Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey


Hamilton Township is a township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. The township is within the New York metropolitan area as defined by the United States Census Bureau, but directly borders the Philadelphia metropolitan area and is part of the Federal Communications Commission's Philadelphia Designated Market Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 88,464, reflecting an increase of 1,355 from the 87,109 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 556 from the 86,553 counted in the 1990 Census. The township was the state's 9th-largest municipality, after having been ranked 10th in 2000. The township is located immediately east of the city of Trenton, the state's capital.
Hamilton was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 11, 1842, from portions of the now-defunct Nottingham Township. Portions of the township were taken to form Chambersburg borough and Wilbur borough. Hamilton Township derives its name from the village of Hamilton Square, which might have been named for Alexander Hamilton.
In 2006, Hamilton Township was ranked by Morgan Quitno as the eighteenth-safest city in the United States, out of 369 cities nationwide. In the company's 2005 survey, the Township was ranked 15th safest of 354 cities surveyed nationwide.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 40.387 square miles, including 39.489 square miles of it is land and 0.898 square miles of water is water.
Although Hamilton is one of the largest townships in New Jersey it doesn't have a true "downtown", but a number of settlements within the township form smaller commercial centers. Groveville, Hamilton Square, Mercerville, White Horse and Yardville are all census-designated places and unincorporated communities located within the township.
Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Briar Manor, Broad Street Park, Bromley, Chewalla Park, Creston, DeCou Village, Deutzville, Duck Island, East Trenton Heights, Edgebrook, Extonville, Golden Crest, Gropps Lake, Haines Corner, Hutchinson Mills, Lakeside Park, Maple Shade, North Crosswicks, Nottingham, Oil City, Pond Run, Quaker Bridge, Quaker Gardens, Rosemont, The Orchards, Trenton Gardens, Warner Village, White City and Yardville Heights.
Van Nest Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife management area operated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife.
The township borders the municipalities of Lawrence Township, Robbinsville Township, Trenton and West Windsor Township in Mercer County; Bordentown City, Bordentown Township, Chesterfield Township and North Hanover Township in Burlington County; Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County; and Falls Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Hamilton Township, New Jersey has a hot-summer, wet all year, humid continental climate. Dfa climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F, at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F, and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months, episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values ≥ 100 °F. On average, the wettest month of the year is July which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < 0 °F. The plant hardiness zone at the Hamilton Township Municipal Court is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 1.1 °F. The average seasonal snowfall total is between and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Hamilton Township, New Jersey would have an Appalachian Oak vegetation type with an Eastern Hardwood Forest vegetation form.

Demographics

2010 Census

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $72,026 and the median family income was $87,512. Males had a median income of $58,674 versus $45,661 for females. The per capita income for the township was $32,344. About 3.5% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census there were 87,109 people, 33,523 households, and 23,667 families residing in the township. The population density was 2,208.0 people per square mile. There were 34,535 housing units at an average density of 875.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the township was 85.15% White, 8.16% African American, 0.14% Native American, 2.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.19% from other races, and 1.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.13% of the population.
There were 33,523 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.10.
In the township the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $57,110, and the median income for a family was $66,986. Males had a median income of $46,360 versus $33,673 for females. The per capita income for the township was $25,441. About 2.8% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

As of late 2005, much of the new residential development in Hamilton has been geared to accommodating the aging baby boomer generation. New retirement communities and assisted-living facilities outpace that of new traditional residential communities. Such construction has been spurred by several factors. The first being that the public is skeptical of growing school budgets due to its already large size. Hamilton voters have often rejected increases in school budgets in their yearly elections to keep already high taxes from growing higher. As a result, the planning board has been reluctant to authorize construction of housing that will increase the student population. Another reason is a series of improvements to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hamilton. The hospital is now a highly respected source of care in the state. It is situated next to where most of the under-developed land in the township used to be, land that is now home to the active older-adult communities.
As of October 2016, significant construction has been done to further build up the Hamilton Township area. Multiple new retirement communities have been constructed, as well as multiple new restaurants, banks, gas stations and convenience stores along Route 33. Hamilton Township continues to expand rapidly to accommodate the increase in citizens residing in the community.

