Location of Alexandria Township in Hunterdon County highlighted in yellow (right). Inset map: Location of Hunterdon County in New Jersey highlighted in black (left).
Census Bureau map of Alexandria Township, New Jersey
Alexandria was formed by Royal charter on March 5, 1765, from portions of Bethlehem Township, and was incorporated as one of New Jersey's initial 104 townships by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21, 1798. Portions of the township were taken to form Frenchtown (April 4, 1867), Holland Township (April 13, 1874, restored to Alexandria on March 4, 1878, and recreated on March 11, 1879) and Milford (April 15, 1911).[19] The township was named for James Alexander, a surveyor who served as New Jersey Attorney General and who had acquired 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) of land in the area in 1744.[20][21]
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 27.75 square miles (71.87 km2), including 27.53 square miles (71.31 km2) of land and 0.22 square miles (0.56 km2) of water (0.79%).[1][2]
The 2010 United States census counted 4,938 people, 1,758 households, and 1,384 families in the township. The population density was 180.1 inhabitants per square mile (69.5/km2). There were 1,865 housing units at an average density of 68.0 per square mile (26.3/km2). The racial makeup was 94.80% (4,681) White, 2.00% (99) Black or African American, 0.04% (2) Native American, 1.82% (90) Asian, 0.02% (1) Pacific Islander, 0.63% (31) from other races, and 0.69% (34) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.22% (159) of the population.[16]
Of the 1,758 households, 35.7% had children under the age of 18; 71.4% were married couples living together; 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present and 21.3% were non-families. Of all households, 16.7% were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.16.[16]
25.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 16.8% from 25 to 44, 38.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females, the population had 99.7 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 95.9 males.[16]
The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $117,404 (with a margin of error of +/− $11,426) and the median family income was $137,821 (+/− $24,473). Males had a median income of $101,927 (+/− $22,844) versus $60,875 (+/− $7,233) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $47,777 (+/− $5,059). About 3.0% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.[38]
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States census[13] there were 4,698 people, 1,535 households, and 1,290 families residing in the township. The population density was 170.6 inhabitants per square mile (65.9/km2). There were 1,598 housing units at an average density of 58.0 per square mile (22.4/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 97.02% White, 0.79% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.[36][37]
There were 1,535 households, out of which 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.9% were married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.9% were non-families. 13.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.25.[36][37]
In the township the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.[36][37]
The median income for a household in the township was $92,730, and the median income for a family was $93,619. Males had a median income of $70,996 versus $39,904 for females. The per capita income for the township was $34,622. About 4.3% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.[36][37]
Government
Local government
Alexandria 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.[39] The governing body is comprised of a five-member Township Committee, whose members are elected directly by the voters at-large in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.[6][40] At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as mayor and another as deputy mayor.
In the November 2020 general election, voters approved a ballot question that asked if they wanted to expand the township committee from three members to five.[41][42] In November 2021, voters chose two candidates to serve three-year terms and one to serve a two-year term, so that there were five members elected to the Township Committee starting in January 2022.[43]
As of 2024[update], members of the Alexandria Township Committee are Mayor James Kiernan (R, term as mayor ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Jay M. Arancio (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2024), Tom Hudanish (R, 2025), Robert Mortara (R, 2026) and Rudolph C. "Chris" Pfefferle (R, 2024).[3][44][21][45][46][47][43]
In September 2015, the Township Committee selected Michelle Garay from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Harry Swift until his death in office earlier that month.[48][49][50]
Christian Pfefferle took office in November 2014 after running unopposed to fill the 14 months remaining in the term of the seat that had been vacated by Gabe Plummer when he resigned after he had moved outside of the township in January 2014; Curtis Schick had filled the seat on an interim basis.[51]
Federal, state and county representation
Alexandria Township is located in the 7th Congressional district[52] and is part of New Jersey's 23rd state legislative district.[53][54][55]
Hunterdon County is governed by a Board of Chosen Commissioners composed of five members who are elected at-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held each January, the commissioners select one member to serve as the board's Director and another to serve as Deputy Director, each for a one-year term.[60][61] As of 2025[update], Hunterdon County's Commissioners are:
Like most municipalities in Hunterdon County, the township leans very strongly towards the Republican Party on the national and state levels. As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,411 registered voters in Alexandria Township, of which 533 (15.6%) were registered as Democrats, 1,458 (42.7%) were registered as Republicans and 1,417 (41.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 3 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.[74]
In the 2012 presidential election, Republican Mitt Romney received 64.4% of the vote (1,695 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 34.1% (899 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (39 votes), among the 2,651 ballots cast by the township's 3,571 registered voters (18 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 74.2%.[75][76] In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain received 60.2% of the vote here (1,643 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 37.4% (1,019 votes) and other candidates with 1.8% (48 votes), among the 2,728 ballots cast by the township's 3,378 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.8%.[77] In the 2004 presidential election, Republican George W. Bush received 65.9% of the vote here (1,665 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat John Kerry with 36.2% (916 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (28 votes), among the 2,528 ballots cast by the township's 3,030 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 83.4.[78]
In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 78.7% of the vote (1,332 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 19.6% (332 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (28 votes), among the 1,726 ballots cast by the township's 3,588 registered voters (34 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 48.1%.[79][80] In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 72.3% of the vote here (1,520 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 18.5% (388 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 6.7% (140 votes) and other candidates with 1.2% (25 votes), among the 2,102 ballots cast by the township's 3,386 registered voters, yielding a 62.1% turnout.[81]
The Alexandria Township Education Foundation, is a non-profit organization established in 1997, whose mission is to help achieve and maintain an extra margin of excellence by employing private resources to supplement traditional school district funding.[93]
Eighth grade students from all of Hunterdon County are eligible to apply to attend the high school programs offered by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District, a county-wide vocational school district that offers career and technical education at its campuses in Raritan Township and at programs sited at local high schools, with no tuition charged to students for attendance.[94]
Transportation
Alexandria Field Airport is a privately owned public-use general aviation airport located in the geographic center of the township.[95]
Roads and highways
As of May 2010[update], the township had a total of 71.43 miles (114.96 km) of roadways, of which 48.77 miles (78.49 km) were maintained by the municipality and 22.66 miles (36.47 km) by Hunterdon County.[96]
No Interstate, U.S. or State routes pass through the township.[97] The most significant roads to pass through Alexandria are County Route 513 (Everittstown Road),[98]CR 519[99] and CR 579 (which only runs along the northeast border).[100]
Interstate 78 is the closest limited access road which is accessible outside the municipality in bordering Union and Franklin Townships.
