Branchburg, New Jersey
Township
Raritan Valley Community College
Seal
Location of Branchburg Township inSomerset County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Somerset County inNew Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Census Bureau map of Branchburg Township, New Jersey
Branchburg Location inSomerset County Show map of Somerset County, New Jersey Branchburg Location inNew Jersey Show map of New Jersey Branchburg Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Coordinates:40°33′37.44″N74°42′52.92″W / 40.5604000°N 74.7147000°W /40.5604000; -74.7147000[1][2]
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
County	Somerset
Incorporated	April 5, 1845
Named after	Raritan River juncture
Government [7]
• Type	Township
• Body	Township Committee
• Mayor	Thomas Young (R, December 31, 2025)[3][4]
• Administrator	Gregory J. Bonin[5]
• Municipal clerk	Maggie Schmitt[6]
Area [1]
• Total	20.30 sq mi (52.58 km2)
• Land	20.07 sq mi (51.98 km2)
• Water	0.23 sq mi (0.60 km2)  1.14%
• Rank	141st of 565 in state 7th of 21 in county[1]
Elevation [8]	161 ft (49 m)
Population  (2020)[9][10]
• Total	14,940
• Estimate  (2023)[9][11]	15,246
• Rank	177th of 565 in state 8th of 21 in county[12]
• Density	744.4/sq mi (287.4/km2)
• Rank	414th of 565 in state 15th of 21 in county[12]
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT))
ZIP Code	08853 –Neshanic Station 08876 –Somerville[13]
Area code	908[14]
FIPS code	3403507180[1][15][16]
GNIS feature ID	0882175[17]
Website	www.branchburg.nj.us

Branchburg is atownship inSomerset County, in theU.S. state ofNew Jersey. As of the2020 United States census, the township's population was 14,940,^[9][10] its highest decennial census count ever and an increase of 481 (+3.3%) from the2010 census count of 14,459,^[18][19] which in turn had reflected a decline of 107 (−0.7%) from the 14,566 counted at the2000 census.^[20]

While the area of today's Branchburg has a history antedating theAmerican Revolutionary War, the township itself was incorporated by an act of theNew Jersey Legislature on April 5, 1845, from portions ofBridgewater Township.^[21] The township is named for its location at a point where branches of theRaritan River merge.^[22]

The land that is now known as Branchburg Township was originally inhabited by theRaritans, a tribe of theLenni LenapeNative Americans. By 1686 most of the land was purchased from the Lenape by the Lords Proprietors ofEast Jersey, who sold the land in small parcels to numerous settlers, mostly ofDutch orEnglish extraction.^[23] With the 1688 redrawing of the boundary between East andWest Jersey, the Branchburg region was split betweenEssex County to the north and the newly formed Somerset County to the south. With Somerset's acquisition of territory from Essex andMiddlesex Counties in 1741, Branchburg lay entirely within Somerset County.^[24]

Bridgewater Township was chartered in 1749. The residents of the part of Bridgewater west of theRaritan River petitioned the New Jersey Legislature for incorporation as a separate township, which was granted by an act dated April 5, 1845.^[21][25] The first town meeting was held April 14, 1845, in White Oak Tavern, a stagecoach stop and local meeting place along theOld York Road.^[25]

According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 20.30 square miles (52.58 km²), including 20.07 square miles (51.98 km²) of land and 0.23 square miles (0.6 km²) of water (1.14%).^[1][2]

The township is 11 miles (18 km) long and approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) across at its widest point.Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Burnt Mill, Centerville, Fox Hollow, Neshanic,Neshanic Station (ZIP Code 08853) andNorth Branch (ZIP Code 08876), North Branch Depot and Woodfern.^[26][27]

The township is bordered on the west byReadington Township inHunterdon County; on the north byBedminster Township and on the south byBridgewater Township andHillsborough Township.^[28][29][30]

The main watercourses are theLamington River on the north, theNorth Branch of the Raritan River on the east and theSouth Branch of the Raritan River on the east and south. These rivers along with small streams and brooks are excellent for fishermen who enjoy trout stocked streams and rivers. Branchburg is in the Raritan Valley, a line of cities inCentral New Jersey. Branchburg lies in the western division of the Raritan Valley along with Bridgewater and Raritan.

