Welcome to Hunterdon County

Whether you are new to the area, or have spent a life-time calling Hunterdon your home, it’s easy to lose yourself in the natural beauty and vibrant culture that defines historic Hunterdon County.

Hunterdon is a county where whispers of a bygone era can still be heard in the historic museums, shops and homes that dot our quaint country roads. Herein lies a County, rich in tradition and history, yet welcoming to new ideals and opportunities. Businesses, small and large, have prospered, adding to the wealth of our community and creating economic opportunities for our residents. A commitment to quality education ensures our children will attend the very best schools, while a sophisticated network of healthcare resources and a nationally recognized community teaching hospital provide the very best medical care.

Hunterdon’s picturesque landscape and abundant open space provide the perfect backdrop for a multitude of sports and recreational activities supported by a park system from one end of the county to the other. There is, indeed, something for everyone in Hunterdon County. From Lambertville’s antiques to Clinton’s Red Mill, from Bloomsbury’s quiet charm and Flemington’s shopping to Oldwick’s bucolic beauty, Hunterdon has it all.

The information in this magazine will serve as a guide as you experience our county. Welcome to Hunterdon, and enjoy!

Robert P. Wise CEO, Hunterdon Healthcare System Chairman, Board of Directors, Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce

Our Heritage

Historians are uncertain whether Hunterdon’s first settlers were English Quakers moving up from the area south of Trenton in the late 1690s, or Dutch and Scotch farmers migrating west from Somerset county at about the same time. William Penn owned much of the land, but sold it to concentrate on his holdings on the other side of the Delaware River. We know that ferry service between Lambertville and Pennsylvania was in operation by 1710, and the county was populated enough by 1714 to be split off from Burlington. The new county was named after Robert Hunter, then Royal Governor of New York and New Jersey, and a man of exceptional capability. Church and civil records from the earliest decades of the 18th century abound, detailing births and baptisms, marriages, land grants, the cost of a barrel of cider and the practice of cutting oakbeams in the full of the moon to erect a meetinghouse or a barn, some of which are still standing today.

As Dutch, German, French, Swiss, Scotch-Irish and English settlers moved into Hunterdon, most of the Lenni-Lenape Indians moved west of the Delaware. In 1758, the representatives of 14 tribes were paid $1,000 for title to lands they held in New Jersey. Seven years later, dozens of patriots, calling themselves Sons of Liberty, met in a tavern in Ringoes to organize opposition to the English Parliament’s imposition of the Stamp Act. When the Revolutionary War began, armed resistance was preached from the pulpits, and Hunterdon warehouses bulged with food and material for Washington’s army. Hunterdon was the most densely populated county in New Jersey, so we raised four times more troops than other counties. Although no major battles were fought in Hunterdon, history recounts exciting tales of skirmishes, spies, counterfeiting, Tories and troop movements. If you walk our cemeteries you will find dozens of stones marking the graves of soldiers, renowned and obscure, in English, Dutch and German, who perished in battle, or survived to help build a new nation.

In the early part of the 19th century, almost 10 percent of the county’s population were slaves. But anti-slavery sentiment, strong at the time of the revolution, grew stronger, and by 1860, only four slaves resided in Hunterdon. Many residents were sympathetic to the South, however, and the county’s voters didn’t support Lincoln, but they were the first in the state to respond to his call for troops after the fall of Fort Sumter. A monument to them stands in Flemington Borough.

Following the Civil War, as waves of immigrants flooded into the manufacturing centers of the state, or swept past Hunterdon to homestead western lands, county residents settled into an easy prosperity, leaving hundreds of ornate Victorian homes and Gothic revival churches as testimony to their affluence and aspirations. But in 1935, Hunterdon County attracted world-wide attention when Bruno Hauptmann was tried for the kidnapping and murder of aviator Charles Lindbergh’s small son from the Lindberg’s Hunterdon estate. More than 600 reporters covered the trial in Flemington. During lulls in the action, they filled their columns with background pieces about the county and its people. This publicity attracted "city people" to the area, and some of the hidden charms of the county can be found in the weekend cottages they built.

Many old stone farmhouses, barns and mills that were the backbone of Hunterdon’s agricultural roots exist today. It is easy to find a braced-frame barn erected without a single nail, or a stone milk house, half-sunken into the ground, or the remains of a limekiln that was vital to maintaining the fertility of the soil. Even our place names, Dunkard Church Road, High Bridge, Old Mine Road, Headquarters, Quakertown, Copper Hill, Sergeantsville, and Pralls Mill give testimony to the heritage of the county. Old taverns have become fine restaurants, one former church is now a bed-and-breakfast, and two others serve as town halls; few residents don’t know someone who has converted an old barn into a spacious and unconventional dwelling. So as you visit a small village or drive the back roads of the county, stay alert to the history that lies just around the corner.

Alexandria Township

Travel west toward the setting sun through rural farmland on the southern slope of the Musconetcong Ridge and you will come to Alexandria Township, nestled between small towns along the Delaware and the Interstate 78 corridor. The township is home to several villages, Little York, Everittstown, Pittstown, and Mt. Pleasant, as well as two small airports, Sky Manor and Alexandria Field.

www.alexandria-nj.us Population: 4,849

Bethlehem Township

The Musconetcong River and the valley it creates border Bethlehem Township. Incorporated in 1798, Bethlehem is still heavily agricultural. The township is home to the hamlet of West Portal, to many graceful historic homes, and to the 150-acre Tower Hill Park and the 200-acre Charlestown Reservation.

www.bethlehem.nj.us Population: 3,922

Bloomsbury

Perched at the most northwestern tip of the county, Bloomsbury is a quaint village of about one square mile

surrounded by a scenic patchwork of rolling hills. Community spirit runs high in Bloomsbury, where the town hosts a popular Halloween parade, a fall Crafts Festival and a variety of other town-wide events. Many of its Victorian homes are on Hunterdon’s historic preservation list.

www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/bloom.htm Population: 886

Califon

The town name was shortened from the original "California" in honor of a resident returned from the Gold Rush. Many homes in this small borough that straddles the South Branch of the Raritan are featured on the state’s historic register. Fishermen flock to Califon for the trout, but there’s no fishing from one of the region’s few remaining 19th- century wrought-iron truss bridges in the heart of the village.

www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/califon.htm Population: 1,053

Clinton

Stand on the bridge beside the waterfall, and experience a sense of the area’s history, when Clinton was a mill town and beautiful Victorian homes were built. On the left bank, the famous red mill, with its huge waterwheel, built in 1810, and today serving as the Hunterdon Historical Museum. On the right bank, the substantial stone building, once a grain mill and now the Hunterdon Art Center.