Parks and recreation

Hamilton hosts one of the largest recreational parks in the state, and borders another. The municipal Veterans Park is and is housed entirely in the township. Mercer County Park borders the township to the North and encompasses of land that was shared from Hamilton Township along with neighboring Lawrence Township and West Windsor Township. The park contains Mercer Lake, one of the largest man-made lakes in the state, which was built as a result of a federal flood control project to prevent flooding in Trenton along Assunpink Creek, with gravel removed to deepen the lake basin used as part of the construction of Interstates 95 and 195.
The Grounds for Sculpture is a sculpture park which houses more than 270 sculptures, gardens, water features, and other nature scenes. The organization's mission is to promote the appreciation of arts and sculpture.
Sayen Park Botanical Garden is named after Fredrick Sayen because it was originally his land and his home.
George Washington used Quakerbridge Road on his famous night march from the Second Battle of Trenton on his way to the Battle of Princeton.

Government

Local government

Hamilton Township has been governed under the Faulkner Act Mayor-Council system of New Jersey municipal government since January 1, 1976, based on the recommendations of a Charter Study Commission. The township is one of 71 municipalities statewide governed under the Mayor-Council form. The township's government consists of a mayor and a five-member township council, with all elected representatives serving four-year terms of office. Elections alternate in a four-year cycle, with the mayor and two township council members up for election and then the three other township council seats coming up to vote two years later. At an annual reorganization meeting, the council selects a president and vice president from among its members for a one-year term.
, the Mayor of Hamilton Township is Democrat Jeffrey S. Martin, serving a term of office that ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Township Council are Council President Richard L. Tighe, Council Vice President Pasquale "Pat" Papero Jr., Anthony P. Carabelli Jr. and Nancy Phillips ; the seat expiring December 2021 that became vacant when Martin took office as mayor remains unfilled.
#MayorTermParty
1John K. "Jack" Rafferty1976–2000Republican
2Glen Gilmore2000–08Democratic
3John Bencivengo2008–12Republican
Kevin Meara 2012Republican
4Kelly Yaede2012–20Republican
4Jeff Martin2020–Democratic

2012 Mayoral resignation

On April 27, 2012, Mayor John Bencivengo was charged by the U.S. Attorney's office for corruption in the extortion of payments in exchange for influencing the awarding of a health insurance contract for the Township's Board of Education. On June 22, 2012 he was indicted by a federal grand jury on five criminal counts including extortion, attempted extortion, money laundering and two counts related to the federal travel act.
On June 29, 2012, Rob Warney, a former Hamilton Township Director in Mayor John Bencivengo's cabinet, pleaded guilty before US District Court Judge Peter Sheridan to laundering money related to the federal bribery indictment against Mayor Bencivengo. Warney also admitted to accepting a bribe in 2006 in exchange for his vote and influence over a health insurance broker's contract.
On November 19, 2012, Bencivengo was found guilty on all counts of corruption, extortion and bribery. He submitted his resignation effective November 21, 2012. Councilman Kevin J. Meara was sworn in as Acting Mayor, replacing Bencivengo following his resignation.
On March 24, 2013, Bencivengo was sentenced to a 38-month prison term, and is currently serving his sentence at a minimum security federal prison at Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary in Lewisburg, PA. On September 23, 2013, his attorney filed an appeal with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Federal, state and county representation

Hamilton Township is located in the 4th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 14th state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 56,202 registered voters in Hamilton Township, of which 18,266 were registered as Democrats, 10,402 were registered as Republicans and 27,508 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 26 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 57.1% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 41.7%, and other candidates with 1.2%, among the 44,558 ballots cast by the township's 58,973 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 53.5% of the vote here, ahead of Republican John McCain with 43.9% and other candidates with 1.5%, among the 44,201 ballots cast by the township's 58,979 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.9%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 49.0% of the vote here, outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 48.5% and other candidates with 0.7%, among the 42,561 ballots cast by the township's 56,332 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 75.6.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 62.0% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 36.3%, and other candidates with 1.7%, among the 29,111 ballots cast by the township's 57,809 registered voters, for a turnout of 50.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 47.4% of the vote here, ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 45.0%, Independent Chris Daggett with 5.4% and other candidates with 1.1%, among the 29,999 ballots cast by the township's 57,543 registered voters, yielding a 52.1% turnout.

