East Amwell Township is a township in Hunterdon County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 3,917, a decrease of 96 (−2.4%) from the 2010 census count of 4,013, which in turn reflected a decline of 442 (−9.9%) from the 4,455 counted in the 2000 census.Table 7. Population for the Counties and Municipalities in New Jersey: 1990, 2000 and 2010, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, February 2011. Accessed May 1, 2023.
East Amwell Township is located in the southeastern corner of Hunterdon County where it borders both Somerset and Mercer counties, within the heart of the Amwell Valley and Raritan Valley regions. It includes the unincorporated community of Ringoes, the oldest known settlement in Hunterdon County, as well as the communities of Larison's Corner, Weert's Corner and part of Reaville.Demographics , Township of East Amwell. Accessed November 14, 2012. "East Amwell is at the base of the Sourland Mountains. Its 28.68 square miles encompasses the communities of Ringoes, Weert's Corner, Larison's Corner and a portion of Reaville."
History Amwell Township was established by a royal patent from Queen Anne in 1708. Its territory comprised and included present day Delaware Township, Raritan Township, Readington Township, East Amwell Township and West Amwell Township and portions of Clinton, Lebanon and Tewksbury Townships. Both East Amwell Township and West Amwell Township were formed on April 6, 1846, when Amwell Township was split in two. Territory was gained in 1854 from Delaware Township, Raritan Township and West Amwell Township, and again from those same three townships in 1897.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. Accessed May 1, 2026. The township was named for Amwell Township, which in turn was named for Great Amwell/Little Amwell, Hertfordshire in England.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed Accessed May 1, 2026.
East Amwell was the location of the Lindbergh kidnapping, in which Charles Augustus Lindbergh III, was abducted from the estate owned by Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and was later found dead nearby.Gill, Barbara. "Lindbergh kidnapping rocked the world 50 years ago" , The Hunterdon County Democrat, 1981. Accessed May 22, 2015. "So while the world's attention was focused on Hopewell, from which the first press dispatches emanated about the kidnapping, the Democrat made sure its readers knew that the new home of Col. Charles A. Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh was in East Amwell Township, Hunterdon County."
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 28.56 square miles (73.96 km2), including 28.46 square miles (73.70 km2) of land and 0.10 square miles (0.27 km2) of water (0.36%).
The northern areas of East Amwell are in the Amwell Valley, while the southern sections are in The Sourlands region. The township borders Delaware Township, Raritan Township and West Amwell Township in Hunterdon County; Hopewell Township in Mercer County; and Hillsborough Township and Montgomery Township in Somerset County.Areas touching East Amwell Township, MapIt. Accessed September 20, 2019.Map of County Municipalities, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed July 30, 2023.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.
Unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Amwell, Boss Road, Bowne, Buttonwood Corners, Cloverhill, Furmans Corner, Larisons Corners, Linvale (historically known as New Market), Reaville, Rileyville, Ringoes, Rocktown, Snydertown, Union, Unionville, Venliews Corners and Wertsville.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed March 15, 2015.
Demographics
2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 4,013 people, 1,518 households, and 1,155 families in the township. The population density was 141.0 per square mile (54.4/km2). There were 1,580 housing units at an average density of 55.5 per square mile (21.4/km2). The racial makeup was 95.81% (3,845) White, 1.25% (50) Black or African American, 0.05% (2) Native American, 1.42% (57) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 0.67% (27) from other races, and 0.80% (32) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.82% (113) of the population.
Of the 1,518 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18; 67.2% were married couples living together; 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present and 23.9% were non-families. Of all households, 17.9% were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.01.
22.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 18.2% from 25 to 44, 39.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.8 years. For every 100 females, the population had 106.9 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 101.0 males.
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $105,846 (with a margin of error of +/− $12,725) and the median family income was $124,659 (+/− $16,916). Males had a median income of $87,727 (+/− $15,438) versus $53,491 (+/− $7,390) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $46,986 (+/− $4,981). About 0.8% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for East Amwell township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.
2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 4,455 people, 1,581 households, and 1,305 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 1,624 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 96.97% White, 0.72% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for East Amwell township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for East Amwell township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.
There were 1,581 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 13.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the township the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 31.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the township was $85,664, and the median income for a family was $90,000. Males had a median income of $60,945 versus $39,306 for females. The per capita income for the township was $37,187. About 1.8% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Government
Local government East Amwell Township is governed under the Township form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 103."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 7. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023. At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor.of the Township Committee, East Amwell Township. Accessed July 16, 2022. "The Township Committee form of government is formed under the State of New Jersey Statute NJSA:40A:63-1 et. seq. In this form of municipal government voters select five Committee members, elected at-large for staggered, three year terms. Elections are partisan with the governing body holding a reorganization meeting the first week in January. Mayor: Elected by Township Committee for 1 year term."
, members of the East Amwell Township Committee are Mayor Jenna Casper-Bloom (D, term on committee ends December 31, 2024; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Dante DiPirro (D, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2023), Mike Dendis (D, 2025), John Mills (R, 2023) and Tara Ramsey (R, 2023).Mayor and Township Committees, East Amwell Township. Accessed March 8, 2023. "The Township Committee organizes annually at their Reorganization Meeting during the first week in January, at which time it elects a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among its members."2023 Municipal Data Sheet, East Amwell Township. Accessed May 3, 2023.Township of East Amwell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed May 3, 2023.2022 County and Municipal Directory, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed May 1, 2023.Hunterdon County District Canvass November 8, 2022, General Election, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.November 2, 2021 District Report Hunterdon County Official Results, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 12, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.November 3, 2020 District Report Hunterdon County Official Results, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.
Federal, state and county representation East Amwell Township is located in the 7th Congressional DistrictPlan Components Report, New Jersey Redistricting Commission, December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020. and is part of New Jersey's 15th state legislative district.Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed February 1, 2020.2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government, New Jersey League of Women Voters. Accessed October 30, 2019.Districts by Number for 2011-2020, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 6, 2013.
Politics As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,059 registered voters in East Amwell Township, of which 875 (28.6%) were registered as Democrats, 956 (31.3%) were registered as Republicans and 1,224 (40.0%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 4 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.Voter Registration Summary - Hunterdon, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 14, 2012.