Clinton is a town for all seasons, from the spring Pansy Festival to November's Dickens Days with merchants and visitors in period costumes, and the annual Christmas Parade on the first Friday evening in December. Just off Rt. 78, Clinton’s Main street serves as the heart of the one-square-mile town, with tea rooms, coffee shops and restaurants, art and antique stores, a leather shop and bookstore and even an old-fashioned 5-and-10-cents store.

www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/clinton.htm Population: 2,630

Clinton Township

This municipality is a 34-square-mile area that includes Round Valley Reservoir, completely encircles Lebanon Boro and abuts both Clinton and High Bridge. Situated at the intersection of modern Route 31 and Interstate 78, the township includes the hamlets of Annandale, Allerton, Cokesbury, and Readingsburg, blending rural charm with a bustling commercial environment. Residential developments, a full range of faith communities, a number of youth sports leagues, a municipal recreation department, and a lively senior citizens’ group serve the growing population. It is also home to the Hunterdon Country Arboretum, a 63-acre park with greenhouse and formal gardens.

www.township.clinton.nj.us Population: 13,424

Delaware Township

Established in 1838, Delaware Township is bounded on the southwest by the Delaware River, across from Bucks County. The rural community, still retaining much of its beautiful farmland, has two principal creeks: The Lockatong, crossed by an excellent metal truss bridge and the Wickecheoke, by the State’s only remaining 19th century covered bridge.

A post office, housed in what used to be a butcher shop, and the township government, in a 225-year old municipal building, are in Sergeantsville, in the heart of the township, also home to the Sergeantsville Inn and many charming old houses. On the 4th of July, the township celebrates the Great Crate Race, and its annual Thanksgiving in the Country tour is widely known. There are several other hamlets in the township, including Rosemont, Sandy Ridge, Raven Rock, and Locktown, as well as Ball’s Island State Park.

www.historyweb.com Population: 4,586

East Amwell Township

In 1708, Amwell Township was established by Royal patent of Queen Anne and contained 130,000 acres, almost half of present day Hunterdon County. Set in a valley at the base of the Sourland Mountains, East Amwell remains primarily agricultural, and a number of its working farms have been spared from development by state and local preservation efforts. Ringoes, the township’s biggest village, is the home depot of the Black River and Western Railroad, which runs a steam engine excursion train between Lambertville and Flemington. Other hamlets in the township include Weert’s Corner, Larison’s Corner, and a portion of Reaville.

www.eastamwell.hunterdon.nj.us Population: 4,507

Flemington

Since 1785, Flemington has been Hunterdon’s county seat, home of the courthouse, the County Clerk, and some of the other county offices, although the County Freeholders now meet a few miles west in Raritan Township. Much of its small-town charm is reminiscent of an earlier era; two-thirds of the borough’s structures are listed on the state and national historic registers.

In 1935, the world shone a spotlight on sleepy Flemington when the trial of Bruno Hauptmann, who was charged with the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh’s infant son, was held in the old Main Street courthouse. Since that event, Flemington has sprouted over 100 outlet and specialty stores, and grown popular as a shopping destination.

www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/fleming.htm Population: 4,203

Franklin Township

Right smack in the heart of Hunterdon, lies Franklin Township, established in 1845 as an agricultural community, but settled in the early decades of the 18th century by Quakers moving north from the Trenton area. Like several Hunterdon municipalities, it has no towns, only hamlets, including Cherryville and Oak Grove, and two villages, Pittstown and Quakertown, with post offices. Quakertown has one of the state’s few remaining Friends meeting houses built of stone. Franklin’s agricultural heritage is encouraged by on-going farmland preservation, which now protects 1,156 acres, and by protective right-to-farm ordinances. Seventy percent of Franklin is under farmland assessment and Rutgers’ Research Farm is there, on 377 acres donated by residents.

www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/franklin.htm Population: 3,097

Frenchtown

Frenchtown, along the Delaware River, is home to antique stores, art galleries, specialty shops and fine restaurants. The town was named for a Swiss founder who local residents thought was French. Once a manufacturing and trading center, the borough, with its tree-lined streets and 19th-century houses has undergone a renaissance, thanks to downtown renovation and growing tourism trade. The original Presbyterian Church built in 1845, now houses the town library and municipal offices.

www.frenchtown.com Population: 1,501

Glen Gardner

Glen Gardner was never a sleepy farming community, even before the coming of the railroad in the mid-19th century. It was originally known as Sodom, from the wild behavior of some of its residents, and later as Clarksville. Route 31 and Spruce Run Creek, source of sport fishing for many years, divides the town. Sweeping upward from School Street is one of the County’s bridges, Pony Pratt Bridge, listed on the National Register. Charming houses and balconies, built close to the street, help the town retain a 19th-century look. In the 1980’s, townhouses and single-family homes built on the outskirts of town doubled the borough’s population.

www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/ggardner.htm Population: 1,956

Hampton

Hampton rests on what is commonly referred to as the "highlands" of Hunterdon County. A former railroad town, the borough was originally named Junction because it grew up around the junction where the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western met the Central Railroad of New Jersey. The area had been a gathering place as far back as when Native Americans camped the banks of the Musconetcong, which forms the northern border of the borough. Today, the borough is a mix of highway development and quiet residential streets.

community.nj.com/cc/hamptonboro

Population: 1,567

High Bridge

With a cascade of older homes set among a cluster of steep hills, High Bridge offers many delights for visitors and its mix of old-timers and young families. The Union Forge Iron Works opened here in 1742. As the Taylor-Wharton Ironworks, it was, that until its closing in 1972, the longest running, privately held ironworks in the United States.

