Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey

For other current New Jersey townships with the same name, see Franklin Township, New Jersey (disambiguation).

Franklin Township, New Jersey
Township
Van Wickle House on Easton Avenue
Van Wickle House on Easton Avenue
Official seal of Franklin Township, New Jersey
Seal
Location of Franklin Township in Somerset County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Location of Franklin Township in Somerset County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Census Bureau map of Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey
Census Bureau map of Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey
Franklin Township is located in Somerset County, New Jersey
Franklin Township
Franklin Township
Location in Somerset County
Franklin Township is located in New Jersey
Franklin Township
Franklin Township
Location in New Jersey
Franklin Township is located in the United States
Franklin Township
Franklin Township
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 40°28′37″N 74°33′02″W / 40.476872°N 74.550447°W / 40.476872; -74.550447[1][2]
Country United States
State New Jersey
CountySomerset
Formed as Eastern precinctc. 1745
IncorporatedFebruary 21, 1798
Named forBenjamin Franklin
Government
[7]
 • TypeFaulkner Act (council–manager)
 • BodyTownship Council
 • MayorPhillip Kramer (D, term ends December 31, 2023)[3][4]
 • ManagerRobert G. Vornlocker Jr.[5]
 • Municipal clerkAnn McCarthy[6]
Area
[1]
 • Total46.88 sq mi (121.43 km2)
 • Land46.17 sq mi (119.58 km2)
 • Water0.71 sq mi (1.85 km2)  1.52%
 • Rank37th of 565 in state
2nd of 21 in county[1]
Elevation
[8]
62 ft (19 m)
Population
 (2020)[9][10]
 • Total68,364
 • Estimate 
(2023)[9][11]
68,233
 • Rank19th of 565 in state
1st of 21 in county[12]
 • Density1,480.7/sq mi (571.7/km2)
  • Rank337th of 565 in state
8th of 21 in county[12]
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Codes
08873, 08875 – Somerset (also used as East Millstone)[13]
08528 – Kingston[14]
08823 – Franklin Park[15]
08540 – Princeton[16]
08890 – Zarephath[17][18]
Area code(s)732, 908 and 609[19]
FIPS code3403524900[1][20][21]
GNIS feature ID0882170[1][22]
Websitewww.franklintwpnj.org

Franklin Township is a township in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is centrally located in the Raritan Valley region, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 68,364,[9][10] an increase of 6,064 (+9.7%) from the 2010 census count of 62,300,[23][24] which in turn reflected an increase of 11,397 (+22.4%) from the 50,903 counted in the 2000 census.[25] The township was the state's 19th most-populous municipality in 2020, after being ranked 22nd in 2010.[26]

Traditionally a farming community, it has become a fast-growing suburb with massive development in the later 20th and 21st centuries as a diverse blend of races, religions, and cultures. In 2008, Franklin Township ranked #5 on Money magazine's list of America's Top 100 Best Places to Live.[27]

What is now Franklin Township was originally formed circa 1745 as Eastern precinct. Franklin Township was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature. Portions of the township were taken to form South Bound Brook (formed within Township, became independent municipality as of April 11, 1907) and East Millstone (February 18, 1873, returned to Franklin Township on December 31, 1949).[28]

  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 Council 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. ^ Township Manager, Township of Franklin. Accessed March 22, 2023.
  6. ^ Clerk's Office, Township of Franklin. Accessed March 22, 2023.
  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 Franklin, Geographic Names Information System. Accessed March 5, 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 Somerset, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed August 23, 2012.
  14. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Kingston, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed August 23, 2012.
  15. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Franklin Park, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed August 23, 2012.
  16. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Princeton, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed August 23, 2012.
  17. ^ Look Up a ZIP Code for Zarephath, NJ, United States Postal Service. Accessed August 23, 2012.
  18. ^ About Franklin Archived December 29, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Township of Franklin. Accessed March 31, 2020.
  19. ^ Area Code Lookup - NPA NXX for Franklin, NJ, Area-Codes.com. Accessed September 7, 2014.
  20. ^ U.S. Census website, United States Census Bureau. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  21. ^ Geographic Codes Lookup for New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed April 1, 2022.
  22. ^ US Board on Geographic Names, United States Geological Survey. Accessed September 4, 2014.
  23. ^ Cite error: The named reference Census2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  24. ^ Cite error: The named reference LWD2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.
  27. ^ #5 – Franklin Township; America's Top 100 Best Places to Live, Money. Accessed February 12, 2013.
  28. ^ Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 223. Accessed October 28, 2012.