Jayson Williams (born 1968), former NBA player with the New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers, who owned an estate that featured a private basketball court, a personalized movie theatre and many other features[104]
^A Brief History, Township of Franklin. Accessed May 5, 2023. "Villages and hamlets in Franklin are Cherryville (Dogtown until 1856), Quakertown (sometimes called Fairview between 1834 and 1856) and Pittstown (Hoffs until the late 1700s), which also is partly in Alexandria and Union Townships."
^Raum, John O. The History of New Jersey: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1, p. 266, J. E. Potter and company, 1877. Accessed August 20, 2013. "Alexandria township was incorporated in 1798. Mount Pleasant, Little York, Everittstown, Musconetcong, Holland, and Milford are post towns. On its northern end, bordering on Warren county, is some very fine iron ore. Milford is a thriving village on the Delaware, in a highly fertile and well cultivated region. The township of Alexandria contained in 1850, 3,811 inhabitants; in 1860, 4,088; and in 1870 3,341."
^Staff. A compendium of the ninth census, 1870, p. 260. United States Census Bureau, 1872. Accessed August 20, 2013. "Population for Alexandria Township is listed as 4,253, inclusive of the 912 for Frenchtown borough, with the total for the township alone calculated via subtraction."
^Township Committee Meeting Minutes for June 10, 2020, Alexandria Township. Accessed May 4, 2022. "The Township Clerk shall send this resolution and the following question to the Hunterdon County Clerk to be placed upon the ballot in November in the following form, which is the form of question required at N.J.S.A. 40A:63-3 (c): 'Shall the membership of the Township Committee of the Township of Alexandria be increased from three to five members?'"
^Staff. "Michelle Garay sworn in as Alexandria Township Committeewoman", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 30, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2016. "Michelle Garay is sworn in as an Alexandria Township Committeewoman by township clerk Michelle Bobrowski as she replaces recently deceased Committeeman Harry Swift."
^Epstein, Rick. "Pfefferle sworn in as Alexandria Township committeeman", Hunterdon County Democrat, November 10, 2014. Accessed January 1, 2015. "Christian Pfefferle has taken office as the township's newest township committeeman.He fills a seat that had been vacated last January when Gabe Plumer resigned because he had moved to Clinton."
^Board of County Commissioners, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023. "As top governing officials of Hunterdon County, the five Commissioners are chosen by popular vote in the November general elections. The term of office is for two or three years and the current compensation is $16,000 a year, with an extra $1,000 for the Director. One or two of the five members is elected each year."
^Alexandria Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Alexandria Township School District, adopted June 25, 2009. Accessed December 24, 2024. "Purpose The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-K through eight in the Alexandria Township School District. Composition The Alexandria Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Alexandria Township."
^Delaware Valley Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Delaware Valley Regional High School, adopted June 28, 2021. Accessed December 24, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades nine through twelve in the Delaware Valley Regional High School District. Composition: The Delaware Valley Regional High School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Alexandria Township, Frenchtown Borough, Holland Township, Kingwood Township, and Milford Borough."
^Our Story, Delaware Valley Regional High School District. Accessed December 24, 2024. "Delaware Valley Regional High School was the third high school created in Hunterdon County. Supported by voters and bond money from the five municipalities of Alexandria, Holland, and Kingwood townships; Frenchtown, and Milford, it was in the 'geographic center of the region it serves,' according to news accounts."
^Heyboer, Kelly. "How to get your kid a seat in one of N.J.'s hardest-to-get-into high schools", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, May 2017. Accessed November 18, 2019. "Hunterdon County's vo-tech district has three academies for high-achieving students, all operating in partnerships with local high schools.... The academies are open to all students in the county. Students in the 8th grade are required to submit an application, schedule an interview and take a placement exam."
^History, Alexandria Field. Accessed March 2, 2023.
^"Esteemed TV editor visits DVRHS", Hunterdon County Democrat, March 26, 2018. Accessed April 7, 2024. "Students in Delaware Valley High School's Advanced TV-Media class got a peek into a vocational reality on Friday, March 23, when Mary (Taylor) DeChambres returned to her alma mater.... 'I grew up on a farm on Gallmeier Road (in Alexandria Township),' she said."
^Obituary of Frank P. Muehlheuser Jr., Martin Funeral Home. Accessed June 29, 2020. "Frank P. Muehlheuser Jr. - 79, of the Pittstown Section of Alexandria Twp., NJ died Saturday, April 22nd at home."
^Hanley, Robert. "Reporter's Notebook; At Former Nets Star's Trial, A Tangle of Contradictions", The New York Times, February 29, 2004. Accessed August 20, 2013. "Five friends and four Harlem Globetrotters were in various parts of Jayson Williams's country home in Alexandria Township, N.J., when a chauffeur, Costas Christofi, was killed two years ago by a blast from a shotgun held by Mr. Williams."