Miles of hiking and biking trails begin in High Bridge on the north end of Main Street at the Columbia Trail. The South Branch of the Raritan River, one of the "ten best trout streams" in America, according to Field & Stream, runs through the breathtaking Ken Lockwood Gorge into the quiet serenity of Lake Solitude.

www.highbridge.org Population: 3,785

Holland Township

With the Musconetcong River to the north and the Delaware River to the West, Holland Township offers a richly varied topography of valleys, hills, streams and woodlands. Holland’s economy was dominated by agriculture and the paper industry until the latter part of the 20th century. Oak Hill Golf Course and the Riegel Ridge offer recreational opportunities.

The Volendam Windmill, a full-size working replica of a Dutch windmill, and Edelweiss Farm, where one may view llamas, reindeer, emus, kangaroos, and other fascinating animals, are popular stops for tourists and locals. With fine old houses tucked among its hills and valleys, the township offers beautiful scenery, sizable lots and the lowest tax rate in the county.

www.hollandtownship.org Population: 5,194

Kingwood Township

Kingwood Township remains three-quarters agricultural and has the lowest population density in the county - 106 people per square mile, according to the 2000 Census.

Kingwood is bordered by the Delaware River and a high rocky ridge. Here, highway builders had to blast through rock to finish the "missing link" of Route 29, and finish the state highway from Trenton to Frenchtown. Baptistown, Barbertown and Byram are among the few hamlets in this largely rural municipality, which also includes a significant portion of the Delaware & Raritan Canal Park.

www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/kingwood.htm Population: 3,895

Lambertville

Lambertville, one of the oldest communities in Hunterdon County and its only city, has become a popular destination for tourists who frequent its restaurants, antique shops and art galleries. The riverside town is noted for its many fine Victorian homes. In the 19th century, the town was a commercial and industrial center. The many industrial buildings and elegant structures date to the time when flax, paper, flour, rubber, rope, twine and cotton mills, as well as spoke and iron works and bridge-building plants flourished here. Lambertville’s annual Shad Festival, held in April, attracts thousands of people for shad dinners, entertainment, arts and crafts and exhibits.

www.lambertville.org Population: 3,852

Lebanon Borough

The small borough of Lebanon is dotted with stately Victorian homes and farmhouses reminiscent of Lebanon’s agricultural heritage. The Commons at Lebanon, a townhouse community, offers an example of Colonial-style architecture that blends with the many older structures of the town. Village activities include the May Fishing Derby, the October Halloween Parade, the December Tree Lighting, and in January, the Burning of the Greens on Twelfth Night. By far, the biggest event of all is the Fourth of July Parade, the county’s largest. Nearby Round Valley Reservoir offers hiking, swimming, boating, fishing and camping. The serenity of the water, the beauty of the wildlife and breathtaking views combine to make Lebanon Borough a great place to live or visit.

www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/lebnboro.htm Population: 1,125

Lebanon Township

Rugged, hilly Lebanon Township, bounded by the Musconetcong River, is the northernmost township in Hunterdon. It contains the villages of Woodglen, Changewater, and Bunnvale. The Township Museum, located in New Hampton, was built as a one-room schoolhouse in 1823. Voorhees State Park, with 500 wooded acres, features picnic sites, hiking trails, and camping facilities as well as the New Jersey Astronomical Association’s observatory.

www.lebanontownship.net Population: 6,056

Milford

Milford, on the banks of the Delaware, was named in the late 19th century for a mill and a ford across a stream. The borough is home to a thriving Farmer’s Market on summer weekends, and a healthy commercial district includes a number of shops and restaurants, including the Ship Inn, New Jersey’s first licensed brewpub in half a century, and The Baker, a nationally known distributor of fine breads.

www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/milford.htm Population: 1,193

Raritan Township

Raritan Township is Hunterdon’s most populous municipality. The township surrounds Flemington, and forms a commercial center of the county. Raritan Township is home to the villages of Copper Hill, Stanton Station, Voorhees Corner, Reaville and Clover Hill, which sits astride the Hunterdon-Somerset County line. Several industries are headquartered here, including Johanna Foods, Inc., Hunterdon Medical Center, and Stanton Ridge Golf & Country Club.

www.raritan-township.com Population: 21,010

Readington Township

Readington is Hunterdon’s largest municipality geographically and the second largest in terms of population. It may also have been the first to be settled, by English and Dutch colonists moving west from Somerset county. Readington retains much of its rural nature, with small towns like Whitehouse, Whitehouse Station, Three Bridges and Potterstown dotting the hills and valleys of the township. The hamlet of Centerville, with a couple of pre-Revolutionary War buildings, got its name because it was the center point on the Old York Road between New York and Philadelphia. Three major highways - routes 22 and 202, and Interstate 78 -- have made it a prime spot for industrial and corporate office complexes, including Merck & Co.’s world headquarters. Readington is home to the annual New Jersey Festival of Ballooning at Solberg-Hunterdon airport and Deer Path Park, where the Hunterdon County YMCA is located.

www.township.readington.nj-us Population: 16,211

Stockton

Stockton, on the banks of the Delaware, is Hunterdon’s smallest municipality and home of the state’s oldest and smallest school. Prallsville Mills, a collection of 18th- and 19th- century buildings that once processed grain, lime and flax, now offers a series of concerts, exhibits and lectures. The historic Stockton Inn, long a favorite of artists and musicians, is the "old hotel with a wishing well" in the song by Rodgers and Hart.

www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/stockton.htm Population: 561

Tewksbury Township

In the northeast corner of Hunterdon County, is Tewksbury Township, Hunterdon’s wealthiest municipality with scenic views, luxurious homes and numerous villages and hamlets, including Fairmount, Pottersville, Cokesbury and Vernoy. The most visible of the villages is Oldwick, which changed its name four times since its founding in