The2010 United States census counted 14,459 people, 5,271 households, and 4,032 families in the township. Thepopulation density was 721.4 per square mile (278.5/km²). There were 5,419 housing units at an average density of 270.4 per square mile (104.4/km²). The racial makeup was 86.80% (12,550)White, 2.25% (326)Black or African American, 0.15% (22)Native American, 8.40% (1,215)Asian, 0.03% (5)Pacific Islander, 0.59% (86) fromother races, and 1.76% (255) from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.45% (643) of the population.^[18]

Of the 5,271 households, 38.2% had children under the age of 18; 67.6% were married couples living together; 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.5% were non-families. Of all households, 18.8% were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.17.^[18]

26.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 33.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.6 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 92.4 males.^[18]

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010American Community Survey showed that (in 2010inflation-adjusted dollars)median household income was $119,092 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,934) and the median family income was $136,310 (+/− $12,919). Males had a median income of $97,359 (+/− $7,041) versus $61,192 (+/− $8,826) for females. Theper capita income for the borough was $51,387 (+/− $2,945). About 1.5% of families and 1.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.^[41]

As of the2000 United States census^[15] there were 14,566 people, 5,272 households, and 4,064 families residing in the township. The population density was 719.1 inhabitants per square mile (277.6/km²). There were 5,405 housing units with an average density of 266.8 per square mile (103.0/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 90.44%White, 1.95%African American, 0.10%Native American, 6.17%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.39% fromother races, and 0.92% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.69% of the population.^[39][40]

There were 5,272 households, out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% weremarried couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.19.^[39][40]

In the township the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64 and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.^[39][40]

The median income for a household in the township was $96,864, and the median income for a family was $110,268. Males had a median income of $70,726 versus $47,786 for females. Theper capita income for the township was $41,241. About 1.1% of families and 1.9% of the population were living below thepoverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.^[39][40]

Branchburg Township is the home to the31 Tannery Project which serves as the corporate headquarters for Ferreira Construction, the Ferreira Group, and Noveda Technologies. The 42,000-square-foot (3,900 m²) office and shop building was constructed in 2006. It was the first building in the state of New Jersey to meet New Jersey's Executive Order 54 and the firstnet zero electric commercial building in the United States.^[42]

Branchburg is home to the 2012 14U Babe Ruth World Series Championship baseball team, the first from the state since 1989. The underdog Bulldogs, consisting of players drawn from a tryout pool totaling 16 players, competed and won against teams drawn from tryout pools as large as 500 players.^[43]

Branchburg Township operates under theTownship form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.^[44] The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the votersat-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.^[7][45] The township has been governed by a five-member Township Council since the 1971 elections, when the population surpassed 4,000 in the1970 United States census, mandating an expansion from the three-member committee that had been in place until then. A mayor and deputy mayor are selected from among the council from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting.^[25]

As of 2024^[update], members of the Township Committee areMayor Thomas L. Young (Republican Party, term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2025),Deputy Mayor Brendon Beatrice (R, term on committee ends 2027; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), Anna P. Columbus (R, 2027), David Owens (R, 2025) and James G. Schworn (R, 2026).^{[3][46][47][48][49][50]}

In January 2020, the Township Committee chose David Owens from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Robert Petrelli until he resigned immediately after his new three-year term started.^[51]

In July 2015, Patricia Rees resigned from office, citing her employment by the nonpartisan New Jersey School Board Association.^[52]

Branchburg Township is located in the 7th Congressional District^[53] and is part of New Jersey's 16th state legislative district.^[54][55][56]

