Ewing Township is a township in Mercer County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township falls within the Trenton-Princeton metropolitan statistical area (which includes all of Mercer County),Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas, Office of Management and Budget, March 6, 2020. Accessed March 11, 2025. "45940 Trenton-Princeton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area Principal Cities: Trenton, Princeton Mercer County" which is part of the New York combined statistical area as defined by the United States Census Bureau.New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau, per March 2020 delineation files. Accessed March 1, 2025. It borders the Philadelphia metropolitan areaPhiladelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD Combined Statistical Area, United States Census Bureau, January 2012. Accessed December 12, 2025. and is part of the Federal Communications Commission's Philadelphia Designated Market Area.Philadelphia Market Area Coverage Maps, Federal Communications Commission. Accessed December 28, 2014. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 37,264, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 1,474 (+4.1%) from the 35,790 recorded at the 2010 census, which in turn reflected an increase of 83 (+0.2%) from the 35,707 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 inhabitants of present-day Ewing Township in the historic era were Lenni Lenape Native Americans, who lived along the banks of the Delaware River. Their pre-colonial subsistence activities in the area included hunting, fishing, pottery-making, and simple farming.History, Ewing Township. Accessed November 25, 2019. "In the early years of settlement, Ewing was chiefly a woodland area; however, after the Revolution, Ewing embarked upon a long period of agricultural growth and activity. In 1844, historians Barber and Howe described the Township as having some of the richest soil in New Jersey. Early development was in the form of small hamlets scattered throughout the Township, including Birmingham (now known as West Trenton), Ewing, Ewingville, and Greensburg (now Wilburtha)." European settlers, mostly from the British Isles, began to colonize the area in 1699. One of the earliest European settlers was William Green, and his 1717 farmhouse still stands on the campus of The College of New Jersey., Friends of the Wm Green Farmhouse. Accessed January 7, 2015. "The house today mirrors the area's architectural history with sections from three distinct building periods. Circa 1717 to 1730 section: The oldest remaining section, is the southeast segment of the building. This was originally a 2 ½ story brick house. The fine Flemish bond brickwork of this section is similar to that used in the 1719 Trent House in Trenton. Its interior preserves original 18th-century detailing. Circa 1750 to 1790 section: The second oldest section, added as the Green family grew, is located behind the oldest portion. It forms the northeast segment of the house and added four rooms and a stair hall. Circa 1830 section: The third building stage, a two-room-deep brick addition to the west, nearly doubled the size of the house."

The area that is now Ewing Township was part of Hopewell Township in what was a very large Burlington County at the beginning of the 18th century. In 1714 Hopewell was removed from Burlington County and added to Hunterdon County.The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 52. Accessed January 7, 2015. "Hopewell township: From Burlington Court records, February 20, 1699/1700: The Hopewell township boundaries were "To begin at Mahlon Stacyes Mill [at what is now Trenton] And so along by York road, until it comes to Shabbucunck, and up the same until it meet with the line of Partition that divides the Societies 30000 acres Purchase from the 15000 and then along the line of said Societies 30000 acres Purchase to Delaware River."The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 162. Accessed January 7, 2015."Hopewell township 1700 Feb 20, item 227: Formed in Burlington County 1714 item 4: Set off to Hunterdon County 1719 item 332: Part mentioned as Trenton (twp.)" By 1719, the area which was to become Ewing Township had been removed from Hopewell Township and added to the newly created Trenton Township.The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 164-165. Accessed January 7, 2015. "Trenton township 1719 June 3, item 332: Mentioned. Constable appointed for Hunterdon County. 1720 Mar. 2, item 371: Boundary recorded. 1792 item 116: Part incorporated as Trenton city. 1798 Feb. 21, item 289: Incorporated. 1831 item 112: Part from Trenton city. 1834 item 102: Part to Ewing township." Portions of Trenton Township were incorporated as Ewing Township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 22, 1834, posthumously honoring Charles Ewing for his work as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.Hutchinson, Viola L. The Origin of New Jersey Place Names, New Jersey Public Library Commission, May 1945. Accessed August 30, 2015. The township became part of the newly created Mercer County on February 22, 1838. After incorporation, Ewing Township received additional territory taken from Lawrence Township and the city of Trenton in 1858. In 1894 the city of Trenton took back some of that territory, annexing more in 1900.The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 161-162. Accessed January 7, 2015. "Ewing township 1834 Feb. 22, item 102: Formed from Trenton township in Hunterdon County. 1838 item 99: Set off to Mercer County. 1858 item 44: Part from Trenton city. 1858 item 403: Part from Lawrence township. 1894 item 595: Part to Trenton city. 1900 item 282: Part to Trenton city."

