Bridgewater Township, New Jersey

Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Township
Raritan River as seen from Duke Island Park
RWJ Somerset University Hospital
U.S. Route 22
TD Bank Ballpark
Bridgewater Commons
Sri Venkateswara Temple
Van Veghten House
North Branch Bridge
Bridgewater-Raritan High School
Official seal of Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Seal
Census Bureau map of Bridgewater Township, New Jersey Interactive map of Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Map
Interactive map of Bridgewater Township, New Jersey
Bridgewater is located in Somerset County, New Jersey
Bridgewater
Bridgewater
Location in Somerset County
Bridgewater is located in New Jersey
Bridgewater
Bridgewater
Location in New Jersey
Bridgewater is located in the United States
Bridgewater
Bridgewater
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°35′32″N 74°36′14″W / 40.592358°N 74.60401°W / 40.592358; -74.60401[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountySomerset
Royal charterApril 4, 1749
IncorporatedFebruary 21, 1798
Named forEnglish town of Bridgwater
Government
[7]
 • TypeFaulkner Act Mayor-council
 • BodyTownship Council
 • MayorMatthew Moench (R, term ends December 31, 2024)[3][4]
 • AdministratorMichael Pappas[5]
 • Municipal clerkGrace W. Njuguna[6]
Area
[1]
 • Total
32.36 sq mi (83.81 km2)
 • Land31.89 sq mi (82.59 km2)
 • Water0.47 sq mi (1.23 km2)  1.46%
 • Rank76th of 565 in state
4th of 21 in county[1]
Elevation
[8]
138 ft (42 m)
Population
 (2020)[9][10]
 • Total
45,977
 • Estimate 
(2023)[9][11]
45,814
 • Rank46th of 565 in state
2nd of 21 in county[12]
 • Density1,441.8/sq mi (556.7/km2)
  • Rank342nd of 565 in state
9th of 21 in county[12]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Codes
08807[13][14]
08836 – Martinsville
08805 – Bound Brook
Area code(s)732 and 908[15]
FIPS code3403507720[1][16][17]
GNIS feature ID0882171[1][18]
Websitewww.bridgewaternj.gov

Bridgewater Township is a township in Somerset County in the U.S. state of New Jersey, located within the heart of the Raritan Valley region. Situated within Central New Jersey and crisscrossed by several major highways, the township is known for being both the regional commercial hub for Somerset County (home to Bridgewater Commons and different corporate headquarters) and as a suburban bedroom community of New York City within the New York Metropolitan Area.[19][20] The township is located roughly 32 miles (51 km) away from Manhattan and about 20 miles (32 km) away from Staten Island.[21][22]

Bridgewater Township was created by Royal charter on April 4, 1749, from portions of the Northern precinct. It was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, under the Township Act of 1798. During the nineteenth century, portions of the township were taken to form Warren Township (March 5, 1806), Branchburg Township (April 5, 1845), Somerville (March 25, 1863), Raritan (April 3, 1868) and Bound Brook (March 24, 1869).[23]

As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 45,977,[9][10] an increase of 1,513 (+3.4%) from the 2010 census count of 44,464,[24][25] which in turn reflected an increase of 1,524 (+3.5%) from the 42,940 counted in the 2000 census.[26]

  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 Mayor 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. ^ Administration, Township of Bridgewater. Accessed May 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Township Clerk, Township of Bridgewater. Accessed May 22, 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 Bridgewater, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 4, 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 Bridgewater, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed February 15, 2012.
  14. ^ ZIP Codes, State of New Jersey. Accessed October 7, 2013.
  15. ^ Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Bridgewater, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed October 7, 2013.
  16. ^ U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  17. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 30, 2022.
  18. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  19. ^ Garbarine, Rachel. "In the Region/New Jersey; Bridgewater Commons Is Entering the Home Stretch", The New York Times, May 21, 2000. Accessed June 27, 2022.
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference NYT2002 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ Bridgewater NJ to New York NY, Distance between cities. Accessed June 27, 2022.
  22. ^ Bridgewater NJ to Tottenville NY Distance between cities. Accessed June 27, 2022.
  23. ^ Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 222. Accessed February 15, 2012.
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ Cite error: The named reference LWD2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  26. ^ 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.