Borough of Princeton, New Jersey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Borough of Princeton, New Jersey
|
|
|---|---|
|
Borough
|
|
Location of Princeton Township and Borough in Mercer County highlighted in red (right). Inset map: Location of Mercer County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (left).
|
|
Census Bureau map of Borough of Princeton, New Jersey
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Mercer |
| Incorporated | February 11, 1813 |
| Disestablished | January 1, 2013 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Borough |
| • Body | Borough Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.843 sq mi (4.774 km2) |
| • Land | 1.843 sq mi (4.772 km2) |
| • Water | 0.000 sq mi (0.001 km2) 0.03% |
| Area rank | 423rd of 566 in state 10th of 13 in county |
| Elevation | 190 ft (58 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 12,307 |
| • Rank | 198th of 566 in state 10th of 13 in county |
| • Density | 6,679.2/sq mi (2,578.9/km2) |
| • Density rank | 70th of 566 in state 2nd of 13 in county |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP code |
08540, 08542
|
| Area code(s) | 609 and 640 |
| FIPS code | 3402160900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885361 |
| Website | http://www.princetonboro.org/ |
The Borough of Princeton was a borough of New Jersey that existed from 1813 until the end of 2012. On January 1, 2013, it merged with Princeton Township to form Princeton, New Jersey; both the Borough of Princeton and Princeton Township were dissolved in the merger.
The borough was located in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, and was completely surrounded by the former Princeton Township, from which it was formed in 1894. As of the 2010 United States census, the borough had a population of 12,307, reflecting a decline of 1,896 (-13.3%) from the 14,203 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 2,187 (+18.2%) from the 12,016 counted in the 1990 Census.
The Borough of Princeton was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 11, 1813, within portions of West Windsor Township (in what was then part of Middlesex County) and Montgomery Township (in Somerset County), and was reincorporated on November 27, 1822. The borough became part of the newly created Mercer County in 1838, and became a fully independent municipality circa 1894. Portions of territory were acquired from Princeton Township on January 4, 1928, and August 21, 1951. On November 8, 2011, voters in Princeton Borough voted to consolidate with Princeton Township.
Morven, the former residence of the Governor of New Jersey, is at 55 Stockton Street in the former borough, while the current residence is Drumthwacket in the former township.
Contents
Geography
Princeton borough was located at 40°21′02″N 74°39′34″W / 40.350461°N 74.659371°W (40.350461,-74.659371). According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 1.843 square miles (4.774 km2), all of which was land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 2,798 | — | |
| 1880 | 3,209 | 14.7% | |
| 1890 | 3,422 | 6.6% | |
| 1900 | 3,899 | 13.9% | |
| 1910 | 5,136 | 31.7% | |
| 1920 | 5,917 | 15.2% | |
| 1930 | 6,992 | 18.2% | |
| 1940 | 7,719 | 10.4% | |
| 1950 | 12,230 | 58.4% | |
| 1960 | 11,890 | −2.8% | |
| 1970 | 12,311 | 3.5% | |
| 1980 | 12,035 | −2.2% | |
| 1990 | 12,016 | −0.2% | |
| 2000 | 14,203 | 18.2% | |
| 2010 | 12,307 | −13.3% | |
| 2011 (est.) | 12,131 | −1.4% | |
| Population sources: 1870 1880-1890 1890-1910 1910-1930 1930-1990 2000 2010 |
|||
Census 2010
The 2010 United States census counted 12,307 people, 3,161 households, and 1,644 families in the borough. The population density was 6,679.2 per square mile (2,578.9/km2). There were 3,488 housing units at an average density of 1,893.0 per square mile (730.9/km2). The racial makeup was 72.07% (8,870) White, 6.44% (793) Black or African American, 0.18% (22) Native American, 13.51% (1,663) Asian, 0.16% (20) Pacific Islander, 4.13% (508) from other races, and 3.50% (431) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.30% (1,268) of the population.
Of the 3,161 households, 24.2% had children under the age of 18; 42.4% were married couples living together; 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 48.0% were non-families. Of all households, 39.6% were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.96.
11.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 43.7% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 104.5 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 103.6 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $104,234 (with a margin of error of +/- $20,004) and the median family income was $148,295 (+/- $34,644). Males had a median income of $96,225 (+/- $29,348) versus $82,572 (+/- $28,930) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $45,566 (+/- $5,208). About 2.5% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Census 2000
As of the 2000 United States Census there were 14,203 people, 3,326 households, and 1,692 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,686.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,967.7/km2). There were 3,495 housing units at an average density of 1,891.4 per square mile (730.3/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 80.26% White, 6.39% African American, 0.28% Native American, 7.46% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 2.50% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.10% of the population. Most of the Hispanic population consists of Mexican and Guatemalan immigrants.
