Millstone is a borough in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The borough was originally known as Somerset Courthouse and was the county seat. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 448, an increase of 30 (+7.2%) from the 2010 census count of 418, which in turn reflected an increase of 8 (+2.0%) from the 410 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.
Millstone was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 14, 1894, from portions of Hillsborough Township, based on the results of a referendum held that day. The borough was reincorporated on March 12, 1928.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 223. Accessed May 30, 2024. The borough was named for the Millstone River (a major tributary of the Raritan River), whose name derives from an incident in which a millstone was dropped into it.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.
A historic district in Millstone, including 58 buildings, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The borough possesses a military significance for 1700–1749, 1750–1799, 1850–1874.
New Jersey Monthly magazine ranked Millstone as its 7th best place to live in its 2008 rankings of the "Best Places To Live" in New Jersey."Best Places To Live - The Complete Top Towns List 1-100" , New Jersey Monthly, February 21, 2008. Accessed February 24, 2008.
History
Millstone, then called Somerset Courthouse, was the county seat of Somerset County from 1738 until the British burned it to the ground in 1779 during the American Revolutionary War.A Brief History of Millstone, also known as Somerset Courthouse; Early History, Millstone Borough. Accessed February 2, 2015. After the victory at Princeton on January 3, 1777, General George Washington headquartered at the Van Doren house, while the army camped nearby that night. The next day, they marched to Pluckemin on the way to their winter encampment at Morristown.Honeyman, A. Van Doren. "The Second Somerset Courthouse - At Millstone", pp. 50–58. in Somerset County Historical Quarterly, 1912. Accessed February 2, 2015.Fischer, David Hackett. Washington's Crossing, p. 342. Oxford University Press, 2006 (New York). .
Millstone was briefly connected to the Pennsylvania Railroad when the Mercer and Somerset Railway was extended to the town in the 1870s and connected via a bridge across the Millstone River to the Pennsylvania Railroad's Millstone and New Brunswick Railroad, but that arrangement did not last into the 1880s. Remnants of the railroad bridge can still be seen.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.70 square miles (1.82 km2), including 0.68 square miles (1.76 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (2.86%).
The borough borders Franklin Township and Hillsborough Township.Areas touching Millstone, MapIt. Accessed February 27, 2020.Municipalities, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed February 26, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Ecology According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Millstone 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 November 5, 2020.
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 418 people, 162 households, and 118 families in the borough. The population density was 566.5 per square mile (218.7/km2). There were 167 housing units at an average density of 226.3 per square mile (87.4/km2). The racial makeup was 95.69% (400) White, 1.20% (5) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 1.67% (7) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.96% (4) from other races, and 0.48% (2) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.59% (15) of the population.
Of the 162 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18; 58.0% were married couples living together; 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 27.2% were non-families. Of all households, 22.2% were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.03.
23.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.4 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 86.5 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $97,500 (with a margin of error of +/− $18,039) and the median family income was $102,708 (+/− $20,734). Males had a median income of $73,250 (+/− $8,715) versus $50,625 (+/− $15,872) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,678 (+/− $5,017). About none of families and 0.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Millstone borough, Somerset County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 13, 2013.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 410 people, 169 households, and 126 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 173 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 97.56% White, 0.98% African American, 0.98% Asian, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.17% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Millstone borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 13, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Millstone borough, Somerset County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 13, 2013.
There were 169 households, out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 19.3% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $76,353, and the median income for a family was $83,118. Males had a median income of $60,156 versus $36,406 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $30,694. About 3.1% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government Millstone is governed under the borough 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.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The 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.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 77. The borough form of government used by Millstone 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 can veto ordinances subject to an override 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.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey", p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.Government, Borough of Millstone. Accessed June 23, 2022. "Millstone Borough is governed by the “Borough” form of government. This type of government allows for a direct election of a Mayor,( 4 year term), and 6 Council positions,( staggering 3 year terms)."
, the mayor of Millstone Borough is Democrat Raymond Heck, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022. Members of the Millstone Borough Council are Council President Mandy Coppola (D, 2022), Robert Galli (I, 2024), Alan Kidd (R, 2023), Karin Kidd (2023), Kristen Ross (R, 2022) and Johnathan Stashek (D, 2024).Borough Council, Borough of Millstone. Accessed June 23, 2022.2022 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Millstone. Accessed June 23, 2022.2023 Directory of County & Municipal Offices, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed April 10, 2024.2021 General Election Winning Candidates, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.Somerset County General Election November 3, 2020 Final Certified Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, dated December 3, 2020. Accessed January 19, 2021.General Election November 5, 2019 Final Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.General Election 2018 Winners List, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2019.
In January 2019, the borough council selected Vincent Biviano from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been won, but never filled, by Merry Emmich.Reorganization Meeting Minutes for January 3, 2019, Millstone Borough. Accessed February 27, 2020. "Appointment to Borough Council Member to Fill the Vacancy of Mary Emmich... Councilman Kidd offered a motion to appoint Vincent Biviano as Council member.... Borough Clerk Bonin issued the oath of office to Councilman Biviano."
Federal, state, and county representation