East Windsor Township, New Jersey


East Windsor Township is a township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. The township is part of the New York Metropolitan area as defined by the United States Census Bureau, but directly borders the Philadelphia metropolitan area and is part of the Federal Communications Commission's Philadelphia Designated Market Area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 27,190, reflecting an increase of 2,271 from the 24,919 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,566 from the 22,353 counted in the 1990 Census.
Both East Windsor Township and West Windsor Township were formed when Windsor Township was split on February 9, 1797, while the area was still part of Middlesex County. It was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships. Portions of the township were taken to form Hightstown borough and Washington Township. The township was named for Windsor Township, which was named for Windsor, England.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 15.745 square miles, including 15.648 square miles of land and 0.097 square miles of water.
Twin Rivers is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located within East Windsor Township. According to "New Jersey: A Guide to the State" by Barbara Westergaard, Twin Rivers was "New Jersey's first planned unit development" and "has attracted the scrutiny of countless researchers, from sociologists and anthropologists to specialists in energy conservation." Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located completely or partially within East Windsor include Allens Station, Eilers Corner, Etra, Hickory Corner, Locust Corner, Millstone and Washington Oak.
The township borders Robbinsville Township and West Windsor Township in Mercer County; Cranbury Township, Monroe Township and Plainsboro Township in Middlesex County; and both Millstone Township and Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County. East Windsor completely surrounds the independent borough of Hightstown, making it part one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.
The Meadow Lakes continuing care retirement community occupies a site that straddles the East Windsor-Hightstown boundary line.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, East Windsor Township, New Jersey has a hot-summer, wet all year, humid continental climate. Dfa climates are characterized by at least one month having an average mean temperature ≤ 32.0 °F, at least four months with an average mean temperature ≥ 50.0 °F, at least one month with an average mean temperature ≥ 71.6 °F, and no significant precipitation difference between seasons. During the summer months, episodes of extreme heat and humidity can occur with heat index values ≥ 100 °F. On average, the wettest month of the year is July which corresponds with the annual peak in thunderstorm activity. During the winter months, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values < 0 °F. The plant hardiness zone at the East Windsor Township Municipal Court is 7a with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of 0.0 °F. The average seasonal snowfall total is, and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

Ecology

According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, East Windsor Township, New Jersey would have an Appalachian Oak vegetation type with an Eastern Hardwood Forest vegetation form.

Demographics

Census 2010

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that median household income was $84,503 and the median family income was $100,411. Males had a median income of $70,057 versus $44,089 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $37,876. About 3.0% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Census 2000

As of the 2000 United States Census 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 racial makeup of the township was 74.42% White, 8.90% African American, 0.20% Native American, 9.55% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 4.61% from other races, and 2.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.28% of the population.
There were 9,448 households out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.12.
The population of the township was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $63,616, and the median income for a family was $73,461. Males had a median income of $50,875 versus $35,260 for females. The per capita income for the township was $28,695. About 2.8% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Pharmaceutical firms located in East Windsor include Hovione, CoreTech, Aprecia, Sabinsa, Novotec and Windsor Labs.
Working Dog Winery is a vineyard and winery that dates back to a group established in 2001 that began with of land planted with Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay grapes.

Government

Local government

East Windsor Township has been governed since 1970 within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager form of government, which is used by 42 of the state's 565 municipalities. The Council is made up of seven members elected at-large for four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either three or four seats up for vote in odd years as part of the November general election. In a reorganization meeting held each January, the council selects a mayor and a deputy mayor from among its members for a one-year term.
, members of the East Windsor Township Council are Mayor Janice S. Mironov, Deputy Mayor Marc Lippman, Denise Daniels, Alan Rosenberg, Perry M. Shapiro, Peter V. Yeager and John Zoller.
In December 2015, the Township Council appointed Denise Daniels to fill the seat expiring in December 2017 that became vacant following the death of Hector Duke earlier that month.
to reduce energy costs
Designed during the 1970s energy crisis and constructed in 1982, the township's municipal building was erected within a landscaped man-made hill, with only its south side exposed. The design allows the building to maintain a comfortable climate inside for most of the year, with greatly reduced energy needs. The passive solar design allows the building to reduce energy consumption by 60% compared to conventional office buildings of the same size.

