Hightstown, New Jersey
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Hightstown is a Borough in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 5,216.
Geography
Hightstown is located at (40.269759, -74.524161)[Geographic references#1GR1].According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.2 km² (1.2 mi²). 3.2 km² (1.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (1.60%) is water.
Hightstown is an independent municipality located entirely within the boundaries of East Windsor Township.
Hightstown Bypass
The history of the bypass dates back to when it was originally planned as Route 92. Running from Route 33, it would have crossed U.S. Route 130 and traveled northwest to a proposed interchange with the then-proposed Somerset Freeway. Decades of lengthy battles resulted in both plans being canceled, and the only surviving section was the bypass of Hightstown itself. This freeway was given another designation, Route 133 and runs from CR 571 to Route 33. It only has two interchanges and has traffic signals at both ends. Without a proper connection to the New Jersey Turnpike, the bypass has not lived up to its original expectations and congestion through Hightstown still largely remains. Discussions have been made of potentially extending the bypass further south to provide a connection with U.S. Route 130 south of Hightstown, however this section would more then likely carry the Route 33 designation. Some have also suggested that a direct connection to the New Jersey Turnpike from the freeway bypass may also eliminate much congestion from downtown traffic.Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 5,216 people, 2,001 households, and 1,300 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,637.3/km² (4,251.9/mi²). There were 2,081 housing units at an average density of 653.2/km² (1,696.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the borough was 76.53% White, 8.51% African American, 0.36% Native American, 2.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 9.64% from other races, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.05% of the population.There were 2,001 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the borough the population was spread out with 22.5% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 36.8% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.2 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $64,299, and the median income for a family was $72,092. Males had a median income of $46,375 versus $35,428 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $28,605. About 4.3% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government
The Borough of Hightstown was incorporated on March 5, 1853, and operates under the Borough form of government. The governing body consists of six elected Councilmembers, each serving a three-year term, and one elected Mayor who serves a four-year term.The Mayor of the Borough of Hightstown is Robert F. Patten, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2006. Members of the Hightstown Borough Council are Council President David Schneider (term ends 2006), Constance Harendza-Harinxma (2008), Lawrence D. Quattrone (2006), Ryan Rosenberg (2008), Walter L. Sikorski (2007) and Patrick Thompson (2007).[2006 Mayor and Council], accessed May 12, 2006
Federal, state and county representation
Hightstown is in the Fourth Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 12th Legislative District.New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District, covering portions of Burlington County, Mercer County, Monmouth County and Ocean County, is represented by Christopher Smith (R). New Jersey is represented in the Senate by Frank Lautenberg (D, Cliffside Park) and Robert Menendez (D, Union City).
The 12th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Ellen Karcher (D, Freehold Township) and in the Assembly by Jennifer Beck (R, Red Bank) and Michael J. Panter (D, Red Bank). The Governor of New Jersey is Jon Corzine (D, Hoboken).
Mercer County's County Executive is Brian M. Hughes. The executive, along with the Board of Chosen Freeholders administer all county business. Mercer County's Freeholders are Freeholder Chair Keith V. Hamilton, Freeholder Vice Chair Pasquale "Pat" Colavita, Jr., Ann M. Cannon, Anthony P. Carabelli, Tony Mack, Elizabeth Maher Muoio and Lucylle R. S. Walter.
Education
Students in Kindergarten through 12th grade attend the East Windsor Regional School District, a comprehensive public school district serving students from East Windsor Township and Hightstown Borough, along with students in grades 7 - 12 from Roosevelt Borough as part of a sending / receiving relationship.The district has four K-5 elementary schools — [Walter C. Black Elementary School] with 581 students, [Perry L. Drew Elementary School] with 692 students, [Ethel McKnight Elementary School] with 572 students, [Grace N. Rogers Elementary School] with 502 students — [Melvin H. Kreps School] grades 6 - 8 with 1,139 students and Hightstown High School with 1,370 students in grades 9 - 12.
Highstown is also home to the Peddie School.
References
External links
- [Hightstown Borough website]
- [East Windsor Regional School District]
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Municipalities of Mercer County, New Jersey
(County Seat: Trenton)Boroughs Hightstown | Hopewell | Pennington | Princeton | Pitman City Trenton Townships East Windsor | Ewing | Hamilton | Hopewell | Lawrence | Princeton | Washington | West Windsor CDPs and
CommunitiesLawrenceville | Mercerville-Hamilton Square | Princeton Junction | Princeton North | Titusville | Twin Rivers | White Horse | Yardville-Groveville
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