Bethlehem Township is a township in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the New York metropolitan area.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2022. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 3,745, a decrease of 234 (−5.9%) from the 2010 census count of 3,979, which in turn reflected an increase of 159 (+4.2%) from the 3,820 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.

History Before European settlement, the land was settled by the Lenape Native Americans, whose presence remains in the names of places and bodies of water in the township.Kreis, Anthony M. "Early History of Bethlehem Township", Township of Bethlehem. Accessed March 2, 2023. "The first residents of Bethlehem Township were Native Americans of the Lenni Lenape tribe. The colonists would later rename these people the Delaware. The Lenape have left their mark on present-day Bethlehem Township, most notably, perhaps, in the names of local landmarks. Two local bodies of water bear names which originate with the Natives, the Musconetcong River and the Mulhockaway Creek. The Musconetcongs were a group of Lenni Lenapes of the Minsi tribe that lived in the Sourland and Cushetunk mountains and the plateau region north of Flemington."

Bethlehem was first mentioned in official records dating back to 1730, though details of its formation are uncertain.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026. Bethlehem was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Kingwood Township (1749, date uncertain), Alexandria Township (March 5, 1765), Union Township (February 17, 1853), Junction borough (February 20, 1895, now known as Hampton borough), Bloomsbury (March 30, 1905) and Glen Gardner (March 26, 1919).

The township was named for the city of Bethlehem.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 27, 2015.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 20.80 square miles (53.87 km2), including 20.68 square miles (53.57 km2) of land and 0.12 square miles (0.30 km2) of water (0.56%). The township is an exurb of New York City, lying on the western fringe of the New York metropolitan area, as part of the Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division, which is in turn a part of the New York City Metropolitan Area.

The Musconetcong River forms the township's northern border with Warren County. The northern half of the Township consists of the Musconetcong Valley while the southern half is covered by the Musconetcong Mountains. The southwest corner of the township lies on what is known as the Hunterdon Plateau. The landscape is mainly rural in nature, featuring farms and forests, scattered with newer housing developments and older farm homes.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Charlestown, Jugtown, Ludlow, Polktown, Swinesburg, Valley and West Portal.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2015.

The township borders the municipalities of Alexandria Township, Bloomsbury, Glen Gardner, Hampton, Holland Township, Lebanon Township, Union Township in Hunterdon County; and Franklin Township, Pohatcong Township and Washington Township in Warren County.Areas touching Bethlehem Township, MapIt. Accessed November 15, 2019.Map of County Municipalities, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Mailing addresses Residents and businesses in Bethlehem Township have mailing addresses to nearby towns including Bloomsbury, Clinton, Glen Gardner, Hampton, and even Asbury (which is located in neighboring Warren County), as "Bethlehem Township" itself is not a mailing address.Get to Know Bethlehem Township, Bethlehem Township. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Climate

Bethlehem Township falls under the "Northern New Jersey" climate zone. According to the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist at Rutgers University, the Northern climate zone covers about one-quarter of New Jersey and consists mainly of elevated highlands and valleys which are part of the Appalachian Uplands. Surrounded by land, this region can be characterized as having a continental climate with minimal influence from the Atlantic Ocean, except when the winds contain an easterly component. Prevailing winds are from the southwest in summer and from the northwest in winter. Being in the northernmost portion of the state, and with small mountains up to in elevation, the Northern Zone normally exhibits a colder temperature regime than other climate regions of the State of New Jersey. This difference is most dramatic in winter when average temperatures in the Northern Zone can be more than ten degrees Fahrenheit cooler than in the Coastal Zone. Annual snowfall averages in the northern zone as compared with an average of in the extreme south.ONJSC, Rutgers University. Accessed December 1, 2009.

Bethlehem Township falls under the USDA 6a Plant Hardiness zone.USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, United States Department of Agriculture / Agricultural Research Center, PRISM Climate Group Oregon State University. Accessed January 10, 2015.

Wildlife and ecosystem Various animals are native to central-western New Jersey, including red fox (vulpes vulpes),Foxes in New Jersey, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish & Wildlife. Accessed November 14, 2012. black bear, groundhogs, wild turkeys, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, a variety of birds, and a wide variety of insects and vegetation. There are also some fish in the streams of the county.

Trees include deciduous varieties and evergreen varieties.

Black bears are the largest land mammals in New Jersey and are known to be most abundant in the northern-western regions of the state, including Bethlehem Township.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 3,979 people, 1,344 households, and 1,148 families in the township. The population density was 192.1 per square mile (74.2/km2). There were 1,386 housing units at an average density of 66.9 per square mile (25.8/km2). The racial makeup was 95.65% (3,806) White, 0.98% (39) Black or African American, 0.10% (4) Native American, 1.88% (75) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.50% (20) from other races, and 0.88% (35) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.02% (160) of the population.

Of the 1,344 households, 41.1% had children under the age of 18; 77.0% were married couples living together; 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 14.6% were non-families. Of all households, 11.9% 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 2.96 and the average family size was 3.22.

27.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 18.1% from 25 to 44, 38.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 100.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 100.6 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $127,540 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,090) and the median family income was $130,580 (+/− $16,200). Males had a median income of $95,694 (+/− $16,468) versus $70,069 (+/− $27,112) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $44,477 (+/− $4,087). About 0.6% of families and 1.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over., United States Census Bureau. Accessed June 21, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 3,820 people, 1,266 households, and 1,092 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 1,303 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 97.51% White, 0.86% African American, 0.10% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.62% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Bethlehem township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 13, 2012., United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 13, 2012.

There were 1,266 households, out of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.3% were married couples living together, 3.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.7% were non-families. 10.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the township the population was spread out, with 29.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.9 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $88,048, and the median income for a family was $92,768. Males had a median income of $69,063 versus $41,806 for females. The per capita income for the township was $35,298. None of the families and 1.0% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 10.0% of those over 64.

Most common first ancestries reported in Bethlehem Township were German (25.2%), Italian (14.7%), Irish (14.4%), Polish (9.2%), English (7.6%), United States or American (6.1%), French (except Basque) (3.3%).Bethlehem township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, City-Data. Accessed November 14, 2012.

The most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents were India (22%), Germany (18%), United Kingdom (12%), Austria (9%), Russia (7%), Poland (5%), Netherlands (4%).

Parks and recreation Covering more than , Spruce Run State Park and Reservoir, part of the New Jersey State Park system, is located near Bethlehem Township in close by Clinton Township. It is possible to walk or bike to Spruce Run from Bethlehem Township.Spruce Run Recreation Area, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Paks and Forestry. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Government

Local government