Hightstown, New Jersey
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| Hightstown, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hightstown, New Jersey |
| Settlement type | Borough |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | United States |
| Subdivision type1 | State |
| Subdivision name1 | New Jersey |
| Subdivision type2 | County |
| Subdivision name2 | Mercer |
| Established title | Settled |
| Established date | 1714 |
| Established title1 | Incorporated |
| Established date1 | March 5, 1853 |
| Government type | Borough |
| Leader title | Mayor |
| Leader name | Steven M. Misiura |
| Area total km2 | 3.20 |
| Area land km2 | 3.19 |
| Area water km2 | 0.01 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population total | 5,900 |
| Population density km2 | 1848.9 |
| Timezone | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc offset | -5 |
| Timezone DST | EDT |
| Utc offset DST | -4 |
| Postal code type | ZIP Code |
| Postal code | 08520 |
| Area code | 609 |
| Blank name | FIPS code |
| Blank info | 34-31560 |
| Blank1 name | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 info | 0885256 |
| Website | www.hightstownborough.com |
Hightstown, New Jersey is a borough in Mercer County, situated within the Raritan Valley region. Originally a stagecoach stop on the route between New York City and Philadelphia, it grew around the Delaware and Raritan Canal and later the Pennsylvania Railroad. The borough is home to the prestigious Peddie School and maintains a distinct downtown centered on its historic Stockton Street.
History
The area was part of a land purchase from the Lenape by William Penn and other Quaker proprietors. Settled in 1714 by John and Mary Hight, for whom the community is named, it became a key stop on the King's Highway. The 1834 opening of the Delaware and Raritan Canal and the 1839 arrival of the Camden and Amboy Railroad, later part of the Pennsylvania Railroad, spurred industrial growth, including the Hightstown Pottery Company. The borough was incorporated by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 5, 1853, from portions of Washington Township. It was the site of the 1910 Hightstown train wreck, a significant accident involving the Pennsylvania Railroad's famed Congressional Express.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 3.20 square kilometers, nearly all of which is land. It sits within the Atlantic coastal plain and is drained by Shipetaukin Creek, which feeds Peddie Lake. Hightstown borders East Windsor Township and is located approximately equidistant between Trenton and New Brunswick. Major roadways include U.S. Route 130 and New Jersey Route 33, providing connections to the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 195.
Demographics
The 2020 United States census recorded a population of 5,900. The racial makeup was diverse, with significant populations identifying as White, African American, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino. The median household income has historically been above the state average, with key employment sectors including education, health care, and retail trade. Population density is high relative to surrounding townships, contributing to its walkable, small-town character.
Government
Hightstown operates under the borough form of New Jersey municipal government. Legislative power is vested in a six-member Borough council, with the mayor presiding over meetings and having veto power. The mayor is elected directly to a four-year term, while council members are elected to three-year staggered terms. The borough is part of New Jersey's 12th congressional district, represented in the U.S. House by Bonnie Watson Coleman, and lies within the 14th Legislative District for the New Jersey Senate and New Jersey General Assembly.
Education
Public school students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade attend the East Windsor Regional School District, which also serves East Windsor Township. Students then attend Hightstown High School for grades 9–12. The borough is also the location of the private, co-educational Peddie School, an elite college-preparatory boarding school founded in 1864. The Hightstown Memorial Library, part of the Mercer County Library System, serves the community.
Notable people
Notable individuals born in or residents of Hightstown have made significant contributions across various fields. In sports, it is associated with Major League Baseball players like Joe Colquhoun and Charlie Bicknell, and National Football League athlete Darian Barnes. In arts and entertainment, residents have included actress Michele Lee, musician G. Love, and artist John R. Grabach. The borough was also the longtime home of James S. Sherman, the 27th Vice President of the United States under William Howard Taft.
Category:Boroughs in Mercer County, New Jersey Category:Populated places established in 1714