Tewksbury Township, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tewksbury Township, New Jersey
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Township
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Bartles House on Oldwick Road
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Location of Tewksbury 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 Tewksbury Township, New Jersey
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 Tewksbury Township, New Jersey
Location in Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Tewksbury Township, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Tewksbury 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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| Incorporated | February 21, 1798 | |
| Named for | Tewkesbury, England | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Township | |
| • Body | Township Committee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 31.78 sq mi (82.30 km2) | |
| • Land | 31.65 sq mi (81.96 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2) 0.41% | |
| Area rank | 79th of 565 in state 6th of 26 in county |
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| Elevation | 751 ft (229 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,870 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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5,887 | |
| • Rank | 354th of 565 in state 6th of 26 in county |
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| • Density | 185.5/sq mi (71.6/km2) | |
| • Density rank | 510th of 565 in state 19th 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 | 3401972510 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0882190 | |
Tewksbury Township is a special type of town called a township. It is located in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. This area is also part of the larger New York Metropolitan Area.
In 2020, about 5,870 people lived here. Tewksbury Township is known for being one of the wealthiest communities in New Jersey. Many families here have high incomes.
The township is located in the Raritan Valley region. It borders Morris and Somerset counties. The name "Tewksbury" likely comes from Tewkesbury, England. Since 2003, Tewksbury Township and Tewkesbury, England, have been sister communities.
Contents
History of Tewksbury Township
The land where Tewksbury Township now stands was first home to the Lenape Native Americans. European settlers arrived in 1708. They bought land from the Lenape people.
Tewksbury Township held its first official meeting on March 11, 1755. It was formed partly from Lebanon Township. The township officially became one of New Jersey's first 104 townships on February 21, 1798. Over the years, some parts of Tewksbury were used to create other towns, like Califon borough in 1898.
The first European settlers were from England. Later, many German families moved to the area around 1749. They had a strong influence on the community. Their settlement was called New Germantown. During World War I, people changed the name to Oldwick because of feelings against Germany.
Oldwick is a special place with over 100 old buildings. These buildings show different styles like Victorian, Federal, New England, and Georgian architecture. Oldwick is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which helps protect its history. Zion Lutheran Church in Oldwick was built in 1714. It is the oldest German Lutheran church in New Jersey.
Oldwick is also home to Mane Stream. This center helps people through therapeutic horseback riding.
On April 5, 2024, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake happened in the township. It was felt across the Northeastern United States, including New York City and Philadelphia.
Where is Tewksbury Township?
Tewksbury Township covers about 31.78 square miles. Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
The township shares borders with several other towns. In Hunterdon County, it borders Califon, Clinton Township, Lebanon Township, and Readington Township. It also borders Chester Township and Washington Township in Morris County. In Somerset County, it borders Bedminster Township.
Many small communities and places are found within Tewksbury Township. These include Cokesbury, Fairmount, Farmersville, Fox Hill, Laurel Farms, Mountainville, Oldwick, and Pottersville.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 1,308 | — | |
| 1820 | 1,490 | 13.9% | |
| 1830 | 1,659 | 11.3% | |
| 1840 | 1,944 | 17.2% | |
| 1850 | 2,301 | 18.4% | |
| 1860 | 2,333 | 1.4% | |
| 1870 | 2,327 | −0.3% | |
| 1880 | 2,108 | −9.4% | |
| 1890 | 2,034 | −3.5% | |
| 1900 | 1,883 | * | −7.4% |
| 1910 | 1,742 | −7.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,279 | −26.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,119 | −12.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,200 | 7.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,439 | 19.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,908 | 32.6% | |
| 1970 | 2,959 | 55.1% | |
| 1980 | 4,094 | 38.4% | |
| 1990 | 4,803 | 17.3% | |
| 2000 | 5,541 | 15.4% | |
| 2010 | 5,993 | 8.2% | |
| 2020 | 5,870 | −2.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 5,887 | −1.8% | |
| Population sources: 1810–1920 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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The 2010 United States census counted 5,993 people living in Tewksbury Township. There were 2,189 households, which are groups of people living together. Most households (73%) were married couples. About 35% of households had children under 18.
The population was mostly White (94.16%). There were also people who identified as Black or African American (0.83%), Asian (2.92%), and other races. About 3.49% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the township was 47.3 years old. About 25.3% of the people were under 18.
Parks and Outdoor Fun
Tewksbury Township has a part of the Columbia Trail. This trail was once a railroad line called the Central Railroad of New Jersey High Bridge Branch. Now, it's a great place for walking and biking. The trail is cared for by Hunterdon County Parks and Recreation. It includes a beautiful area called the Ken Lockwood Gorge.
Schools in Tewksbury Township
The Tewksbury Township Schools district serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The district has two schools. In the 2021–22 school year, there were 500 students and about 56 teachers. This means there were about 9 students for every teacher.
The schools in the district are:
- Tewksbury Elementary School: This school has 309 students in grades PreK-4. It was named a Blue Ribbon School in 2011.
- Old Turnpike School: This school has 186 students in grades 5-8. It was also honored as a Blue Ribbon School in 2020.
After eighth grade, students go to Voorhees High School. This high school is in Lebanon Township. It also serves students from nearby towns like Califon and High Bridge. Voorhees High School is part of the North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District.
Students in eighth grade in Hunterdon County can also apply to the Hunterdon County Vocational School District. This district offers special programs for careers and technical skills. There is no tuition fee for students to attend these programs.
Oldwick Historic District
The Oldwick Historic District is a special area that covers about 170 acres. It is located along County Route 517 (Main Street) and other streets in the historic Oldwick neighborhood.
People started settling in this community in the 1740s. The Zion Lutheran Church, built in 1749, is a key building in the district. Other important buildings include the Tewksbury Inn (built in 1800) and the Oldwick Methodist Church (built in 1865).
The Oldwick Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This means it is recognized for its important history, architecture, and businesses. There are 127 historic buildings in the district.
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Zion Lutheran Church
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Tewksbury Inn
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Oldwick Methodist Church
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Van Doren House
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Victorian style house
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Oldwick General Store
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Queen Anne style house
Getting Around Tewksbury Township
_at_Exit_24_(Hunterdon_County_Route_523_TO_Hunterdon_County_Route_517,_Oldwick,_Whitehouse)_in_Tewksbury_Township,_Hunterdon_County,_New_Jersey.jpg)
As of 2010, Tewksbury Township had about 99 miles of roads. Most of these roads are maintained by the township itself.
Interstate 78 goes through the township. You can get on or off this highway at Exit 24, which connects to Oldwick Road (County Route 523). County Route 517 also runs through the township.
Famous People from Tewksbury Township
- Harriet Adams (1892–1982), a writer and publisher. She wrote many books, including some in the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series.
- John Amos (born 1939), an actor.
- Eileen Ford (1922–2014) and Gerard W. Ford (1924–2008), who started the famous Ford Models.
- James Gandolfini (1961–2013), an actor known for his role in the TV show The Sopranos.
- Alison Haislip (born 1981), an actress and TV correspondent.
- Charlie Murphy (1959–2017), an actor and comedian.
- Joe Piscopo (born 1951), an actor and comedian.
- Frederica von Stade (born 1945), a famous opera singer.
- Christine Todd Whitman (born 1946), who was the 50th Governor of New Jersey.
