Community Profiles

Travel west through rural farmland on the southern slope of the Musconetcong Ridge and you will come to Alexandria Township. Nestled among small towns along the Delaware and the Interstate 78 corridor, the township is home to several picturesque villages, Little York, Everittstown, and Mt. Pleasant, as well as two of the county’s three airports, Sky Manor and Alexandria Field. Enjoy the township’s two beautiful wineries or the picturesque Ironbound Cider. Alexandria Park offers a wonderful playground for kids, riding arenas for horses, baseball fields, basketball courts, soccer/lacrosse fields, disc golf and a one-mile walking trail.
www.alexandria-nj.us • Population: 4,809

The Musconetcong River and the valley it creates make Bethlehem Township a delight to the outdoorsman offering fishing, hiking, river sports and places to rest your head after an active day in the fresh air. Bethlehem, incorporated in 1798, is still heavily agricultural and is home to many graceful historic homes.
www.bethlehemnj.org • Population: 3,745

Bloomsbury is a quaint village of about one square mile surrounded by a scenic patchwork of rolling hills and access to the Route 78 corridor. While the 20th century saw some expansion of Bloomsbury's residential area, the general character of Bloomsbury as a quiet, tree-lined, small town remains today.
www.bloomsburynewjersey.com • Population: 792

This small borough straddles the South Branch of the Raritan River and features many homes on the state’s historic register. Its name was shortened from the original “California” in honor of a resident returned from the Gold Rush. Califon was a station on the High Bridge branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey.  The rail line was abandoned in 1976 and now serves as a Hunterdon County administered rail trail called Columbia Trail, which runs south to High Bridge and north to points in Morris County. The trail runs through the well-known Ken Lockwood Gorge, which was named by Trout Unlimited in dedication of conservationist and fly fisherman, Ken Lockwood.  The Gorge, with its pristine waters and forest is a treasure for trout fisherman, hikers, weekend strollers, cyclists and anyone who enjoys the outdoors.
www.califonborough-nj.org • Population: 1,005

Situated in the heart of northern Hunterdon County on the South Branch of the Raritan River is Clinton, where one can step back to a more peaceful era. A large millpond just upstream from a restored steel pony truss bridge feeds a spectacular waterfall which powered two historic mills on opposite banks of the river. This very photogenic view is home to both the Red Mill Museum Village and the Hunterdon Art Museum. Stroll across the pony truss bridge, and 19th century small town America unfolds before you on Clinton’s historic Main Street. Coffee shops, restaurants serving international cuisine, art stores featuring talented local artists, jewelry, wine and a bookstore can busy the visitor for a full day’s browsing and shopping and antiquing.
 
Clinton hosts a variety of events year-round, such as antique and car shows, , the Clinton Rubber Ducky Race, the popular 5K Sprintin Clinton race, November’s Dickens Days and the Clinton Guild Christmas Parade in December.
www.clintonnj.gov • Population: 2,773

Delaware Township is bordered on the southwest by the Delaware River, across from Bucks County, PA. The rural community, established in 1833, still retains much of its beautiful farmland. The area’s Covered Bridge is the only remaining one in New Jersey and is the Township’s official seal.
 
The Township Municipal Building, 225 years old, is located in the Village of Sergeantsville in the heart of the Township. Sergeantsville is home to several businesses, including WDVR Radio and regionally-popular dining establishments. On the 4th of July, visitors can witness the Great Crate Race. Other hamlets in the Township, include Rosemont, Sandbrook, Raven Rock and Locktown. Bull’s Island State Park, a popular launch and exit site for canoeists, is located off Rt. 29 north of Stockton.
www.delawaretwpnj.org • Population: 4,560

Set in a valley at the base of the Sourland Mountains, East Amwell still reflects its agricultural beginning of 1708. A number of its working farms have been spared from development by state and local preservation efforts. Ringoes, the township’s biggest village, is the home depot of the Black River and Western Railroad, which runs a steam engine excursion train between Lambertville and Flemington and sponsors the popular Santa’s train during the holiday season. Other hamlets in the township include Weert’s Corner, Larison’s Corner and a portion of Reaville.
www.eastamwelltownship.com • Population: 3,917

Flemington has been the County Seat since 1785. In 1935, the world shone a spotlight on sleepy Flemington and its Main Street Courthouse during the trial of Bruno Hauptmann, who was charged with and convicted of the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh’s infant son.  Its small-town charm reminds one of an earlier era; two-thirds of the borough’s structures are listed on the State and National Historic Registers. Stroll past historic victorian homes and shop at a variety of specialty stores or along its main and side streets, which boast metro-like restaurants and boutiques that have made Hunterdon a popular shopping destination. Flemington is also home to the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce.
http://www.historicflemington.com • Population: 4,876