1753. Here you’ll find the Oldwick General Store and the Tewksbury Inn, as well as the oldest Lutheran church in the state, which dates to 1749. At the bottom of Hell Mountain, nestles Mountainville, with many homes listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

www.tewksburytwp.net Population: 5,739

Union Township

Union Township in northwestern Hunterdon was named for the old Union Forge, an iron foundry that manufactured cannon balls for Washington’s army during the Revolution. The foundry was constructed on a site now covered by Spruce Run Reservoir. Remaining rural and residential, the township, with Route 78 crossing through it, has attracted large businesses such as Foster Wheeler Corp, home to its international headquarters. The Clinton Wildlife Management Area and part of the Union Forge Nature Preserve overlook Spruce Run Reservoir.

www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/mun/union.htm Population: 6,403

West Amwell

The southernmost municipality in Hunterdon County, West Amwell is still largely rural, and home to the historic villages of Rocktown and Mount Airy, with its picturesque church and a stone storehouse and tavern from the Revolutionary War era.

www.westamwelltwp.org Population: 2,59

Love is in the air when you visit one of the county’s romantic bed and breakfasts along the Delaware River. Savor the panoramic view or wander hand-in-hand along the towpath, where you might also fall in love with an historic river town.

In Frenchtown, mingle with cycling enthusiasts or stop off at one of the delightful neighborhood cafes. Frenchtown is also a great place to peruse the antique stores and art galleries, where there’s an almost unlimited variety of jewelry, ceramics, paintings and sculpture.

Since you’re so close to the river, why not rent a canoe and do a little sightseeing from the water, perhaps stopping off at the historic Prallsville Mills near Stockton. A former mill complex turned cultural center, the site offers a full roster of concerts, exhibits and lectures. Because of their picturesque location by the Delaware and Raritan Canal Park, the mills are also a favorite wedding spot.

The park extends for miles and is a great place for canoeing, bicycling, fishing and horseback riding.

If you’d like something cozy, there’s nothing more romantic than a balloon ride, especially the champagne toast upon landing. The best time to fly is at dawn or dusk. The images are fleeting, but the memories will last forever.

For specific information about Hunterdon’s many attractions, including restaurants, lodging and leisure-time activities, check directory listings in this magazine.

Hunterdon Welcomes You

People come from around the world to enjoy Hunterdon’s natural beauty and historical heritage. Tourism is a vibrant industry for the county, which offers a bounty of attractions and experiences.

Visitors delight in the county’s museums, Colonial and Victorian homes, its taverns and restaurants, its bed-and-breakfast inns and hotels. Shopping opportunities attract tourists to outlet centers like Flemington’s Liberty Village and to the charming main street communities along the Delaware and the South Branch of the Raritan. Antique shops, boutiques and specialty stores offer a wealth of collectibles, crafts, furniture and other unique creations.

In Hunterdon on Business

When you’re in Hunterdon on business, think about bringing along your spouse, and maybe even the family. There’s plenty for everyone to do, whether it’s sightseeing, shopping or sampling fine cuisine.

While you’re in business meetings, your spouse can visit the historic Flemington courthouse, site of the sensational 1935 trial famous for the kidnapping of aviator Charles Lindbergh’s son.

Flemington is also famous for its shopping and is chock full of colorful Victorian "Painted Ladies" and a fine collection of Greek Revival buildings.

If the kids are in tow, they might enjoy an old-fashioned train ride on the Black River & Western railroad through some very picturesque countryside.

Nearby Lambertville is an historic site on the Delaware River that’s home to a plethora of antique dealers, as is Frenchtown, further north along the river. Lodging is available at several cozy bed and breakfasts in the area as well as at various hotels throughout the county.

You might want to throw your golf clubs into the trunk so you can catch a few rounds at one of the county’s picturesque and challenging public courses. Hunterdon has a renowned 18-hole, 28-acre miniature golf course to entertain the whole family. For a more in-depth baseball experience, catch a game at Trenton Thunder stadium or Somerset Patriots stadium, where America’s favorite sport is always a home run.

Where do you go for a bite to eat? The possibilities are endless, ranging from homemade muffins for breakfast to dinner at a four-star restaurant, and everything in between, including a diverse offering of ethnic fare.

For specific information about Hunterdon’s many attractions, including restaurants, lodging and leisure-time activities, check directory listings in this magazine.

Something For Everyone

Every pleasant weekend seems to bring hundreds of bicyclists to Hunterdon’s rural roads, trout and bass fishermen to our streams and reservoirs, canoeists to the river towns along the Delaware and Raritan, and, of course, golfers to one of the county’s golf courses, including the new links-style course in High Bridge. Hunterdon County offers horse shows and polo matches, baseball games, picnicking, swimming, even scuba-diving in the depths of Round Valley Reservoir. (It’s pretty cold down there, so bring your wetsuit even in the summer).

From Cushetunk Mountain Nature Preserve to the Musconetcong River Reservation, from the Wescott Nature Preserve to the Hunterdon County Arboretum, from the Beaver Brook Golf Course to the Sourland Nature Preserve, Hunterdon has cliffs, rivers, streams, forests, fields, and marshes for all kinds of recreational enjoyment. Bald eagles are regularly spotted, along with dozens of exotic species of hawks and other raptors. The Hunterdon County Park system contains more than 4,700 acres in 18 areas, and sponsors dozens of nature walks, canoe trips and educational programs. And, did we mention golf?

Lots of Leisure Time…

If you’re retired — or just have a lot of time on your hands — look into the Hunterdon area’s many leisure attractions, including a variety of upscale day spas.

Are you a golf lover? Book a hotel/golf package at one of the area’s highly rated courses. After a long round on the greens, treat yourself to a relaxing massage -- or spend an entire day at one of Hunterdon’s spas and be pampered from head to toe.

If history is your bag, take a peek at the historic museums in both Readington Township and Clinton, which focus on the county’s farming heritage.

