Hillsborough Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Neshanic Mills
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Location of Hillsborough Township in Somerset County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
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Census Bureau map of Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
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 Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
Location in Somerset County, New Jersey
Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Hillsborough 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 |  Somerset |
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| Royal charter | September 12, 1771 | |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 55.10 sq mi (142.71 km2) | |
| • Land | 54.61 sq mi (141.45 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.49 sq mi (1.26 km2) 0.88% | |
| Area rank | 28th of 565 in state 1st of 21 in county |
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| Elevation | 108 ft (33 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 43,276 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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44,135 | |
| • Rank | 53rd of 565 in state 3rd of 21 in county |
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| • Density | 792.4/sq mi (305.9/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 409th of 565 in state 14th of 21 in county |
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| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) | |
| ZIP Code |
08844
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| Area code(s) | 732 and 908 | |
| FIPS code | 3403531890 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882169 | |
Hillsborough Township is a town in Somerset County, New Jersey. It's part of the Raritan Valley area and is a suburban town where many people live and travel to work in New York City.
In 2020, about 43,276 people lived here. This was a good increase from 2010. Hillsborough Township was first created by a special document called a royal charter in 1771. It became an official township in 1798. Parts of Hillsborough later became the separate towns of Millstone and Manville. The name "Hillsborough" might come from an older name, "Hillsbury," or from Wills Hill, who was the Earl of Hillsborough. In 2022, Hillsborough Township was named the second-safest small city in the United States.
Contents
Hillsborough Township History
Hillsborough was officially recognized as a township on May 31, 1771. A new charter was issued on September 12, 1771. Old records from Hillsborough Township, dating back to 1746, are kept at Rutgers University Library.
Revolutionary War Story
Hillsborough Township played a part in the American Revolutionary War. General George Washington and his troops marched through here after the Battle of Princeton. They were heading to their winter camp in Morristown.
It's said that Washington trained his soldiers on Sourland Mountain. The British army was camped nearby, waiting to attack. Washington's troops used corn stalks as pretend guns. When the sun hit the stalks, the British thought Washington had more soldiers and supplies. Believing they were outnumbered, the British left for New Brunswick. This allowed Washington to continue safely to Morristown.
The township was formally made a town on February 21, 1798.
World War II Depot
Hillsborough is home to the Belle Mead GSA depot. This was a storage site during World War II. It also held Italian and German prisoners of war. The depot continued to store materials until the 1980s. Today, efforts are underway to turn the site into a place for recreation and research.
Duke Farms and Open Space
Hillsborough is also home to Duke Gardens and Duke Farms. This huge property is about 2,700 acres (11 km2). It was first owned by James "Buck" Duke, a famous businessman. Later, his daughter Doris Duke owned it. As of March 2023, about one-third of Hillsborough Township is protected as open space or farmland. This helps keep the area green and natural.
Best Places to Live
Money magazine has recognized Hillsborough as a great place to live. In 2013, it was ranked 16th in the nation. In 2007, it was ranked 23rd.
Hillsborough Township Geography
Hillsborough Township covers about 55.10 square miles (142.71 km2). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
Local Communities
Several smaller communities are found within Hillsborough Township. These include Belle Mead, Blackwells Mills, Flagtown, and Neshanic.
Neighboring Towns
Hillsborough Township shares borders with several other towns. In Somerset County, it borders Branchburg Township, Bridgewater Township, and Franklin Township. It also borders towns in Hunterdon County, like East Amwell Township.
Hillsborough Township Climate
Hillsborough Township has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. In January, the coldest month, the average low temperature is 18 °F (−8 °C). In July, the warmest month, the average high is 85 °F (29 °C).
| Climate data for Hillsborough Township, New Jersey | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 74 (23) |
76 (24) |
86 (30) |
94 (34) |
99 (37) |
101 (38) |
104 (40) |
105 (41) |
105 (41) |
92 (33) |
84 (29) |
73 (23) |
105 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 39 (4) |
41 (5) |
50 (10) |
61 (16) |
72 (22) |
80 (27) |
85 (29) |
83 (28) |
76 (24) |
64 (18) |
54 (12) |
42 (6) |
62 (17) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
20 (−7) |
27 (−3) |
36 (2) |
46 (8) |
56 (13) |
61 (16) |
60 (16) |
52 (11) |
40 (4) |
31 (−1) |
23 (−5) |
39 (4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −16 (−27) |
−12 (−24) |
−1 (−18) |
16 (−9) |
26 (−3) |
34 (1) |
44 (7) |
38 (3) |
29 (−2) |
12 (−11) |
5 (−15) |
−10 (−23) |
−16 (−27) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.59 (91) |
2.84 (72) |
3.94 (100) |
4.09 (104) |
4.33 (110) |
4.35 (110) |
4.83 (123) |
3.98 (101) |
4.26 (108) |
4.21 (107) |
3.59 (91) |
3.84 (98) |
47.85 (1,215) |
Hillsborough Township Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 2,201 | — | |
| 1810 | 2,456 | — | |
| 1820 | 2,885 | 17.5% | |
| 1830 | 2,878 | −0.2% | |
| 1840 | 2,863 | −0.5% | |
| 1850 | 3,409 | 19.1% | |
| 1860 | 3,488 | 2.3% | |
| 1870 | 3,443 | −1.3% | |
| 1880 | 3,248 | −5.7% | |
| 1890 | 2,825 | −13.0% | |
| 1900 | 2,439 | * | −13.7% |
| 1910 | 2,313 | −5.2% | |
| 1920 | 5,124 | 121.5% | |
| 1930 | 2,283 | * | −55.4% |
| 1940 | 2,645 | 15.9% | |
| 1950 | 3,875 | 46.5% | |
| 1960 | 7,584 | 95.7% | |
| 1970 | 11,061 | 45.8% | |
| 1980 | 19,061 | 72.3% | |
| 1990 | 28,808 | 51.1% | |
| 2000 | 36,634 | 27.2% | |
| 2010 | 38,303 | 4.6% | |
| 2020 | 43,276 | 13.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 44,135 | 15.2% | |
| Population sources: 1790–1920 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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In 2010, there were 38,303 people living in Hillsborough Township. There were 13,573 households, and 10,424 families. The population density was about 702 people per square mile.