Education

The Hamilton Township School District serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. The district consists of seventeen elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools along with an alternative program. As of the 2017-18 school year, the district and its 23 schools had an enrollment of 11,695 students and 935.9 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.5:1. Schools in the district are
Alexander Elementary School,
Greenwood Elementary School,
Kisthardt Elementary School,
Klockner Elementary School,
Kuser Elementary School,
Lalor Elementary School,
Langtree Elementary School,
McGalliard Elementary School,
Mercerville Elementary School,
Morgan Elementary School,
Robinson Elementary School,
Sayen Elementary School,
Sunnybrae Elementary School,
University Heights Elementary School,
George E. Wilson Elementary School,
Yardville Elementary School,
Yardville Heights Elementary School,
Richard C. Crockett Middle School,
Albert E. Grice Middle School,
Emily C. Reynolds Middle School,
Nottingham High School ,
Hamilton High School West,
Steinert High School and
Hamilton Educational Program High School.
Pace Charter School of Hamilton is a charter school serving students in Kindergarten through fifth grade, operating under a charter granted by the New Jersey Department of Education. The school was one of 11 in the state to be recognized in 2014 by the United States Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.
Eighth grade students from all of Mercer County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Mercer County Technical Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its Health Sciences Academy, STEM Academy and Academy of Culinary Arts, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.
St. Gregory the Great Academy is a Catholic school serving students in preschool through eighth grade that operates under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton. The school was also recognized in 2014 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.

Transportation

Roads and highways

Situated next to the New Jersey state capital of Trenton, and New Jersey's eighth-largest municipality, Hamilton Township is away from New York City and away from Philadelphia. Hamilton is also close to most points along the Jersey Shore. By car, Hamilton is about 80 minutes from New York City and 50 minutes from Philadelphia. The train ride to New York is slightly shorter than the drive into New York while the train ride to Philadelphia is slightly longer than the drive into Philadelphia. With nearly 90,000 residents and of land, it offers modern train station and major roads passing through.
, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Mercer County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Roads include the New Jersey Turnpike, Interstate 295, Interstate 195, U.S. Route 130, U.S. Route 206, Route 29, Route 33 and Route 156. Hamilton is the only municipality in the state that hosts Interstate 95 and both of its auxiliary routes, Interstates 195 and 295.
Major county routes that traverse through include CR 524, CR 533 and CR 535.
The Turnpike's Woodrow Wilson service area is located between Interchanges 7 and 7A northbound at milepost 58.7. The Richard Stockton service area is located between Interchanges 7A and 7 southbound at milepost 58.7. No turnpike interchange is located in the township, but the closest exit is at Interchange 7A along I-195 in neighboring Robbinsville Township.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority widened the turnpike between Exit 6 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County and Exit 8A in Monroe Township, Middlesex County. Two new carriageways were built to accommodate the outer roadway. In Hamilton, new sound barriers and overpasses were built, as well as new entrance & exit ramps to the service areas. The project was announced in December 2004 and completed in early November 2014.

Public transportation

With the addition of the modern Hamilton train station located on Sloan Avenue just off I-295 at Exit 65B, the township has attracted more New York City-based commuters to the area. The station offers service on NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line to New York Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan and to Trenton station where there is a SEPTA Trenton Line Regional Rail service to and from Philadelphia.
NJ Transit provides public bus service between the township and Philadelphia on the 409 route and to Trenton on the 601, 603, 606, 607, 608 and 609 routes.
The Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association offers service between Hamilton and Matrix Business Park on the ZLine route to the Amazon sorting center in Robbinsville Township on the ZLine2; and on the Route 130 Connection between the Trenton Transit Center and South Brunswick.
OurBus offers intercity bus service between Hamilton and Tysons, Virginia

In the news

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