Millstone Township is a township in western Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is located within the Raritan Valley region and is a part of the New York metropolitan area.Tarabour, Brooke. "New Jersey-Bound: The Staten Island Migration", The New York Times, January 10, 1993. Accessed June 10, 2022.Capuzzo, Jill P. "Living In - Millstone, N.J.: Street Lighting by Mother Nature", The New York Times, February 8, 2013. Accessed June 10, 2022. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 10,376, a decrease of 190 (−1.8%) from the 2010 census count of 10,566, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,596 (+17.8%) from the 8,970 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 was named after the Millstone River, a major tributary of the Raritan River, and whose name originated from an incident in which a millstone was dropped into the river.The History of Township of Millstone, New Jersey, Township of Millstone. Accessed September 7, 2015. "Our town is named after the Millstone River that originates in the Township. The river was first named by the Lenape Indians as the Mattawong and later renamed by early settlers as Millstone River."Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed September 7, 2015.Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 209. United States Government Publishing Office, 1905. Accessed September 7, 2015. The headwaters for the Millstone River originate in the township."Watershed Management Area 10 Millstone". State of New Jersey: Department of Environmental Protection, Watershed Restoration. Last Updated: May 3, 2012. Accessed December 4, 2020."Raritan River Initiatives", Rutgers University Center for Urban Policy Research. Accessed January 23, 2025.

The township has been ranked as one of the state's highest-income communities. Based on data from the American Community Survey for 2013–2017, Millstone residents had a median household income of $156,891, more than double the statewide median of $76,475 and ranked ninth in the state among municipalities with more than 10,000 residents.Raychaudhuri, Disha. "The wealthiest towns in N.J., ranked", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 7, 2019. Accessed November 4, 2019. "The median household income in N.J. is $76,475, recent Census data shows.... A note about the data: The data comes from 2013-2017 American Community Survey conducted by U.S. Census Bureau. Smaller towns with less than 10,000 residents were excluded from the list.... 9. Millstone, Monmouth County; Median income: $156,891"B19013 - Median Household Income in The Past 12 Months (in 2017 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars) Universe: Households from the 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for New Jersey municipalities , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 4, 2019.

History

Millstone was originally inhabited by Lenape Native Americans prior to colonization. The township was said to have been founded by an English tanner, Clark prior to the Revolutionary War. Following colonization, Millstone ended up consisting of several villages, of which Clarksburg retains its historic character the most prominently. John Perrine purchased a large tract of land north of Clarksburg, which became known as Perrineville.

During the American Revolutionary War, Millstone held a secret post for the Continental Army, known as Signal Beacon #21. The Rising Sun Tavern, the township's first business, was used as an outpost by George Washington and later a headquarters for British General Sir Henry Clinton. The tavern accommodated other famous figures such as Benjamin Franklin and Joseph Bonaparte. The tavern was located on a stagecoach route between Philadelphia and Freehold.

United States president Theodore Roosevelt created a presidential retreat in Millstone.

Millstone was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 28, 1844, from portions of Freehold Township and Upper Freehold Township, as well as part of Monroe Township in Middlesex County. The portions taken from Monroe Township were relinquished in 1845. On May 29, 1937, portions of the township were taken to form the borough of Jersey Homesteads (now Roosevelt).Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 182. Accessed May 30, 2024.

The township has been one of the state's highest-income communities. Based on data from the American Community Survey for 2013–2017, Millstone Township residents had a median household income of $156,891, ranked 9th in the state among municipalities with more than 10,000 residents, more than double the statewide median of $76,475.Raychaudhuri, Disha. "The wealthiest towns in N.J., ranked", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, June 7, 2019. Accessed November 4, 2019. "The median household income in N.J. is $76,475, recent Census data shows.... A note about the data: The data comes from 2013-2017 American Community Survey conducted by U.S. Census Bureau. Smaller towns with less than 10,000 residents were excluded from the list.... 9. Millstone, Monmouth County Median income: $156,891"

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 37.18 square miles (96.30 km2), including 36.61 square miles (94.81 km2) of land and 0.58 square miles (1.49 km2) of water (1.55%).

There are two unincorporated communities within the township served by the United States Postal Service as post offices. Clarksburg is served by post office ZIP Code 08510 and Perrineville is served as ZIP code 08535.History , Township of Millstone. Accessed October 18, 2013. "The Township, in its infancy, was comprised of several historic villages. They were known as Cars Tavern, Holmeson, Smithburg, Sweetman, Bergen Mills, Bairdsville, Stone Tavern, Clarksburg, and Perrineville. The last two remain today as a witness to our past heritage." Other unincorporated communities and place names located entirely or partially within the township include Baird, Bairdsville, Bergen Mills, Burksville, Carrs Corner, Carrs Tavern, Charleston Springs, Disbrow Hill, Ely, Elys Corner, Fair Play, Hillhurt, Holmeson, Pine Hill, Smithburg, Stone Tavern and Sweetman.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed November 22, 2014.

