Location of Flemington inHunterdon County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Hunterdon County inNew Jersey highlighted in orange (right).
Flemington is an independent municipality completely surrounded byRaritan Township and is located near the geographic center of the township. Flemington was incorporated as an independent borough by an act of theNew Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1910, based on the results of areferendum held on April 26, 1910, and was formally separated from Raritan Township.
Before European settlement, the land that comprises Flemington, as was all of Hunterdon County, was the territory of theLenni LenapeNative Americans. In 1712, as part of a land parcel of 9,170 acres (37.1 km2), the Flemington area was acquired byWilliam Penn andDaniel Coxe.
The surrounding fertile farmland dictated that the beginnings of Flemington were agricultural. Early German and English settlers engaged in industries dependent on farm products. As time passed poultry and dairy farms superseded crops in agricultural importance. An example of early settlement families was Johann David and Anna Maria Ephland, who emigrated in 1709 from Germany through London to New York and settled on his 147.5-acre (0.597 km2) farm in 1717. They raised their seven children, and two from his previous marriage, on the farm that now makes up the core of Flemington.
On December 14, 1776, during theAmerican Revolutionary War, a party of British dragoons led by CornetFrancis Geary raided a store owned by Thomas Lowrey near the Presbyterian Church in Flemington to seize a supply of guns. On their return toPennington, local militia led by CaptainJohn Schenck ambushed them and killed their commander. This skirmish is now known as theAmbush of Geary.[21]
In 1785, Flemington was chosen as the County Seat of Hunterdon. Fire destroyed the old courthouse in 1826 and the City ofLambertville made an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to have the seat relocated there. Flemington remained the County Seat and the Courthouse which stands today on Main Street was built.[citation needed]
Present-day Flemington was originally formed as atown by an act of theNew Jersey Legislature on March 14, 1870, within portions ofRaritan Township. It became avillage as of June 11, 1894, still within Raritan Township. Flemington was finally incorporated as an independent borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 7, 1910, based on the results of areferendum held on April 26, 1910, and was formally separated from Raritan Township. The borough's incorporation was confirmed on April 27, 1931.[22] the borough was named for Samuel Fleming.[23]
In 1856, the Hunterdon County Agricultural society purchased 40 acres (16 ha) of land that would accommodate the people, exhibits and livestock for the County (Flemington) Fair. The purpose of this Fair was to promote competition between farmers, stock raisers and machinery manufacturers. The fair was held every year at the Flemington Fairgrounds which also was the site of Flemington Fair Speedway, laterFlemington Raceway.
In the 1980s, Flemington became home to Liberty Village, the first outlet mall in the United States; by 2023, Liberty Village set empty, awaiting demolition and redevelopment.[25]
From 1992 through 1995, the speedway hosted theRace of Champions, a race for modified racers.[26] The speedway hosted aNASCARCraftsman Truck Series race from 1995 to 1998. In 2003, the County Fair adopted a new name, the Hunterdon County 4-H and Agricultural Fair, and moved to the South County Park inEast Amwell Township.
In the 2010s, local controversy erupted over proposed re-development of the shuttered Union Hotel. By 2021, a settlement was reach to allow a hotel with 100 rooms and nearly 200 apartments and retail space at the site.[27]
Union Hotel – Early 19th century hotel in downtown Flemington that served as a restaurant until its 2008 closure. The current structure dates to 1877, built on the site of what had been a stagecoach stop that dates to 1814.[28]
Hunterdon County Courthouse – Historic court house where the Lindbergh Trial took place. Now used for County offices.
