Cranbury, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cranbury, New Jersey
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Township
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Location of Cranbury in Middlesex County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Middlesex County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
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Census Bureau map of Cranbury Township, New Jersey
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 Cranbury, New Jersey
Location in Middlesex County, New Jersey
Cranbury, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Cranbury, 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 | Middlesex | |
| Incorporated | March 7, 1872 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 13.43 sq mi (34.79 km2) | |
| • Land | 13.28 sq mi (34.40 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.39 km2) 1.12% | |
| Area rank | 181st of 565 in state 9th of 25 in county |
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| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,842 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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3,960 | |
| • Rank | 418th of 565 in state 24th of 25 in county |
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| • Density | 289.2/sq mi (111.7/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 479th of 565 in state 25th of 25 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Codes |
08512
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| Area code(s) | 609 | |
| FIPS code | 3402315550 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882160 | |
| Website | ||
Cranbury is a small township located in southern Middlesex County, New Jersey. In 2020, about 3,842 people lived here.
Cranbury is in the Raritan Valley region. It is about halfway between New York City and Philadelphia. This makes it an important place for history, culture, and business in Central New Jersey. The township is known for its logistics industry, which helps keep local taxes stable.
Contents
Discover Cranbury's Past
Cranbury has a long and interesting history. The first buildings were likely built around 1698.
Cranbury's Role in the American Revolution
During the American Revolutionary War, a home in Cranbury was used by Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette as a headquarters. General George Washington visited them on June 26, 1778. During this visit, Washington planned how to stop the British army as they retreated from Philadelphia to New York City. This plan led to the important Battle of Monmouth, which happened nearby.
After the war, maps of Cranbury made during George Washington's time showed a church, a mill, and 25 other buildings.
How Cranbury Got Its Name
In its early days, the area was often called "Cranberry." In 1857, a reverend named Joseph G. Symmes suggested changing the name to "Cranbury." This change happened in 1869. The name comes from the wild cranberries that used to grow in the area.
Important Events and Growth
Cranbury became an official township on March 7, 1872. This happened when parts of Monroe Township and South Brunswick Township joined together. Later, in 1919, Plainsboro Township was formed from parts of Cranbury.
In 1998, Cranbury celebrated its 300th anniversary! Historic buildings, like the Updike Parsonage Barn from 1759, have been moved and rebuilt to preserve them. In 2019, the Cranbury Historical and Preservation Society saved another old building, the 1713 East Jersey Cottage, from being torn down. They moved it to a new location to keep its history alive.
Cranbury's Location and Surroundings
_at_U.S._Route_130_in_Cranbury_Township,_Middlesex_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Cranbury Township covers about 13.43 square miles (34.79 square kilometers). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
Neighboring Towns
Cranbury shares borders with several other townships. These include Monroe Township, Plainsboro Township, and South Brunswick Township in Middlesex County. It also borders East Windsor Township in Mercer County.
People and Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,509 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,422 | −5.8% | |
| 1900 | 1,428 | 0.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,424 | −0.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,083 | * | −23.9% |
| 1930 | 1,278 | 18.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,342 | 5.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,797 | 33.9% | |
| 1960 | 2,001 | 11.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,253 | 12.6% | |
| 1980 | 1,927 | −14.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,500 | 29.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,227 | 29.1% | |
| 2010 | 3,857 | 19.5% | |
| 2020 | 3,842 | −0.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 3,960 | 2.7% | |
| Population sources: 1880–1920 1880–1890 1890–1910 1910–1930 1940–2000 2000 2010 2020 * = Lost territory in previous decade. |
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In 2010, there were 3,857 people living in Cranbury. The population density was about 291 people per square mile. Most residents were White (80.53%), followed by Asian (13.74%) and Black or African American (3.45%). About 2.57% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average household size was 2.82 people. About 41.4% of households had children under 18. The median age in Cranbury was 46.2 years.
Cranbury's Economy
Cranbury is home to many warehouses along Route 130 and near the New Jersey Turnpike. These warehouses are part of the important logistics industry. A company that makes Boy Scout Pinewood Derby cars is also located here.
Associated University Presses is an academic publishing company in Cranbury. They provide textbooks to colleges and universities.
Education in Cranbury
Cranbury has its own school district, the Cranbury School District.
