Princeton Township was a township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States, that existed from 1838 until it was dissolved after it was merged with Princeton Borough in 2013 to form Princeton, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 16,265, reflecting an increase of 238 (+1.5%) from the 16,027 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,829 (+21.4%) from the 13,198 counted in the 1990 Census.
Princeton was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 9, 1838, from portions of West Windsor Township in Mercer County and Montgomery Township in Somerset County. The Borough of Princeton — created on February 11, 1813 within the area that later became Princeton Township — became a fully independent municipality circa 1894. Portions of territory were ceded to the Borough of Princeton on January 4, 1928 and August 21, 1951. On November 8, 2011, voters in Princeton Township voted to consolidate with Princeton Borough, a change that took effect on January 1, 2013.
The Institute for Advanced Study, a private research institution that has been an academic home to Albert Einstein, Kurt Gödel, and many other famous and prize-winning scientists, is located in the former township. Princeton University is located mostly within the former borough, but parts of the campus extended into what was Princeton Township.
Drumthwacket, the official residence of the governor of New Jersey, is located at 344 Stockton Street in the area of the former township.
The last day Princeton Township existed as an independent municipality was December 31, 2012.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 16.520 square miles (42.786 km2), including 16.090 square miles (41.672 km2) of it is land and 0.430 square miles (1.114 km2) of water (2.60%) is water.
Princeton Borough was an independent municipality completely surrounded by the township.
Princeton North was an unincorporated community located within Princeton Township that had been a census-designated place until the 2010 Census.
The Princeton Airport is within Princeton's postal district but is situated less than a mile across the Somerset County border, in Montgomery Township.
Demographics
Census 2010
The 2010 United States census counted 16,265 people, 6,360 households, and 4,325 families in the township. The population density was 1,010.9 per square mile (390.3/km2). There were 6,814 housing units at an average density of 423.5 per square mile (163.5/km2). The racial makeup was 75.52% (12,283) White, 4.98% (810) Black or African American, 0.14% (22) Native American, 14.17% (2,305) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander, 2.26% (368) from other races, and 2.91% (473) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.91% (1,124) of the population.
Of the 6,360 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18; 59.1% were married couples living together; 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.0% were non-families. Of all households, 23.6% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.02.
23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.6 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 90.8 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $107,071 (with a margin of error of +/- $12,828) and the median family income was $149,948 (+/- $16,625). Males had a median income of $112,282 (+/- $7,079) versus $66,150 (+/- $11,617) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $71,050 (+/- $6,509). About 6.2% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 16,027 people, 6,044 households, and 4,357 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 6,224 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 79.91% White, 5.32% African American, 0.12% Native American, 9.98% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.11% from other races, and 2.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.28% of the population.