Fleming Castle / Samuel Fleming House – First house in Flemington, 5 Bonnell Street. Purchased by the Borough of Flemington in 2005 and operated as a historical museum by the Friends of Fleming Castle.[29]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.08 square miles (2.79 km2), all of which was land.[1][2] Flemington is completely surrounded byRaritan Township,[30][31] making it part one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.[32]
Of the 1,815 households, 28.5% had children under the age of 18; 37.6% were married couples living together; 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 45.1% were non-families. Of all households, 37.1% were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.20.[18]
22.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.3 years. For every 100 females, the population had 105.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 106.9 males.[18]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010American Community Survey showed that (in 2010inflation-adjusted dollars)median household income was $54,261 (with a margin of error of +/− $15,065) and the median family income was $66,042 (+/− $12,761). Males had a median income of $45,934 (+/− $5,574) versus $47,917 (+/− $11,616) for females. Theper capita income for the borough was $31,407 (+/− $3,648). About 14.0% of families and 16.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 30.0% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.[44]
As of the2000 United States census[14] there were 4,202 people, 1,804 households, and 997 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,927.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,516.4/km2). There were 1,876 housing units at an average density of 1,754.2 per square mile (677.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 89.71%White, 1.19%African American, 0.31%Native American, 3.12%Asian, 0.17%Pacific Islander, 3.14% fromother races, and 2.36% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 10.98% of the population.[42][43]
There were 1,804 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.7% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.7% were non-families. 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 3.00.[42][43]
In the borough, the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.[42][43]
The median income for a household in the borough was $39,886, and the median income for a family was $51,582. Males had a median income of $38,594 versus $31,250 for females. Theper capita income for the borough was $23,769. About 5.0% of families and 6.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.[42][43]
Flemington is governed under theborough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.[45] The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions electedat-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.[5] The borough form of government used by Flemington, the most common system used in the state, is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor canveto ordinances subject to anoverride by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.[46][47]
As of 2023[update], themayor of Flemington Borough isRepublicanMarcia A. Karrow, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Flemington Borough Council are Council President Jeremy Long (D, 2025), Council Vice President Kimberly A. Tilly (R, 2023), Susan D.M. Engelhardt (D, 2025), Malik Johnston (D, 2023), Anthony "Tony" Parker (D, 2024; elected to serve an unexpired term) and Elizabeth Rosetti (D, 2024).[3][48][49][50][51][52][53]
In January 2019, the borough council selected Jeffrey Doshna from a list of three candidates selected by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that was vacated by Betsy Driver when she took office earlier that month as mayor.[54] Doshna served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when Republican Kimberly A. Tilly was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.[55]
In March 2022, Democrat Caitlin Giles-McCormick, who had started her new term of office on January 1 of that year, resigned from office.[56]
Hunterdon County is governed by aBoard of County Commissioners comprised of five members who are electedat-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the commissioners select one member to serve as the board's Director and another to serve as Deputy Director, each for a one-year term.[65] As of 2025[update], Hunterdon County's Commissioners are Director John E. Lanza (R; Raritan Township, 2025),[66]Deputy Director Shaun C. Van Doren (R;Tewksbury Township, 2026),[67]Jeff Kuhl (R;Raritan Township, 2027),[68] Zachary T. Rich (R;West Amwell Township, 2025)[69] and Susan Soloway (R;Franklin Township, 2027).[70][71]
As of September 2023, there were a total of 2,466 registered voters in Flemington, of which 912 (36.9%) were registered asDemocrats, 756 (30.6%) were registered asRepublicans and 764 (30.9%) were registered asUnaffiliated. There were 13 voters registered asLibertarians orGreens and 21 registered to other parties.[78]
United States Gubernatorial election results for Flemington[79]
In the2024 presidential election, DemocratKamala Harris received 55.3% of the vote (961 votes), ahead of RepublicanDonald Trump with 41.8% (727 votes), and other candidates with 3.3% (58 votes), among the 1,763 ballots cast by the borough's 2,491 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.8%.[80] In the2020 presidential election, DemocratJoe Biden received 56.3% (1,043 votes), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 41.1% (762 votes), and other candidates with 2.3% (44 votes), among the 1,876 ballots cast by the borough's 2,264 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.9%.[81] In the2016 presidential election, DemocratHillary Clinton received 49.2% of the vote (795 votes), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 41.5% (670 votes), and other candidates with 8.1% (131 votes), among the 1,614 ballots cast by the borough's 2,265 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.26%.[82] In the2012 presidential election, DemocratBarack Obama received 50.4% of the vote (732 cast), ahead of RepublicanMitt Romney with 47.5% (689 votes), and other candidates with 2.1% (31 votes), among the 1,467 ballots cast by the borough's 2,157 registered voters (15 ballots werespoiled), for a turnout of 68.0%.[83][84] In the2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 49.9% of the vote (794 cast), ahead of RepublicanJohn McCain with 47.1% (750 votes) and other candidates with 2.1% (34 votes), among the 1,591 ballots cast by the borough's 2,118 registered voters, for a turnout of 75.1%.[85] In the2004 presidential election, DemocratJohn Kerry received 50.0% of the vote (761 ballots cast), outpolling RepublicanGeorge W. Bush with 49.9% (760 votes) and other candidates with 1.3% (25 votes), among the 1,523 ballots cast by the borough's 1,966 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 77.5.[86]
