| Main | Births etc |
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Raritan, New Jersey | |
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Motto: "A friendly town of friendly people" | |
 Map of Raritan in Somerset County. Inset: Location of Somerset County highlighted in the State of New Jersey. | |
 Census Bureau map of Raritan, New Jersey | |
| Country | United States |
| State | New Jersey |
| County | Somerset |
| Incorporated | June 12, 1948 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough (New Jersey) |
| • Mayor | Jo-Ann Liptak (term ends 2011)[1] |
| • Administrator | Daniel Jaxel[2] |
| Area | |
• Total |
2.037 sq mi (5.276 km2) |
| • Land | 1.993 sq mi (5.162 km2) |
| • Water | 0.044 sq mi (0.114 km2) 1.81% |
Raritan is a Borough in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 6,881.[5]
Geography[]
Raritan is located at (40.572127,-74.646514). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.037 square miles (5.276 km2), of which, 1.993 square miles (5.162 km2) of it is land and 0.044 square miles (0.114 km2) of it (2.15%) is water.[10][4] Raritan is in the western division of the Raritan Valley (a line of cities in central New Jersey), along with Branchburg and Bridgewater.
History[]
Raritan Town was originally established as a subdivision within Bridgewater Township by act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 3, 1868. After a series of bitter lawsuits between Raritan and Bridgewater in the 1930s and 1940s, the Legislature allowed Raritan to become an independent Borough by an Act on May 12, 1948, based on the results of a referendum passed on June 12, 1948. The new borough incorporated the old town and an additional portion of Bridgewater Township.[11]
The Knox-Porter Resolution ending United States involvement in World War I was signed by President Harding at the estate of New Jersey Senator Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen, Sr. on July 2, 1921.[12][13]
Demographics[]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 4,751 | ||
| 1940 | 4,839 | 1.9% | |
| 1950 | 5,131 | 6.0% | |
| 1960 | 6,137 | 19.6% | |
| 1970 | 6,691 | 9.0% | |
| 1980 | 6,128 | −8.4% | |
| 1990 | 5,798 | −5.4% | |
| 2000 | 6,338 | 9.3% | |
| 2010 | 6,881 | 8.6% | |
| Population 1930 - 1990.[14] | |||
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 6,338 people, 2,556 households, and 1,671 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,113.8 people per square mile (1,199.6/km2). There were 2,644 housing units at an average density of 1,299.0 per square mile (500.4/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 87.74% White, 0.93% African American, 0.08% Native American, 8.17% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.64% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.41% of the population.
There were 2,556 households out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $51,122, and the median income for a family was $59,962. Males had a median income of $46,071 versus $35,704 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $26,420. About 5.5% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.
Government[]
Local government[]
Raritan is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.[3]
As of 2012, the Mayor of the Borough of Raritan is Jo-Ann Liptak (term expires December 31, 2015). Members of the Raritan Borough Council are Council President Stefanie Gara (2012), Denise Carra (2014), Paul Giraldi (2013), Gregory Lobell (2012), Anthony Soriano, Jr. (2013) and Donald Tozzi (2014).[15]
Rocco Miele was Raritan's first mayor, serving from its founding in 1948 to 1953.[16]
Federal, state and county representation[]
Raritan is in the 11th Congressional district. New Jersey's Eleventh Congressional District is represented by Rodney Frelinghuysen (R, Harding Township). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Bob Menendez (D, Hoboken).
Raritan is in the For the 2022–2023 session, the 16th Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the New Jersey Senate by Andrew Zwicker (D, South Brunswick) and in the General Assembly by Roy Freiman (D, Hillsborough Township) and Sadaf Jaffer (D, Montgomery Township).[17]
Somerset County is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners, whose members are elected at-large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held on the first Friday of January, the board selects a Director and Deputy Director from among its members.[18] As of 2022, Somerset County's County Commissioners are Director Shanel Robinson (D, Franklin Township, term as commissioner ends December 31, 2024; term as director ends 2022),[19] Deputy Director Melonie Marano (D, Green Brook Township, term as commissioner and as deputy director ends 2022),[20] Paul Drake (D, Hillsborough Township, 2023),[21] Douglas Singleterry (D, North Plainfield, 2023)[22] and Sara Sooy (D, Basking Ridge in Bernards Township, 2024).[23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as constitutional officers. These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).[30] Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Steve Peter (D, Somerville, 2022),[31][32] Sheriff Darrin Russo (D, Franklin Township, 2022)[33][34] and Surrogate Bernice "Tina" Jalloh (D, Franklin Township, 2025)[35][36][26]
Education[]
Students from Raritan attend the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, together with students from Bridgewater Township. Approximately 1,000 students of the 8,800 students in the district are from Raritan. All of the school facilities are in Bridgewater, except for John F. Kennedy School, which is in Raritan. Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[37]) are seven K-4 elementary schools — Adamsville School (531 students), Bradley Gardens School (363), Crim School (444), Hamilton School (451), John F. Kennedy School (466), Milltown School (531) and Van Holten School (495) — both Eisenhower Intermediate School (846) and Hillside Intermediate School (576) for grades 5&6, Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School (1,521) for grades 7&8 and Bridgewater-Raritan High School (2,863) for grades 9-12.