Franklin Township lies smack in the heart of Hunterdon. Established in 1845 as an agricultural community, it was settled in earlier decades of the 18th century by Quakers moving north from the Trenton area. Quakertown has one of the state’s few remaining Friends Meeting Houses built of stone. Franklin’s agricultural heritage is encouraged by ongoing farmland preservation, which now protects 2,082 acres and by protective right-to-farm ordinances. Seventy percent of Franklin is under farmland assessment and it is home to Snyder Farm, the Rutgers’ Research Farm located on 377 acres donated by Township residents. Multiple hiking trails running along the South Branch of the Raritan River and the Capoolong Creek provide beautiful outdoor recreation options.
www.franklin-twp.org • Population: 3,267

Frenchtown, nestled along the Delaware River, welcomes visitors to its colorful mix of art galleries, including ArtYard, and specialty shops that feature antiques, designer clothing and rare books; and restaurants ranging from casual to elegant. Once a manufacturing and trading center, the borough, with its tree-lined streets and 19th-century houses, has undergone a renaissance thanks to downtown renovation and the creative energy of artists and writers who have been drawn to this eclectic community. Frenchtown is a favorite hub for bicyclists, hikers, tubers, hikers and other river goers who take in the picturesque views while relaxing over a good meal, glass of wine or cup of coffee.
http://frenchtownboro.com • Population: 1,370

Glen Gardner was never a sleepy farming community, even before the coming of the railroad in the mid-19th century. Route 31 and Spruce Run Creek, source of sport fishing for many years, divide the town. Sweeping upward from School Street is one of the County’s bridges, Pony Pratt Bridge, listed on the National Register. Charming houses and balconies built close to the street help the town retain a 19th-century look. In the 1980’s, townhouses and single-family homes built on the outskirts of town doubled the borough’s population.
http://www.glengardner.org • Population: 1,682

Hampton, bordered by Glen Gardner, rests on what is commonly known as the “highlands” of Hunterdon County, an area of the State under scrutiny today for its contributing water supply. A former railroad town, the borough was originally named Junction because it grew up around the junction where the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western met the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The area had been a gathering place as far back as when Native Americans camped on the banks of the Musconetcong, which forms the northern border of the borough. Today, the borough is a mix of highway development and quiet residential streets.
www.hamptonboro.org • Population: 1,438

Set among a cluster of steep hills, High Bridge offers many delights for visitors. The Union Forge Iron Works opened in 1742 operated until its closing in 1972 and is the longest running, privately held ironworks in the United States.
 
Its older homes, dramatic church and bridge construction make this town a visual treat to bikers, hikers and those just passing through. After golf at High Bridge Hills Golf Course Circa, visitors can enjoy High Bridge’s multiple eating establishments that run along the main street. Miles of hiking and biking trails begin in High Bridge on the north end of Main Street at the Columbia Trail. The South Branch of the Raritan River, one of the “ten best trout streams” in America, according to Field & Stream, runs through the breathtaking Ken Lockwood Gorge into the quiet serenity of Lake Solitude. 
www.highbridge.org • Population: 3,546

Bordered by the Musconetcong River to the north and the Delaware River to the west, Holland Township offers a richly varied topography of valleys, hills, streams and woodlands. Holland’s economy was dominated by agriculture and the paper industry until the latter part of the 20th century. It is a center for recreational activities.
 
The Volendam Windmill, a full-size replica of a Dutch windmill and Edelweiss Farm, where one may view llamas, reindeer, emus, kangaroos and other fascinating animals, are popular stops for tourists and locals. With fine old houses tucked among its hills and valleys, the township offers beautiful scenery, sizable lots, and plenty of outdoor recreation options.
www.hollandtownship.org • Population: 5,177

Kingwood is bordered by the Delaware River and a high rocky ridge. Highway builders had to blast through rock to finish Route 29, which connects Trenton to Frenchtown. Baptistown, Barbertown and Byram are among the few hamlets in this largely rural municipality, which also includes a significant portion of the Delaware & Raritan Canal Park. The Hunterdon Plateau is 60 square miles of fairly flat farmland west of Flemington and a cyclist's paradise. Kingwood is at the western boundary of the plateau and this 13 mile loop stays on the plateau along country roads, through woodlands and farmlands affording the rider a fairly flat ride with just enough ups and downs and turns to make it more interesting.
www.kingwoodtownship.com • Population: 3,802

