. Somerset County Park System facilities, Sandy Hook State Park, and the Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge Center cater to a wide range of outdoor interests.
North Plainfield is 2.9 square miles in size and has a population of 21,103 residents (per the 2000 census).
The Borough of Peapack & Gladstone
The small town with the odd name. Peapack and Gladstone, located at the northern end of Somerset County in the famed Somerset Hills, is a combination of two villages into one borough.
Peapack is the southern village with a tiny shopping district, train station, post office and small cottages clustered around Main Street. Gladstone is the northern village with a tiny shopping district, train station, post office and larger Victorians clustered around Main Street. Two train stations and two post offices.
Peapack and Gladstone are the definition of layed back country living. Outside of the lazy downtowns with a couple of restaurants and shops, the land offers estate homes, expensive developments, historic homes and horse properties. Yet the entire borough is well connected with its two train stations and location about 10 miles north of the 287 / 78 Intersection.
A great location for quiet country living--many people don't even know Peapack-Gladstone exists.
The Borough of Raritan
Hunterdon County's Raritan Township is a 38-square-mile municipality located at the crossroads of Routes 202, 31 and 12. It surrounds Flemington Borough, a 1.2-square-mile town chock-full of history, architecture, shopping and small-town charm. Raritan's surrounding neighbors are Franklin, Clinton, Readington, East Amwell, Readington, Delaware Township and a tiny piece of Somerset County's Hillsborough.
"It's a beautiful community. It's what we call the heart of Hunterdon, which is--to my mind--one of the most beautiful counties in New Jersey," says Mayor Peter Kinsella. "Raritan is like the energy source of Hunterdon County. It has a great school system and beautiful, well-kept homes. It's rapidly become an upscale community."
The Borough of Rocky Hill
Rocky Hill, New Jersey is a very old village. Located as its name suggests on a stone ledge, it was part of the lands belonging to the Unami, or "people down the river," tribe of the Lenni Lenape Indians.
Rocky Hill has several green spaces. A large baseball field lies in the north-east corner of town. This municipal park is named Panicaro Park honoring George J. Panicaro who was killed in World War II. The Fireman's Carnival Grounds, located on Crescent Avenue are owned and maintained by the firemen. In 1964, the Borough acquired about 22 acres, behind the Borough Hall, along the Millstone River under New Jersey's Green Acres program.
The Borough of Somerville
Under the Laws of Session of 1909 of the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, the Borough of Somerville was created on April 16, 1909.
The inhabitants of that portion of the township of Bridgewater, in the county of Somerset, hereinafter mentioned and described, are hereby constituted and declared to be a body corporate in fact and in law by the name of "The Borough of Somerville," and as such shall be governed by the General Laws of this State relating to Boroughs.
According to the 1990 Census, the Borough of Somerville is a community of 11,562. This population expands to over 20,000 during the day with the influx of government, business and medical facilities located within the Borough.
The Borough of Somerville plays an important role as the center for professional services in the area. It is the county seat of Somerset County and is the site of Somerset Medical Center, a major regional medical center for Somerset County. There are a number of law, professional and medical offices are located in the Borough of Somerville.
The Borough of Somerville enjoys a mix of commercial, professional and residential development while also enjoying the ambiance of a small town with a main street setting unique in the region.