Location of Delaware Township in Hunterdon County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Hunterdon County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Census Bureau map of Delaware Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey
The township was first settled in the early 18th century by Colonel John Reading (1657–1717), who was instrumental in the creation of Amwell Township in 1708 and also worked for the creation of Hunterdon County in 1714. The Township adjoins the Delaware River on the southwestern portion of Hunterdon County, which provides its name.[21] The state's lone surviving historic covered bridge, Green Sergeant's Covered Bridge, crosses the Wickecheoke Creek between Sergeantsville and Rosemont. The Delaware and Raritan Canal parallels the Delaware River along the southern border of the township. Sergeantsville is at the township's center and includes the municipal building, local public school and Post Office. A "Thanksgiving in the Country" offers a tour of notable homes in Sergeantsville, which raises funds for the Facial Reconstruction Unit of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.[22]
Delaware was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1838, from a portion of a larger municipality then known as Amwell Township (now defunct).[23] Historian and cartographer John P. Snyder has erroneously stated that a referendum was held on that date, but there was in fact no referendum and the people of Amwell knew nothing about the division until after the Legislature passed the bill.[24] A portion of the township was taken to form Stockton borough (April 14, 1898).[23]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 37.05 square miles (95.95 km2), including 36.66 square miles (94.94 km2) of land and 0.39 square miles (1.01 km2) of water (1.06%).[1][2]
The 2010 United States census counted 4,563 people, 1,788 households, and 1,348 families in the township. The population density was 124.5 inhabitants per square mile (48.1/km2). There were 1,927 housing units at an average density of 52.6 per square mile (20.3/km2). The racial makeup was 96.45% (4,401) White, 0.66% (30) Black or African American, 0.18% (8) Native American, 0.92% (42) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.50% (23) from other races, and 1.29% (59) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% (112) of the population.[18]
Of the 1,788 households, 26.6% had children under the age of 18; 66.2% were married couples living together; 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.6% were non-families. Of all households, 19.0% were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.93.[18]
20.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 16.5% from 25 to 44, 41.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 96.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 97.2 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $87,100 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,616) and the median family income was $102,481 (+/− $27,024). Males had a median income of $82,586 (+/− $14,105) versus $47,404 (+/− $12,866) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $48,700 (+/− $4,857). About 0.6% of families and 0.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 0.9% of those age 65 or over.[40]
As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 4,478 people, 1,643 households, and 1,302 families residing in the township. The population density was 121.9 inhabitants per square mile (47.1/km2). There were 1,701 housing units at an average density of 46.3 per square mile (17.9/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 97.70% White, 0.40% African American, 0.04% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.[38][39]
There were 1,643 households, out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.3% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.7% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.06.[38][39]
In the township the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 32.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.3 males.[38][39]
The median income for a household in the township was $80,756, and the median income for a family was $90,842. Males had a median income of $61,701 versus $48,780 for females. The per capita income for the township was $38,285. 3.4% of the population and 2.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 1.2% are under the age of 18 and 12.2% are 65 or older.[38][39]
Delaware Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.[41] The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.[6][42] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.
As of 2023[update], members of the Delaware Township Committee are Mayor Charles Herman (R, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2023), Deputy Mayor Chad Bower (R, term on committee ends 2024; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Susan D. Lockwood (D, 2023), Joseph Eric Vocke (R, 2025) and James Waltman (R, 2024).[3][43][22][44][45][46][47]
Hunterdon County is governed by a Board of Chosen Commissioners composed of five members who are elected at-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year 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, each for a one-year term.[55][56] As of 2024[update], Hunterdon County's Commissioners are:
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,558 registered voters in Delaware Township, of which 811 (22.8%) were registered as Democrats, 1,512 (42.5%) were registered as Republicans and 1,232 (34.6%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[69]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 57.4% of the vote (1,618 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.4% (1,168 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (33 votes), among the 2,840 ballots cast by the township's 3,724 registered voters (21 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 76.3%.[70][71] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 54.0% of the vote (1,579 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 43.8% (1,279 votes) and other candidates with 1.5% (43 votes), among the 2,922 ballots cast by the township's 3,599 registered voters, for a turnout of 81.2%.[72] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 57.3% of the vote (1,671 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 42.2% (1,229 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (35 votes), among the 2,915 ballots cast by the township's 3,459 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 84.3.[73]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 71.0% of the vote (1,412 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 26.9% (535 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (42 votes), among the 2,021 ballots cast by the township's 3,726 registered voters (32 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 54.2%.[74][75] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 60.7% of the vote (1,382 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 29.3% (667 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 7.9% (179 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (22 votes), among the 2,277 ballots cast by the township's 3,546 registered voters, yielding a 64.2% turnout.[76]
The Delaware Township School District serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Delaware Township School.[77][78] As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 392 students and 44.9 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.7:1.[79] The school is located on a site covering 26 acres (11 ha) adjacent to the community of Sergeantsville and 3 miles (4.8 km) from the Delaware River.
Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.[84]
Chet Huntley (1911–1974), radio and television journalist and co-anchor of the Huntley-Brinkley Report on NBC who co-owned a cattle farm which he used as a weekend retreat[98][99]
^ abTownship Committee, Delaware Township. Accessed May 3, 2023. "Delaware Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government. The Township Committee is composed of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle. At an annual reorganization meeting held the beginning of January each year, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor."
^Raum, John O. The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 267, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed August 21, 2013. "Delaware township was formed from a part of Amwell in 1838. Its population in 1850 was 2,554; in 1860, 2,838; and in 1870, 2,959. Sergeantsville, Head Quarters, Sandbrook, Rosemont, Stockton, Raven Rock and Prallsville are post towns and villages of this township."
^Board of County Commissioners, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023. "As top governing officials of Hunterdon County, the five Commissioners are chosen by popular vote in the November general elections. The term of office is for two or three years and the current compensation is $16,000 a year, with an extra $1,000 for the Director. One or two of the five members is elected each year."
^Hunterdon Central Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Accessed January 24, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades nine through twelve in the Hunterdon Central Regional High School District. Composition: The Hunterdon Central Regional High School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of, Delaware Township, East Amwell, Flemington Boro, Raritan Township, and Readington Township."
^Hunterdon Central Regional High School District 2016 Report Card NarrativeArchived September 26, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 17, 2020. "Located in beautiful, historic Hunterdon County in central New Jersey, Hunterdon Central Regional High School serves the five municipalities of Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Borough, Raritan Township and Readington Township. The District is comprised of 152.5 square miles and has a population of approximately 51,468 residents."
^Board of Education, Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Accessed April 17, 2020. "The Hunterdon Central Regional Board of Education is comprised of nine members, elected by constituents in the five municipalities whose students attend Hunterdon Central Regional High School: one each from Delaware Township, East Amwell Township and the Borough of Flemington; three each from Raritan Township and Readington Township."
^Heyboer, Kelly. "How to get your kid a seat in one of N.J.'s hardest-to-get-into high schools", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 2017. Accessed November 18, 2019. "Hunterdon County's vo-tech district has three academies for high-achieving students, all operating in partnerships with local high schools.... The academies are open to all students in the county. Students in the 8th grade are required to submit an application, schedule an interview and take a placement exam."
^"News Notes", p. 104 in Torreya, Volumes 24-26. Accessed December 24, 2021. "Dr. George Newton Best, one of the most widely-known physicians of Hunterdon County, Penna. [sic] and a scientist of national repute, died at his home in Rosemont on the 18th of June."
^Staff. "Will Cotton, 77, Dead", The New York Times, January 6, 1958. Accessed November 17, 2019. "Seargeantsvile, N. J., Jan 5.--Will Cotton, portrait painter, caricaturist and playwrigt, died today at his home here. He was 77 years old."
^"Barbara W. McConnell 1935 - 2016", Hunterdon County Democrat, October 23, 2016. Accessed November 17, 2019. "Barbara W. McConnell Barbara W. McConnell, 81, of Delaware Township, N.J., died Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, at the Hunterdon Medical Center, Raritan Township, N.J."
^"Hunterdon Central High lists next Hall of Fame inductees", Hunterdon County Democrat, November 15, 2009. Accessed August 27, 2024. "An Air Force fighter squadron commander, a coach with a record number of wrestling wins, a driving force behind the redevelopment of Baltimore’s west side and a couple with a long history of employment and volunteer service at the school will be the 2010 inductees for the Hunterdon Central Hall of Fame.... Lance Pilch, formerly of Delaware Township, is considered one of the top fighter pilots in the world."
^Fox, Margalit. "John Schoenherr, Children's Book Illustrator, Dies at 74", The New York Times, April 14, 2010. Accessed August 21, 2013. "John Schoenherr, a Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator who for a half-century produced painterly, exquisitely detailed images of creatures from this world and others, died on April 8. He was 74 and lived in Delaware Township, N.J."
^Adelson, Fred B. "Art; Children's Page Turners to Linger Over", The New York Times, January 9, 2000. Accessed August 21, 2013. "Both Richard Egielski of Milford and John Schoenherr of Delaware Township (near Stockton) are represented by illustrations from books aimed at ages 4 to 8, the youngest group."
^McDowell, Edwin. "Glenway Wescott, 85, Novelist and Essayist". The New York Times, February 24, 1987. Accessed August 21, 2013. "Glenway Wescott, one of the last of the major expatriate American writers who lived in France in the 1920s and 30s, died of a stroke Sunday night at his home in Rosemont, N.J. He was 85 years old."
^Strunsky, Steve. "Zimmer Returning To Washington", The New York Times, July 10, 2001. Accessed August 21, 2013. "Mr. Zimmer, of Delaware Township, N.J., represented the 12th Congressional District from 1991 to 1997, serving on the Ways and Means Committee and its subcommittees on trade and oversight."