Most residents (78.61%) were White. About 12.38% were Asian, and 4.59% were Black or African American. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 7.55% of the population.
About 26.4% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age was 39.9 years. The median household income was about $105,429.
Parks and Recreation
Hillsborough is home to many parks and nature trails. These are managed by the township and the Somerset County Park Commission. Some popular spots include Ann Van Middlesworth Park, Mountain View Park, and Sourland Mountain Preserve. These places offer great opportunities for outdoor activities.
Duke Farms Public Access
Duke Farms is a large estate started by James Buchanan Duke. After his daughter Doris Duke passed away, the property was managed by the Doris Duke Foundation. After a big renovation costing $45 million, Duke Farms opened to the public on May 19, 2012. It is now managed by the Duke Farms Foundation.
Duke Gardens Renovation
The indoor display gardens at Duke Gardens were closed and changed. However, new indoor and outdoor gardens have been created. These new gardens are eco-friendly and use native plants. They are also accessible for people using wheelchairs. Many non-native plants were removed and replaced with plants that naturally grow in the area.
When Duke Farms reopened, it became home to 30 endangered species. It also has 230 types of birds, including the great blue heron and the bald eagle. The Orchid Range, which includes greenhouses, was also updated to use less energy.
Hillsborough Township Education
The Hillsborough Township School District serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Students from Millstone also attend schools in this district. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district had nine schools and about 7,288 students.
The schools include:
- Amsterdam Elementary School (grades K–4)
- Hillsborough Elementary School (grades K–4)
- Sunnymead Elementary School (grades K–4)
- Triangle Elementary School (grades K–4)
- Woodfern Elementary School (grades K–4)
- Woods Road Elementary School (Pre-K–4)
- Auten Road Intermediate School (grades 5–6)
- Hillsborough Middle School (grades 7–8)
- Hillsborough High School (grades 9–12)
Hillsborough Township Transportation
_from_the_overpass_for_Somerset_County_Route_514_(Amwell_Road)_in_Hillsborough_Township,_Somerset_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Roads and Highways
As of 2010, Hillsborough Township had over 211 miles of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the township itself. U.S. Route 206 is the main highway that goes through Hillsborough.
A new part of US 206, called the US 206 Bypass, was built to help with traffic. Construction started in 2010 and was finished in 2021. This bypass is named after Peter J. Biondi, a former Hillsborough mayor. The old US 206 is planned to become a "main street" for the town, with shops and homes.
Other important county roads include CR 514 and CR 533. Interstate 287 is nearby in neighboring towns.
Public Transportation
Hillsborough has bus services provided by SCOOT buses. These buses connect Hillsborough to nearby towns like Manville and Somerville.
Coach USA also offers express bus service to Midtown Manhattan in New York City. These buses run on weekdays, making it easier for people to travel to the city.
Notable People from Hillsborough Township
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Hillsborough Township. Here are a few:
- Lori Alhadeff (born 1975), a school board member who started an organization to promote gun safety.
- John Bell, a former radio DJ.
- Brad Benson (born 1955), a former professional football player for the New York Giants.
- Peter J. Biondi (1942–2011), a politician and former Mayor of Hillsborough.
- Michael Ian Black (born 1971), an actor and comedian.
- Jeannette Brown (born 1934), a chemist and author.
- Jack Ciattarelli (born 1961), a politician.
- Doris Duke (1912–1993), a famous heiress and giver to charity.
- Roy Freiman (born 1959), a politician.
- Jessica Galli (born 1983), a wheelchair racing athlete.
- Jaheim (born 1978), an R&B singer.
- Shaun O'Hara (born 1977), a former professional football player for the New York Giants.
- Ricky Proehl (born 1968), a former professional football player and coach.
- Rich Vos (born 1957), a comedian.
- Peter Dumont Vroom (1791–1873), a former Governor of New Jersey.
See also
In Spanish: Municipio de Hillsborough (Nueva Jersey) para niños
