Raritan Township is a township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township’s population was 22,185, reflecting an increase of 2,376 (+12.0%) from the 19,809 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 4,193 (+26.9%) from the 15,616 counted in the 1990 Census. The southeast part of the township is in the Amwell Valley, while the northwestern part is on the Hunterdon Plateau.
Raritan was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 2, 1838, from portions of the now-defunct Amwell Township. Flemington was formed within the township on March 14, 1870, and became an independent borough on April 7, 1910. Portions of the township were ceded to East Amwell Township in 1854 and 1897.
The township’s name is derived from the Raritan tribe, a Native American band of Lenape people. The name of the tribe is said to mean “forked river”, “stream overflows” or “point on a tidal river”.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 37.690 square miles (97.615 km2), including 37.527 square miles (97.194 km2) of land and 0.163 square miles (0.422 km2) of water (0.43%).
Raritan Township completely surrounds Flemington, making it part one of 21 pairs of “doughnut towns” in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. It borders Clinton Township, Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Franklin Township and Readington Township in Hunterdon County; and Hillsborough Township in Somerset County.
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 22,185 people, 8,056 households, and 6,058 families residing in the township. The population density was 591.2 per square mile (228.3/km2). There were 8,288 housing units at an average density of 220.9 per square mile (85.3/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 89.57% (19,870) White, 2.07% (459) Black or African American, 0.10% (23) Native American, 5.95% (1,319) Asian, 0.04% (9) Pacific Islander, 0.83% (185) from other races, and 1.44% (320) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.13% (1,138) of the population.
Source: Wikipedia