Take in a dinner show at the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse -- or catch a production by the Oldwick Community Players. For a change of pace, spend the evening at the Somerset Patriots baseball stadium, where family and friends can experience one of America’s favorite pastimes. In the summertime, you can also catch some great entertainment at Deer Path Park during a free concert sponsored by the county and several area corporations.

In addition to dozens of county parks, Hunterdon also has two state parks — Round Valley and Spruce Run reservoirs, where lovers of boating, fishing, sunbathing or picnicking can spend many a lazy day watching the clouds go by.

For specific information about Hunterdon’s many attractions, including restaurants, lodging and leisure-time

activities, check directory listings in this magazine.

Culture & Entertainment

Music is everywhere. You can find performances by symphony orchestras, chamber groups and live music in many styles — contemporary, jazz, bluegrass, folk, country. Theatregoers enjoy community theatre presentations, area high school productions, and the world’s leading performers in comedy, music, dance and drama often appear at Raritan Valley Community College’s beautiful theater. Hunterdon Hills Playhouse, a professional dinner theater, draws crowds from New Jersey and beyond. An annual reenactment of the Lindbergh trial draws audiences to a replay of the "Trial of the Century," originally held in Flemington in 1935.

Looking For Family Fun

Families visiting Hunterdon — whether for a weekend or just a day -- have arts, recreation, shopping, fine dining and historic discoveries awaiting them, with activities and interests for all seasons.

Clinton is a great place to start. It’s a Mecca for those who love to gaze at its landmark Red Mill while shopping at the town’s many fine boutiques. Across the picturesque falls by the Red Mill Museum Village is the legendary Hunterdon Museum of Art, which anchors the cultural center of northern Hunterdon. Throughout the year the Clinton area -- and High Bridge a bit north — sponsor concerts, art shows and festivals, including the popular Dickens Days in Clinton over Thanksgiving weekend.

A scrumptious morning’s breakfast can be eaten on an umbrella-lined terrace along the river, where you can watch anglers casting or kayakers floating by. For lunch or dinner, choose from many fine eateries nearby.

Consider a canoe trip on the South Branch of the Raritan River. Another family fun activity is visiting local farms where you can pick your own apples, peaches or other fresh fruits in season.

Want to experience some of the most scenic views of the county? Take a hike at Point Mountain or meander over to the Ken Lockwood Gorge, whose picturesque beauty is a well-kept secret among trout fishermen statewide.

And when you’re just plum tuckered out, plunk your tired body at one of the county’s charming bed and breakfasts, or spend the night at a variety of larger hotels.

For specific information about Hunterdon’s many attractions, including restaurants, lodging and leisure-time activities, check directory listings in this magazine.

Hunterdon Homes

Hunterdon has long been regarded as a most desirable place to live, which means that there is an active market for housing, and home values have been rising, more or less steadily, for the last dozen years. Many municipalities are making an effort to alleviate the shortage of affordable housing, which often lags behind the growth in jobs in the region. Compared to other areas in the state, Hunterdon has relatively fewer apartments, townhouses and condos, and a greater proportion of single family dwellings on substantial acreage.

Although there are many large estates of 25 acres or more tucked back in the hills, the typical residential neighborhood in one of our towns consists of single family houses on a quarter acre lot. In more rural developments, 1-3 acre lots are common, with an occasionally larger (5-10 acre) requirement due to environmental considerations. The housing stock embraces a wide range, from very early stone Colonials, to Victorian "painted ladies," to modern four-bedroom, center-hall Colonials and contemporary homes. Most New Jersey residents are pleased to find that real estate taxes here are generally considerably lower than in more populated areas of the state.

A Commitment to Excellence

The educational attainment of the average Hunterdon resident is considerably higher than the rest of the state, which, in turn, suggests that residents expect more of their local schools — and they are used to getting it. The average SAT scores from all five of the county’s high schools is well over 1000, and a significant portion of the graduating classes go on to college. Our elementary and middle schools, too, do very well, with several of them regularly winning state and national awards for educational excellence. The public school systems are large enough to offer a full range of educational and extracurricular activities, but small enough so students don’t get lost in the system. In 1999, the average class size ranged from 13-18 students for elementary and middle schools, and from 15-24 students at the high school level.

Baccalaureate and masters-level programs, as well as a wide range of associate degree and certificate programs can be pursued at Raritan Valley Community College through joint programs with the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Seton Hall, and Fairleigh Dickinson University. The college has a guaranteed admission program with Rutgers and Montclair Universities. Raritan Valley enrolls more than 10,000 student annually, many taking business and professional courses through the college’s Institute for Business and Professional Development.

Career and technical education is available at Hunterdon County Polytech, and an enormous range of short courses and evening classes are available through the YMCA, the County Parks system, the Hunterdon County Adult Education Program, and from other for-profit educational organizations, offering art, dance, scuba, and computer programming courses, for example.

Most of these educational operations are funded largely through local property taxes, but there is a broad base of

support and the county’s schools rarely lack generous funding.

Wellness & Healing

Hunterdon residents have access to top-notch hospitals, physicians, home care services, nursing homes, emergency rescue services, including helicopter transport, and several new fitness centers.

Hunterdon Medical Center is located off Route 31 in Flemington, and Somerset Medical Center is in nearby Somerset County. Both medical centers offer physician referral services. While most healthcare needs can be handled close to home, Hunterdon County’s proximity to major metropolitan areas allows residents also to seek the world’s finest medical specialists.

Hunterdon Medical Center

Hunterdon Medical Center is a 176-bed non-profit community hospital, providing a full range of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic inpatient and outpatient hospital and community health services. The Medical Center’s Maternity & Newborn Care Center includes 20 private labor-delivery-recovery-postpartum suites, operative delivery rooms, and a special care nursery.

Diagnostic services include a state-of-the-art computerized tomography (CT) scanner, x-ray bone densitometry, and the latest technology available in screening at the Medical Center’s Breast Imaging Program. A full array of cardiac care services is available. Comprehensive oncology services are provided through the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, a partnership of Hunterdon Medical Center and Fox Chase Cancer Center. Other services, including radiation therapy, are delivered in a new, state-of-the-art facility recently opened on the Medical Center’s main campus. Nursing and additional home services are available through the certified Home

Health Agency.

