Bethlehem Township is a township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 3,979, reflecting an increase of 159 (+4.2%) from the 3,820 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 716 (+23.1%) from the 3,104 counted in the 1990 Census.
Bethlehem was first mentioned in official records dating back to 1730, though details of its formation are uncertain. Bethlehem was incorporated as one of New Jersey’s initial 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Kingwood Township (1749, date uncertain), Alexandria Township (March 5, 1765), Union Township (February 17, 1853), Junction borough (February 20, 1895, now known as Hampton borough), Bloomsbury (March 30, 1905) and Glen Gardner (March 26, 1919).
The township was named for the city of Bethlehem.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 20.828 square miles (53.944 km2), including 20.711 square miles (53.642 km2) of land and 0.117 square miles (0.303 km2) of water (0.56%). The township is an exurb of New York City, lying on the western fringe of the New York metropolitan area, as part of the Newark-Union, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division, which is in turn a part of the New York City Metropolitan Area.
The Musconetcong River forms the township’s northern border with Warren County. The northern half of the Township consists of the Musconetcong Valley while the southern half is covered by the Musconetcong Mountains. The southwest corner of the township lies on what is known as the Hunterdon Plateau.
The landscape is mainly rural in nature, featuring farms and forests, scattered with newer housing developments and older farm homes.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Charlestown, Jugtown, Ludlow, Polktown, Swinesburg, Valley and West Portal.
Residents and businesses in Bethlehem Township have mailing addresses to nearby towns including Bloomsbury, Clinton, Glen Gardner, Hampton, and even Asbury (which is located in neighboring Warren County), as ‘Bethlehem Township’ itself is not a mailing address.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 3,979 people, 1,344 households, and 1,148 families residing in the township. The population density was 192.1 per square mile (74.2/km2). There were 1,386 housing units at an average density of 66.9 per square mile (25.8/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 95.65% (3,806) White, 0.98% (39) Black or African American, 0.10% (4) Native American, 1.88% (75) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.50% (20) from other races, and 0.88% (35) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.02% (160) of the population.
Source: Wikipedia
