Readington Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Readington Township, New Jersey
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Township
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House in Darts Mills
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Location of Readington 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 Readington Township, New Jersey
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 Readington Township, New Jersey
Location in Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Readington Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Readington 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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| Royal charter | July 15, 1730 | |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 | |
| Named for | John Reading | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 47.83 sq mi (123.88 km2) | |
| • Land | 47.56 sq mi (123.17 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.27 sq mi (0.70 km2) 0.57% | |
| Area rank | 34th of 565 in state 1st of 26 in county |
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| Elevation | 213 ft (65 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 16,128 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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16,257 | |
| • Rank | 163rd of 565 in state 2nd of 26 in county |
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| • Density | 339.1/sq mi (130.9/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 467th of 565 in state 16th 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 | 3401962250 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882178 | |
| Website | ||
Readington Township is a community located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It is a township, which is a type of local government. In 2020, about 16,128 people lived here.
The township was first formed on July 15, 1730, by a special order from King George II. It was named after John Reading, who was the first governor of New Jersey born in the area. Readington Township officially became one of New Jersey's first townships on February 21, 1798.
Readington Township is the largest township in Hunterdon County. It covers almost 11% of the county's total area. A lot of land here, over 8,000 acres, has been set aside to protect it from building.
Contents
- Exploring Readington Township's Geography
- Population and People of Readington
- Readington's Local Economy
- Arts, Culture, and History
- Education in Readington Township
- Emergency Services Protecting Readington
- Transportation and Getting Around
- Community Events and Fun
- Notable People from Readington Township
- Images for kids
Exploring Readington Township's Geography
Readington Township covers about 47.83 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Mountains and Rivers in Readington
Cushetunk Mountain is a unique, ring-shaped mountain nearby. It was formed about 160 million years ago. The Lenape people, who lived here long ago, called it "Cushetunk," meaning "place of hogs." In the 1960s, a large valley within the mountain was filled with water. This created Round Valley Reservoir, which is the second-deepest lake in New Jersey.
The township has several natural borders. The Lamington River and Rockaway Creek are to the north. The South Branch of the Raritan River is to the south.
Local Communities and Hamlets
Readington Township includes many smaller communities and historic places. Some of these are:
- Whitehouse Station: A community with about 2,089 people, and where the township's train station is located.
- Darts Mills: A small community that grew around an old mill by the South Branch Raritan River.
- Readington Village: This is the oldest settled area in the township.
- Three Bridges: A small community that used to have a passenger train station.
- Whitehouse: A community located north of Whitehouse Station.
Other interesting places include Barley Sheaf, Centerville, Cushetunk, Dreahook, Holcomb Mills, Mechanicsville, New Bromley, Pleasant Run, Potterstown, Rowland's Mills, Stanton, and Stilwells.
Population and People of Readington
Readington Township has seen its population grow over the years.
- In 1810, there were 1,717 people.
- By 1950, the population had grown to 4,080.
- In 2010, there were 16,126 residents.
- The most recent count in 2020 showed 16,128 people living in the township.
Most households in Readington Township are families. Many homes have children under 18. The average age of people living here is about 44 years old.
Readington's Local Economy
Readington Township is home to some important businesses.
- Chubb Corp. has its personal and business insurance offices here.
- QuickChek Corporation, which runs over 100 convenience stores, has its main office in Readington.
In the past, Merck & Co., a very large pharmaceutical company, had its global headquarters here. They have since moved to a nearby town. Readington's location near major roads and other business centers helps its economy.
Arts, Culture, and History
Readington Township has several places where you can learn about history and enjoy cultural programs.
- The Bouman-Stickney Homestead is a historic house.
- Coldbrook School offers special "living history" programs for elementary school children.
- The Eversole-Hall House is another historic building.
- Taylor's Mill was built around 1760. It is a very old mill that helped provide food for soldiers during the Revolutionary War. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The township plans to make it a museum.
Education in Readington Township
Readington Township has a strong school system for its younger residents.
Elementary and Middle Schools
The Readington Township Public Schools serve students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. There are four schools in the district:
- Three Bridges School (Pre-K to 3rd grade)
- Whitehouse School (Kindergarten to 3rd grade)
- Holland Brook School (4th to 5th grade)
- Readington Middle School (6th to 8th grade)
High School Education
After eighth grade, students attend Hunterdon Central High School. This high school also serves students from other nearby townships. It is part of the Hunterdon Central Regional High School District.
Students in eighth grade can also apply to the Hunterdon County Vocational School District. This district offers special career and technical programs. There is no tuition fee for students to attend these programs.
Emergency Services Protecting Readington
Readington Township has dedicated teams to keep its residents safe.
- A full-time Police Department serves the township.
- The Whitehouse Rescue Squad provides ambulance and rescue services. They have over 50 EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians) and a special team for rescues like car accidents or water rescues.
- Four volunteer Fire Companies protect the area:
- East Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Co. (started in 1923)
- Readington Volunteer Fire Co. (started in 1958)
- Three Bridges Volunteer Fire Co. (started in 1927)
- Whitehouse Station Volunteer Fire Co. #1
Transportation and Getting Around
_from_the_overpass_for_Cedar_Road_in_Readington_Township,_Hunterdon_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
Readington Township has many roads and ways to travel.
Major Roads and Highways
Several important roads pass through the township, including:
- Interstate 78
- U.S. Route 202
- Route 22
- Route 31
Public Transportation Options
- Train Service: The White House station offers train service on the Raritan Valley Line. You can travel to Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal, and connect to Penn Station New York in Midtown Manhattan.
- Bus Service: NJ Transit provides local bus service on the 884 route. The Hunterdon County LINK also offers local bus routes connecting to nearby towns like Milford, Clinton, Flemington, and Somerville.
Rail Lines
The Norfolk Southern Railway's Lehigh Line runs through Readington Township. The Black River and Western Railroad is a special train line that carries freight and also offers fun heritage rides. It connects to the Norfolk Southern Railway in Three Bridges.
Community Events and Fun
Readington Township is famous for a big annual event: the New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning. This festival happens at Solberg-Hunterdon Airport. It is the largest summertime hot air balloon festival in North America, attracting many visitors each year.
Notable People from Readington Township
Many interesting people have lived in or are connected to Readington Township. Some of them include:
- Emma Bell (born 1986), an actress.
- William Cheswick (born around 1952), a computer security expert.
- Jack Cust (born 1979), a professional baseball player.
- Bergen Davis (1869–1958), a physicist.
- John De Mott (1790–1870), a US Congressman.
- Isaac G. Farlee (1787–1855), a US Representative.
- Taissa Farmiga (born 1994), an actress.
- J. C. Furnas (1906–2001), a writer and historian.
- Robert Greifeld (born 1957), former CEO of NASDAQ.
- John Knowles Herr (1878–1955), a Major General in the US Army.
- Jonathan Jennings (1784–1834), the first Governor of Indiana.
- Robyn Kenney (born 1979), a field hockey player.
- George H. Large (1850–1939), a New Jersey Senate President.
- Howard Lindsay (1889–1968), a theatrical producer and playwright.
- Tom Malloy (born 1974), an actor and filmmaker.
- William Marchant (1923–1995), a playwright and screenwriter.
- Ed Martin, a politician.
- James N. Pidcock (1836–1899), a US Representative.
- Martha M. Place (1849–1899), a historical figure.
- Donna Simon (born 1960), a politician.
- Dorothy Stickney (1896–1998), a Broadway actress.
Images for kids
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House in Darts Mills
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Location of Readington 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 Readington Township, New Jersey
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I-78 eastbound in Readington
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White House Station
