Hunterdon County

Hunterdon County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2000 Census, the population is 121,989. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington.

Hunterdon County ranks as the 13th among the highest-income counties in the United States with a per capita income of $36,370. It ranks fourth among U.S. counties for household income according to the most recent U.S. Census. Hunterdon County's median household income was $93,342, behind only Fairfax County and Loudoun County, Virginia and Howard County, Maryland. As of 2005, Hunterdon had the third-highest median property tax of any county in the nation at $6,988, the highest in New Jersey. As of the Tax Foundation's rankings based on 2006 data, Hunterdon had taken the top spot for highest median property tax at $7,999.

Transitioning from rural to suburban, Hunterdon County is an exurb on the western edge of New Jersey and home to commuters to New York City and Philadelphia.

The county seat, Flemington, is noted for the Lindbergh kidnapping trial which convicted Bruno Hauptmann of the murder of aviator Charles Lindbergh's son. With growing towns and shopping areas, as well as relaxing rural areas, Hunterdon County is a far stretch from the urban areas associated with New Jersey.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 438 square miles (1,134 km²), of which, 430 square miles (1,114 km²) of it is land and 8 square miles (20 km²) of it (1.79%) is water.

Much of the county is hilly, the ground rising up slowly from the Delaware River. The highest points are two areas in Lebanon Township, one on the Morris County line, both reaching at least 1,060 feet (323 m) above sea level. The lowest elevation is where the Mercer County line reaches the Delaware River, approximately 40 feet (12 m) above sea level.

As of the census of 2000, there were 121,989 people, 43,678 households, and 32,845 families residing in the county. The population density was 284 people per square mile (110/km²). There were 45,032 housing units at an average density of 105 per square mile (40/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.91% White, 2.25% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 1.92% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 2.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.7% were of Italian, 17.3% German, 14.5% Irish, 8.4% English, 7.3% Polish and 5.1% American ancestry according to Census 2000.There were 43,678 households out of which 37.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.30% were married couples living together, 6.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 20.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

Hunterdon County's median income for a household was $79,888, which makes it the fourth highest county in the country based on median household income. Median income for a family was $91,050. Males had a median income of $61,888 versus $40,852 for females. The per capita income for the county was $36,370, which ranks as the thirteenth highest county in the country based on per capita income. About 1.60% of families and 2.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.10% of those under age 18 and 4.20% of those ages 65 or over. As of October 2007, Hunterdon County now has the highest median property taxes in the United States.Arriving on the scene in 2002, Heron Glen Golf Course has quickly positioned itself as one of New Jersey ’s finest public golf facilities. The golf course, transformed from the famed Kuster Farm, is cut through the rolling hills of Hunterdon County and offers five sets of tee boxes that can accommodate all levels of play. You’ll enjoy beautiful bent grass from tee to green, surrounded by mature trees and rolling vistas.

Offering a practice facility featuring a driving range with both grass and mat hitting areas, a large putting green and practice bunker, there is no need to go anywhere else to hone your skills.

In the early 1960’s, a "Citizen’s Advisory Group" was formed to preserved open space in the County. For nearly a decade, this group worked to pave the way for the development of a county-wide park system.

The first County parkland, the Wescott Nature Preserve, was established in 1966, through the donation of 15 acres of land , in Delaware Township, by Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Wescott . An additional donation of approximately 66 acres was made by Mr. and Mrs. Wescott, in 1972. Today the Wescott Nature Preserve consists of 74 acres.

In 1973, the Citizens Advisory Group evolved into the Hunterdon County Board of Recreation Commissioners. Under the guidance of the Board, approximately 4,300 acres of County parkland was purchased over a 27-year period, through donations, and using non-profit, state and federal money.

On January 1, 2001, the Board of Recreation Commissioners was reorganized into the Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation, and a group of citizen volunteers, known as the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board was appointed. Since the changeover, the park system has increased dramatically, and the new County position of Open Space Coordinator was established, to assist in land acquisition. Also during this time, the County voters approved an Open Space Tax, to provide funding for the acquisition of lands for recreation, conservation and general open space as well as farmland preservation. In November 2004, Hunterdon County voters approved a second ballot question to continue the Open Space Tax, for the 5 year period, commencing January 1, 2005 and ending December 31, 2009. Since the Open Space Tax has been collected, over 9,500 acres of land has been preserved for open space, farmland and conservation purposes.

Presently, the Hunterdon County Park System comprises 7,430 acres of land, in 24 areas. This land can be categorized, and best described or represented as: Unimproved Natural Areas, Improved Natural Areas, Linked/Greenway Areas, General Use Areas, and Special Use Areas. Each of these park area categories provides a different type of environment and public use. Of course, each type also has different maintenance and habitat management goals and requirements.

The County’s long-term goal is to add another 10,000 acres of land (more or less) to the Park System through fee simple purchases and conservation easements. This may also include lands that are jointly purchased by Hunterdon County, the State, municipalities and nonprofit conservation organizations or owned outright by the State Department of Environmental Protection and/or the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, and managed by the Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation, for public park, recreation and conservation purposes. This would place the County’s total parkland holdings at nearly 6% of the total available land area or approximately 279,680 acres in Hunterdon County.