Spiritual Diversity

Stone, brick, stucco, shingle and white clapboard places of worship are found in abundance throughout the county, embracing the spiritual needs of people of different faiths and perspectives. From tiny traditional congregations to large fundamentalist services, from a pair of Catholic retreats to conservative and reform Jewish synagogues, from a Unitarian-Universalist fellowship to a Friends meeting house to a Tibetan learning center, the region offers many communities of faith, of renewal and places to belong.

Hunterdon was settled initially by people seeking freedom to practice their religion, and the county continues to reflect the diversity of those early colonists. New parishes and spiritual communities continue to be formed, existing churches are building or renovating, and more than 80 congregations dating to the 18th and 19th centuries continue to flourish. Catholics, who did not build their first church in Hunterdon until the middle of the 19th century, now operate 13 parishes serving more than 27,000 families. Jews, who had no temple in the county until 1940, now may choose from three. There is a Hebrew school and a Christian school, the Crossroads Christian Academy, operated by the Baptist church.

Worship services and education are only two of the community roles played by the county’s churches and synagogues – they operate day care centers, food banks and thrift shops, provide counseling services, offer temporary housing to the homeless, and sponsor many outreach programs far beyond the county’s borders.

Hunterdon Vitality

Small businesses are the mainstay of the county’s economic vitality. Only 120 workplaces here report more than 50 employees, but we have almost 4,000 who employ fewer than 50. Hunterdon has one of the highest concentrations of home-based businesses in the country, and the Chamber, Raritan Valley Community College’s Business and Professional Development Institute, the YMCA and high school adult education offer programs particularly suitable for emerging and start-up firms.

We also celebrate the presence and active involvement in our corporate and community life of the home offices of Merck & Co., Inc. and Foster Wheeler, of major operations of ExxonMobil Research & Development, Ingersoll Rand, New York Life, and 3M, and of our own home-grown but widely-respected companies including Advanced Biologics, Hitran, Johanna Foods, Kullman Industries, and Magnesium Elektron.

Retail:

Flemington, Lambertville, Frenchtown, and Clinton are the largest centers, attracting loyal shoppers from afar who return again and again for the unusual antiques, special bargains and one-of-a-kind boutiques. Flemington is also known as the Mecca for automobile purchasers, who can select from more than a dozen auto dealerships. Colalillo’s three regional ShopRite supermarkets are among the most visible food and produce purveyors in the area, and there are a number of bakeries, a top-rated seafood market, and other special foods stores.

Small Manufacturing:

In addition to the firms mentioned above, Hunterdon is home to Smurfit, Presco Foods, and Gerber Metal.

Professional Services:

Naturally, there are dozens of professionals, including large regional accounting firms like Amper, Politize and Mattia, and major law firms like Gebhardt & Kieffer. In the area of marketing, computer services, graphic design, insurance and financial services, Hunterdon is fortunate to have dozens of companies and associates serving corporate and individual clients. These firms are staffed by astute professionals, who’ve found they can develop a strong practice without sacrificing family and a healthy lifestyle.

The banks in the area supply unusually active support for many community activities, in addition to the full range of banking services for the county’s residences and businesses. Jersey Central Power & Light and Sprint serve Hunterdon in dozens of ways that go far beyond the utilities they provide.

Hunterdon boasts office parks, modest in size, along Route 22 in Lebanon, Interstate 78 in Union Township, as well as upscale, Class A professional buildings in Lambertville, and Whitehouse. To serve the overnight corporate account as well as the tourist, leading hospitality names such as Holiday Inn Select and Hampton Inn are conveniently located in Clinton and Hampton Inn in Flemington.

Sometimes overlooked are the non-for-profit organizations, of which there are many, offering the entire range of social services, arts and heritage preservation and promotion.

Hunterdon has a balanced economy, with a panoply of goods and services unusual for our rural character. With the temptations of shopping, sports and its own culture rich in visual performing arts and historic preservation, Hunterdon sits equidistant from the attractions of New York and Philadelphia (only a little more than an hour away). The county has become the center of a satisfying lifestyle for an increasing number of families.

Productivity & Preservation

Two centuries ago, Hunterdon provided General Washington’s armies with food, clothing and other supplies, and after the Revolution, it continued to deliver the bounty from its dairy farms and orchards to consumers in New York and Philadelphia. There are still hundreds of working farms remaining, and it is still common to find yourself on some county highway behind a tractor pulling a load of hay or corn. But agriculture in the county has changed dramatically in the last 30 years, and most of the news today is about local efforts to preserve farmland and open space. The state’s Farmland Assessment program offers reduced taxes on acreage that generates agricultural income, and local municipalities regularly levy small surcharges on tax bills to raise money for open space preservation. The goal is to preserve a total of 50,000 acres of farmland by the year 2010. A strong agricultural tradition persists in the many farmers’ markets, fruit and vegetable stands, vineyards, pick-your-own fruit and pumpkin farms, agri-tourism, and petting farms, including one that raises buffalo (but not for petting). The many cut-your-own-Christmas tree farms and the hillsides aflame with fall foliage draw tourists year-round and contribute to the county’s sound economy.

Farmland Preservation

In recent years, Hunterdon County residents, like other residents in New Jersey, have become increasingly committed to preserving farmland from development. Residents in a dozen municipalities have approved tax surcharges to fund the purchase of open space and farmland, realizing that once the land is lost to development, it cannot be replaced.

Almost 50 farms in the county, representing approximately 6,500 acres, have restricted deeds through the state’s

Farmland Preservation program. Interested farmers apply to the program. If accepted, they’re paid a sum of money and agree in return that they, and future generations, will only use the land for farming. The state program is supplemented by both county and municipal funds.