There were 3,326 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.1% were non-families. 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 10.1% under the age of 18, 40.9% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 12.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.8 males. The borough's unusually low median age and high concentration of 18- to 24-year-olds is influenced by Princeton University.
The median income for a household in the borough was $67,346, and the median income for a family was $102,957. Males had a median income of $60,341 versus $52,900 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $27,292. About 2.9% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, the Borough of Princeton has a Hot-summer Humid continental climate (Dfa).
| Climate data for Princeton Twp (40.3512, -74.6575), Elevation 184 ft (56 m), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–2022 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71.2 (21.8) |
77.7 (25.4) |
87.6 (30.9) |
94.8 (34.9) |
95.4 (35.2) |
97.2 (36.2) |
102.6 (39.2) |
100.4 (38.0) |
97.4 (36.3) |
93.4 (34.1) |
80.4 (26.9) |
75.2 (24.0) |
102.6 (39.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 39.8 (4.3) |
42.3 (5.7) |
50.1 (10.1) |
62.4 (16.9) |
72.0 (22.2) |
81.2 (27.3) |
85.8 (29.9) |
84.0 (28.9) |
77.6 (25.3) |
65.6 (18.7) |
54.9 (12.7) |
44.8 (7.1) |
63.5 (17.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.7 (−5.2) |
24.1 (−4.4) |
31.0 (−0.6) |
40.9 (4.9) |
50.8 (10.4) |
59.9 (15.5) |
65.1 (18.4) |
63.3 (17.4) |
56.2 (13.4) |
44.5 (6.9) |
34.8 (1.6) |
27.8 (−2.3) |
43.5 (6.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −12.0 (−24.4) |
−3.5 (−19.7) |
3.4 (−15.9) |
17.5 (−8.1) |
31.3 (−0.4) |
40.3 (4.6) |
46.3 (7.9) |
41.0 (5.0) |
34.7 (1.5) |
23.8 (−4.6) |
9.4 (−12.6) |
−0.3 (−17.9) |
−12.0 (−24.4) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.58 (91) |
2.82 (72) |
4.26 (108) |
3.77 (96) |
4.09 (104) |
4.57 (116) |
5.00 (127) |
4.47 (114) |
4.23 (107) |
4.16 (106) |
3.36 (85) |
4.41 (112) |
48.72 (1,237) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.2 (21) |
8.7 (22) |
4.2 (11) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.7 (1.8) |
3.7 (9.4) |
26.0 (66) |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 21.2 (−6.0) |
21.7 (−5.7) |
27.2 (−2.7) |
36.8 (2.7) |
48.9 (9.4) |
59.2 (15.1) |
64.0 (17.8) |
63.4 (17.4) |
57.4 (14.1) |
45.8 (7.7) |
34.4 (1.3) |
26.9 (−2.8) |
42.3 (5.7) |
| Source 1: PRISM | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOHRSC (Snow, 2008/2009 - 2022/2023 normals) | |||||||||||||
Ecology
According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, the Borough of Princeton would have a dominant vegetation type of Appalachian Oak (104) with a dominant vegetation form of Eastern Hardwood Forest (25).
Education
Colleges and universities
Two thirds of the buildings of Princeton University were located within the borough (the rest of Princeton University, aside from a small enclave and the Plasma Physics Laboratory in West Windsor Township and land in East Windsor Township, were in the township). However, the university owns more land in West Windsor than in the two Princeton municipalities combined.
Westminster Choir College (part of Rider University) and most of Princeton Theological Seminary were located in the borough.
The Institute for Advanced Study was in the township.
Primary and secondary schools
Public schools
For grades K through 12, public school students attended the Princeton Regional Schools, a regional school district shared with Princeton Township that also serves students from Cranbury Township, as part of a sending/receiving relationship. All of the district's schools through eighth grade were in the former Princeton Township, with Community Park School being the closest primary school to the defunct borough. The district's high school was located within the borough of Princeton.
The Princeton Charter School, located in the township, opened in September 1997 and serves students from the borough and township who are selected by lottery from among applicants.
Private schools
Private schools located in the borough include St. Paul School.
Public libraries
The Princeton Public Library, located in the borough, serves the borough and the township.
Popular culture
Princeton is the setting for the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in the TV series House.
Sister city
Notable people
- Wendy Benchley (born 1941), marine and environmental conservation advocate and former Princeton Borough councilwoman who was the wife of author Peter Benchley.
- Charles Browne (1875–1947), mayor of Princeton, New Jersey, from 1914 to 1923 and represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district from 1923 to 1925.
- John Popper, (born 1967), musician.
See also
In Spanish: Borough de Princeton para niños
