Bethlehem Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bethlehem Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Location of Bethlehem Township in Hunterdon County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Hunterdon County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
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Census Bureau map of Bethlehem Township, New Jersey
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 Bethlehem Township, New Jersey
Location in Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Bethlehem Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Bethlehem Township, New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  New Jersey |
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| County |  Hunterdon |
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| Earliest mention | 1730 | |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 | |
| Named for | Bethlehem | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 20.80 sq mi (53.87 km2) | |
| • Land | 20.68 sq mi (53.57 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.30 km2) 0.56% | |
| Area rank | 135th of 565 in state 13th of 26 in county |
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| Elevation | 814 ft (248 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,745 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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3,756 | |
| • Rank | 422nd of 565 in state 14th of 26 in county |
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| • Density | 181.1/sq mi (69.9/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 512th of 565 in state 20th of 26 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code | ||
| Area code(s) | 908 | |
| FIPS code | 3401905650 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882189 | |
Bethlehem Township is a township in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 3,745, a decrease of 234 (−5.9%) from the 2010 census count of 3,979, which in turn reflected an increase of 159 (+4.2%) from the 3,820 counted in the 2000 census.
Contents
History
Before European settlement, the land was settled by the Lenape Native Americans, whose presence remains in the names of places and bodies of water in the township.
Bethlehem was first mentioned in official records dating back to 1730, though details of its formation are uncertain. Bethlehem was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Kingwood Township (1749, date uncertain), Alexandria Township (March 5, 1765), Union Township (February 17, 1853), Junction borough (February 20, 1895, now known as Hampton borough), Bloomsbury (March 30, 1905) and Glen Gardner (March 26, 1919).
The township was named for the city of Bethlehem.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 20.80 square miles (53.87 km2), including 20.68 square miles (53.57 km2) of land and 0.12 square miles (0.30 km2) of water (0.56%). The township is an exurb of New York City, lying on the western fringe of the New York metropolitan area, as part of the Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division, which is in turn a part of the New York City Metropolitan Area.
The Musconetcong River forms the township's northern border with Warren County. The northern half of the Township consists of the Musconetcong Valley while the southern half is covered by the Musconetcong Mountains. The southwest corner of the township lies on what is known as the Hunterdon Plateau. The landscape is mainly rural in nature, featuring farms and forests, scattered with newer housing developments and older farm homes.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Charlestown, Jugtown, Ludlow, Polktown, Swinesburg, Valley and West Portal.
The township borders the municipalities of Alexandria Township, Bloomsbury, Glen Gardner, Hampton, Holland Township, Lebanon Township, Union Township in Hunterdon County; and Franklin Township, Pohatcong Township and Washington Township in Warren County.
Mailing addresses
Residents and businesses in Bethlehem Township have mailing addresses to nearby towns including Bloomsbury, Clinton, Glen Gardner, Hampton, and even Asbury (which is located in neighboring Warren County), as "Bethlehem Township" itself is not a mailing address.
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Large houses in a modern housing development in Bethlehem Township, NJ
Climate
| Climate data for Bethlehem Township, NJ | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71.0 (21.7) |
76.0 (24.4) |
85.0 (29.4) |
93.0 (33.9) |
96.0 (35.6) |
98.0 (36.7) |
100.0 (37.8) |
100.0 (37.8) |
102.0 (38.9) |
91.0 (32.8) |
82.0 (27.8) |
73.0 (22.8) |
102.0 (38.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35.8 (2.1) |
39.1 (3.9) |
48.5 (9.2) |
59.4 (15.2) |
70.6 (21.4) |
78.6 (25.9) |
83.5 (28.6) |
82.0 (27.8) |
74.8 (23.8) |
64.1 (17.8) |
51.9 (11.1) |
40.5 (4.7) |
60.7 (15.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.5 (−8.1) |
19.0 (−7.2) |
27.2 (−2.7) |
36.4 (2.4) |
46.5 (8.1) |
55.4 (13.0) |
60.9 (16.1) |
59.5 (15.3) |
51.7 (10.9) |
39.7 (4.3) |
31.5 (−0.3) |
23.3 (−4.8) |
39.1 (3.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −23.0 (−30.6) |
−24.0 (−31.1) |
−6.0 (−21.1) |
9.0 (−12.8) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
33.0 (0.6) |
38.0 (3.3) |
35.0 (1.7) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
18.0 (−7.8) |
2.0 (−16.7) |
−14.0 (−25.6) |
−24.0 (−31.1) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.30 (109) |
3.35 (85) |
4.18 (106) |
4.54 (115) |
4.93 (125) |
4.78 (121) |
5.03 (128) |
4.78 (121) |
4.31 (109) |
5.09 (129) |
4.05 (103) |
4.32 (110) |
53.66 (1,363) |
Bethlehem Township falls under the "Northern New Jersey" climate zone. According to the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist at Rutgers University, the Northern climate zone covers about one-quarter of New Jersey and consists mainly of elevated highlands and valleys which are part of the Appalachian Uplands. Surrounded by land, this region can be characterized as having a continental climate with minimal influence from the Atlantic Ocean, except when the winds contain an easterly component. Prevailing winds are from the southwest in summer and from the northwest in winter. Being in the northernmost portion of the state, and with small mountains up to 1,800 feet (550 m) in elevation, the Northern Zone normally exhibits a colder temperature regime than other climate regions of the State of New Jersey. This difference is most dramatic in winter when average temperatures in the Northern Zone can be more than ten degrees Fahrenheit cooler than in the Coastal Zone. Annual snowfall averages 40 to 50 inches (1,000 to 1,300 mm) in the northern zone as compared with an average of 10 to 15 inches (250 to 380 mm) in the extreme south.
