Raritan, New Jersey Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Raritan, New Jersey

Borough

Nevius Street Bridge

Seal

Motto(s):

"A friendly town of friendly people"

Location of Raritan in Somerset County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Somerset County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).

Census Bureau map of Raritan, New Jersey

Raritan, New Jersey

Location in Somerset County, New Jersey

Raritan, New Jersey

Location in New Jersey

Raritan, New Jersey

Location in the United States

April 3, 1868 (as town)

Reincorporated

May 12, 1948 (as borough)

Named for

Raritan tribe

Government

• Type

Borough

• Body

Borough Council

Area

• Total

2.03 sq mi (5.27 km²)

• Land

1.99 sq mi (5.16 km²)

• Water

0.04 sq mi (0.11 km²) 2.02%

Area rank

412th of 565 in state
17th of 21 in county

Elevation

125 ft (38 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

7,835

• Estimate

(2023)

8,422

• Rank

297th of 565 in state
14th of 21 in county

• Density

3,933.2/sq mi (1,518.6/km²)

• Density rank

163rd of 565 in state
6th of 21 in county

Time zone

UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))

• Summer (DST)

UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))

ZIP Codes

08869

Area code(s)

908

FIPS code

3403561980

GNIS feature ID

0885365

Raritan is a small town, called a borough, in Somerset County, New Jersey. In 2020, about 7,835 people lived there. This was the highest number of people ever counted in Raritan!

The name Raritan comes from the Raritans, a group of Native American people called Lenape. The name of their tribe might mean "forked river" or "point on a tidal river."

Raritan's Story: A Look Back in Time
Where is Raritan? Geography and Location
Parks and Fun Places
Learning in Raritan: Schools and Education
Getting Around: Transportation in Raritan
- Train and Bus Services
Community Life in Raritan
Famous People from Raritan
Images for kids
See also

Raritan's Story: A Look Back in Time

Raritan started as a part of Bridgewater Township on April 3, 1868. Even though it's a small place, Raritan has a rich history. It has played a part in local, national, and even world events!

The Old Woolen Mills

The Raritan Woolen Mills in 1918, during WWI.

Raritan is located on the Raritan River. This river was important for trading goods to New York City. Because of this, Raritan became a busy mill town in the 1800s and early 1900s.

The Raritan Woolen Mills opened in 1846. It became famous for making textiles (cloth) across the United States. In 1882, its name changed to the Somerset Manufacturing Company. At its busiest, around 400 people worked there. The mill made uniforms and blankets for the Union Army during the Civil War. It also made uniforms for the United States Army during World War I.

Ending World War I

A special plaque marks the spot where the Knox–Porter Resolution was signed in 1921.

The Knox–Porter Resolution officially ended the United States' part in World War I. President Harding signed this important document. He signed it at the home of New Jersey Senator Joseph S. Frelinghuysen Sr. on July 2, 1921. You can find a memorial plaque marking this historic spot in Raritan.

Becoming an Independent Borough

The Nevius Street Bridge, built in 1886, is still used by people walking across the river today.

For many years, Raritan and Bridgewater had disagreements. Because of this, the government allowed Raritan to become its own independent borough. This happened on May 12, 1948. The new borough included the old town and some extra land from Bridgewater Township.

Where is Raritan? Geography and Location

The John Basilone Veterans Memorial Bridge helps cars cross the river.

Raritan is a small area, about 2.03 square miles (5.27 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Raritan shares its borders with other towns in Somerset County. These include Bridgewater Township, Hillsborough Township, and Somerville. Raritan is part of the Raritan Valley region in central New Jersey.

Parks and Fun Places

Raritan has several public parks where you can play and relax.

Frelinghuysen Park: This park is named after General John Frederick Frelinghuysen. It has two baseball fields, two basketball courts, two tennis courts, and a playground.
Basilone Park: This park also has a recreational pool that is open in the summer.
Elizabeth Avenue Park: Another great spot for outdoor activities.

All these parks offer tables for picnics, making them perfect for a day out with family and friends.

Learning in Raritan: Schools and Education

Students from Raritan go to school in the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District. This district is shared with students from Bridgewater Township. It's one of the largest school districts in New Jersey!

The district has 11 schools. Most of the schools are in Bridgewater. However, the John F. Kennedy Primary School is located right in Raritan.

Primary Schools (PreK-4): Adamsville, Bradley Gardens, Crim, Hamilton, John F. Kennedy, Milltown, Van Holten.
Intermediate Schools (5-6): Eisenhower, Hillside.
Middle School (7-8): Bridgewater–Raritan Middle School.
High School (9-12): Bridgewater–Raritan High School.

Bridgewater-Raritan High School received a special award in 1999-2000. It was given the National Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence. This is a very high honor for schools in the United States!

Students can also choose to attend the Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School. This school in Bridgewater offers special training for jobs and regular school subjects.

For those who prefer a Catholic school, St. Ann Classical Academy is in Raritan. It teaches students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade.

Getting Around: Transportation in Raritan

U.S. Route 202 northbound where it meets U.S. Route 206 and Route 28 at the Somerville Circle in Raritan.

Raritan has several important roads. U.S. Route 202 goes through the borough from east to west. U.S. Route 206 and New Jersey Route 28 run along its borders.

A well-known spot is the Somerville Circle. This is where U.S. Routes 202 and 206 meet New Jersey Route 28. Part of this circle is in Raritan. It was built in the 1930s and is a very busy intersection.

Train and Bus Services

The Raritan train station is a historic building.

The Raritan train station offers NJ Transit train service. You can take a train on the Raritan Valley Line to places like Newark Penn Station. Raritan is often the last stop on this train line, though some trains go further west to High Bridge.

Buses also serve Raritan. Community Access Transit operates routes like CAT-1R, 2R, and 3R. These buses can take you to places like Raritan Valley Community College, New Brunswick, and Bridgewater Commons.

Community Life in Raritan

General John Frelinghuysen's old home is now the Raritan Public Library.

The Raritan Public Library is a special place. It used to be the home of General John Frederick Frelinghuysen. Now, it's a public library for everyone in the community to enjoy books and learning.

Famous People from Raritan

Many interesting people have connections to Raritan:

John Basilone (1916–1945): A brave soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in World War II.
Tony Bongiovi (born 1947): A record producer and sound engineer.
Isaac Brokaw (1746–1826): A skilled clockmaker.
Ben Carnevale (1915–2008): A basketball coach who is in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Jack Ciattarelli (born 1961): A former member of the New Jersey government.
Joseph S. Frelinghuysen Sr. (1869–1948): A U.S. Senator from New Jersey.
Mike Grosso (born 1947): A former professional basketball player.
Terry Matalas (born 1975): A screenwriter who grew up near Raritan.
Frank Perantoni (1923–1991): A professional football player.
Elvira Woodruff (born 1951): A children's writer known for fantasy and history stories.