Rocky Hill is a borough in Somerset County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Named for the Rocky Hill Ridge, this historic village is nestled within the heart of the Raritan Valley region, located alongside the course of the Millstone River.

As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 743, an increase of 61 (+8.9%) from the 2010 census count of 682, which in turn reflected an increase of 20 (+3.0%) from the 662 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.

History The earliest European settlement in the area began after John Harrison negotiated the purchase of land in 1701 from the Lenape Native Americans. Speaking an Algonquian language, they had occupied the area for centuries prior to the arrival of European settlers. Bands of Lenape lived along the coast from Connecticut through New York and New Jersey and south to Maryland and Delaware.

In 1783, during the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington camped at Rockingham, the house owned by the Berrien family. He passed through the area again in 1789 on his way to New York City for his inauguration as President of the United States. Before roads were improved, it was known as the Devil's Featherbed because it was difficult to travel the rocky terrain by horse and wagon.Rocky Hill Heritage Day October 6, 2001, Borough of Rocky Hill. Accessed July 14, 2022.

Rocky Hill was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on December 18, 1889, from portions of Montgomery Township. This was based on the results of a referendum held four days earlier.Snyder, John P. The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 225. Accessed May 30, 2024.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 0.61 square miles (1.59 km2), including 0.61 square miles (1.58 km2) of land and <0.01 square miles (0.01 km2) of water (0.49%). A large portion of Rocky Hill is taken up by Van Horne Park.

The borough borders the Somerset County municipalities of Franklin Township and Montgomery Township.Areas touching Rocky Hill, MapIt. Accessed March 4, 2020.Municipalities, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed March 4, 2020.New Jersey Municipal Boundaries, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed November 15, 2019.

Ecology According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. potential natural vegetation types, Rocky Hill would have an Appalachian Oak (104) vegetation type with an Eastern Hardwood Forest (25) vegetation form.U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions), Data Basin. Accessed November 5, 2020.

Demographics

2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 682 people, 280 households, and 189 families in the borough. The population density was 1,101.4 per square mile (425.3/km2). There were 292 housing units at an average density of 471.6 per square mile (182.1/km2). The racial makeup was 91.64% (625) White, 1.47% (10) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 2.35% (16) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 1.47% (10) from other races, and 3.08% (21) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.84% (33) of the population.

Of the 280 households, 29.3% had children under the age of 18; 56.4% were married couples living together; 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 32.5% were non-families. Of all households, 26.4% were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.95.

23.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 103.0 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91.2 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $88,929 (with a margin of error of +/− $14,448) and the median family income was $102,917 (+/− $21,668). Males had a median income of $88,333 (+/− $16,491) versus $57,083 (+/− $7,607) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $47,582 (+/− $7,276). About none of families and 3.3% 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 Rocky Hill borough, Somerset County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 14, 2013.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 662 people, 284 households, and 189 families residing in the borough. The population density was . There were 295 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the borough was 95.17% White, 1.36% African American, 0.45% Asian, 0.60% Pacific Islander, 0.91% from other races, and 1.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.93% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Rocky Hill borough, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 14, 2013.DP-1: Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 - Census 2000 Summary File 1 (SF 1) 100-Percent Data for Rocky Hill borough, Somerset County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed February 14, 2013.

There were 284 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 4.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the borough the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $79,469, and the median income for a family was $100,314. Males had a median income of $54,375 versus $50,357 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $48,357. About 2.5% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local government Rocky Hill is governed under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey , Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year 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. 77. The borough form of government used by Rocky Hill is a "weak mayor / strong council" government, in which council members act as the legislative body. The mayor presides at meetings and votes only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.Cerra, Michael F. "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask" , New Jersey State League of Municipalities. Accessed November 30, 2014."Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey" , p. 6. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.

, the mayor of Rocky Hill is Democrat Robert Uhrik, whose term of office ends December 31, 2022. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Edgar L. "Trey" Delaney (D, 2024), Susan P. Bristol (I, 2023), Jonathan Lee (D, 2022; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Catherine Plunkett (D, 2022), Ken Rizzi (D, 2023; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Denise Varga (D, 2024).Council Members and Committees, Borough of Rocky Hill. Accessed July 14, 2022.2021 Municipal Data Sheet, Borough of Rocky Hill. Accessed July 14, 2022.2023 Directory of County & Municipal Offices, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed April 10, 2024.2021 General Election Winning Candidates, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.Somerset County General Election November 3, 2020 Final Certified Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, dated December 3, 2020. Accessed January 19, 2021.General Election November 5, 2019 Final Results, Somerset County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.General Election 2018 Winners List, Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2019.

In January 2022, the borough council selected Jonathan Lee from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Rasheeda Pretto until she resigned from office.Massand, Rikki. "Three New Council Members and Staff Changes Highlight Rocky Hill’s Reorganization Meeting", The Montgomery News, January 9, 2022. Accessed July 14, 2022. "Borough council also appointed Rocky Hill beekeeper Jonathan Lee to a one-year term. Lee fills the unexpired term of Councilwoman Rasheeda Pretto, who submitted her official resignation prior to the 2022 Reorganization meeting. It is unknown why Pretto resigned."

Rasheeda Pretto was appointed to fill the borough council seat expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Robert Uhrik until he stepped down to take office as mayor, though she chose to run for a full three-year term rather than to run for the remainder of the term. In November 2019, Amy Kirtland won a write-in campaign to fill the balance of Uhrik's council term.Biryukov, Mikita. "Kirtland wins write-in campaign in Rocky Hill Councilwoman did not run for re-election", New Jersey Globe, December 30, 2019. Accessed March 4, 2020. "Rocky Hill Councilwoman Amy Kirtland will serve the remaining year of Mayor Bob Uhrik’s term on the borough council after winning a last-minute write-in campaign. Kirtland, who received 59 of the 121 write-in votes cast in Rocky Hill, said Councilwoman Rasheeda Pretto and Councilwoman-elect Jenn Walsh convinced her to allow them to run a less-than-official write-in campaign on her behalf.... Pretto, who then held Uhrik’s Council seat, decided to seek a full term instead of running for the remainder of the mayor’s unexpired term."