Bethlehem Township falls under the USDA 6a Plant Hardiness zone.
Wildlife and ecosystem
Various animals are native to central-western New Jersey, including red fox (vulpes vulpes), black bear, groundhogs, wild turkeys, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, a variety of birds, and a wide variety of insects and vegetation. There are also some fish in the streams of the county.
Trees include deciduous varieties and evergreen varieties.
Black bears are the largest land mammals in New Jersey and are known to be most abundant in the northern-western regions of the state, including Bethlehem Township.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 1,335 | — | |
| 1810 | 1,728 | — | |
| 1820 | 2,002 | 15.9% | |
| 1830 | 2,032 | 1.5% | |
| 1840 | 2,370 | 16.6% | |
| 1850 | 2,746 | 15.9% | |
| 1860 | 1,859 | * | −32.3% |
| 1870 | 2,211 | 18.9% | |
| 1880 | 2,830 | 28.0% | |
| 1890 | 2,308 | −18.4% | |
| 1900 | 1,634 | * | −29.2% |
| 1910 | 980 | * | −40.0% |
| 1920 | 798 | * | −18.6% |
| 1930 | 735 | −7.9% | |
| 1940 | 791 | 7.6% | |
| 1950 | 857 | 8.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,090 | 27.2% | |
| 1970 | 1,385 | 27.1% | |
| 1980 | 3,045 | 119.9% | |
| 1990 | 3,104 | 1.9% | |
| 2000 | 3,820 | 23.1% | |
| 2010 | 3,979 | 4.2% | |
| 2020 | 3,745 | −5.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 3,756 | −5.6% | |
| Population sources: 1800–1920 1840 1850–1870 1850 1870 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade |
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2010 census
The 2010 United States census counted 3,979 people, 1,344 households, and 1,148 families in the township. The population density was 192.1 per square mile (74.2/km2). There were 1,386 housing units at an average density of 66.9 per square mile (25.8/km2). The racial makeup was 95.65% (3,806) White, 0.98% (39) Black or African American, 0.10% (4) Native American, 1.88% (75) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.50% (20) from other races, and 0.88% (35) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.02% (160) of the population.
Of the 1,344 households, 41.1% had children under the age of 18; 77.0% were married couples living together; 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 14.6% were non-families. Of all households, 11.9% were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.22.
27.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 18.1% from 25 to 44, 38.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $127,540 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,090) and the median family income was $130,580 (+/− $16,200). Males had a median income of $95,694 (+/− $16,468) versus $70,069 (+/− $27,112) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $44,477 (+/− $4,087). About 0.6% of families and 1.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Parks and recreation
Covering more than 2,000 acres (810 ha), Spruce Run State Park and Reservoir, part of the New Jersey State Park system, is located near Bethlehem Township in close by Clinton Township. It is possible to walk or bike to Spruce Run from Bethlehem Township.
Education
Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the schools of the Bethlehem Township School District. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of two schools, had an enrollment of 368 students and 38.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.6:1. Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Thomas B. Conley Elementary School with 283 students in grades PreK-6 and Ethel Hoppock Middle School with 81 students in grades 7-8.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend North Hunterdon High School in Annandale, which also serves students from Clinton Town, Clinton Township, Franklin Township, Lebanon Borough and Union Township. As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,358 students and 119.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.4:1. The school is part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, which also includes students from Califon, Glen Gardner, Hampton, High Bridge, Lebanon Township and Tewksbury Township, who attend Voorhees High School.
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.
Transportation
_between_Exit_11_and_Exit_7_in_Bethlehem_Township,_Hunterdon_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 57.76 miles (92.96 km) of roadways, of which 42.26 miles (68.01 km) were maintained by the municipality, 7.86 miles (12.65 km) by Hunterdon County and 7.64 miles (12.30 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Bethlehem Township is well-connected to major metropolitan areas and cities (such as the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania and New York City) via Interstate 78 / U.S. Route 22 and Route 173. While I-78/US 22 pass through without any interchanges, the nearest exit is just outside the township in bordering Bloomsbury (Exit 7) and Union Township (Exit 11).
Anderson Road, located within Bethlehem Township, begins in neighboring Union Township and ends in Bethlehem Township as a dead-end, or cul-de-sac. Consequently, Anderson Road cannot be accessed internally through Bethlehem Township; it can only be accessed through Union Township.
Public transportation
Public transportation is limited to The LINK, a public bus service which serves Hunterdon County. Fares range from about $2.00 to $10.00. Funding for operation of the Hunterdon County LINK System is provided by Hunterdon County, NJ Transit and the Federal Transit Administration.
Rail / Lehigh Line
The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line (formerly the mainline of the Lehigh Valley Railroad), runs through Bethlehem Township on its way to Phillipsburg, New Jersey.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Bethlehem Township include:
- John T. Bird (1829–1911), member of the United States House of Representatives from 1869 to 1873
- Johnston Cornish (1858–1920), represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1893 to 1895
- Anne Marie Letko (born 1969), two-time Olympian, in 1996 and 2000
- Daniel Morgan (1736–1802), Revolutionary War general and a United States Representative from the State of Virginia
- James Parker (1776–1868), member of the House of Representatives from New Jersey
- Bennet Van Syckel (1830–1921), Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1869 to 1904
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Bethlehem (Nueva Jersey) para niños
