Hightstown, New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Hightstown is a Borough
in Mercer County
, New Jersey
, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,494.
Hightstown was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
on March 5, 1853, within portions of East Windsor Township
. The borough became fully independent c. 1894. Additional portions of East Windsor Township were annexed in 1913, 1915 and 1927.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the borough has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.60%) is water.
Hightstown is an independent municipality surrounded entirely by East Windsor Township
.
Hightstown is the central most point of New Jersey and is roughly equidistant from Philadelphia and New York City
.
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 than 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.
and County Route 571
). U.S. Route 130
just barely passes through the northwest corner, but is usually accessible by Route 33, CR 571 and CR 539. The Hightstown Bypass is north of the borough. Hightstown is also immediately adjacent to Exit 8 of the New Jersey Turnpike
(I-95
) in East Windsor.
of 2000, there were 5,216 people, 2,001 households, and 1,300 families residing in the borough. The population density
was 4,251.9 people per square mile (1,637.3/km2). There were 2,081 housing units at an average density of 1,696.4 per square mile (653.2/km2). 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. It has the sixth highest percentage of people of Ecuadorian ancestry in the United States.
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.
As of the 2000 census, 6.31% of Hightstown's residents identified themselves as being of Ecuador
ian ancestry, which was the second highest of any municipality in New Jersey and the sixth highest percentage of Ecuadorian people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
, the Mayor
of the Borough of Hightstown is Steven Kirson (D
), whose term of office ends on December 31, 2014. Borough Council members are Council President Isabel McGinty (D, 2011), Selena Bibens (R, 2013), Skye Gilmartin (R, 2011), Lawrence D. Quattrone (D, 2012), J. Michael Vanderbeck (D, 2012) and Lynne Woods (R, 2013). Vanderbeck was unanimously chosen by the Council to take the seat of Dimitri Musing who had resigned in protest in April over a request for legal indemnity.
, a comprehensive public school district
serving students from East Windsor Township
and Hightstown Borough. Public school students in grades 7 - 12 from Roosevelt Borough
(a community of 933 residents in Monmouth County
) are sent to the district's schools as part of a sending/receiving relationship
with the Roosevelt Public School District
.
Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
.) are four K-5 elementary schools —
Walter C. Black Elementary School with 589 students,
Perry L. Drew Elementary School with 643 students,
Ethel McKnight Elementary School with 772 students and
Grace N. Rogers Elementary School with 470 students —
Melvin H. Kreps School for grades 6 - 8 with 1,127 students and
Hightstown High School
with 1,437 students in grades 9 - 12.
Hightstown is also home to the Peddie School
, a coeducation
al high school founded in 1864.
Borough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
in Mercer County
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 5,494.
Hightstown was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
on March 5, 1853, within portions of East Windsor Township
East Windsor Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 24,919 people, 9,448 households, and 6,556 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,592.8 people per square mile . There were 9,880 housing units at an average density of 631.5 per square mile...
. The borough became fully independent c. 1894. Additional portions of East Windsor Township were annexed in 1913, 1915 and 1927.
Geography
Hightstown is located at 40.269759°N 74.524161°W (40.269759, -74.524161).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the borough has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.60%) is water.
Hightstown is an independent municipality surrounded entirely by East Windsor Township
East Windsor Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 24,919 people, 9,448 households, and 6,556 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,592.8 people per square mile . There were 9,880 housing units at an average density of 631.5 per square mile...
.
Hightstown is the central most point of New Jersey and is roughly equidistant from Philadelphia and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
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 130U.S. Route 130
U.S. Route 130 is a north–south U.S. Highway completely within the state of New Jersey. It runs from Interstate 295 and US 40 at Deepwater in Pennsville Township, Salem County, where the road continues east as Route 49, north to US 1 in North Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, where...
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
County Route 571 (New Jersey)
County Route 571, abbreviated CR 571, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Route 37 in Toms River Township to Route 27 in the Borough of Princeton.-Ocean County:...
to Route 33. It only has two interchanges and has traffic signals at both ends. Without a proper connection to the New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
, 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 than 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.
Transportation
Hightstown is conveniently located at the cross-roads of several major roads. The main road through the borough is Route 33 (which is also multiplexed with County Route 539County Route 539 (New Jersey)
County Route 539, abbreviated CR 539, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Main Street in Tuckerton to U.S. Route 130 in Cranbury Township. However, signage on CR 539 suggests that it crosses U.S...
and County Route 571
County Route 571 (New Jersey)
County Route 571, abbreviated CR 571, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Route 37 in Toms River Township to Route 27 in the Borough of Princeton.-Ocean County:...
). U.S. Route 130
U.S. Route 130
U.S. Route 130 is a north–south U.S. Highway completely within the state of New Jersey. It runs from Interstate 295 and US 40 at Deepwater in Pennsville Township, Salem County, where the road continues east as Route 49, north to US 1 in North Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, where...
just barely passes through the northwest corner, but is usually accessible by Route 33, CR 571 and CR 539. The Hightstown Bypass is north of the borough. Hightstown is also immediately adjacent to Exit 8 of the New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
(I-95
Interstate 95 in New Jersey
Interstate 95 is a major Interstate Highway that traverses the full extent of the East Coast of the United States, from Florida to Maine...