Lambertville is one of the oldest communities in Hunterdon County. Because of its restaurants, antique shops and art galleries it has become a popular destination for tourists. In the 19th century, the town was a commercial and industrial center. The many industrial buildings and elegant structures date to the time when flax, paper, flour, rubber, rope, twine and cotton mills, as well as bridge-building plants flourished here. Lambertville’s annual Shad Festival, held in April and a Winter Festival in January, attract thousands of people for seasonal meals, entertainment, arts and crafts and exhibits. Lambertville is a very popular river town thanks to its scenic views and short walk across the bridge to New Hope, PA.
www.lambertvillenj.org • Population: 4,139

Surrounded by Clinton Township, the small borough of Lebanon is dotted with stately Victorian homes and farmhouses reminiscent of Lebanon’s agricultural heritage and has changed very little in the past century. Village activities include the May Fishing Derby and in January, the Burning of the Greens on Twelfth Night. By far, the biggest event of all is the Fourth of July Parade, the county’s largest and oldest in the State of New Jersey.
www.lebanonboro.com • Population: 1,665

Rugged, hilly Lebanon Township, bounded by the Musconetcong River, is the northernmost township in Hunterdon. It contains the villages of Woodglen, Changewater and Bunnvale. Voorhees State Park, with 500 wooded acres, features picnic sites, hiking trails, camping facilities and the New Jersey Astronomical Association’s observatory. Historically an agricultural community, the township has grown in recent years while still maintaining its rural character and charm. Its landscape is rich with mountains, farmlands, forests, streams, and rivers.
www.lebanontownship.net • Population: 6,195

Quaint Milford, on the banks of the Delaware, hosts a healthy commercial district with a number of shops and restaurants including the Ship Inn, New Jersey’s first licensed brewpub in half a century. The town is a popular stop for canoeists along the river and cyclists along the towpath. 
www.milfordnj.gov/ • Population: 1,232

Raritan Township is Hunterdon County’s most populous municipality. The township surrounds the Borough of Flemington, and forms the county’s commercial center often referred to as the “heart of Hunterdon County.” Raritan Township is home to the villages of Copper Hill, Stanton Station and Voorhees Corner. Recreational facilities include the Copper Hill Golf & Country Club and Heron Glen Golf Course, both off of Route 202/31. Among many companies headquartered here are Johanna Foods, HealthQuest, and the Hunterdon Medical Center.
www.raritan-township.com • Population: 23,447

Readington Township was the first new township created after Hunterdon became a county. Readington is the County’s largest municipality geographically and the second largest in terms of population. Yet, Readington retains much of its rural nature, with small towns like Whitehouse, Whitehouse Station, Three Bridges and Potterstown dotting the hills and valleys of the township.   Readington is home to the annual New Jersey Festival of Ballooning at Solberg-Hunterdon airport each July and the annual summer concerts at Deer Path Park, where the Hunterdon County YMCA is located.
www.readingtontwp.org • Population: 16,128

Located along the Delaware River, this 0.6 square mile Borough is quaintly nestled in place. Cyclists are familiar with the Prallsville Mill, an historic site along the D&R Canal path now home to juried art shows and the occasional music festival
http://www.stocktonboronj.us • Population 495

In the northeast corner of Hunterdon County is Tewksbury Township, Hunterdon’s wealthiest municipality. It is filled with scenic views, luxurious homes and numerous villages and hamlets, including Fairmount, Pottersville and Cokesbury. The most visible of the villages is Oldwick, founded in 1753. Here find the Oldwick General Store and the Tewksbury Inn, as well as the oldest Lutheran church in the state, which dates to 1749. Tewksbury has many horse farms and on any Saturday or Sunday morning you can witness riders throughout the township.
www.tewksburytwp.net • Population: 5,870

Union Township in northwestern Hunterdon was named for the old Union Forge, an iron foundry that manufactured cannon balls for Washington’s army during the Revolution. The foundry was constructed on a site now covered by Spruce Run Reservoir. The Clinton Wildlife Management Area and part of the Union Forge Nature Preserve overlook Spruce Run Reservoir.
http://www.uniontwp-hcnj.gov • Population: 6,507

The southernmost township in Hunterdon County, West Amwell covers a 21.8 square mile area of active farms bisected by the Sourland Mountain Ridge. The close-knit community of West Amwell is still largely rural, and home to the historic villages of Rocktown and Mount Airy, with its picturesque church and a stone storehouse and tavern from the Revolutionary War era. 
www.westamwelltwp.org • Population: 3,005