When Ewing Township was incorporated in the 19th century, it was primarily farmland with a handful of scattered hamlets, including Carleton (now known as Ewing), Cross Keys (now known as Ewingville), Birmingham (now known as West Trenton) and Greensburg (now known as Wilburtha). Since the beginning of the 20th century, the township has developed as a suburb of Trenton. The sections near the city border are distinctly urban, but most of the township is suburban residential development. The main commercial district extends along North Olden Avenue Extension (County Route 622), originally constructed to connect north Trenton residences with the now-closed General Motors Inland Fisher Guide Plant. Ewing Township today is the location of The College of New Jersey, the Community Blood Council of New Jersey, New Jersey State Police headquarters, the Jones Farm State Correction Institute, the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, the New Jersey Department of Transportation headquarters, the Maria H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf and Trenton-Mercer Airport.

From 1953 until 1997, Ewing was the home of Naval Air Warfare Center Trenton, encompassing on Parkway Avenue.Former Naval Air Warfare Center Trenton , United States Navy. Accessed October 28, 2014. "The former Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) Trenton is located in Ewing Township, New Jersey." It was used by the United States Navy as a jet engine test facility until its closure based on the recommendations of the 1993 Base Closure and Realignment Commission. Nearly 700 civilian positions were eliminated, most of which were relocated to other facilities in Maryland and Tennessee.Staff. "Base-Closing Panel Wraps Up Five Days of Voting", The New York Times, June 28, 1993. Accessed October 11, 2013. "Under the panel's plan for the Ewing unit, the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, would be divided between the Arnold Engineering Center in Tullahoma, Tenn., and the Naval Air Warfare Center at Patuxent River, Md.... Officials were unclear how many people would lose their jobs because of the closing. The Ewing base employs 680 civilians and seven military workers, of whom 157 engineers and other high-level personnel are already awaiting transfer to Patuxent River as part of a 1991 base-closing decision." The base's Marine operations were transferred to Fort Dix, which has since become Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.McGrath, Brendan. "HomeFront charity to take over Marine Reserve Center in Ewing", The Times, June 16, 2014. Accessed October 28, 2014. "HomeFront, the charity dedicated to ending homelessness in the Mercer region, will soon begin construction on its new headquarters as it takes over the decommissioned Marine Reserve Center in Ewing.... The Marine operations at the base were transferred to Fort Dix, which has since become Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst." A charity to end homelessness acquired the base at no cost in October 2013 in a process involving the United States Department of Defense, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Mercer County and Ewing Township.

The first industrial robot used to replace human workers was deployed at Ewing's Inland Fisher Guide Plant in 1961, a facility that operated in the township for 1938 to 1998, after which the plant was demolished and targeted for redevelopment.Mickle, Paul. "1961: A peep into the automated future", The Trentonian. Accessed January 17, 2015. "Without any fanfare, the world's first working robot joined the assembly line at the General Motors plant in Ewing Township in the spring of 1961."Famous Firsts in New Jersey, State of New Jersey. Accessed January 18, 2015. "The first robot to replace a human worker was used by General Motors in Ewing Township in 1961."Galler, Joan. "Ewing's vacant General Motors site soon to be cleaned" , The Trentonian, August 10, 2011. Accessed January 18, 2015.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 15.56 square miles (40.29 km2), including 15.21 square miles (39.38 km2) of land and 0.35 square miles (0.90 km2) of water (2.24%).

The highest elevation in Ewing Township is above mean sea level (AMSL) just southeast of Interstate 295 and just west of Trenton-Mercer Airport,Interchange 2 USGS Pennington Quad, NJ, PA, Topographic Map, TopoZone. Accessed November 18, 2012. while the lowest point is just below AMSL along the Delaware River near the border with Trenton.USGS Trenton West Quad, NJ, PA, Topographic Map, TopoZone. Accessed November 18, 2012.

The largest body of water completely within the township is Lake Sylva, a man-made lake covering that was created in the 1920s when an earthen dam was constructed across the Shabakunk Creek.Environmental Resource Inventory for the Township of Ewing, Mercer County, New Jersey, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Accessed November 25, 2019. "There are two major lakes in Ewing Township: Lake Ceva and Lake Sylva. These open bodies of water are permanent waters and were created by damming Shabakunk Creek. Although they are classified as true lakes by federal and state maps, these lakes are man-made impoundments. Lake Sylva covers 10.6 acres and Lake Ceva covers 6.4 acres." The lake is located on the campus of The College of New Jersey.USGS 01463740 Shabakunk C at Sylva Lake Dam at Ewingville NJ, United States Geological Survey. Accessed October 11, 2013. Watercourses in Ewing include the Delaware River along its western boundary and the Shabakunk Creek in the eastern and central portions of the township.