Raritan Township is a township in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 23,447, an increase of 1,262 (+5.7%) from the 2010 census count of 22,185, which in turn reflected an increase of 2,376 (+12.0%) from the 19,809 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. The township is located within the heart of the Amwell Valley and Raritan Valley regions, as the South Branch of the Raritan River (along with the Neshanic River) flows through the center of the township. The northwestern portion of the township is located on the Hunterdon Plateau.

Raritan was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1838, from portions of the now-defunct Amwell Township. Flemington was formed within the township on March 14, 1870, and became an independent borough on April 7, 1910. Portions of the township were ceded to East Amwell Township in 1854 and 1897.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 157. Accessed May 30, 2024.

The township's name is derived from the Raritan tribe, a Native American band of Lenape people that inhabited Central New Jersey.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 21, 2015. The name of the tribe is said to mean "forked river",Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 25. United States Government Printing Office, 1905. Accessed September 21, 2015. "stream overflows" or "point on a tidal river".Nestor, Sandy. Indian Placenames in America, Volume 1, p. 114. Accessed September 21, 2015. "Raritan is Lenape for 'stream overflows,' or 'a point on a tidal river.'"

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 37.65 square miles (97.52 km2), including 37.48 square miles (97.08 km2) of land and 0.17 square miles (0.44 km2) of water (0.46%).

Raritan Township completely surrounds Flemington, making it part one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain. It borders the municipalities of Clinton Township, Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Franklin Township and Readington Township in Hunterdon County; and Hillsborough Township in Somerset County.Areas touching Raritan Township, MapIt. Accessed March 3, 2020.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.

Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include: Cloverhill, Copper Hill, Croton, Flemington Junction, Klinesville, Larisons Corners, Muirhead, Reaville, as well as Bartles Corners, Gary Corner, Mount Carmel, Rockefellows Mills, Thachers Hill and Voorhees Corner.

Raritan Township is located east of Allentown, north of Philadelphia, and southwest of New York City.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 22,185 people, 8,056 households, and 6,058 families in the township. The population density was 591.2 per square mile (228.3/km2). There were 8,288 housing units at an average density of 220.9 per square mile (85.3/km2). The racial makeup was 89.57% (19,870) White, 2.07% (459) Black or African American, 0.10% (23) Native American, 5.95% (1,319) Asian, 0.04% (9) Pacific Islander, 0.83% (185) from other races, and 1.44% (320) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.13% (1,138) of the population.

Of the 8,056 households, 37.6% had children under the age of 18; 64.9% were married couples living together; 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.8% were non-families. Of all households, 20.7% were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.19.

26.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 33.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.4 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 89.8 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $109,941 (with a margin of error of +/− $7,543) and the median family income was $130,514 (+/− $10,612). Males had a median income of $95,123 (+/− $8,996) versus $62,229 (+/− $3,584) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $48,782 (+/− $2,900). About 2.0% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Raritan township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 20, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 19,809 people, 6,939 households, and 5,391 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 7,094 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 93.22% White, 1.23% African American, 0.09% Native American, 3.50% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.79% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Raritan township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 20, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Raritan township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed July 20, 2012.

There were 6,939 households, out of which 43.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the township the population was spread out, with 29.3% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $85,996, and the median income for a family was $96,336. Males had a median income of $69,485 versus $41,911 for females. The per capita income for the township was $38,919. About 1.2% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government Raritan Township is governed under the Township form of government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use the Township form.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 103."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor. The mayor presides at Township Committee meetings and votes as a member of the committee, but has no other special powers under the township form of government law. All legislative and executive powers, including the power of appointments, are exercised by the committee as a whole.Township Form of Government NJSA 40A:63-1, Raritan Township. Accessed November 20, 2019. "The governing body is a Township Committee of five members who are elected for three-year staggered terms in partisan elections from the Township at large. There is an election of at least one member every year. The mayor is elected by the Township Committee for a one year term."

, the members of the Raritan Township Committee are Mayor Bob King (R, term on committee ends December 31, 2025; term as mayor ends December 31, 2025), Deputy Mayor Bradford Perry (R, term on committee ends 2026; term as deputy mayor ends 2025), Robyn Fatooh (R, 2026), Scott R. MacDade (R, 2025) and Scott Sipos (R, 2027).Township Committee, Township of Raritan. Accessed April 19, 2025. "Raritan Township has the Township form of government which, designed to parallel the New England Township Meeting, is one of the oldest forms of government in New Jersey. The governing body is a Township Committee of five members who are elected for three-year staggered terms in partisan elections from the Township at large. There is an election of at least one member every year. The mayor is elected by the Township Committee for a one year term."

In June 2022, Jeff Kuhl resigned from the seat he had held expiring in December 2024 in order to fill a vacant seat on the Hunterdon County Board of County Commissioners.Deak, Mike. "Hunterdon County taps familiar face for commissioner vacancy", Courier News, June 11, 2022. Accessed July 8, 2022. "Jeff Kuhl, a former Raritan Township mayor, has taken the vacancy on the Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners created by the resignation of longtime Commissioner Matt Holt." The Township Committee appointed Bob King to fill Kuhl's vacant committee seat; King served on an interim basis until the November 2022 general election, when voters chose King to serve the balance of the term of office.Barth, Tyler. "Raritan Township Committee Appoints Bob King to Vacant Seat", TAP into Flemington / Raritan, July 5, 2022. Accessed July 26, 2022. "The Raritan Township Committee chose Bob King to fill the vacancy left by now-county commissioner Jeff Kuhl during the June 21 meeting. King was selected by the committee and sworn in to replace Kuhl, who was selected to take over a vacancy on the county board of commissioners in late May."

Federal, state and county representation