For the119th United States Congress,New Jersey's 7th congressional district is represented byThomas Kean Jr. (R,Westfield).^[57] New Jersey is represented in theUnited States Senate byDemocratsCory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) andAndy Kim (Moorestown, term ends 2031).^[58]

For the2026–2027 session, the16th legislative district of theNew Jersey Legislature is represented in theNew Jersey Senate byAndrew Zwicker (D,South Brunswick) and in theGeneral Assembly byMitchelle Drulis (D,East Amwell Township) andRoy Freiman (D,Hillsborough Township).^[59]

Somerset County is governed by a five-memberBoard of County Commissioners, whose members are electedat-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 in the first week of January, the board selects a Director and deputy director from among its members.^[60] As of 2025^[update], Somerset County's County Commissioners are Director Shanel Robinson (D,Franklin Township, term as commissioner ends 2027; term as director ends 2026),^[61]Deputy Director Paul Drake (D,Hillsborough Township, term as commissioner and as deputy director ends 2026),^[62]Melonie Marano (D,Green Brook Township, 2028),^[63]Elizabeth Graner (D,Bernards Township, 2026; elected to serve an unexpired term)^[64] and Sara Sooy (D,Bedminster Township, 2027).^{[65][66][67][68][69][70][71]}

Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis are Clerk Steve Peter (D,Somerville, 2027),^[72][73]Sheriff Darrin Russo (D, Franklin Township, 2028)^[74][75] and Surrogate Bernice "Tina" Jalloh (D, Franklin Township, 2030).^[76][77][68]

As of March 2011, there were a total of 9,970 registered voters in Branchburg Township, of which 1,832 (18.4% vs. 26.0% countywide) were registered asDemocrats, 3,650 (36.6% vs. 25.7%) were registered asRepublicans and 4,484 (45.0% vs. 48.2%) were registered asUnaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered asLibertarians orGreens.^[78] Among the township's 2010 Census population, 69.0% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 93.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).^[78][79]

In the2012 presidential election, RepublicanMitt Romney received 60.2% of the vote (4,537 cast), ahead of DemocratBarack Obama with 38.5% (2,902 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (92 votes), among the 7,568 ballots cast by the township's 10,499 registered voters (37 ballots werespoiled), for a turnout of 72.1%.^[82][83] In the2008 presidential election, RepublicanJohn McCain received 4,651 votes (58.5% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,172 votes (39.9% vs. 52.1%) and other candidates with 92 votes (1.2% vs. 1.1%), among the 7,956 ballots cast by the township's 9,643 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.5% (vs. 78.7% in Somerset County).^[84] In the2004 presidential election, RepublicanGeorge W. Bush received 4,706 votes (61.6% vs. 51.5% countywide), ahead of DemocratJohn Kerry with 2,835 votes (37.1% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 79 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 7,639 ballots cast by the township's 9,087 registered voters, for a turnout of 84.1% (vs. 81.7% in the whole county).^[85]

In the2013 gubernatorial election, RepublicanChris Christie received 77.1% of the vote (3,651 cast), ahead of DemocratBarbara Buono with 21.3% (1,010 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (77 votes), among the 4,804 ballots cast by the township's 10,612 registered voters (66 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.3%.^[86][87] In the2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 3,945 votes (69.1% vs. 55.8% countywide), ahead of DemocratJon Corzine with 1,266 votes (22.2% vs. 34.1%), IndependentChris Daggett with 445 votes (7.8% vs. 8.7%) and other candidates with 27 votes (0.5% vs. 0.7%), among the 5,706 ballots cast by the township's 9,777 registered voters, yielding a 58.4% turnout (vs. 52.5% in the county).^[88]

Branchburg Township is served by three major Emergency Services; a full-time Police Department, an all-volunteer Emergency Medical & Rescue Services Squad, and four all-volunteer Fire Departments.