United States presidential election results for Flemington[87]
In the2013 gubernatorial election, RepublicanChris Christie received 68.1% of the vote (656 cast), ahead of DemocratBarbara Buono with 29.3% (282 votes), and other candidates with 2.6% (25 votes), among the 994 ballots cast by the borough's 2,117 registered voters (31 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 47.0%.[88][89] In the2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 54.6% of the vote (601 ballots cast), ahead of DemocratJon Corzine with 32.2% (354 votes), IndependentChris Daggett with 10.2% (112 votes) and other candidates with 1.8% (20 votes), among the 1,101 ballots cast by the borough's 2,032 registered voters, yielding a 54.2% turnout.[90]
United States Senate election results for Flemington1[91]
Students in public school forpre-kindergarten througheighth grade attend theFlemington-Raritan Regional School District, which also serves children from the neighboring community ofRaritan Township.[93][94] As of the 2023–24 school year, the district, comprised of six schools, had an enrollment of 3,174 students and 335.3 classroom teachers (on anFTE basis), for astudent–teacher ratio of 9.5:1.[95] The district is comprised of four PreK/K to 4 elementary schools, one intermediate school for grades 5 and 6 and a middle school for grades 7 and 8. Schools in the district (with 2023–24 enrollment data from theNational Center for Education Statistics[96]) are Barley Sheaf School[97] with 363 students in grades K–4 (located in Flemington), Copper Hill School[98] with 602 students in grades PreK–4 (Ringoes), Francis A. Desmares School[99] with 420 students in grades K–4 (Flemington), Robert Hunter School[100] with 394 students in grades K–4 (Flemington), Reading-Fleming Intermediate School[101] with 702 students in grades 5–6 (Flemington) and J. P. Case Middle School[102] with 675 students in grades 7–8 (Flemington).[103][104][105][106] Flemington is allocated two of the nine seats on the regional district's board of education.[107]
Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by theHunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses inRaritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.[112]
SouthboundU.S. Route 202 approaching the Flemington CircleAerial photo of Flemington Circle, as seen in 1995. A strip mall featuring aHomeGoods and aJos A. Bank, and other stores has since been built on the field in the bottom right corner.
As of March 2019[update], the borough had a total of 13.90 miles (22.37 km) of roadways, of which 11.53 miles (18.56 km) were maintained by the municipality, 0.78 miles (1.26 km) by Hunterdon County and 1.59 miles (2.56 km) by theNew Jersey Department of Transportation.[113]
Flemington Circle is the largest of threetraffic circles in the Flemington area and sits just to the southeast of Flemington's historic downtown. U.S. Route 202 and Route 31 approach the circle separately from the north and continue southconcurrently, and the circle is the eastern terminus of Route 12. It is one of only a rapidly diminishing number ofNew Jersey's once-widespread traffic circles still extant according to its original design. The circle sees significant congestion on weekends because of the new developments and big-box retailers. The circle also sees a higher rate of traffic accidents and violations than any other region of Flemington and Raritan Township. Unlike most circles, traffic on US 202 does not yield on entry; US 202, being a main four-lane divided highway, gets theright of way.[118]
One other traffic circle exists on Route 12 at Mine Street west of the Flemington Circle, where Route 12 traffic has the right of way. The intersection of Route 12 and Main Street west of the Flemington Circle was converted to a roundabout in 2009.[119]
^The Learning Network."Feb. 13, 1935 | Lindbergh Baby Kidnapper Found Guilty of Murder",The New York Times, February 13, 2012. Accessed July 10, 2014. "On Feb. 13, 1935, a jury in Flemington, N.J., found Bruno Richard Hauptmann guilty of first-degree murder in the kidnapping-death of the infant son of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh and Anne Lindbergh."
^Furst, Camille."Farewell, Liberty Village: Nation's oldest outlet mall is a 'ghost town' in final shopping days", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, December 28, 2022. Accessed May 20, 2024. "For decades, the beloved brick walkways winding through the outlets at Liberty Village in Hunterdon County were a destination for shoppers in the days leading up to Christmas and Hanukkah. The outdoor mall — founded as the nation's first major outlet center in the 1980s — drew shoppers from around New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York."
^Deak, Mike."Courts: 'Flemington residents will be happy': Settlements reached in redevelopment lawsuits",Courier News, September 15, 2021. Accessed May 20, 2024. "But, following a change in the borough's political administration and negotiations after the litigation was filed, Cust and the borough agreed to a scaled-down plan still calling for the 100-room hotel, but reducing the number of apartments to 192 and reducing the height of the building, 21,967 square feet of non-residential space and retention of portions of the hotel building, the bank building and the potting shed building."
^Brickman, Rachael S."Union Hotel closes; liquor license stays",NJ.com, September 26, 2008. Accessed July 10, 2014. "The Union Hotel, which sits on an acre of property across the street from the old courthouse, got its start as a stagecoach stop called Hart's Hotel in 1814. It was rebuilt several times over the years, and reached its current form in 1877."
^Raum, John O.The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 267, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed October 12, 2013. "Raritan township was formed from Amwell in 1838. Its population in 1850 was 3,070; in 1860, 2,270; and in 1870, 3,654. Flemington the county seat is in this township. Its population in 1870 was 1,412. In the vicinity of Flemington are valuable copper mines."