Public Service

The concept of "home rule," which means that county and municipal governments have extensive authority over issues that in other areas are reserved to state agencies, is particularly strong in Hunterdon. The corollary is that local participation is high, with spirited elections and packed audiences for the regular meetings of township\boro government and planning boards. Citizens are deeply involved in committees dedicated to historic preservation, environmental protection, recreation, and many ad hoc matters. It’s easy to get involved, and many people who move here and fall in love with the rural nature of the area quickly do so.

It’s also reassuring to find that you’re likely to run into a County Freeholder, State Assemblyman, State Senator or your local Mayor at the shopping mall, a Little League game or the local Rotary Club or Chamber of Commerce meeting — and they’re not there just because it’s an election year.

Building Social Capital

Volunteers enrich life in our communities and provide services that otherwise might not be available. Whether you’re looking to volunteer or need the services of a voluntary organization, Hunterdon County has plenty to offer.

Fire and emergency medical services in many municipalities are dependent on volunteers. If you don’t have rescue skills, perhaps you can help flip pancakes or fry fish at one of their fundraisers.

Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, 4-H, the YMCA, and ARC are just a few of the many organizations that can use your assistance. Hunterdon County residents are generous with their time, but an extra hand is always welcome.

According to Bonnie Duncan, Area Director of United Way of Hunterdon County, volunteerism is the backbone for good things happening here in Hunterdon County. United Way funds programs for 25 certified member agencies that provide a wide range of services for the community. Working with local businesses, governments, labor and other community organizations, United Way helps foster volunteerism by bringing together people who need help with people who can help.

Whether your passion is to help kids succeed, increase independence for seniors, promote health and wellness, create self-sufficiency for people with disabilities or provide response to personal and community crisis, there is an organization that welcomes your time, talent and energy.

Promoting Business

President’s Message

Spirited volunteers provide the backbone of Hunterdon’s community, from the volunteer fire companies and rescue squads that we depend on so totally, to the parents who organize and coach sports teams, and the others who serve our planning boards, historical societies and museums. The Chamber of Commerce is no less dependent on volunteers from its 500+ member companies. Hunterdon firms and non-profit organizations, large and small, provide financial support and send representatives who form the committees that hold our seminars and networking meetings. Chamber committees help to strategize the needs of the business community, near- and long-term, and form the collective voice of business to help assure economic vitality and sustain the quality of life we enjoy in our county.

To be sure, this involvement includes self-interest — the expectation that participation in Chamber activities will provide contacts and exposure that, ultimately, will result in business expansion. That’s an American tradition and we do all we can to encourage and support it. To that end, the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce invests in Hunterdon business by providing business and professional development programs for its small business members, issues and policy briefings for our larger participants, and social networking for the entire business and professional community. The Chamber serves as a collective voice for business where and when it matters. We invite participation and commitment to the business and professional communities that are so much a part of our county, its traditions and its values.

Mission Statement

Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce is a proactive partnership of businesses whose mission is to support the success of member organizations by promoting a favorable business climate and providing leadership and business and professional development.

Getting Around

Interstate 78 and Route 22, which run east-west, are the major highways and are easily accessible from most areas of the county. State Routes 31 and 202 are the main north-south arteries. There is also an excellent network of county and secondary roads.

There are a variety of commute options. Commuters may share rides via carpools or vanpools, leaving their cars at Park and Ride facilities in the county. Carpool and vanpool matching services are available to those who commute to Hunterdon County.

Train and bus services are available to major metropolitan areas. The County-run bus service, THE LINK, provides service for Hunterdon County resident (pre-teen through senior) to in-county destinations. Three major airports — Newark, Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley — are less than an hour away.

Hunterdon County is a bicyclist dream, with many recreational bike routes, and opportunities to commute to work by bike. Whether you wish to explore the county or the world, you’ll find getting around easy when you live in Hunterdon County.

A B C E F H I L M O R

Animal Services Automotive - Sales Automotive - Service Business Cleaning Companies Communications/Broadcasting Education Environment Financial Florist Health Insurance Legal Lodging Moving/Storage Organizations Organizations - Non-Profit Real Estate Recreation Restaurants Retail/Shopping

Animal Services

K9 Elements John Alex Vespa / Melissa Naval

53 Dreahook Rd. Whitehouse, NJ

8889 908-347-7762

info@k9elements.com www.k9elements.com

Animal Services

Crown Veterinary Specialists & Associates Dr. Wendy Ross, DVM

23 Blossom Hill Rd. Lebanon, NJ

8833 908-236-4120

Fax: 908-236-8108 www.crownvet.com

Automotive - Sales

Clinton Honda Glynn A. Skibinski 1511 Route 22 East

Annandale, NJ 8801

908-735-0700 Fax: 908-735-5862

www.clintonhonda.com

Automotive - Service

Haggan Tire & Auto Center Barbara Searle 900 Route 202 Neshanic, NJ

8853 908-788-7670

Fax: 908-788-7554 haggantire@yahoo.com

www.haggantire.com

Business

Clinton Business Products, Inc. Debbie Meola

25 Old Highway 22 Clinton, NJ

8809 908-735-9392

Fax: 908-735-6067 customer@clintonbusinessproducts.com

www.clintonbusinessproducts.com

Business

Hunterdon Helpline Joanne Cassano P.O. Box 246

Flemington, NJ 8822

908-782-4357 www.helplinehc.org

Cleaning Companies

Tirpok Cleaners Andrew Tirpok III

87 Park Avenue Flemington, NJ

8822 908-788-8069

Fax: 908-782-8383 andrew@tirpok.com

www.tirpok.com

Communications/Broadcasting

CenturyLink James Robinson

100 Reaville Ave. Flemington, NJ

8822 908-782-4338

Fax: 908-735-3258 james.h.robinson@centurylink.com

www.centurylink.com

Education

RVCC Arts Janet Thompson

118 Lamington Road Branchburg, NJ

8876 908-526-1200

Fax: 908-429-4314 www.rvccarts.org

Environment

South Branch Watershed Association Lynn Becker 41 Lilac Dr.