The Branchburg Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Young, was established on June 16, 1980. The Department currently has 26 full-time sworn officers, two civilian employees, seven crossing guards, and 13 Emergency Management volunteers. The Department has specialized units of officers who have taken on duties in addition to their patrol or detective work. These include the Detective Bureau, Juvenile Officer, School Resources, Traffic Safety, Community Policing, Services, Bike Patrol, First-Aid, Explorers program and Emergency Management.^[89][90]

On January 26, 2010, a clerk at theQuick Chek store at 1296 Easton Turnpike in Branchburg called officers about a suspicious person in the store.^[91] Officers arrestedLloyd Woodson, and found in his possession and in his motel room a large weapons cache that included illegal weapons and ammunition, a detailed map ofFort Drum, and a traditional red-and-white Middle Eastern headdress. He was charged on multiple state and federal weapons charges.^[92] The three officers who responded to the call received an Exceptional Duty Award for their actions.^[93]

Emergency Medical Services and Rescue Services are provided throughout the Township by the Branchburg Rescue Squad, which was formed in October 1955 and continues to serve the residents and businesses on an all-volunteer basis. As of 2013, officers include President Carol Waechter and Chief Matt Hoffman. The Branchburg volunteers rely solely on donations received from the community. Services provided include Basic Life Support,Emergency Medical Services (BLS/EMS), NFPA Technician Level: Vehicle Extrication, Water Rescue, Confined Space, Rope Rescue, High Angle Rescue NFPA Operations Level: Ice Rescue NFPA Awareness Level: Trench Collapse, Building & Structural Collapse. Operating out of Station 74 Rescue at 113 River Road are three BLSAmbulances, a Heavy Rescue Services Unit, one Rescue Services Unit, one First Responder/Command Unit and two inflatable rescue boats.^[94]

The Township of Branchburg is covered by four volunteer fire departments: North Branch Volunteer Fire Company in the north,^[95] Readington Volunteer Fire Company to the west,^[96] Neshanic Volunteer Fire Department on the south^[97] and Country Hills Volunteer Fire Company covering the central portion of the township.^[98][99]

TheBranchburg Township School District serves public school students inpre-kindergarten througheighth grade.^[100] As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,325 students and 152.7 classroom teachers (on anFTE basis), for astudent–teacher ratio of 8.7:1.^[101] Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from theNational Center for Education Statistics^[102]) are Whiton Elementary School^[103] with 544 students in grades Pre-K–3, Stony Brook School^[104] with 287 students in grades 4–5 and Branchburg Central Middle School^[105] with 486 students in grades 6–8.^{[106][107][108][109]}

The public secondary school serving Branchburg forninth throughtwelfth grades isSomerville High School, which students attend as part of asending/receiving relationship with theSomerville Public Schools.^[110][111] As of the 2020–2021 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,155 students and 92.0 classroom teachers (on anFTE basis), for astudent–teacher ratio of 12.6:1.^[112]

Midland School is a non-profit special education school serving the individual social, emotional, academic and career needs of children with developmental disabilities. The school serves 245 students, ranging in age from 5 to 21 years old, from central and northern New Jersey.^[113]

Branchburg Township is the home of the main campus ofRaritan Valley Community College.^[114]

As of May 2010^[update], the township had a total of 113.08 miles (181.98 km) of roadways, of which 87.96 miles (141.56 km) were maintained by the municipality, 18.74 miles (30.16 km) by Somerset County and 6.38 miles (10.27 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation.^[115]

Branchburg Township is centrally located with access to major roadways and highways.U.S. Route 202 andU.S. Route 22 travel through the township with easy passage toInterstate 78,Interstate 287,Garden State Parkway, andRoute 206, enabling residents to travel to New York City andPhiladelphia within one hour.

