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 and 640 | |
| FIPS code | 3402315550 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882160 | |
| Website | ||
Cranbury is a small township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It's located in the central part of the state. In 2020, about 3,842 people lived here.
Cranbury is special because it's almost exactly halfway between New York City and Philadelphia. This location has made it an important place for history, culture, and business in Central New Jersey. It's known for its logistics industry, which means many warehouses are located here. These businesses help keep local property taxes stable for residents.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Cranbury's History
The first buildings in Cranbury were built around 1698. During the American Revolutionary War, famous leaders like Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette used a home in Cranbury as their headquarters. George Washington even visited them there on June 26, 1778. They planned how to stop the British army as they left Philadelphia. This led to the important Battle of Monmouth nearby.
Early maps of Cranbury, made during George Washington's time, show a church, a mill, and about 25 other buildings. After his famous duel with Alexander Hamilton in 1804, Aaron Burr stopped in Cranbury to change horses and eat at a local inn.
The name "Cranbury" used to be spelled "Cranberry." In 1857, a local reverend suggested changing it to "Cranbury," which happened in 1869. The name likely comes from the wild cranberries that grew in the area.
Cranbury officially became a township on March 7, 1872. It was formed from parts of Monroe Township and South Brunswick Township. Later, in 1919, a part of Cranbury became Plainsboro Township. The town celebrated its 300th anniversary in 1998.
Some old buildings in Cranbury have been carefully moved and rebuilt to save them. For example, the Updike Parsonage Barn, built around 1759, was moved in 2010 to Barn Park. Also, the 1713 East Jersey Cottage was saved from being torn down and moved to a new spot in 2019.
Recently, the town committee decided to use a special process to get land from a 175-year-old family farm. This was done to build new homes for people with lower and middle incomes. The family who owns the farm is working to stop this decision.
Cranbury's Location and Landscape
_at_U.S._Route_130_in_Cranbury_Township,_Middlesex_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Cranbury Township covers about 13.43 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
Within Cranbury Township, there's a smaller area called Cranbury CDP (Census-Designated Place). This is an unincorporated community, meaning it's not a separate town but a specific area recognized by the census.
Other small communities and places within Cranbury include Brain Grove Lake, Cranbury Station, Wescott, and Wyckoffs Mills.
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 of Cranbury
Cranbury has seen its population change over the years. In 2010, there were 3,857 people living here. By 2020, the population was 3,842.
Most people in Cranbury are White, but there are also many Asian and Black residents. A small percentage of the population is Hispanic or Latino. Cranbury is a place where families live, with many households having children under 18. The average household has about 2.8 people.
Cranbury's Economy
Cranbury is home to many warehouses, especially along Route 130 and near the New Jersey Turnpike. These warehouses are a big part of the local economy. A company that makes the Boy Scout Pinewood Derby cars is also located here.
The Associated University Presses is an academic publishing company in Cranbury. They provide textbooks to colleges and universities.
How Cranbury is Governed
Cranbury Township is run by a Township Committee. This committee has five members who are elected by the people. They serve for three years. Each year, one or two seats on the committee are up for election. The committee chooses one of its members to be the Mayor.
As of 2025, the Mayor of Cranbury is Lisa Knierim. The Township Committee also includes Deputy Mayor Eman El-Badawi, Robert Christopher, Barbara F. Rogers, and Matthew A. Scott. All current members are from the Democratic Party.
In 2023, Cranbury had the lowest property tax rate in Middlesex County. However, in 2018, the average property tax bill in Cranbury was one of the highest in the county.
Education in Cranbury
The Cranbury School District serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade at Cranbury School. In the 2022–23 school year, the school had 453 students. Cranbury School has been recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School multiple times, which is a very high honor for public schools in America.
After eighth grade, students from Cranbury go to Princeton High School in Princeton. This is part of a special agreement between the two school districts. Cranbury Township even has a representative on the Princeton Regional Schools Board of Education.
Students in Middlesex County can also apply to the Middlesex County Magnet Schools. These schools offer special career and technical education programs.
Cranbury Public Library
The Cranbury Public Library serves the community. It opened in a brand-new building in November 2022. Before that, the library shared a building with the Cranbury School for many years. The new library was built with money donated by the community and a grant from the state.
Cranbury 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 many old buildings. It covers about 175 acres and includes streets like Main and Prospect. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 because of its important architecture and history. Many buildings on Main Street date back to the 1700s and 1800s. The Old Cranbury School is also part of this historic area.
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The John S. Silvers Mansion, built in 1886
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The Cranbury Inn
Cranberry Mills
Cranbury is known as one of the best-preserved 19th-century villages in Middlesex County. It was once an important mill town. The Elizabeth M. Wagner History Center, located in an old gristmiller's house, has exhibits about Cranberry Mills. This shows how important mills were to Cranbury's history. The mills were located along Cranbury Brook.
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Elizabeth M. Wagner History Center
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Information on Cranberry Mills
Places of Worship
Cranbury has several historic churches. The First Presbyterian Church was founded around 1740, and its current building was built in 1839. The United Methodist Church was built in 1848. Both of these churches are important parts of the historic district.
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First Presbyterian Church
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United Methodist Church
Getting Around Cranbury
Roads and Highways
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Cranbury has many miles of roads. Some are maintained by the town, others by Middlesex County, and some by the state.
A major highway, Interstate 95 (also known as the New Jersey Turnpike), runs through Cranbury. While there are no exits directly in Cranbury, you can access the Turnpike from nearby towns like East Windsor Township (Exit 8) and Monroe Township (Exit 8A). The Molly Pitcher Service Area, a rest stop, is located on the southbound side of the Turnpike in Cranbury.
Other important roads in Cranbury include U.S. Route 130, County Route 535, and County Route 539.
Public Transportation
Middlesex County offers a shuttle bus service called the M6 MCAT. This shuttle connects Cranbury to nearby towns like Jamesburg and Plainsboro Township.
Healthcare
Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center is a large hospital located in neighboring Plainsboro Township. It's a major medical center for the Princeton area and central New Jersey.
Other hospitals close to Cranbury include CentraState Medical Center in Freehold Township, and 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:
- Todd Beamer (1968–2001), a passenger on United Airlines Flight 93 who famously said "Let's roll" during the September 11 attacks.
- Scott Brunner (born 1957), a former quarterback for the New York Giants and other NFL teams.
- Ronald C. Davidson (1941–2016), a physicist who led important research centers at MIT and Princeton.
- Hughie Lee-Smith (1915–1999), a well-known artist.
- Jan Morris (1926–2020), a Welsh travel writer and historian who wrote about her time in Cranbury.
- Jessica Lee Ware (born 1977), an evolutionary biologist who studies insects.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Cranbury para niños
- List of Washington's Headquarters during the Revolutionary War
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, New Jersey
