Clinton 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 13,505, an increase of 27 (+0.2%) from the 2010 census count of 13,478, which in turn reflected an increase of 521 (+4.0%) from the 12,957 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 Clinton Township was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 12, 1841, from portions of Lebanon Township, based on the results of a referendum held that same day. Portions of the township have been taken to form Clinton town (April 5, 1865, within the township; became independent in 1895), High Bridge township (March 29, 1871) and Lebanon borough (March 26, 1926).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 Governor of New York DeWitt Clinton.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 28, 2015.

In 1998, Republican Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll proposed to honor former president Ronald Reagan by changing the township's name to Reagan Township and renaming Clinton to Reagan, New Jersey."Clinton, N.J., Becomes Subject Of Idol Curiosity Republican Lawman Suggests The Town Change Its Name To Reagan. But He Admits An April Fool's Day Announcement Would Have Been Better Timing For His Joke.", The Morning Call, March 15, 1998. Accessed March 27, 2024.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 33.87 square miles (87.72 km2), including 29.87 square miles (77.36 km2) of land and 4.00 square miles (10.36 km2) of water (11.81%).

Annandale (with a 2020 Census population of 1,663) is a census-designated place and unincorporated community located within Clinton Township.

Other unincorporated communities, localities and place names located partially or completely within the township include Allerton, Cedar Heights, Cokesbury, Hamden, Mariannes Corner, McPherson, Potterstown, Readingsburg, and Sunnyside.Locality Search, State of New Jersey. Accessed January 2, 2015.

The township borders Clinton Town, Franklin Township, High Bridge, Lebanon Township, Raritan Township, Readington Township, Tewksbury Township, Union Township.Areas touching Clinton Township, MapIt. Accessed November 17, 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. Also, Lebanon is an independent municipality surrounded entirely by the township, making it part one of 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another.DeMarco, Megan. "Voters to decide whether to merge two Princetons into one", The Star-Ledger, November 3, 2011. Accessed January 8, 2017. "There are 22 sets of 'doughnut towns' in New Jersey, those where one town wraps around the other town". Note that following voter approval of the Princeton, New Jersey merger, 21 pairs of "doughnut towns" remain.

Cushetunk Mountain is a ring-shaped mountain located in Readington Township and Clinton Township. Once an active volcano, the diabase mountain was formed 160 million years ago. The Lenape called the mountain "Cushetunk" meaning "place of hogs".Cushetunk Mountain Preserve , Hunterdon County, New Jersey Division of Parks and Recreation. Accessed November 14, 2012. In the 1960s, the valley was filled with water to create Round Valley Reservoir, at in depth the second-deepest in the state."Round Valley Recreation Area Offers Something for Everyone", New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed November 14, 2012.

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 13,478 people, 4,568 households, and 3,444 families in the township. The population density was . There were 4,737 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 86.43% (11,649) White, 6.01% (810) Black or African American, 0.20% (27) Native American, 3.90% (525) Asian, 0.04% (6) Pacific Islander, 1.79% (241) from other races, and 1.63% (220) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.60% (755) of the population.

Of the 4,568 households, 36.6% had children under the age of 18; 67.3% were married couples living together; 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present and 24.6% were non-families. Of all households, 20.6% were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.14.

24.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 20.3% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 116.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 121.3 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $120,565 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,904) and the median family income was $147,689 (+/− $10,532). Males had a median income of $106,898 (+/− $7,766) versus $73,264 (+/− $11,810) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $52,700 (+/− $6,064). About 1.7% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics from the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates for Clinton township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.

2000 census As of the 2000 United States census there were 12,957 people, 4,129 households, and 3,253 families residing in the township. The population density was . There were 4,234 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the township was 87.71% White, 6.96% African American, 0.20% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.59% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.91% of the population.Census 2000 Profiles of Demographic / Social / Economic / Housing Characteristics for Clinton 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 Clinton township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey , United States Census Bureau. Accessed November 14, 2012.

There were 4,129 households, out of which 42.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.1% were married couples living together, 4.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the township the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 118.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 124.8 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $96,570, and the median income for a family was $106,448. Males had a median income of $77,229 versus $46,762 for females. The per capita income for the township was $37,264. About 0.3% of families and 0.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

Parks and recreation Clinton Township hosts part of a rail trail that was created out of the former Central Railroad of New Jersey High Bridge Branch. The trail is maintained by Hunterdon County Parks and Recreation and is called the Columbia Trail, which includes a scenic area known as the Ken Lockwood Gorge.Columbia Trail, Hunterdon County, New Jersey Division of Parks and Recreation. Accessed March 3, 2023.A Gorgeous Ride: The Columbia Trail, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed March 3, 2023.

Government

Local government

Clinton Township is governed within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Small Municipality form of government. The township is one of 18 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government, which is available as an option only for municipalities with a population of under 12,000 at the time of adoption.Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey, Rutgers University Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023. The government is comprised of the mayor and the four-member township council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general elections. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a three-year term of office. Council members serve a term of three years, which are staggered so that two council seats come up for election each year that the mayor's seat does not come up for vote.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. 14. Rutgers University Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.

The mayor is the township's executive official and is responsible for selecting the Municipal Clerk and Assessor, which are subject to confirmation by the township council. The council is the township's legislative body and is responsible for ordinances, resolutions and the annual budget, as well as most hiring other than those positions delegated to the mayor. The mayor presides over and is eligible to vote at council meetings, but has no veto power.Form of Government, Clinton Township. Accessed May 3, 2023. "The Township of Clinton's government consists of a Mayor and four Council members, all elected at-large.... This form of Government is known as 'Plan C', one of various options within the 'Small Municipality Plan' among possible new categories of municipal charters."

, the Clinton Township Council consists of Mayor Brian Mullay (R, term ends December 31, 2023), Council President Marc H. Strauss (R, 2024), William A. Glaser Jr. (R, 2025), Thomas Kochanowski (R, 2024) and Amy Switlyk (R, 2025).Mayor and Council, Clinton Township. Accessed May 3, 2023. "Clinton Township has a Faulkner Act Small Municipality form of government, with the Mayor and Council comprising the legislative body. The Mayor and each member of Council are elected at large to 3 year terms."2023 Municipal User Friendly Budget, Clinton Township. Accessed May 3, 2023.Township of Clinton, 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.