Flemington, NJ 8822

908-782-0422 Fax: 908-782-4473

lynnbecker@sbwa.org www.sbwa.org

Financial

Hopewell Valley Community Bank Keri Barrio

1082 Old York Road Ringoes, NJ

8551 609-466-7399

Fax: 609-466-7370 kbarrio@hvcbonline.com

www.hvcbonline.com

Financial

PNC Bank Barbara Buss 155 Main St.

Bloomsburg, NJ 8804

908-479-4727 Fax: 908-479-1914

barbara.buss@pnc.com www.pnc.com

Financial

TeamCapital Bank Sharon Michael

110 Main St. Flemington, NJ

8822 908-782-3720

Fax: 908-782-6549 smichael@teamcapitalbank.com

www.teamcapitalbank.com

Financial

Unity Bank Rosemary Fellner

64 Old Highway 22 Clinton, NJ

8809

908-713-4568 Fax: 908-730-8981

rosemary.fellner@unitybank.com www.unitybank.com

Florist

Flemington Floral Company & Greenhouses, Inc. Martha Lazor

22 North Main Street Flemington, NJ

8822 908-782-2219

Fax: 908-782-2827 flemingtonfloral@yahoo.com www.flemingtonfloral.com

Health

Hunterdon Healthcare Suzanne Santangelo

2100 Wescott Dr. Flemington, NJ

8822 908-788-6652

Fax: 908-788-6526 santangelo.suzanne@hunterdonhealthcare.org

www.hunterdonhealthcare.org

Health

HealthQuest of Hunterdon Doug Steinly

310 Highway 31 North Flemington, NJ

8822 908-782-4009

doug@healthquest-fitness.com www.healthquest-fitness.com

Health

Hunterdon Radiological Associates P.A. Heidi Postma

P.O. Box 5388 Clinton, NJ

8809 908-806-2635 x210 Fax: 908-782-4560

heidi@hunterdonradiology.com www.hunterdonradiology.com

Health

Destinations Personal Fitness Coaching Susan Kiebler

47 Maple Avenue Flemington, NJ

8822 908-782-6555

info@destinationspfc.com www.destinationspfc.com

Health

Diamond Nation Doug Steinly

310 Highway 31 North Flemington, NJ

8822 908-782-4009

doug@healthquest-fitness.com www.healthquest-fitness.com

Insurance

State Farm Insurance Agency - Tom Johnson Tom Johnson 186 Center St.

Clinton, NJ 8809

908-730-7711 Fax: 908-730-7155

tom.j.johnsonrkr6@statefarm.com www.tommyjohnsoninsurance.com

Legal

Law Offices of Patricia Garity Smits, LLC Patricia Smits

1141 Stanton-Lebanon Rd. Lebanon, NJ

8833 908-236-7530

smits@smitslaw.com www.divorces-nj.com

Lodging

Holiday Inn Select Michelle Satanik 111 W. Main St.

Clinton, NJ 8809

908-735-5111 x25722 Fax: 908-735-2714

SatanikM@gfhotels.com www.holidayinn.com

Lodging

Hampton Inn Melissa Balaam 14B Royal Road Flemington, NJ

8822 908-284-9427

Fax: 908-284-9127 melissa.balaam@hilton.com

Lodging

Holiday Inn Select Michelle Satanik 111 W. Main St.

Clinton, NJ 8809

908-735-5111 x25722 Fax: 908-735-2714

SatanikM@gfhotels.com www.holidayinn.com

Moving/Storage

Stowaway Self Storage Jan Fechtman

479 Route 202 South North Branch, NJ

8876 908-80660771

Fax: 908-707-4068 jan.f@stowawayselfstorage.com www.stowawayselfstorage.com

Organizations

Hunterdon County YMCA Bruce Black

1410 Route 22 West Annandale, NJ

8801 908-236-7879

bblack@hcymca.org www.hcymca.org

Organizations - Non-Profit

Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance Tracey Costanzo

58 Main St., Suite 2E Flemington, NJ

8822 908-237-4582

Fax: 908-237-2225 tracey@hlta.org www.hlta.org

Real Estate

Prudential - John H. Carriere John H. Carriere

54 Old Highway 22 Clinton, NJ

8809 908-735-9700

Fax: 908-735-8091 johnhcarriere@comcast.net

Real Estate

Weichert Realtors - Diana Lesanics Diana Lesanics 9 W. Main St.

Clinton, NJ 8809

908-343-5751 dlesanics@msn.com

www.dianasellshomes4u.com

Recreation

Winnewald Day Camp Bob Jones

21 Cratetown Road Lebanon, NJ

8833 908-735-8336

Fax: 908-730-7196 winneday@ptd.net

www.winnewald.com

Restaurants

California Grill Irene Roufaeal 31-202 Circle

Flemington, NJ 8822

908-806-7141 Fax: 908-806-8415

cgrillnj@netscape.net www.californiagrillnj.com

Restaurants

The Clinton House Mary Ann

2 West Main St. Clinton, NJ

8809 908-730-9300

Fax: 908-735-5490 www.theclintonhouse.com

Restaurants

Teaberry's Tea Room Susan Peterson 2 Main Street

Flemington, NJ 8822

908-788-1010 susan@teaberrys.com www.teaberrys.com

Retail/Shopping

ShopRite of Hunterdon County Rebeca Thygesen

272 US Highway 202 & 31 Flemington, NJ

8822 908-782-6900

Fax: 908-782-9145 rebecca.thygesen@wakefern.com

www.shoprite.com

Retail/Shopping

Attachments Karen Shankoff 138 Main Street Flemington, NJ

8822

908-782-3155 Fax: 908-782-1079

karens1117@aol.com www.attachmentsnj.com

Retail/Shopping

Occasions Cindy Cohn 150 Main St.

Flemington, NJ 8822

908-806-4438 Fax: 908-806-4437

occasions@embarqmail.com www.shopatoccasions.com

Retail/Shopping

RAAB Coins Randy Block

56 Main Street Flemington, NJ

8822 908-782-0840

Fax: 908-782-1048 rcoins@comcast.net

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