Cranbury School
Students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend Cranbury School. In the 2022–23 school year, there were 453 students and 59.1 teachers. This means there were about 7.7 students for every teacher. Cranbury School has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School three times, which is a very high honor for public schools.
High School Education
For ninth through twelfth grades, Cranbury students go to Princeton High School in Princeton. This is part of a special agreement with the Princeton Public Schools. Cranbury Township even has a representative on the Princeton school board to help make decisions about the high school.
Vocational Schools
Students in eighth grade from all of Middlesex County can apply to special high school programs. These are offered by the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools. They provide career and technical education at various locations, like the Middlesex County Academy in Edison.
Cranbury Public Library
The Cranbury Public Library serves all residents. In November 2022, the library opened a brand-new building at 30 Park Place West. Before this, the library shared a building with Cranbury School for many years. The new library was built with donations and a grant from the New Jersey Library Construction Bond Act.
Cranbury's Historic District
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Cranbury Historic District
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Historic houses on North Main Street
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| Location | Main and Prospect streets; Maplewood and Scott avenues; Bunker Hill Road; Symmes Court; Westminster, Park and Wesley places |
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| Area | 175 acres (71 ha) |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/craftsman, Greek Revival, Vernacular Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002502 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | September 18, 1980 |
The Cranbury Historic District is a special area that protects the old village of Cranbury. It covers 175 acres and includes many historic buildings. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 because of its important architecture and history.
Many buildings on Cranbury's Main Street and nearby areas were built in the 1700s or 1800s. The Old Cranbury School, which is part of the district, was added to the National Register in 1971.
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The John S. Silvers Mansion, built in 1886
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The Cranbury Inn
Cranberry Mills History
Cranbury is known as one of the best-preserved 19th-century villages in Middlesex County. It was once a busy "mill town." The Elizabeth M. Wagner History Center has displays about Cranberry Mills. This shows how important mills were to Cranbury's growth in the 1700s and 1800s. The mills were located along Cranbury Brook.
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Elizabeth M. Wagner History Center
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Information on Cranberry Mills
Historic Churches
Cranbury has two historic churches that are part of the district. The First Presbyterian Church was founded around 1740, and its current building was built in 1839. The United Methodist Church was built in 1848.
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First Presbyterian Church
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United Methodist Church
Transportation in Cranbury
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Cranbury has many roads, totaling about 51.25 miles. The township maintains most of these roads.
Major Roads
Several important roads and highways pass through Cranbury. A 4-mile section of Interstate 95, also known as the New Jersey Turnpike, runs through the township. While there are no direct exits in Cranbury, you can access the Turnpike from nearby towns. The Molly Pitcher Service Area is located on the southbound side of the Turnpike in Cranbury.
Other key roads include U.S. Route 130, County Route 535, and County Route 539.
Public Transport
Middlesex County offers a shuttle bus route, the M6 MCAT, which connects Cranbury to Jamesburg and Plainsboro Township.
Healthcare Services
Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center is a large hospital with 355 beds. It is located in neighboring Plainsboro Township. This hospital serves the greater Princeton area in central New Jersey. It is the only hospital of its kind in New Jersey that is part of the Penn Medicine Health System.
Other hospitals close to Cranbury include CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township and Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge Township. There are also Saint Peter's University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
Famous People from Cranbury
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Cranbury:
- Melanie Balcomb (born 1962), a successful college basketball coach.
- Todd Beamer (1968–2001), a brave passenger on United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11 attacks, known for saying "Let's roll".
- Scott Brunner (born 1957), a former quarterback for the New York Giants in the NFL.
- Ronald C. Davidson (1941–2016), a physicist who led important science centers like the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center.
- Wendy Gooditis (born 1960), a politician who serves in the Virginia House of Delegates.
- Noah Harlan, an independent filmmaker.
- Ralph Izzo, a businessman and former nuclear physicist.
- Hughie Lee-Smith (1915–1999), a talented artist.
- Jan Morris (1926–2020), a Welsh travel writer and historian. She wrote about her time in Cranbury in her book Coast to Coast: A Journey Across 1950s America.
- Henry Perrine (1797–1840), a doctor and plant enthusiast who worked to bring tropical plants to the US.
- Jessica Lee Ware (born 1977), an evolutionary biologist and entomologist.