) in East Windsor.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,216 people, 2,001 households, and 1,300 families residing in the borough. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 4,251.9 people per square mile (1,637.3/km2). There were 2,081 housing units at an average density of 1,696.4 per square mile (653.2/km2). 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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.05% of the population. It has the sixth highest percentage of people of Ecuadorian ancestry in the United States.
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
As of the 2000 census, 6.31% of Hightstown's residents identified themselves as being of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
ian ancestry, which was the second highest of any municipality in New Jersey and the sixth highest percentage of Ecuadorian people in any place in the United States with 1,000 or more residents identifying their ancestry.
Local government
Hightstown is governed under the BoroughBorough (New Jersey)
A borough in the context of New Jersey local government refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government....
form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council comprising six council members, with all positions elected at large. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year.
, the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the Borough of Hightstown is Steven Kirson (D
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
), whose term of office ends on December 31, 2014. Borough Council members are Council President Isabel McGinty (D, 2011), Selena Bibens (R, 2013), Skye Gilmartin (R, 2011), Lawrence D. Quattrone (D, 2012), J. Michael Vanderbeck (D, 2012) and Lynne Woods (R, 2013). Vanderbeck was unanimously chosen by the Council to take the seat of Dimitri Musing who had resigned in protest in April over a request for legal indemnity.
Federal, state and county representation
Hightstown is in the 4th Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 12th state legislative district.Education
Students in public school for Kindergarten through 12th grade attend the East Windsor Regional School DistrictEast Windsor Regional School District
The East Windsor Regional School District is a comprehensive public school district in Mercer County, New Jersey, which serves students in Kindergarten through 12th grade from East Windsor Township and Hightstown Borough....
, a comprehensive public school district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
serving students from East Windsor Township
East Windsor Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 24,919 people, 9,448 households, and 6,556 families residing in the township. The population density was 1,592.8 people per square mile . There were 9,880 housing units at an average density of 631.5 per square mile...
and Hightstown Borough. Public school students in grades 7 - 12 from Roosevelt Borough
Roosevelt, New Jersey
Roosevelt was originally called Jersey Homesteads, and was created during the Great Depression as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal. The town was home to a cooperative farming and manufacturing project...
(a community of 933 residents in Monmouth County
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
) are sent to the district's schools as part of a sending/receiving relationship
Sending/receiving relationship
A sending/receiving relationship is one in which a public school district sends some or all of its students to attend the schools of another district. This is often done to achieve costs savings in smaller districts or continues after districts have grown as part of a historical relationship...
with the Roosevelt Public School District
Roosevelt Public School District
The Roosevelt Public School District is a community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through sixth grade from Roosevelt, New Jersey, United States....
.
Schools in the district (with 2008-09 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
.) are four K-5 elementary schools —
Walter C. Black Elementary School with 589 students,
Perry L. Drew Elementary School with 643 students,
Ethel McKnight Elementary School with 772 students and
Grace N. Rogers Elementary School with 470 students —
Melvin H. Kreps School for grades 6 - 8 with 1,127 students and
Hightstown High School
Hightstown High School
Hightstown High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from three communities in Mercer County and Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the East Windsor Regional School District. Students come from East...
with 1,437 students in grades 9 - 12.
Hightstown is also home to the Peddie School
Peddie School
The Peddie School is a college preparatory school in Hightstown, New Jersey, United States. It is a nondenominational, coeducational boarding school located on a 280‑acre campus, and serves students in the ninth through twelfth grades, plus a small post-graduate class...
, a coeducation
Coeducation
Mixed-sex education, also known as coeducation or co-education, is the integrated education of male and female persons in the same institution. It is the opposite of single-sex education...
al high school founded in 1864.
Other
The Meadow Lakes continuing care retirement community occupies a 100-acre site that spans the Hightstown-East Windsor boundary line.Notable residents
Notable current and former residents of Hightstown include:- Martin WaldronMartin WaldronMartin Oliver "Mo" Waldron was an American newspaper reporter, whose investigative reporting on "reckless, unchecked spending" on the construction of the Sunshine State Parkway won the 1964 Pulitzer Prize for Meritorious Public Service for the St...
(1925–81), winner of the 1964 Pulitzer Prize1964 Pulitzer Prize-Journalism awards:*Public Service:**The St. Petersburg Times, for its aggressive investigation of the Florida Turnpike Authority which disclosed widespread illegal acts and resulted in a major reorganization of the State's road construction program....
for reporting on unchecked spending on the Florida Turnpike. - John Archibald WheelerJohn Archibald WheelerJohn Archibald Wheeler was an American theoretical physicist who was largely responsible for reviving interest in general relativity in the United States after World War II. Wheeler also worked with Niels Bohr in explaining the basic principles behind nuclear fission...
, esteemed physicist
External links
- Hightstown Borough website
- Downtown Hightstown
- East Windsor Regional School District
- Data for the East Windsor Regional School District, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...