NJ Transit train service between Branchburg and New York City is available on theRaritan Valley Line at theNorth Branch station (located on Station Road), which offers limited daily service and no weekend trains.^[116] TheRaritan Valley Line has weekly service from North Branch Station toNewark Penn Station, where connections can be made toPennsylvania Station inMidtown Manhattan.^[117]

TheNorfolk Southern Railway'sLehigh Line (formerly the mainline of theLehigh Valley Railroad), runs through Branchburg.^{[citation needed]}

NJ Transit offers bus service to and fromNewark on the65 line with local service on the884 route.^[118]

Trans-Bridge Lines offers bus service betweenNew Hope,Pennsylvania, and New York City, with a stop at the Municipal Park-and-Ride facility on Route 202 North on a daily basis, with westbound service on the Doylestown route toBethlehem, Pennsylvania, and eastbound toNewark Liberty International Airport and thePort Authority Bus Terminal inMidtown Manhattan.^[119]

Transport of New Jersey bus service between New York City andAllentown, Pennsylvania, is available on a daily basis.^{[citation needed]}

Newark Liberty International Airport is located approximately 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Branchburg. Also within driving distance areLehigh Valley International Airport (ABE, formerly Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton International Airport) nearAllentown,Pennsylvania,John F. Kennedy International Airport andLa Guardia Airport in New York, as well as theTrenton-Mercer Airport nearTrenton andPrinceton inMercer County.

TheSouth Branch Schoolhouse, located on South Branch Road, is a one-room schoolhouse built in 1873, the last one-room school house in use in the county.^[120][121] Its purpose was to educate children in grades 1–8 from Branchburg and Hillsborough townships. It was closed in 1965. In 2007 the schoolhouse was renovated to add the bell tower back onto the top of the building. Also known as the Little Red Schoolhouse, it is now owned by the township of Branchburg. Notable students at the Little Red Schoolhouse include opera star and Edison protégéAnna Case and Marion Van Fleet, the mother of actor Lee Van Cleef.^[121] It was added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 2005 for its significance in architecture and education.^[122]

TheNeshanic Station Historic District was added to the NRHP in 2016 for its significance in community development. It includes theNeshanic Station Lenticular Truss Bridge crossing theSouth Branch Raritan River.^[123]

• 
  South Branch Schoolhouse
• 
  Colonial Revival style house in Neshanic Station
• 
  Neshanic Station Lenticular Truss Bridge

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Branchburg include:

• Christopher Bateman (born 1957), member of theNew Jersey Senate representing the16th Legislative District, who served as mayor of Branchburg in 1986^[124]
• Raymond Bateman (1927–2016), politician, who represented Somerset County in theNew Jersey Senate in the 1960s and 1970s and was the Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey in 1977^[125]
• Sean Baker (born 1971),Palme d'Or winning,Oscar nominated film director^[126]
• Frank Chapot (1932–2016), Olympic silver medalist equestrian^[127]
• Jeffrey Chiesa (born 1965),New Jersey Attorney General who was named to theUnited States Senate to fillFrank Lautenberg's vacant seat on an interim basis from June 2013 until theOctober 2013 special election, whenCory Booker took office^[128]
• Robert Cox (1813–1890), politician who served in theMichigan House of Representatives^[129]
• Denise Coyle (born 1953), member of theNew Jersey General Assembly from 2008 to 2012 who served as mayor of Branchburg in 1993^[130]
• Mary Eccles, Viscountess Eccles (1912–2003), book collector and author, who established one of the largest private collections of 18th century literature^[131]
• Anthony Gargiulo (born 1984),defensive end who played in theCanadian Football League for theCalgary Stampeders^[132]
• Bob Masterson (1915–1994),American footballend who played in theNational Football League for theWashington Redskins^[133]
• Brendan O'Hare, comedian known for his absurdist humor and podcast,This Is Branchburg^[134]

• 2024 New Jersey drone sightings

Wikimedia Commons has media related toBranchburg Township, New Jersey.

• Branchburg Township official web site

• Branchburg, New Jersey
• 1845 establishments in New Jersey
• Populated places established in 1845
• Township form of New Jersey government
• Townships in New Jersey
• Townships in Somerset County, New Jersey

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