Raritan Township, New Jersey

For other places formerly called Raritan Township, see Hazlet, New Jersey and Edison, New Jersey.
Not to be confused with Raritan, New Jersey.

Raritan Township, New Jersey
Township
Raritan Township Municipal Complex
Raritan Township Municipal Complex
Official seal of Raritan Township, New Jersey
Seal
Location of Raritan Township in Hunterdon County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Hunterdon County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Location of Raritan 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 Raritan Township, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Raritan Township, New Jersey
Raritan Township is located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Raritan Township
Raritan Township
Location in Hunterdon County
Raritan Township is located in New Jersey
Raritan Township
Raritan Township
Location in New Jersey
Raritan Township is located in the United States
Raritan Township
Raritan Township
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°31′08″N 74°56′12″W / 40.518846°N 74.936686°W / 40.518846; -74.936686[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
County Hunterdon
IncorporatedApril 2, 1838
Government
[7]
 • TypeTownship
 • BodyTownship Committee
 • MayorScott Sipos (R, term ends December 31, 2024)[3][4]
 • AdministratorKaren Gilbert[5]
 • Municipal clerkDonna Kukla[6]
Area
[1]
 • Total37.65 sq mi (97.52 km2)
 • Land37.48 sq mi (97.08 km2)
 • Water0.17 sq mi (0.44 km2)  0.46%
 • Rank63rd of 565 in state
2nd of 26 in county[1]
Elevation
[8]
564 ft (172 m)
Population
 (2020)[9][10]
 • Total23,447
 • Estimate 
(2023)[9][11]
24,637
 • Rank114th of 565 in state
1st of 26 in county[12]
 • Density625.6/sq mi (241.5/km2)
  • Rank426th of 565 in state
13th of 26 in county[12]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code
08822 – Flemington[13]
Area code908[14]
FIPS code3401961920[1][15][16]
GNIS feature ID0882179[1][17]
Websitewww.raritan-township.com

Raritan Township is a township in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 23,447,[9][10] an increase of 1,262 (+5.7%) from the 2010 census count of 22,185,[18][19] which in turn reflected an increase of 2,376 (+12.0%) from the 19,809 counted in the 2000 census.[20] The township is located within the heart of the Amwell Valley and Raritan Valley regions, as the South Branch of the Raritan River (along with the Neshanic River) flows through the center of the township. The northwestern portion of the township is located on the Hunterdon Plateau.

Raritan was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1838, from portions of the now-defunct Amwell Township. Flemington was formed within the township on March 14, 1870, and became an independent borough on April 7, 1910. Portions of the township were ceded to East Amwell Township in 1854 and 1897.[21]

The township's name is derived from the Raritan tribe, a Native American band of Lenape people that inhabited Central New Jersey.[22] The name of the tribe is said to mean "forked river",[23] "stream overflows" or "point on a tidal river".[24]

  1. ^ a b c d e 2019 Census Gazetteer Files: New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 1, 2020.
  2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Committee was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ 2023 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, updated February 8, 2023. Accessed February 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Administrator, Raritan Township. Accessed February 17, 2024.
  6. ^ Clerk, Raritan Township. Accessed February 17, 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference DataBook was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Township of Raritan, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 11, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Census2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference LWD2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference PopEst was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ a b Population Density by County and Municipality: New Jersey, 2020 and 2021, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed March 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Flemington, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed July 20, 2012.
  14. ^ Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Flemington, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed October 20, 2014.
  15. ^ U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  16. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  17. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference LWD2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
  21. ^ Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 157. Accessed May 30, 2024.
  22. ^ Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 21, 2015.
  23. ^ Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 25. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 21, 2015.
  24. ^ Nestor, Sandy. Indian Placenames in America, Volume 1, p. 114. Accessed September 21, 2015. "Raritan is Lenape for 'stream overflows,' or 'a point on a tidal river.'"