The township borders Freehold Township, Manalapan Township, Roosevelt and Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County; East Windsor and Robbinsville Township in Mercer County; Monroe Township in Middlesex County; and Jackson Township in Ocean County.Areas touching Millstone Township, MapIt. Accessed February 27, 2020.Regional Location Map, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed February 27, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Major bodies of water

Due to the township's unique location in the center of New Jersey, it is the home of numerous headwaters for various important rivers, brooks, and streams that flow throughout the state. The township is located on a ridge within the geographic heartland of New Jersey.NJ Map: An Interactive Atlas Of New Jersey From Rowan University; Stormwater Management Map, Rowan University: School of Earth & Environment. Accessed July 10, 2022."Where are the headwaters of Manalapan Brook?", My Central Jersey, January 2, 2015. Accessed July 10, 2022.New Jersey Land Types 1954, Rutgers Cartography. Accessed July 10, 2022.New Jersey Geology 1940, Rutgers Cartography. Accessed July 10, 2022.New Jersey Geological And Water Survey, p. 32, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed July 10, 2022. The township falls within the hillier terrain and fertile soil found in the Inner coastal plain, while a small sliver of the eastern border of the township (which borders Jackson Township) is located within the flat terrain and sandier soil found in the Outer coastal plain.

Much of the township is centrally located within the much larger Raritan Valley region's watershed (as many of its brooks and streams flow into the river). The township is the headwaters for the Millstone River, one of the most important tributaries of the aforementioned river. Part of the township also belongs to the Delaware Valley region's watershed, with the Assunpink Creek and the Doctors Creek flowing through the southern and western sections of the township bordering Upper Freehold Township. Part of the Assunpink Wildlife Preservation Area is located in the township, as well as in portions of Upper Freehold Township, Roosevelt and Robbinsville Township. The reservation offers wetlands and lakes for viewing migratory birds, in addition to mountain biking trails, bridle paths and hiking trails, operated under the supervision of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife.About Our Community , Upper Freehold Township. Accessed October 28, 2013.Collins, Helen Lippman; Reardon, Patricia. "For Equestrians, Every Day is a Day for Riding or Practicing", The New York Times, November 1, 1987. Accessed October 28, 2013. "Horse Park, in Upper Freehold Township, is a project of the state's Equine Advisory Board. When completed, it will be a first-class facility for competitive horsemanship, complete with outdoor show rings, seats for a large group of spectators, a polo field and jumping and steeplechase courses."Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. Accessed July 10, 2022.Assunpink Wildlife Management Area, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife. Accessed July 10, 2022. Turkey Swamp Park is another nature reservation which features wetlands, hiking trails, and even campgrounds, located in neighboring Freehold Township. The township is also one of only two municipalities in Monmouth County that are part of the Toms River watershed, most of which is located in Ocean County, as it rises from the Millstone and Jackson area, flowing southward through the New Jersey Pine Barrens to the Barnegat Bay.Toms River Watershed, Barnegat Bay Partnership. Accessed July 3, 2022.

Other notable bodies of water within the township include:

Lakes Assunpink LakeAssunpink Lake, Lake-Link New Jersey. Accessed January 23, 2025. (located at Assunpink Wildlife Preservation Area) Bulk's LakeBulk's Lake, Fishbrain. Accessed January 23, 2025. (located at Charleston Springs Golf Course) Perrineville LakePerrineville Lake Park, Monmouth County Parks. Accessed January 23, 2025. Rising Sun LakeRising Sun Lake, Lake-Link New Jersey. Accessed January 23, 2025.

Rivers Barnegat Bay Watershed Metedeconk RiverMetedeconk River Subwatershed, Barnegat Bay Partnership. Accessed July 10, 2022. North Branch Metedeconk River Toms RiverToms River Subwatershed, Barnegat Bay Partnership. Accessed July 10, 2022. Delaware River Watershed Assunpink Creek Crosswicks CreekCrosswicks Creek Park, Monmouth County Park System. Accessed January 23, 2025. Doctors Creek Raritan Basin Watershed Millstone River Rocky Brook Cranbury Brook South RiverLower Raritan WMA09 Rutgers University Raritan River Initiatives. Accessed July 10, 2022. Manalapan Brook

Ecology According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Millstone Township would have an Appalachian Oak (104) vegetation type with an Eastern Hardwood Forest (25) vegetation form.U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions), Data Basin. Accessed October 13, 2020.

Demographics

2010 census