^January 28, 2019 Council Meeting Minutes[dead link], Borough of Flemington. Accessed November 17, 2019 "I. Filling of Vacant Council Seat Through Nov. 5, 2019 General Election... Ms. Giles-McCormick nominated Jeffrey Doshna for the vacant council seat. Mr. Runion seconded. All current council members voted yes. Mr. Doshna was named to the vacant council seat until the November 5, 2019 General Election."
^Massand, Rikki."Caitlin Giles-McCormick Resigns from Flemington Borough Council", TAP into Flemington / Raritan, March 14, 2022. Accessed April 17, 2022. "Flemington Borough Councilwoman Caitlin Giles-McCormick announced her resignation from the council at Monday's borough meeting. After serving as council president in 2021 and winning reelection to a new three-year term in November, Giles-McCormick announced she is resigning from the council, effective March 18."
^Elected and Appointed Officials, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2025. "As top governing officials of Hunterdon County, the five Commissioners are chosen by popular vote in the November general elections. The term of office is for three years and the current compensation is $16,000 a year, with an extra $1,000 for the Director. One or two of the five members is elected each year."
^John E. Lanza, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2025.
^Shaun C. Van Doren, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2025.
^Jeff Kuhl, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2025.
^Zachary T. Rich, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2025.
^Susan Soloway, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed January 9, 2025.
^Flemington Raritan Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Flemington-Raritan Regional School District, adopted July 21, 2014. Accessed January 8, 2025. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades K through 8 in the Flemington-Raritan School District. The Flemington-Raritan School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Flemington Borough and Raritan Township."
^OverviewArchived December 4, 2019, at theWayback Machine, Flemington-Raritan Regional School District. Accessed January 12, 2025. "The Flemington-Raritan School District (FRSD) is a regional, pre-K-8 district serving the children, parents, and residents of Flemington Borough and Raritan Township, an area encompassing 38 square miles. Our nearly 3,200 students, 375 certified staff, and our support staff are housed in six buildings: four elementary (pre-K-4), an intermediate school (5-6), and a middle school (7-8). Our graduates complete their 9-12 education at the Hunterdon Central Regional High School."
^Board of EducationArchived May 2, 2020, at theWayback Machine, Flemington-Raritan Regional School District. Accessed January 12, 2025. "Welcome to the Flemington-Raritan School District Board of Education. The Board is comprised of nine, volunteer members, with seven members elected from Raritan Township and two members elected from Flemington Borough. Members are elected to three-year terms on the November general election day."
^Hunterdon Central Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Hunterdon Central Regional High School, adopted February 17, 1998. Accessed January 12, 2025. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades nine through twelve in the Hunterdon Central Regional High School District. Composition: The Hunterdon Central Regional High School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of, Delaware Township, East Amwell, Flemington Boro, Raritan Township, and Readington Township."
^About, Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Accessed January 12, 2025. "Located in beautiful, historic Hunterdon County in central New Jersey, Hunterdon Central Regional High School serves the five municipalities of Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Borough, Raritan Township and Readington Township. The District is comprised of 152.5 square miles and has a population of approximately 48,680 residents. Student enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year is approximately 2,300."
^Board of Education, Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Accessed January 12, 2025.
^Heyboer, Kelly."How to get your kid a seat in one of N.J.'s hardest-to-get-into high schools", NJ Advance Media forNJ.com, May 2017. Accessed November 18, 2019. "Hunterdon County's vo-tech district has three academies for high-achieving students, all operating in partnerships with local high schools.... The academies are open to all students in the county. Students in the 8th grade are required to submit an application, schedule an interview and take a placement exam."
^Aruna,SoundClick. Accessed November 19, 2012. "Born in Flemington, New Jersey, Aruna's serpentine route to the present included jazz piano and film scoring studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, a stop in Miami, where she joined Roadrunner recording artists, Cynic; a return to Boston to earn a degree from Berklee, and ultimately a move to the West Coast."
^"Calgary Stampeders sign QB Chris Reynolds, one other", 3 Down Nation, May 3, 2023. Accessed March 6, 2024. "Reynolds set a number of records over five seasons at UNC Charlotte, throwing for 10,266 yards, 84 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions in 46 career games. The native of Flemington, N.J. also ran the ball 375 times for 887 yards and 12 touchdowns."
^Roth, Thomas."Red Wings add Bob Boughner and Alex Westlund to coaching staff",Detroit Red Wings, July 8, 2022. Accessed March 1, 2023. "The Flemington Village, N.J., native joined the Capitals' organization after spending two years in Germany as the goalie coach with Augsburger Panther Eishockey Club in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga from 2015-17, in addition to working in the same capacity for Medvescak Zagreb of the Kontinental Hockey League during the 2016-17 season."
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