Emergency services

East Windsor is served by East Windsor Rescue Squad District I and Rescue Squad District II. Fire protection is provided by East Windsor Volunteer Fire Department 1 and Volunteer Fire Department 2. The Township is split for faster response times, with Rescue Squad District II and Fire Department 2 serving Twin Rivers and the eastern portion of the Township.
The East Windsor Police Department, located on One Mile Road, is led by Chief James A. Geary, and employs 37 uniformed patrol and Traffic Enforcement Officers, 9 Detectives, 7 Dispatchers and Communications Officers and one Animal Control Officer, for a total of 47 sworn officers.

Federal, state and county representation

East Windsor Township is located in the 12th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 14th state legislative district. Prior to the 2011 reapportionment following the 2010 Census, East Windsor Township had been in the 12th state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, East Windsor Township had been part of the, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

Politics

As of March 23, 2011, there were a total of 14,729 registered voters in East Windsor Township, of which 5,194 were registered as Democrats, 2,120 were registered as Republicans and 7,396 were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 19 voters registered to other parties.
In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 66.0% of the vote, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 32.7% and other candidates with 1.3%, among the 11,821 ballots cast by the township's 15,852 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.6%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 66.5% of the vote, ahead of Republican John McCain with 31.4% and other candidates with 1.2%, among the 11,524 ballots cast by the township's 15,401 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.8%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 59.5% of the vote, outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 37.7% and other candidates with 0.7%, among the 10,394 ballots cast by the township's 14,028 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.1.
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 58.4% of the vote, ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 39.7% and other candidates with 1.9%, among the 6,536 ballots cast by the township's 15,663 registered voters, for a turnout of 41.7%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 47.2% of the vote, ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 45.5%, Independent Chris Daggett with 5.6% and other candidates with 1.1%, among the 7,288 ballots cast by the township's 14,999 registered voters, yielding a 48.6% turnout.

Education

Students in public school for pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade attend the East Windsor Regional School District. The comprehensive school district serves students from East Windsor Township and Hightstown, along with students in grades 7 - 12 from Roosevelt who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship. As of the 2017–18 school year, the district and its six schools had an enrollment of 5,231 students and 427.9 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 12.2:1.
Schools in the district are
Walter C. Black Elementary School,
Ethel McKnight Elementary School,
Perry L. Drew Elementary School,
Grace N. Rogers Elementary School,
Melvin H. Kreps Middle School and
Hightstown High School.
Eighth grade students from all of Mercer County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Mercer County Technical Schools, a county-wide vocational school district that offers full-time career and technical education at its Health Sciences Academy, STEM Academy and Academy of Culinary Arts, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.

Transportation

Roads and highways

, the township had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Mercer County, by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
Several major highways serve East Windsor. The most prominent among them is the New Jersey Turnpike. One exit, Exit 8, is located within East Windsor, connecting the turnpike to New Jersey Route 33 and New Jersey Route 133. Route 33 runs east to west across the southern and eastern portions of the township while Route 133 forms a bypass of Hightstown, connecting Route 33 on the east side of East Windsor to County Route 571 on the west side. U.S. Route 130 crosses the western portions of East Windsor with a north–south orientation parallel to the turnpike, forming a concurrency with Route 33 in the southern portion of the township. The township is also served by County Route 535 and County Route 539.

Public transportation

offeres commuter service to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan on the 300 Route and to and from Wall Street in Downtown Manhattan on the 600 Route.
The nearest NJ Transit rail service is available at the Princeton Junction station. Shuttle bus service to the Princeton Junction station is available during rush hour.
Mercer County offers a shuttle service providing access to major businesses and transportation hubs in the area along Route 130 as well as a local shuttle within the area.

Notable people

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