About Warren, NJ
Warren, NJ may not be on Route 22 – but it sure is close. What will we find in Warren?
Warren Township, New Jersey
Warren Township is a township in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 15,311, reflecting an increase of 1,052 (+7.4%) from the 14,259 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 3,429 (+31.7%) from the 10,830 counted in the 1990 Census.
In July 2009, a mainstream publication ranked Warren sixth in the nation on its list of “Best Places to Live” in the United States, citing in particular its schools, June carnival (the Lions Club’s annual “Expo”), “wide open spaces” (generally 1.5 acres (6,100 m) per house), 74 “working farms” (“taxed-as-farmland” tracts, but rural, nevertheless), and proximity to New York City.
History
Warren was originally inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans and was settled in the 1720s by European farmers. As early as 1900, it became a destination for wealthy residents looking to escape nearby New York City. Warren was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1806, from portions of Bernards Township and Bridgewater Township. The south-eastern half of the original township (which was close to a railroad and contained most of the population) was separated off as North Plainfield Township (since renamed to Green Brook Township) on April 2, 1872.
Warren was named for Revolutionary War patriot, General Joseph Warren, who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Warren celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2006.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 19.644 square miles (50.877 km), including 19.567 square miles (50.678 km) of land and 0.077 square miles (0.199 km) of water (0.39%).
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Coontown, Dock Watch Hollow, Gallia, Mount Bethel, Round Top, Smalleytown, Springdale, Union Village, and Warrenville.
The township borders Bernards Township to the north and west, Bridgewater Township to the southwest, Green Brook Township to the southeast, and Watchung to the east; all of which lie within Somerset County. Northeastern borders are the communities of Long Hill in Morris County and Berkeley Heights in Union County.
The east-west Second Watchung Mountain ridge bisects Warren, with the northern half of the township sloping northward to the Passaic River and Dead River, and the southern half spanning the Washington Valley, between the First and Second Watchung Mountain ridges, through which runs the East Branch of the Middlebrook.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1810 | 1,354 | — | |
| 1820 | 1,452 | 7.2% | |
| 1830 | 1,561 | 7.5% | |
| 1840 | 1,601 | 2.6% | |
| 1850 | 2,148 | 34.2% | |
| 1860 | 2,338 | 8.8% | |
| 1870 | 2,705 | 15.7% | |
| 1880 | 1,204 | * | −55.5% |
| 1890 | 1,045 | −13.2% | |
| 1900 | 1,008 | −3.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,035 | 2.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,083 | 4.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,399 | 29.2% | |
| 1940 | 2,139 | 52.9% | |
| 1950 | 3,316 | 55.0% | |
| 1960 | 5,386 | 62.4% | |
| 1970 | 8,592 | 59.5% | |
| 1980 | 9,805 | 14.1% | |
| 1990 | 10,830 | 10.5% | |
| 2000 | 14,259 | 31.7% | |
| 2010 | 15,311 | 7.4% | |
| Est. 2014 | 15,948 | 4.2% | |
| * = Lost territory in previous decade. | |||
Census 2010
At the 2010 United States Census, there were 15,311 people, 5,059 households, and 4,285 families residing in the township. The population density was 782.5 per square mile (302.1/km). There were 5,258 housing units at an average density of 268.7 per square mile (103.7/km). The racial makeup of the township was 80.94% (12,392) White, 1.52% (233) Black or African American, 0.05% (7) Native American, 15.07% (2,307) Asian, 0.10% (15) Pacific Islander, 0.64% (98) from other races, and 1.69% (259) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.36% (820) of the population.
There were 5,059 households, of which 42.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.8% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.3% were non-families. 12.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.30.
In the township, 27.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 18.5% from 25 to 44, 34.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The Census Bureau’s 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $135,143 (with a margin of error of +/- $23,156) and the median family income was $162,083 (+/- $17,221). Males had a median income of $115,875 (+/- $15,861) versus $68,450 (+/- $13,300) for females. The per capita income for the township was $71,469 (+/- $6,664). About 0.8% of families and 0.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 0.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The insurance company Chubb is based in Warren.
Parks and recreation
Wagner Farm Arboretum, which consists of 92.6 acres (37.5 ha) the former Wagner Dairy Farm that was acquired by the township in 2001.
Transportation
As of May 2010, the township had a total of 126.65 miles (203.82 km) of roadways, of which 101.34 miles (163.09 km) were maintained by the municipality, 18.64 miles (30.00 km) by Somerset County and 6.67 miles (10.73 km) by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Notable people
People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Warren Township include:
- Austen Crehore (1893-1962), World War I pilot in the Armée de l’Air and the recipient of the Legion of Honor and Croix de Guerre with two palms.
- Monica Crowley (born 1968), conservative radio and TV talk show personality.
- Donald DiFrancesco (born 1944), former N.J. Senate president and Acting Governor.
- Mike Ferguson (born 1970), former U.S. Congressman.
- James L. Flanagan (1925-2015), electrical engineer.
- Bob Franks (1951–2010), former N.J. legislative leader and U.S. Congressman.
- Emma Fursch-Madi (1847–1894), French operatic soprano.
- Gloria Gaynor (born 1949), singer, known for I Will Survive.
- Chris Kratt (born 1969) host of Kratts’ Creatures and Zoboomafoo as well as Be the Creature, which runs on the National Geographic Channel.
- Martin Kratt (born 1965), brother of Chris, and also an educational nature show host.
- Brielle LaCosta (born 1984), 2010 Miss New Jersey International.
- James Morris (born 1947), opera singer.
- Calvin Pace (born 1980), outside linebacker for the New York Jets.
- David Palmer, vocalist and songwriter, best known as a former member of Steely Dan and as the lyricist of the Carole King number two hit, “Jazzman“.
- Adam Riess (born 1969), Nobel Prize winner in Physics, 2011.
- Dan Schulman (born 1958), president of American Express, former founding CEO of Virgin Mobile USA.
- Ravi Shankar (1920–2012), musician and composer best known for his work on the sitar.
- Steven H. Temares (born 1958), CEO of Bed Bath & Beyond.
- Jeffrey Vanderbeek, owner of the New Jersey Devils.
- Fred Vogel (born 1976), independent horror filmmaker.
- Lily Yip (born 1963), Olympic table tennis player and coach.
Points of interest
- Mount Bethel Meeting House, c. 1770
- Kirch-Ford House, c. 1770
- Torino’s (traditionally: the King George Inn), c. 1820
- Springdale United Methodist Church, c. 1840
- Mount Horeb United Methodist Church, 1867
- Hofheimer Mausoleum (sometimes colloquially referred to as the “Tomb of the 12 Nuns”)