During the 1999-2000 school year, Bridgewater-Raritan High School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education,[38] the highest award an American school can receive from the federal government.[39][40]
Transportation[]
The Raritan train station offers New Jersey Transit service on the Raritan Valley Line. The station is north of the town center on Thompson Street. The station building is south of the tracks in the main parking lot and was built in the early 1890s. There are also three other small lots for this station. Raritan is the last station to the west that is serviced by all Raritan Valley Line trains.
Notable residents[]
Notable current and former residents of Raritan include:
- John Basilone (1916–45), awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Guadalcanal.[41]
- Isaac Brokaw (1746–1826), clockmaker.
- Ben Carnevale (1915–2008), basketball coach inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.[42]
- Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen, Sr. (1869-1948), U.S. Senator representing New Jersey.[43]
References[]
- ^ 2011 New Jersey Mayors Directory, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Accessed November 26, 2011.
- ^ Directory, Raritan Borough. Accessed March 25, 2011.
- ^ a b 2005 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, April 2005, p. 77.
- ^ a b c Gazetteer of New Jersey Places, United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 17, 2012.
- ^ a b 2010 Census Data, accessed February 11, 2011.
- ^ USGS GNIS: Borough of Raritan , Geographic Names Information System. Accessed January 4, 2008.
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ A Cure for the Common Codes: New Jersey, Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 14, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 224.
- ^ Staff. "Raritan marks the 90th anniversary of the official end of WW1", The Messenger-Gazette, September 12, 2011. Accessed January 10, 2012. "President Warren G. Harding signed the Knox-Porter Resolution on July 2, 1921 on the estate of Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen, officially ending America’s involvement in World War 1. A ceremony marking the event was held on Sept. 10 at the Raritan library."
- ^ Staff. "HARDING CONSULTS OVER PROCLAIMING STATUS OF PEACE; Confers With Hughes at White House on Need of a Presidential Declaration. NEW TREATY CONSIDERED Belief Persists in Some Quarters That Part of Versailles Agreement Will Be Used. WILL STAND BY THE ALLIES But No Decision Is Announced as to the Form of the Administration's Action.", The New York Times, July 6, 1921. Accessed January 10, 2012. "Secretary of State Hughes went to the white House this afternoon shortly after the return of President Harding from his weekend visit to the home of Senator Frelinghuysen, at Raritan, N.J., and conferred with the President..."
- ^ New Jersey Resident Population by Municipality: 1930 - 1990, Workforce New Jersey Public Information Network. Accessed March 1, 2007.
- ^ Raritan's Mayor and Boro Council, Borough of Raritan. Accessed March 1, 2012.
- ^ Raritan's Mayors, Raritan Online. Accessed November 26, 2011.
- ^ Legislative Roster for District 16, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2022.
- ^ Elected Officials, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ Commissioner Deputy Director Melonie Marano, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ Commissioner Paul M. Drake, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ Commissioner Douglas Singleterry, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ Commissioner Sara Sooy, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ Board of County Commissioners, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ 2021 County Data Sheet, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ a b 2021 Directory of County & Municipal Offices, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed May 1, 2022.
- ^ 2021 General Election Winning Candidates, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.
- ^ Somerset County General Election November 3, 2020 Final Certified Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, dated December 3, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
- ^ General Election November 5, 2019 Final Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.
- ^ New Jersey State Constitution (1947), Article VII, Section II, Paragraph 2, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ County Clerk Steve Peter, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ Sheriff Darrin J. Russo, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ Somerset County Surrogate, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2021.
- ^ Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.
- ^ Data for the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 30, 2011.
- ^ Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed March 30, 2011.
- ^ "CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department", Journal Inquirer, November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."
- ^ "Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test" The Washington Post, September 29, 2005. "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."
- ^ Hochron, Adam. "Brother returns first time to Raritan's Basilone Parade", The Reporter, September 9, 2004. Accessed September 8, 2007. " Basilone, born in 1916, grew up in Raritan until joining the Army in 1934. After serving for three years in the Philippines, he returned home for a few years before enlisting in the Marine Corps."
- ^ Frezza Jr., Harry. "Raritan man attends Final Four for 57th time", Courier News, April 1, 2001. Accessed August 2, 2007. "Ben Carnevale, who turns 86 on Oct. 30, has had the kind of life some people might call legendary. In fact, when you look at his life, which began in a house just off the last trolley stop on Gaston Avenue in Raritan Borough, you might agree. The 1934 Somerville High School graduate is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He is also the winningest coach in United States Naval Academy history, a survivor of a ship that was torpedoed during World War II, and somebody who had a lot to do with building the NCAA basketball tournament."
- ^ Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Accessed January 10, 2012.
External links[]
- Raritan Borough official web site
- Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District
- Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
- Data for the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics
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