Warren Township, New Jersey


Warren Township is a township in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is a bedroom suburb of New York City in the much larger New York metropolitan area, located within the Raritan Valley region. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 15,923, an increase of 612 from the 2010 census count of 15,311, which in turn reflected an increase of 1,052 from the 14,259 counted in the 2000 census. Warren is situated in northeastern Somerset County bordering both Morris and Union counties.
The township has been one of the state's highest-income communities. Based on data from the American Community Survey for 2013–2017, Warren Township residents had a median household income of $154,647, ranked 12th in the state among municipalities with more than 10,000 residents, more than double the statewide median of $76,475.
In 2012, Forbes.com listed Warren as 334th in its listing of "America's Most Expensive ZIP Codes", with a median home price of $842,750.
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History

Warren was originally inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans and was colonized 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 was separated off as North Plainfield Township on April 2, 1872.
Warren was named for Revolutionary War patriot, General Joseph Warren, who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. The township celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2006.
The Historical Sites Committee was formed in 1971 and members are appointed by the governing body to administer municipally owned historic landmarks. The historical landmarks they have protected are the Mount Bethel Baptist Meetinghouse, the Baker–Duderstadt Farm, the Kirch–Ford House, and two small family cemeteries. The Meetinghouse, Baker-Duderstadt Farm, and the Kirch–Ford House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 19.64 square miles, including 19.57 square miles of land and 0.07 square miles of water.
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 Watchung Mountain">Watchung, New Jersey">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 Middle Brook. At the border with Bridgewater Township, the Second Watchung Mountain features a prominent cliff face at the now-abandoned Dock Watch Quarry.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 15,311 people, 5,059 households, and 4,285 families in the township. The population density was 782.5 per square mile. There were 5,258 housing units at an average density of 268.7 per square mile. The racial makeup was 80.94% White, 1.52% Black or African American, 0.05% Native American, 15.07% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.36% of the population.
Of the 5,059 households, 42.7% had children under the age of 18; 75.8% were married couples living together; 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 15.3% were non-families. Of all households, 12.7% 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.
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, the population had 95.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 94.1 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $135,143 and the median family income was $162,083. Males had a median income of $115,875 versus $68,450 for females. The per capita income for the township was $71,469. 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 none of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census there were 14,259 people, 4,629 households, and 3,939 families residing in the township. The population density was. There were 4,718 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the township was 86.28% White, 1.26% African American, 0.04% Native American, 10.67% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.19% of the population.
There were 4,629 households, out of which 45.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.3% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 12.2% of all households 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 3.05 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the township the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $103,677, and the median income for a family was $121,264. Males had a median income of $80,231 versus $46,356 for females. The per capita income for the township was $49,475. About 0.7% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The insurance company Chubb is based in Warren.

Arts and culture

Until 2017, the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Eastern America was headquartered in Warren Township.

Parks and recreation

Wagner Farm Arboretum, which consists of was the former Wagner Dairy Farm acquired by the township in 2001.

Government

Local government

Warren Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state. 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. At an annual reorganization meeting held in the first week of January, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor. Township Committee meetings are held at the municipal building on Thursdays.
, Township Committee members are Mayor Shaun Fine, Deputy Mayor Vanessa Kian, Lance Blick, Daniel Croson and Daniel McCarey.
Former Township Committee member Frank Salvato, who was re-elected in 2008, served until his death in 2011 at the age of 98, having been first elected to the Committee in the 1938 and served as mayor in 1939, the township's youngest.
In 1975, the Township Committee created the position of Township Administrator, who is appointed to serve a one-year term beginning in July of each year. The Township Administrator is Mark M. Krane, who has served in that post since 1986.

Federal, state and county representation

Warren Township is located in the 7th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 21st state legislative district.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 10,466 registered voters in Warren Township, of which 1,875 were registered as Democrats, 3,484 were registered as Republicans and 5,102 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 68.4% were registered to vote, including 94.7% of those ages 18 and over.

Education

The Warren Township Schools serve public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of five schools, had an enrollment of 1,525 students and 188.3 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 8.1:1. Schools in the district are
Central School with 293 students in grades K-5,
Mt. Horeb School with 202 students in grades PreK-5,
Angelo L. Tomaso School with 248 students in grades K-5,
Woodland School with 229 students in grades K-5 and
Warren Middle School with 544 students in grades 6-8.
Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Watchung Hills Regional High School, which serves students from Warren as well as the neighboring communities of Watchung, Green Brook and Long Hill Township. As of the 2020–21 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,909 students and 157.6 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1. The district's board of education is comprised of nine members, who are elected directly by the voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for each year. Of the nine elected seats, four are allocated to Warren Township.

Transportation

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Somerset County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Interstate 78 is the most prominent highway serving Warren Township, running east-west for across the northern portion of the township. Other significant roads which pass through the township include County Route 525, County Route 527 and County Route 531.
Lakeland Bus Lines provides Route 78 rush-hour service on weekdays from a park and ride at the Warren Corporate Center to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
Nearby NJ Transit rail service for Warren residents with access to New York Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal is available at the nearby Berkeley Heights, Gillette and Stirling stations.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Warren Township include:

Points of interest