Located in eastern Hunterdon County, 38-square mile Raritan Township has the distinction of being equally distant-about 55 miles--from New York City and Philadelphia. In fact, Old York Road which passes through Raritan was an established stage coach route that operated between those two major cities. Much of the scenery from those stage coach days still exists in the rolling landscapes of Raritan's Amwell Valley.

Today, Raritan is home to about 22,000 residents, making it the most-populated township in the county. A surge in residential development during the 1980s contributed to the higher population. Raritan Township surrounds the historic borough of Flemington, which is known for its quaint downtown, abundance of retail options and outlet shopping.

History

Incorporated in 1838, Raritan has a rich agricultural history of farming, and the township has been pro-active when it comes to preserving farmland and open space. To that end, the local government oversees an environmental commission, open space trust advisory committee, agriculture advisory board, green team and comprehensive recycling program.

Since Raritan is such a large township, there are lots of small villages and designated areas within its borders which were settled during Raritan's earliest days. Some of these quaint areas are Copper Hill, Croton, Clover Hill, Three Bridges, Stanton, Voorhees Corner and Reaville.

Education

The Flemington-Raritan School District includes four elementary schools, a school for grades five and six, and a middle school. Kindergarten through grade four schools are the Barley Sheaf School, Copper Hill School, Robert Hunter School and Francis A. Desmares School. Students in fifth and sixth grades go to the Reading-Fleming Intermediate School, and those in grades seven and eight attend JP Case Middle School.

High school students from Raritan Township attend the Blue Ribbon-designated Hunterdon Central Regional High School. The high school also serves students from neighboring Delaware, Flemington, Readington and East Amwell. A campus-type setting on 72 acres includes a field house, instructional media center, a music and communications building for the school's radio station (90.5 FM) and cable TV station (HCTV, channel 27), and four classroom buildings. Approximately 3,100 students attend Hunterdon Central, where class sizes average about 22.

In 2011, SAT scores for students at Hunterdon Central Regional High School were 543 for the mean critical reading score compared to the statewide average of 495, and the mean math score of 560 was over 40 points higher than 516, the statewide average score. Out of all the graduates in the class of 2011, 89% planned to continue their education at four- or two-year colleges.

Transportation

A network of state and local highways in Raritan Township includes Routes 12, 31 and 202. Interstate 78 can be accessed in nearby Clinton Township.

NJ Transit's Annandale or White House train stations are about 12 miles from Raritan Township. The Raritan Valley Line provides direct service to Newark and connecting trains to New York City or Hoboken. About 25 miles south of Raritan is the Trenton Transit Center for Amtrak and NJ Transit trains as well as bus and light rail service.

Trans Bridge bus lines operates a commuter route from Liberty Village in Flemington to Port Authority in midtown Manhattan, with other scheduled service to downtown Newark, Newark Liberty International Airport and JFK International Airport.

In addition to Newark, other airports in the region include Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia International Airport. Smaller air fields are at Trenton-Mercer Airport in West Trenton and Solberg Airport in Readington.

Real Estate

With a long history that dates back to the pre-Revolutionary War era, Raritan has its share of beautifully restored antique homes, yet the township also has a wide variety of newer luxury homes, townhomes and condominiums. Whether you seek a small starter home, carefree condominium or estate-caliber luxury home, Raritan has a variety of housing styles, sizes and price ranges.

Inviting single-family neighborhoods in Raritan Township include Cambridge Pointe, Copper Penny Estates, Countryfield Estates, Equestrian Meadows Estates, Hunterdon Crossing, Hunterdon Estates, Milestone Manor, Rolling Hills, Sand Hill Estates, Wellington Hills and The Woods at Copper Hill.

Among the town house and condominium complexes in Raritan are Carriage Gate, Concord Ridge, Coppermine Village, South Main Village, Stone Gate, Sun Ridge, Townsende, Victorian Square and Village Commons.

Parks and Recreation

Flemington-Raritan Parks and Recreation Committee puts together a changing schedule of programs and sports for children, teens and adults. Parks in Raritan include Lenape Park with a walking trail, sports fields, play area and basketball courts; Mine Brook Park with volleyball and bocce courts; Bernadette Morales Nature Preserve, featuring two miles of nature trails; Lone Cedar Park and Nature Preserve offering 62 acres of open space for bird watchers and hikers; Blackwell Park, a seven-acre multi-use area; and Heron Glen Golf Course, a highly-rated public course that opened in 2002.

Points of Interest

Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in the Reaville section of Raritan has many antique headstones, the oldest one dating back to 1745. Part of the Presbyterian Church at Amwell, many notable New Jersey residents are interred here, including Governor John Reading Jr., the first New Jersey native to rule the state. Several Revolutionary war soldiers were buried at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery including the famous Captain-then later Colonel-- John Schenck who led a company at the Battle of Monmouth but is better-known locally as leader of the Amwell Militia against the British cavalry during the "Amwell Skirmish." It was the only clash between American and British troops that took place within the current boundaries of Hunterdon County.

The Urbach Farm on Klinesville Road opened to the public in 2012. It offers 108 acres of protected space, making it one of the largest undeveloped parcels in the township. Visitors can walk through woodlands, open fields and view part of the Assiscong Creek.

Bonetown is an oddly-named section south of Croton that, according to local legend, was home to a family of chicken thieves. After they were forced to move from the property, a large number of chicken bones were left at the site. The Raritan Township Local Historic Committee placed a historic marker at the site on aptly-named Bonetown Road in 2007.

Raritan Public Library is one of the oldest and most historic sites in town. Situated in the General John Frelinghuysen House, the library stands on Native American land purchased in 1683 by Dutch settlers. Original parts of the building were constructed in the early 1700s with a wood addition in around 1780. Over the years it has served as a tavern, jail and public meeting hall. Listed on the state and national registers in 1971, today it has an excellent collection of books as well as activities for all ages.

The Farmer's Market at Dvoor Farm takes place every Sunday from May until November. The barn complex is a local landmark on Mine Road that is registered as a historic place on both the state and national lists. Run by the Hunterdon Land Trust, this popular market attracts hundreds of shoppers. The Land Trust's headquarters are in a circa 1798 stone farmhouse on the property.